Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Panting and wiping the sweat from his brow, Link relaxed against a tree, taking in the sights around him. He was somewhere in East Necluda, not really checking his map as often as he should, and to be honest none of the landmarks looked familiar. Not that anything ever looked familiar to him, his few memories foggy and muffled, being shoved to the side by the new memories he’s formed since waking up all those weeks ago.

Pushing himself off of the tree, he moved forward, leaving his thoughts back with that same tree. As he moved further into the small forest, he nearly jumped out of his skin when his boot splashed in the ankle-deep water. Following a small, fresh path, he moved deeper into what could only be considered a pond, marveling at the almost magical feel of the area around him. The trees danced playfully in the wind, the familiar sound of Koroks singing and playing surrounding him. This place was untouched by any malice, no monsters even showing up as he followed the path.

When he finally made it to the end, the sight of a small cottage, nestled up against a large tree in the center of the pond took his breath away. A budding garden sat on the small bit of earth above the water level, wheat and carrots, and pumpkins growing together side by side. A half-finished fence framed them in a picturesque way. You could tell Link he was looking at a painting of times past and he would believe you.

Jumping, he hid behind a nearby tree as the front door of the cottage opened. Peeking around the trunk of the tree, he watched with wary eyes as a tall Sheikah stepped out of the cozy home. Their long nearly white hair hung in a loose braid down their back as they walked towards their garden. Seeing them standing there amongst the crops, he felt rushing in his ears, his heart pounding with an unfamiliar feeling. It wasn’t fear, but it was similar, with the way it made his heart race and his throat dry up. Whoever this was, he may have known them, or their grandparents, 100 years ago. A sense of kinship and familiarity washed over him, causing his guard to drop.

All of those thoughts flashed away in an instant, for when he blinked the figure disappeared, and a cold blade was pressed to his vulnerable throat. Gripping his hilt, Link felt betrayed by this stranger as they glared down at him, ruby eyes filled with a familiar light of distrust.

“Who sent you?” the too-familiar voice hissed, glaring at the hooded hero.

Their face was hidden by a simple cowl, covering their nose and mouth. Even with the covering, he could see the outline of their lips, pressed into a clenched scowl of distrust. In a flash, Link lurched back, the soldier’s sword knocking the dagger back as he tried to get space between him and the stranger. The two paced around each other, the freshly awakened hero trying to find a way to avoid fighting with this obviously aggressive stranger. Planting his left foot back, he began tensing, ready to make a run for it if he had to.
All of his thoughts stopped when the stranger’s eyes glanced down at the Sheikah slate, focusing hard on that. Stepping closer, the taller warrior raised a hand, hostility seemingly gone in place with a bone-deep wariness.

“The hero, I presume. Otherwise, the slate wouldn’t work for you.” the ruby-eyed stranger murmured. “I apologize for the hostility. I didn’t know if anyone was sent after me,” they explained, attempting to lower Link’s frantic gaze. “I mean you no harm. One can’t be too comfortable, not in the age of calamity.”

At the other person's words, Link relaxed a little, sheathing his sword. He knew personally how dangerous it was out here, and if people were tracking you. Offering a curt nod in response he lowered his hood and watched the other take a quick, almost nervous breath before finally breaking eye contact. The Sheikah glanced around the pond before pointing to their front door.

“We can talk there. It’ll be safer. I can assure you that it’s the safest place in the whole of Hyrule.” sheathing their own dagger, the taller warrior took careful steps, giving Link plenty of space to leave if he so chose, and made their way toward the peaceful-looking cottage.

Weighing his options, the young hero rubbed his tongue nervously against the roof of his mouth, a habit he assumed he had picked up on his first days of being awake, and chose to follow the Sheikah, every fiber of his being telling him this person was to be trusted.

Once inside, he was taken aback by the many scattered Guardian parts in the small space. The stranger moved some of them to free the two seats at the small table, waving a hand to offer a seat and a warm meal, comfort he very seldomly had available to him, even amongst some of the more peaceful villages. Everyone was wary of strangers, with the Yiga clan attempting to infiltrate the regions. The two sat in silence for a long time, the stranger cleaning up many of the scattered parts. Link wondered if this was Robbie or one of his or Purah’s assistants but quickly dismissed it. Impa would have mentioned if another Sheikah scientist was this close.

