Me looking at the comments and then at my drafts for the next chapters.

Me sipping coffee slowly and hiding the finalized angsty drafts: "I don't know what you guys are talking about."

If Four comes down with a cold tomorrow, he is blaming Twilight. Even though Wolfie shares the blame, he could not get mad at their friendly wolf friend. He really wished he volunteered himself to wait for Gesane's friends to pick them up. Sky and Wind returned back to their prior location to watch over Epona and inform the Rito what has transpired once they arrived, leaving the rest of them to pick up after Twilight and Wolfie's trail.

He could tell that the others were already at their wit's end. They hiked a mountain in clothes and armors made not for fending off freezing temperatures for hours, following Wolfie's pawprints that went off-trail so many times. They chalked it to Twilight and Wolfie rushing after their mystery person; if the person could easily outspeed one of their fastest members, then it is more than a good reason to hurry. They did not see any of Twilight's footprints, which only means he went a different path to search.

"Ugh! It's so cold here." Blue complained. "Can't we just go back and wait for Twilight? He got Wolfie with him. It's not like he will get lost and die or something, you know."

"While Twilight is indeed the strongest of us, we can't just leave him by himself." Green chastised. "We're in a new Hyrule, Blue! We got to stick together."

"That, and the tracks of infected blood we keep seeing are rather concerning." Vio added, nodding to the multiple splatters of black blood on the snow. "We've been to other Hyrules, but there aren't much monsters in them compared to here. They're almost everywhere."

"But it's cold, okay?" Blue argued. "We've also walked for hours! Now, we have to deal with Time's cooking. Mind you that we skipped lunch!"

"At least, it's not some kind of experiment." Green said, then shrugged. "Sky's food kept coming to life and Hyrule's…" He gagged, almost by reflex. "You know what, let's not talk about that."

There was a collective agreement between the three before Vio turned to Red, who has been silent for a while. "Red?" He reached out. "Is something the matter?"

"Those ruins…" Red murmured after a beat, glancing at crumbling stone walls that dotted the lush field far below the mountain. "Do you think people once lived in -?"

"Don't." Vio hissed, cutting in like a newly sharpened blade. "We can't just make assumptions. This isn't our Hyrule or the others'. We know nothing about this place."

A heavy silence settled on the four colors' shared mindscape, and Four forced himself to look at the campfire, where Time was busying himself on cooking their dinner. There was a look of disappointment on the older Link's face when he sampled his work – his attempt to make a decent meal falling back to simple and woefully tasteless. Warriors trudged into their camp two seconds later, carrying a bundle of wood to feed the campfire for the coming hours, before settling down next to Legend and Hyrule who were swaddled in their own blankets like a couple of Goddess Statues without wings.

The night is falling, painting the sky in orange, purple, and midnight blue. It would have been picturesque if they were not in the middle of nowhere, chasing after a suspicious person that could talk to Hylia. Considering how slow they are, that person might have already gone far. Four doubted that the stranger would kindly wait for them.

He wondered if Sky and Wind can handle cooking by themselves for tonight. Wind probably would, considering Sky is the second-worst cook in the team. He hoped neither of them gets poisoned by their own creation before they returned. Hyrule will sure throw a fit if that happens.

They were in the middle of another dull dinner when Twilight stumbled into their makeshift camp. The Rancher looked worse for wear - his cheeks flushed from the biting cold and breathing coming out in quick white puffs. His dirty blond hair was tousled and flecked with snow. His eyes landed on them before letting Time usher him next to the campfire.

"About damn time, Rancher!" Legend growled, glaring at the new arrival. "We would appreciate it if we don't freeze to the death while waiting for you and that wolf."

"Sorry." Twilight blew between his cupped hands before rubbing them together. "I went farther than I thought. Took me a while to find a way back. Where's Sky and Wind?"

"They went back to wait for Gesane's friends." Four answered before Legend could snide the Rancher. A huff escaped the Veteran and snuggled further in his blanket, his steaming bowl of Time's cooking forgotten temporarily. The Smith's eyes searched around Twilight. "Where's Wolfie?"

"He's with our…friend." Twilight answered, earning a couple of pointed looks. "It seemed he knows Wolfie…or at least, the wolf he thought to be his Wolfie."

"Huh?" Hyrule said. "Not the strangest thing I heard so far…but he has a pet wolf?"

"Yeah. Something like that." Twilight nodded. "Has the same name as well."

"Honestly," Four said, tapping his spoon on the rim of his bowl. "I wouldn't be surprised if it's the same wolf." That earned him a raised eyebrow from Twilight. "I mean, Wolfie just pops out wherever Hyrule we are in. He's just like the postman. If that guy knows Wolfie, it might mean that our wolf friend had come here before and met him."

The Hero of the Four Sword turned to Twilight, who looked rather pensive. He wondered if he said something wrong. "Did I…Does that make any sense?"

