This is the second to the last chapter for Book 1 of The Fragmented Hero series.

If Time has a rupee every time one of his reincarnations gets into trouble, he would have already become the richest man in his Hyrule. By the time dawn comes the next day, he and the other four Links trudged down the mountain to meet up with Sky and Wind. It was past ten already in the morning when they reached their destination, and Time was starting to regret hiking down early, which he chalked on getting away from that place as soon as possible.

"What happened here?"

He could not remember the last time he saw a similar scene - it was if Sky and Wind had hosted a party in their absence and got their guests wasted. The Rito, all five of them including Gesane, were sprawled on bedrolls and makeshift beds of leaves under the shade of the trees. Their faces were contorted in various expressions of pain, sickness, and perhaps, regret. Many of them are unconscious, while some were barely awake through half-lidded eyes. One even looked close to vomiting on where he was lying down.

"Sky, Wind," The said heroes flinched and slowly turned to an unamused Time who has his arms crossed over his chest. "What happened here?"

Sky smiled sheepishly. "Er…food poisoning?"

"Food poisoning?" Hyrule nearly screeched. "Why? What in Hylia's name did you guys do?"

"Um…well, these guys got here last night, so we have them join us for dinner." An expression of unadulterated horror and disgust passed over the new arrivals. "Wind and I went foraging in that forest. You know, fish, herbs, mushrooms, just the usual you could find in the wild, though…we don't know almost half of them." Seeing them boring holes on him, Sky quickly supplied. "Wind and I are fine though! I think we mixed in something that they shouldn't eat."

A collective groan escaped the five Links. "Please tell me it was you who cooked, Sky." Hyrule pleaded, looking as if he was at his wits' end for the second time in the week. "Please."

"Uh…"

"I did." Wind looked down on his feet, scuffing his right boot on the dusty ground. "Not Sky."

Hyrule looked like he was close to tearing his hair off. Wind shrunk to himself, too ashamed to even look at the Traveler. Sky sidled next to Wind while Time gave the youngest Link a look of sympathy before placing a firm hand on Hyrule's shoulder. "Why not take a look at our patients first, Hyrule? You can scold them all you want later."

The Traveler glowered at Sky and Wind, considering to roast them right now, but a pained groan reached his ears, and he was immediately moving toward Gesane's side. He shot a look to Sky and Wind – one that clearly says, This is not over – before turning back to Gesane. He began asking questions in that gentle tone of his that he usually used when treating the other Links of their injuries, that is, if they are not being stubborn about hiding them from him.

Four leaned in and whispered to Legend. "Kinda ironic of him to get angry about it when he's the worst at cooking."

The Veteran snorted. "Tell that to my successor."

They decided to leave the Traveler with his work in peace and moved their little procession further into the forest, where Time recounted their conversation with Twilight last night. "So…we're stuck in a waiting game?" Sky frowned, fiddling with the knot of his sailcloth. "That doesn't sound, I don't know, smart?"

"It can't be helped." Time said. "The incarnation of the Goddess in your time doesn't exactly have her future memories of sending us out in this mission, nor we know exactly the placement of this Hyrule in the three timelines. We have to make do with any help we could find. It just so happened that Twilight and Hyrule found someone who can speak freely with the Goddess when we, her heroes, cannot."

"Is it alright to leave Twilight and Wolfie by themselves?" Wind fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. "What if something happens? Like what if that guy attacks them?"

Time's smile was reminiscent of that of a proud father to his children. "I have complete faith in them. Twilight's not a Hero of Courage like us for nothing, and Wolfie has his fair share of battles with us. If anything, that person should be wary of them, instead of the other way around."

"Besides," Four piped in from his perch on a boulder. "He said we'll likely cross paths with them. If something bad happens, we'll know."

Having convinced of the safety of their own, Wind nodded slowly in relief. Beside him, Sky was watching Hyrule jumped from one Rito to another with practiced ease. The Traveler has so much experience with the seven of them that it would be surprising if he started panicking now. Hyrule never panics, especially if it is a life-or-death situation.

