Wild's eyes never left his foe as they circled each other. They have been repeating this same dance for hours now, watching each other like two predators locked in a territorial stand-off. A nasty sword cut is on his cheek, and his arms are nearly numb in pain, but he never lets either distract him. He waited, his eyes searching for any openings to exploit, and there. Right there! With speed he used to match the Lizalfos in his era, he surged forward, drawing his enemy to move as well. He slashed sideways, meeting his opponent's blade in a burst of sparks. For the first three seconds, their blades ground against each other, but Wild knew better. In this battle of strength, his foe has the upper hand.

In a split second, the Champion changed the angle of his sword by three solid degrees and slid it against the length of the opposing blade. The sound of metal scraping against each other screeched in the air, and his enemy had half the sound mind to pull back before he got dismembered into half. Wild lunged toward the retreating form using the momentum he gained, and his opponent responded by raising his shield just in time to block the attack. The blade dug deep in the wood, and before he could yank it back, his foe bodily shoved him.

The Champion managed to steady himself almost immediately, but his enemy was already on him with his sword raised before he knew it. He has no blade to intercept the attack and no time to prepare himself for a shield parry. All he could do was to lift his shield and bear with the potentially skull-cracking blow. He managed to hold his ground for a few seconds before his shield finally caved in. There was a loud CRACK! and his shield broke in half. Wild stumbled from the recoil and fell on his back, his broken shield lying on his chest and cleaved cleanly into two.

"You," Wild panted, wincing at the throbbing pain on his left arm. "Got an arm like a Moblin."

A pair of mud-caked boots stopped by his feet, and a hand was held out to help him up. "You said to hit as hard as I can, and I obliged." His mentor said as he hauled the scarred youth up to his feet. "I gave you a fair warning earlier, but you insisted.

"Lot of good that did to me." Wild grumbled as he moved his left arm and flexed his fingers. He could already tell he would be sore for days to come with how his muscles screamed in pain. "Didn't regret it, though. I'm just glad I wasn't using any of my good shields."

"You need to learn some self-preservation," Twilight said as he drove his sword on the ground and pried the younger man's blade off his shield. "On the other hand, I've got a better grip on your battle skills compared to last time. You've got incredible footwork. Your footsteps are the lightest among us, and that makes it easier for you to change your stances. Did the Sheikah train you?"

"Yeah…" Wild nodded reluctantly as he slid the strap of his broken shield off his arm and dropped it on the ground. The real Link was. Not me. "I also learned sword dancing from the Gerudo. Riju was insistent that it will be useful for me and well…." He shrugged. "I guess she's right."

The Rancher hummed approvingly and patted the flat of his protégé's blade on its owner's back. "Don't slouch. Otherwise, you will skewer yourself with your sword." Then, on the Champion's right elbow. "Loosen your arm. You're still too tense. You also need to adjust your hold on your sword like this."

Twilight passed the sword back to Wild and showed him how to grip the hilt properly. "Hold it like this, so you will not risk hurting yourself and be able to control your sword the way you want it to be. Remember, you're holding a sword now, not a bow."

"Right." Wild tried for a few swings and perked up at how easily he has done it compared to earlier. "Huh…that felt better."

The Rancher smiled at his reaction. "See? I told you. Now," He placed his hand to hold his protégé's wrist while the other pressed carefully on the flat side of the blade. "The weight of the sword and the bow are different. You need to get used to it. If you're having difficulty wielding it, that's a sure sign that you need to change your sword. We can ask the Smith to help you find one suitable for you."

"Can I get a magic sword?" Wild asked, his eyes sparkling in excitement at the prospect of a new weapon. "You know, like Hyrule's?"

Twilight cast him a disapproving look. "No. Knowing how crazy you can get with a Fire Rod? That's an easy 'no', Cub." His protégé pouted at that, and the Rancher could not resist ruffling his hair, which earned him a smack on the hand. He chuckled. "Though I gotta admit, you caught me off-guard. I have yet to spar someone who could hold out against my strength and recover that quickly. You've got a strong shield arm. Possibly stronger than all of us. You just need to tweak your defensive stance a bit. After that, there's nothing for us to improve in that area."

