Work Text:
Finally, after several weeks slogging through the middle of nowhere in the rain, a new portal appeared, giving the Chain a well-needed break. Their latest trip dropped them within a short walk of Legend’s Castle Town and it was quickly decided that they needed to restock some things.
Wild had gone with Hyrule to restock on potions, and Legend and Twi decided to tag along as supervision. It hadn’t taken long, with this being the Vet’s Hyrule, and they decided to head towards the central fountain early just in case the others arrived back early as well.
Wild was relaxing into Twilight’s side when it happened. Wild was on his feet looking around as a child screamed, cutting off into choked sobs. He finally spotted the commotion, as a pair of guards rounded the corner, dragging a child with tears dripping down their face.
Twilight was on his feet too, and they both moved to intervene, but he never made it a step before his vision faded and a memory dragged him under.
—----------------------------------------------------
His dad’s face was pale as the pretty flowers Link had spotted on the path, and he was mad about something and sent him home to his mother, where he stayed for a few weeks, but in the end it didn't matter.
Late one night, there was someone beating on the door, so Link's mom told him to hide in the cellar while she answered. Link hid, and listened as his mom begged whoever it was to come back tomorrow.
He couldn't stay out any longer when he heard her scream. Link burst from his hiding spot, to find the front door knocked off its hinges and his mother kneeling in the grass outside.
It was one of his dad's friends, a captain from the guard who held her there, a fist wrapped in her hair.
“Mom!” He screamed, running toward her, before a hand wrapped around his arm.
“Is it true, boy? Did you draw the sword?”
“Link, don't answer them!”
“Shut up!” The captain snarled, backhanding her.
“If you ever want your mom to be free, then I suggest you answer quickly, child. Did you draw the sword or not?"
Link nodded slowly, staring at his mother's face where a bruise was starting to form.
"Go get it."
Link shuffled his way back inside, a guard on his heels as he made his way back down to the cellar again. Lifting the lid on a crate, he carefully grabbed the bundle of cloth inside, laying it down.
The guard quickly drew his knife, cutting the bindings away, revealing the sword. "That's all the proof we need."
The guard grabbed the scabbard and roughly shoved it in Link's hands before dragging him back outside. There were several people from the village outside now, including the mayor who was demanding to know what was going on.
The moment Link was spotted holding the sword, a hush fell.
"The hero prophesied to defeat the Calamity has been found!"
Several townspeople looked sick, staring in horror at him. Link was confused. Wasn't being a hero a good thing, like in his Mama's bedtime stories?
The guard who had held onto his arm earlier let go to grab the reins of one of the horses, setting him in the saddle before swinging up behind him.
“Where are we going?” He whispered.
“You're heading to the castle to meet the Princess and start your training. Now hush for a minute, Captain ain't done yet." He snapped.
"Now, we still have business that needs to be taken care of. This woman and her husband have committed conspiracy against the kingdom by trying to hide the Hero, and have been charged with high treason.”
The townspeople cried out, outraged, before a loud bang of a sword echoing off a shield silenced them once more.
"The kingdom doesn't tolerate traitors, and an example has already been made in Castletown of what happens when you defy the King. It seems this village needs an example as well."
The guard leveled a sword at his mother's throat, and Link thrashed, screaming for her before an iron grip clamped down around him and a hand went over his mouth.
Moonlight glinted off of steel in a flash as his mother dropped to the ground with a scream.
"This is your only warning. If anyone dares to defy their King again, including an attempt to hide the Hero, their punishment will be far worse."
The guard sheathed his sword, signaling for the rest to mount up. Link stared at his mom, watching her breathing slow to a stop as silent tears made their way down his face.
When he woke up, the guard and the kid were long gone, and Twilight was kneeling in front of him. Wild felt hot tear tracks running down his face.
“Cub? Are you with us again?”
Wild ignored the question, instead looking at Legend. "What's gonna happen to that kid?"
Legend started. "What? What are you asking about a thief for?"
“Just answer the question, Vet." sighed Time. "I would like to know as well what his fate would be."
"Typically, they'll get put in a cell by themselves until their parents come to pick them up. If no one comes, then they're considered wards of the state and eventually drafted into the military when they're old enough."
Wild chuckled darkly. "Well, at least they wait until they're older. I was worried for a second about what kind of Queen Fable is if it was anything like my Hyrule."
The chain stared at him in horror.
"Champion, what on earth are you talking about?" Legend asked.
"Apparently, before the calamity, there was no age restriction. I was too young when I drew the Sword, so my parents tried to hide me, and my mother was executed in front of me as a traitor when they found us."
Silence reigned for a moment, before Time finally spoke. "Just how old were you when you found her?"
"I was six.”