Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The new house was a little creepy. 

Link thought about going back to the forest to sleep. At least he had a bed there. But it was so exciting to have a house! To have someone tell him that they were his father and that they weren't going to leave. And he didn't really want to leave this place they had claimed, not yet. Not on the first day! 

Out one of the windows, Link could see the deity gathering logs and branches from the ground around the house. Oh, a fire was a good idea, wasn't it? The nights were still cool and the house was probably really drafty. The boy eyed the old fireplace and took a look inside. Petrified remains of the last fire sat sadly in the firebox but when he glanced up the chimney, it was clear.  That was some good luck! They could safely have a fire tonight. 

For a moment, he spun around looking at the large room in the fading light. It was big and open and the far corner had an old, stone stove he had seen in other Hylian houses. They'd have to repair the bricks around it but the stone seemed in good condition. Link left dusty footprints on the floor as he inspected the counters and looked into the lower chamber where the fire would go; just an abandoned mouse nest amongst old logs. Anything wooden had been chewed on and would probably need to be replaced anyway.

As he wandered away from that corner, running a hand along the grimy walls, Link wondered about the people who lived there before, thinking about the things they had left behind and the absence of the items they didn't. Sure, there were old, ruined pieces of furniture here and there but not as much as there should be. Maybe they had moved out on their own instead of going off to die in the war. He would never really know, would he? 

Suddenly Link's stomach grumbled. Oh man! How long had it been since he ate anything? He rummaged in his bag, pushing past the hookshot and the lens, old masks from Castle Town, the transformation masks from Termina, deku seeds and sticks, until he found his carefully hoarded supply of food. It was still late spring so there weren't many berries around yet but he usually had a cache of nuts for emergencies.  A little digging found those and some dried meat that Talon had given him recently. Nice! And a few bottles of milk from Lon Lon. This was great! Lots of food. 

When the Deity came back inside, he found the boy on the dusty floor, sorting out his supplies into piles as he idly chewed on the meat. The god kept his eyes trained on his new child for a moment, unnoticed, then began making a fire in the large fireplace. Link jerked his head up at the noises then shoved everything back into his bag with reckless abandon. By the time the fire was going, he had come over and was holding out a bottle of milk and a piece of dried meat. 

"I bet you're hungry."  The god stared and Link pushed the items at him gently. "You were a mask for a long time, right? You probably need to eat. Here." 

The Deity, crouched from his efforts with the fire, sat heavily. Many of his movements were slightly awkward, too weighty, as if he didn't realise the strength or effort involved in doing them. Link didn't remember the Deity having those problems when he was wearing the mask but maybe having his real body back changed things.  Always before it had been Link's body borrowing the Deity's power and experience. He had been in charge, at least most of the time, and for those moments they had shared thoughts.  Now that the Deity was alone and had his real body back, surely the muscle memory would return.  Link gently put the food into the god's hands then looked up into the white eyes. 

"Eat, okay?" 

"You…need food. Children need food." 

"I ate already. It's okay! We can get more food tomorrow, alright?  I have some rupees saved up too so we can buy some stuff. Maybe even get things for the house!" 

For a long moment, the two stared at each other, then the Deity raised the dried meat to his mouth and took a bite. Link nodded with satisfaction and pulled a small blanket out of his bag.  He bustled about, clearing a space on the floor and fluffing his bag into an approximation of a pillow.  He didn't have anything for the Deity to use as a blanket but he supposed they'd have to worry about that later. Link couldn't do everything, after all. His new dad would have to handle some things himself. 

The Deity watched the boy and chewed slowly, deliberately.  Food. He remembered food. He had roasted food for the child one night when he had been ill. But he remembered… feasts.  Great platters of food presented to him and…others in celebration and worship. He remembered… No, it was gone again. It was there, the thread of memory running through his tangled thoughts, but hard to hold. He would get it back. When he was done with the food, he looked curiously at the jar of liquid in his other hand. 

"Drink it! It's really good! Milk from Lon Lon Ranch!" 

The boy was settling down on the floor, blanket pulled up over his legs. The god stared at the milk for several moments then took a long drink that drained the bottle completely. He handed the empty container back and Link shoved it into his bag. 

"Thank you."  This was different for the god; the boy provided for him, took care of him? He was not used to being cared for. Was that not his job though?  Shouldn't he be the one providing for his child?

"No problem! We should probably get some sleep though.  Guess we need to find stuff to fix up the house, right? Like, um…okay, I've never built a house before but, like, wood? I guess? Maybe Talon knows. We can ask! Well, we'll worry about that tomorrow!"

The child talked quite a bit but the Deity nodded, absorbing his words.  Yes, these were things he could do.  He could feel his power more fully with each passing moment, remembering more things from before his imprisonment. He had been a Protector Deity, one of many, a son to the Golden Goddesses. He would…he would protect this child, his child. Link was his, somehow. He knew it was true deep down.

Link rested his head on his bag and yawned, looking up at the deity with tired eyes. It had been a very busy day. "Um, so…what can I call you? Just saying mask seems kinda rude. Majora called you the Fierce Deity."

Frowning, the god thought about the question. He had a True Name buried deep inside him but would not say it aloud.  While he had a thought that Link had almost known it, it should not be spoken. It had been too long since he was named anything other than the Fierce Deity.  "You may call me what you wish." 

"Oh." The boy paused and for a moment, the god thought he might already be asleep. But at last he spoke up quietly, voice echoing in the empty room.  "Did you mean it? About being my father." 

"Yes." 

"Can I call you dad? I mean, it's okay if you don't–" 

"Yes." 

Link smiled and pulled the blanket up to his chin. "Okay. Good night. Dad."

"Good night." 

The sun rose over Hyrule Field, a glorious start to another beautiful spring day. Talon yawned as he cooked up the eggs for himself and his daughter, glancing out the window at the paddock, over the barn that was just starting to shine with a golden light. Yes, it was going to be a good day.  He had much to do though; give the pregnant mares a checkup, see to those repairs to the silo and take inventory of their supplies. But maybe he'd take the cuccos out for a bit first, let them find their breakfast while keeping them out of the garden. Last time they got in there, Malon had given him such a scolding.  There was so much to do but some quiet time with the cuccos first would be a nice way to ease into the day.  A short time later, he had Malon settled down with her breakfast and a mug of coffee in his hand while he ushered the birds into the bright morning air.  The weather was perfect.  Soon it would be summer and the air would be too warm even this early in the morning but now it was refreshingly cool.  He took a deep breath, surveying his home, and smiled. 

"Good morning." 

"Gyah!" The deep, heavy voice gave him a jolt and hot coffee spilled over his hand.  Wincing and moving his now half-empty mug to the other side, Talon spun around and found himself face to, well, chest with the tall, white-eyed man from two evenings ago.  Seeing him in the bright, morning sunlight did not dispel the strange otherness the man had worn around him like a cloak. In fact, it seemed to have gotten worse.  Guess it hadn't been some sort of weird dream after all.  He swallowed hard and looked upwards into the blank eyes that regarded him calmly.  "Oh! Ah, Link's father, is it?" 

"Yes." 

There was an awkward silence, filled only with the sounds of cuccos clucking and pecking about in the grass for bugs. People always said how violent the birds could be but Talon adored them and they never attacked him, not once. They did give the tall man in front him a wide berth though, something that did not escape the rancher's notice.  "So…what can I do for you?" 

"We need…to repair a house." 

"Ah! You found something then! That's good! Very fast! Well, if you have the rupees, there's a sawmill over between Zora's domain and Kakariko Village. It's cheaper if you can provide your own logs but they'll sell finished planks as well."  The tall man (was he a man? He had to be. What else could he be?) was staring carefully at the farmhouse while Talon talked, eyes absorbing every detail.  "Kakariko usually has places to get brick and other building materials as well! You'd have to go to Castle Town for furniture and the like. Most people around here make their own, of course, but you might be able to find a carpenter to make a few pieces for you if needed!"

The silence stretched on and Talon took a nervous sip of his coffee.  At least it wasn't cold yet. Finally, the man nodded. 

"Thank you."

"Oh! Ah, if you don't mind my asking, did you need anything for breakfast? I don't know how settled you are yet but we always have extra. I could get you some eggs, maybe some bread. Link is always starving when he visits us, haha. Growing boys and all, you know?" 

"Oh. Yes." 

"Give me just a moment then!" Bustling back into the house, he grabbed a spare basket and hurried upstairs to find some leftovers. Malon gave him a confused look but he was in too much of a hurry to answer questions.  Something in him felt a strange kinship to the man outside and he knew he had to help.  When his own wife had died, it had been just him and Malon all alone after that horrible war had left everything in shambles.  If he hadn't had the assistance of his neighbours, he probably wouldn't have been as successful as he was now.  But those first years had been difficult and confusing, filled with sadness and loss.  Link's father had a similar air of confusion; his thoughts always seemed so far away.  He must have found out about Link only recently.  The war had been very difficult on families, after all, and perhaps the man had assumed his wife and son were gone forever only to now discover he had a ten or eleven year old boy to care for!  That would be a burden on anyone.

Talon half expected the man to be gone by the time he made it outside with a full basket but instead he found him crouched in the grass, a hand stretched out to one of the cuccos. It was so hard to tell what he was thinking as very little expression rested on his face but Talon thought it might be curiosity. Had he never seen a cucco before? How odd.  But he stood slow and steady when he noticed Talon and inclined his head thankfully as the basket of food was handed over. 

"Again. My thanks." 

"Now, just down the road is Ansom and Tilly's farm. Tilly sells baked goods to the locals for a few rupees, less if you trade ingredients. I used to buy from her frequently before Malon and I learned how to bake our own, haha. I'm sure she'd be willing to help you out until you can get your place fixed up."

"I appreciate the information."

"Anything for a new neighbour.  Link is such an energetic boy, always running around and helping people; I'm just returning the favour. I'm glad there's someone to look out for him now.  Good luck with your house!" 

Talon watched as the man walked away, his long legs consuming the distance quickly. How strange, to have this giant with white eyes walking around. It almost felt like an old legend he had heard of once, of ancient beings who guarded the lands in the times before written history. But that was ridiculous. One of those wouldn't suddenly appear just to take care of a small boy. Of course not. Talon was many things but he was not prone to ridiculous fantasising. There was no way his new neighbour was some sort of god. 

The very idea was preposterous. 

When Link awoke later in the morning, he found a basket full of food next to him and no deity anywhere.  Honestly, he might have freaked out again about being alone if it wasn't for that basket and the embers in the fireplace he was sleeping in front of.  He sat up and stretched, looking around for any signs of anyone, then pulled the basket over and rummaged through it.  Bread, dried fruit, some hard boiled eggs, Lon Lon milk!  Where'd the Deity get all this anyway?  He ripped into some bread with his teeth, chewing happily as he sat cross-legged on the floor.  The second day with his new dad, his new life!  Well, if he could figure out where his dad went anyway.

As hungry as he was, he set the rest of the food aside for a later meal and shook out his blanket before shoving it back in the bag. Sleeping in the house had been marginally better than sleeping outside but he was looking forward to having a bed again. Link paused for a moment, imagining what everything would look like when it was fixed up. A few places to sit by the fire here, a nice table to eat at over there by the stove. A bed of his own in one of the rooms. Even a place for washing up so he didn't have to do it in the cold river all the time. Yeah! It would be great! 

Speaking of washing up though, he should go find the river. While he wasn't as familiar with all the edges of the forest, he was pretty sure a small one was nearby. Attaching the bag to his belt, Link whistled a cheerful forest song as he opened the creaking door. 

Outside, the Fierce Deity was setting down lumber planks by the house. Shocked at how easily the god was carrying such long, heavy things, Link raised a hand to wave and his father nodded in return. 

"Good morning! Um, dad." Saying the word sent a pulse of happy warmth through him. Wow, a dad. He had never called the Great Deku Tree dad. None of the Kokiri did, for that matter.  "Are you going to start fixing up the house now?!" 

"Yes." 

"Can I help?" 

The deity stared for several minutes and Link could feel his heart sink. His ears drooped slightly, knowing what his father would say. No, of course not, he was too small for that sort of work. 

"Yes, with some things." 

Link's eyes lit up and his ears flicked upwards again. "Great! Let me know what to do!" 

It was harder than he thought it would be, fixing a house. He had been vaguely aware of workers building things over the last however-many years, both in Hyrule and Termina.  Lots of building sounds, anyway! Though by the time he was done in Termina, the sounds of construction had just been a steady white noise like everything else. The silence of not hearing those things the first week in Hyrule again had very nearly made him cry, both in relief and terror.

It had been a very confusing week.

But he had never really watched what anyone was building before. He hadn't helped. And now he was perched on the roof of his new home with his father, using a long, metal bar to pry up old, rotted planks of wood while his dad laid down new planks and hammered them in. Sometimes it seemed like the god hit things too hard or not hard enough and he always narrowed his eyes at the failing, but said nothing.  Maybe being in the mask and not having a real body was…was like a long sleep. Sometimes when Link first woke up in the mornings, his arms and legs felt stiff, harder to control. Once he woke up more, everything worked fine again! His dad had been in that mask for a long time, right? It would probably take a while for him to get better. That made sense.  He liked trying to figure out why things worked the way they did. 

Around midday, Link mentioned the afternoon meal and the Deity nodded, jumping off the roof easily and holding his arms out for the boy. Once they were both on the ground again, Link cheerfully skipped through the door as his father ducked under the slightly-too-short opening and began removing his armor.  The boy watched curiously as the Deity checked the metal over once and set the pieces against a wall, then removed the long, teal hat and shook out his hair. God though he may be, the body was still mortal in its own way and his tunic was damp with sweat from his exertions. 

It was the most normal thing in the world and yet Link was dumbfounded. The armor came off? The Deity got hot and sweaty just like everyone else?!  It was a strange moment for him, the realisation that his dad was, in fact, an actual person and not just a god in a mask. He knew that, he did! But seeing him do normal things like taking off clothes was very weird! 

But also comforting. This was his dad.  A real dad. Who wore a tunic kind of like his own.  Who's hair was sort of the same, who's face had strange similarities, at least if he was remembering it correctly.  Not a lot of mirrors out here in the forest.  But a really real person who he could do things with and who would need food and rest and everything else!

Oh, speaking of food. 

Link plopped down on the floor by the basket and sorted through the food while his dad started the fire up again. "Okay, so we can both have some eggs. I think I still have another bottle of milk in my bags. Oh man, I was going to find the river to clean up! Well, I can do that after, maybe get some water to drink, right? We should get some barrels or casks or whatever to keep water at home though. I have some rupees but I don't know how much that would cost."  Link frowned down at the basket, wondering if Talon would give him more work. They'd probably need the money. 

"There is no need." 

"What?" 

"You may keep your money." 

Link blinked up as his father, who had come to sit across from him. "How are we gonna buy stuff?" 

"I will do it."

"You have rupees?" 

"Yes."  The Deity did not seem inclined to explain so the boy let it go. Well, that made things easier.  Is this what it was like, having parents? Not having to worry about how to buy things? Come to think of it, was that where the planks of wood came from? Had the Deity bought them this morning?  If he had money for things like that, there were more things they could get! 

"Oh! Um, dad? Can we get fences too? I should bring Epona here!" 

"Epona?" 

"My horse! I guess maybe you didn't see her much.  The deity body was too big for her but she was there sometimes." 

"Ah." 

"She should live with us! I'll take good care of her, I promise!" 

"That is fine, Link." 

"Oh! You know my name." 

"Of course. You told me, in the mask."

That did seem like something he'd do, honestly. He told a lot of things to the mask.  And now the mask was a full sized person sitting across from him and fixing up a house to live in! How was this even his life? Smiling brightly, Link sorted out the food items, making sure to give his dad an even share, then cheerfully began peeling an egg to eat. Bread, fruit, eggs and milk! What a great meal. Almost as good as when Malon would invite him for dinner. Now those were good meals. Warm and filling, usually with second helpings too. He stared off into the distance, remembering the last time. 

"What are you thinking?" The Deity's voice broke into Link's daydream and he shook his head. 

"Not much! Just remembering something. You should eat! Then we can go to the river to get water."  The boy shoved the entire egg into his mouth and chewed with happy noises. 

The Deity looked down at the food in front of him. He wasn't totally sure but he didn't think he had ever removed the shell from an egg before. Turning it over in his large hand, he squeezed in the middle, immediately crushing it. More fragile than he thought. 

"Aw man, dad, that's not a good way to peel an egg! Now you're gonna have shell all over." 

"My apologies." 

The boy took the egg from him, picking out as much shell remnants as he could, then handed the pieces back over while he grabbed some dried apple slices for himself. The Deity carefully took a bite and watched his son hum happily. He seemed much more cheerful than the god remembered from the mask, even though they didn't have a finished house yet. Every so often he could see the boy look his way and grin, some strong emotion in his eyes.  Well, it at least seemed like Link was happy, though he didn't quite understand what he had done yet to cause that.  Maybe being a father wouldn't be too hard.

The days slid together as the worst of the holes were repaired.  It was hard work but Link didn't mind that, especially since it was for something they would own.  A few days later, he took his new dad to Lon Lon Ranch, not realising he had already been there. He rode up on Epona, the deity's long legs able to keep up easily, and shouted to Malon when he saw her out with the horses. 

"Hey! Malon, hey!"

"Link!" The girl ran over to him, laughing, then pulled up short as she saw the white-haired giant behind him. "Oh! Who is this?!" 

"This is my dad!" Link jumped off Epona and reached over to grab the god's hand, tugging him a little closer to the girl. The Deity was only wearing the teal tunic with the black leotard underneath. He had found people treated him with less suspicion without the armor and sword. It did not bother him to be unarmoured and weaponless; if he needed them, he could have them in a moment. It made his duty easier if the mortals who lived here were not frightened of him though. 

Malon was at a total loss for words. Her dad had mentioned something about Link and a father but she had no idea it would be like this. The feeling of him battered at her senses and her mouth opened and closed a few times. He was so tall she would need to step backwards to see all of him but even this close, the blank eyes and coloured marks on his skin were very visible. 

"Oh, hello sir!" 

"Greetings. It is nice to meet you, Malon." 

The girl turned to her friend, still looking a little shocked. "Link, when did you get a father?"

"Oh, um, recently. I, uh, helped him and he said he'd stay with me?" 

"So he adopted you?" 

"S-sorta?"  Link looked up at his dad and the god looked down at him, then rested a hand on the boy's head. 

"I will take care of him." 

"Heh, thanks, um, dad."  Another flush of warmth ran through the young hero. As awkward and lost as the Deity was about many day to day things, he always sounded so sure when he talked about Link.  Somehow he knew that the god would protect him specifically and he held that feeling close to his heart.  It was very different from growing up as one of the Great Deku Tree's children. 

The look on her friend's face did not escape Malon. Link had always looked a little lonely, as long as she had known him. For the first time, he seemed content. "Did you just stop by to say hi or were you gonna help daddy with the cuccos again? He's not here though!" 

"Oh, kinda to say hi. I'll help with the cuccos some other time! We're busy trying to fix up our new house! I was just hoping to get more milk if that's okay? Um, I can pay for it!" 

"Of course you can! Don't worry about paying!"  Malon pulled Link into the house, heading for the milk storage. She watched as he carefully filled up his bottles, making little hmm noises under her breath.  "You said you're fixing up a house?" 

"Yeah! We found an abandoned one just in the forest. Dad and I fixed all the holes in the roof ourselves!" Link puffed out his chest proudly. "And we're fixing the walls and the stove works pretty well. We're going to put in new counters and get a table and chairs and everything!" 

"So you don't really have anything?" 

"Well, I guess not." 

The girl grabbed Link's hand as he put his last bottle of milk away and pulled him up the stairs to their main room.  The boy watched her curiously as she pulled an old, dented pot out of a closet and started filling it with things. Some wooden spoons, a few chipped dishes and various odds and ends. She bustled around for a few minutes, weighing options, before she had the pot full to the brim. As she passed it over, Link grunted under the weight of it. 

"What's all this for?" 

"It's for you, silly! For your house! You should have some things until you can go out and get more!" 

"Oh wow, thanks Malon. You're great!" The boy laboured under the weight as he dragged the pot downstairs, the farm girl blushing at the compliment. By the time he got it outside, he was panting with the effort. A glance around found his dad standing by the paddock, looking out at the horses. Or was he looking at the fences? Link wasn't entirely sure.  "Sorry dad! I'm ready to go!"

The god nodded and walked over, taking the pot from the boy's hands.  Malon looked up at Link as he climbed on Epona again.

"So you're going to keep her with you now?"

"Yeah! We're going to make a pen for her!" 

"Make sure you get her a proper paddock! She'll need space to run around, okay?  And make a shelter or a stable so she has somewhere to get out of the weather. And you better stop by here regularly so she can get new horseshoes as needed! And you'll need to get hay for her to eat eventually! And regular health checkups, okay!?" 

"Okay okay! Geeze Malon, I'll take great care of Epona! I'm not going to stop visiting just because I have a house and a dad." 

"You better not!  And if you need any more help with anything, you come here first, right!?" 

"R-right!" Malon was almost scary in how adamant she was. He wasn't planning on disappearing anyway!  Not this time! There was a lot to learn about having a house and he was going to be too busy to get caught up in another adventure!  Everything was certainly more complicated than he expected. The Kokiri tree houses were pretty easy to take care of.  He didn't even know how they got all the beds and tables and all that in the forest!  How were they supposed to get that for their house? They'd probably have to go to town soon. 

As Link rode from the ranch, he waved at Malon then turned to face forward. Next to him, the Deity carried the pot of gifts like it was nothing; it probably wasn't if the planks of wood were any indication. He remembered being very strong when using the mask but he had never really tested it before and now there would never be another chance.

The boy looked up at his father as Epona trotted slowly alongside. Would he miss being the Fierce Deity? It was pretty amazing being so big and strong and good at fighting. But as quiet as he was, the Deity was here, was someone to actually talk to and who had held him, who said he would take care of Link. That was much better than sharing a body occasionally. He smiled and the god looked down with an almost curious expression on his face. 

"What are you thinking?"  

The deep voice of the god startled Link out of his thoughts. "Oh! Um, just thinking about the mask and stuff. Thinking about how I'm glad you're here now, instead of me wearing it."

"As am I."

Link beamed up at his father as the two returned home together.

Chapter Text

"And this is Castle Town!" 

Link had left Epona in the stables outside of town and the pair walked through the gates together.  It had been a while since he'd been by, not since before the mask had broken, but not much had changed.  He didn't like coming to town that often; there were too many people and spending so much time in Clock Town had made him realise he missed the quiet of the wilds.  He knew he should check in with Zelda again sometime but he'd honestly been avoiding her a bit since Termina. The feelings had dulled and faded away over his years of being gone but he needed more time to not feel so awkward about it.  There were other things to do though, games to play and Sheikah stones to catch up on gossip with, so he figured he'd go to the castle some other day. 

Pulling the Mask of Truth out of his bags, Link glanced up at his father with honest curiosity.  "Did you want to come with me? Or look around on your own?" 

The Deity glanced around, noticing the mortals giving him long looks and a wide berth. It had been too long since he had been in any sort of town and his memories of ancient cities long gone were very different from this place.  Still, a town was a town.  He did not need an escort.  "I could go on my own." 

"Okay! Great! Can we meet up here later? If you go that way, you'll end up at the castle. That's where Princess Zelda and her dad live. Over that way is the Temple but, uh, I don't much like going there anymore." 

Link looked uncomfortable for some reason the Deity could not fathom; he obviously held the blessings of the Mothers and a fraction of the Triforce as well.  Surely he was not at odds with the Goddesses. Was there some other reason for his reluctance?  He stared at the tall spires of the temple, wondering.  His senses were still muted, too tightly wound, but he did not think any of his Siblings resided here. The mortals predominately worshipped the Mothers from what he had gathered. This temple must be for The Three but he was not sure he was comfortable facing them at this point.  Failure rested heavy on his shoulders. 

"Anyway, meet up soon, okay? Maybe an hour or two?  Bye dad!" And then the boy was gone, disappearing into the crowds. 

The Deity walked, not sparing the staring mortals any of his attention, still thinking of the temple and the Goddesses.  The longer he was out of the mask, the more he realised he could sense none of his Family. There were other deities, of course, such as the Deku Tree Sprout and an aquatic presence in the area Link had called Zora's Domain. But they were young gods, not the ones he had been with at the beginning of the universe.  What had happened to all the elder Protectors? Had his failure caused their deaths? What of his Sister? Link had called himself a Hylian, which seemed a fitting tribute for the goddess who had done so much to Protect them back then, but there was nothing left of her that he could feel. 

A moment of desperate loneliness ran through him and he pushed it down deep. That was not an emotion he wished to explore at this time. There were others, more useful to him in his current duty, that he could unwind first. Being sad about his missing family wouldn't help him with Link. 

As he wandered, he looked at the various shops and houses. Potions, games, clothing and furniture were all doing good business.  They did need furniture for their house and he looked at one of the buildings, debating on whether he should try to make something or purchase it. Getting these things home would be time consuming but Link could use an actual bed to sleep on. Link's horse was perhaps not big enough to pull any large loads yet. His brows furrowed as he considered the options when he noticed a familiar presence passed him by in a horse-drawn cart, whistling cheerfully.  It was Talon, the one who had been so helpful thus far. It only took a few strides to step up next to the driver's seat.

"Greetings, Talon."

The man's hands jerked on the reins and he gasped with shock. Every single time they had met this happened and the Deity wondered if he had somehow done something to the rancher.  He didn't think so but his power was a little unpredictable at the moment. Maybe he had burned out the man's senses when they first met. 

Or maybe Talon just didn't want to know. That was something to consider. 

"Oh! Greetings! Ah, Link's father, yes…"  The man groped around for words but eventually settled on an awkward silence.  There was an empty place in the conversation where a name would reside but neither of them spoke of it. On some instinctive level, Talon knew not to ask. 

Briefly, the Deity wondered if anyone here would think to name him. Were they even aware of his kind anymore? He had never been involved so closely with mortals before and wondered what he should say if any asked him his name.  The Fierce Deity? That was giving far too much honour to Majora. Perhaps his old title of Protector would do. Protector of Link? Perhaps not. Protector of…the moon?  No, not quite. He would remember. The memories would return.  He would regain his duty and a name would present itself or the mortals would name him again.

Of course, Link had named him 'dad' but that didn't seem right for anyone else. 

The silence was too long again and Talon's eye was twitching almost imperceptibly. Finally the man cleared his throat and jiggled the reins nervously. "What brings you to Castle Town today?" 

"We are shopping." 

"Ah! For your house?  That's great! What did you need?" 

The Deity frowned.  "Everything." 

"Wow, yeah. That's…where's your cart? Maybe I can help get things out there?" 

"We do not have one." 

There was another silent beat where a variety of emotions flitted across the rancher's face and the Deity gazed at him in studious interest.  Somehow he always managed to surprise the mortal in everything he said and did. Talon finally appeared to make up his mind about something and nodded seriously. 

"Well, you're in luck! I'm done with deliveries for today. I can help you out! Let me just get this parked somewhere and I'll show you around and find out what you'll need." 

"My thanks, Talon." 

The rancher was an invaluable guide for the Deity. He knew every store, every shopkeeper, and knew where to go for the best deal for the money spent. The Deity was not particularly concerned about money but from the information he had gathered, it was more of an issue for mortals. It was important to remember these things for later.  Raising a mortal boy was more involved than he realised and he had much to learn about these Hylians and how their society worked. 

By the time Link found his father again, hours later, he was surprised to see the god in the company of the rancher, tying down several furniture items into the cart. He stared in a sort of mute wonder at how many things there were and the easy way his old life was integrating with his new one. 

"Hey dad! You know Talon?!"

"Yes." 

Talon chuckled nervously. "We've met a few times. How are you doing, Link? Excited for your house?" 

"Oh yeah, totally!  Wow, is this all furniture for us?" 

"It sure is!  We should get going though. It's going to be dark and Malon will be wondering where I went."

The trip back to Lon Lon Ranch was filled with Link's cheerful chatter as he rode Epona next to the adults but the Deity was utterly silent.  Talon was not entirely comfortable being so close to the man, sitting next to him on the seat, but he did his best to remain calm. Certainly Link's father had never said or done anything wrong to the rancher but there was something about him that gave Talon a disquieting feeling at literally all times.  He'd never met someone so off-putting before. It wasn't even a bad feeling, like danger or fear.  Maybe more of a terrified awe.  He didn't understand what caused him to react that way to the white-haired man, though the eyes and facial markings were certainly a start. 

He didn't like it. It didn't fit into his quiet life of taking care of horses and cows and cuccos. It belonged in a temple or the castle or the deepest, darkest woods where nameless things moved quietly. Instead it was here, sitting next to him and buying furniture. Strange beings did not walk around buying furniture! 

So Link's father must not be one of those. 

Right? 

By the time they got to the ranch, it was getting dark and Talon fretted over thoughts of stalchildren and other night time monsters. He didn't want to leave his neighbours without their purchases but it wasn't safe to travel at night.  He pulled up to the entrance and worked up the courage to offer the pair a place to sleep. 

"Well, it's getting mighty late and Malon will be worried.  Why don't you–" 

"May we borrow the cart?" The tall man was staring at Talon evenly, no sign of meaning behind his question.  The cart? The farmer stuttered a bit, at a loss for words.  That would be a neighbourly thing to do, lend them the horse and cart, and it would probably be okay. Maybe.

"Ah, do you have a place for the horse then?" Talon was not in the habit of lending out his horses but Link had always treated Epona with the utmost respect and despite how the rancher felt about his father, he was absolutely positive the man would treat his things impeccably.  Still, he knew they couldn't have much done at their house yet. Did they even have a stable? Or fences? 

"I only need the cart." 

"E-excuse me?" 

"We will return it in the morning." 

"Oh, uh, I mean, there's no rush but…"  Talon stared at the tall man for a long moment and then, despite his misgivings, slid off the seat and unhitched his horse.  He looked over at Link but the boy was completely unconcerned at what his father was suggesting.  "Just be careful of the stalmonsters, you know?"