"Well," Wild said, nudging the broken shield with his boot. "Someone has to hold out against those Lynels. Dealing with them is a pain in the ass, but I guess practicing my blocks and parries when they're charging at me earned me some points."

Twilight blinked at him. "You…WHAT? You're parrying Lynels? While they're charging at you, no less? Why in Hylia's name would you even –" He paused mid-sentence, his eyes staring at Wild in horror, before shaking his head and clicking his tongue. "Of course, you would. I just remembered it. No wonder. Goddesses, help me."

Wild simply shrugged, feeling particularly unrepentant. Anything to survive, right? If Twilight finds him using Lynels as training dummies shocking, he could not wait for his reaction once the Rancher remembers he mounts their back as part of his anti-Lynel battle strategy. The Champion could not hide the grin on his lips at that thought. Oh, he cannot wait!

"Are you guys done?"

Wild and Twilight turned in the direction of their audience. Hyrule, Legend, and Sky had finished their chores earlier and had gathered to watch them spar. Neither mentor nor protégé minded, and the trio has been on their best behavior throughout and did not unnecessarily distract them. The two sheathed their swords and walked toward the others lounging by the piled-up stacks of hay near the barn.

"Your strength is frightening as ever, Twilight," Hyrule said. "Thank Hylia that we're on the same side."

"I swear, you take a potion or something." Legend accused from where he is sitting on a lone boulder. "No one's got crazy strength as you do."

"Really?" Twilight smirked at the Veteran. "Oh, come on, Vet! You know me better than that."

"Could've fooled me." Legend scoffed, then turned to Wild. "Still, I'm surprised that our Champion here needs a lot of work on his swordsmanship. That's unexpected, considering you've wielded the Master Sword at some point of your journey."

The grin on Wild's face dropped, and his grip on the hilt of his sheathed sword tightened until his knuckles turned white. It took Twilight glaring at him for Legend to realize his blunder. The Veteran flinched at the scathing look the Rancher was throwing him and the tense atmosphere that suddenly enveloped them. His only saving grace came in the form of the Hero of the Skies.

Sky stood up from his hay bale and addressed the Rancher. "Would you mind sparring with me, Twilight? It's been a while." He paused, remembering he did not have any weapon on him at the moment. "And…I uhhh… I'll need a sword. Do you mind if I borrow yours, Wild?"

The Skyloftian was only glad to leave the Master Sword in the room he was staying in with Hyrule, Legend, and Four. Otherwise, he would just be rubbing salt in the wound. He still did not know what happened between Wild and Fi for the former to react like that every time the subject of him wielding the Master Sword is brought up. Zelda might, but his girlfriend has been tightlipped about it.

"No matter how twisted the truth may be, the Hero of the Wild is one of you. His title is more than enough proof of that testament." Zelda told him. "So, look after him in my stead. Will you do that for me, Link?"

She did not have to tell Sky twice. Wild is one of his reincarnations and successors like the seven other heroes. He wanted to look after them. Whether it is because of obligation as their predecessor or just because he wants to, it matters little to the Skyloftian. He cares for them and loves them like his brothers. He will make sure that everyone will come back to their home eras safe and sound by the end of this convoluted quest.

The two men stared at each other for a moment before Wild nodded slowly. "Sure…" If the Champion noticed how relieved the Skyloftian was, he did not show.

"I heard Sky inviting Twilight to spar." Warriors announced as he appeared from the back of the barn and joined the growing gathering of heroes. "You're not going to use the Master Sword?"

If looks could kill, Warriors would be already dead. Four pairs of eyes turned in his direction, glaring daggers on the spot where he nearly stumbled to a halt. If this is divine punishment, it is downright and undoubtedly terrifying. He could not remember any reason to warrant such expression from the others. Heck, he could not believe that even the most carefree among them – Sky - is capable of pulling a look like that. The glare the Skyloftian was boring holes on him is more than enough to strike him down into a pile of hero ash.

