Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The room darkens again, the sound of an ocarina fills the room. Time feels a sense of dread as a horse and its rider rides across the screen by a castle.

"Is this you Twilight?" Wind asks. Twilight shakes his head.

"I live in Ordon Wind, which is outside of Hyrule proper." He said gently.

"The Ocarina is a whispered legend to a few of us."

"Well, it's not me, Sky, Four, or Wild.”

“And why can’t it not be about me?” Four asks drily. Wind gives a look.

“You suck at the ocarina,” he says bluntly-Legend, Warriors, and Twilight have to choke back a laugh while Wild had no compunctions and laughed- while continuing, “can't be Hyrule since he’s said that his kingdom is not in the best shape, Legend would’ve been the one cursing about time,-”

“are you sure about that?” Legend said under his breath,

“-and Warriors is a city boy who's been a captain and not done our type of questing, so it has to be one of you two." Wind looks proud of himself for his deduction skills.

Ocarina of Time blazes across the screen.

Time and Twilight share a look. Time sighs.

"Looks like it's me." Everyone leans forward in anticipation. They can never figure out whether Time is joking or not when it comes to his quest.

In the vast, deep forest of Hyrule, long have I served as the guardian spirit…

Time can feel himself going pale.

I am known as the Deku Tree.

"You okay Time?" Twilight whispers. Time clenches his hands together to stop them from shaking.

The children of the forest, the Kokiri, live here with me. Each Kokiri has his or her own guardian fairy. However, there is one boy who does not have a fairy. The screen lightens enough to see a young boy on the screen sleeping and shivering. The scene changes to castle walls. A white horse comes running as the drawbridge lowers. A child Time looks at it with a fairy hovering near his head, the bridge dropping in front of him.

“You’re so small Time!” Wind gasps. Time just gives the teen an amused look.

At Warriors cooing, Time gives him a menacing glare which the Captain ignores, to the awe of the younger heroes.

The horse gallops by with a young girl and an adult, Sheikah looking rider. The girl looks behind in fright. Time looks behind and nearly stumbles in shock. He turns fully around to see a black horse carrying a dark skinned man with flaming red hair.

Legend, Twilight, and Wind all hiss at the man.

"Ganandorf." They all growl in their minds. Wild can’t help but stare at the figure while Hyrule stares at the screen in shock. That was what Ganon used to look like?

Four wonders if Ganon’s a bigger threat as a man than the pure darkness he fought.

Ganandorf smiles darkly and brings a hand up to point at the young Time who stares in shock. Everything turns white.

"Was that a vision?" Warriors asks. He is mentally screaming over little Mask going up against Ganon by himself with next to no help from what Darunia said once. He feels like there's going to be alcohol broken out soon.

"It was." Time said shortly.

“Navi…Navi, where art thou? Come hither…” A blue fairy flies to a tree.

"Is that a Deku tree?" Four asks as a gigantic tree enters the picture with a face. He's never seen one before but has heard of them from some of the others.

"Yes Four." Wild said shortly, his own memories of his Deku tree coming to the forefront, and fights off a scowl.

Wind tilts his head in curiosity, wondering if this is the same deku tree as his.

Time stares at Navi with an aching longing.

Twilight looks at the tree in curiosity. Even though the Faron Woods is ancient, he’s never heard of a Deku Tree before.

“Oh Navi the fairy…Listen to my words, the words of the Deku Tree…Does thou sense it? The climate of evil descending upon this realm…Malevolent forces even now are mustering to attack our land of Hyrule…”

Everyone tenses at those words. Sky can't help but clench a fist. Time is young, too young to bear this burden. Why couldn't someone else take the task? He turns back, the words burning into his mind as he reads quickly not wanting to miss a single letter as he also listens.

“For so long, the Kokiri Forest, the source of life, has stood as a barrier, deterring outsiders and maintaining the order of the world…But…before this tremendous evil, even my power is as nothing…”

Everyone turns to Time.

"What does the Deku Tree mean by maintaining the order of the world?" Time thinks about it.

"It's probably related to the Kokiri Emerald."

"Kokiri Emerald?" Legend said sharply.

"We'll get to it soon." Legend gives a short nod, not willing to let this go.

“It seems the time has come for the boy without a fairy to begin his journey. The youth whose destiny is to lead Hyrule to the path of justice and truth…”

Twilight springs to his feet and storms out of the room, hands in fists.

"What's up with him?" Legend asks.

"Nothing good." Four doesn't take his eyes off the door in worry. 

Twilight wants to growl, whine, anything to get those words out of his head as he whacks the training dummy with a blunted sword. The path of truth and justice? It leads to Times death and many regrets! He's never going to live peacefully with Miss Malon on Lon Lon Ranch like Time wants, nor have a family to look after. Twilight doesn't notice the tears until they're falling. He takes deep breaths. If his story is coming after, everyone will know that Time died a tragic death. He himself is still trying to figure out if this quest will kill him or if something else will. All he knows is that until Malon is pregnant, Time is technically safe. He kneels in the middle of the room with his hands still clenched tightly, trying to clear the red from his vision.

“You alright Rancher?” Twilight’s head jerks up to see the Captain standing by the doorframe. Twilight grits his teeth and looks at the Captain. “I’ll take that as a no then.” He strides in and looks at the Rancher’s appearance.

“Path of justice and truth,” Twilight spat out. “Biggest load of horse shit I’ve ever heard,” he growls. Warriors let out a whistle.

“Tell me how you really feel,” he says drily. Twilight gives a dirty look.

“I’ve seen the aftermath of the so-called justice,” the Ranchers ball his fists.

“I know you’ll see some of it too when we get to my journey.”

“Want to tell me now, or wait because I’m pretty sure the Old Man wants this done quickly.” Twilight pauses before nodding, striding from the room. Warriors grabs his arm.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” he asks quietly.

“I’ll be fine,” was the equally quiet answer.

"Just needed to get that out of my system."

Warriors can’t help but snort, earning him a dirty look for it. They head back into the room where Wild is watching his mentor with concern. Twilight sits down again and Time turns to him.

“Are you alright?” He asks. Twilight gives a short nod and doesn’t say anything. Time holds in a sigh and the screen begins again.

“Navi…go now! Find our young friend and guide him to me. I do not have much time left.”

Time is reminded bitterly that it didn’t matter how fast he cleaned out the monsters, the Deku Tree was going to die anyway.

“Fly, Navi, fly! The fate of the forest, nay, the world, depends upon thee!” Navi quickly flies away to a small village. Children are everywhere, each having their own fairy.

“Where are the adults?” Four ask.

“These are the Kokiri, the immortal children. The only adult in the sense of the word is the Deku Tree.”

“But, aren’t you mortal?” Wind asks. Time gives an amused smile but doesn’t answer.

"Hello!" Navi squeaks as she knocks into a fence before shaking herself and keeps flying.

Everyone cringes. That must’ve hurt.

The fairy flies into a tree house where a young Time is still sleeping.

"Hello Link, wake up! The great Deku Tree wants to talk to you!" Time doesn’t move. "Link, get up!" Time flops back on his bed.

The younger teens all giggle at this while Warriors and Twilight quietly snicker.

"Hey! C'mon! Can Hyrule’s destiny really depend on such a lazy boy?"

Eight pairs of eyes turn to Sky.

"So it’s hereditary." Legend says solemnly. Sky turns cherry red in embarrassment. Time gives a light (if slightly forceful) laugh, putting a hand on the Chosen's shoulder.

"It’s alright Sky."

Navi bounces around until Time finally gets up. Rubbing his eyes he quickly swings his legs over the bed and stares at the fairy.

Time won't admit that he thought he would never get a fairy and would forever be the odd one out of the village.

Warriors holds in his coo at baby Time staring at the fairy in awe.

“The Great Deku Tree asked me to be your partner from now on! Nice to meet you!” Time still says nothing, in shock that he has a fairy talking to him, and wants to be partners with him!

“The Great Deku Tree has summoned you! So let’s get going right now!”

“Bossy isn’t she,” Wind says with a grin. Time is just staring, taking in the sight of his old friend, oblivious to the world around him.

Time hops off the bed and sprints out of the tree where a young girl runs up to see him, a fairy fluttering by her head.

“Yahoo! Hi Link!” Time eagerly gets down from his house and runs up to her.

“Finally, a fairy has come to you!” Time nods in pride.

“Wow! That’s great news! I’m so happy for you! Now you’re a true Kokiri Link!”

“You weren’t before?” Twilight asks in puzzlement.

“I wasn’t considered a true child of the forest since I never had a fairy companion,” Time shakes his head.

“Who's the girl?” Wild wonders.

“Saria, she’s my older sister and the one who took care of me growing up.”

“Aww,” Wind coos. Time throws Wind a look for that.

“Wait, wait!” Wild is bouncing as he points at the screen. “Did you carve that?” He asks Time with a childish grin. Time almost wants to sink into the seat for that.

“Aww,” Warriors coos.

“Someone wanted adventure,” Legend smirks.

“What is that monster suppose to be anyway?” Wind tilts his head at it.

“Looks like a lizafoes?” Twilight squints at the carving.

“I’m guessing the Old Man is the one with a stick and that dot at the top is a fairy?”

“It’s a fair guess,” Sky says with a small smile. Time just glowers at them all.

“I’d like to see you all carve in a tree,” he huffs.

“Bet.” Legend says blandly.

“I’m going to see the Deku Tree.”

“Is that right? The Great Deku Tree has summoned you?” Saria asks in surprise.

“It’s quite an honour to talk with the Great Deku Tree!”

“So…”

“It’s like talking with the nobility or Princess Zelda,” Time explains. Everyone’s confusion clears up after that.

“I’ll wait for you here. Get going! Go see the Great Deku Tree!” Time nods happily and takes off with a little skip in his step following Navi.

Wild watches in delight as the Old Man turns pink in embarrassment while Warriors coos again, making Time flush further.

“So you weren't always this grumpy then,” Legend says with a sly smile.

Time heads towards the archway that leads to the Deku Tree where he see’s someone blocking it.

“Mido,” Time says with a small amount of exasperated fondness.

“I take it he wasn’t a favourite of yours?” Warriors asks. Time can’t help the small snort that escapes him.

“More like he hated all the time I spent with Saria, and mocking me for not having a fairy,” Warriors frowns at this, not liking the implications that come with it.

“Hey you! "Mr. No Fairy!" What's your business with the Great Deku Tree? Without a fairy, you're not even a real man!”

Small growls are heard around the room at that.

“I’ll show you a real man,” Wind seethes, cracking his knuckles, adding Mido to The List.

“No need for that Sailor,” Time says sternly.

“But-”

“It’s fine .” Time says firmly.

“This was years ago.” Wind grumbles at that and glares at the screen instead.

“I have a fairy and the Deku Tree did summon me!” Time says angrily.

“What?! You've got a fairy?!” Mido sputters before looking up and seeing Navi.

“Little slow?” Legend asks. Time gives Legend a withering look.

He finally processed the rest of what Time said.

“Say what? The Great Deku Tree actually summoned you? Whaaaaaaat?! Why would he summon you and not the great Mido? This isn't funny…” He grumbles.

“Sometimes you don’t want to be singled out,” Twilight sighs.

Mido peers over Time’s shoulder and looks at the bare tunic.

“I don't believe it! You aren't even fully equipped yet! How do you think you're going to help the Great Deku Tree without both a sword and shield ready?”

“You don’t have any either,” Time points out.

Warriors lets out a small snort.

Mido twists and turns.

“What? You're right. I don't have my equipment ready, but... If you want to pass through here, you should at least equip a sword and shield! Sheesh!”

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he was concerned for you,” Hyrule says. Time lets out a ghost of a smile.

“You could say that.”

Time frowns and huffs off, picking up green rupees in the tall grass every time he kicks one as he heads back towards Saria.

Four can't help but think that the Minish love this area with how many Time is finding already.

Saira gives him a questioning look.

“Mido wouldn’t let me pass,” he sulks.

“What?! Mido won't let you go to see the Great Deku Tree?” Saria is aghast before screwing up her face.

“Ohh...That bum!”

Wind lets out a snicker at the insult. It sounds like something his sister would say.

“I don't know why he's always so mean to everyone! What he said is true, though. The forest...strange things have been happening here lately... You need to be ready for anything. You'd better find a weapon! You can buy a shield at the shop, but there is only one sword hidden somewhere in the forest.”

“Strange?” Sky asks, turning to Time. Time shakes his head.

“The Deku Tree will explain when I see him but it doesn’t have anything to do with the black blooded monsters.”

“Are we sure,” Warriors says under his breath. Twilight and Legend glance over at him with a thoughtful look.

Time looks over towards the shop and then remembers he only has four rupees which won’t get him anything. So he decides to hunt around to try and find some. He heads towards Mido’s house where another Kokiri is trying to lift a rock.