"Thank you, Talon."  With not even a second thought, the Deity stepped to the front of the cart, lifted the poles off the ground and began walking for the forest.  A burden that no man should have been able to lift on his own.  Link waved cheerfully to Talon as he trotted Epona off after the heavy load, pulling out a bow as they reached the field.  Talon watched, open-mouthed, until the pair disappeared over a hill into the twilight, then continued to stare for several moments longer.

Impossible.  Utterly, absolutely inconceivable.  Talon walked like a man stunned back to the stables, took care of his horse with automatic movements, his brain not able to really settle on what it had just seen.  He knew how heavy that load had been.  There was not a single person in Hyrule who could have lifted and pulled that cart even a short distance, much less all the way to the Lost Woods.

That night, he stared up at his ceiling blankly, not able to sleep for a long while.  Impossible.

When he woke the next morning and went outside to see to the cuccos, the wagon was waiting patiently for him by the stables, a messily-scrawled note in Link's handwriting thanking him for the use of it.

The Deity knew he should try to blend in more with the mortals. His child was mortal and it would be best if he could exist with the others in a way that didn't terrify them. He also knew that due to his nature, he could never truly hide what he was. 

But he could try. 

A few days later, he made his way back to Castle Town on his own.  He wandered the streets, whispers following in his wake, until he found a small store he had noticed earlier. The sign had the characters for "Tailor" etched onto the wood and the Deity recognised them instantly.  He was certain some of his knowledge came from Link but he had always been able to pick up written and spoken languages easily. As he pushed the door open and ducked inside, he noted the small sign with the Golden Three Triforce hanging in the window.   There was another behind the counter and it was an unusual display of devotion from what the Deity had observed.  It was no surprise then when the woman who walked out from behind a curtain stopped, looked at her new customer, then bowed deeply. 

"Exalted One, it is an honour. I had heard rumours but didn't know if they were true." 

"Formalities are not needed. I merely wish for clothing such as what average people wear." 

The Deity noticed the look of surprise on the woman but her face smoothly slipped into a professional demeanour as she gestured towards the back.  "Certainly. We would be humbled to assist you. I'll have to take measurements, of course, if you don't mind." 

"Whatever you need is fine.  I have no objections."  Mortals always did have trepidations over touching deities. He understood this; those moments of contact gave them perhaps too much of a look into what he was.  Link had never minded but the boy had also been him several times. Perhaps he was used to it.  The process was quick and the Deity did his best to rein in his aura as much as he could. The woman did not even flinch once and the Deity began to wonder if perhaps he was not the only one left; for a mortal, she seemed quite familiar with dealing with godhood. 

"Our mother was a priestess of the Three." The woman was writing numbers down on a pad of paper. She anticipated the Deity's thoughts very well. "None of her children took up that calling but I suppose a little of that lingers around us. Now, if you'd like, I can show you fabrics." 

The rest of the transaction went well and the woman told him a date to return. She never asked for his name and he did not offer one. It wasn't needed.  He was impossible to mistake for anyone else. 

The Deity knew very little of caring for mortal children.  Even before having the whole of himself shoved into a wooden mask, he did not engage in the day to day lives of mortals.  The Protectors had a job to do and they were not to interfere more than needed.  He was sure he had observed children, though his memories still came slow to him, and he knew of the general needs of mortal creatures.  In many ways, it was good that Link knew how to take care of himself and the Deity observed him near constantly to set his expectations correctly.  The child needed meals frequently, at least three large ones at equally spaced moments through the day, and the occasional snack in between.  He needed sleep every night, though there were times when he said he was not tired through much yawning and drooping eyelids. And he needed time outside to explore and burn off excess energy.  Because Link had a near endless supply of it and could become unbearable should he be cooped up inside for long periods of time.  

So the Deity observed and learned and, because he knew one child was not enough data points, he would often do so for other mortal families in Hyrule Field or Castle Town.  He watched how children interacted with each other and their adults.  He identified the small hints that they would give off during certain behaviours; a look in the eye, a tense silence, an excited jiggling of the foot.  He saw fear and anger and happiness. 

And he began to notice when things were going wrong.

He could hear when Link and the Kokiri girl would play outside, the mischievous giggles when they were up to something. There were the pauses after loud noises, always followed by excuses and apologies. When Link was alone, the Deity heard the shhhhfft of clothing against a tree the boy was climbing, then the thud and crunch of broken twigs when he would fall. Link never complained of injuries but he knew exactly where to find fairies when he needed them.  The Deity noticed the absence of sound, something that was more worrying than any actual noise the child produced.

Silences spiked anxiety in the god and he did not know why.

It was quiet that afternoon.  There had been sounds, he had heard them, but now there was a waiting silence.  Even the faint chiming of fairies had stilled.  The god paused in his work on the house, then followed the silence through the trees, trying to find the boy.  He had not gotten far when he heard shouting.

"...going to hurt someone!"

"--not the boss of me! I'm gonna–"

Despite the god's excellent hearing, the words were scattered and broken, interrupted by trees and wind.  As he stepped towards the edge of the forest and in sight of Hyrule Field, he could see the green tunic of his son through the gaps, heard a guttural sort of yell and saw Link throw himself forward.  The Deity stared for a moment, perplexed, as he watched his son fight with another boy in the grass.  There was a thud, a yelp of pain, and the other child ran off further into the Field.  The god's eyes narrowed slightly.  Had his son been fighting?  Why would he be fighting another child?  That didn't seem right.  Was there something about Hylians he had missed in his observations these last weeks?

He stepped forward as Link slowly backed up into the trees.  The boy did not see or sense his presence but he felt the god as he ran into his legs.  "Oh, uh, hi…dad.  Er…"

"What are you doing?"  The boy seemed nervous, guilty.  That much was obvious even to him.

"N-nothing…it's…I mean…"  And then he took off.  Yes, that was guilt.  Link was not supposed to be fighting and the Deity was quick to catch up to him.  He reached out a hand and snagged the back of his son's tunic and there was a moment of real panic in the child's eyes.  He tried to squirm away, lashed out with his hand to get free of the grip on his clothes.  But the Deity was surprisingly gentle, his own hands quick to hold Link steady as he picked the boy up.

"Let me go! Let me go! I didn't do it!"

"I saw you hit that boy."

Link thrashed wildly and the Deity tucked him under his arm, keeping several of the boy's limbs imobile. The child continued to shout, looking both guilty and panicked; they had not dealt with any sort of discipline since the mask had broken and neither Link nor the god had any idea what punishment should be like.  Link, at least, seemed to have real fear of his fate but the god wasn't planning on hurting him; one did not hurt the things they protected.  But what should he do to punish a wrong action?  This didn't seem like something he should be asking his son.  Perhaps he should go speak to another adult again.

Almost without thinking, the Deity turned his feet in the direction of Lon Lon Ranch.  Thus far, Talon's advice and help had been very useful.  Perhaps it would be so again…

"What do you do for fun?"

Link always had such unusual questions for him. He remembered… no, he didn't.  Another frustrating blank.  What sort of things did he do, before the mask?  Did deities do things simply for entertainment?  The impression of always being busy lingered in his past.  This was now though and he knew he would have to consider the matter soon. The work on the house was almost done; the doorways now fit his height and most of the rooms had basic furniture. He was running out of things to do. He knew he couldn't spend all of his time with Link and perhaps some of these hobbies his son was speaking of would help him. 

"Oh! Horse riding!  We could get you a horse! We could ride together!  Oh, you're probably too big for the horses. Never mind.”

Link loved horses very much, the Deity knew this.  He had a thought, a memory of riding horses a very, very long time ago.  But the boy was correct; all the ones he had seen now would not hold up to his size and weight.  But perhaps, maybe there was some of the ancient, larger breeds still around.  If he–

“Oh! We should go fishing! I said, you know, before…that you could go fishing sometime when I used the mask but now we can do it together!”

The boy switched topics very quickly and he shifted over from thinking about horses to fishing.  He remembered the impression of fishing, the mask leaning up against the boy's leg.  He wasn't sure why Link liked it so much but he would be willing to give it a try.  He nodded and the boy looked so excited.  Were there supplies needed for this? He would have to check.  He had observed other Hylians trying to catch fish in the river by Castle Town so it must not be too difficult.  So a horse and fishing.  Those were things he could certainly do with his child. 

A hand plucked at his sleeve; after his first order of clothing had come in, he began to wear it immediately.  Link had commented on it, sounding surprised at the Deity wearing anything as normal as a  grey tunic and pants, but it was not a bad sort of surprise and the boy had looked rather pleased.

"Hey, what are you thinking about?"  Blue eyes stared at him, looking interested in whatever the Deity had to say.  It was unusual for the god, any deity really, to be observed so closely by a mortal but he had grown used to it.

"You will see."

Later that night, after a dinner that was much like every other dinner they had since the kitchen had been finished, the Deity left the house in his armor, Link's words of a bed and dreams still echoing in his ears.

"Good night. Son."

The words rattled around in his head even as he moved swiftly through the dark night, heading deeper into the forests, following a feeling.  It was the first time he had called Link his son out loud.  The boy had been calling him dad for weeks now but he had never returned the sentiment.  He knew Link was his son. Why did saying it out loud feel so different? 

Son. 

He had a son. 

A mortal boy that needed him. 

Something deeper than his innate desire to Protect stirred in him. He would make sure nothing happened to Link. He would keep him safe. He would try to make the boy… happy. Yes, that's what felt different. He wanted to provide a life that his son would enjoy, even if sometimes there would be punishments and discipline and teaching moments that would be difficult for both of them.  Even to what little of himself he had regained in the past weeks, it felt different. But also right? Was he supposed to be doing this? Though he hadn't tried to speak with the Mothers, it didn't feel wrong.  Would he know after being trapped for so long? Should he trust these strange, new instincts? 

Soon he was in a field, far from home, and some knowledge in himself said this was the place. It was quiet and the moon was bright overhead. Nocturnal animals shuffled around, not fearful of him, knowing him for what he was.  A sudden, sharp memory of an ancient field, the scent of demons on the night breeze and the hunt beginning.  Night, that was his domain. He protected the mortal lands at night, watching when the other deities would be resting, strong enough to take on many foes by himself. He had been the Protector of the Night, beholden to The Three. 

A quiet sound distracted him from those thoughts and he held still as a shining animal entered the clearing.  A lone horse, much larger than the ones the Deity had seen at the ranch, was awake and wandering in the moonlight. Where had it come from? The god moved forward and the horse did not run away. It was white and grey, a mottled mix of the colours, and there was intelligence in her eyes. A beautiful, impossible mare in the middle of the night. 

A gift. 

He could almost hear her, Mother Farore, a faint whisper that didn't quite connect. He was scared, worried, still half imprisoned in his own head and he could not hear Her as he should. But this felt like a present, a sign that he was doing right. As the horse walked up to him and put her nose in his hands, he released a breath. Soon, he should try to speak with the Mothers soon. Once he had established things more with Link. But the horse settled a small part of his heart; even if he had lost favour with Nayru and Din, perhaps Farore still held him in high regard. 

As he rode home on the steed that had found him, that thought was a comfort. 

Link pulled open the fishing hole door, an enormous grin on his face. He had rode horses with his dad to come fishing with his dad and this was absolutely the best day he ever had in his life. He was practically vibrating with excitement as he bounced up to the counter. The man smiled at the green-clad child, remembering him from earlier visits. It had been several weeks but he knew he'd see the boy again; the kid was about the most enthusiastic fisher he had ever met. 

"Hey there, kid! Back again for more fun?" 

"Yeah! Me and my dad!" 

"Dad? You have a da–?" 

And then the Deity walked in. The fishing man felt his heart skip a beat at the sight of the white-eyed giant. He looked down at Link, still smiling wide, then back up at the new addition. The strange marks on the skin made the fisherman shudder with some deep emotion long forgotten.  It was an old memory of childhood, standing in the temple and staring up at the statue of the Golden Three, the fear and awe of the divine trembling through him. He felt that now, his eyes locked on the tall figure before him. 

Link slapped his hands on the counter in excitement, breaking the man's reverie.  "I get to go fishing with my dad! Isn't that great?!" 

The fisherman could barely take his eyes off the Deity to glance at the boy.  "Y-yeah kid, that's great. If you don't quiet down, you'll scare them all away though. Seriously!" 

"Okay okay! But c'mon! We need fishing poles and stuff!"  Link slapped some rupees down on the counter, determined to pay this one time at least.  After all, it was his idea and he wanted to show his dad how everything worked!  The fisherman handed over supplies, one of the poles the biggest Link had ever seen and even then it was a little small in the Deity’s hands, then the boy cheerfully whistled as they walked around the pond to his favourite spot.  Nothing much ever changed here and he showed the Deity the log he usually stood on to get to the bigger fish in the deeper waters. 

"Okay, fishing is really easy! You just put your lure on right here, then swing the pole backwards and flick it towards the water. If you do it just right, it'll land perfectly in the water!"  Link demonstrated the technique and the Deity watched with his usual, intense concentration. That particular look from his dad was when he was learning something; once was always enough for the god and Link never had to repeat instructions. 

With a practised wrist motion, Link's lure flew into the air and landed right in the spot he hoped for. A little bit of wiggling and reeling soon had a fish on his hook and he pulled it in little by little, his tongue sticking out of the corner of his mouth in concentration. The fish thrashed as it got closer but soon the boy had yanked it out onto the shore and held up the squirming creature with a proud smile. 

"First try! Great! It's a good one too! I bet it's ten pounds at least!  All right, let's give it a try with you, dad!" 

It had started fine. There were no issues with the lure or the fishing rod. But when he pulled his arm back and released the line, well, the Deity had never used one of these before and was not used to how well it would respond to his strength. The hook and line sailed out over the pond in a lazy, easy arc and snagged onto the fisherman's shirt. The man was startled out of whatever thoughts had been occupying him and looked up in indignation, expecting it was the child pulling a prank. Instead, it was the tall father, staring impassively, having just hooked him from the opposite side of the pond. The man's face paled, the sense of being trapped very strong, and desperately fumbled to get the hook off of him.

"Oh sorry! Dad doesn't know his own strength sometimes!"  Link tried to hide the grin on his face but he doubted he was succeeding. They couldn't have planned that better if they tried. 

"N-n-n-no worries! Just be careful!" 

The boy was laughing to himself as the god rewound the line.  "Oh man, if he was wearing that hat now, you definitely would have snagged it. Guess he doesn't care since he hasn't gone bald yet."

The Deity nodded quietly, the oddness of the word "yet" lingering in his mind. He didn't say anything but he filed it away for later. Every so often, Link would say something strange like that, like he knew what was going to happen without a shadow of a doubt.  It was more than just a child's certainty.  Something from Termina rose in his mind. Link, on the moon, the feeling of time that clung to him… 

He turned his mind to fishing again, storing the thoughts away.  The next cast went much better, though Link sounded disappointed at the position of the lure.  The pond was calm, the sun warm and the wind through the trees a pleasant murmur in the ears.  The Deity suddenly felt something he hadn't in quite a long time; peace.  He sat on the ground and closed his eyes, feeling the gentle tug of the water on the line, sensing the fish as they swam past.  For several minutes, he continued to sit, legs crossed, body relaxed.

When he opened his eyes once again, Link was giving him a curious look. "You okay, dad?"

"Yes."

The boy sat next to him, a small frown on his lips.  "You're not having fun, are you?"  The Deity blinked in confusion and looked down at the top of his son's head, saying nothing.  Link sighed a little.  "Well, we don't have to stay if you don't like it."

"I did not say that."

"Well you're just sitting there!"

"I like it.  This.  I like this."

"Oh!"  The boy looked up into his father's eyes, still blank and white but he was starting to understand the looks in them, the strange movement of power and the way emotions floated to the surface.  With a little shrug, he scooched up closer so he could lean against the Deity's leg and tossed his own line back into the water as well. "Okay, well, this is good too!"

Link was used to being more active while doing just about anything. Even fishing was something he worked at to get his line in just the right place and attract the perfect fish.  He had never just sat before.  Sat and listened to the water lapping gently against the edges of the pond, to the wind whistling over the earthen barrier that kept the area so private.  It was nice, actually, and that surprised him.  Nice sitting next to his dad and just existing for a bit.  A peaceful stupor settled on his small shoulders. 

Before he realised it, Link's head drooped onto his father's knee and he was dozing peacefully.  The Deity looked down, an emotion settling on his spirit like a warm blanket. He raised a hand tentatively, unsure, then slowly lowered it onto his son's head. For many moments, the two sat like that, the only sounds the water and the breeze and Link's gentle snores. 

For the first time since he had been imprisoned and released, the god smiled.

Chapter Text

Link enjoyed the long days of summer. Somewhere in the back of his head, in the memories he didn't want to think about, he knew this was the time when everything in his life changed so many years ago. Wait, no, not that long ago. Two years, maybe? That seemed right. Was it really only two years ago that the Great Deku Tree had died? The Kokiri were so busy helping the new Deku Sprout that none of them really noticed the passage of time.  If they ever really noticed that at all. Link snuck around Mido every so often to check on the new sapling and it looked like he was growing well! A proper tree, though not anywhere near as big as he had been.  It felt weird sneaking in to check on the Deku Tree but he had to remind himself that he wasn't Kokiri, had never been, and it wasn't his job to watch over the forest anymore.  The actual Kokiri were doing just fine without him and he had his own house anyway. 

Link still visited the woods often though. It was cooler under the dense canopy of trees and the Kokiri still treated the tree house as his; he even updated the scoreboard with the fish size he caught with his dad!  Sometimes he and Saria would play ocarina duets for the others.  He still tried to talk to the Kokiri, play games if they let him, and chat with the fairies that fluttered everywhere. He didn't notice when things began to change, didn't see how he was catching up in height to some of the taller forest children. He only vaguely realised that his tunic was starting to get shorter. 

He was growing up, as he always had, but he did not notice it then nor did he notice it now.

The sun was only just rising on Hyrule Field when the Deity rode up to Tilly's house.  He left Luna eating the grass calmly by the door as he ducked inside to the usual, cheerful greeting.  "Ah, if it isn't Link's father! A joy as always! You're here so early, every day!" 

Most of the small community of farmers that lived in Hyrule Field had inadvertently named him "Link's father", something he found rather amusing. An unusual name for one of his kind but his life was very different from what it had been.  Buying bread every morning, going fishing, building furniture. These were the things he did now to Protect and care for his son. 

"Good morning, Tilly. I am normally up this time of day."  He did not tell her it was because he sometimes was up all night killing the stalfos that stalked the Field, nor that he would occasionally be up for several days at a time because he did not require rest the way mortals did.  No, those thoughts he kept to himself.  "Link's father" was not yet known as a god and it was easier if they were not forced to think of him that way.

"I hope the work on your house is going well!  I'm amazed you were able to fix up one of those fine, old places by the woods. Some have been abandoned since the war started, why, maybe sixty years ago."

"It is nearly complete. I am trying to obtain very specific furniture but we proceed apace." 

"Ah! That's wonderful!" During the brief conversation, the woman had wrapped the fresh loaves of bread and placed them in the basket the Deity used for his daily food shopping. It had become a comfortable ritual for both the woman and the god, changed only by what they talked about in those few sentences.  As the Deity reached for the basket though, the woman put a hand on top of the handle, not quite touching his. "One moment. I have something for you." 

Curiosity settled on the god's face and he gave the woman a questioning "hmm?" noise as she pulled out a carefully bound homemade book. With a small smile, she slipped it into the basket next to the bread. 

"You mentioned near the beginning that it was just you and Link and, well, I thought maybe you wouldn't mind some assistance from your neighbours.  So we gathered recipes for things your boy has enjoyed while helping out around here!  And some other staple foods for growing children."

The Deity looked at the book, a memory rising from the depths of his past. He had received many written works from mortals; poetry, music, art, stories of great deeds written on scrolls.  He had never, not once, been given a collection of things to help him in his duty. A strange feeling settled inside him but he couldn't name it.  "My thanks.  I am sure Link will appreciate this.  He speaks of food often."

"It's no problem! No problem at all!  Why, people around here love helping when they can but it's been years since anyone could use the assistance. I know you never ask for anything but, well, sometimes you can just tell.  Just let me know if you decide you're going to start baking at home yourself! I can still help you out as much as you need but I'll need to adjust my supplies if you won't need the bread from me anymore."

"Of course.  Have a good day, Tilly."

"And you as well!"

As per usual, the god placed down the rupees required for the bread and ducked out of the farmhouse door.  Tilly smiled at his back, happy and satisfied with a job well done.  When she looked down at the gem, it was red instead of the usual blue one she charged for his order.  Twenty whole rupees!  Well!  If money wasn't a bit tight right now, she would have half a mind to return the excess but one didn't just turn down a blessing from the gods, right?  For a brief moment, the woman's thoughts paused at her choice of words.  Shaking her head, she scooped up the rupee and muttered a quick prayer to the Goddesses as she moved back into her kitchen.  There was plenty more work to do and she didn't want to get behind.

"No no, don't hang it there, silly!"

"C'mon Saria! I'm not tall enough to put it up higher! Last time I was on a chair, dad got mad at me!"

"We'll just hang it from the trusses!  Give me a boost!"

As the Deity walked in the door,  he paused at the sight of Link trying to lift Saria up to the beams that crossed the house and an exasperated sigh passed his lips.  Was he expected to keep the Deku Tree's child safe as well as his own?  The two children paused, wide-eyed at being caught, then Saria jumped up and pulled herself onto the thick, wooden beam.  "Oh hi, Link's dad!"

"Greetings Saria. What are you two attempting to do this time?"

Link held up a wreath made of twisted evergreen branches with flowers tucked into the strands.  "Saria made this for us and she wants to hang it up high.  I told her you'd get mad if I stood on the chair again."

"You had stacked the chair on top of two other chairs."

"Right! That's what I said! You'd get mad!"

"I will assist you.  Saria, what are you doing up there?"

"I was going to hang it from the beam.  Oh! You have a fairy living up here!"

"We do!? I wanna see!" Link began hopping around on his toes, trying to make himself taller.  Without a word, the Deity scooped up his son and lifted him up into the trusses next to Saria.  It did not seem unusual to the god to have his son up so high; the boy was regularly in trees and had helped him fix the roof, after all.  It was not the heights he was concerned about but rather the completely unsafe ways the boy would undertake to get to those heights in the first place.  Link set the wreath down on the beam and pressed in next to Saria to see their visitor. 

Leaving the children to speak to the small orange fairy, the Deity moved to the shelf that held his steadily growing collection of books.  They were the only items he purchased solely for himself and it surprised him how much he enjoyed finding new ones.  He had begun working with Link on improving his reading and writing but most books he bought as an indulgence and they were often in languages his son didn't know. A tiny store hidden in a back alley of town knew to hold books that were unusual or particularly old for him.  Some books he found on his own in hidden places and ancient ruins.  He placed his new ones on the shelf and settled down on the floor to open another on his knees. This seemed to be a history book but the Hylian script was older and he mentally worked at the letters to learn the meanings behind them. 

"You're a lot more laid back than I thought you'd be, dad."  Link was laying over the edge of one of the joists, looking down at his father from above. The Deity looked upwards with a small frown.

"Pardon?"

"Yeah, like, you're pretty calm? You know, when I wore, um, your mask…"  Link trailed off, at a loss for words suddenly. They hadn't spoken of the mask in any detail at all. He had mentioned being happy that his dad was out of it but that was it. They never talked about the times they shared a body or the burning anger that the Deity exuded while inside. Link understood the anger; he would have felt the same if someone had shut him up in a cage with no escape. But it had been so much. TOO much. It had screamed at him, clawed at his mind, desperate to be free.  In those few seconds of the first transformation, Link had worried he would not survive.  Then, suddenly, it stopped and there was a deep, mental inhalation, a timeless silence. In that moment where a second was forever and quiet sat on him like a shroud, Link promised that they would kill Majora together, would get their revenge as one, and then they'd be free. 

He never realised how true that would be.

"Well, you were mad, right?  Like, angry and wanting to fight."  Link tapped his fingers on the wood, looking thoughtful.  "Every time I wore it, I could feel how furious you were and how much you wanted to fight.  I, uh, honestly thought you'd be angrier."  But when he thought about it, the boy realised the anger had never been directed at him outside those initial moments.  Anger at Majora, anger at the things that had caused him harm, but there had been other, lingering emotions as well.

"Ah, I see."  There was a long silence while the Deity gathered his thoughts but Link was already moving away, balancing on the beams as he walked across them.  Saria took the wreath and tied it to a central location with a bit of twine, smiling with pride at the work done.

"There! This'll help your house smell nice! And bring good luck!"

The Deity stared upwards at the two children for a long moment, then glanced down at the rest of the house.  It was accumulating many things, both necessary and not. Bundles of herbs and grasses, food Link had foraged from the forest, feathers arranged into decorations, the occasional trinket found in the long grass, a picture of the ranch that Malon had drawn for them. The kitchen had cupboards for dishes, storage for non-perishable food, and barrels with water they refreshed daily from the river.  The house looked lived in. 

It was different from what the Deity had known as a home but it felt comfortable, somehow right.  There was peace here and he did not feel that anger from the mask anymore. 

As he sat, the book still open on his lap, the two children whispered together then began playing their ocarinas. The cheerful notes echoed against the ceiling and the tiny fairy in the rafters chimed in time with Saria's companion.  Link snickered then switched songs suddenly. With a laugh, the Kokiri tried to keep up but every time she caught the thread of melody, the boy would switch again. It was a musical chase, a game of tag consisting only of sound. The Deity closed his eyes and listened to the quick, skipping music and the laughter of children. Heard the creaks of the house and the wild language of nature outside in the trees. 

They were the sounds of home and another feeling settled inside him; contentment. 

The Deity made his own bed. He had commissioned a couch for himself in a very specific style to ones he remembered and the woodworker found the design fascinating; he promised it would be made with the utmost care.  Of course this was true as the god only ever hired those who cared more about the craft than the money and he paid very well for the privilege.  The bed was harder though.  It would need to be made in his room, due to the size. He did not strictly need one but Link enjoyed when the Deity took his advice and it would be easier to find his way to the dreams if he was laying down. 

If he really wished to find out what happened to his Family, he would need to dream eventually. Speak with the Mothers, try to connect to the golden lands once again.  Some part of him, a part he didn't understand, worried at his failure against Majora, feared what the others would think of him. Had he felt this much doubt in his past? He didn't know. Being trapped for so long had so many strange side effects on him.  He really did need to speak with at least one of the Mothers soon.  But he was…scared. 

So instead, he built a bed. 

Link was fascinated by the method of building things. He wanted to help with every step.  His inability to pay proper attention nearly caused him injury with the saw but for the most part, the process went well.  The boy found the act of joining the wood captivating and was surprisingly adept at working out how things fit together.  Memories from the mask, from his connection to Termina, spoke to the god of a child in green who had solved many puzzles and repeatedly worked at a problem until it was finished.  The Deity watched his son angle wood this way and that as his mind did something similar with his memories. Time had been looping in Termina at the end. How? Had Link known of the loops? Mortals very rarely sensed time anomalies.  What–

With a satisfied noise, Link turned to look at his father for confirmation of his choice and the god nodded, a small smile on his lips. The boy beamed a bright grin in return that stuck immediately in the god's heart; praise was something his child enjoyed, another way to make him happy.  The thoughts of Termina were stored away for another time.  There was something here that the Deity should know. He would think about it later, when he was not busy learning how to parent. 

But he would think about it. 

The pair built other things together.   They soon had a small stable and a large paddock for the horses. The mare Link had named Luna may have been content to stay near the house of her own volition but Epona needed the structure of a contained space.  The Deity's territory grew slowly though Link never knew of his father's occasional visits to the Deku Tree to obtain permission for the land they encroached on. While the nature deity assured him it was fine, it was the height of rudeness to interfere with another god's land without permission. 

The Deity felt odd about having his own domain so close to another's but the Deku Tree welcomed him with branches carefully pulled back, giving the god room to grow.  It was a great honour, in the way of plants, to make space for another.  Around the house, branches grew away so that the moon could shine down upon the clearing.  The forest paid him reverence, though the Deity was not sure he had earned the right. He only barely remembered who he had been. Another memory pushed its way forward; a Brother, a Protector of Nature, someone he had been close to. They had fought together, Night and Deep Forests, and the god had often kept watch over the woods while his Brother had been sleeping.

The Deity was glad that his son was not around when these moments hit him. A deep, aching sense of loss. The pain of not being there for his Siblings when they had fallen. He had not been strong enough and now they were gone.  The sadness clawed at him and he would spend long moments fighting with it, grappling with the emotions that had never hit him so hard in the past.  He fought for control within his mind, attempting to accept the loss and move on with the burden but it left him exhausted and weary in the end.  The weight of thousands of missing years smothered him.

Afterwards, he used his new bed but no dreams came to soothe him. 

The Deity was looking at the ground around the house one day, the summer heat heavy in the air.  Link was wearing nothing but his shorts as he jogged up to his father. 

"What'cha doing, dad? Did you want to go swimming in the lake today? It's too hot!" 

"I was considering another source of water for the house." 

"Oh? What's wrong with the river?" While Link wasn't terribly fond of having to bring buckets of water back home every day, it wasn't that far away and the water tasted fine. It was the same one the Kokiri used, after all. 

"I could perhaps dig a well so we have water near the house. It would be more convenient."  There was no response from his son, an unusual occurrence, and the Deity glanced over at him.

The boy was frozen in place, eyes looking stunned and far away, his ears pointed as far down as they could go. If the Deity was anything but what he was, he would not have noticed the faint tremor that held the boy as if in stasis. He frowned, immediately concerned. This was not something he had observed in Link before, though sometimes the mortals would have a similar response to his own presence. Slowly, he reached out a hand and touched the boy lightly on the shoulder. 

"Link." 

A shudder shook the boy and his eyes closed, then opened again. "I, uh, do… do we have to have a w-well?"

"No, we do not." 

"I'm… I'm okay with going to the river. Really! We… we don't need a… a… we don't need one, right?" 

"No. I did say we do not need one." 

"Right! Good! I promise I won't complain about getting water anymore. It's fine. Fine. Right. Okay. I'm going to my room. Right. Let me know when it's dinner time." 