Eyeing the stranger as he carefully swallowed the last of his stew, Link felt his muscles tense as the seat across from him was finally taken, ruby eyes on him with quiet contemplation.

“I’m sure you have questions, but you look, pardon my frankness, like shit. I can draw you a bath and at least offer you a bed for the night. It’s the least I can do after the…mistake I made.” they almost sounded sheepish, if that lilting voice was even capable of such a sound.

The next few hours were a blur, from marveling at the self-heating tub of water to the comfort of being enveloped by a comfortable blanket. Link fell asleep to the sound of music and the unfamiliar comfort of "Home".

Chapter Text

Link awoke at dawn, unaware of ever falling asleep in the first place. His tunic and hooded cloak were folded neatly on a chair beside the bed -the only one in the house he later discovered- having been cleaned and mended. Dressing quickly, the hero shoved his feet into his boots and explored the house, looking for the nameless stranger, if anything to offer thanks, and to answer his growing list of questions.

Stepping outside into the slowly rising sunshine, Link’s eyes widened as the stranger dragged two bokoblin bodies away from the cottage. The two’s eyes met for a moment, the stranger’s hand raised in a quick greeting before they dropped the body into a trench. Dusting their bandaged hands off, they walked back toward the hero.

“I trust you slept well. I apologize for you having to see that, but those monsters tend to swarm this place at night. I’ve been working on the defenses but every so often a straggler or two manages to make their way past the borders. They were probably tailing you, seeing as how easily you found this place.” the lilted voice was filled with a mix of amusement and frustration, but Link somehow knew it wasn’t at him.

Guiding the hero back into the warmth of the cottage, Link was urged to sit back in the chair from yesterday. The stranger moved to a freshly organized workbench, lifting a device and bringing it over to the table. Setting it in the center, they sat across from the hero, folding his hands on the table and looking at the confused man.

“I’m sure you have questions, and the least I can do is answer a few of them.” ruby eyes studied him, making him shift uncomfortably in his seat.

Tensing when the stranger rises to stand once more, he watches as they leave the room, coming back in a matter of moments with a slate in their hands. It was greenish grey in color, a white stick held against it with a white string. The green was bordered by a simple wooden frame. It was the strangest painting he had ever seen. Offering the painting to Link, the hero looked down at it in confusion, taking it and studying it with a childlike curiosity.

A soft chuckle broke him from his studying, his eyes jerking up to meet the ruby irises once more. “It’s called a chalkboard. It’s used for writing. You can use the chalk.” a bandaged finger pointed to the white stick. “To write down your questions. It erases when you wipe it off. I figured this would be easier.”

Link’s hand anxiously went up to his throat, cursing himself for his flaw being spotted that easily by the strange person before him.

“Don’t fret, Link, I’ve had several mute, selective and non, friends, in the past. I know the signs when I see them.” Link couldn’t detect any lies in their words.

Relaxing a little, he nervously lifted the stick-chalk, the stranger called it- and gave it a little swipe across the board, eyes widening in wonder as a white line followed the path he created. Erasing it with his finger, he marveled at the object for a little longer, drawing letters from memory and fuzzy shapes. The stranger sat patiently letting the hero get comfortable with the medium.

After what felt like a few seconds of playing with it, Link finally felt comfortable enough to write down his first question.

“Who are you?”

The question was simple enough. He wasn’t comfortable with small talk, but this seemed like an easy way to work up the courage to ask more later. Turning the slate towards the stranger, he watched as they squinted a little, reading his small handwriting.

“I am called Sheik. I’m a member of the Sheikah, but I can assume that you already knew that. I am one of the few remaining Sheikah scientists.” tilting his head, Link was quickly distracted as their braid fell off of their shoulder. “Though the people of Kakariko don’t know who I am. At least I don’t think they do.”

