Gerome

Link: Gerome... I know you won't tell me, but... I have to keep asking... Why do you wear a mask all the time?

Gerome: ...You're that curious, are you?

Link: Well, sure... It makes you feel... distant... As if you're trying to hide yourself from others... I can't help but wonder if it's my fault... Like... Maybe I did a poor job of raising you, and that's why you're so closed off?

Gerome: Preposterous... You've done nothing wrong, Father. The mere notion is enough to put me in a foul mood.

Link: Oh, okay... As long as it's nothing bad, then I guess it doesn't matter.

Gerome: Even so, you are responsible for this habit of mine... I suppose it's only fair that I tell you, of all people, the truth.

Link: ...Now you've really got me interested.

Gerome: As a child, I looked up to you... I mimicked your soft-spoken manner and tried my best to imitate your heroic nature... More than anything, though... I was captivated by your collection of masks that granted you special powers.

Link: ...Ah...

Gerome: I wore this mask throughout my youth, believing that it gave me the strength to face any obstacle... But even when the fantasy faded with time, I couldn't bear to throw away this part of me... Just as Minerva brings forth thoughts of Mother, this mask makes me think of you, Father, and for that reason, I treasure it.


Morgan

Link: Try to cheer up, Morgan... You woke up in this world just a few weeks ago... You'll have plenty of time for your memories to return... There's seriously no rush.

Morgan: *sigh* I know you're right, Father, but... how could I forget about you? I remember Mother! She's the most gifted and incredible tactician to ever set foot on a battlefield. Of course, I'd remember her!

Link: And that's a reason to be thankful... You still have memories of her, so don't focus so much on what you don't-

Morgan: It's not like you're any less remarkable, though! You're a world-hopping hero! A true defender of the people! I've heard so many crazy tales about you that I'm starting to think you aren't even real! I think you belong in some fictional adventure book, right? That'd sell a ton of copies, I bet!

Link: ...Uh...

Morgan: And I can't skip over your outfit. Just check out that crazy ensemble! You look like a giant green bean, Father! How could I manage to forget that?

Link: A... green bean?

Morgan: H-Heh, I, uh... I didn't mean anything insulting by that, though! It's... unique and... iconic, eh?... Mother's coat is more my style, that's all!... I-I still love you, Dad; believe me! I just don't wanna dress up like a human-sized vegetable!

Link: ...Haha! Wow... For someone with no memories, you're good at giving me new ones... I don't think I've met someone as entertaining as you, Morgan... I wasn't expecting my son to be so different from me.

Morgan: I'm good at creating new memories?... Well, heck! That's awesome!

Link: You are... That's why you shouldn't let the ones you've forgotten bring you down too much... Our lives have become so intertwined with the past and the future... Let's focus on the present for now, all right? If you want to know more about your Father, then let's sit down and talk... I can tell you all about him.


Yarne

Link: Hmm... This looks like a decent place... All right, son, let's get searching.

Yarne: Heh! Wow! This really brings me back! Foraging for ingredients in the woods with Father? It's just like old times!

Link: Oh yeah? We used to do this often?

Yarne: Yep, all the time. You and Mother built a cabin in the middle of an Ylissean forest and settled down there. Makes sense, though! You guys both love the outdoors, since she's a Taguel, and you're a sorta-kokiri.

Link: ...Yeah, that does make sense.

Yarne: Using my powerful, Taguel sense of smell, I helped you gather all kinds of stuff... Berries, weird plants, wild game... And it wasn't just foraging and hunting you taught me, either! I even learned about making elixirs.

Link: Oh, nice! That's a handy skill to have... Get yourself a few bat wings, a couple of insects, maybe a lizard or two, and you can create something useful for battle.

Yarne: I remember brewing up potions that boosted my speed and sneaking abilities. Those ones were always my favorites!... Never discovered one that could improve my crippling fear, though...

Link: This world doesn't have much in the way of monsters, unfortunately... They're the best sources of elixir ingredients, as I'm sure you know... Hmm, I wonder if the Risen would drop anything useful?... Hey, Yarne, you wanna find a few Risen for me? If you can find an Entombed, that'd be even better.

Yarne: Aw, Dad... Can't we just stick to weeds and fruits? Y'know... stuff that can't fight back?


Noire

Noire: I... I'm sorry, sir, but... could you repeat that? I-I don't think I heard you correctly...

Soldier: Your father, Link. Do you know where he is? I need to deliver a message to him, and I thought-

Noire: Ah! So my ears have not failed me! Listen closely, maggot, for you have made a grave error... A catastrophic error that may very well cost you that impudent life of yours!

Soldier: Wh... What's wrong, Miss Noire?!