The Deity watched his son run off, perplexed at the strange reaction he had observed. It wasn't guilt this time; it was fear, plain and simple. Why was Link afraid of wells? He almost asked but even he knew better than to bring it up at that moment.  Perhaps he would inquire some other day.  They could continue to get water the usual way.

That night, as the Deity read quietly by firelight, a sound caught his attention. He looked up, an ear flicking ever so slightly, trying to determine where it was coming from. Another sound, slightly louder, and he stood, moving towards Link's room. 

The Deity did not go into his son's room very often.  Children needed a private space and while Link never said the god couldn't come in, there had not been reason before. As he opened the door and stepped inside, he took in the masks that hung on his walls, the scattered papers spread on the desk that had been purchased in town and the gilded sword resting over them. Link's bag was slumped on the chair and his ocarina rested carefully on a small table next to the bed.  A mirrored shield was half tucked in under the bed. All this he saw, as well as his son tossing and turning in the warm air, muttering restlessly. 

As the Deity stood over his son, obviously in distress, he could not think of what to do. What did parents do about restless, frightened sleeping? Was this something he could help with? The Mothers may occasionally grant foresight in dreams but this did not seem like that. Quietly, he reached over and touched the boy's shoulder. Link did not wake but he gave a deep, shuddering breath and quieted down, the fear etched on his face fading to a restful peace.  Silence settled in the house once more.  For several moments, the Deity waited and watched, then turned and left as quietly as he had come. 

"Good morning, Talon." 

The rancher cringed deeply as the deep voice spoke behind him. Every time. Every. Single. Time. Link's father had to be the quietest person he knew.  For someone so huge, he moved with a grace unmatched. The man turned slowly, trying to stop his hands from shaking. 

"Ah, good morning neighbour! H-how are you today?  Time for your groceries already?"  Normally Link came by for the milk and eggs every few days but it was too soon and his father was never the one to do it.  Talon would have preferred that to the alternative though; these early morning visits always meant something was wrong.  As much as he liked helping, the stress of the man's blank-eyed regard was wearing on his nerves just a little.

The Deity frowned slightly, a strange sort of confusion on his face. "Does your child have bad experiences while sleeping?" 

Now Talon was also confused.  "Bad experiences? What do you mean?" 

"I believe Link is being visited by troubling visions when he sleeps."

"Troubli– Oh! Is he having nightmares?  Bad dreams?" 

The white-haired man's brows furrowed in consideration and Talon suddenly wondered what he was thinking. "I suppose they must be." 

"It sounds like it! Yeah, sometimes Malon has bad dreams but I try to talk to her about it, assure her everything is fine, that it wasn't real. That's what my parents would do for me when I was a boy! It's pretty normal."  Once again, there was surprise on the man's face and Talon wondered if his neighbour had ever had a bad dream in his life. Everyone had nightmares sometimes, didn't they? 

"So I should merely comfort him when this happens? There is nothing else to do?" 

"Ah, well, no. I mean, it's all in their heads, right? Not much you can do about that." 

"You do not wake your child?" 

"Only if it's really bad! Malon usually settles on her own though."  

There was a moment of contemplative silence from the god and then he nodded. "Thank you, Talon. I appreciate the advice." He turned to go but was met by a cart coming up the road.  The rancher waved a hand in greeting, his face immediately lighting up.

"Oh! The farrier is here today. Can you have Link bring Epona over for a check on her shoes?"  Talon and the smith engaged in pleasant, meaningless conversation as the god nodded and headed towards his home.  The equipment on the visitor's cart sparked another memory, one of watching weapons being forged by a Sibling, then eventually by the mortals themselves. He remembered weapons, being presented delicate daggers and strong maces. He was a god of the night but also of battle. His first Goddess marks had been with Din, though the other two had followed quickly.  As he looked down at the green swords on his wrists, thoughts of the weapons he had once had came immediately to mind. Now only his spirit blade remained. 

He wondered what sort of weapons the Hylians were making now. 

Later, after a quiet breakfast, Link and the Deity rode their horses to the ranch. The boy had not wanted to speak of the night before, making mumbled excuses when the god had asked him about it. He had perked up at the prospect of visiting Malon though and by the time they were at the ranch fences, he was his normal, cheerful self again. He found the farrier briefly interesting but was quick to run off with the redhead, leaving his dad with the horses. The smith whistled appreciatively at the enormous horse in front of him.

"Why, I've never seen one so large! Certainly seems perfectly made for you, sir, if you don't mind my saying so." 

"I do not." 

"Do you have shoes for her? Or do you prefer her unshod? If you'd like shoes, I could make them though I'd have to craft them special for this beauty! May I take a look at her feet?" 

The Deity waved his hand in assent and the stout, cheerful Hylian did a thorough inspection of the mare's hooves. Though the god once had attendants to care for his ancient stables, he was not ignorant of the care of any creature.  After all, Satori had been a close Brother of his long ago and with that came shared knowledge of the needs of many types of animals.

"Ah, she's got beautiful hooves! Probably don't even need the shoes unless you're taking her into town often." 

"No." 

"Well! If you ever change your mind, I have my shop in Kakariko Village. You can always visit me there." 

"Do you make other things?" 

"Certainly! Certainly! All sorts of metal works when I have time. Swords and shields too, special order! There's plenty of blacksmiths in town as well who make those things regularly, plus armor! Though most don't need a lot of that these days, what with the war over and all."  The farrier was cheerful and talkative as he checked over Epona's shoes and replaced them. While he knew there was something highly unusual about the tall man, it didn't bother him in the slightest.  "There ya go, girl!  My, she's growing well! Great to see it! Looks like your son takes good care of her. Well, I've already finished Talon's lot and still have more farms to visit today, so I'll just be off.  Pleasure doing business with you!" 

"It was, yes."  As the Deity took Epona's reins back again, he left a rupee on the farrier's cart then walked towards his son on silent feet. The man chuckled cheerfully then paused in shock at the shiny, silvery gem that lay there.  A one hundred rupee!?  They were exceedingly rare!  And it was far beyond what he normally charged for his services, just for two horses.  He looked around, hoping to correct the strange man on the cost, wanting to make sure the money wasn't a mistake, but he was already gone.  It seemed odd to just take it but he certainly could use a little extra right now.  He could even upgrade his portable forge, get more work done! Surely no one would accidentally leave an entire silver rupee behind.

Muttering a quick prayer to the Goddesses, the farrier slipped the money in his pouch and hitched his horse to the cart.  There were others waiting for him that day and he needed to get moving. 

Weapons. Another former interest had presented itself to his mind.  The Deity had been interested in weaponry. 

It was night and Link was sleeping; the Deity still preferred the night but with his new duty to his son, he saw more of the days than he used to.  It was a comfort to him that there were not as many threats in the current age and even the skeletal creatures that stalked the field were appearing less often as he put them to rest.  He did not have to stand guard as he once had.  While in his heart he would always remain a deity who preferred darkness, he could take on more duties for daytime protection as well.  He could be there for his son. 

Holding out his hands, he called his sword to him as he sat cross-legged on the floor.  The weapon rested comfortably, the slight glow from his godly presence running up and down the length of the blade, casting shadows on the wall. The green markings on his arms mirrored the shape, the unusual double helix, but made of vines that curled onto his wrists.  It was not a blade mortals would make, nor one they could use effectively, but in his hands it was a force to be reckoned with.  Forged by a goddess and imbued with a sword spirit that had been solely his, it was a blade attuned specifically to him. Weapons he held often carried the echo of his aura with them but this was different.  He and the blade were one and the same; they resonated together. 

He closed his eyes and let memories unwind in his head. Memories of swords and fighting and a purpose to Protect. 

"Hey dad. Wha'cha doing?" 

The Deity opened his eyes again to see his son standing sleepily in the hallway. He was wearing only a pair of shorts, sweating slightly in the humid night air, his hair a mess of tangles. 

"I was thinking. Why are you awake?" 

"Couldn't sleep." The boy walked over, his eyes fixed on the blade. "Wow, I haven't seen that since the last time I wore the mask. It's big!" 

"It is the same size it always is." 

"Yeah, but the only times I've ever seen it was when I was bigger too."

The Deity made a contemplative hum deep in his throat as Link stood looking at the blade, an almost hungry look in his eyes. Did his son appreciate a good weapon as well?  Most mortal children his age did not have the knowledge to understand a well made sword but Link did have the gilded blade from Termina. More memories from the mask drifted into the forefront.  The boy in green, his son, helping, fighting, doing something different with every loop in time. 

Why had time been looping in Termina? 

"Are you fond of swords, Link?" 

"They're pretty great!  Um, most of them I guess. The Kokiri only had one sword but no one used it but me so I took it when I left. I upgraded it at Mountain Village!  It's all fancy and gold now."  As he talked, the boy's hand hovered over the helix sword, tentative.  The Deity held the sword out slightly more and nodded.  He did not expect Link to enjoy the contact but this was a safe place for him to discover what touching another's spirit blade would feel like.  Now that they no longer shared a body, he would feel the sting of rejection. 

Eyes wide, Link rested a hand lightly on the blade, then smiled and ran his fingers up the length of it to the hilt. His small hand closed around the grip and he lifted it ever so slightly, feeling the weight of it, then let it go and gave it a friendly pat. "No way I could swing this now. Oh well. Maybe someday I'll be big enough for it again, right dad?"

The boy looked up but with the first touch of his hand on the blade, the Deity had frozen with shock.  The blade accepted the child; he could feel the resonating hum between his sword and his son. It should not be possible.  The sword was made for him and no one else.  But something inside Link was recognized by the blade and the god did not understand why. 

He knew Link was not his son, not by blood. The boy was Hylian through and through. The Deity wasn't even sure if the gods and goddesses were allowed to have children with a mortal without also shedding divinity to be fully mortal themselves.  The only way Link could be connected to his weapon was if some part of the god's spirit existed in the boy. But that was impossible. 

And yet… 

How had he been brought back? Why did he feel so strongly towards Link? He had assumed this was because of the mask but what if there was something more? The mask had broken, had released his power, had returned his body somehow.  What if something had happened to Link in those mysterious moments? What if…

No, there had been no sign at all of his child being anything more than a boy.  There was no hint of his own power lingering around him. None at all. Except…

The sword.

His sword knew his son and accepted him. Oh Mothers, please don't have it mean what he thought. Please let it be that his claim on the boy was enough. His power was too much. It would hurt Link. It could kill him. There was no mask as a barrier anymore. There–

"Dad? You okay?" 

The Deity blinked once and looked at his son. "You must become excellent at sword fighting to use my blade." 

"I know how to swing a sword!" 

"It is more than just swinging something sharp around." 

Link sighed and the god put his weapon on the floor, then gestured for the boy to sit next to him. He did with a huff and the Deity put his arm around his son, holding him next to his side. Content happiness settled on Link's face and he leaned in closer. 

"Soon, I shall teach you so that when you are big enough, you will know how to properly wield it." 

"Really? You'll let me use your sword?" 

"Of course. After all, you have already done so." 

The Deity found other weapons. Some in dark ruins or buried in forgotten chests.  He visited the Castle Town blacksmiths, found where the best weapons were made and watched with the air of a teacher grading a student on their work. Some of the smiths fell apart completely while he watched. Others took it in stride. A few engaged him in easy conversation, discussing methods and materials.  Those craftsfolk he purchased weapons from.  The ones who had the easiest time with his presence were asked questions about methods, comparing things they did to techniques observed by the god in the past. Some of them made notes, did research and improved their own abilities. In this way, the Deity helped encourage them to better themselves, as was only right. 

And he heard rumours and tales of specialised smiths who lived in out of the way places. Which is how he found himself climbing a trail up to the Eldin volcano.  What were they calling it now? Death Mountain?  Mother Din had probably laughed about that one and he reminded himself again that he should try harder to connect with Them.  Soon, he would try soon. 

Of course, soon for an immortal was often a very long time. 

The extraordinarily large Goron at the top of the mountain looked down at the Deity with surprise.  Most people didn't get up here.  Most people were not as tall or as divine as the person standing in front of them at that moment.  And when he spoke, it was in the Goron language, a welcome surprise to be sure!

"Greetings, I have heard that you are a skilled maker of swords."

"Ah! Hello!  Haven't seen a god around here very often.  Yes, I make some very strong knives and all!  I'm glad you've heard of me.  Don't get a lot of business up here."

"I would be interested in obtaining something you have crafted."

"Of course! Of course! I have just the thing!"   The Goron rummaged around and pulled out a large, pristine sword with a stylised blue cross-grip.  In the Goron's hands, it did look tiny, like a knife, but when he handed it over, it fit well in the Deity's hands.  Perhaps a bit smaller than his own sword, but not by much.  The blade was indeed made well; it was strong and sturdy and was unlikely to break except under the most strenuous of circumstances.  With a quick one-handed swing, the god felt the weight and balance and found them excellent.  It was a remarkable weapon.

"What do you wish for payment?"

The big Goron hemmed and hawed for a moment and the Deity wondered if he was hesitant to mention the cost.  A weapon of this quality was worth many hundreds of rupees at least, going by current values of items, and the god was more than willing to pay whatever was asked.  What the Goron said was a surprise to him though.

"May I see your sword? I heard legends of the blades wielded by the gods and this might be the only chance I get to see one."

Of course.  That seemed like a reasonable request.  The Deity set the Biggoron sword on the ground and reached for his back where the double helix appeared.  The Goron gazed in rapt wonder at the sudden appearance, then gasped as the god swung the blade to the front and held it aloft.  Tentatively, he held out a finger and touched only the smallest part of the blade, then recoiled as if shocked or burned.  "I had heard, well, that some blades can only be held by one person."

"This is true."

"Was it really made by another god?"

"A goddess, yes.  Crafted in the beginning of time, made to my specifications and imbued with a sword spirit."   The Deity swung the sword around in his hands, the blade singing with the thrill of battle as it cut through the air.  A proper demonstration of its power was not possible here but he gracefully sliced and swung, then twirled the blade and re-sheathed it on his back where it soon disappeared.

"Ah, wonderful! I will make it my life's work to reproduce such outstanding craftsmanship.  You may take my sword, payment received!"

The Deity nodded and retrieved the sword from the ground.  The big Goron handed him a scabbard for the weapon and soon the god was making his way down the volcano once again.  When he returned home, he greeted Link as the boy practised his ocarina outside, then strode into the house and towards the back room where he had begun hanging the various weapons he had collected.  Daggers, a few swords, axes and hammers.  There were perhaps a dozen already even though the Deity was only collecting weapons he found of particularly good quality.  The Biggoron sword took a place of prominence on the wall with the other weapons, unsurprising due to its size.  When the god turned, he found his son standing there, staring at the weapon with an expression that was filled with contradiction.  Awe and wistful longing, both looks that made sense after Link's reaction to his own weapon.  But something else lingered there, an emotion that made no sense to the Deity's mind; indignation, pure and simple.

Like the sword was something the god had stolen from his son.

But nothing was said and the Deity stored the strange reactions away in his head with all the other moments and sayings that did not make sense.  A picture was forming in his mind, one that seemed impossible, and he wondered if it was at all accurate.  It did not surprise him that Link wasn't like the other children he had observed; it would have taken someone extraordinary to get up to the moon in Termina and Link had held his power easily with the mask.  But there was more going on.

Someday, he was sure he would find out what it was.

Chapter Text

It was quiet as Link tossed his fishing line into the wide, forest river.  His dad was leaning up against a tree, hands resting on his knees and eyes closed.  Saria was sitting on the far bank, playing a quiet song on her ocarina while her fairy dozed against her neck. Link yawned, feeling a little sleepy himself as he waited for a fish to bite.

It was still so warm, though some days it was cool and breezy.  He didn't know when autumn was supposed to start. Didn't know much about the seasons at all, really. How could he know what time it was and how many days had passed and not know when the seasons came and went?  His hands paused on the rod, mind going intensely quiet for a moment. 

How did he know what time it was?

Ug, it was all Termina's fault! Ever since he started counting the hours, he couldn't stop.  He had only been out for a few months and some days he still woke with a start, expecting to hear the ticking of that dumb clock! The crowing of a rooster, the steady tap tap tap of a hammer… 

Link's eye twitched at a recent memory. 

He rode Epona out of the strange darkness and into woods that were both familiar and strange. He hadn't seen this place in two years at least and yet it was exactly the same as it had been.  He paused, looking down at the ground.  Were those scuff marks? From his tumble over the ground as he had been pushed from Epona? Link glanced ahead, seeing the broken branches and signs of an animal having rushed through the underbrush recently. 

Three days. 

Had it really only been three days here as well?! 

He spurred the horse on, feeling branches whip against his skin, then pulled up short several minutes later at the sight of scattered debris on the ground. A bright shape was partially buried under leaves and Link slid off Epona's side to take a look. It was a mask, white with the Sheikah eye on it, and he picked it up gingerly while dusting three days of accumulated dirt off.  The Mask of Truth.  His things! When the fairies had attacked him, his things must have fallen out of his bag! And they were all lying here, waiting.  With a faint sob, the boy gathered up everything he could find. Slingshot, deku shield, the tiny silver scale…an empty bottle! There were even rupees in a small pouch! He shoved it all back into his bag then huddled on the ground holding it, rocking back and forth as he cried. 

It was too much. The weight of what he had been through slammed into him all at once.  Had it only been three days ago that he left Hyrule, intent on finding Navi and asking for her help with Zelda and everything? Had it really been less than a year since he had been a teenager, fighting Ganondorf? It had been so long for him! So long! It couldn't be real. But here were his things, dusty and in good shape. They had not been here for years.

Fumbling, his hands shaking, Link rummaged through his bag again until he found what he wanted. A mask. The mask. The deity that had helped him kill Majora. For a long moment, he held it, looking into the eye holes. This mask felt more real than the others, more alive. He had promised it they would be free and now…now they were.  Hugging it to his chest, he clipped the bag back onto his belt and climbed up on Epona again.  The mask was his friend, he was sure of it. He would find a way to help it because it had helped him.

"Hey, um, thanks for helping me. With the Majora thing."

With a shake of his head, Link pushed the memories from his mind and looked quickly to where his dad was sitting, still silent and relaxed. A relieved exhalation passed his lips and he glanced to where Saria was, no longer playing her ocarina, soaking her feet in the cool river waters.  It was fine. He was fine. He still had a dad.  He wasn't in Termina anymore.  He was fine. 

His line yanked in his hands and the boy turned his attention to fishing. This was a big one and Link licked his lips in anticipation of a good, warm meal tonight.  He still found fishing fun but being able to keep the fish and eat them had added to the appeal. Before long, he had a large salmon in the bucket and was going to cast again when the Deity stood. 

"Shall we go?"

"I was gonna catch another for you, dad!"

"You caught a large one. It will be enough." 

Shrugging, Link jumped to his feet and waved goodbye to Saria as she headed back to the other Kokiri. Father and son moved through thick underbrush and trees easily, the boy grabbing whatever berries he found ripe enough to pick. He even found some wild carrots and held one up proudly for his dad. But as he tucked it away in his bag, he frowned. 

"Dad, are you eating enough?" 

"Pardon?" 

"Like, you're a lot bigger than I am but you don't eat very much. Everything has to eat, right? I'm hungry all the time!" 

The god looked down at the fish in the bucket he carried then at his son. Link did eat frequently but he also shared what he had with the Deity every time. It had seemed rude to deny his son's offerings and he found himself eating much more frequently than he normally would.  "I do not need much sustenance. What I consume is fine." 

"Are you sure? I know I'd eat more if we had it." 

There was a long pause and the god furrowed his brow at the wording.  "Link, did you wish for more food?" 

Looking a bit guilty, the boy glanced up.  "Yes? Er, sorry, I didn't mean to make you think…I mean, it's fine! I don't need that much food, probably."

"Son, I can get more food. It is not a matter of concern."

"Oh, um.  Like, a lot more?" 

"I can procure whatever you might need."

Link struggled internally, trying to accept this as truth.  Food had been an issue the last few years, both in Hyrule and Termina.  He didn't remember being all that hungry with the Kokiri until right before the whole thing with Ganondorf had started.  Then he had so much trouble finding things to eat while trying to save the world that he had started to ignore the grumbling in his stomach. Even in Clock Town, it had been really hard. Most places to get food had shut down as people evacuated. Sometimes people offered him fruit or bread and occasionally meals. When he was really desperate, he'd even eat Anju's food.

It had been easier once he got back home.  Berries and nuts, plus Talon and Malon were very kind with sharing food with him.  Then there was dad, who had even managed to get food for him that first morning in the house.  Now there was bread and vegetables and fish and sometimes even rice!  And he could be having more of that maybe?! It didn't seem right but it could be true!  Link looked up at his father, who was staring down at him calmly, then nodded. 

"Yeah, if it's okay, I could use more food."

Link didn't know where to go that first day back but he found his way to Lon Lon ranch, as he always did, and Talon fed him while Romani– no, Malon talked to him about Epona in a cheerful voice. He hadn't been gone that long to them, probably.  He couldn't remember,  couldn't think back that far, could only feel the ticking of minutes counting down to something and he shuddered as he shovelled food into his mouth like he hadn't eaten in weeks. 

When was the last time he had a good, warm meal? 

"Wow Link! You sure are hungry. Daddy, give him mine, okay? I had a big lunch." 

"We have plenty for everyone, Malon. Plenty for seconds even."  So Link had seconds and thirds and he only sort of noticed the father and daughter looking at him with concern as he tried to keep the tears from coming back and his stomach hurt from everything in it. 

And after dinner, Mr. Barten, no, Talon offered him a place to sleep, a home maybe, but the clock still ticked in his ears and it was night of the first day no no no there were more than 60 hours remaining he didn't have to count like that anymore but it never stopped he could feel the minutes pushing at him crawling over his skin and he rushed out of the ranch, heading for the forest because he needed to get away from the counting. 

He didn't know where to sleep that night so he huddled under a tree in the Lost Woods, clutching the mask to him like some children would hold a stuffed toy.  In the morning, he woke to the sound of birds. Not the cucco crowing, but birds. His mind thrashed about wildly for purchase, not finding the things it had spent two years hearing exactly the same way every time. Link clung to the mask, startled by his own sobbing, tears running down his face. Where was he? What was going on? Where were the construction sounds and the cobblestones and the ticking? 

A bird sang. 

The wind whispered in the trees. 

Somewhere a wolfos snuffled and he froze, a hysterical laugh trying to bubble out of his chest.

Danger! 

Link took off suddenly, feet trying to find their way through long-forgotten paths. A song drifted through his head, bright and bouncy, leading him through tree trunks and underbrush, scraping past brambles and vines.  He'd stop and start giggling, an edge of terror in the sound, then sob and stumble forward again. What time was it? 7am.  How many hours did he have left? But there was no more moon in the sky when he looked up, only the blue through the trees and he'd laugh and laugh and cry and laugh then move on towards the happy sounds of an ocarina. 

He was scratched, red-eyed, and teary when he crashed into the Kokiri forest with the mask clutched tightly in his arms. He stumbled up to Saria, hardly able to speak for the running and crying that had left him breathless.  The other Kokiri gave him a wide berth, wary of the strange power he held in a death grip to his chest, but Saria helped him as she always did.  Even as he sobbed out his strange story about three days and a terrifying moon, she helped him into his tree house and removed his boots as he sat on the bed babbling about Majora. 

"It's okay, Link. You're safe now. Lay down and I'll play you a song." 

"Is it the Song of Healing? Please don't make a mask out of me. I'm okay. I'm not gonna die like Mikau, I promise." 

"Shhh, I'll play you my song, okay?  You remember my song, right?" 

Link nodded and lay stiffly on his side, mask still pressed against him as he stared ahead in mute shock. The cheerful tune surrounded him and his breathing eased in his chest.  The longer the song played, the more the tightness in his throat relaxed and his eyes drooped sleepily. 9am.  Not time for sleep but he didn't have anything else to do, did he? No one to save, a book that was full and finished. No construction sounds. Nothing but the wind through the trees and the laughter of Kokiri as they played.

The sounds of a home that was not his home anymore.

As his eyes closed fully, he thought he heard a deep voice muttering encouragement in his head. The steady susurrus calmed him enough for his mind to relax and for a long time afterward, he heard nothing more. 

Link opened his eyes, staring out the window of his new bedroom, his mind stuck somewhere between the dream and reality.  He could hear the front door open and knew his dad would be putting the bread away as he did every day.  He didn't always wake up expecting the crow of a rooster or the steady pounding of hammers. He had peace.  Supposedly.  Most of the time. 

It hadn't been that long since he had escaped. A few months? Slightly more? Those first two weeks after he returned had been hard and he knew it.  He tried to be strong, be the hero he was supposed to be but it took so much effort.  He kept telling himself that there wasn't anything to worry about, that it was over, but his mind wouldn't listen. It kept remembering no matter how much he wanted it to stop.  Saria helped a lot, playing him music and bringing him food from the forest and Kokiri garden. When his knees stopped feeling so shaky, he had wandered back into the Field to visit Malon again and then eventually to the castle to see Zelda.  She hadn't asked for the ocarina back and he hadn't offered but nothing had changed between them at all.  She was still the same pleasant princess she always was. 

She offered him a place to stay but he couldn't take the stares or the whispers in the castle.  Before Termina, he had left because he couldn't stand the memories of his feelings for her and now that he got out, those feelings were gone. He hadn't visited since that one time but couldn't explain the presence of his father so he just stayed away.  Soon, maybe.  She'd worry if he didn't check in eventually. 

Sighing, the boy sat up in bed and smacked his lips, disliking the taste of morning in his mouth. His new bed was more comfortable than the tree-house bed but neither of them kept away the dreams. For a while his sleep had been blissfully empty and dreamless.  After the shock of having a house and a father had worn off, the old fears had crept back in. 

It was chillier that morning as he staggered out to the table and flopped into his chair. The Deity handed him still-warm slices of bread with butter and a bowl of berries Link had picked himself just the day before. He muttered a thanks as he shoved food into his mouth, eyes heavy with sleep.  He should do something to keep his mind off of things.  Maybe visit the Kokiri?  Or maybe not.  They were getting weird about him and he didn't have a reason to go back there anyway.  Saria would come and visit if he called her though. But maybe… 

As he ate, not noticing that the god had given him double the bread he normally got, the Deity sat at the table with a mug of hot tea, the book from Tilly resting open to recipes for breakfast foods.  It seemed easy enough. Mortal meals tended to be more intricate than what the deities made for themselves when in need of sustenance. He recalled non-humanoid Siblings would often eat raw meat after hunting. More nature-based deities gained nourishment the same way other plants would.  Of course, back before the mask he would usually eat whatever offerings were given to him at his temple or on feastdays.  Fire roasted meats were preferred at other times but he could and would eat most anything. 

Link had offered him food. But as the parent, it was the Deity’s job to provide for him. 

He would have to go hunting. There were plenty of deer in the woods. He wasn't sure if the wolfos were edible and didn't know who to ask. There were birds, both large and small, and of course access to fish.  As he turned pages in the book and scanned listed ingredients, the Deity considered where he would have to go for fruits and vegetables and grains. This was more complicated than he thought but it would help his son and that was worth the effort.

"Hey dad?" 

"Yes?" 

"Can we go see Malon today?"

The god looked over at Link and tilted his head to the side.  "You do not need me to accompany you."  It was not a question but at the same time, he wasn't sure why the boy wanted him to come. He had been to the ranch plenty of times on his own. 

"No, I don't but…"  Link frowned down at his empty plate, then decided he didn't have to be afraid to say what was on his mind.  The god never complained when Link told him things so maybe he could try mentioning more.  "Um, I'd like to spend time with you?  If that's okay?  Like, ride together?" 

"Certainly, if that is what you wish."

"Thanks dad."

After cleaning up from breakfast, the pair rode out to the ranch.  It had warmed up a lot and Link was sweating freely even in the cool breeze from the trot.  As he approached the fences, the boy looked over at his father with a grin.  "Hey! Before we get there, let's race!  Hyah! Epona, go!" and the pair were running off down the field, away from the ranch.  For several minutes the god just watched the boy gallop away, then murmured softly to Luna and learned down over her neck.  The horse nickered and took off with a great leap forward.

Within seconds they were next to Epona and Link gave a startled yell as the giant horse swept by and kept going.  The Deity twitched the corners of his mouth up and glanced back only briefly to see Link leaning over his horse's neck with a look of determination in his eyes.  Of course, poor Epona could never hope to keep up with the great, long strides of the god's mare but they tried. With a light touch, the Deity swung around and began racing towards Link and the boy gasped, pulling back on his horse's reins to avoid being hit.  He gaped for a moment then smiled as he heard laughter trailing out from behind the god. His dad? Laughing? Had that happened before?

The Deity remembered as he rode. Remembered the thrill of the hunt, chasing down the demon armies on a steed the colour of shadows, a Sister as grey as the storms riding next to him on a similar horse…

"Brother! Our foe is ahead! The lightning chases them even now!" 

"They shall fall ere the night is done!"

He had carried a long spear, his sword humming on his back, his hair entwined around it.  The yells of defiance from the demons had not deterred the pair of deities as they galloped into the head of the group.  Weapons shimmered with holy light as they impaled their enemies in the darkness.  Brilliant bolts of lightning blinded the creatures even as the goddess next to him vaulted from the back of her horse and into the fray. 

With a laugh, he joined her.

The armies were vast but it was not enough to stop two deities at the height of their power. Spear and sword flashed in the Protector's hands as he sang a song of battle.  The largest of the demons, a lesser lord, yelled a challenge and the two clashed in the middle of the field while Summer Storms incapacitated and destroyed the swarms of smaller monsters.  The demon was bulky and squat, its muscles tough and scarred from many battles.  Its blade was hooked and jagged and would have done plenty of damage if it had reached its target. 

It never did. 

The Protector slid under the long blade, slamming his feet into the legs of his opponent and sending it staggering backwards. The bulk of the monster was arranged such that it couldn't easily be toppled and the god rolled, aiming his spear into the demon's side before it had a chance to block. Screams of pain echoed against the trees and the god grinned with all his teeth at his opponent. The demon's blade slammed down at him and clanged against the double helix. There was a moment where the pair pushed against each other before the Protector winked and rolled to the side.  Even as the demon blade clanged to the ground, the double helix swung up in an arc and sliced through the neck of the monster in a single move.