"Perhaps…"

Time shot a look of concern at Twilight's direction before coming to his rescue. "Setting aside theories about Wolfie," He poured some soup in a bowl and offered it to his protégé. "Did you find anything about our friend?"

The Rancher raised a palm and politely declined. "I already ate." He scooted away from the campfire, having warmed enough, and slumped on the nearest rock face. "I only found out that he's Hylian and that he's avoiding the Rito."

"Oh? Why's that?"

Twilight shrugged. "Didn't get much. He seemed to be avoiding me or anyone like a plague. Wolfie is the only one he has allowed to approach." Not that he managed to approach him as a Hylian because the kid caught him off guard before he could transform back - the kid's stealthier than any of them. "Wolfie is keeping him company for now. The kid's more relaxed with him."

Now, Legend is interested. "Kid? How old do you think he is?"

Twilight considered the question for a moment. "Not really sure. I can't see his face with the hood on. I hadn't seen him remove it yet." He drummed his fingers on his knee. "But he fed us, so I don't think he's a bad person. I doubt anyone who can speak directly to the Goddess is one."

"Wait, wait." Four exclaimed, looking like he was stabbed on the back. "He fed you?"

A shit-eating grin curled on Twilight's lips. "Oh, yeah." He said. "Wolfie even brought me some helpings. The kid's an incredible cook."

Blue took over and shared the same scowl as Legend's. Warriors looked down at the content of his bowl like it was the saddest thing in all three timelines. Hyrule simply huffed while Time has a blank look on his face. "Must be nice." Legend glared at Twilight, who raised his palms to placate the glowering Veteran.

"At least, it's warm…I guess?" Red offered, which Blue rolled his eyes at.

"You're on cooking duty next time, Pup." Time said with a serious expression on his face. Twilight turned to his mentor with a betrayed look on his face. "No buts this time. You're the only decent cook among this group."

"Dunno about that." Warriors chuckled, pointing his spoon at Twilight. "Tell you what, if that mystery person of yours is really that good, let's just take him with us."

Legend crossed his arms and shot the Captain an unimpressed look. "You mean kidnap him?" Then, a wicked grin lit upon his face. "I'm in."

Time shook his head in disapproval – most of which are directed to the Captain. "As much as I want to eat good food again, we've been in Twilight's Hyrule just a day ago." He said. "And no, we're not kidnapping anyone. We're heroes, not criminals."

Warriors cast a knowing look and smirked at Time. "Are you guilt-tripping us, Old Man?"

"I am." Time affirmed without missing a beat. "Why? Is it working?"

The smirk on the Captain's face dropped. "…Yes."

Taking it as his win, Time mirrored Warriors' expression seconds ago. "Good."

Hyrule adjusted his blanket over his shoulders. "So, what's the plan? Keep tailing that person until we can approach him and ask if he could communicate to the Goddess for us?"

"It's our best bet." Twilight nodded. "I suggest you go back for now. This place is a plateau. There's a high chance we'll cross paths with you. Wolfie and I will continue keeping an eye on him so that we will not lose him. I'll wait for an opportunity to talk to him, preferably near you guys. If things don't go as planned…."

"Don't worry, Pup." Time patted him on the shoulder. "Just holler, and we'll be there."

"Thanks."

Twilight stood up to leave, but Four stopped him. "We forgot to tell you. We checked the cabin where you chased him before following Wolfie's trail." He said. "The place was used recently, like really, really recently. Maybe after Gesane left. It's almost empty too. We don't think it belongs to our mystery person."

It does not belong to him? Twilight filed that for later and nodded. "I'll keep that in mind." Then, he was gone, back to the descending veil of the night and the harsh embrace of the frigid mountain.

The kid has been waiting for him.

Twilight transformed back to Wolfie as soon as he was out of the other Links' line of sight. He judged that tromping on the snow as a wolf is far easier and faster than in his original form. That, and he needed to track the boy's scent to find their meeting place because he knows nothing about the geography of this Hyrule. Instead of climbing up the mountain again, he decided to retrace his steps from earlier. The kid's scent seemed to be wafting from the opposite side of the shrine they teleported before, just across the freezing river that cut in the middle of the plateau. It took Twilight a few hours to navigate the snowy riverbank, and by the time he caught a glimpse of a small campfire and a figure hunched beside it, his limbs were protesting vehemently for hours of use.

He could see that the boy has discarded the hood and changed into something warmer. He barked softly to announce his arrival and sat on his haunches next to him. The kid has his face turned away from the wolf, but he let him settle beside him, and the two shared a companionable silence.

"I…" Twilight's ears pricked up as the boy's quiet voice cut through the distant chirping of crickets at their far right. His companion took a shaky breath, turning just enough to see the right side of the boy's face. "Never mind. I…I was just thinking."

Twilight tilted his head to convey his curiosity. What are you thinking, kid? For some reason, the boy seemed to understand. "It's nothing. Just some…unnecessary thoughts…about the past." The wolf watched as the red-orange light of the campfire danced in those blue eyes. "If I even have a past…which I…which I don't."