Noire: My father is one thousand times the man you will ever be! An insignificant worm like you dares to treat Naga's champion as an equal?! Nay! You will address him properly!... Now repeat after me..."Hero of Time"!

Soldier: Gah! I-I... I'm sorry! I-It won't happen again! Just... get away from me!...

Link: ...Still up to your old tricks, daughter of mine?

Noire: *gasp* F-Father! I didn't know you were watching that, I promise!

Link: That... That just makes it worse, Noire... Do we really need to have another talk about this? I've told you before, and I'll tell you again... I want people to call me by my name.

Noire: *sigh* S-Sorry, Dad... I just think the world of you, you know?... I want others to treat you with the same respect that I have for you.

Link: I appreciate that... but you don't need to be so overprotective, okay?

Noire: I-I don't know if I can help it... You're responsible for so much of me... You've passed down your kindness and teachings... When you saw how scared I was of fighting, you told me to try attacking from a distance... Then you gave me your bow and taught me how to use it... I've met so many friends, and saved so many lives... That I've managed to stay alive at all is thanks to you, Father... Even what little courage I possess was inherited from you, I'm sure! Hee hee!

Link: Hmm, looks like I raised a real daddy's girl... I shouldn't be surprised she's grown so attached, though... She is Tharja's daughter, too...


Laurent

Link: Hey, Laurent... There's something I was hoping you could help me with.

Laurent: Hmm? Well, this is certainly a rare occasion... Seldom do you lean on others for assistance, Father. You so often jump at the chance to help another, but scarcely do you allow for that debt to be repaid.

Link: ...A bad habit that I doubt I'll ever break... Well, hey, I guess now's your opportunity to pay me back, hmm?

Laurent: Indubitably so! Now then, what do you require of me, Father?

Link: I was hoping you could teach me.

Laurent: Oh? You seek instruction? You are interested in how to cast spells from tomes, perhaps?

Link: No, this isn't combat-related... I'd like to learn, like... math and stuff... I figure you're the smartest guy I know, Laurent. You'd be able to teach me anything.

Laurent: Ah. Pray tell, did you never receive schooling during your youth? If you did, what was covered in your curriculum?

Link: Nope... We had the Know-It-All Brothers, but... there was no school in the forest... We were taught how to find berries, and how to kill Deku Babas with sharp sticks.

Laurent: I'm... afraid that these skills have little relevance within an academic context, Father.

Link: I did learn how to read the language of this world... I can pick that stuff up pretty quickly... Anything else, though? I never had the time.

Laurent: Let us start with basic math, then. With your sharp mind, you will breeze through an accelerated course with ease. Our end goal shall be to conquer advanced calculus.

Link: ...Calculus?

Laurent: See this lengthy equation here? It may seem like complex gibberish to you at the moment, but you will come to understand the proper symbols, numbers, and formulas in no time at all!

Link: ...Oh boy... Is it too late to back out?


Nah

Link: Nah, you up for Duck, Duck, Dragon?

Nah: Father, I'm not a kid. I don't play dumb games like that anymore.

Link: But... your mother does...

Nah: Well, I'm not her! She's a... very special individual.

Link: Hmm... All right... I was hoping to spend some time with you, though... Is there anything you'd like to do?

Nah: There is, actually. I've heard, Father, that you once defeated an evil dragon. Can you confirm this?

Link: ...Yeah... That's true... How is that relevant to us hanging out, though?

Nah: We should fight each other! If you can defeat dragons, then you're the perfect sparring partner for me! You can point out all my weaknesses, and I'll get so much stronger!

Link: ...That's not really the father-daughter bonding time that I was hoping for...

Nah: It's more fun than playing a dumb game for children! You can't argue that.

Link: ...Heh... I know what's going on here...

Nah: Wh-What? Why are you smirking like that?

Link: You won't play Duck, Duck, Dragon because you know you'll lose.

Nah: Psh! Heck no! That is not the reason! I win every time!

Link: Oh, really?... Prove it, then... Tag, you're it!

Nah: D-Dad! Grrr... He always does this!... Fine, just try to outrun my dragon breath, Father! We'll see who... H-Hey! You can't use your bunny hood! That's cheating!


Lucina

Link: Wow... So it's true, then... You're from the future... Chrom's daughter...

Lucina: Yes, it is all true. I have traveled to this timeline to escape our desolate world, and to prevent this one from suffering the same fate. The threat of Grima is very real, and I do not intend to waste my time reliving the lost memories from my childhood... but even still... the happiness I feel from seeing Mother and Father again is almost too much to bear... and it's so very good to see you again as well, Uncle Link.

Link: ...Uncle?

Lucina: With Grima's revival, members of the Shepherds began to fall in battle, and my parents were no exception... The day that Chrom's death was reported was the day that The Hero of Time stepped up to raise me in the Exalt's place.