Time shakes his head with a fond smile.

“One of the Know It All Brothers.”

“Is that seriously what they call themselves?” Four stares at Time, who just smiles. Four’s brain fritz’s and he shakes his head at that. “Not touching it.” he says firmly.

“Mean old Mido...he made me pick up the rocks in front of his house,” he grumbles. Time grabs one and throws it, hoping a rupee will appear.

“Not that lucky,” Twilight says with a smirk. He loses it when Time finds four green rupees from the rocks breaking.

Time looks up at the bridge and notices a blue rupee at the end. Following the bridge, he heads towards Saria’s house, noticing the second Know It All Brother staring at the long grass in front of the house.

“ That meanie, Mido, made me cut the grass at Saria's house. Mido told Saria he would do it so she would like him, but I'm the one doing all the work! You and Saria are close friends, so will you help me cut the grass? I'll let you keep anything that you find while cutting it.” Time just stares at him before he races up the ramp where he can see the blue rupee.

Legend bursts out laughing at the stunt.

“Old Man, I love little you,” he says while he mimes wiping a tear.

Carefully heading towards it, Time snatches it before he froze, noticing Fado just looking at him, her fairy dancing around her head.

Wild can’t help but cackle.

“Awesome awareness there!”

“How much are your rupees?” Hyrule asks. Time hymns.

“The green is one and the blue is five so far.”

“So it’s the same as Sky’s then,” Legend says thoughtfully.

“So far.”

“Hee hee hee! You came all the way up here! You’re a real man!” Fado says gleefully.

“Look! Isn’t this view pretty?”

“It does look nice,” Twilight admits. It reminds him of the grotto’s and the enclosed area near Ordon.

Hyrule can only sighs wistfully at the peaceful forest, hoping he can help make his just as peaceful eventually and the water safe.

Time jumps off the post and runs towards the other entrance where Mido isn’t at. Instead, another of the Know it All Brother’s is there.

“You're not allowed to leave the forest! The Great Deku Tree said that if a Kokiri leaves the woods, he or she will die!”

“What?!” Everyone yelps. Eight heads swivel to look at Time who holds up his hands.

“It has to do with the Deku Tree magic, something I know next to nothing about.” He says shortly.

“Is that what you meant by immortal?” Legend asks.

“It sounds like they’ll just grow up if they leave the forest,” Four muses. Time shakes his head. They’ll eventually learn. Leave as a child but return as an adult, you’re signing your death sentance to enternally be bound to the land, never moving on.

Time backs up before walking around, eventually wandering into Mido’s house, ignoring the sign that says: House of the Great Mido Boss of the Kokiri and finding chests. His fingers itch. Looking won’t hurt, would it?

Legend lets out a loud cackle at baby Time opening chests and finding more blue rupees.

“That’s one way to get back at him!”

Time heads back out and goes behind Mido’s house, finding another blue rupee. Time runs around all the grass finding green rupees before finding himself in front of the streams. Time looks at the sign. Stepping Stones in the Pond: If you boldly go in the direction you want to jump, you will leap automatically. If you hop around on the stones, you'll become happier! Deciding why not, Time skips and hops across the stones and a blue rupee appears by his feet.

Wild is sulking at this. He could’ve made so much money that way!!

Trying it with the other pond, Time is delighted to have another blue rupee. He bumps into another Kokiri who looks up at Navi.

“Oh, you have a fairy now?! That's great, Link!”

“I’ve been called to the Deku Tree.” Time puffs out his chest with a smile.

“Adorable,” Wind whispers, remembering Aryll doing things like that too.

“What? You've been called by the Great Deku Tree? What an honor! He may give you a special gift! Tee hee! That's because the Great Deku Tree is our father, the forest guardian, and he gave life to all of us Kokiri!” She pauses. “I wonder if the Great Deku tree gave life to everything in the forest, I mean in addition to us Kokiri?”

Legend is making mental notes and hopes that his questions will be answered. If not, Time isn’t going to like his pestering.

Time heads into the shop where a Kokiri girl saddles up beside him.

“ This shop...It sells things you can get in the forest for free! Tee hee!”

“At least she’s honest,” Legend says drily.

Time looks around the shop, seeing arrows, deku nuts, sticks, deku seeds, and the deku shield.

“I’ll take the shield.”

“That’ll be forty rupees.” Time cringes as he hands over the money, but happily takes the shield.

“What about a sword?” Time asks as he puts the shield on his back.

“We sell shields, not swords!”

“That’s not a good shop.” Warriors says in offense.

“No offense Captain, but most of us never had to buy a sword.”

“Seriously?” He looks at the others. Wild just shrugs.

“I get mine off monsters.”

“Mine’s from Rusl.”

“I made mine.”

“Knight Academy.”

“Made, trade, given, rent.”

“Given, then upgrade.”

“Given.” Time just smiles as Warriors throws up his hands.

Time screws up his nose before leaving. Time thinks about where he can get a sword. He’s never seen a Kokiri with a sword before. Thinking on what Saria said, he decides to try his luck up past the Know It All Brother’s house. Time bumps into another Kokiri as he’s heading up the large hill.

"You're just running into everyone aren't you," Sky says drolly.

“ Oh, a fairy finally came to you! Now you have a lot to learn! The best place to go to learn some new skills is in the Forest Training Center. It's on the hill just above here.”

“Forest Training Center?” Sky tilts his head.

“Just an area to help us adjust to having a fairy,” Time waves off, biting his tongue for everyone’s reactions.

Time heads on up, passing another sign that says: Forest Training Center: Don't recklessly cut signs--read them carefully!

Wind and Wild look away and give a little whistle.

Time looks around before spotting the small tunnel he crawls through.

“Sailor, Smithy and Traveler would be the only ones to fit,” Legend tilts his head.

“You might,” Twilight retorts. Legend shrugs.

“It’s possible.”

Time stands up and looks around, finding a blue rupee at the end and taking off through the maze. Time sprints through the long grass and summersaults out of the way of a massive boulder.

“That…”

“That thing is huge!” Wind blurts out. Time looks at the looks with amusement, a grin crawling onto his face. Warriors points his finger at him.

“I knew there was a reason for your chaos!” He hisses. The Old Man grew up with it!

“I don’t know what you mean Captain,” Time says easily. Warriors shoots a glare at him.

“Do I want to know?” Twilight asks.

“Probably not,” he sulks.

“That looks like fun!” Wild says happily. Twilight holds in a groan.

“No dropping oversized boulders on us.” He says.

“Monsters are fine but I draw the line with us.”

“That’s fine” The fever gleam in his eyes say nothing good about this outcome.

Time sprints around the corner and finds a massive chest. He pushes it open and jumps to see what’s inside.

Sky couldn’t stop the coo coming from him, watching baby Time dangle half in and out of the chest. Time’s hand twitches, refraining from rubbing his face at this.

The Kokiri Sword: This is a hidden treasure of the Kokiri, but you can borrow it for a while. Be sure to practice with it before you really fight! Time takes the sword and turns, finding the boulder rolling past him once again. He runs behind it, looking for the entrance he came from, his foot being nearly crushed when he takes a wrong turn and the boulder goes past him.

Warriors gives a minute flinch at that.

He heads through the tunnel and decides to try the sword out on the grass, thrusting, swiping, and doing an overhead strike. Doing this also with the shield and backflipping, Time feels confident enough to leave.

“You don’t backflip anymore,” Wild says, judgement heavy in his voice.

“I’m a little old for that now,” Time deadpans.

“No excuse, I’m older than you.” Time gives a flat look and shakes his head at the teenager.

Time once again stomps towards Mido, the Kokiri sword and shield in hand. Mido looks at him with derision.

“If you want to see the Great Deku Tree, you should at least equip a sword and shield!” Time gives Mido a flat look and turns on his heel so Mido can see them on his back. “Eh, what’s that?! Oh, you have a deku shield…” he looks closer. “And what’s THAT?! Is that the Kokiri Sword?!” Time nods happily. “GOOD GRIEF!!” Mido looks away and taps his foot in aggravation, his fairy fluttering around his head in worry. “Well,” he says, trying to regain his footing, “even with all that stuff, a wimp is still a wimp, huh?” Mido stands up tall, his eyesight looking at Time’s forehead.

“I, the great Mido, will never accept you as one of us!”

Twilight couldn’t help the small flinch at those words, remembering the cruelty of children because of his ears and funny accent that he worked so hard to get rid of, only to turn around and head back to Hyrule and have the exact same problem again.

“How did you get to be the favourite of Saria and the Great Deku Tree? Huh?!” Mido stomps off in anger, leaving the way open for Time to run through. Navi flies above his head as Time heads through the forest, sword flashing and swinging through the stems of the dekubabas, leaving long sticks for him to carry. In his enthusiasm, Time over reached and the dekubaba clips him on the shoulder.

Sky and Twilight cringe at that.

He grabs all the sticks and heads to the clearing where the Deku Tree stands tall.

“Oh Navi, Thou hast returned. Link, welcome.” The Deku Tree’s voice deepens, a sense of urgency to convey his words.

“I don’t like this,” Wind says with unease.

“Listen carefully to what I, the Deku Tree, am about to tell thee… thy slumber these past few months must have been restless, and full of nightmares. As the servants of evil gain  strength, a vile climate pervades the land and causes nightmares to those sensitive to it…” Time looks at the Deku Tree in surprise.

Legend and Hyrule plot to get the Old Man to test his magic against theirs.

“Verily, thou hast felt it... Link... The time has come to test thy courage... I have been cursed... I need you to break the curse with your wisdom and courage.”

Twilight frowns at the absence of power. Power is useful, however over using it leads to Ganandorf, who’s ambition ruined him.

Wind is also frowning as courage and wisdom are good, but power to back it up helps tremendously.

“Dost thou have courage enough to undertake this task?” Time doesn’t even have to think about it.

“Yes.” The Deku Tree’s trunk parts in an opening large enough for Time to run in. The Deku Tree’s parting words echo in the meadow.

“Then enter, brave Link, and thou too, Navi...Navi the fairy... Thou must aid Link... and Link...When Navi speaks, listen well to her words of wisdom.” Time enters into the Deku Tree, sword in hand and ready to face whatever evil that may come.

Everyone stares at Time.

"Your dad was a tree." Warriors said flatly. Time just looks at the screen with a small nostalgic smile.

"Your dad... was a tree. "

"Yes Captain." Time is now looking at him in amusement. Legend has his head in his hands.

“He wasn’t kidding about that.” Hyrule heard the muffled words and holds back a snigger.

Twilight just groans, realizing that Time wasn’t kidding the one time they all asked.

Chapter Text

“Here,” Sky tosses the book and the charcoal at him. Time catches it and opens the book looking for a fresh page. He looks at Sky’s format and writes Time’s Quest with a tiny mark beside it that could be mistaken for a smudge, but is really a one. Under it, he writes Deku Tree and can’t help his heart feeling heavier already, before writing everyone down for it. He allows a ghost of a smile when he writes out Pup, Captain, Wild Child, Sailor, Sky, Smithy, Veteran, and Traveler under the line.

“Everyone ready? Warriors calls out.

“Looks like it,” Wind says.

Time looks around the inside of the Deku Tree, noticing large spider webs everywhere, dekubaba’s growing in the ground as well.

“Pretty sure that’s not a healthy tree,” Wind scrunches up his nose at it.

“Whatever gave you that idea?” Wild asks sarcastically.

He quickly kills them and grabs the deku nuts that fall from it. Time grabs his shield and brings it out, using it to block the vicious plant from biting him. After killing three plants, Time looks around, walking near the walls when Navi says, “Look at this wall!” Time looks at it, noticing the vines growing on it.

“The vines growing on it gives it a rough surface. Maybe you can climb it Link!” Time keeps looking and spots a ladder he climbs instead-

“Surprised you didn’t immediately climb it,” Warriors snarks, memories flashing through his head. Time just shrugs.

-and finds he’ll have to jump in a couple spots if he wants to keep on going upwards. He keeps going until he finds a chest near a wall.

“Skulltula!” Navi cries. Time looks up and see’s massive spiders on the wall.

Several shudder, hating most spiders after either bosses that were arachnoids, or just large skulltula’s in general.

Time nods to himself before climbing into the chest, and finding a map.

Warriors holds in his coo at Time, not wanting to deal with the younger teen’s snickering.

Looking at the Skulltulas, Time figures he can’t reach them with his sticks or the deku nuts, so he keeps walking higher up the ring.

“I feel like there’s going to be an item around here somewhere.” Wind squints.

“Slingshot?” Hyrule guesses.

“Most likely I’d say.” Twilight adds in.

Entering into a room, he stumbles back with a gasp, doubled over from the pain.

Warriors and Twilight sit up straighter, worried about what just happened.

He looks up and see’s a deku scrub aiming right at him.

They relax. A deku scrub is nothing to really worry about.