At that statement, Link’s list of questions grew much larger. He knew a few members of the old tribe chose to be nomadic; traveling instead of helping to repopulate or fight the war. But for them to not know this stranger meant that they had been born and raised away from the tribe.

Wiping his question away he pursed his lips, tapping the back of the board to try and gather his thoughts. Finally settling he scribbles quickly, pointing to the scattered parts on the bench pressed against the wall, weighed down by the guardian parts.

“Are you trying to make weapons for the war like Robbie?”

Shaking their head, they lean back comfortably in their chair. “No. I’m trying to study the malice that corrupted the Guardians 100 years ago.” as Link tensed in his chair, they raised their hands, palms facing him. “Not for anything vile. I want to know how to reverse it. These things. They were special to their creator and weren’t intended to be used like this. I want to see if I can fix it.”

Relaxing once more, Link stared at the parts for a while, wondering how exactly these parts helped with that. Instead, he put chalk on the board.

“Do I know you?”

Link waited a long while before turning this question over to the stranger, refusing to meet their eyes. They stayed quiet for a while, tapping their fingers against the table and humming in thought.

“That’s a loaded question, Hero. With an equally as loaded answer. Yes, and no. In this lifetime, this is our first time meeting.” they answered cryptically.

Jerking his head, their eyes met once more, his heart pounding once again.

“What does that mean?”

Behind their cowl, the stranger hummed once more. “You know the stories, correct? In every age, a hero is reborn to fight back against the darkness. I’ve met with several heroes in the past. Therefore, your soul does know mine. However, this is our first meeting in this lifetime.”

Chapter Text

After getting his questions answered, Sheik helped restock his supplies, offering some of their own cured meats and a bag of cooking ingredients for him. Promising to stay in contact, Link went on his way, mind often going back to his friend from a past life. He didn’t get an answer to how they were still alive. Were they reborn like the hero, destined to meet across lifetimes? He wasn’t sure, but Sheik refused to answer any more questions about their past, making the hero wonder if there was something more to their story.
Weeks passed too quickly, with him growing stronger and more durable. He trained as if his life depended on it, which, in most cases, it did. Still trying to ignore the looming presence of the dying world around him, he made his way across Hyrule. Staying true to the title of “hero” he helped those he could and helped bury those he couldn’t.

News of the hero’s return spread across the land, making his journey much harder. By the time he made it to Akala, he had already had several run-ins with Yiga Clan members. Luckily for him, their strange love of bananas made them easy to distract. After a few close calls with footsoldiers, Link finally resolved to make his way to Robbie’s lab, mind still plagued with unanswered questions. Maybe the scientist would help navigate the foggy recesses of his mind, and give him some insight into the person residing at Koto Pond.
After defeating the ruined Guardian just downhill from the famous Akala lab, Link stepped into the dilapidated building, confused by the lack of voices coming from within. In the center of the room stood a strange statue. It almost reminded him of Purah’s guidance stone, just much stranger. Upon closer examination, its eyes lit up with the familiar blue light of the Sheikah technology. The machine beeped pleasantly at him, and as his fingers gently grazed the carved stone surface that almost looked like a face, a loud voice boomed behind him.

Robbie was a character. Link was unsure how to feel about the loud man, but he took the time to listen. This man was a master of his craft, one of the few able to make weapons that dealt enough damage to the Guardians to ensure survival upon encounters with the ancient machines. After lighting the blue furnace, Link was able to purchase weapons and arrows, and armor that would make his fight against the constantly thinking and progressing machines. Robbie was strange, but he was helpful.

Link stayed there for a few days, Robbie helping him get accustomed to the mechanical weapons and the glowing arrows. On the third day of his stay, Link was able to use the large chalkboard against the wall to ask questions, the scientist was not the least bit bothered by his voice, which refused to work no matter how hard the Hero struggled to force it. During one of these “info sessions,” as the scientist called them, Link asked about the stranger at Koto Pond.

