Summary:

Having arrived in the Twilight Realm the Chain trek towards what appears to be a twilit tower. While there they ponder this strange land as Twilight explains more of its history.

Notes:

Posting the previous chapter finally made me understand why writers get so giddy about "number go up" haha. Cool to see people interested in my work already.

In the end they didn't quite make it to the tower.

It was Sky who suggested they stop to eat. And it didn't take much for the rest to agree to give in to their sore muscles. It made sense, just because they still had the same amount of light doesn't mean the time hadn't passed. No one was sure exactly how long they had been at it. But it was agreed to be prudent to conserve their strength now in case things turned sour later. They set up camp and made a fire, just for cooking as there was ample light and it wasn't quite cold. It was all what they had in stock though, even the wood. There appeared to be some vegetation near the tower now that they were closer. The individual blue markings on it now also clearly visible. They probably would have just grit their teeth if not for the black mist flowing off of the side. Twilight was pretty sure that it had been present even after he had purged the realm of Zant's influence, but after last time he knew they couldn't be taking any risks. It was for the best. The cut along his torso had only just healed over with the tendons along his ribcage still ginger from the injury. His body was already screaming at him just from the repeated use of clawshots of the day. And he wasn't alone: Hyrule's life spells had saved him, but repeated use of them had taken a lot out of the guy. Adding to that the debt incurred on his endurance by the many stamina potions he had taken to sustain that endeavour will likely be weighing on him for another week.

Now the chain are mostly finished with dinner. Stubbornly they refuse sleep and even as there is no shift from day to night the heroes cling to their respective habits of the evening. Staring off far into the distance the hero of the skies doesn't mean to speak when he does:

"It's like home."

The sudden words put a stop to Wind drowning himself in the smouldering remains of the fire. "What?" he asks.

Realizing he said those words out loud sky scrambles to reply. "It's just", Sky takes a moment to formulate his thoughts, "This place it reminds me of the place grew up is all." He looks down. He must have been holding the bowl Wild had filled with reheated soup for a while now. He finishes the lukewarm slop in one go.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"I'll admit I wouldn't have taken you for the type," quips Legend, having looked up from the pile of trinkets he had been sorting out.

Sky turns around. "What do you mean?"

The veteran lazily motions to the rancher with his left, the moonpearl he'd been holding still between his fingers. "All this gloom suits gruffy over here much better."

The accused's growl only encourages the pink haired's smug grin.

Sky rolls his eyes. "I wasn't talking about that. It's just Skyloft, it, it was like islands floating in the sky above an endless sea of clouds. They were just more green and the blue i guess."

Legend quickly turns apologetic. "Was huh? Sorry you lost your home."

"Oh it's nothing like that. After i defeated Demise the goddess returned the land to the Surface. Nothing was destroyed nor was anyone harmed by that. Our Loftwing can even still take us above the clouds if we want, but..." sigh "It's not the same."

"Ah."

"Islands?" asks the sailor.

"Well yeah, what else would you call them?"

Wind takes a second to mull it over. "I guess so."

"You say it was returned?" Twilight inquires, having already abandoned his arrow maintenance. They would last a few more shots anyways.

"Oh yes, it was only by the will of the goddess that it was brought skyward in the first place."

"Huh, there is a city like that in my Hyrule. It is inhabited by a truly ancient race of eccentric bird people who have build many temples and gardens there. It appeared suspended in the air by way of some incredible machinery. When you said you came from the sky i had assumed it must have been the same place."

"I know a people like that in my land as well," Wild joins, "The Rito have their champions operate a flying machine.

"Oh, oh, i flew too you know," Wind adds, "Though i never got to enjoy it really."

Legend puts his refilled pouch aside and lays on back. "Sounds like people will be soaring the skies even without those Loftwing you're so fond of."

Sky smile is more than a little melancholic. "That is a nice thought. Thanks for sharing that you guys."

Twilight turns to jest. "I'd say i'd show you around, but i'm afraid of under what circumstances that would be."

The tone is just light enough for the heroes to chuckle at the black humor.

Twilight's own grin doesn't last long though. "The place is kinda wrecked anyways, they're still rebuilding from the rampaging dragon Zant sent their way."

