Hyrule Plains
A man in forest-green tunic wandered about the open fields of Hyrule. Link was his name, vagabond and soldier of the land. The sun shined off the deep blue hilt of the Master Sword, with a metal shield bearing the Kingdom's emblem on his back. This was a familiar sight to most, a promise that evil would be banished and all those threatened protected.
Almost nothing surprised him after so many journeys, but his pointed ears picked up a curious noise from the nearby forest. He wondered if a Kokiri had wandered off from the woods, but that never happened. Link decided to investigate.
The music carried well, a charming melody, it carried like a steady ship across the ocean. Such thoughts made him contemplate memories that weren't fully his but carried a familiarity from another life.
If he had been reborn in a different realm, Link might have recognized the song.
Nowhere Man, by the Beatles.
Performed with a flute.
On a rock sat the strangest man Link had ever seen, which said… A Lot. Wearing a black jacket, checkered slacks, boots, suspenders, and a blue bowtie, the stranger with a mop of dark hair played without any interruption. The young Hylian saw no hint of danger, but decided to keep his hands low to not intimidate.
"Very generous of you."
Link was startled by the sudden stop in music, the man hadn't even opened his eyes.
"Always a risk, running into an armed music critic. They tend to be rather picky."
The man turned to look at Link directly. Any quizzical demeanor in his aged face was peeled away as he saw the man's eyes. A calm, powerful, intelligence in his gaze made the Hylian feel like he were the one unarmed. The sudden smile nearly made Link tumble backwards.
"Always nice to meet a man who carries a sword but leads with his heart." The man stepped forward and offered his hand. "I'm the Doctor, just passing through, though I seemed to be a bit lost. Tell me, oh dear, my apologies, we were having such a fun conversation I forgot to ask for a name."
"Um, L-Link." He said, not used to actually doing a lot of talking. Most people were comfortable to explain what they knew or their life stories without much prompting. He assumed they thought him wise, because he never opened his mouth to prove otherwise.
"Splendid," the Doctor said as he patted Link on the back. "I expect we're going to have a bit fun this afternoon."
"W-We?"
"Well, of course," the strange man said. "I'm looking for a nearby cave and you appear to well acquainted with the area. Don't let a pesky thing like being total strangers hold us up. Hasn't there been something that's been bothering you lately?"
This made Link remember why he chose to explore this part of the countryside. There had been talk of strange lights in the dark, metal horrors stalking the woods. The Doctor looked keenly at Link, as if all this information were shared without a word spoken.
"I'm well acquainted with the nuisance threatening your home, young man," the Doctor explained. "I was actually hoping to draw them out of hiding, they tend to hate expressions of positive emotions. Or any emotion really, besides hate. I do hope you have some practice with that blade, you'll need it."
Link found himself feeling uneasy. Strangers on top of a mystery usually tended to be an ill omen. But he rarely had anyone willing to back him in these situations. While jovial, that iron he'd witnessed in the man's eyes made it seem like having a weapon would not be necessary.
"Wait," the Doctor stopped, patient for Link's words. "I know the way."
The Doctor waited for Link to walk forward and lead the way without any complaint. Thick leaves cast deep shadows until it could be mistaken for night. A smell of death brimmed everywhere. This wasn't the work of beasts Link had ever known, no blood or bones, just the scent of being incinerated. Link came across birds and other small animals, dead and petrified from some internal anguish.
"These creatures we're about to face, they fire a weapon that kills the whole body without leaving a mark. No shield can counter such shots, do not let them hit you."
The Doctor continued to drop these tidbits of information. How the creatures were fully armored with a single eye, with odd arms, and a way of speaking where everything was yelling. Granted, most of the dangers any Link had faced weren't great at conversation. At least the details weren't being delivered by a small-blue-winged spark of annoyance.
After walking through a gap between two trees, clearing came into view. A cave carved into the mountainside, the formation was new. Stone seemingly carved with fire, into a steady ramp where steps would usually be. Link had never seen a surface polished to glass. The Doctor knelt down, running a hand along the place where soil and polish met. He tapped at the glass, as if trying to provoke a spider's web. Where nothing stirred in the shadows below, the Doctor stood before stepping back.
"Link," the Doctor said with a sigh. "There's one more bit of truth you need to understand. I fear… my foe's decision to send scouts to your realm is because of my… visits."
The Hylian's mind suddenly expanded. Either from the Doctor's involvement or from all the memories he now bothered to pay more attention to. Despite surreal circumstances, the Doctor wasn't too much of a stranger.
Links had noticed the Doctor many times. While riding across the sea on The Sea of Red Lions, reclined in a chair on an island while wearing strange, dark, eyewear. As a young boy, playing with cursed masks, running about to stop a falling disaster while the Doctor watched in the distance beside a strange blue rectangle too wide to be a wardrobe. Even the eyes of a wolf could easily see the man who knew Link far more than possible. This revelation failed to bring anger like the Hylian would have expected. The earnestness in the Doctor's eyes to help sabotaged the notion of being a spy for darker forces. That a stranger with surreal power could know fear, asking for aid without any implied personal gain from it, made Link's resolve easily purchased.
"Explain to me your visits when this is over."
That was the accord, no need to be debated. The Doctor nodded, more than willing to make amends. Now, they needed to prepare for battle.
"There are five of them down there," the Doctor explained. "I will not stress enough that I've seen one Dalek tear through entire units of warriors far more heavily armed than you could even imagine. They have one primary weakness, damage their big-blue eye, you'll know it when you see it."