Taking his shield, Time lines it up so the next time the deku scrub fired its next deku nut, it would bounce right back. The deku scrub jumps from its place and begins to run around, forcing Time to run after it.

“Ow-ow-ow! Forgive me, master! If I give you a clue, will you let me go?”

“Depends on what you give,” Legend says with a smirk.

Time gives an unimpressed look, stomach probably bruised by now.

“When you jump off a high cliff, you will roll on the ground when you land and won't get hurt from the fall. I can't guarantee it will work, though, if the cliff is really, really high, heh heh! Well, try it if you are feeling bold! Wah ha hah!”

Twilight stares at Wild, daring the wild child to say something. Wild just gives Twilight a sunny look that is giving a withering one in response.

“I’m pretty sure any child would know that,” Wind says, knowing he’s done some stupid stunts out of trees.

“I just like the fact that the deku scrub had to be specific.” Legend grins.

“I take it they were common around?” Twilight asks. Time thinks about it.

“I rarely saw them, but I think Mido and Fado dealt with them more often.” Wind can only think about Fado's name, and the fact he was the wind sage he encountered, wondering if they're the same person, or his Fado was a descendent of Time's Fado instead. Korok's and Kokiri's are a mystery to him regardless. 

The deku scrub disappeared and the grate covering the next door that Time didn’t notice, is gone.

No one had noticed the grate on the door, too worried about little Time to remember it.

Curious now, Time heads through the next door and see’s a large platform hovering over a pit and a large chest at the end. Doing a running leap, Time jumps off the platform as it shakes, getting to the chest. Opening it, he finds the Fairy Slingshot.

Hyrule gives a triumphant smile at guessing the item right.

A grin steals over his face as he thinks about the skulltula’s blocking his path.

Everyone else is also giving evil grins of their own now.

Time looks around and finds a vine wall heading up to a tall ledge. Curious now, he climbs up and finds a small chest with a heart in it.

Twilight can’t help but blink at the sight of random hearts being in chests. He’s only known of heart shards hiding in chests, but this is before his time so maybe things are different.

The bruises from the deku nut heal over and gives him more energy. Grinning, he jumps down to the big chest and turning around, he freezes, noticing that there’s no way to climb back up to the door now that the platform is gone.

“There should be a ladder around there somewhere,” Wind narrows his eyes, looking for said ladder, or any method to get back up after not seeing any vines.

“I would say hanging above then so it can drop,” Four says.

“Look!” Navi cries. She flies over and Time’s eyes travel upwards. “Something is hanging up over there! It looks like an old ladder!” A ladder stuck in spider webs. Time looks at the sling in doubt, wondering if it’s powerful enough to get the ladder down.

Everyone who’s had a slingshot grins. They pack a punch if you can line up the shot just right.

Still…he lines up a seed with where Navi is floating near, and lets go. The ladder shudders before falling in a perfect line where Time can climb back up to the otherside after jumping into the hole.

Wind and Four grin at each other.

Heading back into the main area, he stares up at the skulltula’s while lining up his new slingshot, shooting the deku seed at the spider. He misses the first shot, so takes great care to line up the next. He aims, and fires, watching as the skulltula falls. He does the same to the others before climbing up the vines. When he jumps off the vines and turns around, he see’s spider webs surrounding the platforms. As he walks forward, Time gives a little gasp before jumping backwards.

“It’s a big Skulltula, its soft belly is its weak point!” Navi tells him.

Sky, Twilight, and Wind all cringe at the pest, knowing it’s a pain to get it to turn around without getting hit.

Time is just trying to figure out how to make it turn around as its armour is facing him. He takes a step forward. The skulltula turns around and with confidence, he strides up with his sword out when the spider turns around, knocking him to the ground.

Everyone hisses at the hit. That would’ve hurt.

Time grits his teeth as he stands, face burning red with humiliation.

“We all had to start somewhere,” Legend says with sympathy.

“Doesn’t help with how small you are,” Sky says with a large frown on his face. He looks to be about the size of Four at the time, and Four is barely taller than the Master Sword. So how did Time pull it, let alone use it? He’s almost afraid of the answer.

Now it’s personal. He tries three more times and each time he gets whacked away, while once he tried to hit the skulltula and it just waved from side to side before sending him on his backside.

Sky frowns at this.

“Either the Old Man can wait for it to turn, or maybe slash at it to turn.”

“Already tried the slashing, so maybe will have to wait for it to turn itself,” Wind pipes up.

‘Think, think,’ Time furrows his brows trying to think of a way to get the monster to turn without smacking him again. Drawing his sword, he slowly walks up and the skulltula decides to wrench itself up and out of Time’s reach.

Warrior’s can’t help but snicker at Time’s little face desperately trying not to scream in frustration.

Time takes out his shield and walks slowly towards it and keeps his eyes on the monster as it descends upon him. Time backs up a little and the next time it spins, the shield takes the brunt of the damage. Time, having a bit more courage now, swings his sword and swings at it until the skulltula is forced around and Time stabs it until it dies.

The teens give a small cheer as the monster disintegrates. Warriors can’t help the proud look on his face as his little Sprite defeats the other skulltula’s around the webbing.

He looks up and notices a door entering his vision. Deciding to leave the little skulltula’s for now, he enters the next room where the door is barred once again.

“Gotta love that,” Twilight said with exasperated fondness. Wind gives him a disgusted look.

“What’s wrong with you?” Twilight raises an eyebrow.

“Throwing rock are we?” He teases.

“I have common sense.” He says haughtily. Legend and Four couldn’t hold in their snorts. Wind glares at them before Four raises his pillow again in a silent threat.

Time lets out a sigh. Seems like Four hasn’t forgotten about the damn pillow threat.

Looking around, he notes two torches, with one unlit, two steep ledges, one holding a chest and the other where Time can’t see inside.

“Need to light the one.”

"That's pretty obvious Vet."

The ground is also formed peculiarly. Time grabs his deku stick and sticks it in the fire before running over to light up the next torch. The grate lifts, but that doesn’t help Time.

Legend scoffs.

“We need the chest before even thinking about leaving that room.”

“We?” Twilight teases. Legend gives a flat look.

Putting it away after waving the fire out, Time looks around, trying to figure out what to do next.

“Is that a button on the ground?” Legend squints his eyes, “it looks like a button to me.”

“I would say yes Vet.”

“It will either make a platform, or have the ground grow.”

Time finds the button and steps on it, a small ticking noise in the background begins as three mounds of earth rise up.

Time gives a small shudder at the ticking noise, a moon and colourful mask coming into his mind.

Time jumps onto the first one and looks over to the ledge that was blocked, seeing a chest there. He goes to jump for it when a skulltula comes down from the ceiling and spins right as the child jumps, throwing him into the ledge. Time groans and gets up as the monster hulls itself back up. Time growls at it before turning back and seeing a tiny skulltula, he brings up his sword and destroys it. A small, golden tolken is left behind which he grabs.

Legend blinks at the shiny gold token, wondering what it can be used for. If nothing else, it’s very shiny.

Time finally goes to the small chest and kicks it open, revealing a heart that heals his injuries. Grinning, Time turns back and finds the ground is flat once again. He jumps down and finds vines crawling up to the original ledge, where he jumps on the switch again and heads to the farthest ledge with the large chest. Crawling in it, he digs out a compass that he puts on his map that now shows where the chests are.

“Helpful,” Warriors says in astonishment. Twilight gives Sky a withering look, who gives back a sunny one.

“This is what the rest of us had to deal with,” he said flatly. Sky can only grin and shrug, knowing he’ll get pummeled with pillows if he implies that Hylia likes him more by giving him a map with a compass in it.

"I'm surprised there's no need for keys," Hyrule says thoughtfully. 

"It's a tree." Wild says flatly. The teens all stare at him.

"It's obvious you've never done a dungeon crawl," Wind says sagely. Wild frowns at him.

"I've done the Divine Beasts!" He says hotly. 

"Let's not get into this right now," Warriors says, breaking up the tension. 

"I'm sure we all want to get through this before nightfall."

Heading back out, Time can’t help but stare at the floating heart in the middle if the tree, forcing him to fall if he goes after it.

Twilight, Hyrule, Wind, Legend, and Wild couldn’t stop the little giggles escaping them at Time’s wide and obsessed eyes.

Warriors can’t hold in the groan. He knows Sprite is going to go after the heart with no regrets. Wild and Wind are trying not to vibrate on the floor in anticipation.

“This should be good,” Legend snickers. Indeed, Time takes a running leap and catches the heart, which dissipates quickly, his look has the boys cackling in laughter while Wild tries to hold in his laughter as Time flails around, dropping through the dense spider webbing on the floor, hitting the water pretty hard.

Twilight and Wind cringe at that, knowing how hard water is when you hit it too hard.

Time swims to the nearest ledge and hauls himself up, clothes soaked and is now shivering. There’s an unlit torch and a button on the floor, with a chest behind dense webbing that his sword can’t get through with no fire nearby.

“No way to light it,” Wind mutters to himself.

“Unless it’s the button,” Hyrule says, squinting his eyes. “I say platform,” he crosses his arms.

“There’s a block across the water that can be used,” Twilight points out.

Looking to his right there’s a lower area with a dekubaba in front of a heavily webbed door that is probably his way out. Looking across the water, Time tries to jump across but comes up short by a few feet.

“Need a platform or get through the door then,” Twilight says, his eyes scanning the area.

Swimming back to the first area he dried off in, Time looks at the small skulltula and decides to use his slingshot to get it. To his delight, a shiny gold token is left behind. Jumping into the water, he tries to reach it, but in the water, he can’t really jump so he can’t reach it. Growling in frustration, Time leaves it for now and heads back towards dry land.

Getting up, he hears the shk-shk-shk of another skulltula and takes out his trusty slingshot and another golden token drops. Gleefully, he climbs up the vines to grab it. Heading back to the unlit torch, Time looks at the button and decides to press it. A fire bursts to life, burning the web covering the chest, Time opens it and finds another heart that allows him to stop shivering as hard. Now, to get across the water…so far jumping to it has failed, and there’s no water to get there.

Legend looks at how the room is laid out before his eyes widen.

“Light the stick and use the shallow waters to jump across to the webbed door.”

Time does this on screen and watches as the web burns away, allowing Time through the door. It’s a small room just like the one Time originally came across while facing the deku scrub.

“I think they like hanging around here,” Wind says with an impish grin.

Bringing his shield up, the small bush in the middle of the room jumps out and shoots a deku nut at him. Time has it ricochet off his shield and back at the scrub. Time chases after it and it begins to tremble when Time corners it.

“Please forgive me, master!” It squeaks.  “I'll never do it again! If you spare me, I'll teach you something cool. You will never beat my brothers up ahead unless you punish them in the proper order. The order is...2 3 1 Twenty-three is number one! Do you think I'm a traitor?”

“Yes,” Warriors growls under his breath.

Time looks around the room to get out.

“Shoot the eyes!” Several voices chime out. Time just makes a mark beside everyone’s name for this one.

Time heads through the door and finds the next room filled with water, a platform going between the two sides, gates where the water funnels in, and a long log with spikes dividing the room.

“That’s a problem,” Legend says flatly.

“I would never have guessed,” Four shoots back.

Time stops when Navi flies in his face.

“After you get into the water, you can dive down! I bet there are some interesting things underwater!”

“The water around the village was always too shallow to dive in,” Time explains before he gets questions.

Time looks at the crystal coloured water and notices another button at the bottom of the water. He swims out to it and hopes he’s hovering above it before taking a deep breath and diving down.

Wild shivers at that. While he may have known how to swim well before, he needs his zora armour if he goes out for more than a couple minutes, let alone going underwater.

He struggles to push the button. Almost out of air, he desperately kicks before the button goes down.

Wind cringes at the struggle, knowing that you’re fighting both against a current and your body trying to force itself back to the surface.

Scrambling to the surface, Time gasps in air as he watches and feels the water level go down, a ticking noise fills the room. He swims to the now exposed ledge and tries to jump to the platform but misses, splashing into the water again. The ticking becomes more frantic as Time hurries to the edges and drags himself out-

“Come on, come on,” Warriors says under his breath.

-before leaping at the platform, just reaching it and passing under the spiked log before the water level increases once again. Time lays on the ground for a few minutes to catch his breath before hauling himself back up.

Warriors clenches his hand in worry as he watches child Time struggle so much whereas if he were older, this would be quite simple and not as strenuous. The skulltula’s also look larger next to Time’s small frame as he strikes it down and pulls the block across to get up to the door.

Wind and Legend can commemorate with the amount of effort that would have taken to get across. Of course, they were older when they started. By how much, they don’t know however.

Time enters the next room with one lite torch and two unlit braziers.

“Pretty simple, just light the other two,” Legend said.

Time heads to the next room that has a skulltula that webbed over the door.