"Whose Zant?" asks Wind.

The rancher frowns at the tower before spitting on a dying ember. "He was no one but a weakminded fool who was lured in by a false god's power."

Legend grimaces. "He's from here no?"

"Yeah, with Ganondorf's power he usurped the throne and turned his fellow Twili into beasts to lead army into an invasion of Hyrule."

Legend crosses his arms "Beasts you say? I gotta ask, what kinda world is this?" he turns towards the black tower and waves towards their barren surroundings, "so far it hasn't been especially welcoming."

Twilight looked around at the others, nobody was even pretending not be listening anymore. He sighed no sense not to tell them now

"It's true this is something of a dark world, at least it used to be.", Some of his brothers frown, but none speak up so Twilight continues: "The people of this realm had been a clan of sorcerers who used their cursed magic to rebel against the goddesses. As punishment they were banished to this realm. Over time they adapted and became the Twili. Since then most have made their peace with their fate and settled into their new, peaceful way of life, though some like Zant remain who resent their continued exile."

Sky had only grown more concerned at that though. "They had forsaken the goddesses? Are you certain they can be trusted?"

"I won't blame them for the sins of their ancestors. I would never have made it if not for the princess of Twilight herself. They even had prophecies of divine beasts like us who would aid them in times of trouble. If we can explain the situation to them i'm sure they'll be very accommodating."

"Princess huh? She looking like a sunset by any chance?" Warriors jibes, "you sure you're not looking at things with some rose tinted glasses?"

That got a cackle. Twilight would have barbed if the mirth in the captain's voice hadn't helped release the tension.

It's Four who speaks up first: "In all seriousness I do believe you, I was aided by one born of shadows too. I don't think someone's origin must define them"

The rancher is quick to add: "I've seen it happen again actually. Amongst the invaders there was the King Bulblin and his rabble. I had bested him in battle many times before i gained his respect saying he followed the strong. Under his lead his followers even aided me in my battle against Ganondorf. When we defeated him the bulblins willingly left the kingdom."

Hyrule is perplexed. "Really? The enemies i fought always appeared so mindless. I never expected they could be swayed, relentless as they were."

"To be honest I had never even considered creatures like that could have a will of their own before until i saw it for myself.", Twilight admits.

Warriors scratches his chin as he grimaces: "You say they follow the strong huh? No I can believe that."

The veteran clears his throat. "There is great evil in the terrible demons, but it also lurks in the hearts of men. We may be heroes, but it is our own choice whether to do good or bad."

The First murmurs: "All the more important we seek Hylia's light then."

Wild eyes are downcast "That hasn't been working so well for me, the calamity spawned creatures of pure malice. But the Yiga broke away from the Shiekah all on their own and i've done little but 'trim the herd'. Some hero i am."

He's unable to further wallow in self-pity however as Time puts a hand on his shoulder. "We shouldn't blame ourselves for the path of others. It's not up to us to control their fate. Our job as heroes is only to lead the way."

"With courage!" Wind hollers as he stands up and raises his fist.

"Aye!" they all cheer.

When it's done Twilight stands up and clasps his hands. "If those were all your questions i'm gonna go and get some rest." There would be point in returning to his arrows if he doesn't have the strength to fire them.

Legends raises an eyebrow "You're seriously just going to call it a night?"

"Someone has to, it not like the moon will." Twilight turned to his tent as he ignored their jeers. Just before entering the tent he turned one last time to the blue hue of the large twilit sigil inscribed into the black tower looming ahead. As he settled in and closed his eyes it struck him that the dusk here didn't fill him with regret like it did back home.

Notes:

I uh did not intent to get all moralizing. I just that i figured it would make sense to have Twilight to explain more about the realm they're in before the Twili come into play and things just kinda went from there. But yeah Zelda enemy encounters tend to fluctuate between mindless monsters to people who are actively choosing to cause harm with all kinds of gray area in between. It sort of changes the ethical calculous from a purely heroic deed to a means must type a thing. So yeah didn 't really plan for this so chapcount got bumped up.

Next chapter trouble is afoot!