Outside of memories, a voice called to the Deity, speaking his new name, a name only one mortal could use.  He slowed Luna to halt next to Link and the boy gazed up at him grinning. 

"Okay, I learned my lesson dad. Not gonna race you anymore. Damn! That was fast!"

"There is no harm in trying." 

"Yeah, sure! Hey, I'm going to see Malon now. Did you want to come?" 

"I think I shall get Luna more exercise." 

"Alright!" 

The Deity watched as his son rode off into the ranch entrance, then turned his mount's head towards the field once more.  Soon the two of them were riding swift as the wind while memories of years gone by flowed through his mind like water. 

"Heeeeey Malon! Can you come out and play?"

The redhead was leading one of the ranch horses in the paddock and she looked up with a bright smile at the sound of Link's voice. "Sure! I'm mostly done for today! Let me go ask daddy!" 

Permission granted, the two children ran gleefully down the yard and towards the exit.  Talon didn't like it when his daughter left the relative safety of the ranch but over the time they had known Link, he trusted the boy to keep his daughter safe.  Even more so now that the stallfos presence in the field had diminished greatly.  As long as they didn't go far, the children could play and occasionally visit some of the nearby farms and houses.  As usual, Malon had a basket of food to take with them and the two spent several happy hours poking about in trees and bushes, looking for birds, bugs and fairies.  Link always said he was looking for a Keaton and sounded convinced he would actually find one someday.  Maybe he would; the redhead was beginning to expect almost anything from her friend at this point.

When they were tired of that, they found a sunny rock to lounge on and eat lunch.  Link rummaged around in the basket and noticed the young apples at the bottom.  "Oh hey!  Apples!  Is it that time already?"

"Well, almost!  They're probably really tart but I like them that way!"  She laughed and pulled out a sandwich with cheese and leftover cucco meat from last night's dinner.  "The rest will be ripe soon enough.  Harvest time is coming!"

The boy looked thoughtfully at the green apple in his hand.  "I don't know when the seasons start or end.  Is that weird?"

"Oh, well, a little.  But the Lost Woods do stay green when other trees don't so I guess you didn't have a lot of experience with seasons changing?"

"Naw. It got colder in the winter, I guess, sometimes we'd get a little snow but a fe–" he paused, trying to remember just how long ago it was. "I mean last year after the whole Ganondorf thing, I left the forest for a bit and there was so much snow all over everything.  It was cold!"

"Wow, I never thought about it that way before but yeah, it gets really cold in winter out here!  You've really never experienced seasons before?"

"I guess not."  Link frowned at the apple, then put it back and pulled out a sandwich for himself.  "Well, I don't live with the Kokiri anymore so I guess I will now."

"I love the change!  In the fall, all the leaves turn beautiful colours and the hay turns gold before it's ready to be harvested and the apples get ripe.  I like the other fruits too, like peaches and cherries and everything but apples are my favourites.  I always make as many apple pies as I can in the fall!"  She turned and looked at the boy in green, noticing the excited glimmer in his eyes at the mention of pie.  Mentally, she made a note to make extra for him and his dad this year.  "And then it starts to get cold and snowy and there's Starfall and sledding down the hill and hot chocolate by the fire and toasted meat and even though it's cold, there's still things to do!  And then it starts to warm up and we can make syrup from tree sap, though never from the ones in the Lost Woods, and the birds come back and the snowdrop flowers pop out and buds form on the trees and then everything is full of life again!"

Link stared at the girl, imagining the shifting of seasons and the changes he had never really noticed or thought about before. It sounded rather magical the way she put it.  "And it happens every year? In exactly the same way?"

"Oh no! That's what's great about the seasons! Every year is a little different! Some years we get more snow and the cold lasts longer into spring.  Sometimes fall is really warm and others it's colder than usual!  It's never the same way twice.  Isn't that great?"

"Yeah…"  Thoughts of the endless cycle of Termina slipped through his mind and Link desperately tried to shove them away.  Sure, he had often done different things in a cycle but if he just let everything be, it would have been exactly the same every time.  But if life wasn't really like that.  If there were differences all the time, wouldn't that be better?  "Yeah! You're right! That's great!"  Happily, he chomped into his food and stared out over the field.  In the distance, he could see the white form of his father and Luna approach and waved his hand in greetings.  By the time the god was by the children, Link had completely finished his sandwich and was rummaging in the basket for more.

"Greetings son, Malon.  How is the afternoon?"

"It's great, sir!"  The redhead smiled up at the Deity.  "Luna's looking great!  You must take good care of her."

"Of course."

"Hey dad, you want anything to eat?"  Link held up an apple and waved it towards the god.  He merely shook his head; if Link asked, he usually said no, though he had grown accustomed to eating at the regular meal times with his son.

"I am not in need of sustenance at this moment."

"Okay!"  With a shrug, the boy took a large bite out of the apple himself.  The Deity nodded to the two children and turned his mare's head away again.

"I will be riding.  Let me know when you wish to return home, son."

Link nodded and waved, his mouth occupied with chewing, and the god rode off into the field again.  Malon watched with wide eyes, wondering at the gigantic horse as she always did, wondering at the strange way Link's father talked, wondering who he really was.

"Link."

"Yeth?" Bits of apple sprayed from the boy's mouth as he talked and the redhead laughed as she shoved him away gently.

"Don't talk with your mouth full! Gross! But Link, what's your dad's name?" 

He froze immediately, bits of juice running down his throat and making him choke. Name?! The Deity was supposed to have a name?!  Well of course he was going to have a name! Everyone had names! But Link had never asked what his name was! He had asked what he could call his new father and the Deity seemed perfectly content with being called dad all the time but that wasn't something he could tell Malon. That was weird.   Oh Goddesses, Malon was looking at him and expecting an answer.  What did he say?  What did he say!?   He swallowed the bite he had taken, choking on the bits of food that were determined to go down the wrong way, and chuckled nervously.

"My dad?"

"Yeah! What's his name?"

Okay this wasn't any better.  Name! Name! He needed a name!  What did the other adults call him?  Talon…Talon only ever called him "your father" or "neighbour."  Shit! Did Talon not know the Deity's name either?  What about Ansom, or Tilly?  No, the few times Link had stopped by, he only ever heard them say "Link and his father."  This wasn't helping! Shit shit shit!  All the swear words Tatl had ever said around him clustered together in his brain as he desperately tried to think of an answer.   Why had he never thought to ask the Deity what his name was?   Fierce Deity seemed wrong, not something people would just call another person.  FD?  Euuuuurrrg, that didn't sound good either!  Fierce?  Oh man no, that would give everyone the wrong impression, wouldn't it?  Deity!?  Oh sure, just call him "god" and see how everyone reacted to that!  Malon was still staring at him and expecting some sort of answer and he couldn't just tell her he didn't know, he should know what his dad's name was!  The longer the silence stretched the more awkward it got and, desperate, he blurted out the last thing he thought of.  "Oh, ah, Deity?"

Oh no.

"Really?"  Malon was laughing but he had said it and he couldn't back down now!

"Yeah!?"

"That's kind of weird, right?"

Shit shit fucking hell shit.  She's noticed!   "Well, he's kinda weird?"

That was a good enough answer for Malon.  She tossed back her head, laughing, and Link relaxed at how unbothered she seemed by this strange revelation.  "Yeah! Yeah, you both!  You're the Fairy Boy and he's the Deity Dad."

Oh.  Oh, fairy boy, he remembered that.  His heart clenched in sorrow for a moment and he glanced down at his hands.  Even with the small fairies that had started moving into the spaces between their rafters, it wasn't the same as the Kokiri, wasn't the same as having Navi follow him around for that year or so they'd been together.  Wasn't even like when he and Tatl had teamed up to save Termina.  And he knew he was Hylian, that he'd never really have a fairy of his own, but it still hurt after all this time.  Getting a father and a house had helped settle a lot of anxious desire at fitting in but the loss of his fairy friends still ached horribly.  "Not really a fairy boy anymore, I guess." 

"Aw Link, I'm sorry."  Malon blinked and scooched closer to the boy, bumping his shoulder with her own in a friendly way. "But you know the fairies still like you.  They flitter all around you when you're in the forest."

"Yeah, but they never stay." 

The redhead put her hand over Link's and gave it a squeeze. He looked up at her in surprise; affectionate touches were things he had gotten very rarely in his life.  But Malon was smiling wide and she held his hand like it was the most natural thing in the world to do.  "You'll always be my fairy boy." 

A feeling of belonging flooded through the boy and he found himself smiling back, his cheeks flushing with warmth.  He had a dad and friends and life was honestly much better than it had been before when he desperately wanted a fairy.  Maybe everything would be okay after all. 

"Dad, um, I told Malon your name was Deity."

The Deity looked down at his son as they rode slowly back to the forest. He blinked a few times, feeling the weight of the naming settle around him. There was an awkwardness to the choice and he wondered how Link actually felt about his decision. Well, it didn't feel like the worst name he had ever been given but with as difficult to obtain as some of his memories were, he couldn't say for sure. On some level, he would always be the Protector of the Night but had failed to mention that to his child.  Link had only ever known of the Fierce Deity, after all.  "That is fine." 

"Is it?!" The boy looked at the Deity in blank shock; he was honestly expecting to be told he was wrong. "Uh, like, you don't mind?" 

"No, I do not."

"So…is that your name then?  If other people ask, I can tell them Deity?" 

"Certainly. If you wish it."

"Well, okay." The pair rode in silence, approaching the treeline that led to their home. There was even a path that led there now; not a road but it was plain that this was a route frequently taken.  The feeling of coming home, of belonging, was stronger. "I can still call you dad, right? Because you are." 

"Of course.  As long as you desire to do so." 

"Always, dad. I'll call you that forever."  And he meant it.  As long as he held breath, no matter what happened, the Deity would always be his dad.  In his heart, he had claimed the god just as much as the god had claimed him and he wasn't going to let go of that no matter what. 

It was always the moon.  He could not escape it, ever.  Three days and three days and three days and the moon. 

He ran through Clock Town, stopped to talk to Anju, ran back to the Stock Pot Inn, tried not to look up at the sky, paused in a dark corner and covered his head with his hands, shaking all over.  The moon leered at him, Skull Kid's strangely amplified voice laughed and laughed. What time was it? How many hours did he have left? He was tired, so so tired. 

Pulling himself to his feet, Link ran off into the town, desperate to finish the Bomber's notebook, desperate to save them all. Did he have every mask? All of them? Had he helped everyone he could? He had to save them, had to save them all or it wasn't worth anything.  Tatl flew behind him, peppering him with questions, wanting to know why he was running, what was the hurry, they still had 10 hours left, maybe there was something else he could get done. 

There was always something more to get done. 

Sobbing for no reason he could understand, Link ran out the gates, ran through the field dodging Chuchus and guays, ran towards Romani Ranch in the hopes of seeing Epona again but he tripped and fell and sprawled out on the ground, tears running down his face, hiccupping from the cries he could not stop. He wanted to be home! Home! Anywhere but this horrible place with the angry moon that hated him! Please, please Golden Goddesses, anywhere. Please!

He must have slept, must have passed out, because when he awoke with a start, the moon was so close he felt like he could touch it. There was no Tatl to tell him how much time was left, no Skull Kid laughing in his ears, just the inexorable fall of the globe from the sky as the seconds ticked down to zero. He didn't even have time to get his ocarina. 

It hit the clock tower first, crushing the bricks and sending it toppling down into the city. He was sure he could hear screams and he desperately pressed numb hands against his ears, hoping to block out the horrible sounds. The moon fell ever further, the fire around it setting everything ablaze, more screams and cries somehow audible over the rush of wind, the breaking of walls and the thunder of the moon hitting the ground. 

And then silence. 

A wave of fire rushed towards him. 

The moment before Link was consumed, he opened his mouth to scream…

And he sat upright in his bed, the scream on his lips, sweating from terror. Before he knew what he was doing, he had rolled out of bed and stumbled to the door, senses reeling in panic, every nerve in his body shouting to run, run, RUN! 

He tripped over something he had left on the floor and sprawled on the cool floorboards, tears running down his cheeks.  Where was his ocarina? Where was Tatl?! Where was his dad?!

Wait! 

His dad! 

He had a dad! 

Some of the dream faded as he realised where he was. Even as he pulled himself to his feet, sniffling, the room seemed to solidify around him and he stumbled to the door. Deity's bedroom was just across from his own and he was there in only a few steps, muttering "dad" under his breath as he fumbled with the doorknob. With a relieved sob, Link managed to push the door open and found his father resting quietly on the over-large bed. 

"Dad!" The god's eyes snapped open at the first call and he was already turning his head as Link called out a second time, running into the side of the bed in his haste. By the time the boy had crossed the short distance, Deity was already sitting up and reaching for his son to help him clamour onto the mattress. "Dad, I…it was the moon…I can't…I'm scared!"

Deity blinked in slow confusion as his normally stoic child clung to him, his body shaking like a leaf, mumbling many words about the moon and Termina and people dying. He could feel his shirt grow damp in the place where the boy's face was pressed up against it. Where did the fear come from? They had been out of Termina for months now. The more the child cried, the more the god realised the reasons didn't matter. Working on some instinct he was not aware he possessed, Deity wrapped an arm around his son and smoothed the messy hair, making soothing sounds in his throat. 

"The moon is fine.  We defeated Majora."

"I…I…I know." Link's words were garbled and shaky and the god held his small form tighter, trying to remember what Talon had told him about bad dreams.  Comfort.  Provide comfort and reassurances.  Even as the boy stammered about memories coming back at night, Deity kept up a steady, musical murmur, his hand still stroking his son's hair, assuring him everything was fine.

"I don't like it. I don't like it! I don't like it! Tell it to go away!" 

If this were a normal foe, of course the Deity would dispatch it with little thought but this was something different, a terror bred from memories of the things the boy had suffered through in Termina. He must have been aware of the time loops to have such a deeply ingrained fear of the moon lingering inside him. More pieces clicked together in his mind and a part of him grew very, very still. Did his son have access to time powers? Had he worked with the Goddess of Time? 

Was his Sister still alive? 

But Link sobbed again and the god pulled him in closer, more determined than ever to help him, to be what his son needed. A strange feeling settled in his chest and he looked down at the small, blond head.  "I will protect you." 

And he meant it. He would, no matter what. 

At those words, a deep peace settled in Link. He slumped up against his dad, inhaling deeply then releasing it all in a slow, measured breath.  He had never thought about his father's scent before but this close, he could smell the crisp linen of his shirt and something that reminded him of being outside at night under the moonlight. Not the terrifying moon of Termina, but the bright one in the skies of Hyrule. He was too tired to understand what scent moonlight had but he knew without a doubt that his dad smelled like it. 

With those thoughts on his mind, the destruction of Clock Town faded and he slipped back into unconsciousness. He was not aware of being laid back down on the bed or of his father next to him. But he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he was Protected. It was a comfort to him as he slept once again, this time without dreams.

Chapter Text

The Deity was up early the next morning.  

For once, he didn't seek Talon's advice. He knew what he must do.  Link would need comfort that morning and if there were things the boy enjoyed more than anything, it was music and food. While he could provide both, he knew the food would be the most appreciated in the morning.  Link didn't even stir as the god rose from his bed, gave an affectionate tousle to his son's hair and left the room on quiet footsteps.  He had been preparing to cook better meals ever since he was gifted the book of recipes and now it was time to put his plan into motion. 

Cooking was not hard. Very few things were for Deity but it had been a very long time since he had done anything more complex than frying fish on their stove.  Still, he followed the instructions to the letter and was satisfied when the rice was light and fluffy, the meat cooked through and the eggs perfectly yellow, not the least bit burned.

Good, as it should be. 

He arranged the food in a bowl and covered it with another to keep the contents warm.  As he put a kettle of water on the stove for tea, he considered the plan for the morning. Breakfast, talk about what happened if Link wished, then they could begin sword lessons. Deity walked outside to survey the front yard, eyeing the space appreciatively. This would be a good spot for beginning sparring.  Of course, Link would not be up to his admittedly rusty level of skill but he was willing to start easy and assess his son's abilities. 

Further sounds of movement prompted the god to finish his scan and return to the house.  As he walked in the door, Link was already sitting and staring hungrily at the food in his bowl, a spoon waiting in his hands.  Deity smiled, a movement that was growing more comfortable on his face with each passing day, and ruffled the boy's hair affectionately.

"Good morning. Are you feeling well?" 

The look of guilt did not escape the god's notice.  He was unsure why Link was so hesitant about talking about what bothered him but hopefully it would fade with time.  The boy nodded though and gestured to his food with the spoon.  "Better, but hungry! This looks great!" 

The pure enthusiasm in his son's voice solidified the god's choice; food, warm food specifically, was a great comfort to the boy.  He would remember that. It would not take much to give him regular, cooked meals.  "You should eat. You will need your strength for today." 

"Where'd you learn to make food like this?" 

"It was in a book."  A homemade recipe book, but a book all the same.  As Link took his first bite, a murmured sigh of appreciation escaped his lips and the god smiled again while he moved through the kitchen, putting away dishes and cooking more eggs. It was strange, in a way, doing these small, domestic things but Protecting was not always about battle and glory. Maintaining the balance of life and duty was also important.

"Thmmk." 

"Do not speak with your mouth full."  The god did not turn from his work and the hurried sounds of swallowing made him sigh imperceptibly. Honestly, sometimes his son had the worst manners. 

"Thank you! It's great! What are we doing today?" 

Deity turned, a grin on his face. Thoughts of old battles and sparring with his Siblings jumped to mind. Link blinked at him in a sort of awe for reasons the god could not fathom. 

"Today, we train." 

Link held up his tunic, frowning at the dirt and rips. He'd have to talk to Saria about how to fix it.  Or get a new one maybe.  Where would he even get a new one? Where had they gotten the one he wore as an adult?  That was not a question he really wanted to think about.  Moving on.  His usual tunic would have to work for today. 

He had been sparring in the mornings with his dad for a few days now.  First a warm breakfast (that he was still in awe over), then sword fighting, then other things. He groaned a little as he pulled the tunic over his head, the muscles in his arms and shoulders protesting loudly. He hadn't ached this bad since he first picked up the Kokiri sword and wandered into Hyrule Field.  Was it supposed to be this hard?  He didn't think he ever had this much trouble before but he was pretty sure the Deity was pushing him much harder than he had pushed himself.  Dad had said if he wanted to use the helix sword someday, he'd have to learn the proper way to swing it so every morning, they'd spar and Link learned exactly how little he had known about weapons before. 

He ate through two portions of breakfast as quickly as he could that morning.  Deity watched while he consumed his own portion but it was still much less than Link ate himself.  It was hard for the boy to stop worrying about whether or not the god was eating enough but he was trying. Surely a deity would know how much food they needed, right?

Breakfast done, the pair went to their usual places in front of the house.  It was ringed with trees, part Lost Woods and part regular Field type trees.  The morning sun was still low in the sky and there was a tangy coolness to the air.  Link stretched a little and pulled his sword and shield out, making some quick jabs to further loosen tight muscles, then faced Deity with a determined set to his chin.  The first swipes and strikes were about as successful as they always were, which was to say not at all.  He expected that though. Maybe if he could surprise his dad… 

Crouching slightly, Link faced his father, eyes narrowed with concentration. He was sure the god was humouring him but that was okay. He'd prove that he didn't need it someday.  As Deity stood waiting, feigning boredom, Link felt around for his magic, charged up his spin attack and inched forward very slowly. With a casual indifference he didn't actually feel, he made a quick feint, prompting the god to go in for the touch then spun with a yell as fire flared around him.

Deity stopped, looking momentarily surprised as he brushed out a small flame that had started on his sleeve. "Magic." 

Link nodded, looking a little embarrassed.  "Oh, didn't I…didn't I tell you? Wait, wouldn't you know? From, uh, the mask. Or…?"

"I did not make it a habit to pry into your memories and thoughts, son."

"Ha, well, thanks. I mean, I don't think I did either but, uh, I mean, we were both using my body so I assumed…"

Nodding, the god looked contemplative.  "I believe that will be enough swords for today. I would like to speak with you about magic." 

"Sure! I can do that! I don't know a ton of spells like the mages at the castle do but the Great Fairies gave me some things back when I was younger!"  Shoving his sword and shield back into his bag, Link tossed it up against the side of the house and faced his dad once again.  "What did you want to know?" 

"Anything you wish to tell me." 

"Well, the spin attack always takes magic when I charge it up like that. Been using that since I left the Kokiri Forest. Um, I can put magic on arrows! So they'll shoot fire and ice and light.  Some of the masks took magic, though I don't have a lot of them anymore. Did you know your sword beam takes magic?!"

"I suppose it would, for you." 

"Okay, well…" Tapping his chin, Link paced a little, thinking back further.  Termina was fresher in his mind but if he thought about the Ganondorf thing, there was definitely something… Oh right!  "Dad, watch!" 

Running to a clear space, he held out his hand and concentrated on the feel of flames, gathering the red energy in his palm before he slammed it down in a wave of fire that singed the ground around him.  Once it died down, he grinned and looked up at Deity but the smile slipped away at the look of startled shock on the god's face.  He suddenly wondered if he was in trouble.

"Where did you obtain that ability?" 

"Er, well, from the Great Fairy by Hyrule Castle. She…she said I earned it. That's okay, right? No one ever told me it wasn't okay to do Din's Fire or–" 

"Do you know any others?" 

The Deity rarely ever interrupted Link and he swallowed hard. He didn't seem angry though. Just really intense about it.  "Yeah, um, Nayru's Love and Farore's Wind."

"Did you speak with the Mothers?"

"The…the what?"

"The Golden Goddesses."

"Oh, uh, no?  It was just the Great Fairies.  They'd say something nice and give me the ability to do things, both here and in Termina."

Deity steepled his fingers and stared at his son for a long moment.  Link tapped his feet in the dirt, wondering what his dad was thinking.  Was he in trouble?  It didn't seem like it but it was impossible to tell.  Maybe he should have mentioned his magic before this but it hadn't come up!  Honestly, there were a lot of things that he knew he should talk about but he just didn't know how.  At least the Deity should know what happened in Termina, shouldn't he?

Or was he just as trapped up there on the moon as Link had been trapped in three days?  That was something to think about later.

When Link was just about to say something to break the silence, Deity suddenly straightened and rested a comforting hand on his son's shoulder.  "Did you need any help with your magic?"

"Oh! Um, no?  I mean, it works fine, right?  I guess it's fine.  I haven't had to use a lot of magic recently since everything has been, well, peaceful.  After leaving Termina. You know."

"Of course.  But if you wish for any help at all, you may always ask me.  As your father, it would be my honour to help you with your skills."

"Hey, thanks dad!"  Link grinned at the Deity, warm happiness replacing the nervous cold from before.  He really did have a dad, didn't he? A real one who would help him with things! Like sword fighting and nightmares and magic.  The Great Deku Tree hadn't really mentioned spells at all and the Kokiri had only ever helped with basic things.  Who else could he have asked? Talon and Malon were nice but they didn't know about his hero stuff.  Zelda probably could help him with magic but he still wasn't sure how to feel about all that.  But his dad offered!  This must be what it was like to have actual parents.  "I will definitely ask you for help if I need it, okay?  Hey, can I ask you a question though?" 

"Always." 

"What did you call the Golden Goddesses?" 

"To myself and others like me, they are the Golden Mothers." 

"Wait, you mean…"

"Yes, I am one of their children." 

"How does that, uh, work?" 

The Deity furrowed his brows.  "Did you need a lesson in creation?" 

"No!" Link cringed; even with as weird as his life was, he didn't think he was quite ready for the 'keese and the cuccos' talk. Or did his dad mean something different?  "Wait…you mean, like, how people are, uh, created or how everything was?"

Deity paused for a moment, considering his words.  "We were created by the Golden Mothers outside the flow of time.  When the Golden Goddesses wished to create this land, we were given the opportunity to become part of it, to help nourish and guide it. That is why we are the Protectors."

"That's kinda neat. The Great Deku Tree didn't mention any of that when he told me about the Triforce and the Golden Goddesses. He was, uh, kinda dying at the time though so maybe he just didn't think it was important."

"Ah, I was wondering why the Deku god was so young."  Deity watched while a pained expression flittered across Link's face and mentally chastised himself for hurting his son's feelings. But the boy seemed to shake the feelings off and nodded. 

"He, um, died a year ago or something like that. I, uh, thought I was a Kokiri for a long time, you see, and I tried to help him but it was too late. It's okay though, right? They got the new Sprout and I'm sure he'll grow into a big tree again."

"Nature deities often have a strong cycle of rebirth. I am sorry for your loss though. It is hard to lose a relative, especially a parent." 

Link swallowed hard and looked down at the ground.  The Great Deku Tree had been a parent to him and it was both satisfying and sad that his new dad recognised that.  And then everything that came after it… "It was hard, yeah. But thanks dad. I appreciate it." 

As Link slept that night, Deity thought of the Deku Tree and remembered.  He had only vaguely noticed how the Kokiri had felt older than the current god; usually he visited at night when the children were sleeping.  It didn't strike him as particularly unusual though, as there truly was a pattern of rebirth and regrowth to nature gods that were not the elder Protectors like him.  But back in the beginning, he had known the one who tended to nature… 

"Sisters! Brother! Come see!" 

The voice came from a towering, humanoid-shaped tree, taller than even the other deities.  The Protector of Vast Forests was an imposing figure, with a lined, bark-covered face, graceful green swirls that ran along the length of his body and deep-set white eyes.  He could change the type of tree he was at will but often preferred the willow; graceful and sweeping with long trails of leaves for his hair.  When he walked the land, he took enormous, sloping strides and when he sang, it was the music of the wind in the leaves.  Many mortals were afraid of him but the denizens of the forests, those that he cared for and Protected, loved him.  There were often squirrels and birds in his upper branches, with rabbits and deer crowding around his legs.  The Protector of the Night adored his Brother, though they were rarely active at the same time, and always looked forward to seeing him.  When the familiar voice spoke up from the trees, the god smiled and paused on his patrol with Day and Storms; the sun was setting as his Sister chirped happily about the name the mortals were in the process of giving her.  She too looked up at Vast Forests' summons and beamed a bright smile his way as the three deities loped at an easy run towards him.

"Well met, Siblings! Come, you must see! It is the best news."  And they followed him through the towering trees, already old but still younger than they. Little Kikwi shivered at their passing but they had always been timid things.  Day greeted them all the same and they briefly opened leafy tops to her but she begged them pardon to move on with the others. It had not been far, only a couple hours walk, when they came to a clearing that shone with a divine radiance nearly as brilliant as their own.   In the middle, a large sprout sat, smiling and waving its branches. Forests strode over to it and caressed it like a proud parent, speaking soothing words in the nature language.  Day squealed happily and ran over to lightly tickle one of the leaves. 

"A nature god already! Why, this universe is blessed!" 

Forests smiled, the deep lines of bark on his face nearly splitting with joy. "Yes! A healthy land always produces a tree god very early on.  It is a good sign." 

Night stepped up behind his sister and crouched to better see the large Sprout. It smiled up at him and he returned with a grin of his own, speaking with the gentle breeze of nature sounds. "You will grow big and strong.  We shall Protect you until you are able to do so yourself." 

The new deity pulled itself as tall as it could, looking determined as it whispered a thank you in a small voice. Behind, Storms offered her blessing of rain and wind and clouds.  The four old gods and one new one shared a moment of celebration, the start of new life and new promise in the world. The melody of creation drifted through the air, echoed in the sounds of their voices and sang out to the stars.  As the moon rose in the sky, Night stood straight and offered another blessing, that of a healing darkness and the promise of rejuvenating rest under the reflected light of the moon.  Even nature needed a moment away from the brilliant eye of the sun and it was there that he resided, in the shadows that were not evil and in light that was all the more brilliant for the dark. 

Deity opened his eyes once again and sighed, then pushed lightly at the idea of the golden dream, the place where deities could speak with each other whether embodied or not. He could get no purchase, the idea of it slid away.  When he experienced his old memories, he could almost grab hold of the edge in his mind but it was too hard to keep.  It had been a few months since his freedom from the mask but apparently his imprisonment had longer reaching consequences than he thought. 

How would he find out what happened to his Siblings if he could not reach out? It was imperative that he speak with the Goddess of Time about Link, to ask if his suspicions were true, but neither she or any others were nearby. Was he truly alone then? Had the goddess helped Link in a last ditch effort before she had returned Home? Did the Mothers expect him to remain here with the newer deities, alone, to help guide them the best he could? It would be such a heavy burden on top of raising his son. Not impossible, of course, but a burden nonetheless.

Were the Mothers mad at him, that they would not speak to him? But no, Farore had gifted him Luna and the marks on his skin remained bright and strong.  It had to be a side effect of what Majora had done to him.  Perhaps he would try to visit them more directly, though he worried about taking Link on such a journey. The boy flourished with stability.

With a sigh, the god stood and walked for the front door. This train of thinking was no longer helping. A walk under the stars, perhaps sending more stallfos to their eternal rest, that was what he needed to clear his head.  While he cherished the memories that returned to him, his inability to reach out was causing him distress. He needed a moment to regain his center and then he could better form plans. Link's training was going slow but steady and the god was not concerned. As long as nothing serious happened, they had plenty of time to see the Mothers in the future.

The days dragged on and got cooler.  One morning there was frost in the air and when Link went to visit Malon after a morning of trying to hit his dad with a sword, she had baskets with her and was heading out to the fruit trees they had on the ranch.  Smiling, Link ran up to the redhead and took one of the baskets out of her hands. 

"What'cha doing?"

"Oh! Link! Hi!  It's time to pick apples, right?  Did you want to help? You can take some home with you if you do."  She grinned at the boy, a twinkle in her eye.  Food bribery was always the best way to get Link to help with chores, though he rarely ever refused without it.  He would be more cheerful about helping if she offered him a reward.  The boy nodded enthusiastically and joined her in the walk out to the far side of the fields and gasped at the five trees heavily laden with red and green fruits.