“What are those?” Wild asks in fascination, as a new monster with a large eye on it comes out.

“It’s a Gohma larva,” Time says, disgust leaking through his voice.

“Larvae, as in-”

“The monster's children, yes.” Time cuts off.

Four holds in a shiver of disgust at them, while Hyrule, Legend, Wind, Twilight, and Warriors all remember the pleasure they took in killing the monster.

Twilight holds in a blood thirsty grin. He had too much fun taking out his Armogohma’s little pests.

“Looks like they’re pretty easy to handle,” Wild comments as Time quickly kills them.

“That was the warm up,” Time says lightly.

Time lights his stick on fire and quickly finds a tunnel behind webbing that he burns away. Crawling through, he finds himself on the higher ground of the main area he was originally in with the water.

“At least we’re on the other side now,” Four points out.

“Gotta love circular dungeons,” Twilight grouches. His arms killed him after pulling the lever in the water temple multiple times to move the staircase around.

A large hole covered in webbing dominates the area while a large block is the the side where the golden token is.

“At least this one is easy, burn the webbing to the hole, and we’re probably at the boss room.” Wind says happily.

“No mini boss?” Wild asks with a raised eyebrow. Wind shrugs.

“I doubt there would be one here or else the Deku Tree would’ve warned the Old Man.”

“True,” Four muses.

The block in front of him went promptly in the water and he grabbed the golden token that is still shining.

Wild stares at the shiny token, wondering if Time has any left.

Checking around to make sure he didn’t miss anything, Time leaps over to the torch that’s still burning, lights up his stick, and jumps back, lighting up the webbing to expose the hole. Time takes a deep breath and jumps through, landing straight in the water.

Legend frowns at this, wondering if the monster will be a water based one.

Crawling up to the land, he notes three deku scrubs.

“The order,” Sky says suddenly. “Two, three, one. You have to defeat them in a certain order.” Time gives a tiny smile and checks off beside Sky’s name.

“Two, three, one, ” he thinks to himself. Time tries first stunning the middle deku scrub. When it freezes, Time goes to the right, and stuns that one too, before turning to the far left one. It jumps out of the ground and tries to run. Time, used to the now, runs after it and corners it by the locked door.

“How did you know our secret?!” It screeches. “How irritating! It's so annoying that I'm going to reveal the secret of Queen Gohma to you!”

“That easily?!” Legend yells. If only his enemies were that considerate.

“I would take what I can get,” Twilight said.

“In order to administer the coup de grace to Queen Gohma, strike with your sword while she's stunned. Oh, Queenie... Sorry about that!” The scrub runs away as the door unlocks.

“Sounds pretty standard,” Wild says in confusion.

“Think about it,” Legend says, “Old Man here has never seen a Gohma before and would take any clue to prepare for the fight. I know I would.”

Time enters the largest room yet, a grey mist fills the air while wooden pillars are dotted around the room with no monster in sight.

Warriors tenses, even knowing the monster Time will face is pretty simplistic and easy in comparison to others they have all faced.

The door slams behind him, causing Time to jump and turn to see his exit blocked, before turning back to watch the room that is now in darkness with little light to see. Time carefully goes forward towards the center.

“What was that?” Wind says in alarm. He caught a glimpse of orange and red at the top of the screen, out of Time’s view.

“That would be Gohma.” Time says casually. Slightly alarmed looks are shot at Time for the casual dismissal of the threat.

Time looks up and sees a huge eyeball staring down at him that suddenly gets bigger. He scrambles back as the floor shakes when the monster lands.

“Gohma,” Navi whispers. “It’s one of the parasitic monsters inside the Deku Tree! Its eye is vulnerable when it’s red!”

“It also means it’s mad,” Wind points out drily. He’s having trouble trying to equate Time’s Gohma’s size to his own, that was massive and probably bigger than the Deku Tree.

“When you’re angry you make mistakes,” Sky says. Warriors nods in agreement.

Time tries slashing at it, but Gohma keeps closing its eye, its claws catch Time and throws him back.

Twilight cringes and lets out a low hiss as Time gets up and stares at the monster.

Trying once again and getting thrown, Time backflips to keep some distance before bringing out the slingshot. Waiting for the eye to get red, Time lets it get close before darting back and shooting the eye, stunning the monster. Grabbing his sword, Time slashes at the eye until it recovers. He jumps back while Gohma crawls up the walls to the ceiling, eggs dropping around Time.

“You okay Rancher?” Wild asks. Twilight has a manic grin on his face while watching Time destroy the eggs.

“I’m fine.”

“Sure,” Legend leans away from him slightly.

Gohma drops back down in anger, but Time is ready this time. He wastes no time in stunning Gohma and stabbing it.

“Good, very good,” Legend nods along watching little Time’s technique.

“Crude, but effective.”

When the creature crawls up to the ceiling again, Time carefully aims his slingshot and shoots down the monster making it crash down, and with two final strikes, the parasite was no more.

“Nice!”

Twilight’s ears twitch at the death throes of the monster and how loud they are.

The wails of it were unbearable to the child, as he covers his ears before it breaks down and fades away, leaving only a heart container behind that he grabs. All the cuts, claw marks, and bruises are now gone.

Wild just shakes his head at how easy it is to get heart containers.

A blue light appears near Time that has him backing away. Navi floats near it, letting Time know it’s safe to use. With some apprehension, Time steps into it. With a flash, he’s back outside in front of the Deku Tree.

Sky, Hyrule, and Warriors all stare at the instant travel to outside. They all had to walk out while Twilight had Midna be able to create the portals to get him outside, not to mention he’s seen Wild be transferred from the Divine beast to outside by a golden light so it’s not as startling to him.

“Well done, Link.” Time looks up to the Deku Tree with a large smile on his face, knowing he’s saved the Tree. “Thou hast verily demonstrated thy courage.” Time looks at Navi with a smile and thumbs up before bowing his head.

Everyone is holding in their coos at baby Time’s happiness and smiles.

“I knew that thou wouldst be able to carry out my wishes. Now, I have yet more to tell ye, wouldst thou listen?”

“Yes.” Time giddily sits down with Navi perched on his head, legs kicking with energy, waiting for story time.

Warriors gives a quiet coo at Time plopping himself onto the ground with Navi nestled in his hair. The Captain mourns the loss of Time's sweet nature, knowing he'll turn into a bitter twelve year old who was reckless, not caring about his own safety.

“Now...listen carefully; A wicked man of the desert cast this dreadful curse upon me.” The large, flame haired man from Time’s dream rides through flames as the Deku Tree talks.

Small growls are heard around the room.

“This evil man ceaselessly uses his vile, sorcerous powers in his search for the Sacred Realm that is connected to Hyrule. For it is in that Sacred Realm that one will find the divine relic, the Triforce, which contains the essence of the gods.”

Legend stares at Twilight, daring him to say something. Twilight holds up his hands, lips twitching.

Hyrule can't help but shake his head. Ganon ill always go after power that isn't his to take which to him, proves his weakness.

Three humanoids in three distinct colours descend through the sky.

“Is this the story of the three goddesses?” Wild asks in fascination. He'll definitely have to remember to write this down for Flora.

"Looks like it," Wind says.

“Before time began, before spirits and life existed... Three golden goddesses descended upon the chaos that was Hyrule...Din, the goddess of power,” she is shown in a red flame, “Nayru, the goddess of wisdom,” a blue flame is created in her wake, “Farore, the goddess of courage.” Farore, the goddess of the hero, her flames are the same green that graces nearly all their tunics. “Din... With her strong flaming arms, she cultivated the land and created the red earth. Nayru... Poured her wisdom onto the earth and gave the spirit of law to the world. Farore... With her rich soul, produced all life forms who would uphold the law. The three great goddesses, their labors completed, departed for the heavens. And golden sacred triangles remained at the point where the goddesses left the world. Since then, the sacred triangles have become the basis for our world's providence. And, the resting place of the triangles has become the Sacred Realm.”

“Wait, where’s Hylia?” Sky asks in confusion.

“She wasn’t worshipped at the time,” Time says curtly. Sky frowns at this.

“To be honest, I know of the three goddesses, but I usually only pray to the Light Spirits,” Twilight says to Sky. Hyrule shakes his head.

“I know of the triforce, but not of the goddesses behind them.” Legend crosses his arms.

“I know of the goddesses, but not Hylia.”

“I’m the opposite of you,” Wild looks around. “I know of Hylia, she’s the only goddess prayed to as far as I know, but there is the sacred power, which is the triforce I’m pretty sure, and the dragons around Hyrule are named for them.”

“We don’t even know where you are Champion,” Four says.

“You have both Zora and Rito where all of us have one or the other.”

“Maybe I come after the Old Man then,” Wild suggests.

“Not even I have Rito.” Time shakes his head. Not to mention it’s impossible for him to come before Wind as there would’ve certainly been a legend about that before his own, and he is the only one others than Wild who's ever mentioned the Rito, and Twilight is his own descendent, who says there was no other hero before him. He’s not sure about the others, but those two he knows are his successors and therefore, Wild must come after them somewhere.

Time listens to the Deku Tree with a serious face as it continues.

“Thou must never allow the desert man in black armor to lay his hands on the sacred Triforce... Thou must never suffer that man, with his evil heart, to enter the Sacred Realm of legend.” Time’s face twists down at the thought of the desert man trying to steal the goddess’ power.

Time clenches his hand tightly, knowing that he failed his father and allowed Ganandorf to enter the Sacred Realm.

“That evil man who cast the death curse upon me and sapped my power...Because of that curse, my end is nigh.”

Warriors’ eyes go wide as the implication becomes clear.

“He was doomed from the start,” he whispers.

Twilight whips his head around to Warriors, who only keeps staring at the screen with a slightly horrified look.

Time is getting a sinking feeling in his stomach as the Deku Tree keeps talking in a solemn tone.

“Though your valiant efforts to break the curse were successful, I was doomed before you started.” Time’s face was first filled with outrage, before turning into panic. The parasite is gone! The curse was destroyed! How could the Deku Tree not get any better? He quickly stands and takes a step forward without realizing it, wanting to scream and not hear the rest of what the Deku Tree has to say. But the proof is in front of him. The great tree has already begun to fade.

Wind begins to tremble, wondering where his Deku Tree came from then if the one that knows Time has just died. Was there another that no one knows about?

Wild can’t help but blink and turn away as another being is claimed by Ganon and his quest for power.

Legend bows his head while clenching his fist tightly. He can't help but feel his heart clench. He knows what's coming and wants to scream and run with little Time in his arms so he also doesn't feel the pain of losing a father figure.

“Yes, I will pass away soon... But do not grieve for me.” Time keeps his head bowed, eyes shadowed by his hat while Navi flies up to the Deku Tree frantically. “I have been able to tell you of these important matters...This is Hyrule's final hope... Link... Go now to Hyrule Castle...There, thou will surely meet the Princess of Destiny...Take this stone with you. The stone that man wanted to much, that he cast the curse on me.” A flash of light in front of Time as he holds out his hands, his head raised, eyes full of unshed tears.

Warriors presses his lips together, hating that his little Sprite is in so much pain, but can’t do anything about it.

“The future depends upon thee, Link... Thou art courageous...Navi the fairy... Help Link to carry out my will... I entreat ye...Navi... Good...bye…”

Silent tears run down their faces as they bow their heads to the Deku Tree's death. Time bites his lower lip as it trembles, hands shaking, and water gathering in his eye. The death of his father has always been one of the hardest things to go through for him.

Twilight’s eyes darken in anger at the amount of responsibility that his ancestor now has to shoulder at such a young age, and after such a tragedy as well.

Time loses the battle and the tears begin to fall as the crackling of wood hardening is heard through the forest.

“Go, and do not falter my children. ” Time is glad that part wasn’t shown, it is hard enough watching his father figure die for a second time, but he has the comfort of keeping his last words private.

“Let's go to Hyrule Castle, Link!!” Navi flies past Time, who takes another moment to himself before bowing to the Deku Tree and leaves. Navi is hovering by the entrance to the grove as Time walks past her. She turns and hovers closer to the now dead Deku Tree. “Good-bye...Great Deku Tree…” She flies after Time.

Everyone is silent, trying to process what they just watched.

“Keep going.” Time says in a monotone.

Chapter Text

"Th-the Deku tree." Wild stutters.

"How is there still a deku tree in my time?"

"His son." Time answers quietly.

Legend’s heart clenches at the thought of Time losing a parental figure like he did, memories of his uncle coming up without permission.

Hyrule just looks intrigued as he’s never seen a deku tree before all this. Maybe this means his time never had a deku tree to begin with.

Time walks dejectedly though the paths that lead back to the Kokiri village, where Mido is pacing. As soon as he spots Time, he runs up to him, finger pointing straight at him.

“Hey, Link! What did you do?! The Great Deku Tree...did he...die?” Time sadly nods at this.