"No." The Skyloftian's voice was low. The usually serene smile on his face failed to reach his eyes this time. "She'll burn my hand if I try and raise her against any of her masters. All of us know that, Captain."

…Which Warriors promptly understood as Read the atmosphere and have some tact, Captain. His blue eyes flicked at Legend, who is signing him with Death, Say nothing, and Stop being a moron, and to the Rancher, who is positively giving him a charming look that will probably scare his nightmares away for the rest of his days. His gaze landed on their wild gremlin, and he immediately regretted not joining them half an hour later.

"Right…" The Captain coughed. "Right. Yeah. It's supposed to be a joke, but I...uhhh, sorry, I forgot."

Sky let his eyes linger on Warriors longer before turning to Wild. He held out his hand to accept the sword, but the Champion did not budge. "Really? Doesn't want to hurt us?" The Champion's voice was barely a whisper, but with the unsettling silence reigning over them, it was loud enough for them to hear. "Hah…as if I need more proof why it hasn't stopped it before."

The Chosen Hero opened his mouth to question that when Wild shoved his sword roughly to the man's waiting hand. "It's getting late," The Champion announced as he strode past them. "I'm going to help Missus Malon prepare dinner. I'll see you guys later."

The others could only stare at the retreating back of the Hero of the Wild. The Champion could not care less; he ignored Twilight's call for the nickname he was only allowed to use, listened none to Hyrule and Sky as the two scolded the Veteran and the Captain, and passed by Time, Wind, and Four who was about to join them. He did not stop walking, did not look back, because if he did…if he did what? Cry? Throw a temper tantrum? Pity his already pathetic self? Wild did not know. He did not want to know. He just marched toward the house until he reached the kitchen door. The pounding in his head nearly drowned the loud CREAK! of the wooden door, and he did not have time to compose himself when he came face-to-face with the matriarch of the house.

"Oh? Wild? You're back early." Malon set down the basket of apples on the kitchen counter and smiled at him. "Is your training with Twilight done already?"

Wild clenched and unclenched his fists and counted up to five in his mind before answering. "Y-Yeah…" He tilted his head away from Malon's sight and pushed the door shut behind him. "Are…are those for the apple pie?"

"Yes, I was about to wash them." Malon set the basket aside further along the counter and wiped her hands on the skirt of her apron. She leaned against the aisle and gave Wild a knowing look. "Now then, tell me what happened, dear."

Wild stiffened, his right hand latched on the corner of the counter in a tight grip. "Nothing…" He mumbled, keeping his eyes from meeting Malon's. "Nothing happened."

"Oh no, I know that face. I've seen it a lot of times." Malon walked toward him and placed a gentle hand on his back. "Come. Let's go sit at the table and talk."

Whatever half-hearted protests Wild was about to say trailed away as Malon escorted him to the dining table. The woman pulled out a chair and ushered the young man to sit before going back to the kitchen. Wild dared not to speak first, his eyes focusing on the table, on his lap, on his scarred hands, anywhere that is not Malon. The woman returned shortly with two mugs of steaming chocolate and handed one to the scarred youth.

"I know it's early for this, but I think you'll need it," Wild mumbled his thanks as Malon settled down on a chair opposite of him. "Now, be honest with me, dear. Did you get in a fight with the others?"

"No…" The Champion shook his head. "Not...necessarily."

"Did they say something that hurt you?" Malon inquired. "Maybe something you don't want to hear or don't want to talk about?"

Silence. The woman watched the young man's gaze fall on the warm beverage cupped in his hands. Hesitantly, the Hero of the Wild bobbed his head once and nothing more.

"I see...do you want to tell me about it?"

Does he? Wild had only told four people – his era's Zelda, Impa, Hyrule, and Sun – about the Master Sword burning him. The Great Deku Tree is also aware, and most of the Koroks, especially Hestu, but none of them said a word. He had gone through this multiple times and received two contrasting feedbacks – similar denials from his era's Zelda, Impa, and Hyrule, and…honestly, he did not know what to make of Sun's response. The incarnation of the Goddess Hylia was in utter disbelief at first. Then, before Wild knew it, he was getting reacquainted with the divine sword and receiving his hero title. It was a whirlwind of activities and emotions back then, and more so when Sun playfully called him by his title when they returned to the others.