Link: R-Really?... I did that?

Lucina: You... struggled with our new lifestyle... The constant running and fighting for our lives was the more pressing issue, obviously, but this undesired and abrupt foray into parenthood was visibly challenging for you.

Link: I can imagine... I'm not too bad with kids, but supporting one?... That's a stressful thought.

Lucina: You were quiet and distant with me during the first few years. I was just a young girl with so many questions... "Where are Mommy and Daddy?"... "Why can't I go home?"... "We've been practicing with swords all day. Can we please do something fun?"... It took time for me to understand how dire things were, and it took even longer for you to truly accept your role as my guardian.

Link: Did I... do okay? Like... Was I a bad parent?

Lucina: Given the circumstances, Uncle, you were an incredible parent. It took time, as I said, but we eventually welcomed each other as family... Fishing, cooking, sparring, taking care of the stray horses, sharing stories of heroics... Even amid that apocalyptic hellscape, you loved me like your own child, and I could never ask for more than that.

Link: *sigh* That's... reassuring, at least... I was worried that I might have done a poor job... I would've been disappointed in myself.

Lucina: Worry not, Uncle. You are as dear to me as my own flesh and blood. You protected me for ten whole years of strife and hardship, after all. I could never think ill of you... That's why I carry this around with me...

Link: Hey... That looks kinda like my hat...

Lucina: Hmhm! It's supposed to! You had it made for me, you see... In my younger years, I wanted an imposing, pointed hat like yours. So you paid for one to be crafted... I'll always keep it close to remember you.

Link: Mmm... Guess I hadn't thought about it until now, but... I died, huh? I wasn't able to travel here with you.

Lucina: Yes... Grima's forces had grown drastically... Your plan of escaping to another world was the only hope we had remaining, and you took it upon yourself to act as our last bastion of defense. It was the most ferocious display of determination that I've ever seen... I remember witnessing volleys of light arrows raining down from the sky... and I can still imagine the relentless ringing in my ears caused by an avalanche of explosives that you strew across the land...

Link: I didn't have enough fairies to save myself, I suppose?

Lucina: You had none at the time. Your remaining fairies were used on others in need, and one was even used to save my life during an earlier Risen ambush.

Link: ...Damn... Glad to hear I made them count, though.

Lucina: You had become so desperate that you used your forbidden striped mask even though you "cannot properly control yourself while under its influence"... But I suppose that was a small price to pay given the situation... That day, Uncle, you gave everything you had, and it was enough... We had enough time to escape to this timeline due to your efforts.

Link: I see... Well, I went out swinging, at least... and sorry for not being strong enough. I know your uncle's biggest regret is that he couldn't join you here.

Lucina: *sniff* It's okay... Though you are no longer with me, it's thanks to your sacrifice that we live today... I'm proud to say that the courage you instilled in me so many years ago also lives on in me.

Link: Lucina... You've said that a few times now... "We live today" and "we had enough time"... but I didn't make it out of that world... Were there others that came here with you?

Lucina: Oh... I... I know I should not say anything until I know their whereabouts, but... *sigh* Can you keep a secret, Uncle? It's... important that time-related matters are not meddled with much.

Link: Uh... Sure?

Lucina: ...Please keep this between us for the time being... I am not your only adopted child.

Link: ...H-Huh?!

Lucina: As you'll see in the coming months, additional marriages between members of the Shepherds will soon emerge. My parents are not the only ones... They were merely the first.

Link: ...Wh-What are you saying?... There are more kids from the future like you?

Lucina: Correct. There are twelve of us, in total. We have formed a group called "The New Shepherds", and I believe the rest of them arrived in this world at other locations. We simply need to locate them.

Link: O-Okay... That's great and all, but... it wasn't just you that I raised?

Lucina: All of our parents... the members of the Shepherds of old?... We lost them all many years ago, leaving a dozen children with no one to guide them.

Link: ...Except for me?

Lucina: Except for you. You knew our parents personally, and refused to abandon us.

Link: ...You're kidding.

Lucina: Depending on when they lost their loved ones and homes, some of the New Shepherds, like Gerome and Laurent, were brought under your care earlier, and some were brought in later, during the last years of our struggle... No matter the length of time in which you supported them, we all came to love you as "Uncle Link, Captain of the New Shepherds". We all consider you family, and I know they'll be ecstatic to be reunited with you!

Link: ...Goddess give me strength...


A/N:

I hope you've enjoyed these misadventures with the Father of Time.

I didn't plan for Lucina's section to go on so long, but the idea of expanding more on the future timeline but with Link in it was something I decided to do on the spur of the moment, and I was having too much fun to keep it short.