“How could you do a thing like that?!” Mido screams. “It's all your fault!!” 

Warriors can’t stop the flinch that shudders through him at the accusation. He’s heard that many times about himself and how the Time War would never have happened if he didn’t exist.

Twilight turns in concern at the shudder he can feel beside him. Warriors just shakes his head at the Rancher.

Legend stares at Mido, wanting to shake him while yelling that there was nothing Time could do, and the Deku Tree was doomed from the start.

Sky bows his head to hide his eyes. While no one blames him, he blames himself for what happened.

Wild bows his head as the word failure, failure, failure, failure, pounds against his head. While no one else thinks he is, he feels like one himself. What sort of hero fails to save Hyrule? What sort of hero makes the princess do all the hard work to keep Ganon at bay?

Time stares at him as Mido runs away. He tentatively heads into the village.

“What did you do to the Great Deku Tree?” Fado demands, marching up to him. Time scrambles backwards as she keeps coming.

“I did nothing to the Deku Tree!” Time cries out. Fado narrows her eyes in disbelief, not believing him.

“Mido is very upset! Did something happen to him?” Time purses his lips, not knowing what to say. If Mido says anything, then will he blame him?

“I-” Fado gets closer, and Time flinches backwards before the Kokiri girl runs off.

Warriors balls his hand at this, hating that he can’t help his Sprite against the Kokiri lashing out.

Twilight watches all this in concern. Children can be quite cruel when they want to be, his ears flicker unconsciously at the memories of being the only Hylian in Ordon.

Time watches her run away and looks at Navi, who doesn’t say anything. He fights himself to not run and instead does a brisk walk and keeps his head down, flinching when he is yelled at halfway to his goal.

“What? Where are you going?!”

“To the castle!” Time yells back, happy that someone isn’t yelling at him.

“To the castle? Where is the castle?”

“Did anyone know where the castle is?” Hyrule wonders. Time shakes his head.

“The Kokiri stay in the woods away from other Hylians.” Hyrule furrows his brows at that, trying to make sense of it.

Time just runs off towards the exit instead of answering, not truly knowing the answer himself. He nearly runs into another Kokiri, desperately trying to stop him from going through the tunnel.

“We Kokiri will die if we leave the forest! You're not going to try to leave the forest, are you?!” Time nods and runs past a sign as the Kokiri stares at him in shock.

“It says Fairy folk shall not leave these woods.” Time says to the others. Warriors can only stare at the script.

“That doesn’t look like any Hylian script I know.”

“Because it isn’t Hylian, it’s Kokiri.” Four tilts his head at this. Does this mean Time didn’t know how to read Hylian when he first left the forest?

Twilight bites his lip at what the kokiri said. Is that why the Old Man was picked? Because he's not a proper Kokiri and can therefore leave the forest without repercussions?

Time Races through the tunnel and onto a suspended rope bridge.

“Oh, you're leaving.” Time stops as he hears Saria’s voice. He turns around and see’s her standing beside the rope holding up the bridge. “I knew that you would leave the forest someday, Link...Because you are different from me and my friends.”

Hyrule and Legend cringe at this.

Saria looks down, whether it’s from shame, the child can’t tell.

Worry is what the adults are thinking as they look at the eternal child.

All that can be heard is the crickets, birds, wind whistling around, and the creaking of the boards on the wooden bridge.

“But that's OK, because,” Saria reaches into her pocket and pulls out an ocarina that she cradles in her hands, “we'll be friends forever...won't we?” She looks at Time with a watery smile and holds out the instrument.

“I want you to have this Ocarina. Please take good care of it.” Time takes the offered gift, marveling at the smooth wood. He looks up as Saria starts speaking again.

“When you play my Ocarina, I hope you will think of me and come back to the forest to visit.” Time looks at her and nods before turning and running across the bridge, off towards Hyrule.

Time can only shake his head. The worst part was that if he had lingered any longer, he wouldn’t have had the willpower to keep going on the impossible quest.

Legend, Wind, Four, and Twilight can all relate to this, as it was very difficult to not just go running home during their adventure, to break down and cry at the stress and heartbreak they were enduring while their loved ones were worried sick about them.

Time comes out of the woods and looks around as the trees start to thin out. A hooting noise has him looking up.

Time gives a small uptick of his lips, looking at the owl.

“Kaepora Gaebora,” he says while looking at the owl, a small amount of fondness leaking through his voice.

Four can’t help but stare at the owl. Same name, same look! Is it the same owl that he saw on his own quest?

Legend blinks at the owl, wondering if this one will play the same role his did.

“Hoo hoot! Link... Look up here! It appears that the time has finally come for you to start your adventure! You will encounter many hardships ahead. That is your fate.”

Twilight clenches his hand tightly at this.

“Don't feel discouraged, even during the toughest times! Go straight this way and you will see Hyrule Castle. You will meet a princess there. All right then, I'll see you around! Hoot hoot hoot ho!”

“Guess the bird knows things then?” Wind asks in confusion.

“Owls are known for their advice,” Legend says. Wind shrugs.

“Never seen one so I can’t say."

Time looks around in awe at the open space around him. Farms dotting the field, trees scattered near paths, and a colourful plant in the distance that Time wants to touch. Navi keeps him on track though and finds a sign that she reads, “Hyrule Castle, Lon Lon Ranch.” Time looks at the sky and notices that it’s already getting dark out.

“Your Hyrule field is huge!” Legend says in surprise. Four can’t help but nod at this. Twilight bites his tongue, hard. He wishes the Hyrule field in his time was that small, not to mention relatively flat without all the gorges. It would've made his running around much easier and not as time consuming. They tense when noises start coming from the screen.

“Peahat,” Legend hisses. Those things are irritating.

Sky and Twilight blink as the monstrous plant comes from the ground and b-lines it towards Time.

“Now I understand why you were amazed that they can be friendly,” Sky says faintly. Twilight nods while staring. He has never seen them in Wild’s Hyrule which was a miracle in itself considering how many things there are that try to kill you, and his are peaceful plants as well. They watch in relief when Time was able to outrun the plant before tensing at the darkness of the sky, waiting for something to happen. A wolf howls and digging is heard, making Wild flinch back before skeletons burst from the ground.

“Stalchild,” Warriors hisses, hands clenching.

“Stalchild ?” Legend says sharply. Warriors nods.

“Exactly what it sounds like.” Both Legend and Hyrule let out a curse as they thought only adults came back as stalfos. Twilight clenches his hands tight enough his fingernails left indents on his palm, remembering all the little skeletons he saw in the prison. Everyone breathes easier when Time was able to make short work of the reanimated bones, Navi keeping watch for him as he tries to get a couple hours of sleep in the open field. Time watches this while thinking how incredibly lucky he was that nothing happened to him while out in the field alone, and exposed to everything.

When Time gets up in the morning, he can see the top of Hyrule Castle and starts running for it. The drawbridge is down, and he walks right on in.

“Welcome to Hyrule Castle Town. It's a peaceful, prosperous town.”

“There’s that I guess,” Legend says. At least there’s no monsters during the day in Hyrule Field which is better than in his Hyrule he assumes.

Time notices a door at the entrance and goes in it. Pots. Pots, everywhere.

Everyone’s eyes are sparkling at all the pots in the room.

“So. Many. Pots.” Hyrule whispers, almost vibrating in his seat. Wild is vibrating, not that anyone will stop him as everyone’s hands are twitching. It just sucked that there was a guard in the room.

“Man, I am SO bored... Things would sure be more interesting if there were more...troubles in the world... Hey, that's just between you and me, OK?” Time just nods. “Anyway, maybe we can let off some steam by breaking these jars.” Time’s eyes go wide and they begin to sparkle.

“You got permission?!” Wind shrieks. He twists around to look at Time. “Is that guard still there?” He demands. “I want in that room.” Time couldn’t stop the laugh bubbling out as he shakes his head.

“I’m pretty sure he retired a while ago. Wind can’t help but pout in disappointment. Several others deflate as well at this.

Four and Legend let out a cackle as Time runs around the room destroying all the pots in the room. Twilight is chuckling as little Time pants in exhaustion, but is proud of the mess he made of the room while taking all the rupees he finds before dashing off leaving the guard to clean up the mess. He can’t help but think of the Ordon children doing that (He, Ilia, and Fado did this, and much worse. It’s amazing the parents would let them look after any of the children after all the stunts they pulled).

Warriors has a smile while shaking his head at all the chaos.

Time runs down the street and stops short of entering the main square. So many people! He looks at everything in awe as the bright colours of the stalls, the clothes, and the music! Time heads towards one of the lone trees where two men are, one laughing hysterically at the other. The laughing man wipes a tear from his eye and noticed the child.

“Wha-ha-ha! What a crazy guy! Can you believe this guy was crazy enough to try to sneak into the castle to see Princess Zelda?” Time perks up at the mention of a princess. “All because of this idiot, they've tightened security at the castle. Wha-ha-ha!” Time can’t help but glare at the other man. How is he going to see the Princess of Destiny now?!

“I wanted to see Princess Zelda!” The man moaned.

“Isn’t she a child right now?” Four asks in disgust. Time nods.

“Everyone around town talks about her a lot and her wisdom as a child.” Time averts his eyes, hating that what he knows would destroy the people’s trust in his princess.

“I avoided the guards, swam through the moat. I was almost there when they caught me! I found a small drain hole on the right side of the castle that I thought I could sneak into, but I got stuck there.”

“Again, why?” Legend demands.

“You can ask for an audience!”

“Not sure if it works like that in this era Vet,” Twilight says, looking at the screen. Legend just crosses his arms at that.

Time stomps off in irritation and finds a large crowd in front of a stall. He stand on his toes to see what’s going on but knocks into someone.

“Huh? What? Shoo, kid! Shoo!” Time jumps back to avoid the swatting hand and knocks into another person.

“Hey, who bumped me?!”

“Hey, let go! It's mine! I found it first!”

“Hey, have you heard that Princess Zelda sees prophetic visions in her dreams?”

“C'mon, can't you make it any cheaper?”

“Huff huff! I'm late! I'm late! For a very important date!” Time backs away from the crowd and heads towards one of the shops where a large burly man is standing in front of it.

“Ahem! Hrrrm! This beard is my pride and joy! Doesn't it look luxuriant, kid?!” Time stares at him before heading towards the next shop.

“Kid, have you been to Lon Lon Ranch?” Time shakes his head. “Their milk is delicious! There are many horses there, and the young daughter of the ranch owner is cute!”

Warriors can’t help the teasing grin on his face at that.

“To get to Lon Lon Ranch, after you leave town, head due south across the field. You should visit the ranch at least once!” He finds a dog beside a woman with a very strange hair do.

“My precious little puppy’s fur coat is very special compared to the other mutts around here!” She says imperiously.

Twilight can’t help but snort.

“I’ll take that bet.”

Time’s eye catches a young girl chasing a cucco around and runs after it as well.

“I can't catch that Cucco!” The girl wails. He loses it in the crowd and heads towards the stairs for a bit of breathing room.

“Have you heard the legend of the "Shadow Folk"?” Time jumps and yelps before he spins around. “They are the Sheikah...the shadows of the Hylians. They say they swore allegiance to the King of Hyrule and guarded the Royal Family. But with the long peace, no one has seen a Sheikah around here for a long time. However... I heard there is one Sheikah woman living in the castle.” Time looks at the man like he has three heads. What’s a Shiekah?

Twilight didn’t really know what one was either until Impaz and his talks with her before she passed, and meeting the clan in Wild’s Hyrule.

Wind stares at the man just as blankly as child Time is.

Four tilts his head at this, wondering what happened to the Sheikah in his time.

There is a lady standing next to him shaking her head.

“Do you know about the Temple of Time that we have in the northeast part of town?” She asks. Time shakes his head. “Legends say that the Temple of Time is the entrance to the Sacred Realm... Did you know that?” Time shakes his head while the lady coos at him and his confused look.

Legend holds his tongue at that, having seen the Sacred Realm and the fact that this is a legend and not faded from memory is worrying.

“They say we Hylians have big ears in order to hear the voices of the gods...but I've never heard them!” A man cries from the balcony. Time looks over at the door below.

Treasure Chest Contest

Temporarily Closed

Open Tonight!

Time runs back across the courtyard into the store with a man’s large face on it. Heading inside, there’s a large man behind the counter and another off to the side.

“I heard a rumour that there is a monster that eats hylian shields somewhere out there in the world. Have you ever seen it?”

“Yes,” Four says mulishly while glaring at the others. His poor, poor shield, covered in slime and no one helped, instead taking bets.

Time looks behind the counter and can see items behind the large man. He’ll come back later to check everything out. The couple that’s dancing outside are talking loud enough that he can hear them.

“Ohh... You are...so handsome... Just like the King of Hyrule.”

Warriors shudders in disgust.

“Ohh... You are...more beautiful...than Princess Zelda.”