"Oh wow!  The ones in the Woods never looked nearly this good! No wonder your pies always taste great!"

"Well, if you cultivate them, the fruit grows better!  I've never been in the Lost Woods but the ones I can see from the edge of the forest look wild, you know?"

"There's a difference?"

"Oh yes!  Daddy and I take good care of these trees so we don't have to buy fruit from town!  My parents have been tending these trees since before I was born.  We prune them and keep track of the blossoms in the spring.  That's why we don't have a lot though.  We spend more time with the animals but it's nice to be self-sufficient with food."

"Huh…"  Link had never thought about any of that before.  He knew the Kokiri grew a lot of their own food plus would get fish and all from the rivers, but like his dad they weren't really Hylian and he didn't honestly know how much they needed to eat.  Saria had always made sure he had food growing up though.  As he scrambled up into the trees to toss the higher apples down to Malon, he began to wonder just how much he didn't know about being Hylian and doing things like normal people.  Though at least his dad was trying to give him a normal life.  A house and good meals and even learning how to read better.  That felt more like what he had seen from other Hylian families.

It didn't take long to gather two over-full baskets of apples and Link casually slipped on the bracelet he had gotten from Darunia years– no, just one year ago.  He frowned at his mental failing; why was it so hard to remember that all that time in Termina only ever happened to him?  Still, the bracelet made lifting the basket much easier and Malon giggled as she heaved her own basket up in her arms.

"Been working out a bit?  At least you don't look so skinny anymore.  You'll be able to lift a cow in no time, I bet!"

Tripping at the mention of hefting up a cow, the boy gave Malon a highly suspicious look as he juggled the basket frantically to not drop anything.  "Sorry, what? Lift a cow?"

"It's a joke!  Because they're so big and heavy, yeah? Daddy always says someday I'll be strong enough to lift a cow!  I bet I could too!  Don't you dare laugh!"

"Malon, I wouldn't dream of laughing.  I one hundred percent believe you could lift a cow someday."

"Well thank you, Link!  At least someone believes in me!"  The girl giggled and hummed Epona's song as she often did.  The two walked together, comfortable in each other's company, through golden fields and past nickering horses.  Though Link had a house now, he realised at one point that this place also had begun to feel like home.  It was nice.  He wondered if Malon would ever come to his and would feel as comfortable there as he did here.

"Hey, Malon…"

"Yeah?"

"You should come visit me sometime.  You know, so you can see my house and everything.  I've been everywhere around yours."

"Oooh, I'd love that!  But daddy doesn't like it when I get too far away, you know?  And with all those stallmonsters out at night, it's just pretty dangerous for me to be out too far.  And, well, you know, he's worried I'll get lost in the woods and all."

"You won't get lost! I'd make sure you'd be fine.  I spent my whole life there, you know."

"Oh, I know! Well, maybe when we're older, right?"

"Yeah, I guess."  Link sighed and frowned down at the basket in his hands.  Malon glanced over, then bumped her shoulder lightly against his.

"I'll ask, okay?  Maybe he'll say yes someday.  I'd love to see your house.  I bet it's lovely."

"Dad and I worked really hard on it!"

"I'll try extra hard, okay?"

"Thanks.  I just…well, you're my friend and isn't that what friends do? Visit each other's houses and all?"

"Of course!  And play together and help each other and all that good stuff.  It's okay! You're my friend too, even if I never do get to go to your house! But I'm sure I will someday.  Anyway, c'mon, I'll get you a bag to put some apples in and then I can show you how I make pies!  You can help me peel some apples!"

Laughing, the two children hurried a little faster towards the farmhouse.  Friends, Link had real friends too.  Ever since the mask had broken, his life had improved in so many ways.  Things really had gotten so much better after Termina. It almost made everything there worth it.

More mornings, more sparring practice.  Sometimes the Deity stopped Link and showed him a better way to hold his weapon, or brought one of the weapons from his collection to show his son the proper way to block and repel an attack.  Link was honestly very good for a mortal so young and he pushed the boy to improve more every day.  With a bit more instruction and a few more years of growth, the god could see he and his son sparring properly, to first blood as was tradition amongst his Siblings.  As Link made his best attempts at getting through Deity's defences, occasionally the god found his mind wandering, bits and pieces of memories rising to the surface, shaking free of the constriction of his imprisonment.  He remembered Summer Storms and Hylia and Vast Forests and the training they would do amongst themselves to better prepare for the struggles against the demon armies.  It was always done in fun with the intention of helping each other grow better, stronger.  How he longed to test his mettle against one of his Siblings again. What had happened to them all? If The Bringer of Demise had won, wouldn't there be more of a fallout from that? Surely life would not be this peaceful. 

Maybe Link sensed his distraction but on that particular, cool morning the boy sighed and slumped on the ground in the middle of practice.  Deity went to poke him as he always did, a much safer and less traumatic form of first blood, when Link's hand raised quickly and reflexively to block him, knocking away the god's 'attack.'

And it worked. 

A rush of pride washed through him and a flash of astonishment that Link had the speed to block him. The boy hadn't even thought about it. Deity was so caught up in the moment, ready to praise his son for his improvement, when Link said something that froze his thoughts immediately. 

"Yeah yeah, I know. I'm dead. I'm tired, dad! I haven't had to work this hard since I was grown up."

Link was eleven, soon to be twelve. Deity knew this as he knew many things, instinctually.  Some knowledge of mortals was easier to obtain than others.  If his suspicions were correct and the boy had looped time on Termina, he would feel older but would never have been grown up. 

Something was wrong.

"Explain."

"Oh, right, I guess you were still stuck in Termina then. I'm the Hero of Time!" 

Link continued to talk and Deity heard the words in some part of his subconscious but the moment "hero of time" crossed the boy's lips, a silence so deep settled in his brain it was suffocating every other thought he could possibly think. 

Hero of Time. 

Not the Hero of Courage or the Hero of the Goddesses. Time. 

Time. 

The Chosen Hero of the Goddess of Time.

He had adopted one of his Sibling's Chosen Hero by accident.  He hadn't even known, hadn't made the connections from everything he had learned.  It had been just him and Link in that forest clearing, no other deities around at all.  Shouldn't his Sister have been there?  Had she abandoned her Hero so completely?  Link was still talking, mentioning the Deku Tree and someone named Ganondorf, being made to sleep and then being sent back in time to being a child again. Pieces of the puzzle that was his son's life shifted together and snapped into place.  The strange way he talked sometimes, as if the things he did had happened a different way.  How sometimes he made the future sound like it was in the past. Link's knowledge of the time loops in Termina.  The strange way he knew the time of day.  The faintest sense of time lingered around the boy and he had missed it completely. 

How could he have failed so badly? 

But no! He had been trapped! His abilities were still recovering even now!  He had already begun to notice and there was no way he could have noticed it in those first hours.  The boy had claimed him first and he was not going to take blame for adopting an abandoned Chosen, assuming that's what had happened. Certainly he could do his best to help Link use the goddess' abilities and they could eventually contact Mother Nayru for assistance and advice. Link wasn't using time powers right now.  This didn't need to be an emergency. 

It would be fine. 

His brain didn't believe it.  Thoughts crashed through the god's head like the waves on an ocean shore. Link was watching him with trepidation. Link, who had already been grown up and had carried a special sword and who must surely had been struggling with no instruction at all on how to fight. Who had looked at the Deity's sword with hunger. Who had looked at the Biggoron sword with a strange possession. 

Oh. 

That was his sword, Link's sword, or it would have been in the future.  His son would want it back, of course he would.  With no warning, the god stood and walked back into the house.  He heard Link make a noise but the boy didn't move as Deity walked into the spare room, pulled the large sword down, returned to the yard and set it down in front of his son. 

"This was yours, in the future." 

"Y-yeah, kind of!" 

"Hit me."  He needed to see how Link handled the weapon, to get an idea of how things had gone for him in that other future. The boy was staring at him in disbelief then down at the sword. It was just barely shorter than he was.

"It's bigger than me!" 

It was not but Deity was willing to let that go; it was a very long sword. "Yes."

"Oh c’mon dad! I couldn’t…they wouldn’t even let me swing the Master Sword and that’s way smaller!"

He was not sure who 'they' were but the god didn't think much of 'their' opinion.  Link would have been able to swing anything with enough training.  "You will be fine.  Hit me. I won’t move."

"I’m…I’m not going to hit you with the Biggoron sword!"

"Because you can not."  A lie, to push Link just enough, to remind him of what he had done. 

"I’M JUST A KID!"

"Are you?"

"ARG! Why are you so DUMB!?"

Deity watched his son grab hold of the hilt, saw the familiar way the boy tried to lift it as if he was taller and stronger, then adjust slightly to take into account his current height. He could feel the echo of a time that was happening, had happened, that was connected to this one. Another timeline. 

Time had SPLIT?  

How had his Sister messed up so badly to cause that?  How many pieces were there? Was Link in the others? What did the Mothers have to say about any of this? 

The sword lifted, swung towards him, scratched against his armor. Link's eyes were narrowed and his muscles strained but he was lifting it all on his own. Pride swelled in Deity's chest, temporarily pushing his fears away.  It didn't matter that his son was another's Chosen. Link was still his son and he would raise the boy the best he could even if his Sister came back to claim her Hero.  And if she never came back, well, he would endeavour to be the teacher Link deserved in all things; weapons, magic and deity-given powers.  He couldn't let worry cloud his mind now.  There were suddenly a great many things to do.

And then the sword impaled him in the shoulder. 

It was right next to his armor.  A centimeter further and it would have glanced right off instead of piercing his skin.  It was an amazing hit, whether intentional or accidental, and the god knew Link must have been a force to be reckoned with when he had wielded the weapon.  A deep ache settled in his shoulder and Deity took a moment to acknowledge that the pain receptors in his nerves were working fine; his body was behaving as it should after all and concerns about the mask affecting more than he thought were settled. Idly he pushed the agony to the back of his mind and turned his eyes to focus on his son, who had a deeply terrified and apologetic look on his face. 

"Oh…oh my Goddess…DAD!"

"A good hit, for an accident."

"DAD! YOU’VE GOT A SWORD IN YOUR SHOULDER!"

"Yes."  Surely his son was used to seeing injuries with all the scars that marred his skin.  He must have seen many fights and had surely caused these sorts of injuries to his foes.  But the god supposed that accidentally stabbing an ally would be more traumatic; how lucky was Link that he had never been in such a situation before.

"YOU’RE BLEEDING!"

"Only a little."  A small trickle of blood was running down his shoulder and Link began frantically pulling at the hilt, trying to remove it.  "I'll get it out!"

"I am not sure you have sufficient strength to do so at this point."  The god reached up to the hilt but it was at an unfortunate angle and in rather deep. How had Link managed to get enough power into the swing to embed it so deeply?  Deity could remove it himself but there was a risk of being damaged more seriously so he would have to tread carefully.  Suddenly he found his hands being slapped away by Link and he glanced up in shock at the angry look on the boy's face. 

"Then we need to go get help!"  The boy pulled at his father's uninjured hand, looking around desperately.  "Don't touch it! You'll lose the arm or something! We'll go to the ranch! We need a fairy though!" 

The god was momentarily at a loss for words. Had Link forgotten what he was? While he was not immune to injuries, he had a much higher tolerance for them than pretty much every mortal in existence.  Granted, he was beginning to lose sensation in his shoulder and arm but there would be no real, lasting damage from a normal sword attack like this. It wasn't even infected with demon malice.

Link had finally found a fairy that he cupped carefully in his hands, whispering to it in the fairy language how he really needed her help. He began pushing the god towards the edge of the forest angrily. "Come on! Let's go! It'll take forever to get there and I don't want it getting infected.  Fairies can only do so much!" 

"Son…"

"Come on!"

Deity supposed this was his fault for not explaining certain aspects of his divinity to Link. How much damage he could take before his body shut down, how resistant he was to infections and illnesses of any sort.  After this ordeal was over, they should have a talk about such things. And about the Hero of Time. And…

Next to the god, Link was carrying on a desperate argument with the small fairy he was holding. "No, I promise, I don't need healing." 

"I can heal you though!" 

"No, he needs healing! He's got a sword in him." 

The fairy jingled uncertainly and looked up at the god. Deity would be fine without fairy healing, though he would always take it if offered.  Sometimes they got nervous about healing divinity.

"You want me to heal him? Now?" 

"No! Not until the sword is out." 

"I can heal now!" 

Link groaned.  "This isn't going to work! There's almost never fairies in the field and this one's going to fly away any second. I left all my bottles at home!" 

"Son, it will be fine." 

"No it won't! You've got a sword in your shoulder! You'll need healing when it's out and it starts to bleed really badly! Why did I let go? Why did I even lift the thing?! Why–" 

"You did what I asked you to. I am proud of your ability to wield a weapon so large." 

Link stared up at his dad in shock. There was no anger, no recriminations in his voice. In fact, the look on his face was one of satisfaction.  "Really?" 

"Of course.  Should not a parent be proud of their child's accomplishments?" 

"I stabbed you!" 

"Such is always the risk when learning to wield a weapon. Why, once I very nearly removed a limb from one of my Siblings. There had been a bit of a distraction and of course I apologised immediately and after the wound healed, we were more careful. It is one of the reasons we only spar to first blood now."

There was nothing Link could ever say to any of that. He still felt the prickle of tears in the corner of his eyes but for whatever strange reason, his dad wasn't at all mad at him.

"Can I heal him now?" 

"No!" 

"Concentrate your magic."  The boy looked up, confused, when Deity spoke. The god lifted his uninjured hand as if holding something in it. "Place your hands around her, use a small amount of your magic, and hum this." His deep baritone rumbled in his throat and Link recognised the song as a type of lullaby, much like the Goron one but had a distinct feel of fairy around it.

"I…I don't have the ocarina." 

"That is fine. Just hum." 

Tentatively, the boy followed along with the notes, his hands cupped carefully around the fairy. The tiny thing swayed, yawned and settled down on Link's hands. Soon she was snoring softly and the boy closed his fingers over her carefully. 

"It worked!" 

"Of course. Guard her carefully, less she awaken too soon, and do not let predators get her. A sleeping fairy is one who has placed the utmost trust in you."

"Nothing will happen. I promise."

While long, the walk to Lon Lon Ranch was uneventful. Every so often Link would sing the fairy song to quiet his passenger. Occasionally he could hear his father humming, the same barely audible sound in his throat that the boy had heard occasionally in the months they had been together.  He didn't know why he never asked about it but it just seemed right that his dad would know about music. There had been a lot of it in Termina, after all. 

As they walked between the fences that was the entrance to the ranch, Link faltered and slowed. Suddenly he wasn't sure if he was doing the right thing. How was he going to explain any of this to Talon?!  But Deity was already striding ahead, having spotted the rancher in the field feeding the cuccos. It was too late now; there was no going back from the consequences of his actions. 

He knew he should have helped, should have explained what had happened to Talon and Malon, but he couldn't.  He hung silently around his father, trying not to look anyone in the eyes; he was going to cry for real if he opened his mouth to say anything. He had stabbed his dad and didn't know how to tell anyone that. Surely someone would yell at him when they found out. You didn't just hurt your parents like that!  All those monsters he had attacked in the past felt different. Only the Gerudo had been people and he had been careful not to hurt them too badly.  Just enough to show them he meant business and chase them away.  He watched, desperately holding the fairy that would fix everything, as Talon bustled around, ordering the deity around as if he wasn't desperately terrified of the god at every other meeting.  There was a surety to the rancher's movements, a practised confidence that came from something that had been done many times before.

Malon tried to talk to him as Talon and Ingo were attempting to take the sword out, but Link just pushed himself closer to his dad and shook his head. 

"It's okay! We'll get your dad all fixed up."  She waited but the boy only nodded, looking down at the ground. With a frown, the girl turned and stepped up behind Ingo to grab hold of the sword hilt behind him. The two men were bickering about the best way to pull it out but she was used to their friendly verbal sparring. That was just how her dad and uncle Ingo worked, after all. Link's father was resting calmly on the ground in front of the paddock fences, waiting with the patience of a god for the ordeal to be over.  With a little tug on the sword, Malon stomped her foot impatiently.  "Too much talk! We're going to do this now! Come on, daddy!" 

"Right, fine, yes! On three! One! Two! Three!" 

With a unified effort from the three ranchers, the sword slid slowly out, inch by inch, Deity not even flinching once as they worked. And then it was easy and they stumbled backwards as the sword fell out, clanging to the ground in the space between the god's legs. Malon gasped as the full weight of it dragged at her arms. The sword was huge! And heavy! Had Link's father been using it?  Had he been fighting against someone else that used it? 

Link was at his dad's shoulder in an instant, begging the fairy to wake up, telling her it was time to heal. As he opened his hands, the tiny thing yawned, then saw the sluggish trail of blood on the god's shoulder. She gave a happy jingle and flew over, using her magic to finish the slow healing that had already begun, mending muscles and nerves and skin in a wash of pink light. It worked extremely well on Deity, as he knew it would; fairy and divine magic complimented each other.  Link's own shoulders finally relaxed as he watched the wound heal and he raised a hand as the fairy flew off into the bright daylight. 

"Bye, thank you!"  Behind him, Link heard his dad and Talon talking but it didn't register in his ears until Ingo's loud, grating voice rung out in the morning air. 

"Yes, but HOW?  Who put a sword in your shoulder!?"

"My son! I am very proud.  He did not think he could swing it."

Link froze as his dad ruffled his hair affectionately, worried about what the others were thinking.  Without looking anyone in the eyes, and saying words he really hoped were a thank you, the boy took off for the exit, not even waiting for Deity. Behind him, he heard Malon giving chase. 

"Link! Link wait! What happened?! How'd you stab your dad like that? Link!"

He was still running as he answered, turning his head to look back at the redhead.  "It was an accident! I didn't mean to! I–!"  Not looking where he was going, Link ran into the edge of the fences and staggered into the grass.  There were tears in his eyes again. This whole day had just been so horrible.  Now Malon was probably going to be mad or scared or something else he wouldn't understand because he didn't know how to be a normal Hylian at all and–

But her hands were gentle when she helped him to his feet and she easily wrapped him in a hug. For a moment, Link stood frozen in shock, then he closed his eyes and leaned into the embrace, not able to hold back a hiccupy sort of sob. 

"It's okay. Accidents happen. One time I accidentally stabbed daddy's foot with a pitchfork and he limped around the farm for a week before it healed. He kept saying it wasn't my fault even though it definitely was. I was playing around and he had told me to stop and I didn't."

"We…we were practising. He's been…been teaching me to use my sword better.  It was an accident and the sword is so big and I could have hurt him so bad, Malon! I could have maybe killed him!" 

"Doubtful."  Behind the two children, the Deity walked down the path, the sword now slung across his back. Where had he gotten the scabbard for it?  When Link looked up, the god gave a single rap with his fist to the metal breastplate he wore.  "My armor would easily block any fatal strikes you could have made accidentally."

"Dad, how can you not even care that I stabbed you?!" 

"It was merely an unfortunate slip of the hands. We shall learn from this and continue on with more appropriate training.  The smaller sword will suffice until you are more able to handle your bigger one." 

Malon stared between the two, ears twitching slightly.  "That's your sword, Link?"

"Y-yeah, I guess."

"Wow!"

"We should return home, son. It will be lunch soon, then perhaps we could go fishing if you wish." 

"Yeah, sure. Okay." Link turned to the redhead, his face flushing with embarrassment.  "Um, I'm sorry. About everything. And, uh, thanks.  Tell your dad thanks again for me?" 

"Of course! And Link, it'll be okay, I promise. He's not even limping, right? It'll be okay." 

The boy nodded and followed after his father. As the two walked through the field back towards the forest, the god frowned, confusion resting between the reddish eyebrows. Link looked up and cleared his throat so his voice wouldn't shake. "Something wrong?" 

"Why would I be limping? I was injured in my shoulder."

With a laugh that felt like a release, the boy reached up and grabbed his dad's hand, explaining what Malon had meant as they walked home together.

Chapter Text

Lessons continued, despite Link's trepidation. It was several days before Deity could get the boy to engage fully in sparring once more but he pushed on, knowing it was important that they proceed. Far beyond Link using the double helix, something in the god's mind said that there would be a need for the boy to be properly trained. He was a Hero, unfortunately, and there was a feel of things unfinished, a battle that would need to be won. 

This was a premonition, obviously.  It wasn't as strong as he would have preferred but the lingering effects of demon magic made connecting with the Mothers nearly impossible.  It was still comforting, despite how frustrated he was by his current weakness, to know that They were trying to help. He spent many of his spare moments and most nights trying to untangle his essence with very few successes. It just may be that he would have to establish a more direct connection with Them to be completely free of this curse.  He considered a visit to Mother Nayru but in one of the many books he had procured, it mentioned there was an age requirement for mortals to ascend to the holy spring. Though Link's twelfth birthday had come and gone, that was still not old enough. Would he be able to get his son past the priestesses anyway? Would it be better to leave Link at home?  He would be slowed considerably with a companion but even travelling at his fastest speeds, it would take weeks. 

Of course, if he could shapeshift it would be faster but… 

Deity shuddered. That memory was not one he would be considering today, thank you very much.  And on top of that old issue, being turned into a mask for thousands of years had not endeared him to the idea of changing his form.  He was going to enjoy being himself for a good long while, at least. There was no need to shift.  He didn't have to consider it.  No, it was safer and easier to remain in his body. Flying would only take a week or two off the trip.

It was fine. 

The weather grew colder and Deity stood outside, inhaling the snappish feel of frost into his lungs. How long had it been since he had seen an autumn? A winter? Harvest time came and the farmers in Hyrule Field became busy; impromptu markets would open as fresh produce was available for sale.  The god purchased zucchini and corn and turnips, then potatoes and daikon and carrots. Link looked skeptical at the idea of trying so many new types of food but he was never upset at anything his father put in front of him at mealtimes. The dishes became heartier and the boy began filling out his clothes more, gaining height faster as children who are well-fed tend to do.

The shorts Link wore under his Kokiri tunic began to show more and more.  Saria always repaired rips from training and play but as the air grew colder she spent more time in the Kokiri village where the Deku Tree's warmth was located.  Link was too cold to visit her and the two no longer spent much of their week together; the boy's clothing became more threadbare by the day.

He tried to enjoy Autumn, wanted to experience what Malon had told him about, but he was cold and no amount of time in front of the fire seemed to fix it for long.  When he visited the farm, he found reasons to stay inside, offered to watch the cuccos, helped muck out stalls in the barn, anything that would keep him warm! There were a few beautiful, balmy days where the air was warm and the lower path of the sun would shine down on leaves that had different colours, giving the Field a crisp, clean feeling.  Link enjoyed those days very much. He and Malon would play when she wasn't busy, eat her delicious food while sitting on a blanket just outside the ranch and talk about whatever came to mind.  They were the moments he felt the happiest, the most comfortable in this new life. It was when he felt like he had almost succeeded at what the older Zelda told him to do; have a real childhood. 

He didn't notice the way Malon watched him, didn't see the sparkle in her eyes when he came up the path to her house. He didn't even think about the way she tried to casually touch him, hold his hand when they were walking together, give him a hug when they said goodbye. He knew he liked it, liked how physical contact made him feel safe and welcomed. Saria had done that for him when he was younger but she was the only Kokiri who had. When Malon hugged him, he felt warmer somehow, happy that he was treated normally and had made a friend who was comfortable around him. If the girl felt a little bit more than that, well, she wasn't telling. 

Deity had his own ways of showing affection. The gentle tousle of his son's hair, the easy way he would rest a hand on Link's shoulder to show satisfaction in a job well done. Even the casual way he'd lift the boy onto trees or over fences. Link wasn't sure if hugging was something the Deity would do but then he remembered the way he had been held that first night when the mask had broken, when the god had scooped him up and carried him through the woods.  Then the night he had that horrible dream of Termina and Deity had wrapped an arm around him, pulled him close. Yes, those were very close to hugs, weren't they?  Maybe neither of them were very good at it, him being raised by a tree and his dad having been in a mask for so long, but they'd figure it out together.

Despite the cold, life was settling into something Link desperately wanted to preserve, to keep close and never slip through his fingers, the way he hadn't been able to hold onto a future with Zelda or go back and be with the people of Termina. This was what he wanted; a home, a family, friends and a sense of belonging. The more he got to know the people of Hyrule Field, the more he helped with whatever little tasks that needed doing, the stronger that feeling became. He was making a home for himself here, not just in the house but all of Hyrule. If only he had known how easy it would be, maybe he never would have gone looking for Navi and fell into Termina. But then, if he hadn't, he wouldn't have his father now either.

No, he wouldn't change anything at this point. He couldn't. Things had to happen the way they did so he could be happy now.  This was his good ending and he was in no hurry to change that any time soon. Or ever. 

The first real snowfall made Link briefly forget the cold.  It was only his second winter outside of the Kokiri forest and the previous, before his misadventures in Termina, he had not risked going out much more than a few times.  Winter was cold!  He supposed this year, if he had asked, his dad might not mind him spending more time in the forest again but this was his first winter actually having a non-tree parent and he wanted to experience that fully.  In the days leading up to the storm, it got colder and colder and he'd kick at the thin layer of white that would fall overnight then melt in the sun the next day.  The wind became sharper, more intense, and eventually there was a fine dusting of white that wouldn't melt at all.  As he stood at the edge of Hyrule Field, arms wrapped around his chest, teeth chattering, Link wondered how long this would last and if he'd be able to find ways to keep warm until the seasons shifted once again.

His dad didn't seem to mind the cold, at least.  He continued to wear the same, new clothing that he had gotten  mere months earlier.  Short sleeved grey tunics, long pants, sturdy boots.  His armor was the same as always when the two of them sparred and Link wondered if the black leotard was warmer than his own white one had been.  Probably not.  What little time he had spent in the cold at seventeen had not been encouraging.  It hadn't even been that cold;   whatever Ganondorf had done in that former future had really messed with the weather.

But that was then and this was now.  He was years in the past and things were better!  And on that morning when he got out of bed to a distinctly frosty feel at the tip of his nose and walked out into the great room with a blanket tightly wrapped around his bare shoulders, he looked out of the window and saw only white.

Delicate flakes swirled past the glass Deity had only just recently installed in the window frames. Link pressed a hand up against the pane, biting back a faint cry against how cold it felt on his skin, but he stayed, staring into a world that had disappeared into snow.  Every now and again the blizzard let up enough for him to see a tree or the edge of the paddock but for the most part it was just swirling, drifting beauty in the air.

"Good morning, son."

Link spun to see the Deity setting a bowl of hot porridge down at the boy's spot at the table.  Still clutching the blanket, Link walked away from the view and hurried over.  Warm food!  He clambered up onto the tall chair, fumbling to keep the cloth around his shoulders, but was soon settled.  He eagerly pulled the bowl closer, idly wondering if there was a way to tie the blanket around him like a makeshift tunic, and was soon occupied with the process of putting hot food in his stomach.  After a few burning hot bites, he paused for a moment as his father settled across the table from him with a warm mug of tea.  "Morning dad.  How was your night?"

"It was quiet.  The snow started around the darkest hour and has continued since."

"I've not seen this much snow before!  Is this a lot?"

"I am unsure. The land was a much different place the last time I was able to experience a winter."

"Oh, right, yeah.  Does that sort of thing change over the years?"

"Yes, quite a bit."

"Weird!"  The boy scooped up as much porridge onto his spoon as he could manage and shoved it in his mouth, sighing happily over how it seemed to heat him up from the inside out.  It was glorious.  Now he was really glad for warm meals!  As Link and Deity sat together, the only sounds were the blowing wind, creaks from the house settling and the comforting crackle of the fireplace.  The air was warm, aside from the occasional draft from outside, and the food was good; a peaceful stupor settled on Link as he ate one, then two, then three helpings and watched out a window at the drifting, hazy white. 

Winter.  Wow.  It was kind of beautiful. 

He knew seasons existed, he did.  He had even seen them, sort of, in his journeys around Hyrule and Termina but this felt different.  His tree house in the forest never even had a solid door, just a curtain to block out the worst of the wind and rain.  Link had spent his entire life living in a forest, raised by a tree, that never experienced the changes in weather the way the rest of Hyrule did.  But now there was this house, just for him and his father, and it gave him a secure feeling he had never experienced before.  It was nice!  Maybe he could have had this in the castle with Zelda or at the ranch with Malon and Talon but now he had his dad and that made it all the better

As breakfast finished and the dishes were cleared away, Deity paced around the edges of the room, taking a closer look at the planks that made up the wall.  He tapped on one, then eyed a gap in another.  Link walked behind him, still clutching the blanket around his shoulders, then glanced at what his dad had in an imitative way.  "What are you doing?"

"The wind and weather have revealed a few flaws in the walls of our home. I will fix them."

"Oh! Did you need help?"

"I will have to get supplies so it will not be today."

"Alright then.  I'm gonna get dressed.  Um, are we going to spar today?  With all the snow?"

"No, not until it clears up.  We should start our training sessions later in the day, perhaps, to remove fresh snowfalls.  Today we shall stay inside.  Tilly was surprised when I risked the weather to get our usual bread this morning and warned that we should remain indoors until it stops."  The god didn't sound particularly concerned with the blizzard but he dutifully mentioned it all the same.

Link nodded. "I guess that makes sense.  Won't be able to help the Riverrun Farm with the stables today then."

"I am sure they will understand.  Once you are cleaned and dressed, we shall work on your reading more."

"Oh! Can we read the story about the rabbit?"

"Certainly, though you should pick something new as well."

Humming cheerfully, Link went back to his room and tossed the blanket on the bed.  He liked some of the stories his dad brought home from Castle Town.  The Kokiri had a lot of interesting tales that were passed around but they were different from what Hylian children learned.  Sometimes there were similarities but Hylians had a lot more stories about heroes and adventuring and defeating the big bad guy.  A few of those stories had felt too familiar to what he had gone through with Ganondorf and while he knew that the Master Sword was supposed to be some big, important, legendary blade, he didn't really consider himself part of that legacy.  After all, he had changed it.  The sword was still in its pedestal.  Ganondorf hadn't ruined everything.  No one remembered any of the heroic things he'd done except clear out the Dodongo cavern and cleanse Jabu-Jabu.  Every now and again, someone in the street would call him "young hero" or something silly like that but it was okay if they didn't really believe it.  He didn't want to believe it himself.