That is vague. The Rancher thought as they fell again to an uncomfortable lull. He wondered what the deal is with this kid and how in the names of the three Golden Goddesses could he speak freely with Hylia. A priest? A lost descendant of the royal family? Gesane told them that the last surviving member of this Hyrule's royal family is a princess, and in all three timelines they have been, males born to the royal family are rare. Even if they do, it is almost certain that a royal daughter named Zelda will inherit the throne rather than a prince, regardless of who was born first. Still, that did not explain this kid's relationship with the White Goddess. Could it be that Hylia favors this boy in this era?

"Wolfie…" The kid placed a gloved hand on him, this time, on his head, but Twilight was too lost in his thoughts to be bothered by it. "I…did it. Our promise…do you remember?"

Promise? Sapphire blue eyes flicked toward the boy. What promise?

The kid swallowed thickly and reached out for the canteen of water heating besides the campfire. He took a swig before continuing. "I…we promised we'll take down Ganon together." That jarred Twilight into full attention. "I did though…alone. You left suddenly. I did not get to say goodbye properly. I defeated Ganon…the spirits of the previous Champions and the Divine Beasts helped me too. The princess…Zelda is safe. Hyrule is safe."

If he has his hands now, they would be clammy already. Champions. Divine Beasts. Why do those sound familiar? Where did he hear that? From whom? There was a distant voice at the back of his mind, growing louder by the second – a voice he only heard once as he fell to the void of the forgotten – yet its words eluded him.

His companion must have noticed something amiss with the wolf and turned to look at him. The action alone made Twilight's thoughts went blank, and his heart sank. His face, good goddesses! Burn scars crisscrossed the left side of his face down to his neck, almost eating away the remaining unblemished skin. Dark bags hung heavy below his eyes. The kid looked around seventeen to eighteen years of age, with unkempt, long honey-blond hair tied in a low ponytail and scars so terrible that no one of his age should have.

What has the world and the goddesses done to you, kid?

"Wolfie…? What's the matter?" The kid reached out one hand but quickly withdrew it, clutching it with what Twilight remembered as the other with worse scars. He glanced at Twilight before surging forward, arms flying around his neck. Twilight stiffened at the sudden embrace, but it felt that there is more to it than just a simple hug.

"I'm fine…" The kid's voice was muffled against his fur. "I really am…so, please don't make that...face. Don't look...at me like that, Wolfie. Not...not you too."

Twilight wondered what he meant by that. Was it the shock on his face at seeing those scars distort such a young face? Or was it the seething anger directed to the goddesses who abandoned a child? Either way, there is more to this kid than he looked, and that Twilight is certain now – this kid knows Wolfie. Not another wolf with the same name, but him. His scent was a dead giveaway he tried to ignore. There is no way that it is familiar to him if he did not encounter him before as a wolf. But where? When did we meet? He could not remember.

"If that guy knows Wolfie," Four's words echoed in his mind. "It might mean that our wolf friend had come here before and met him."

The Rancher angled his head slightly and tried to search this kid's face for anything to jog his traitorous memory, but only broke his heart to pieces. Without the hood, this boy's face was left visible for the cruel world to see and mock.

They stayed there – Twilight letting him cling on him like a lifeline – before the kid pulled away, wearily rubbing his puffy eyes and stifling a yawn. He quietly watched him stood up and stumbled toward a detached wall and plopped beside it. He sat there aghast when the boy simply laid down without anything between him and the cold ground. He trotted to his side, nudging his snout at his ribs because What in the three timelines are you thinking, kid? You cannot sleep on the ground like that!

The kid simply wrapped an arm over the wolf's back, forcing Twilight on his belly. The Rancher lifted his head to scold him but paused when he saw his tear-stained cheeks. The boy looked so young and vulnerable yet has already seen the horrors of the world. He did not know what urged him – perhaps, an instinct he was not aware of – to lean in and lick the kid's checks clean. He would have missed the soft smile on that face were it not for him lying down in such close proximity. Once satisfied with his work, he pressed against the boy's chest. His companion's rhythmic breathing and heartbeat told him that this boy is safe, safe, safe, and finally lulled him to sleep.

Twilight dreamed of rolling hills, thick forests, and the smell of blue and white wildflowers. He dreamed of an adventure not unlike his, of the sound of laughter, and of blue eyes that seemed to reflect the skies above and the deep oceans below; the sound of screeching metal reaching his ears, a desperate shout, and then the feeling of warmth and love fluttering in his chest. He dreamed of shadows dragging him away, of scarred hands trying to anchor him and failing, and a voice promising him of a chance to reunite with someone lost.

"Do not forget, Hero of Twilight. Do not forget what you have lost through time and space. When the promised day arrives, he will need you again. So, you must not forget…and save him."