Everyone stares at them like they’re from another planet. Hyrule blinks and tilts his head.

“I don’t see it.” Legend chokes on his spit as he laughs hard, coughing to catch his breath. He gulps in some air. “I’m fine,” he croaks.

“Are you sure?” Wind asks with skepticism. Legend gives him a look and a small cough erupts from his chest, the irritation dying down.

Time runs into the next shop that looks like potions are in the back.

“There’s a rumour going around that there is a potion shop that can make the ultimate medicine!” An old man exclaims. Time ignores him and looks at the back counter, looking at the fish in wonder.

Warriors hides his snort of laughter at the behaviour.

Looking at everything and realizing he doesn’t even have a bottle, Time leaves in disappointment. Tilting his head, he finds a side street that takes him to an imposing temple. He can feel something calling to him inside, something tempting and in curiosity, goes in.

Twilight sits up straight, eyes wide as he looks at the temple. While there are differences from when he visited the temple, it’s the same place. The Temple of Time.

“Rancher?” Warriors calls out.

“It’s nothing.” Warriors gives a skeptical look at that but doesn’t say anything, knowing he won’t get a straight answer out of him. Twilight turns back and looks at the doorway that’s closed and has no statues beside it. There is instead a stone with writing on it, and three indents below, showing that there are supposed to be items there.

“What is this place?” Hyrule wonders.

“The Temple of Time,” Time says hollowly. Legend sits up straight and looks at it in disbelief.

“Where the Master Sword lays?” He demands. Time gives a short nods as Legend starts taking in all the details he can find about the temple.

“Where’s the sword then?”

“Behind the door,” Wild says in realization.

“The Forest Emerald is one of the keys to unlock the door.” Time just gives a short nod at the deduction.

“There are three hollows and an inscription here,” Navi says before flying higher. “Ye who owns three Spiritual Stones stand with the Ocarina of Time and play the Song of Time . That is how the inscription reads.” Time goes on his tiptoes to look at the hollowed areas before finding nothing else of interest and heads out.

Twilight is still wrapping his head around all this while Legend has a sinking feeling in his stomach. His Sword was in the middle of the Lost Woods and not in a temple. If what he suspects is true, then the temple was probably destroyed or at least decayed to nothing by his time.

Time goes into a new shop that has a very strange presence to it, making him shiver slightly.

“What a strange shop!” The person beside him says. “I wonder when it’ll be open for business. I read the sign there, but it still seems weird!” Time tilts his head before going to the sign.

“Happy Mask Shop,” Navi reads. “Please read this sign before you use this shop. How this shop works. We do not sell masks at this shop, we just lend them to you. You sell the loaned masks on your own. You pay back the money for the mask, and we’ll give you a newer model. You can borrow masks you have already sold again; however, you can sell each model of mask only once. Please try our shop! Happy Mask Shop Owner.”

Time leaves the shop and runs into a red haired girl.

“Is that Malon?!” Legend says with glee. Time can’t stop the smile that goes over his face. Sky holds in a coo at the two of them.

"Hey, your clothes! They're...different. You're not from around here, are you?” Time shakes his head. “Ohh... You're a fairy boy from the forest! My name is Malon! My dad owns Lon Lon Ranch! Dad went to the castle to deliver some milk, and he hasn't come back yet.” She looks downtrodden at that.

Time can’t help but smile and shake his head at the first meeting with his wife. Who would have thought that they would eventually marry?

Time wants to help her find her father, but he still has exploring to do! He looks at the lady behind Malon who looks to be dancing. She must’ve caught his look.

“I'm not dancing, you know... my back itches! Ooh! Aaah! Ooh!” She wails.

“Hey, forest boy! This is the city of Hyrule! Take your time and enjoy the sights! If you came here to see Hyrule Castle, take the street on your right. If you want to see the back alleys of the town, take the street to the left.”

“I made a lot of money! Maybe I should go look for more things to sell! I know! I should go to Lake Hylia! Many things float down the river and end up there! Hah hah!” The old crone cackles. Time backs away and sprints down the alley.

“Please, please sell me something!” The man under the stairs wails. Time knocks into someone as he enters the back alley.

“Heyyy, what...? What's wrong with loitering around all day? Huh, kid?”

“He didn’t say anything,” Wind says flatly.

Time keeps going deeper into the alley, trying different doors that stay shut.

“It seems strange that packs of dogs roam our streets at night...Doesn't that seem weird to you?”

“That’s pretty normal,” Twilight says with a frown. Warriors nods, remembering the streets he’s run around in as a child.

“Hey, sonny, I'll tell you something helpful... I heard there is a mysterious fountain somewhere near the castle.”

“Fairy Fountain?” Hyrule wonders.

“Sounds like it,” Legend muses.

Time comes back out and heads into one last shop. Bombchu Bowling Alley.

“Is that what I think it is?” Wild says, lips curling. Twilight just groans and buries is face in his hands knowing Wild will remember this and make sure it’s available in his own time.

“Possibly,” Time says with a mysterious smile.

The attendant is sleeping at the counter. Time taps the counter and she wakes with a start. “Oh, I’m sorry. We’re not open for business yet. Please come back soon!” Time looks over at the psychedelic colours at the far end and pouts before leaving, vowing he’ll come back and play.

Deciding he’s put it off long enough, Time leaves in the direction the man told him to, towards the castle. The town’s noises die off, leaving him alone with Navi on the sandy path up towards the Princess Zelda. He hears a hooting and looks up to see the same owl from before greet him.

“Hey, Link! This way! The princess is inside the castle just ahead. Be careful not to get caught by the guards! Ho ho ho hoot! Well, well, which way are you going to go now? Hoo hoo hoot!”

“Forward.”

“Hoooo. You're a smart kid. Good luck, then. Hoo hoo.” He flies off and Time keeps going finding the path cut off by a single guard and a gate. Deciding to try, Time walks up to the guard.

“I would like to see the Princess Zelda.” He says, looking up at the guard. The guard scoffs.

“So you say you want to see Princess Zelda, eh? You probably heard about her in town and decided you had to meet her. Well...Go home! Get out of here! The Princess would never grant an audience to the likes of you!” Time flinches back before scowling and storms off.

Everyone agrees and would do the same thing, clenching their teeth at the rudeness of the guard, Twilight and Legend’s eyes darkening at the knight.

Time looks around before finding the side of a cliff covered in vines. Deciding to climb up, he can see the top of the gate with a hole in it. Intrigued, he heads towards it, the sun setting behind him. Heading down the ladder, the child walks through the door quietly and looks over at the rude guard and sticks out his tongue at them before moving on. The sky gets darker and Time can see some guards on top of the path and hill. They shouldn’t notice him, right? He walks on the grass like Saria taught him so it won’t make a sound.

“Hey you! Stop!” Time jumps. “You kid, over there!”

Legend curses and will deny his knuckles turning white at the thought of Time in the hands of these knights. Warriors and Sky grind their teeth in anger as the guard essentially throws Time to the ground on the other side of the gate, anger shining in their eyes.

Time shakily gets up and brushes the dust off himself and glares before storming away, determined to do better next time. His anger dwindles as hymning is heard down the path.

Twilight bolts straight up. That…that sounds like the wind from home. His eyes are wide when Malon comes into view and stops hymning when she starts talking.

“You alright there?” Sky asks quietly. Twilight can only nod wordlessly as he watches, wondering how in the Light Spirit’s names was this possible?

“Are you going to the castle, fairy boy?” Time nods. “Would you mind finding my dad? He must have fallen asleep somewhere around the castle. What a thing for an adult to do! Tee hee! Oh yeah, if you look for him, I'll give this to you. I've been incubating this egg very carefully... Tee hee!” Malon gives him a large, white egg.

Sky can’t help but choke on his laughter as Malon sweetly gives Time the egg, who has a very confused look on his face.

“That story was true?!” Legend cries before bursting into laughter.

Wind, Hyrule and Wild also start laughing, as they remember the fragmented story Time and Malon told them at the Ranch.

Warriors snorts and smiles while shaking his head at all this.

Four smiles while Twilight relaxes, a soft look coming over his face as he watches his ancestor’s interact.

“Hee hee! My dad is really troublesome, for an adult, isn't he?! hee hee!”

“She knew exactly what she was doing,” Wind cackles.

Time puts the egg in his pouch and heads back up the cliffside where he sprints to the gate once more, determined to get past it. Heading down the ladder once more, Time knows he doesn’t have much time before the sun rises, so he carefully goes closer to the path while climbing up the hill before sprinting through the grass, looking for Navi’s glow to help him navigate. Getting to a rockwall, Time feels a section loose enough to climb up right as the sun rises, and a cucco starts crowing from his pouch.

“Look! A chicken hatched from the egg you were incubating! It's the miracle of life!” Navi says in excitement.

Wild smothers his laughter at the little fairy’s excitement.

He walks along the moat until he finds a man beside some crates sleeping. “Z Z Z Z Z... Mumble mumble... Welcome...our ranch is so fun...C'mon and look around.” Sure this is Malon’s father, he takes out the cucco, places it beside him and backs up before smacking it with a slingshot.

Warriors bursts out laughing at how much of a little shit Time was being. He can see Mask shining through here.

Everyone turns to Time.

“My respect has gone up,” Wind says solemnly. Wild just throws a pillow at the teen.

Time quirks his lips at the hilarity of waking his father in law with a chicken. Wind looks at time with stars in his eyes.

"Show me how to do that."

"No!" Seven voices yell. Wind sits and pouts, grumbling that they're all party killers.

Hyrule pats his back in commiseration. The group hates it when he (and occasionally with Wild) disappear to go explore).

“What in tarnation? Can't a person get a little shut-eye around here?” He springs up and looks at the child. “Hello, and who might you be?”

“Link. Are you Malon’s dad?”

“Yep, I'm Talon, the owner of Lon Lon Ranch.” He puffs out his chest. “I went to the castle to deliver some milk, but I sat down here to rest, and I guess I fell asleep.”

“Malon is looking for you,” Time says innocently.

Warriors let’s out a startled laugh at the look. It never meant anything good for people on the other end of it.

“What?! Malon was looking for me? I'm gonna catch it from her now! I messed up bad, leaving Malon behind to wait for me! She's really gonna let me have it!” A trail of dust is left behind as Talon runs away towards his daughter.

“Temper indeed,” Legend whistles.

Time looks around at the crates and at the opening. It’s too high for him to reach now, but…he looks at the crates and pushes one towards the ledge where there’s a lip below to catch it. He pushes the crate down before moving the second on top of it so it’s high enough for him to jump across to the other side and through the passageway.

Twilight nods along the way, knowing that’s one way to get into the castle.

Time ends up in the Castle Courtyard and remembers the Owl’s warning to not get caught.

Warriors watches with slight disgust at how easily Time is able to work out the guard patterns and sneak around them.

“This is sad,” Legend says.

“I thought my guards were bad.”

“This is also an era of peace,” Time reminds him.

“Still,” Wind says as Time follows behind one guard before sprints across as the guard turns.

“That’s insultingly easy.” Everyone nods while Time just crosses his arms not pouting at this.

Upon entering the inner courtyard, Time sees a window on the left with a pot on it. Lining up his slingshot, he takes his shot. A guard pokes their head out.

“Hey you! Don't cause any trouble!”

“Did he just throw a bomb at you ?” Legend squawks.

“Isn’t this where the princess is?” Wind asks casually. Legend looks like he’s about to have an aneurysm when the bomb finally goes off, thankfully in the back corner.

“Better have been fired,” Warriors says darkly. Sky and Twilight nod in agreement.

Time looks to the otherside where there are paintings lining the wall of different creatures, before heading up to where a girl is spying through a window.

“Lullaby?” Warriors asks. Time nods.

Navi goes straight beside her and moves, a bell sound breaking her from her trance and turns around, startled when she see’s Time.

“Who?! Who are you? How did you get past the guards?” She looks at Navi flittering close to Time’s head. “Oh? What's that? Is that...a fairy?! Then, are you... Are you from the forest?” Time nods. “Then...then...you wouldn't happen to have...Spiritual Stone of the Forest, would you?! That green and shining stone. Do you have it?”

“Yes.” Lullaby giggles and claps her hands.

“Just as I thought! I had a dream. In the dream, dark storm clouds were billowing over the land of Hyrule... But suddenly, a ray of light shot out of the forest, parted the clouds and lit up the ground... The light turned into a figure holding a green and shining stone, followed by a fairy...I know this is a prophecy that someone would come from the forest...Yes, I thought you might be the one...Oh, I'm sorry! I got carried away with my story and I didn't even properly introduce myself! I am Zelda, Princess of Hyrule. What is your name?”

“Link.”

“Link... Strange...it sounds somehow...Familiar,” She says in a dreamy voice.