He didn't even think anyone in Termina remembered him either.  

And that was fine.  It was fine that people didn't fawn over him and beg for favours. He liked that he could offer his help when and where it was best for him, that people weren't staring at him all the time when he went through town.  There had been plenty of times right after being sent back when the heavy regard of Hyrulean society had been more than he could bear… 

Link walked up to the king, staring nervously at the rows of fancy-dressed people who lined the walkway to the throne.  He didn't like how they glared, how they saw his Kokiri garb and his shield and his sword and whispered about him behind delicate hands that had never seen a day of work in their lives.  It felt rude.  Maybe he was just a boy from the forest but he didn't think any of them deserved to judge him.  What had they done?  As he stood in front of King Lorsham, Zelda sitting on a stool primly beside the throne, he lifted his chin and tried to look grown up again, like he was seventeen and the Hero everyone expected him to be. 

Holding up the gem that marked him as the Speaker for the Forest, the boy bowed and tried to sound confident, though his voice wavered unsteadily. "Your, um, highness.  I proved myself with the Gorons and the Zora.  Now you know for certain what I was saying about Ganondorf is true; the leaders for both those people confirmed it.  So, uh, you can't let him do what he's planning."

Ug, this was hard.  He had never had to talk to people much when he was older and the King had been dead, the kingdom overrun with monsters.  You never have to learn how to talk to royalty when that sort of thing happened.  Out of the corner of his eye, he caught some court nobles whispering, their eyes glittering with amusement at him.  When he shifted his gaze forwards again, Zelda smiled at him and he felt his heart thump painfully.  She was always so friendly to him but that's not what he wanted from her, was it?  He wanted her to love him, didn't he?  He wasn't sure what he wanted, actually; the thoughts crowding his head were jumbled and confusing.  He loved her but maybe he just liked her but maybe he liked Sheik instead or maybe he was angry at everything because he had done all that work and saved the kingdom only to be sent away where he had to deal with all this now instead.

Why did it have to be so complicated?

The King stood and raised his arms magnanimously.  "Yes, the general has filled me in.  Well done, young man!"  Link had to snort at the fake sincerity in the man's voice.  While he might have been a 'young man' before, he was certainly not one now and he knew when someone was trying to butter him up.  The corner of Lorsham's lips twitched imperceptibly.   "We have decided to take your advice into consideration and we will not be pursuing a relationship with the Gerudo King.  He will be escorted back to his own lands forthwith!"

That surprised the young hero and he blinked owlishly up at the man.  "That's…that's all?"

For a moment, the King's noble facade faltered and he lowered his arms.  "Why, that is certainly a good choice of action to take in this case.  He will not be able to cause strife if he's not here."

"But, he…he was going to…"  Link frowned. He had told Zelda what happened. She said she told the King as much as he would believe.  "I don't think letting him go back to the desert is going to stop him from doing more things in the future!"

The King gave the Hero a patronising smile and moved forward away from the throne.  He gave the boy an insincere pat on the head that was stilted and uncomfortable, earning a frown for his troubles.  "Well, I don't expect one such as yourself to understand the intricacies of government.  I assure you that we will keep close watch on our borders."  The man cleared his throat and shifted his gaze up to the surrounding nobles.  "Let it be known that Link, Speaker for the Forest, is from here on out a True Hero and he will be regarded as such, left with all the honours he deserves.  He has saved our people from a great threat and we will all be thankful to him!"

Voices murmured and swelled at the proclamation and there were bows directed at Link; he shifted uncomfortably, not liking the fake smiles and mocking eyes.  The King spun suddenly and walked back up to the throne, pushing aside his cloak with a dramatic and perfectly timed flare, then sat gracefully.  He smiled at the boy once again.  "Should you ever need a place to stay, you are welcome here.  Court dismissed!"

And then he had tagged along after Zelda, trying to hold onto feelings he didn't understand and didn't know how to process.  She had been nice, of course, but it wasn't the same.  It would never be the same again.  Everywhere he went in the castle, whispers had followed him.  Servants would either treat him with disdain or sad indulgence.  Maids tried to mother him, something he despised with every inch of his being.  He couldn't remember his mother and hadn't realised he'd had one in the first place; people trying to put themselves in that role made him angry.  He was ten years old and a hero and he didn't need nosy servants asking when his bedtime was.   So he had left, back to the forest that had been his home, back to the place where the lack of Navi burned at him even more than the loss of the princess.

At some point during all those thoughts, Link pulled his Kokiri tunic over his head and sat on the bed, staring out his window into the snow.  Those memories weren't exactly what he wanted for today.  It reminded him of being seventeen and that he had never found Navi and that at one time he had felt something for the princess that was now gone.  He didn't want to remember.  He wanted to enjoy what he had now. 

The Deity was waiting for him when he finally made it back to the living room, hurrying because his own bedroom was a little chilly.  The fire was roaring, stacks of wood next to it waiting to be used, and the god was carefully laying a new log into the flames.  Link plopped down on the couch his dad had commissioned and ran a hand over the plush surface, waiting for his father to join him with whatever they'd be reading that day.  The furniture wasn't as fancy as the stuff in the castle, but this was nicer in all the ways that counted.

"Hey dad?"

"Hmm?"

"You remember what I told you about Ganondorf and everything, right?"

"Of course."

"Do you think…do you think it's okay what I did?"

The god sat next to him, a book in his hand, and stared down at the top of Link's head, the blond hair sticking out from his green hat.  His son had stopped wearing the head covering when he had switched to the more casual, mortal clothes but perhaps it was cold enough to want extra layers.   "I was not here to witness it but from the things I have read and the talk from the populace, your actions appear correct."

"I mean, like, coming back and changing things."

"You did what was true in your heart and I doubt even the Goddesses could find fault in that."

Link considered that for a moment, then nodded. It was true.  No one had told him what to do, not even Zelda.  Once he had recovered from the shock of being a child again, he knew he had to save all those people who died.  It was correct, it was right, it was helping and he would never regret preventing the death and destruction he had seen.

But he was still cold.   Days were spent inside playing his ocarina despite aching, stiff fingers.  Afternoon sword training was agony on the best of days, even with how hard he worked at it. Once they stopped, the sweat would begin to freeze almost immediately on his skin and the Deity began putting a pot of cider on the stove to warm for drinking after their sessions. It was the one bright spot in Link's continuously cold days.  Nothing he did kept him warm other than meals and burying himself in a pile of blankets on his bed but his dad wouldn't let him stay in bed all day.  Was there something wrong with him? Snowhead Mountains had been cold, yes, but he didn't remember being so bone-deep chilled before.  He would just have to try harder to be stronger than the cold.  No one else stayed in bed all winter, did they?

He didn't see Malon and Talon dressed in warmer clothes because he had stopped going to the ranch. He didn't remember what people had been wearing the year before when he had been in Castle Town, before his fall into Termina, and he left before anyone thought to offer him a new outfit. Kokiri never changed. He knew he was not Kokiri but what other examples did he have?

And his dad didn't seem to notice the cold at all.

He just wanted to be warm again!  Winter sucked! He hated it!  As he huddled in his chair under a blanket by the fire, he tried to yank the edge of his tunic down to cover his legs more. It didn't work. The tunic was too short and not that warm to begin with.  But it was all he had and all he had ever known and even though he had watched the Deity obtain new clothes and wear them, it never once entered his head that he too could do that.  He just didn't know any better.

So that winter's day, when his fingers felt almost too stiff and cold to play, hiding under the blanket for warmth, he considered how much he'd like to be somewhere warm, doing something warm, and failing that, maybe go back to bed.  But he didn't want his dad to worry and didn't want to have to answer a bunch of questions that would just show how unable he was to stand up to a little cold and if only it was some other time he could deal with it better. 

Some other time. 

If only it was dinner time.

Time.

He was the Hero of Time.

Something inside his brain woke up, as if from a long sleep.  He was the Hero of Time!   He could control it!  He had finished doing things in Termina and got out with his masks and Epona and the ocarina and completely forgot about everything else! Song of Time!  Would that turn him back three days again? He didn't know! He hadn't tried! It used to only do things at the Temple of Time and certain boxes but he had learned SO MUCH in Termina!  Inverted Time!  Would that make everyone else go slow again? Or was he sped up?  The Sun's Song! He hadn't had to play that in so long!  The Song of Double Time!  They would both move him forward to the next stage of day! Double Time always put him at 6pm but the Sun's Song changed based on the time of year because the sun would be out later in the summer.  He could be at dinner time right now and he had completely forgotten! 

Hands shaking with excitement and cold, Link grabbed for his bag and rummaged around in it for the ocarina.  How could he have forgotten?  Goddesses, some Hero of Time he was.  He sat up straight, letting the blanket fall off his shoulders, and raised his instrument to his lips.  In just a few seconds, it would be later in the day and then he could get more warm food again.  No one would ever have to know.  Taking a deep breath, he blew into the mouthpiece and played the notes for the Song of Double Time…

The cold did not bother the Deity.  He rather enjoyed it, in many ways. He did note that his body could potentially use a better protective covering but it was not nearly cold enough to cause it serious harm.  During one of his trips through the snowy Hyrule Field into town, he stopped by his preferred tailors once again and inquired into warmer clothing.  It would be no problem, they had said, though with the snow heavy over everything, supplies would take longer to reach them.  They had his measurements, of course, and would make garments as soon as they could.  They always offered to send a message to him but Deity knew the Hylians did not prefer to go into the Lost Woods so he never mentioned where his residence was, only saying that he would stop by when next convenient to pick up.  He always paid in advance and the tailors never once broke his trust.

There was something bracing about wandering through the snow, pushing his way past the drifts. It was a cold winter and after the first major snowstorm, there had been several more.  The area around their house was sheltered somewhat by the trees but even then, he had to purchase a shovel to create paths for access to the stable and firewood.  There were so many items he had not realised they would need to maintain a comfortable living.  Even before he had been chained to the mask, his temple had been maintained by mortals for many years. The memories of he and his Siblings creating dwellings in the beginning were still too entangled to see clearly.  It was an uncomfortable feeling, being caught unawares by all these small things but the residents of Hyrule Field were always helpful. Before the snows, Tilly had inquired about his winter food supplies and, at the god's confused expression, had promised him more notes on canning and preserving food.  Link had watched the process with fascination and the pair had plenty of food stores for the season.  Deity was determined to keep his son well fed, especially seeing how well the boy had been growing with the change in meals. 

Link… Thinking of his son paused the god at the edge of the woods and his brows furrowed in concern.  The boy had changed his habits since that first big snowstorm and Deity was still trying to piece together the new patterns.  Why was he inside all the time, when previously he had been active and busy? Did it have something to do with the Kokiri? Of course, being part of the nature deity meant that the forest children would have some plant traits, whether they were humanoid or not. Winter was a time of hibernation, of sleep. Though Link was not actually one of them, there were many habits he might have picked up over the years.  Would more observation help? Perhaps he should see what other Hylians were doing now. He could… 

Well, he could ask Link. 

Hmm, yes, that was something he often forgot about.  Even before the mask, he had not been in the habit of conversing with mortals casually.  He was trying, very hard, to be a good parent and connect with his son but it was not something that came naturally to him. He still hadn't clarified anything about the boy's adventures with time magic. 

Admittedly, he wasn't sure how to start that conversation at all. 

The walk back home was filled with quiet brooding as he considered what to ask Link.  As he walked inside and removed snow-covered boots, he glanced towards the fire, expecting to see his son in the chair as he often was these days.  No, not there. Odd. Idly, Deity ran a fingernail down his arm as he crossed the room towards the bedrooms and glanced inside each one in turn. No, not in either of those, nor in the storage room in the back or the washroom across from it. He stood in the hallway for just a moment, then scratched a finger across his other arm with a frown. Then he checked the very small closet at the end of the hall, though he wasn't sure Link could fit inside even with all the blankets out of it. As he walked back into the main room again, he paused by his son's chair, idly itching at the red marks on his face. Where had he gone? And why did his skin itch–

A long, long pause. 

A memory.

"I can NOT believe you told Mother Nayru on me!" 

The Goddess of Time stalked ahead of Night as the two left the Temple of Wisdom.  Neither of them looked happy and the goddess was holding her head very high to avoid looking at any of the mortal attendants nearby. Bad enough to be scolded by Mother but to have witnesses was even worse. 

The Protector if the Night was in his armor, spirit sword hanging from his back.  A large gash across the plate still had blood crusted around the edges of it. His long finger traced the edge of the damage but the skin that showed underneath was clear, only a faint red line on his pale skin the sign of what had happened. 

"I cannot believe you nearly got me killed."  His voice was quiet but the goddess in front of him winced, then grimaced. 

"I had no idea you were fighting a demon." 

"Perhaps if you had stopped turning my time back when I first asked, this would not have happened."  His voice was icy cold, unusual for the Protector of the Night. As much as his demanding, authoritative demeanour bothered her, he was never unfriendly to any of his Siblings.  That was not true now; his aura was both distrustful and furious but he was very carefully controlling it. 

"It was a JOKE!" 

"It was dangerous and almost got me killed! If you are unable to take your job seriously, perhaps you should return Home and allow someone else a chance." 

The goddess stopped suddenly and glared at her Brother, a sneer on her face.  "You do not get to make those decisions." 

"No, I do not. But the Mothers can if you endanger enough of us." 

Silence stretched on and Time held out her hands in forgiveness, though the look on her face was still full of storms.  "I apologise." 

"That was the worst apology I have ever heard." 

"What more do you want from me?!" 

"I want you to do better.  At least now I shall always know when you are up to your tricks."  With a lifted chin, Night swept past his Sister and continued away down the lane, thoughts of visiting the Artisans on his mind. Gaping, the goddess ran after him, lifting her robes so as not to trip. It was inelegant and undignified for a deity but she didn't care. 

"What do you mean?!  What did She do?!" 

Night heaved a great sigh.  "I will be warned when you try any of your abilities around me."  He stopped suddenly and spun to face her.  Time halted her run, then narrowed her eyes once more. 

"You cannot be affected by my time powers?" 

"That is not how it works. Mother said that was too dangerous, in case I need to be moved through time in an emergency. She said only that I shall be warned and that I can halt something if I concentrate, more so than what we can all do normally."  Even as he finished, he could sense the flow of time slow around him and his eyes followed his Sister's blurred form.  While all deities and some of the strongest demons could break out of a time stop, Night could tell that it had less of an effect on him than previously and he held up a hand, shattering the false time around him.  The goddess was staring at him with narrowed eyes and Night itched idly at his arm. The time magic had an odd, tingly sensation on his skin. 

The goddess laughed.  "She made you itchy?!  Goodness, that's almost better than it was before!  Oh, I can't wait until–"

A bright, golden light surrounded the two and they froze as Goddess Nayru's presence surrounded them. Her voice rested in their ears, audible to only them. 

"My child, it is merely a sensation, not something to mock.  He can now feel time upon him. I would warn you that should you attempt to take advantage of the situation for more mischief, I will give YOU a similar effect, though more intense." 

"M-mother! It would be unbearable to do my job!" 

"Then I suggest you learn to control your urges. Quickly.  My son, I am sorry for the minor discomfort.  It is something you will immediately recognise from other stimuli and will not bother you the way it does to mortals."

"I understand, Mother. I will use it well." 

The Deity stared at the chair in front of him. The feel of time was centered there, where Link usually sat.  He ignored the prickles on his skin and concentrated. Yes, he could see the faintest image of the boy, displaced in time, playing his ocarina. At the edge of hearing, he could just sense the song of power his son was using. Link, the Hero of Time, had finally remembered what he was. 

Fuck.

Deity turned, itching at his arm idly once again.  The sun was starting to set already, as it often did in the winter, and if he wasn't so damned worried about what he was going to do about a child with time powers he might have enjoyed the approach of the longest night.  Link was using his abilities given to him by the goddess and shit this added a real sense of urgency to his plans for reconnecting with the Mothers.  Why did it have to be TIME of all things?! Why couldn't it have been nature or wind or any other domain except the one that belonged to his most reclusive and annoying Sibling!? WHY?

Deep breath. Calm. This would be fine. It was not an insurmountable situation to be in.  When Link came back to the normal flow of time, they could talk about it, find out what happened, figure out how best to approach the subject of these powers.  Perhaps he could find out how much his son knew of the goddess.  If she was still around, he could set aside old feelings and be happy one of his Siblings was still around. She would know what had happened to the others.  And he would no longer be alone!

He considered and mulled over the situation for over an hour as he waited.  The itching became stronger the closer Link came to his intended time and it took real effort not to growl at the continued irritation.  Had it been this bad before?  A sudden realisation struck him; a mortal child would have much less self control than his Sister.  If Link kept using the time magic like this, Deity would be feeling this way much more frequently than he had in the past.  Ug, Mother Nayru was probably laughing about it right now. A small part of him was glad he couldn't currently hear her.

As the time grew near, Deity turned and faced the chair, not able to keep the annoyance off his face in the presence of the continued itching. Link popped in suddenly and opened his eyes only to find his father glaring down at him. He yelled, fumbling with the ocarina, and stared up with wide, frightened eyes. 

"What exactly do you think you're doing, Link?"  Internally, Deity cringed. Okay, maybe that was not the best way to start this conversation but the worry and itching were definitely getting to him. 

"Oh, ah…playing the ocarina?"

Deity sighed imperceptibly and just stared at his son. They both knew that's not what he was talking about.  The silence stretched between them as Link tried not to look him in the eyes. The god began to wonder if he was going to have to say more when the boy cleared his throat suddenly and spoke in a rapid, no-spaces-between-the-words sentence. 

"ImeanmaybeIwasspeedinguptimealittle."

His mouth narrowed to a tight line, Deity gave his son the most disapproving look he knew.  From his point of view, Link had no valid reason for skipping forward through time.  "Why?"

"Blaruuhg, I dunno dad. It's cold and I wanted dinner and to get into bed and it just felt like it would take too long to get there normally!"  The deity watched his son's eyes shift up then down again, a contrite expression on his face. "Um, I’m sorry I forgot to tell you about the songs."

The god sighed, his anger fading. Link was not upset because he had been caught doing something wrong but rather that he hadn't told the god what he could do.  This made sense, considering what he remembered from Termina.  Time had been looping, resetting before the moon could fall and destroy them all.  Perhaps those loops had been his son resetting everything in attempts to save the world from disaster.  A thought sprung to his head, a vaguely terrifying one, that his son had been Chosen and then never taught the proper protocol of using deity-given abilities.  Mortals were never granted the title of Chosen as young as Link was right now. What had been the cause of all this?  Worry replaced anger and the god found himself at a loss about how to handle the situation.  "You surprised me." 

"I'm sorry.  How did you know?" The grimace on the boy's face said much. People did not normally notice his time shifting abilities. 

"It makes my skin itch."  There was a brief pause while Deity's mind processed their halting conversation.  "You said you were cold?"

"Ah, yeah. I don’t think winters in the Deku Tree's forest were this cold, really."

And then the Deity took a good, long look at his son, this boy he was supposed to be protecting.  He had grown a few centimeters, a testament to the better meals and active lifestyle, but he was still wearing the same outfit he had when the god had carried him out of the forest. The boy was very careful about keeping it clean and repaired but it was plainly too small and was dangerously worn out in some places.  Even as Link sat in his chair with his head hanging in shame, he was shivering slightly in the draughts from the wind outside.  More weatherproofing of their home would need to wait until spring so this was as warm as it was likely to get until then. 

And Link was cold.

Deity had forgotten his child would grow, would need new clothes, would need warmer things to wear now that the weather was frigid. Why had Link not said anything to him? Why had he not complained about the wind and cold? Did the boy not realise he needed new garments?  Surely he hadn't worn this same outfit in the future where he had grown up. 

This whole situation was untenable.  The god would not fail again at these simple tasks. With a sigh that made Link wince, Deity turned towards the kitchen.  "I will start dinner." 

The boy sat up, blinking in confusion. "I'm…I'm not in trouble?" 

"No." They would have to speak about the time abilities later, of course, but Link had hardly been using them egregiously.  While the god wasn't sure why his son had chosen now to use them for the first time, being cold constantly could certainly be a trigger. "We should endeavour not to keep important information from each other but I do not fault you for forgetting."

He could hear the sigh of relief as Link stood and wrapped himself in his blanket once again.  "I really am sorry. I still think you should know stuff about me because I used the mask.  But, like, you're a god, right? Wouldn't you have been able to tell what was going on?  Like, I used the time songs constantly in Termina."

"I was aware of the time loop but there was little I could do about it from my prison.  And Majora came for me before the loop began."  While talking, the god added vegetables and meat to a broth he had prepared earlier.  Soup would provide the most benefit to his son's overall warmth and that was his biggest concern right now.  He didn't notice Link's sad look at his back.  "My awareness was limited in the mask, of course, though I imagine a mortal would still consider the things I could know in that form quite vast." 

"Oh. So…you don't know what I did? Any…any of the things I had to do?"

"Unfortunately not. I noticed the presence of someone new, not part of Termina, and that was all.  My greater awareness of you began when you first touched my mask."

"Did…did you want to know?" 

"If you wish to tell me, I would love to know more of your life."

For a long, long moment Link stood there, a frown on his face as he stared at the floor.  Deity continued adding ingredients to the pot, stirring it every so often.  After what felt like an eternity to the boy, he nodded, a tense movement that lingered in his shoulders.  "I think I would like to, um, say some things. Not right now."

"That is fine. I have something I must do this evening before it gets too late.  Link, the soup will be done in approximately thirty minutes.  If you are very hungry, you could begin after twenty.  Help yourself to as much as you wish."

"Are…are you going somewhere?"

"There is an errand I must run before full night.  You may let the fire die down in the stove.  I will be back soon but perhaps after you are asleep."

"Oh, okay. Um, are you sure I'm not in trouble?"

"You are not.  If you wish more blankets for your bed, please grab whatever you need."  Deity gave his son an affectionate ruffle to his hair and strode to the door for his boots. If he hurried, he could be in Castle Town before all the stores were closed for the night.  He would rectify this issue with clothing now and tomorrow Link would no longer have to be freezing.  He would not fail at this duty any longer.

So help him, he would be the father his son needed.

Chapter Text

Link was not amused being lifted up onto Luna's back, an enormous coat wrapped around him.  He wanted to ride Epona!  Not be treated like a child at the front of his father's horse.  But it was very cold that morning and even though the god had provided the warmest possible breakfast he could, the fact that the air was frigid was impossible to ignore.  When Deity had said they were going out this morning, Link hadn't realised he meant out, away from home.  Where'd the coat even come from anyway?!  The boy sat scowling, arms crossed and invisible in the many folds of fabric as the Deity swung up behind him.  Their breath hung around them like clouds and, before Link could properly complain, they were moving with a sudden lunge.

Luna vaulted through the trees so quickly it stole Link's breath right out of his mouth.  Sure, he had seen Deity race her through the field in the summer but even then he hadn't realised how fast she could go.  All those times the father and son had rode side by side, the mottled white-and-grey mare hadn't even been close to exerting herself.  The boy clung to her mane as his father held the reins, leaning over his son just enough to block some of the excess wind around them.  It was terrifying and exhilarating all at once and Link closed his eyes so the cold air would stop stinging at them painfully. What usually took a few hours to cross took only one.

Normally Deity would leave the giant horse outside in the field but this time he dismounted and led her to the town stables. There still wasn't a boarding spot that would fit her but while his father made arrangements, Link slid off the mare and tried not to get the coat utterly filthy in the mud and slush; he wasn't sure how they were going to wash clothes in the winter and he didn't want to find out. He tried to offer the coat back (it felt more like a dress for Goddesses' sake) but the god merely waved a dismissive hand and Link sighed in resignation. At least no one was likely to recognise him in this thing.

"Okay, so where are we going? Do I get to know now?" 

"I had assumed it was obvious. You need new clothes."

"New…new clothes?" 

The Deity frowned down at his son, still enveloped in the coat he had picked up the night before from his preferred tailors.  The city gates had been closed but that was not a barrier that could halt him.  His presence at the shop had been a surprise but the three siblings that ran it were quick to see to his needs.  The god needed new clothes, not for himself but for his son. If any of them were surprised by a deity having a child, not a sign of it showed.  After a quick consultation and promise of more than adequate compensation for the rush order, the trio swore to be done by the morning.  Before the god left, one of them offered his finished coat and the Deity slipped it on before disappearing into the darkness once more.

"Son, surely you have gotten new clothes before." 

"Uh, I guess. I mean, I usually just wore whatever Saria gave me. They always looked the same though. It was probably bigger when she handed me a new one?"  He stopped and tried to lift the coat around him better.  "I had new clothes when I was older but I was already wearing them."

"Ah."  By the Mothers, what had happened in Link's life to lead him to this point; had he honestly been that sheltered?  There was no more conversation between the two until they walked into the tailor's shop and the boy handed Deity his coat with a mumbled thank you. The oldest tailor, a distinguished looking woman with long, honey brown hair tied up in a ponytail, poked her head out of the back room then called back over her shoulder.

"Lakie, they are here."  She smiled at the two, her gaze lingering on Link for a moment longer than it did on Deity.  "She'll be out in just a moment.  Your timing is impeccable; we're almost done."

"Thank you. I appreciate the haste."

"Any time, of course."

As the woman disappeared behind the curtain again, another bustled out.  She too had similar hair but in a shorter, curlier style than that of her sister.  "Ah, good!  You must be the son! I am Lakie, that was Clora and you'll meet Atopa in a few. He's in the back finishing up a few last minute touches."  The woman's gaze took in Link from top to bottom and he flushed a little, trying to pull down the short tunic reflexively.  Of course, it did no good; it hadn't in months.  Suddenly he wondered why he never thought to ask for new clothes.  Surely Saria hadn't let his outfit get this short before.

"Oh, uh, hi. I'm Link."

"Yes, the Hero, right?"  The woman's voice was chipper and friendly but Link frowned all the same.

"Yeah, I guess."  His voice had a hint of surliness and he did not look the woman in the eyes.  With a friendly touch, the woman draped an arm across his shoulders and escorted him past the counter and through the curtain into the back, Deity following quietly behind them. 

 "Oh, don't you fret dear.  I'm guessing you catch a lot of attitude about that from people in town but here, we know when a Goddess-blessed hero is in our midst. It's an honour to be able to serve you.  Now, it looks like your father was dead on with his measurements so this shouldn't take long at all!"  With a sweeping wave of her hand, she indicated the small work space that was filled with bolts of fabric and sewing supplies, as well as a variety of finished clothing items.  Link walked up to a shirt draped neatly over a chair and reached out a hand to it, then pulled back.  The woman smiled and gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. "Feel free to touch anything finished. Let us know if the fabric bothers you."

The third of the tailors looked up as the boy passed by and he too had similar coloured hair, just cropped short and close to his head.  Link smiled shyly at the man and ran a tentative hand down a pair of pants while his father and Lakie discussed details in low voices behind him.  He hadn't had so many new things to wear since he had defeated Ganondorf; all those different tunics he got had been the most clothing he had owned in his entire life and had disappeared with the rest of his things when he was thrown back to childhood. In Termina he had only ever had the masks but at least his tunic had been reset with the rest of him every Song of Time repeat.

And now his dad was going to buy him a bunch of new things? Just like that?

Was that how it worked when you had parents? 

The next hours were both frustratingly boring and somehow fascinating at the same time. Lakie had him try on things and the other two would stare at him like he was an interesting puzzle to solve, then make adjustments to a hem or seam.  The way they sewed even stitches was a wonder to his eyes but having to endure the constant waiting made him itch to run circles around Castle Town.  Finally he had four tunics finished, two with longer sleeves and two with short, as well as two pairs of pants. The older woman, Clora, asked if he wanted the tights that were in fashion but Link could not keep the grimace off his face while she laughed. 

Anything that reminded him of Ganondorf was not something he wanted on his body.

And then they brought out the outdoor clothing.  A coat, gloves, and an extra pair of heavier pants. Everything was lined with warm, brown fur to keep the drafts from blowing into open gaps. The coat was dyed dark blue wool and very heavy, snug in the right places but loose enough to be comfortable. The rest was either brown wool or leather and even just trying it all on warmed him to the point of sweating.  The three made satisfied noises as they pinched and prodded the material then helped him remove the garments so they could make a few final stitches. Lakie handed him a long-sleeved green tunic he had chosen earlier and a pair of plain, brown pants. 

"Here, dear. Just go back behind the curtain and change. No need to hold off on wearing them. We made sure to wash and work the fabric earlier, ready for immediate use!" 

"Oh, uh, right!"  Link was stunned, knowing he was actually going to be wearing these things now.   Not tomorrow morning, but immediately! Hands shaking with something other than cold, he pulled on the outfit and stood in front of the mirror, wondering what to think of the boy he saw reflected there.

He was so used to seeing the eleven year old he had been in Termina, for such a long time, that his reflection looked like a stranger. Sure, those were his eyes and that was his rather pointy nose that was only going to get more so as he aged. He still had the longer-than-average ears that soared past his hair and his bangs still fell in two arches on his forehead but it was all slightly different from what he remembered. His face was more filled out, the months of regular meals removing the lean, hungry hollowness in his cheeks.  His hair was less orangey than it had  been, a paler shade of blond, and had grown so that the bottoms of the strands tickled at his lower neck.  And the clothes. He was wearing real, Hylian clothes.  The green tunic with laces at his neck so he could close it up if his neck was cold.  Long sleeves that were not the tight, white leotard he remembered wearing at seventeen and flapped loosely around his arms.  Regular pants which, amazingly enough, had completely stopped the chill he had felt constantly since winter had arrived.  Turns out wearing a too-short Kokiri tunic and shorts when temperatures were well below freezing was the cause of his perpetual chill.

He looked…like a normal boy.  A Hylian.  Someone you would pass on the street and not call a fairy boy just by looking at him.

He didn't know what to think.