Warriors leaned his back against a tree behind Sky. "What are you thinking there, Sky?"

The Skyloftian was silent for a moment before answering. "About the Link of this Hyrule." That earned him a few questioning looks from his reincarnations, so he elaborated. "I'm thinking why he would just disappear like that. Sure, Ganon's defeated, and his Zelda's rescued, but what about everything else? Everywhere we looked, there are ruins, towns, and cities destroyed, and so many lives lost that we might as well be standing on their graves right now without us knowing. We haven't seen a soul other than the Rito and the guy Twilight and Wolfie were keeping an eye out."

The Chosen Hero sighed and ran an exasperated hand across his hair. "It's just…it doesn't feel right. I feel like we're missing something important in the full story, and even if we ask Gesane or his friends, I don't think they can give us an answer." He paused, clenched and unclenched his fists, before giving them a wan smile. "Sorry. I don't know why I suddenly feel frustrated. This place just…it hides so many secrets that it's hard to keep up."

Across him, Legend huffed. "Don't worry about it." He said. "You're not the only one." He glared at the others, daring them for a rebuttal. No one tried to refute his statement because it is true. They did not just address it until Sky brought it up – the sense of trepidation that has been haunting them since they watched Gesane and his fellow Rito left the Great Plateau yesterday.

Four made a sour face. "This Hero's Spirit connection really sucks." That earned him a few chuckles. The glum atmosphere immediately lighting up. "I swear, if this jumble of emotions is from this new Link, I'm going to greet them a good one."

"Might have been mine." Sky said though he seemed uncertain. "Probably."

"Or might be the Traveler's." Warriors grinned at him and Wind, cocking his head in the direction of the said Link. "Hylia knows how long his lecture will last. Bet you fifty rupees that he will make you kneel the whole time."

"Ouch." Four winced at the imagery but shared the Captain's grin all the same. "I'll bet seventy rupees he's going to make Sky and Wind memorize every kind of flora and fauna he came across his journey."

"Make that a hundred."

"Legend!" Wind looked utterly terrified at hearing the horrors waiting for him and Sky from Hyrule's who-knows-how-many-hours-long lecture on what to eat and not to eat from the wild, but the Hero of the Four Sword shrugged. "You guys are being cruel."

"We're just being realistic, Wind." Four explained, trying to sound sympathetic but failing. "We've been there before." Vio and Green shuddered at the memory of Blue and Red mixing in stuff that should not be included in a red potion. They were running low on supplies back then, so they experimented on making one. Vio tried to stop them, but with none of the Links capable of brewing potions and elixirs, someone has to try. About half of the ingredients were apparently poisonous.

"Time, please stop them!" Wind whined.

Time stared at Wind and Sky for a moment. "Good luck." He deadpanned before turning his head. A glint of amusement in his good eye. "Speaking of evil incarnate, or rather the enemy of evil incarnate, Hyrule's here."

Hyrule emerged from the bushes with a new Rito at tow. This one is comparably taller than Gesane, with white feathers tipped with black. He wore a sky blue scarf over a colorful leather armor with a metallic chest guard etched with tribal symbols. A wooden bow was slung over his back, and he walked with the air of a distinguished warrior. His sharp yellow eyes fell on the gathered Links as the Traveler introduced him. "Guys, this is Teba. He's the Champion that Gesane was talking about yesterday."

Teba gave a curt nod. "Greetings, travelers. I am Teba, Champion of the Rito and pilot of the Divine Beast Vah Medoh. I was informed by my fellow Rito regarding your situation, though…it seemed we're quite in a bind." He shot a frigid look at Sky and Wind. "I can assist with bringing you down, but I'm in a bit of a hurry."

Warriors' eyes drifted to Sky. "Is it about the hero of Hyrule?"

Something changed in Teba's expression. Shock? Anger? Protectiveness? The Captain could not tell. "Did Gesane tell you about him?"