Sky jolts at the fact Zelda’s soul seems to recognize Time’s. Does this mean that the hero and princess will always have a connection, because of him and Sun? He’ll have to think on this a bit later on. Legend bites his lip. He has a love-hate relationship when it comes to prophecies and while this one doesn’t seem too bad, there’s always a hidden meaning that’s never seen until after events.

“OK then, Link. I'm going to tell you the secret of the Sacred Realm that has been passed down by the Royal Family of Hyrule. Please keep this a secret from everyone.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that,” Time says. He doesn’t say it, but he also felt a pull towards Lullaby when they first met. It’s more painful now since she doesn’t remember the other timeline, so they’re just friends after he did a lot of travelling and soul searching after defeating Majora.

“The legend goes like this…” She takes a deep breath. “The three goddesses hid the Triforce containing the power of the gods somewhere in Hyrule. The power to grant the wish of the one who holds the Triforce in his hands. If someone with a righteous heart makes a wish, it will lead Hyrule to a golden age of prosperity...If someone with an evil mind has his wish granted, the world will be consumed by evil...That is what has been told... So, the ancient Sages built the Temple of Time to protect the Triforce from evil ones.” Time has a look of surprise on his face.

Along with everyone else who was unaware of this. Sky had a suspicion from the Temple of Time at the edge of town and Twilight, having been to the temple, was only surprised that the Triforce was once housed there. Legend can’t believe that there was so little protection for the triforce and is now worrying that something will go wrong. Wild was amazed that such a powerful artifact could grant wishes. He wonders if there’s a limit, while thinking about all the damage in his Hyrule from the Calamity.

“So that’s how the triforce can be used,” Four says with curiosity. Wind doesn’t say anything, having seen it be used once before and it’s not something he likes remembering.

“That's right... The Temple of Time is the entrance through which you can enter the Sacred Realm from our world. But the entrance is sealed with a stone wall called the Door of Time. And, in order to open the door, it is said that you need to collect three Spiritual Stones. And another thing you need...is the treasure that the Royal Family keeps along with this legend... The Ocarina of Time!”

Sky can only look at Time. “Does this mean the Sealed Grounds are essentially under Castle Town?” He demands. Time shrugs.

“That’s what it looks like.” Sky curses under his breath. If anything happens to that seal, Castletown will be the first area to feel its wrath. He looks at Warriors in concern, not liking where this is going.

Lullaby looks at Time with a serious look.

“Did you understand well the story I just told you?” Time nods and Lullaby smiles before clapping her hands. “That's great! I forgot to tell you... I was spying through this window just now... The other element from my dream...the dark clouds... I believe they symbolize...that man in there! Will you look through the window at him?” Time leans up towards the window, grasping the ledge to see better. A man is kneeling in the room, unease filling Time’s chest as he looks. “Can you see the man with the evil eyes? That is Ganondorf, the leader of the Gerudos. They hail from the desert far to the west. Though he swears allegiance to my father, I am sure he is not sincere. The dark clouds that covered Hyrule in my dream...They must symbolize that man!” Ganandorf looks over, a cruel smile overcoming his face. Time quickly let’s go and back up.

“What happened? Did he see you?” Lullaby asks worriedly. Time shrugs. “Don't worry. He doesn't have any idea what we're planning...yet!”

Warriors can’t help the worry that’s starting to plague him about this. Something is going to go wrong, he just knows it. Ganandorf doesn’t move without thinking of contingencies first after all.

“Yes. I told my father about my dream... However, he didn't believe it was a prophecy... But...I can sense that man's evil intentions! What Ganondorf is after must be nothing less than the Triforce of the Sacred Realm. He must have come to Hyrule to obtain it! And, he wants to conquer Hyrule...no, the entire world! Link...now, we are the only ones who can protect Hyrule! Please!”

“The King needs proof,” Warriors says quietly. “He won’t act on anything until he has proof.”

“By then it could be too late,” Twilight points out. Warriors nods.

“I know, I’m just saying that even if the King believes Lullaby, he still needs proof that his vassal did something wrong. He can’t invent charges out of thin air without a shred of proof.” Legend scoffs.

“My time did that just fine.”

“We’re not talking about your time though Vet,” Warriors says calmly. “I’m just pointing this out, not criticizing the Princess.”

Time just nods, remembering his promise to the Great Deku Tree. “Thank you! I...I am afraid... I have a feeling that man is going to destroy Hyrule. He has such terrifying power! But it's fortunate that you have come...We must not let Ganondorf get the Triforce! I will protect the Ocarina of Time with all my power! He shall not have it! You go find the other two Spiritual Stones! Let's get the Triforce before Ganondorf does, and then defeat him!”

Sky and Twilight swore under their breath. They have an idea on where this is going now.

“One more thing... Take this letter. I'm sure it will be helpful to you. My attendant will guide you out of the castle. Don't be afraid to talk to her.” Time takes the offe red letter and puts it in his pouch before walking up to the white haired woman.

“I am Impa of the Sheikah.”

Time smiles at the woman, remembering her dedication to Lullaby’s protection. Wild bounces as he watches Time’s Impa with a smile.

“I am responsible for protecting Princess Zelda. Everything is exactly as the Princess foretold. You are a courageous boy. You are heading out on a big, new adventure, aren't you? My role in the Princess's dream was to teach a melody to the one from the forest. This is an ancient melody passed down by the Royal Family. I have played this song for Princess Zelda as a lullaby ever since she was a baby. There is mysterious power in these notes. Now listen carefully. Memorize this song.” Impa whistles the song and Time takes out Saria’s ocarina to mimic the song.

Everyone closes their eyes at the sound, a calm settles over them.

"I like it,” Wind declares.

“I can teach it to you if you would like,” Time offers. Wind nods.

“Even if it’s just whistling,” he says determinedly.

“If the castle soldiers find you, there will be trouble. Let me lead you out of the castle.” Impa takes Time out of the castle and back to the edge of Hyrule Field. “You brave lad,” She says with a smile. “We must protect this beautiful land of Hyrule!” She points towards the mountains ringed with clouds.

“Take a good look at that mountain. That is Death Mountain, home of the Gorons. They hold the Spiritual Stone of Fire. At the foot of Death Mountain you will find my village, Kakariko. That is where I was born and raised. You should talk to some of the villagers there before you go up Death Mountain. The song I just taught you has some mysterious power. Only Royal Family members are allowed to learn this song. Remember, it will help to prove your connection with the Royal Family. The Princess is waiting for you to return to the castle with the stones. All right. We're counting on you!” Impa takes a deku nut, and slams it into the ground. A bright light is sparked and Impa disappears, leaving Time in front of the castle. 

Everyone is silent at the revelations. Of how Lullaby has visions, Ganandorf was once seen as an ally of Hyrule, and the Temple of Time. Legend just knows something is going to go wrong. He doesn’t know where, when, or how, but something will.

Wind and Twilight are having a strange fascination in watching how Ganandorf became what he was in their times from this and give some insight as to what happened. Wind has a little idea as to what happened in his time, while Twilight knows that Ganandorf was technically executed and held a huge grudge against Hyrule because of it.

Wild can only watch in silent horror as he can almost see a cycle repeating itself. Of how a princess tries to prevent a calamity happening and it happens regardless of all her work. Of course, the biggest difference it seems, is that no one believes Lullaby that there is a threat, while with his Zelda, the pressure she was under because of the threats were crushing her. He needs to keep watching though, to see what will come from all this. 

Warriors is concerned with how fast Time wants to get through this, not letting anyone process what they’ve seen or heard. He’s pretty sure that’s worse as there’s probably going to be surprises later on and no one will appreciate the bomb that will go off when it happens.

Chapter Text

Twilight looks over at Warriors before leaning in, trying not to catch anyone else’s attention.

“Forcing a break after this?” He whispers.

Warriors nods. They need to decompress about everything they've been seeing and talk about it. He understands the want to get your journey finished (gods know he’s going to hate when his journey shows up), but everyone else who doesn't know what's coming will be in for some nasty surprises and will need to process it. He himself will need a bit of time to come to terms with what he’s seen so far. Warriors looks to his side to Sky, who’s been pretty quiet.

“Holding up Sky?” He asks quietly. Sky gives him a tiny smile.

“I’m alright,” Warriors gives the clenched hand an unimpressed look before looking back up. Sky flushes slightly and turns.

“It’s just a lot,” he admits.

“We’ll be forcing a break after this,” Warriors promises. He turns back while his mind is running through everything they’ve seen so far. Legend seems to have a handle on everything so far, but it still stands that they need a breather after this to either vent or theorize about things they’ve seen. He knows something is going to happen, especially with the Old Man’s hang ups on the Master Sword, the Gods, and general demeanor. From what Daruna and Ruto have said (which is to say, not much), Time carries a lot of guilt on his shoulders over Ganandorf, which makes him weary about what’s coming. Mask was a child jaded against the world, not one wracked with guilt. Warriors can only hope that Time will accept help and a friendly ear for when Ganandorf shows up properly.

“Ready?” Legend calls out impatiently.

“Ready,” Twilight replies.

Time looks at the place that Impa disappeared from before looking towards the volcano. He could go straight to Death Mountain, but he’s also curious about Malon. He furrows his brows. Malon said Lon Lon Ranch is where she lives, but where is it? He looks around the horizon trying to find it and decides to just start walking, hoping he’ll find it.

“Aww,” Warriors coos. He knows exactly what Time is doing since Death Mountain is in the opposite direction from where he was told to go.

It takes Time until the next day to find the ranch. He stares at it in awe, the gates surrounding the area and in the distance is the house.

Twilight lets out a whistle.

“Sure has grown,” he eyes the paddock and the small cucco coop.

Time keeps going, determined to reach the ranch before the sun sets. He climbs the hill to the gate and heads inside where there are buildings close together. He keeps heading straight until a small field open up to a gated area where Time can barely make out Malon’s red hair. Deciding there’s nothing to it, he enters the area, avoiding the large animals residing in it. Malon is hymning while she pets one of the smaller ones. She gives a small jolt when she realizes there’s someone with her.

“Oh, it's the fairy boy again! I heard that you found my dad!”

“How much trouble do you think Talon was in?” Wild whispers. Legend smirks.

“I would say a lot considering it looks like Malon hasn’t changed much,” he snickers.

“How did you like the castle? Did you see the Princess? Hee hee! Dad came home in a hurry after you found him. Hee hee!”

Warriors, Sky, and Twilight were snickering quietly at that while Time just smiles in fondness.

Malon nearly forgets about her horse when she nudges her.

“Oh yeah, I have to introduce you to my friend, fairy boy! She's this horse. Her name is Epona. Isn't she cute?”

Twilight lets out a small coo at the older Epona, and how she looks nearly identical to his own horse at a young age. Wild holds in a coo and wants to know how rambunctious the young Epona was to ride, especially if she’s anything like the horses in his Hyrule.

Time looks at the creature with a small amount of trepidation. He slowly walks forward, reaches a hand out, and Epona runs away. Malon lets out a small giggle.

“It seems like Epona is afraid of you, fairy boy.” She starts hymning the same tune she did before. Time tilts his head at her.

“My mother composed this song. Isn't it nice? Let's sing together.”

Twilight can’t help but hold onto that piece of family lore. He knows nothing about his biological family with the exception of what Time has told him. He knows this song from his own mother so it seems to be a family song. He smiles at the thought.

Time shyly brings out Saria’s ocarina. Malon looks at it in delight.

“Oh, cute ocarina! Are you going to play this song with that ocarina?” Time nods.

“OK? This is the song.” She hymns it slowly and it takes Time a couple tries with his fumbling fingers to get the song right. He knows he did it right when Epona comes running back.

“Oh, Epona! She's grown fond of you, fairy boy!” Malon pets Epona’s flank while gets a small head toss in response as Epona nudges Time, who looks terrified.

Twilight smiles at Malon’s Epona. She really loves the horse dearly.

Hyrule nods with Time’s fear of horses. Who knew they could be so big? At least they are gentle.

Time tentatively touches Epona who only stays still because of Malon. Time quickly takes his hand away as he backs up. Malon goes back to bringing the horses around, so Time leaves the large pen. Looking at the storage building, he tilts his head before shaking it. He’ll come back, he’s sure of it. He can explore it better then. The child walks between the buildings and the doors got the better of his curiosity. Time heads inside one of the buildings and finds a man forking hay into the two stalls that have cows in them.

“I can't believe that I, the great Ingo, am working on this dump of a ranch!”

Time glares and grits his teeth at the bastard. Why Talon and Malon have to be so tender hearted to let him still work for them on occasion he’ll never understand, especially since he’ll steal the ranch at the first sign of weakness.

Twilight holds in a growl at this. The ranch is fine. As it has deliveries straight to Castle Town, the ranch is in no trouble at all, even if it’s more of a mixed ranch than what he’s worked on himself.

“Because the owner is so lazy, I always have to do to all the work around here! I, the hard-working Ingo, should be in charge, not that lazy bum, Talon!”