“Sheik?” Robbie’s voice was quiet, full of disbelief. “If you met a Sheikah of that name you’re lucky to have survived.” cursing under his breath, the scientist looked around. Leaning in close and in a hushed but stern whisper he pushed the hero towards a back room. “We can’t talk here. I don’t want anyone to hear what I’m about to tell you.”
Link let himself be pushed towards a chair, a feeling of deja vu that he found almost amusing filling his chest. Confused but equally as curious, the hero sat in the chair he was pushed to and leaned close to Robbie, the scientist still whispering as if he’d be killed if anyone heard.

“Sheik is a common talking point when working with Guardians or any of the Ancient Technologies that were lost during the second Sheikah war. We found files on them when we were working on unlocking the secrets of the Sheikah slate.” pointing to the slate Robbie pursed his lips, looking over his shoulder. “Sheik was the creator of the original Guardians. They created all three models, and in their drafts, we found the earliest blueprints of the Divine Beasts. They were a technological genius. Most of us looked up to their works, studying the drafts gave us a better understanding of how these things worked.”

Hearing these words, Link’s confusion only grew. The Sheik he met was young, a little older than him if he had to guess. He didn’t think even the Sheikah lived 10,000 plus years. And if Robbie looked up to this person, why was he so panicked? Why did his voice drip with venom and disgust?

“We were digging deeper, and almost found their original lab. But then, Purah found some of the more hidden files.” rubbing his face nervously, Robbie looked around once more before leaning closer. “Sheik was the one who started the rebellion. After the king of Hyrule at the time shut the projects down, they fought back. Sheik was the founder of the Yiga clan,”

At the words, Link felt immediate disbelief. Lurching back with wide eyes, the hero swallowed the lump in his throat. A sense of betrayal. His heart nearly shattered, the feelings he couldn’t identify holding his heart in a vice grip.

Continuing his story, Robbie gave Link’s hand a comforting pat. “After their rebellion, Sheik was apprehended by the remaining Sheikah loyal to the throne and imprisoned for their crimes. The location of their cell was lost to time, I’m afraid. If the Sheik you met was the same person, the Yiga must have finally found them and woke them up. And if they’re awake, our jobs just got a lot harder. Purah and I know a lot about the Guardians, but if we’re facing their creator, the goddesses might be our only hope.”

Chapter Text

After a final, restless night with the scientist, Link left in the early hours of the morning, the conflicted feelings battling in his heart as his feet guided him back toward East Necluda. He needed answers. Answers he felt Sheik only had. He didn’t know if these answers would heal his aching heart, or stoke the flames of a slowly building rage.

After a week of rushed travel, he arrived at Koto Pond, dark clouds looming over the peaceful place. He bitterly compared the weather to his conflicted feelings. Before he even made it to the door, it was opened, the painfully familiar face still covered. Another thing they were hiding from him, he thought, surprised by his own pain and bitterness.
Concerned ruby eyes scanned his face before moving towards him. Upon seeing Link take a step back, those concerned eyes were filled with a brief flash of sadness and confusion before the mental walls covered any feelings at all.

“I take it you’re upset about something…?” their own voice was hollow. “And seeing you like this makes me assume it was something I did? Well, you got your answers I suppose.” clenching their fists at their side they stepped towards him, stopping a mere foot away as the first drops of rain showered down on the two.

Clenching his jaw, Link forced his voice out for the first time since he awoke. “You…were you working with the Yiga?” his own tears confused him. But what didn’t these days? Ever since he awoke his mind fought against the feelings that were waging an exhausting war in his heart.

Sheik gave him a harsh glare. “And what, pray tell, gave you that idea?” their voice hissed out, startling him.

“Robbie has access to old files.” Link barked out, voice cracking from years without speaking. “You rebelled... Started the Yiga. Attacked us with your creations!” his throat hurt, the venom and betrayal rubbing him raw.

“I did no such thing!” the Sheikah snapped, throwing their hands in the air. “Those bastards didn’t even give me the chance!” with a snarl they spun around, facing away from him. “I was imprisoned before the war even STARTED! Those files you found must have left that little detail out! My lab was stormed in the middle of the night, and my single assistant was deactivated by force. They shackled me and shoved me in that damned chamber and put me down like a DOG!”