The tailor made appreciative noises and brushed down the back of the tunic to remove excess threads.  It still felt weird to have these people he barely knew touch him and move his body into positions better for the fitting but every time Link had looked at his dad in silent inquiry, Deity had nodded his confirmation.  At least the trio had been nice, if a little intense about their work.  The boy looked at his father again and held out his arms, then shrugged.  "Looks okay, yeah dad?"

"It is perfect."

Link turned back to the mirror and gave himself another look.  "Yeah, I guess it is."  And that was that.  It wasn't much longer before the rest of his new clothes were packed neatly in a box, his new coat and gloves were on and a rather large amount of rupees passed between the Deity and the shopkeeper.  As the father and son walked out, Link noticed the tired eyes of the tailor trio and wondered if they had been up all night just to make clothing for him.  Did they know his dad was a god?  They were certainly deferential enough.  Link had noticed some larger garments neatly laid into the package as well so this was probably where his dad had been getting his new, non-god clothes.  They must know. 

As they walked away from the shop and through the snowy streets of Castle Town, Deity glanced towards the castle with a contemplative hum. "Did you say you know the Princess?  Have you visited her yet?"

Link sighed.  That was a very complicated story.  "I haven't since, uh, the mask broke.  I did visit her once after leaving Termina though.  It has been a while, I guess.  I'll write her a letter or something, see how busy she is, let her know I have a real address now."

"Hmm."  The god dismissed the castle, then shifted his gaze to the temple.  Perhaps a visit there could help him form a stronger connection with the Mothers without having to travel.  The lingering fear of disappointing Them would need to be dispelled.  "Perhaps we should stop by the temple before we return home."

"Ug, do we have to dad? I really don't feel like visiting the Temple of Time today."

Link could see his dad's shoulders tense up, even through the heavy coat he was now wearing.  Did something about the name of the temple bother him?  That was…odd.

"The Temple of Time?"

"Yeah, it's, um, where I did all that stuff with Ganondorf, you know?"

"Did you ever speak to the goddess there?"

"Is…is there a goddess in the temple?"

Deity swore softly under his breath and handed the box of new clothing to his son, still staring up at the temple steadily.  "I wish to visit."

"Er, okay? I mean, if you really want me to…"

"You may stay here."

"Oh, good!  I'm gonna play bombchu maybe? If that's all right?  Will you come get me when you're done?"

"Of course."  Deity did not wait to see Link's response as he moved off with long strides towards the Temple of Time.  He had been avoiding the place before, preoccupied with his failure and the unknown side effects of being subjected to Majora's magic but his concern for Link pushed those worries to the side. No wonder his son was the Hero of Time if this was the Goddess of Time's residence!  She was so close. 

But shouldn't he have noticed her presence? Her aura? 

Shouldn't she have noticed him? 

Only the most devout came to worship on a day as frigid as that one. The temple was quiet, only a single priestess at the door and the woman froze in shock as he swept in past her.  There was a big, open space and smaller rooms for devotions on the sides. Altars to the Mothers were set up and ahead he could see a pedestal made for holding gems of power.

Behind that, a door. 

The Deity stood for a long moment staring at that door, feeling the potential that rested behind it, hearing the whispers of fate and time in his ears. It was a louder presence than even his Sister and he had an inkling of why Link did not like coming here.  Suddenly, he spun and walked straight through the wall into the goddess' private quarters. He ascended the stairs, knowing he was breaking protocol by coming in uninvited but did not care. There was no deity presence here, just the lingering aura of one, and the trepidation in his heart grew. Perhaps she had been here recently, within the space of a year, but he could not narrow down the timeframe. The upstairs rooms felt even emptier; there were not even any signs of projects half finished. She was not here and had not been here recently. 

He was still alone. 

The Deity sat heavy in a chair and rested his head in his hands, bowed over his legs.  As much as he disliked the Goddess of Time, having her around would have been a relief, a sign of how to move forward in this era he found himself in. He could have potentially left Link in her care while he went to the Goddess Springs and healed what Majora had broken inside him. But there was no one. If she still had a body, the goddess was so far away that he could not even sense her.  He remained alone, as isolated as he had been in a realm that was a prison. 

But no, that was not true. He had Link, who had freed him from his torture, accidental or otherwise. He had a son that loved him and whom he loved back. That was not loneliness. 

He moved again, out of the temple, past the stunned priestess and back towards town where Link waited in the bombchu shop, cheering at another successful round.  As he retrieved their box of clothing, speaking of food and returning home in an automatic and methodical way, the boy followed along quietly, giving him a probing look.  Neither one of them spoke of the temple or what had been inside.

Sausages on buns were acquired for Link's lunch and the boy licked his fingers happily as he finished them.  Deity gazed down at the top of his head, still wearing the green Kokiri hat, thoughts of how much more content his son seemed now that he was warm and well fed. How had he missed such an obvious thing?  Surely being a parent wasn't meant to be this hard.  Taking a long, deep breath, he rested a hand gently on his son's head and the boy glanced upwards at him.  "Why didn't you tell me you were cold?" 

"Oh, well. I dunno. You didn’t seem cold. I thought it was just me."

"Link."  The god took another breath, waring with the feelings of loss and inadequacy within himself.  His son mumbled a faint 'yeah' and he shook his head. "Please tell me when something bothers you."

"O-okay."

One of the first things Link did with his new clothes was head back to Lon Lon Ranch.  It took longer than he thought, trying to get Epona to push through the heavy snow, but when he finally made it and knocked at the farmhouse door, the ecstatic look on Malon's face made it all worth it. 

"Link! It's been weeks! Where were you?" 

"Oh, uh, at home. It was too cold and, um, well, I didn't want to leave the fire. But I got new stuff to wear now!  So I can come visit again."

The girl pulled him inside the house, avoiding the clucking cuccos instinctually as they crowded around the newcomer, hoping for food.  She stared at Link for a moment, a sad sort of shock on her face.  "You didn't have anything warm to wear?! Why didn't you tell me?" 

"Er, I didn't know?  That I was supposed to have warm clothes?" 

Malon merely stared at him as the cuccos pecked at her shoes and she shoved them away idly with her foot.  How could a boy the same age as her not know he needed warmer clothes in the winter?  The old nickname of fairy boy drifted through her thoughts and a sad certainty of the life he had lived settled around her.  "I would have gotten you something." 

"Oh, that's okay. Dad did. Um, I just…didn't tell him I was cold. Er, I mean, I'm used to taking care of myself, you know?"

"Well, if you ever need anything else, you ask someone, okay?" 

"Right, of course!  Anyway, how have you been?  Did you need help with anything?" 

Malon laughed. That was just like Link, wasn't it?  "Well, it's a little late now. If you had been here earlier, we could have exercised the horses.  Daddy wants me to go over lessons now so maybe another day?" 

The boy frowned slightly, looking down at the floor, then something popped into his head and he ran a finger down the ocarina in his pocket. If he had been there earlier…

"Okay Malon! See you later then!"  Now in a rush, Link opened the door and hurried out again, only vaguely noticing the confused expression on her face. He grabbed Epona's reins and pulled her just out of sight of the farmhouse before taking the ocarina out and giving it a long, hard stare.  Getting here earlier, giving himself another chance.  On Termina, he had  been stuck in that loop but now he was here, where time flowed normally.  Surely he could still go backwards somehow. It didn't have to take him three days, right? What about three hours?  What about four or five?! He could control it! He was suddenly very sure of that for no reason he could name other than the resounding thoughts in his head. Holding Epona's reins tightly, he held the ocarina to his mouth and played the Song of Time. 

There was a dizzying sensation he had nearly forgotten, bright lights and ticking clocks and then he was watching things move backwards around him. That was different from Termina but he wasn't sure how far back he wanted to go so he made himself concentrate on the opposite flow of events.  He waited for Malon to exit the door backwards, watched her head back to the stable, took horses back and forth for a while, all moving in reverse. It was a dizzying process and moved fast so every now and again he'd close his eyes, trying not to lose his breakfast.  Finally, Malon backed into the house once again and he waited a good few seconds to not seem overly suspicious before he stopped the reverse flow of time. Nausea prickled at him and he staggered at the expenditure of magic.  Steading himself, he hurried to knock cheerfully at the door a second time.

Malon's face looked nearly the same as the last time and she pulled him inside in almost exactly the same way.   "Link! It's been weeks! Where were you?"

"Oh! I was busy at home and there was all that snow, right? But I've got some warmer things to wear now so I wanted to come visit again!"  Trying not to worry Malon, he held out his arms and spun to show off the thick coat and pants.  Realising how warm it was in the cucco coop, he unbuttoned the front of the coat and waved a hand in front of his face to get fresh air under the collar.  This was certainly different, having layers to take on and off.  Malon blinked and looked closer at the tan tunic he was wearing underneath. 

"What happened to your green shirt?!" 

"I, uh, outgrew it. So dad got me all these new things."

"But that's great! Of course you got taller! I had noticed. It's just so weird seeing you in something new." Malon waved her hands apologetically at the boy's sudden stricken expression.  "Good weird! Not bad! I like it!" 

Link grinned sheepishly. "Thanks. You're right though. It does feel weird sometimes.  Anyway, is there anything I can help with today?" He tried to sound casual about it, like he didn't know there was a chore to be done, and Malon's face perked up immediately. 

"I was going to exercise the horses in a little bit! You've got great timing!" 

"Nice!  I can help!"  He followed the girl as she hurried to put on a long, heavy coat and extra long boots that would keep snow off her legs. Man, if he had noticed all that earlier, maybe he would have said something about new clothes to someone.  Why had he thought it was his own failing being cold?

They put Epona in the stable with some food and took the other horses out two at a time. With the pair working together, it took less time than Malon alone and they retreated to the house to play and have lunch.  It was a much more entertaining day than it would have originally been and Link grinned to himself as he squeezed the ocarina in his pocket. Being the Hero of Time wasn't so bad after all!

When he got home later that afternoon, the Deity gave him a confused look. "When did you leave today? I did not see you this morning."

Link stared for a moment, remembering breakfast and telling his dad he was going to the ranch.  Then, suddenly, the act of rewinding.  He had moved himself through time after he had moved through space, gone instantly from one place to another. 

Oh shit.

That…that was not how it worked on Termina.  When he went back in time, he had always showed up in Clock Town, in exactly the same place!  He had never stayed in the spot he was when restarting the loop!  Was that because of the loop?  Were the laws of time travel different out here in Hyrule?  There had never been a second copy of him running around in Termina and there wasn't one here either. He replaced himself when he travelled back in time! 

Root rotted petal pusher!  A dark look was settling on his dad's face; he needed to say something!  But what?! Tell him about the time travel?  He had looked so annoyed last time! Sure, Deity had said he wasn't in trouble but what if he actually was?!  What if he wasn't supposed to be messing with time travel? No one ever said he couldn't! 

No one had ever told him much of anything at all. 

"I was really looking forward to seeing Malon again so I rushed out early."  Well, that was that. He'd lied about it. "Sorry dad, I wasn't thinking." 

"Mmm."  There was a long, long moment that lasted a million years as Link stared up at his dad. The god was gazing at him with suspicion but he said nothing until he turned suddenly and moved towards the kitchen.  "Let me know when you are planning on skipping sparring. And breakfast.  And lunch." 

Link bit back a reply. He had let his dad know. The god had given permission! But Link had undone that whole conversation and Deity didn't remember it. That was his fault and if he tried to argue the point, he'd get in trouble for lying.  He didn't even like lying! Why did he lie?!  Okay, okay, calm. He needed to figure out how his ocarina worked in Hyrule now because it definitely didn't do all this stuff when he was fighting Ganondorf. 

As he retreated to his bedroom, thoughts and plans ran desperately through his mind. He needed to solve this puzzle soon.   There was work to do. 

The next several days were spent with his ocarina, playing the songs he had learned and trying to manhandle time into doing what he wanted. The Sun's Song, arguably his first song to move himself through time, he left alone. That was something those composer brothers had made and it seemed fitting that it moved him between sunrise and sunset.  The Song of Time worked at moving things backwards still and not just three days!  He would definitely practise that more.  Inverted Time did still slow things down or, more specifically, speed him up but he'd have to be careful with that. In Termina he had gotten used to everyone moving and talking at half speed but after people said the same things over and over again, he barely had to pay attention.  That was not true here in Hyrule and it gave him a headache to focus on slowed speech for extended periods. He'd work on that later, or only use it when he was alone. There was no rush to use all his skills right now. Not a single falling moon was to be seen.

The Song of Double Time, now that was what he wanted to work on.  If he could make the Song of Time work at less than three days, surely Double Time didn't need to be six o'clock.  Concentrate, that's what he needed to do. Think about an hour passing instead of several, yank at the feeling of time in his head and make it do what he wanted!  He managed to move time by half the normal amount, then a quarter. Instead of gaining more time in his head, he lost it by skipping hours just to get to the next thing he wanted to do.

It was freeing, in a way, to know that he could slip through the minutes like a thief, stealing or giving time as he desired. As long as he didn't do it near his dad, he was safe to continue practising. The more he jumped around, the easier it became. Hungry after running and playing in the snow all day? Skip a couple of hours to get to dinner sooner! Had a fun day with Malon? Just back it up and repeat it, being careful to maintain the events he had done before.  Unfortunately, repeating so much time was really draining his energy and he was always so hungry that he often backed up time just to have dinner both at Malon's and at home.  He began falling asleep in the middle of meals.  Deity said nothing but his face became more stern, strangely still, as he'd rouse his son and send him to bed.  Time travel never came up and Link crossed his fingers, trusting his luck that his dad hadn't noticed and all his precautions were working.

Soon, he was skipping by hours, then inconsistent minutes. His feel for time passing grew more accurate; more than just knowing the day it was, down to what hour even.  The steady tick of seconds was a low hum in the back of his mind. He did not know it, had no way of understanding, but the gifts given to him by the Goddess of Time were waking inside him.  He thought he was done with all that after escaping Termina but in truth, he had only just begun to discover what the rest of his strange life had in store for him.

More than ever before, he was becoming the Hero of Time. 

And on that snowy day when he decided to play with the flow of time out on the edge of the woods, he had no idea someone else had noticed it too. 

The itching was going to drive the Deity mad.

It was never closely centered on him, always just a vague tingling on his skin. It didn't hurt, of course it didn't, but the frequency of it was so persistent that he half expected to be caught in another time loop. And oh how he was glad he didn't have a body in Termina with the amount of time magic that existed there in the end. It would have been unbearable. 

He hadn't caught Link using the songs, never even heard the slightest trace of ocarina music in the days following his son's strange visit to Malon. And wasn't that an odd day? No sign of Link in the morning for breakfast, no Epona in the paddock. There had been no fresh snow to gauge whether his son had actually left early enough to have missed him. Just a lingering feeling of discomfort on his skin and the presence of his son's magic somewhere on the Field. 

Link had not left the house normally. 

But how had he done it? That day, the Deity sat on his couch in front of the fire, trying to meditate the way he used to, actually trying to force a connection to any part of the Goddesses that he could. It didn't work. He was able to pull out more memories of his Siblings and specifically of the Goddess of Time. The way she would stop time, could appear to move instantaneously by pausing then restarting at her new destination.  He remembered her mocking laugh and her pride in being first.   Her cocky self assurance and aloof attitude, rarely mingling with the Family.  He remembered five minutes and her utter carelessness that nearly got him killed. 

His hands clenched and eyes opened. Of course she would make a too-young mortal Chosen. That was just like her and then she abandoned the boy and now he had a son who had no formal training on how to use deity abilities.  Careless! Irresponsible!  Link could burn out and DIE if the power overwhelmed him.  He needed to be trained before something horrible happened.  How could his Sister do this to his son?  If he had her here right now the WORDS he would have with her! 

No. 

No, he didn't know the full situation. It had been many years and he had to trust that she had matured over the millenia. His teeth ground together with irritation as he forced himself to calm down.  While he did not and would not regret adopting his son, the scope of the duty was becoming more clear to him as the days went on.  A son bearing the Triforce of Courage and the burden of Chosen was going to be more than any mortal parent would be able to handle, more difficult than even he had imagined for himself.  It was good he was here to shoulder the burden. 

Several days later, he did unfortunately regret the never-ending itch that plagued his skin.  He was positive Link was using time magic with such a frequency that they must talk about it.  Perhaps he was a bit angry as he stalked outside into the snow and perhaps he should have tried to center himself before a confrontation but worry and annoyance and so many feelings warred inside his head, demanding to be let out.  This had never bothered him before.  Why was he like this? Had Majora damaged him irreparably in ways he had not yet begun to fathom? 

The itching increased while the flow of time starting and stopping and going backwards and forwards tore at his skin. The marks on his face and wrists glowed with the effort of him pushing back against the time manipulation.  Link was so distracted, he didn't even notice the looming, angry presence of his father come up behind him until Deity grabbed the back of the boy's coat and lifted. 

"Just what do you think you are doing?"  Anger burned at him, less intense than what he had felt in the mask, and other emotions as well.  Annoyance.  Worry.  Impatience.  He struggled with controlling them, remaining calm, and he knew when Link looked into his face, the boy saw all of that and more. There was fear there in his son's eyes, as well as shame, and a tiny bit of anger as well. Despite the coat digging into the boy's throat, he raised the ocarina to his lips and managed to gasp out a song of power.  Time began to shift away from him. 

Absolutely not! 

The song halted, a discordant clash of notes tumbling to uselessness in the snow. The pure shock on Link's face gave Deity pause but he snatched the ocarina from his son's hands before the boy could try again and set him down on the ground.  "Do not dare to reverse time away from me!"

"I'm sorry. I…"  Link's whole body seemed to shrink as he hunched in on himself. Deity's face was a storm that blocked the sun with its intensity. 

"Do you think playing with time is a game?"  No longer booming, his voice had gone cold and quiet. The winter sounds muted as the forest waited for the god's storm to break. Link said nothing, didn't even dare to look up.  Emotions tumbling about inside of him, Deity pointed in the direction of the house, eyes narrowed. "Inside." 

The boy did not move. 

Anger. 

"INSIDE."

Link jumped up suddenly and ran for the house. It didn't matter, as the Deity was easily able to keep up, and the boy fumbled with the door handle, fear making his hands shake. The sight introduced a new emotion to the roiling mix that tumbled in the god's brain; guilt. He had not meant to scare his son.  He almost let the boy hide in his room but took a deep breath and rested a hand on the small shoulder instead, steering him towards the table.  Resignation settled on Link and he sat, hiding his face in his arms on the wood.

Nothing was said. Deity sighed imperceptibly.   "Explain."  There was only a muffled reply and the god found his annoyance took precedence in a split second. "Link."

Mumbled, barely legible words drifted out of the boy's arms.  "I don't know what you want me to say." 

"Explain why you were using this like a toy."  The blue ocarina, so small in his own hands, was set on the table between them.

"I know it's not a toy." 

"Do you?" 

"I didn't play with it when they wanted me to fix everything!"  The boy glared up at his father and Deity was momentarily taken aback.  The weight of his son being a hero sat between the pair, a barrier that neither knew how to cross. "I was just having some fun. I wasn't hurting anything."

Fun. Fun. Playing with time as a way to have fun.  An image of his Sister, laughing as she rewound him directly into the blade of a large demon, one he had just dodged to avoid, sprang back into his mind. He stood suddenly, scooped the ocarina into his hands and walked to his room.  Link could not be trusted with this sort of power. "We will speak of this later." 

The boy jumped to his feet, indignant and angry. "Hey wait! That's mine!" 

"I will return it after you have thought about what you've done."  With a weight that had nothing to do with the force used, Deity shut the door and went to stare out the window into the woods.  He could hear his son go into his own room and slam his door loudly with all the energy the god had not used.

The house was angry.  It was impossible for it not to be.  Link was angry that he got in trouble. Deity was angry that his son was so careless. It churned up memories that he did not appreciate and made him question his ability to parent his son. But his own feelings calmed considerably in due time and when he left his room, it was to prepare lunch for Link. The boy did not come out when he knocked on the door, said nothing at all to the god's mention of food, so he left the plate on the floor.  When he turned his back and returned to the kitchen, the faint sweep of an opening door made him smile; Link would never turn down a meal.

Still, it was hours before he saw his son's face again. 

Deity moved to the great room, a warm fire crackling enticingly.  Link would have to come out eventually and he wanted to be ready for a less emotional conversation.  While he had one of his books open on his lap, he found his attention would not stay on the words, instead drifting to what he wanted to say to his son, rewording what he thought might further anger him.  They would need to be careful with time magic, learn abilities in a more measured, gradual way.  He would have to caution Link on the potential dangers, he…

He would have to tell his son about his own Chosen, about his failure to guard her from being overwhelmed by the power of the gods. 

Before he could get very far into that line of thinking, Link's door slammed open and the boy stalked out, eyes full of anger.  Ah, the quiet hours had not had the same effect on his son as they had on him.  

"What do you want from me!?"

Deity closed the book he had not been reading and turned full attention on the boy in front of him.  Link's voice was shaking and he stared directly into the god's eyes, something very few mortals would ever do. 

"I have done everything they ever asked of me! The Deku tree said I had a destiny and sent me to Zelda, so I went. Zelda said we needed to get the spiritual stones to stop Ganondorf, so I did. The Gorons wanted me to stop the dodongos; I did that too! Find the Zora princess, Link! Carry me out of Jabu-Jabu, Link! Use the ocarina to get the Master Sword, Link! Sleep for seven years so you can save the world, Link!"

A slow, deep sadness began to settle on the god. When Link had talked about his earlier adventures, he had been cheerful, dismissive even. Inside, his son held the pain close to his heart and anger pushed it out into the open. 

"Find the sages, Link! Save the temples! Hold a piece of the Triforce, Link!  Defeat Ganondorf! Don't worry about what you want, Link! Go back in time and be a child again!"

The boy was crying, words gaining volume and pitch until his voice cracked. Deity almost reached out, wanted to comfort him, but the story spilled out of his son with no sign of stopping and he couldn't bring himself to interrupt the purge. 

"Save Termina, Link. You only have three days. And three days. And three days. And three days! Over and over and over again until everyone is happy.  Defeat Majora so I can get the mask back! Now go home and pretend everything is okay forever! So what do you want from me? Tell me so I know what I'm supposed to do!"

What did he want?  The god could only stare for a long moment, a strange pain cutting him to his very soul.  Yes, he had always cared for mortals before in the usual, protective way but this was different.   He was angry.  Angry at all the people who had never once asked the boy what he wanted or how he was doing.  Angry at all those who had asked and taken and demanded and then left him alone in the woods with no further guidance.  What did he want from Link? He wanted his child to live.   To feel like he had some sort of say in what happened in his life.  To be content! To…

Carefully he lifted Link's hand and placed the blue ocarina in it, closing the boy's fingers around the smooth surface.  His son stared at him, open-mouthed, and Deity briefly closed his eyes to control the shifting, turbulent emotions inside him.  When he opened them again and spoke, his voice was quiet.  "I want you to be happy."

Only the language of the Mothers would ever be able to describe the look on Link's face at that moment.  There was too much to properly put into words.  He pulled the ocarina close to his chest, just looking at the god he had named 'dad' until his eyes welled up with tears.  With a quick spin on his toes, Link ran for his room once more.

He did not come out for dinner.

He did not answer when Deity knocked gently on his door.

He did not even open it for the food that sat in a bowl on the floor.

The hours that passed felt much too long to the god for whom time passed so quickly.  He sat and waited, hoping Link would want to talk to him again, but sorrow hung around the house like a heavy cloud.  He considered staying up, keeping vigil on his son, but the events of the day had sapped his energy in a way he had not experienced before.  It had been a while since he had given himself time to rest overnight.  Leaving his door open, he retreated to his bed and lay for a long while, staring up at the ceiling.

He was still not asleep when Link's door opened but he closed his eyes so as to not startle his son.  He heard the faint patter of bare feet walking into his room, felt the stuffing in his mattress shift carefully, sensed the cooler air as the blanket was lifted for the small body to crawl under it. When he opened his eyes again, he saw Link huddled nearby, shivering with cold and emotion, not daring to touch his father but not wanting to be far.

That would not do.

Carefully, as one would approach a skittish foal, Deity reached over and wrapped his arm over his son, inviting the closeness Link so desired.  He pulled in, ready to stop if needed, but the boy relaxed immediately into the hug, leaning into the warmth of the one who held him.  The god could feel the exhalation, the long sigh of tension released, and began humming deep in his throat.  Once more, the Song of Healing echoed in the boy's ears and this time, it was the hero that was soothed into a deep, cleansing sleep.

Chapter Text

When Link awoke the next morning, he was still huddled up next to the warmth of the Deity.  On the few other occasions he had crawled into bed with his dad, the god had gotten up earlier to start the day's routine.  Link wasn't sure if he woke up early or if his dad was in bed late but the steady rise and fall of the large chest behind him gave him a warm, protected feeling deep in the core of his being.  For several minutes, he lay huddled there, enjoying the knowledge that someone would care for him even if he yelled, even if both of them made mistakes, and who would look out for him no matter what.  A tear made its way out of his eye and dripped down his nose onto the bed.

His father's arm pressed in, a gentle hug, then he could feel Deity shift away and sit up.  Link flopped onto his back and stared upwards at the god who somehow still looked perfect after a full night in bed.  Not a hair was out of place.  He looked down at Link, then gently rested his hand on the boy's shoulder.  "Did you wish to talk?"

"Um."  Link's stomach growled and the corners of Deity's eyes crinkled in amusement. 

"After breakfast, of course."

"Yes please.  Breakfast.  Then, um…"

"It will be ready momentarily."  With a strange gentleness, the god pulled the heavy blanket back up over Link and strode from the room with his usual long steps.  The boy continued to look at the ceiling for another few minutes then turned to face the door, snuggling deep in the blanket that still held warmth.  Sounds of crackling fires drifted in through the crack in the door, melding with the wind that blew around the house and the distant flumph of snow falling off trees.  Far off, a horse's neigh reminded him that Epona and Luna would want breakfast soon.

It was so very normal except, somehow, it all felt different.  Yesterday had been the first time he had really stood up and yelled at the Deity, his dad, and there was a strange mix of shame and satisfaction in his head that he didn't know how to handle.  He wasn't happy that he had gotten mad, that he had yelled, but some part of him was proud that he had stood up for himself.  He had said things he had never told anyone, had spoken the smallest part about what he had really felt for the very first time.  And the god hadn't yelled at him, hadn't pushed him away.  His dad had listened to every word and then wished him happiness.

He really did have a dad now, didn't he? 

The threat of tears in his eyes pushed him further into the blanket, determined not to let his emotions get the better of him today.  Not yet, not before he had food in his stomach.  Even after the angry lunch he had eaten the day before, the lack of dinner was definitely clawing at his insides now.

Right, breakfast.

The smells were starting to waft into the room and Link decided that the warmth and comfort of the bed was not enough to keep him under the covers anymore.  Clothes rumpled, hair a tangled mess, the boy slipped out of bed onto the cold floor and followed his nose to the kitchen table where the Deity was just setting down a plate of pancakes at his spot.  A platter of scrambled eggs and potatoes was already waiting, steam rising from it into the cool air.  The sight of so much food set Link's mouth watering and he nearly stumbled and fell in his hurry to get into his chair.  The next half an hour was taken up completely by the boy shoving breakfast single-mindedly into his mouth, occasionally choking back some sob born of unidentified emotion, then returning to the job of filling his stomach.  

Deity watched, eating his own small portion, then waited patiently with a mug of tea until his son had eaten his fill.  When Link finally pushed a nearly empty plate away and slumped in his chair with a satisfied sigh, the god put his cup down on the table and made a noise deep in his throat.  The boy cringed very slightly but his father merely stood from the table.

"I will go see to the horses.  If you still wish to talk, I will meet you in front of the fire when I return."

And with that, the god pulled on his boots and was out the door before Link could process the lack of immediate conversation.  This wasn't at all what he expected but he took the time alone in the house to go clean up in the cold washroom, change his clothes into something he hadn't slept in all night and look at the things he had scattered across his bedroom.  There were memories here and he was going to have to deal with the difficult things today.  Before he left, he grabbed the ocarina and held it tight in his hand.

The god appeared almost immediately as Link sat, a timing that felt too perfect to be coincidence, but he gave his dad a shaky smile as Deity walked over and sat next to him.  "Dad, I–"

"Link, if you do not mind the interruption, there is something I wish to say first."

"Er, okay."

"I am sorry for how I behaved towards you yesterday.  I was in a state of constant worry over your abilities and I allowed anger to rule my actions.  That was wrong and no amount of discomfort was worth the pain I caused you."

Link frowned down at the instrument in his hand, then looked back up at his dad.  "What do you mean by discomfort?"

"Merely the small matter of my skin itching."  The Deity took a deep breath and continued, not letting Link linger on those thoughts.  "But beyond that, there is something more important to discuss."  There was silence from Link as he clutched his arms over his chest so Deity continued once more.  "I fear that you do not understand the dangers of using your abilities too much, too soon." 

"Right.  I figured you would say that. I get it, I guess.  I never took the time to tell you about Termina."  The Deity opened his mouth to respond but Link shook his head and waved the ocarina between them.  "No, wait. I mean, you said you kinda knew stuff in the mask and you knew about time looping but that was all me.  Like, every time.  I used to speed time up and rewind it and go forwards and all that a lot. Like, a lot.   I did that for years.  So I've already been using all this time stuff and I haven't had any problems yet."

Deity sighed.  It was true he didn't know exactly what his son had been doing in Termina and it certainly would have taken a great effort to stop Majora and the moon falling, but he couldn't help but worry regardless.  Chosen abilities were not to be taken lightly and he was somehow certain that his Sister had been nearby the entire time to keep the young hero safe.  "Link, I need you to promise me something."

The boy sighed. "Yeah, what?"

"That you will not use these abilities frivolously.  I understand you have already grown accustomed to them but you may have been lucky to not injure yourself accidentally. If anything happened to you because of them, I…I would not be able to help you."

Link stared at his father for a very long moment, a pit of fear settling in his stomach. He had known what it was like to be the Fierce Deity, knew how strong the god was.  Were the time powers so dangerous that even his dad was afraid of them?  "Er, I'll try.  I mean, I'll be careful."

"Thank you.  Now, was there anything else you wished to speak of?"