Wild peered at the red-haired woman waiting patiently across him. He could imagine Time sitting in his place, in the same room, and baring his entire soul to this woman. He wanted to do the same – remove these ugly feelings welling inside this chest, albeit temporarily. Should he trust her? He just met Malon yesterday, and…well, he could not describe their first encounter in words alone. While his initial instincts were to push her away, there was a nagging feeling in his soul that told him he was in safe hands - that she would not hurt him, that he could trust and believe in her just like Twilight. She reminded him of someone he should know a long time ago - someone that the real Link knew long before he died.

"Courage is not attributed to heroics alone, Link. Courage to believe is still courage, and you," Sun told him. "Believe. You believe in people that you hold close to your heart, in people you highly regard, and in people you see a potential within. You are courageous in ways more than one, Link."

Maybe Sun is wrong. Maybe his 'so-called' courage is not a strength. Perhaps it is his fatal flaw - something that will come back to bite him on the ass when the time is ripe. But he still wanted to try.

Be more selfish.

Whether it was for honesty or self-gratification, he wanted to try. He already risked the truth four times, and three of them backfired spectacularly on his face. Why not another one? What is he going to lose by trying again? He began with nothing. He will end with nothing.

"Missus Malon…" Wild murmured after a beat of silence. "There's... there's something I wish to confess. Can you…can you promise me that you will not tell the others? At least…not anytime soon."

That earned him an assuring smile from Malon. "Of course. I won't tell a soul. Not even my Link."

Wild let out a breath he did not know he was holding. His fingers slipped around the mug's handle, and he thumbed the smooth surface absentmindedly. "I…I had a nightmare last night. It's the same thing since I first visited Sky's era. Something I haven't told anyone, even Twilight. In my nightmare, I was submerged in a tub of glowing water. It is dark. There are lights…orange and blue...but it is still dark."

"I'm not alone, though. There is someone with me. He has…he has the same face as me. He has his hands around my neck and…and he was trying to choke me, to kill me. He was angry at me…angry at me for being someone I am not, for being someone I didn't want to be. I wanted to fight back, but I couldn't. I can't breathe, I can't move, I…." His gripped tightened around the mug as he spoke hoarsely. "I can't do anything at all."

Wild took a shuddering breath. In. Out. One, two, three. Do not break apart. Not now. "The thing is, that person is right. I'm..." He pursed his lips and lifted his head to meet Malon's worried gaze. "Missus Malon... I'm no hero. I'm not Link. The Master Sword...the Master Sword burns me every time I touch it. I am not one of its masters. My era's Link died one hundred years ago."

The Champion dropped his gaze in shame and blinked the tears threatening to spill from his eyes. It is always like this - him feeling ashamed about being seen as someone he had never been since he 'woke up'. He did not want to see the misplaced pity in their faces, did not want to hear them say he is just mistaken because he has lost 'his' memories, and did not want to feel their touches to console him. He is so sick and tired of it. He just wants to curl to himself, close his eyes, and block his ears. He wanted to be blind, deaf, and numb to all of it...but he could not. He is stuck in a soulless body for Hylia-knows-long. It is his borrowed flesh as it is his well-crafted prison.

Wild wanted to stop. He tried to stop there, but the truth kept spilling from his lips now he had started. "I'm afraid... I'm afraid that they'll hate me if they learn the truth. Afraid that Twilight would push me away once he remembered. I can't..."

His fingers clenched around the mug. "I...I don't think I can take that. I ran away and hid because I wanted to cut my ties with others. I don't want to get attached to anyone, but...but..." He gritted his teeth. "I'm stupid...so so stupid! I shouldn't have, but I...I grew to like them. I'm not like them, but I..."