At their shouting, Link couldn’t help but feel his anger grow. Everything in his soul was begging him to believe the person before him, and that only angered him more. His own feelings wouldn't leave him be.

“But you have your answers I suppose so it doesn’t matter. If you’re finished here, Hero. I have other business to attend to.” with a wave of their hand and a clap of thunder, they stormed off, leaving him alone in the rain and a slam of their door.

Link stood alone for what felt like hours, searching his heart and trying to make sense of their anger. He knew what it was like to be betrayed. He couldn’t remember how, but he knew. When the sky grew dimmer, and the sounds of the creatures of the night surrounded him, he sank down against a nearby tree, not ready to move on. After the rain grew heavier, soaking him to the bone, he felt something shield him from the downpour. Looking up, the Sheikah stood beside him, holding a strange object that protected him from the rain.

Clearing their throat and keeping their head turned towards their home, they shifted on their feet. “It’s an umbrella. Designed for people to travel in weather like this…” glancing his way they pointed to the cottage. “Come in. I feel like I have some explaining to do.”

With help from the taller warrior, the two silently moved inside the warm cottage, the chill in Link’s bones causing his teeth to chatter. Sheik offered him another warm bath which he gratefully took. He just wanted a moment to think and to wallow in his own confusion and grief. Donning a fresh pair of clothes, Sheik hung his soaked garments to dry a safe distance from the fire and the two settled at the table, the person in question nervously rubbing their bandaged hands together.

“I suppose I should start from the beginning then?” Link could tell they were stalling, but he was in no mood to rush. He wanted answers, and, he supposed, he would get them only at the older warrior's pace.

“I was one of the earliest scientists set on the project to help the hero of that era defeat the calamity. Ganondorf finally shed his humanity in favor of power and we had no way to combat that. Using some, less-than-humane methods, we had a breakthrough. Combining pieces of our very souls and the souls and magic of our fallen soldiers, we brought life to stone.” Sheik’s voice was proud, and almost taunting. They had done the impossible. “After too many late nights I finally did it. I found our solutions. Using my own magic, I led our teams in creating the guardians, I set my sights on a bigger project; the Divine Beasts. It took years..years of late nights and fear, but we did it. We had an army to fight back against a God. The war was won. The hero and the princess, alongside the pilots of my creations and our finest warriors, myself included, pushed back the calamity.”
Perching on the edge of their seat, Sheik eyed their own hands, the bandages hiding the scars of their labor. “Everything was going fine for a while, but darkness whispered in the hearts of the royal family, whispers of a rebellion that was never planned. They slowly started shutting down our labs, deeming the creations that won their war too dangerous to remain active. The Sheikah had to put away their technology, and their magic. Many of our traditions were banned, deemed unsafe, and unfitting to a society such as ours.” They didn’t try to hide the bitterness in their voice, distaste, and rage dripping from their words.

“A few scouts were all that were left, aside from my assistant, a creation of my own that kept me company in my lab. He was almost like a son, I suppose.” misty-eyed, Sheik anxiously fiddled with the bandages around their fingers.

“I ignored the signs for a while, ignored the urgings of my assistant to flee until it was too late. That night plagues my thoughts. My own kin turned against me. I was ambushed in my lab, tired from trying to fight for our right to exist alongside the Goddesses’ chosen people. I watched as my own son was destroyed. I left that place a war criminal and was dragged, paraded as a terrorist, all the way to the Gerudo Highlands where my sentence was executed. They couldn’t kill me, I suppose, so instead, they trapped me in a chamber, to sleep eternally. My punishment, for helping to fight off the monsters and refusing to end my research.”

Rising to stand they anxiously paced by the fire, hands refusing to remain still. Link watch, his insides churning.

“I came to around the same time you awoke, trapped in the Yiga clan’s base. They revered my actions and labeled me their creator, their inspiration. Their leader tried to get me to join their cause. And instead, I fled here.” tapping their foot they look back at Link. “This is where my old lab was. I had hoped to find my home here, and to help end another war. But my lab, my home, was raided, and my son’s remains no longer here.” their voice cracked as they turned to gaze into the fire, their mind lost in ages past.