Link had never heard of a Dalek and truly did not care. They were scouts, and armies typically followed after that. No matter the era or personage, Hyrule was his to protect. If these Daleks wanted to challenge his conviction… let them just try.
The slope was smooth under Link's leather boots. His left hand gripped the shield, weightless but sturdy. The Master Sword smoothly cleaved through the air by moving the right hand. Eyes adjusted to darkness, exposing a large space where a large chrome cylinder was pressed against the far wall. A few feet away, Link noticed strange statues. But then they started to move, he noticed their blue eye… and heard them speak in jagged chipped tone.
CEASE MOVMENT IF YOU VALUE YOUR LIFE
Link finally took it for granted that most of his foes hadn't been much for conversation.
He did as requested, not even blinking. Link used this to focus on where the five were positioned and where the small weapon was pointed. It could clearly swivel to fire multiple times from a single direction but it needed a span of three to four seconds to rotate. The other four kept their eyes fixed on him but their bodies were angled other locations.
RELEASE THE PRIMITIVE WEAPON AND SHIELD AND PREPARE TO SURRENDER
Link nodded, kneeling down, slowly, and let his favorite tools slide down the slope.
Both hands flew up, inner magic forming his trusty bow, already armed with a flame arrow. Drawing back took less than a second. It struck the lead Dalek, the monstrosity howled in confusion but didn't appear hurt.
That didn't matter, for Link the next step was simple… survive.
Blue blasts of power, like lightning in the shape of arrows rained down where'd he been. Link rolled forward, down the slop, the heat blazing inches from his flesh. He kicked off when both feet touched the floor and kept running. The bow vanished and a bomb formed, instantly lit. Taking three steps, ducking quick as a shot missed his head, Link tossed it among the enemies. The burst made nightmarish silhouettes of their armored bodies, the fire did little to no damage. Link believed in the Doctor, which meant that he needed to keep the Daleks busy.
Diving between the Daleks, he figured they wouldn't be too eager to fire. Granted their cries of EXTERMINATE were far more grating up close. He felt a sudden vacuum of compressed air as several of the strange cup hands tried to press against his flesh. Remembering the squeeze of Octopi from earlier lives, he figured the pressure would snap his bones like twigs. Now for close quarter combat.
With the sword out of play, it was time for something a little harder to shake off. Summoning the silver gauntlets, Link dipped past the cup arms and formed the megaton hammer. A swift swing clanged against one Dalek's dome, it definitely felt that. A burning energy field unseen but felt buzzed around Link, even touching the bumps would incinerate his flesh. The pressed in, no chance to escape, the chorus of Exterminate as crushing as the next moves would be.
Until the Daleks suddenly stopped. Their arms drooped, only the eyes blazed blue with confusion. The buzzing stopped.
SYSTEMS NOT RESPONDING, EXPLAIN! EXXPLAINNE!
Link reached over them with the hookshot, it scooped up the Master Sword.
ALERT! ALERT! DETECTING THE D—
The second Link gripped his favorite weapon, he reached back with it and focused. All his aura powered into the blade, spiraling about the metal in blue swirl of fire that quickly burned bright orange. Lifting up one foot, Link swung. The power behind the blade made him spin like a twister but the magic guiding him kept his body steady throughout the strike. Roaring, he struck all five Daleks, sending them screaming into the cave walls. The exploded upon impact, reduced to ashes as the sword of Evil's Bane did its work. As the waves of magic subsided, Link took a breathe and smoothly sheathed his sword. The fight was done.
A sudden explosion almost knocked him over. The strange cylinder had been destroyed. The Doctor had managed to sneak over to his side, offering him the shield.
As they left the cave, the Doctor explained his circumstances.
"I'm being punished, you see, tasked with doing the bidding of my people as they slowly, painfully, alter myself. I had moment contemplate the reality that this face, this… me, may die. I don't know if I'll be better or worse for the change, if the name Doctor would even matter anymore."
Link found some the things spoken odd, but recognized the fear. The dread of losing one's very soul. As they reached the sunlight, the Doctor's satisfaction radiated on his face.
"I decided to take advantage of my slight gap of freedom to observe you. A man not quite like myself but with a similar condition. Different people, guided by a core belief in good that burns bright no matter the darkness. I feel there's a lesson in that, which I intend to take to heart, no matter what becomes of me. But alas, I believe this is where we part ways."
Link knew the smile well, he had used it occasionally. The expression used when knowing you'd never see someone ever again. He did not feel too bitter though, that strange evil fought was not meant for him. It was hard to even recall what he had faced… Link wondered if the D… the man could be somehow responsible for this lapse in memory.
"It has been an honor, Link," the man offered his hand. "I wish you and your kin the best in all your lives."
"And all the best in yours, Sir." Link had lost all trace of a name.
They parted after shaking, Link returned to the forest. He barely paid any mind to the stranger, or the curious noise that drummed for a moment before vanishing. Link shrugged, the darkness of passing tree branches made him reflect on the many legends forged under his name. Several young man, even a young woman once, and a wolf another time, along with several altered souls of local tribes using masks; the same heart beat within each. A drive to keep helping others, no matter the danger.
While his time with the stranger faded away, Link knew he had served that creed still. Smiling, he pulled out his ocarina. Fingers danced along the instrument, a playing a recent yet familiar tune of being no one and everyone at the same time. On occasion, he would play that song, remembering a stranger who knew his curious experience of being multiple souls at once. A good lesson to remember.
Many souls but always keep one good heart.