Rotating the ocarina around in his fingers, the boy considered what he wanted to say.  He did promise he'd talk about Termina.  His dad deserved to know, perhaps more than anyone.  "I…I want to tell you about…what happened…with the moon."  He glanced up at Deity and the god nodded to continue.  "So, um, I guess it was this past spring, I went searching for my fairy friend, Navi, and instead I found another friend of mine from the forest.  And he was wearing a weird mask.  He stole my ocarina, and Epona, and I tried to get them both back.  I was clinging to Epona's side as we crashed through the woods and…and we ended up in front of this strange hole in a tree.  That's how I fell into Termina."

Deity inhaled a slow breath and closed his eyes for a moment.  Majora had been out here, if only briefly.  How close they had come to real danger.  As he opened his eyes, he saw Link staring at him.  "You may continue."

"Right, anyway, so I fell into Termina and…"

It took hours to tell the story. Sometimes Link would have to stop and gather his composure but Deity did not push and there was no real hurry.  The god made lunch during one of the pauses, his mind sorting through the things his son had already told him while Link played the Song of Healing on his ocarina.  It was an unorthodox way of handling disaster but it was constrained by the time Link first entered Termina and when the Majora-possessed Skull Kid actually crashed the moon into the surface.  Three days was not much time but even just in the story Link was telling, the god could tell there was another deity's hand at work.  Had his Sister sacrificed herself to save Termina and Link?  That would indicate she had changed over the millennia in some integral way.  He briefly mourned that he might never get to know this strangely mature Goddess of Time but it wasn't entirely clear that she had returned Home in the first place.  There were gaps in his knowledge that would not be filled in until he could access his Family more directly.

Unless he never could.  Perhaps his failure at stopping Majora had deeper consequences.  As much as he felt like the Mothers were not angry with him, perhaps after being turned into a mask, he would never be allowed to visit Home again.  Perhaps he had fallen too far.  Perhaps they were awaiting judgement on him until he would visit them in person.  He knew he would, eventually, and was not purposefully putting the journey off but he needed to find a way to work Link into his plans before he could go anywhere.  Would the Mothers want to meet his child?  Farore most likely would; she would be overjoyed to meet the one who held her piece of the holy power.  Link was a mortal though and very few mortals would ever be so blessed as to have one on one interactions with the Golden Three.

But Link was also his son and he couldn't bear it if the Golden Mothers didn't approve.

After lunch, the stories continued.  Temples and exploring, helping and helping some more.  The names of everyone, the times they would pass and the schedules they held were burned into Link's brain and he repeated them with a dull monotony.  Even in the way the boy told the story was exhausting and Deity sat and listened with a quiet horror that built up behind his infinite eyes.  He would still not claim to know much about mortal children, to have any amount of knowledge about what their regular life experience was but he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that a twelve year old should not sound so defeated and tired when telling the tales of his life.  His body may be the age Deity knew it to be but his mind had been aged well past normal.

Dinner fast approached and Link continued to talk.  He tried to skip over things that didn't seem important, events he had repeated more than once, but there was still so much to say.  Two years of things to say, in fact.  He had only just started telling his dad about Pamela and her father when the Deity rested a comforting hand on his shoulder and shook his head.  "We should pick this back up tomorrow.  I will get dinner."

Link blinked at the now-dark windows blearily, still caught up in the methodical repeating of his past.  There was so much to say, so much he had never told anyone, but he wasn't sure he could pick back up where he left off if he stopped now.  There was still Kafei and Anju! And the Ikanans and the Stone Tower Temple and… 

And he was hungry.

He watched Deity walk to the kitchen then stood himself and pressed trembling hands against the cold glass window. Termina was so far away but it felt so close at the same time.  The moon was always there, hovering at the edge of his thoughts, a ticking clock always in his ears. He'd been back in Hyrule almost eight months and he still couldn't let it go. Some sort of hero he was. 

But if he hadn't done all that, he wouldn't have his dad. Nor this house.  Would he have stayed in Hyrule or would he have left again, still searching for Navi?  He would never know.  Perhaps he didn't really want to.  He had worked so hard for the people of Termina to see the fourth day and now it was time for him to move on and find what comfort he could in the life he had made here with his dad.  He would pick up the story tomorrow, would tell everything Deity needed to know, and then he would try to forget about it and move on.  Termina was gone. He was home.  There was nothing at all standing between him and the life he wanted to have.  As he turned towards the table, away from the darkness outside, he lifted his chin and settled his face in a determined smile.  Nothing would prevent him from the happiness he desired.

Not even Ganondorf.

Link talked all the next day and Deity listened. The boy talked through mouthfuls of food, through a walk in the woods and field, through hot drinks by the fire to warm up. The new clothes helped but Link had very little resistance to cold built up and preferred to stay inside if he wasn't actively doing something.  It wasn't until almost dinner that the boy finished, eyes red with tears he had both shed and held in.  He spoke of the final embrace between Anju and the young Kafei, of Madam Aroma waiting for her end in the bar. Of Mister Barten looking forward to seeing him one last time.  Of the guards who wouldn't abandon their posts.  Of Cremia who had given Romani the mask that represented adulthood as a final act of love.  Of the Giants and Tael and Skull Kid. 

Of the lonely tree on a quiet field inside the moon. 

Of hide-and-seek, giving up the masks he had worked so hard to get. 

And then… 

The Deity's hand rested on Link's small knee, so large it covered much of the boy's leg as well.  "You knew what I was." 

"I knew…that you were alive. And powerful. A deity trapped in a way the others weren't."  Link's voice sounded so old and the god squeezed the knee carefully.  The affection in the gesture brought tears to the boy's eyes again and he twisted his fingers together

"And so you left." 

Link buried his face in his hands, voice muffled when he spoke.  "I didn't even say goodbye. I don't know if they got married or if the band performed or if Gorman got his wish or… I don't know! I thought if I didn't leave then and there, Termina would pull me back in again. I didn't know how to deal with them saying different things than they always said. I couldn't bear it if Kafei was stuck at that age forever.  Couldn't handle that he might finally be grown up and I……"

Quietly, gently, Deity wrapped his arm around Link's shoulder and pulled his son against him. The boy turned and pressed his face against the god's side, hands clutching the tunic in desperation, clinging to the reality of it. Termina had been real and horrible and painful but the god was part of that and he was here.  Softly, the deep voice began humming and Link shuddered once before humming along. Two voices, one high and one low, singing in unison.  It was only a few measures of the song, not repeated as it often had been, then Link stopped and took a deep breath as he pulled his face away, leaning into his dad's embrace. They sat in silence as the sky grew darker outside.

It was the Deity who spoke first.  "Thank you for saving me." 

"Thank you…for caring for me." 

The god gave his son a gentle hug then got up to make them both dinner.

Link put his ocarina away for a few days, determined to do right by his dad and not mess around with time. But his mind was too restless with unplayed songs so he eventually pulled the instrument out again and began writing new music.  If he found himself whistling the Song of Time, he stopped. Even if he made a mistake he could have redone, he learned to live with it. He couldn't forget he was the Hero of Time but he wasn't going to play with it anymore. His dad deserved at least that much from him.

The cold days continued and the forced inaction found Link looking for things to do around the house.  He decided to write to Zelda, finally, knowing she'd worry if he didn't let her know he was okay.  The dullness from Termina had infected the feelings he had for her and he paused with a pencil and paper, not sure exactly what to say anymore.  He hadn't told her about Termina after he came back and couldn't bear to do it now either, not after his talk with dad.  He didn't know how to tell her he had a dad!  There was the house, at least. That seemed safe enough. 

Dear Zel,

I know it's been a while since I've stopped by and I'm really super sorry.  It's been pretty busy here!  I have a house to live in now and my dad and I worked really hard all summer long to fix it up really nice.  Maybe you can come out and see it sometime.  I have a room of my own and dad makes really good food so I don't even have to stop by and eat at other people's houses anymore!  I mean, sometimes I still do because they invite me but I get regular meals on my own and that's great.

I guess I could stop by sometime if you want. It's too cold and snowy to train every day but we could get to the castle if we need to.  Tell Impa I say hello!  I hope your dad isn't still being a jerk about your visions.  I haven't had any myself recently so I guess we're still okay for now. 

Anyway, bye!  Talk to you soon!

-Link

That would have to be good enough.  Link gave the letter a critical read-through, sure he hadn't said anything that would attract too much attention to him and the Deity.  While he hadn't exactly asked to be adopted, and the god had totally claimed him first, he was sure there were some adults who would have issues with the situation and he was too happy to have a family to let anyone get in his way.  Yeah, no one in town seemed to care about the god wandering around but he was only willing to test his limits so far.

Well, it was done at least.  Frowning, Link took the letter to his dad and waved it around.  "How am I supposed to mail stuff out here in the woods?"

The god looked over at his son, reddish eyebrows raised high on his forehead, and set the book he was reading down on his lap. "Where do you usually mail letters from?"

"Post boxes in town sometimes.  Malon has a mailbox at the ranch that works too."

"I can procure for us a mailbox if you so wish."

"Yeah! That would be great.  Maybe I'll ride over to the ranch to mail this so I don't have to wait.  I'll be back by dark, okay?"  Shoving the envelope in a pocket, the boy wandered towards the front door and snatched his coat up off the hooks on the wall.  Deity watched him go, head tilted to the side in curiosity.  He knew most Hylians did not prefer to visit the Lost Woods, for good reason, and there was no indication that anyone at all realised there was a house out here on the edges of it.  It might be challenging to actually get mail delivery for Link.  Well, perhaps it would work regardless; strange things tended to happen around the young hero.  He would get that box and see what sort of mail carrier would be brave enough to venture into the forest.

Surprisingly enough, it was so effective that within a day of it being installed by the house, a letter was waiting in the postbox, addressed merely to Link in delicate handwriting. The boy shouted in glee when he saw the note and pulled it out immediately, though he was meant to be sparring with Deity.  The god watched, amused, as his son tore open the seal and scanned the letter with growing concern.  "Ah shit." 

"Is there a problem?" 

"This is a summons!   From Zelda. She says she wants to see me and you the day after tomorrow.  Bah!  I mean, I did say we could visit at any time I guess. I didn't think she cared about me enough to want me to visit this quickly."  Something tired rested behind his words and Deity wondered about the other tales Link was not telling him. There would be time for those later, most certainly, but the silences said much that Link didn't. 

"Will you go?" 

"Yeah, I mean, if you come too. Um, I'm not sure if people are going to freak out about you though."

"Very few in the town mind my presence."  The Deity's voice trailed off and his lips turned down in a small frown. The longer he was out of the mask, the more he was beginning to realise the attitudes of the local mortals were not normal. Most of them didn't recognise his godhood at all, a matter that did not help with his doubts over the Mothers. If it wasn't for the ones who did give him reverence, such as the priestesses at the temple and the tailors in town, he might wonder if he had been stripped of his status. Perhaps it was simply because his abilities had been contained in a too-small vessel for so long.

Or perhaps…he was doing it on purpose.

He knew, on some level, that if the fear and awe he normally commanded was laid upon the people here, his job in raising his son would be much more difficult. Certainly having worshipers at his command would make some aspects easier but then they would never have true privacy again. And what would that do to Link's ability to have a normal life?  Was he holding himself inward instinctively? 

The boy was looking at him, concern in his eyes.  Ah, his inaction had been noticed. "Dad, you okay?"

"Yes, of course.  We shall go together to meet your princess."

"Ug, I'm not sure she's my princess but yeah, okay.  I mean, I'm glad to see her again! Just…"  Link's hands tightened on the letter and he stared pensively at the characters.  Zelda, who he had loved when he was seventeen, who had sent him away.  She didn't know that, of course, and he had tried very hard to form a bond with her when he came back from the future but it was just too painful.  He'd been gone two years in Termina but only three days had passed here and now it had been months!  He didn't know how he felt.  Maybe it was about time to find out.  "Right, sure. I'll send her a letter saying we'll be there."

The ride to the castle was cold but it was nerves that made Link shake.  Once upon a time he had thought about using the Fierce Deity mask in the castle, partially to show Zelda and maybe explain to her what had happened to him but also because he thought it would be funny.   Sure, he usually had control of the deity when wearing the mask and the god hadn't been mean, just angry at whatever had trapped him but it had been a horrible idea that he had chickened out of that very quickly. Now he was absolutely bringing a god actively into Hyrule Castle where there might be people who would actually notice.

Fluttering dried-up seed pods, was this ever a bad idea.

But he had already agreed and, yeah, no one in town ever seemed to notice or care that his dad was a real-life, awe-inspiring deity but there was a first time for everything!

As they rode into Castle Town, down the side rode that led directly to the castle, past guards and people and servants of all sorts, they were definitely stared at and whispered about as they always were but…that was it.  Even the stablehands didn't do more than that the moment their backs were turned.  Link had to roll his eyes at the sound; certainly they must know they were audible.  He always heard people really well!  His hearing couldn't be that much better than everyone else's.

Right?

The Deity, for his part, was indifferent.  He heard the whispers, all the words they contained, and dismissed them as idle gossip.  He was unusual, certainly, and his Sister's reclusive nature meant that nearly all mortals in this country were completely unaware of what the Protectors would look like.  The sinking realisation of how few of his Siblings were left that very few knew of the marks of divinity settled on him.  The Demon Wars had not ended well.  A victory, perhaps, but one with too high of a cost.

Ahead of him, he could see Link's ears twitching at the constant susurrus of voices and was impressed with the boy's capacity for hearing.  Of course, the Deity had noticed the elongated ears, much like his own (not a carry over from Link's time with the mask, he knew now), and supposed it was not a surprise that he would take so well to life with a deity.  Favoured by the Mothers, gifted their magic even!  Became a hero at such a young age, though he had been aged up to complete the first of his tasks.  He had grown in power in such a short time that Termina had not needed such measures.  Link was an extraordinary child and the Deity was astounded that people had barely noticed.

Or had they?  Was that part of why his own divinity had gone unnoticed?  Perhaps the mortals had grown accustomed to the blessings of the Goddesses; they did seem to carry the mark of favour on them after all.  Perhaps to them, divinity wasn't special.  These were things he should like to study, to observe and record and–

Ah, that was the Nayru in him.  The longer he was free from the mask, the more his old habits returned.  Curiosity, the desire to learn, the pursuit of Wisdom.  It had been so many years since he had last been able to think of more than imprisonment.  Though perhaps not as many as he thought.  Wasn't he observing his son and the other mortals around him?  Wasn't he applying those studies to the way he cared for Link? If only he had another to share the data with.  Were any of his other Siblings predisposed to Mother Nayru still around, still doing experiments and research and learning about the world they inhabited?  The Goddess of Time was one who bore the Mark of Wisdom, of course, but her status in this world was unknown. Maybe some of the others?  The Ocean Twins or the–

Too soon to finish the thought, they were at the castle and Link nervously announced them to the guards.  Even here, every mortal they came across gave him a vaguely frightened stare and talked about him the moment his back was turned.  Ah, mortals. They never really changed, did they?  Of course, they would have a much more reverent reaction if they knew what he truly was; he would have to continue the thoughts on his repressed presence later at home.

Inside the waiting room, Link made nervous loops around the perimeter, his ocarina clutched tight in his hands, fingers moving rapidly over the holes.  The Deity watched with calm neutrality, stretching his senses slowly to discover what he may.  There was something here, faint but almost familiar.  It was hard to focus on with Link's nervous energy and the constant whispers from the servants amassing outside the room.  He almost laughed at the mortals' behaviour.  Did they even really know why they found him so entrancing?  They certainly didn't behave in the ways they would if they knew he was a god.

How strange. 

As Link passed by again, Deity rested a hand on his shoulder and halted the continuous movement.  "Son, you should attempt to relax." 

"Yes, right, okay."  The boy took a deep breath, shoved his ocarina back in a pocket and took several more breaths. "I dunno why I'm so nervous. It's just Zelda."

"Hmm."  Deity leveled a steady stare at his son and Link sighed.

"Yeah, there's some stuff there, I guess."

That was putting it mildly.  The amount of stuff between him and Zelda was a whole different story he just didn't want to bring up right now.  They had parted in good graces when he told her he was leaving and she gave him the ocarina.  He just couldn't explain to her why he had left in the first place.  He had never figured out a way to tell her he had been in love with her older self.  Things between them had been normal, boring, and then he had gone to Termina, only to return briefly before the mask broke…

It had been about a month and Link absolutely refused to acknowledge he knew exactly how much time had passed since leaving Termina.  He didn't want to consider that he knew the passage of time too well.  A couple of weeks had been spent in the forest, allowing himself time to heal with Saria and the others but the quiet laughter from Mido had been too much to bear so he had headed out into the wider world again.  It was okay, he guessed, but lonely.  He was perhaps using the mask a little too much to keep himself out of trouble and, well… 

He wasn't yet sure how to help the deity inside but it certainly was good at helping him. He was even starting to believe the two of them were bonding in some strange way.  Maybe treating the mask like a friend was doing something. Maybe that was how he'd help it.

Maybe he just wanted a friend. 

Sometimes people asked about it; he bounced around everywhere with it hanging off his hip and people noticed.  It's just a toy, he'd tell them. Just a fun plaything! Put it on?  He would raise it to his face, a mischievous grin on his face, then pull it away suddenly.  Naw, I don't wanna. And then he'd be gone again. Using his apparent age to get away with being a little shit. 

He tried not to think about how much older he felt than he looked as well. 

It was with all these thoughts in his head that he finally ran into Zelda again in the Castle Town market. A familiar voice trilled out behind him and he froze. 

"Link! Oh, you're back!" 

And when he turned, there was Zelda and Impa, the girl smiling at him with that perfectly pleasant, princessly air that had been so frustrating to him years ago. Or maybe it was a month ago. Link gave her a weak smile, waiting for the heartache that never came and was mildly surprised when he realised it. He rested a hand on the mask at his side and exhaled. 

"Hey Zel. Yeah! I, uh, finished what I was going to do, I guess." 

"Oh! That's great! Did you find your friend, then?" 

Link closed his eyes for a moment, letting the sorrow of Navi dissipate from his shoulders, and his hand tightened on the mask.  "No, but I was able to help some people instead. Made some new friends. It's okay." 

The girl moved closer and rested a hand on his arm. Her face wore sorrow but there was hope there, as always.  "I'm so sorry.  I'm sure your friend is out there somewhere." 

"Y-yeah, maybe."  A few more deep breaths, the ticking of a clock in his head, and he shook the pain from his lungs to smile at Zelda.  "Anyway, how's things been here?" 

"Oh! Well, they're fine! Impa and I were just visiting the market."  Giggling, the princess glanced around at the steadily increasing crowd; she always did get attention outside the castle.  "I wasn't doing much! Let's go back home and I'll get you some lunch while we catch up, okay?" 

"Sure, that sounds great."  Link had been in town to find food and the option of free food was preferable. He hadn't made any effort to fill his wallet on the last cycle and only had a few hundred rupees to his name. The Kokiri food was good but he found himself wanting more options these days. Meals in the castle and at Lon Lon were always tasty and he'd never turn down an invitation to any meal.  Quickly, Impa herded the two children away from the Hyruleans, murmuring assurances that the princess would be by later, of course, and yes, that is the Hero. How nice to know you support him. Link gazed up at the curious faces, then down again as he covered the deity mask with his hand.

Once they were free of crowds and on their way back to the castle, Link exhaled his relief and pulled his hand away. Impa paced beside him quietly, then made a contemplative sound in her throat. "You must have travelled far, young Link. You look…"  The boy glanced up at the white-haired woman, not understanding the emotions on her face or the pause. It was only a few seconds before she sighed and finished her sentence.  "...hungry."

"Yeah, you know what they say, right? Growing kids and all."  And oh how he grew when he wore the mask. He had to hold back a slightly hysterical laugh and coughed to cover it up.  Impa gave him a sharp look that he didn't miss and shook her head.

"You are taller than the last time we saw you.  I imagine you must be eating quite a bit more now."

Link nearly tripped and looked over at Zelda quickly.  She was looking at him, head tilted to the side with curiosity.  The two stared at each other, then stopped in the middle of the road.  Impa was right; Link was taller, by at least a few centimeters if not more.  Panic flittered briefly through his head before he shoved it away.  He had been the same for so long and now that he was free, he had already grown.  The princess grinned and started moving again.

"Look at that, Link!  Going to be taller than me someday?"

"Oh, uh, I doubt it."  The infinite light and sky crashed into memory; he had been a little bit taller than her in the end.  "I'm sure you'll catch up."

"Maybe!"  Zelda laughed and adjusted her hat.  "Boys are often taller anyway. Maybe you're just at the right age to grow." 

Link frowned as he followed along between the princess and Impa, considering his age.  "Zelda, how old are you?"

"Oh!  Well, I turned eleven just this past winter."  She giggled and spun to look at him while she walked backwards.  "I could have invited you to my party if you'd been around.  What about you?"

"Uh, yeah, same I guess?"

"Your birthday is in the winter?"

Link cringed. "No, I don't…I mean, I don't know.  I guess I'm probably about the same age though."

"Huh! Imagine that!"

The conversation between them stopped for the rest of the walk.  Link fiddled with his mask the entire way up, wondering if he should tell the two about his visit to Termina; he had told Zelda so much about his fight against Ganondorf, trying to save her and keep her from suffering the way she did in his past future.  That had worked, at least!  She looked happy and content and smiled all the time.  Maybe he hadn't brought peace to himself but he had succeeded in helping Zelda one more time.  A sense of calm settled over him at that.  The feelings from his older years had faded, his heart no longer beat fast at the idea of being near her, but he was satisfied that her life was better.

The feel of the Fierce Deity mask under his fingers gave him pause.  Should he show her?  Should he tell her what happened?  Maybe not.  She would be happier if she didn't know how he had suffered and there was no good reason to pull out the deity here, in the middle of the castle where he'd probably terrify the guards.  Sure, it would be funny, but…maybe not now.  Not while he was still so tired, still thinking of ticking clocks and searching the sky for an angry moon.

No, not today.

And when he left the castle hours later after filling his stomach to bursting, turning down Zelda's invitation to stay once again, he knew he had made the right choice.  He still had to help the deity, find a way to save it, and he couldn't do that if too many people knew it existed.  There was always time in the future, right?  There was always time.

"Son."  A heavy hand settled on Link's shoulder and his body jerked in surprise.  There was a commotion outside the door to their waiting room and the boy shook the memories from his mind as he looked up at his dad.  Deity nodded a head towards the entrance and Link turned just as Impa ushered the princess through.  She looked a little different this time, a bit older, but it had been months since he'd last been by.  Well, they were all bound to change eventually.  Look at him!  He even had new clothes to wear.  Zelda had never seen him in anything but the Kokiri tunic.  So he smiled a crooked sort of grin at her and nodded.

"Hey Zelda!"

"Link! I’m so glad you came! Where is your f–"

The Deity noticed when the young girl's eyes fell on him and despite his calm demeanor, a brief thrill ran through his mind.  This was one who carried divinity within her.  She froze, her eyes filled with many thoughts and the god stood there, letting her settle herself in his presence.  This was also someone who knew what he was, as did the white-haired woman behind her, and the knowledge that his aura still carried enough divinity to awe mortals was something of a relief.  He didn't understand why most of the populace couldn't see it but someone did .  Perhaps he wasn't as broken as he thought. 

Link glanced between princess and father, then tentatively rested a hand on the girl's arm, concerned.  "Hey Zel, you okay?" 

"I, yes. I'm fine!  Who is this, Link?"  She laughed nervously as her eyes stayed rooted on Deity.

"Oh!  Zelda, this is my father, Deity.  Dad, this is Princess Zelda."

The god watched as conversation bounced between the two children.  Zelda certainly didn't seem to appreciate his new name, which he understood. It was a little too obvious but Link gave it to him and he would use it, though his son preferred to use the other name for himself.  Sometimes he wished he remembered his previous names better but hopefully they would come with time.  When the princess turned back towards him, he inclined his head in greeting. 

"It’s a pleasure to meet you at last, Princess Zelda."

The girl began to shake, no longer able to hold back her reaction to the god.  Perhaps it was a mistake, maybe he should have waited, but it wouldn't do to have the princess of the land have a panic attack in his presence. So he bent down and rested light, comforting fingers on her shoulder. 

A shock of memory. 

Not his, but another's.

A goddess, arms raised high, hands full of power.

"I seal you, Bringer of Demise, tool of the Void, until the day a Hero will come to destroy you!" 

A sacrifice of the divine, a hope for the future. 

A Sister. 

And then it was gone.

The Deity showed no outward sign of what he saw, of the shock to his system. He merely smiled at Zelda, promised her that all would be well and shoved the memory into the back of his mind for later.  But something had changed, a piece of himself had reawoken. It was the first contact with one of his own as he had never thought to touch the young Deku Tree.  The tightness around his being loosened ever so slightly and he exhaled the feeling of power out of his lungs and into his blood. 

By the Mothers, that was much better.

Barely noticing, Deity was herded out into the corridors by his son.  "Oh dad! You've never been in the castle before! Check it out, that way is the royal audience chamber.  And that way is the gardens.  That's where I met Zelda the first time! Maybe the second too."  Link laughed as he pointed out halls and doorways. His looks up at his dad did not go unnoticed by Deity and the god smiled down at him as he pulled his attention to the present moment.  Some things made more sense to him now that knowledge spread through his senses but this was a moment for Link, a way to connect with his son. He only vaguely noticed the princess falling behind as he lifted a hand to tousle Link's hair and definitely heard a sigh of relief from the girl when it happened.  Odd how much she worried but perhaps she wasn't aware of the memory in her blood. The goddess was many generations removed now and while Zelda's powers were not weak, they had changed as the divine blood mixed with that of the mortals.

Well, it was hardly his job to awaken that in her, particularly at the age she was. It was not important. Time would tell how their interactions would progress.

As the four of them sat to an ample meal that Link demolished with the appetite of one who is continuously growing, Deity stared at the princess as she talked, mentioning some sort of holiday coming up soon.  He could tell she remained concerned but every interaction between himself and Link brought more peace to her face.  His odd bond to his mortal son gave her relief that his presence did not. How very, very strange.  Had something with the Protectors changed that made them something to fear instead of revere?  By the time they had finished eating and retreated out to the gardens for play, she was almost friendly with him.

That changed immediately as the royal messenger appeared. Deity missed Zelda's interactions with the servant as he scolded his son for disobeying the rules of engagement but he did notice the stress that settled around the girl immediately. 

There was something wrong with the King of Hyrule. 

Deity frowned, trying to understand. He ignored his son's complaints about the snowball fight, though privately acknowledged he would have to gather more data on that sort of battle, and focused on the upcoming meeting with the king.  If Zelda had been fearful of him, would her father be as well? That might be what was causing her sudden spike of nerves. She had recognised what he was and there was no reason to believe the king wouldn't.  Perhaps it was for the best that his essence was still so tightly wound. For now, he would maintain that so as not to cause undo strife.  This was for Link's benefit, after all.

When Deity finally stood before the king, he smiled mildly down at the man, feeling the suspicion that rolled off of him like waves. Interesting.  And worrying.  The king did not recognise him.

Zelda's voice was small in the silence between the two.  "This is Link's father."

"Oh? I’m glad our hero has managed to find someone to care for him.  Of course, we offered, but he never stuck around for long.  Tell me, where do you hail from?"  Lorsham's voice was so mild, so perfunctory, that the Deity knew he was having some sort of effect on the man but not nearly as much of one as he should have.  Now seemed the time for deflection and the answer came easily to his lips.

"Ikana."   Of course, it wasn't the full truth but he had been there for so many thousands of years it might as well be true now.  Only one person here even knew what that place was and looked up at him with a startled jump. 

"Oh, what brought you here?"

"It was Link."  Deity smirked internally at the looks on all three of the faces below him.  This was fun, in an odd way.  His ploy was working, at least, and he kept his face serenely blank.

"You came…for Link?"

"Of course. He is my son."

Ah, the pure confusion on the king's face. He had learned absolutely nothing from this conversation and that was the way the Deity wanted it to be.  He would need to study Lorsham much more after this to fully understand the man's motivations.  There was that festival the princess mentioned, though it would depend on if Link wanted to go.

"Well, it’s good that you are here then.  We were worried about him after the whole mess with Ganondorf.  It’s still a problem, you see.  So I worry about unknown people within our borders."

"As you should."  Deity couldn't help but exude a sense of satisfaction that the king looked immediately pleased with, like a child who had received praise from a beloved parent.  The man immediately tried to hide it and in the quiet places in his mind, Deity laughed. 

"Well! It’s good to finally meet you.  Zelda, you still have lessons this evening so if you would see your guests out, we can move on with our day."

Just like that, the audience was done, the trio moving through quiet halls devoid of the whispering servants. Link spared glances back at his dad, trying to figure out what just happened back there, and coming up with more questions than answers.  The god merely smiled down at him as Zelda spoke with quiet haste of his father being capable and kissed him on the cheek while his attentions were elsewhere.  He froze, emotions suddenly in a jumble at his feet.  Previously he would have jumped for joy at any sign of affection from Zelda but now?  Now it was merely a muted warmth.  This didn't help at all; he was more confused than he had been before he came!  He barely even noticed the invitation Zelda slipped in his pocket as he walked away from the castle, leaving the whispering behind.

As the father and son headed to the stables, each quiet with their own thoughts, high on one of the castle's turrets a presence watched them go.  It was not exactly there, nor was it a ghost or poe.  Once the two had passed by completely and were riding off through the snow in Hyrule Field, only then did the presence fade into being, fully visible for any who would ever bother to look. 

A dark-skinned woman with black hair and blue Goddess marks around her powerful eyes looked out over the Field towards the Lost Woods.  She frowned, her face briefly confused, then annoyed.  There was a puzzle here, one she didn't understand, and it vexed her greatly.  There was a moment where a choice was laid out before her, where she could go after them and explain or she could search out an answer elsewhere.  Weighted options sat on the tips of her long ears and she had a brief, infuriating moment of indecision.  When she moved again, it was to turn towards her home, a muttered curse on her breath.

With a song on her lips, Aevum, the Goddess of Time, spun away from the pair even as the myriad of tiny lights carried her back to her temple.