"Only bits and pieces that everyone probably knows already." Warriors nodded, holding his ground under the withering glare coming from the Rito. "But…" He crossed his arms, adapting a cool expression. "There's more to it, isn't there?"

Teba considered the blue scarfed Hylian across him, from his blond hair to his blue eyes, and even the chainmail underneath his green tunic and the sword sheathed behind his back. "You looked like him." Some of the Links tilted their heads. They get that a lot and are used to it. "If I hadn't known him, I might mistake you as his family…which you are not."

Wind scooted close to Sky, the latter slinging a protective arm over his shoulder. Legend pretended as if he never heard while Four stared hard at the Rito, his eyes glittering purple beneath the shadows of the tree canopies. Warriors simply shrugged while Time chuckled. "Can't say we are. We haven't seen him yet on the flesh." He admitted. "And if we found out that we are, it would be a huge honor for us to call the hero of Hyrule as family."

Teba does not seem to buy it. The Hero of Time could tell they are not in the Rito Champion's good graces. "It isn't my place to tell such private details." He said, crossing his wings together. "I respect Link and his secrets. If he wishes to disclose things to me, I will lay down my life protecting them if he wanted me to."

"Tell me, travelers," Everyone tensed at the cold tone from the Rito. They could tell he is not someone easily fooled. "Who are you really? What is your business here on the Great Plateau? I could only count three Hylians who have the capability to reach this place, and one of them has been long dead. Not to mention that my fellow Rito fell ill under your watch."

He reached for his bow, and Warriors, Time, and Legend fell into a battle stance in response - ready to protect the others if a fight breaks out. "Answer me honestly, and you might live without worrying about a bounty on your heads."

Hyrule swallowed thickly. This is not what he expected things would turn out when the Rito Champion arrived while he was tending the Rito and brought him to meet the others. If this Hyrule has a Link, it is likely that they will come back here. Having a bounty on their heads will not make a good Welcome back! mat for them in the near future.

The Traveler moved in front of Teba, ignoring the huge height difference, and raised his palms to pacify the Rito. "Wait, wait! Please calm down. We're not here to hurt anyone. Our situation is just a bit…complicated. Okay, maybe saying a bit is an understatement, but please believe us that we're here to help!"

Teba regarded the Hylian before him. "Your name…you're Hyrule, isn't it?"

The Traveler did not know where the conversation is going from that point. "Um…yeah. Did Gesane give you our names?"

"He did." Teba nodded. "And more. He vouched for the sincerity of your words, and you, Hyrule, has worked hard to correct the wrong of your kin." Sky and Wind visibly winced at that. The Rito eyed them more, then turned back to Hyrule before lowering his wing to his side. "Fine then. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt."

That eased the tension a bit. Hyrule beamed. "Thank you!"

Teba shook his head. "Don't thank me yet. There's a difference between giving you a chance and trusting you." He narrowed his eyes at them. "I hope you will not waste it."

"Then, if that's the case," Time loosened his grip on his sword and cast a quick look at the other Links, who immediately understood what he was about to say. "Will it help if we properly introduce ourselves? We have our secrets, but our identities shouldn't be one of them, especially when the Rito had offered us help."

The Rito Champion waved it off. "No need. Your names and faces are enough for me. I could tell from your eyes that your intentions do not harbor ill will. More importantly, about Link," He tapped his left talon on the ground. "Only the princess and a few members of the Sheikah tribe are aware of the truth. But I know that Link has been distressed since his battle against Calamity Ganon, so much so that he would leave the princess he has sworn to protect. No one has seen a peep from the hero for three months now. I've gotten in touch with my fellow Champions, but they too were in the dark."

"If you don't mind me asking," Four spoke up. "What is your relationship with Link?"