The Champion let go of the mug as a humorless chuckle bubbled in his throat. "Isn't it weird? I'm not like them. I'm not a reincarnation of the Hero's Spirit, yet I feel like this. I don't want...I didn't plan to get attached to them, but I couldn't help it. The longer I stay by their side, the more my walls collapse. Even...even if I don't want to. I just...it just feels right. Like...like I am supposed to be here. I don't understand. I don't know what's wrong with me! I shouldn't feel like this! I don't belong here! I'll never be!"

He slumped forward on the table and buried his face in his arms. "I don't want to do this anymore, Missus Malon. I don't think...I can't continue deceiving them. I can't continue like this...but I'm afraid. Really, really afraid. I'm... I'm tired of running away, but I'm scared of being left alone. I don't want to continue living like this, but I...I..."

Wild could not take it anymore. He pulled his legs to his chest and folded to himself. His face was buried on his knees as his body was wracked with muffled sobs. Everything has fallen apart. He has fallen apart. The ugly parts of him - his insecurities, his weaknesses, and his deceptions - have all reared their heads. His head hurts so much that he wants it to end. The cacophony of voice that whispered and tore at him only grew louder that it was deafening.

"Hylian Champion."

"Imposter."

"Chosen hero."

"Hypocrite."

"Link!"

A scraping sound beside him cut the voices off, and a warm body settled on the chair next to him. An arm slung around his shoulders and pulled him close, coaxing him to rest his weary head on the shoulder of another. A calloused hand carded delicately through his hair, and Wild let out a choked sob at the gentle touch.

"I'm no stranger to nightmares, dear," Malon told him. "My Link has more than a fair share of them. He would often wake up in the middle of the night, shivering like a tiny leaf and unable to speak to me until dawn. However, there are times when I'll be the one doing the waking. It is the same. The same monsters, the same evil, chasing after him after all these years. Even if they're gone, even if they're dead, they have continued to haunt him like when they're still alive."

"But you know the worst part? That is, whenever I see that expression on his face. That face as if he had given up to his demons, that he accepted the fact that he will never find peace, that he will be forever a prisoner of his past and his mind. Whenever I see that tormented look on his face, it breaks my heart, and I want nothing but to hold him. I would hold him tight and tell him that everything was alright. That his journey has ended, and there will be no monsters, no Ganondorf, who will come after him. I can't erase his past, but I could at least ease his burdens. I will just hold him until he finally falls asleep. Until he is ready to talk to me."

Malon sighed and leaned her head against the crown of Wild's head. "Wild, I can't imagine what you have gone through. You, my Link, and the rest of the boys. But know that I believe in you. You may not have their spirit, but you're still a hero. Anyone can be a hero, but only a few truly acted on it. You acted on it. You saved Hyrule when no one else was able to. You are kind, courageous, honest, an experienced warrior, and a pretty darn good cook -" That elicited a raspy chuckle from Wild. "- So, whether you are the reincarnation of the same hero or not, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if you can't wield the Master Sword. You're a hero through and through, and nothing could change that. Even if you stumble and fall, I won't fault you. Even if your quest takes years, my home will always be open to you. All of you deserve a happy ending, and that's something I pray to the goddesses wholeheartedly."

"So, ease your fears, my dear. You're more courageous and precious than the world could ever hope for." Malon wrapped her arms tightly around Wild's vulnerable form and kissed the top of his head. "More than we could ever hope for."

They stayed there, holding on to each other, as Wild cried his heart out until his voice became raw and he could no longer shed more tears. The woman did not let go as she escorted him up to the heroes' room and stayed by his side until his tears had dried and he fell into the clutches of sleep. There were only looks of understanding as others peered into the room and little words spoken as they went downstairs to prepare their overdue dinner. She knows that the heroes still had a long way to go before they could fully heal, but she believes in her heart that none of them would be alone every step of the way.

The mugs of chocolate have gone cold, but Lon Lon Ranch remains a warm haven to weary and scarred souls.

I swear I have no personal vendetta against Warriors and Legend. I like them actually, especially Legend. They'll have their spotlights soon. Of course, in a good way. Also, angry Sky is one of my favorite sides of the Skyloftian.