Teba's expression softened – something that the other Links witnessed from Time once or twice. "He's like a son to me. My wife, Saki, adored him, and my son, Tulin, and the other chicks in our village looked up to him like an older brother. He might be the hero blessed by the Goddess, yet he acts like your everyday Hylian. He treats everyone with respect and protects anyone without a second thought about his life. He's reckless, wild, and stubborn…but he is perhaps the kindest soul I have ever met."

Sky smiled. "He must be a wonderful person. I would love to meet him."

The Rito agreed. "He's quite friendly. Should you meet, I insist you taste his dishes. I'd wager my honor as the Rito Champion that he is the best cook in all of Hyrule."

If Legend were holding something, he would have already dropped it. "He can cook?"

"Not important, Legend." Time chided, but his words do not match the thrilled glint in his eyes. They are all fine warriors of their own rights, but none of them could cook something worthy of staking someone's honor. He turned to Teba. "We'll try our best to help. Gesane has already told us what he looks like."

"That's good to hear." Teba nodded. "I just hope that Link hasn't gotten himself hurt. He can take care of himself, of course, but it could be worrying. Monster attacks have gotten frequent as of the late, and people tend to stay in towns and villages. The roads aren't safe as they used to be weeks ago, even with Calamity Ganon's defeat."

Wind, who deemed it to be safe, slid out of Sky's arm and peered at the Rito. "Speaking of, Gesane told us there's no one here, but Hyrule and Twilight said they saw someone." He pointed at the Temple of Time standing at a distance, barely visible between tree trunks. "They said they found him praying in there."

Teba's eyebrows furrowed together. "That isn't possible unless he is a Rito, which assumed was not what they saw. Did you happen to see what that person looked like?

Hyrule shook his head. "We didn't. He was wearing a hood, but Twilight said that he's Hylian. Twilight's been tailing him since yesterday. That's why he isn't here." He explained, intentionally omitting Wolfie. He got a feeling that wolves are not well-received here either, despite their mystery person having a wolf as a pet.

"Hmm…" Teba placed a wing under his beak - a contemplative look on his face. "A Hylian, you say? But there are only two who can go here. Princess Zelda and…" He stiffened as his eyes widened with realization. "It can't be. Don't tell me after all these months, and he's just here the whole time?"

Time, Warriors, Legend, and Four went rigid when they caught on to what Teba was thinking while the others looked genuinely confused. Wind took it upon himself to ask. "Uhhh…who?"

"Link!" Teba exclaimed furiously, nearly flapping his wings. "The person that you found. That's Link! He's here the whole time. I don't know how he managed to evade our sights, but I'm quite certain that's him!"

Hyrule gaped at Teba in utter disbelief. "No…no way!"

"Yes way." Legend gritted his teeth, seething. He threw his arms up. "AND IT'S GODDESS-DAMNED UNBELIEVABLE! He's just right here, and we don't know shit! He made us climb a freaking mountain!"

"We need to inform Twilight." Time said, taking in the reins as the calm before the storm. "We need someone fast enough without alerting Link."

"I'll do it." Teba volunteered. "I can fly, and I know Link more than any of you. All I need to know is what your family member looks like."

"He's about as tall as Warriors. Blond hair, kinda leans to brown, and blue eyes." Four supplied quickly, then pointed to his forehead. "There are weird markings on his face, and oh! he wears a pelt. You can't miss that."

Teba nodded appreciatively, though Sky seemed apprehensive. "Will it be alright?" He asked the Rito. "He ran away when he saw Twilight and Hyrule. If he really doesn't want to be found, won't he run away again if he sees any of us?"

"That's…" The Rito's expression faltered for a second before it hardened again to determination. "Link is a part of my family. I can't give up on him. I will never give up on him." He turned, crouched, and unfurled his wings when he froze. His eyes were wide and staring at a small space between the tree canopies.

A frown etched itself on Sky's face when the Rito suddenly became docile. "Teba?" The Links followed the Rito's gaze to what spooked him. There was a second of terrifying silence, only to be broken by the pained crack in Teba's voice.

"Link?"