“I can see why you don’t like him,” Legend says wearily, eyeing the hired hand with suspicion.

Time grits his teeth at the screen, wishing he could strangle the man for everything he put Malon and Talon through.

Little Time runs up and down looking at all the stalls before getting bored and heads to the next building where he finds Talon in a room full of cuccos.

Everyone but Sky shivers at the room, even Twilight has a little shudder. While not as bad as the others…he still doesn’t like these birds very much.

“Mumble...mumble... Huh? I'm awake already!” Talon shakes his head and blinks when he see’s Time. “What? Well I'll be! If it ain't the forest kid from the other day! By the way, thanks a lot for waking me up! It took some doing, but I finally got Malon back in a good mood.”

“Is that normally a problem?” Legend smirks at Time. Time gives a faint smile.

“Not now, but Malon did have quite the temper as a child.” Legend leans back and looks up at the ceiling.

“Yeah, I can see that.”

“So, what are you up to today?” Time just shrugs, not wanting to go into the quest Princess Zelda gave him. “Got some free time on your hands you say? Well how about a little game?” Time looks at him in curiosity. He likes games.

“These three Cuccos I have here are special Super Cuccos!”

“Super what?” Legend suddenly looks terrified. Sky gives him a puzzled look.

“I never figured out why you don’t like them?” He says innocently, looking at the three vibrating birds. Legend starts grumbling while holding in a shiver.

“They’re demon birds Sky, nothing natural about them.”

Warriors shivers at that as well. He’s heard rumours of a girl weaponizing them and is both curious and does not want to know whether the rumours are true or not.

Twilight tilts his head at this, wanting to know what makes these birds so special.

“I'm going to throw these Cuccos into that there gaggle of normal Cuccos. If you can pick out these three special birds from among the normal Cuccos within the time limit, I'll give you something good. If you can't find them, I win. It'll be 10 Rupees. Want to play?” Time gives Talon a determined look.

“Yes.” Talon gives a grin.

“You have 30 seconds! All righty then, get ready. Here go the Super Cuccos!” He launches them into the air, causing the others to squawk and run around, making it difficult to see where they fell. Time curses his shortness.

“START LOOKIN'!!” Talon bellows. Time looks around the room and picks up the first suspicious bird he sees within four seconds.

Warriors gives a little whistle. Even this young, Sprite is already amazing at picking out details and looking for anomalies. Hyrule nods along with little Time, figuring out what the super cuccos are doing differently from the regular ones. Not that he’ll ever touch them.

“That's one of 'em! Keep it up! Keep it up! Two more to find!” Talon crows. Time picks up another bird and when Talon says nothing, he puts it down before lunging for the other nearby one that’s running and pecking the floor. “That's another! All right, now, the moment of truth! One more to find!” Eighteen seconds left. Where is that bird?! Time looks around frantically and still can’t find it when Talon yells, “time's up! Too baaaaad!! These are some great Cuccos aren't they! They're raking in money for me! Come back to me, my babies!” He coos as the birds all flock to him. Time glowers at the birds.

Several of the chain are also glaring at the screen while some shiver.

“Want to try again? A young man like you must have a real fire in your belly!”

“I’ll take that bet,” Legend says with a teeth filled smile.

"Find three of them within 30 seconds. Try again for 5 rupees?” Time hands over the money in determination, not caring is he has to use up the rest of the money to do it. "Here go the Super Cuccos! START LOOKIN'!!” Time immediately catches the cuckoo who was still falling before heading into a corner and has to pick up a couple before finding the right one. Scrambling to the center of the room, Time can feel the pressure when it gets to ten seconds. It’s only a glimpse from the corner of his eye that he finds the last of the super cuccos.

“Golly! I'll be darned! It's plum incredible! That's the last one! You've found them all! Come on over here!”

“What’s with adults and their puns?” Legend groans.

“I’ve never understood it.”

“It’s to torture you,” Warriors says blandly. Legend glares at him from between his fingers.

Twilight levels Warriors a look that says don’t you dare start doing them. Warriors just gives an angelic smile.

Wild is bouncing where he’s sitting. There’s a game he can start in Hateno! He’s sure the kids will love it!

“Hey, you! You've got the talent to be one of the world's best cowboys! How'd you like to marry Malon? Huh?”

Everyone swirves their heads around to Time, who is now looking faintly amused.

“He tried to sell off his own daughter?” Hyrule asks, aghast.

“How bossy was she?” Wind asks with a frown. Twilight shakes his head.

“I’m sure it was rhetorical.”

“It wasn’t,” Time says off handedly. Twilight’s brain fritzes on that.

“Tell me you told Malon,” Legend begs, mostly because he can imagine her reaction.

Time has a grin on his face, remembering when he told Malon about that. Oh, she was in such a huff, face almost as red as her hair about that! Marching down to see her father and demanding to know if he was trying to sell her off to the first boy who beat his game. Time has never seen Talon cower so much except for that time. Especially when he was begging for forgiveness from Malon who refused to look at him for a week, determined to show her ire. Now, it’s a funny story between them all. One that still has Talon flushing when brought up.

Wild looks at Time up and down before turning.

“Hey Rancher, think the Old Man is trying to take your cowboy title!” Twilight gives a teeth filled grin.

“Up for the challenge, Old Man?”

“I’ll leave it to the young ones these days,” Time says lightly.

“Yes?” Time says quizzically, wondering what he meant by that.

Sky and Warriors face palm at this.

Talon breaks into laughter.

“Haw haw! I was just kidding! Just kidding! I think you're a little young for that, aren't you? Haw haw haw!”

“Won’t stay young forever,” Wind says sagely.

“And how would you know?” Wild asks with a grin. Wind just chucks a pillow at him.

“Aaaand we’re back to this,” Warriors says tiredly. Sky gives a commiserating pat on the back.

“Oh...! I'm proud to present to you a sample of our very own Lon Lon Milk. You'll be energized the moment you drink it! After you drink it, you can bring back the bottle and buy a refill, anytime you want!” He hands Time a bottle filled with milk that he puts in his pouch. He turns back to Talon, only to find he fell back to sleep. Time leaves the building, noticing the sun is setting. Setting himself up near one of the gates, he falls asleep.

“Better to make your way across the plain during the day than at night,” Wild agrees. The number of stals that come after him during the night is ridiculous. Twilight nods in agreement as they all watch Time make his way towards Death Mountain. It takes a couple days, but he makes it at sunset where a guard is outside a village.

“Must be Kakariko,” Legend mutters to himself.

“Hey, son, what are you doing wandering around this late at night?” The soldier barrels through befroe Time can answer. “Oh, I get it. You're testing your courage, aren't you? You must want to go to...a graveyard!” Time gives the soldier a confused look. What’s a graveyard? “Wait a minute! What am I doing talking to a kid? I've got work to do! Work! Work! Ding dong, ding dong! The current time is: 04:39. Head east and you'll find a graveyard. Legends say you can calm the souls of the dead with an old song of the Royal Family.”

“Zelda’s Lullaby, makes sense.” Legend says.

“It’s a powerful song.”

“More powerful than you think,” Time says. “If you play it backwards, you get the Song of the Hero that Sky learnt.” Everyone whips their heads to Sky.

“How powerful is that song?” Legend demands to know. Sky shakes his head.

“I don’t know personally, but if this shows how powerful doing it backwards is, I think you’ll have an answer.”

“Guess we know how it came into being if Sky and Sun helped to create Hyrule,” Hyrule says with a smirk. Sky turns red at this as Warriors ribs him. Sky smacks the offending elbow.

Time makes his way into a village where an emaciated, pale Hylian sits under a tree. He gives the child a look of disgust.

“People are disgusting. My own father and mother are disgusting. You must be disgusting, too!”

“You’re disgusting,” Wind mutters rebelliously. Wild and Hyrule nod along with him.

“It’s the Carpenter’s son.” Time says, voice tinged with sadness. He must have known the consequences of what he did. Everyone knows them. Warriors and Sky give Time a puzzled look before looking at each other and shrugging. They're sure they'll eventually find out.

Time carefully walks around the weird person before running. He heads up the steps where a large well is at the base of a windmill.

Time gives a light shudder seeing The Well. He hates that thing.

“Dark! Narrow! Scary! Well of Three Features.” Navi reads.

“When did you start reading Hylian?” Twilight asks. Time gives a small hymn.

“After this adventure I have to say.” Is all he said about it.

Time can hear the skr-skr-skr from one of the shiny bugs, but ignores it for now. He see’s a small path that leads around the Windmill and follows it.

“Heart-Pounding Gravedigging Tour! From 18:00 to 21:00 Hyrule Time

-Dampé the Gravekeeper"

Time looks over at all the stones and head in, curiosity getting the better of him. Navi reads the large stone in front of them.

“R.I.P Here lies the souls of those who swore fealty to the Royal Family of Hyrule.”

“The Sheikah?” Warriors asks.

“Good possibility,” Wild says with a tilt of his head.

“Kakariko is where my Sheikah tribe is.”

“Same here,” Legend says. Twilight hymns.

“I think it’s the same for me as well but I’m not sure. The village doesn’t exist anymore in my time.”

“There’s no Sheikah?” Warriors says, baffled. Twilight shakes his head.

“Not that I know of.” He says firmly.

“The Sheikah, guardians of the Royal Family and founders of Kakariko, watch over these spirits in their eternal slumber.” Time leaves and looks at the other grave. He tries to read the names, but even if he could understand the characters, they’re too faded to make out. He makes his way up another level where he can hear the gold skulltula, but can’t see it.

“That’s the worst,” Legend says solemnly. Being able to hear the monster but not see it. It ratches the paranoia up to eleven.

As he makes his way up, thunder is heard right before it starts to rain.

Everyone cringes. Dealing with the rain is the worst since you’re left cold and wet.

Time heads up the ledge, stopping before a small cliffside. The ground behind the farthest stone looks like it’s been dragged, so Time decides to pull it back. Wrenching it, he slips to the ground when the stone wouldn’t move back any further. He stands up when a chilling laugh echoes from behind him.

“Watch out!” He barely turns when he is thrown to the ground.

“It’s a Poe,” Navi says as she hovers near it. Time can’t get a hit on the poe as it disappears into the air. Navi darts behind Time which has him spinning around as the poe materializes again.

“I hate poes,” Legend and Wind growl out. Legend has fought too many of them to be charitable, while Wind had to deal with Jalhalla and many regular poes. Twilight found them to be a nuisance more than anything.

Time got a single strike in before it vanishes into the cliff face.

“See, now that’s just rude.”

“I think it’s funny,” Hyrule says with a faint smile.

“You wouldn’t think so if a poe mockingly waves at you as it vanishes.” Legend grouches back.

Warriors holds in his small snort. While baby Time is having trouble, it stands to reason he’s never dealt with poes before so this is understandable.

“Now that’s what I call having a bone to pick,” Four says. He startles Wind as the Smith has been pretty quiet for a little while. Legend nods as Time finally kills the poe, its soul left behind.

“I wouldn’t’ve drank the milk, but each to their own,” he shrugs, as baby Time can’t reach the poe soul to put into the now empty bottle.

“Uh oh,” Warriors says under his breath as the poe fades away. This can’t be good, especially when Sprite gets that look on his face. He can't help the small groan that escapes him. And sure enough, the child pulls on another grave and pulls the poe out so he can catch the essence in the bottle.

“Is that a gold skulltula on the farside?” Wild asks. Warriors squints.

“Looks like it.” Wild nods and makes a mental note of it.

Time looks at the two little stones beside the massive one at the back. Time looks at the closest stone.

“Royal Composer Bros. Sharp the Elder R.I.P.” Time looks at Navi before shrugging, moving the stone away. Pulling on it, it reveals a poe.

“Does this one have a conductor stick?” Wind asks in surprise.

“Looks like it,” Legend snorts.

“And a mustache,” Twilight adds with a grin.

“Are those hair curls from under the hat?” Warriors asks with a shudder.

Time gives a little grin, knowing how to defeat these poes now. However, instead of turning purple like the other two did, this one turned green.

“That’s different,” Legend furrows his eyebrows as he thinks.

“Different type of ghost?” Wind offers.

“It’s possible,” Four agrees.

“But I don’t think we’ll know yet."

“GYAAAAH! YOU KILLED ME...Unbelievable!”

“So green is for poes who can talk then,” Wind says blandly.

“I’ve never heard a ghost sound so offended,” Legend says in amusement.

Sky hides his snort of amusement.

“Oh, what? You're not one of Ganondorf's men, are you?”

Sky’s amusement drops. It always comes back to Ganandorf doesn’t it.

“Because of my role as a ghost, I had to act like that. I apologize. Now then, let me introduce myself. Ahem... I am one of the ghostly composer brothers of Kakariko Village. All the people in this village are born to serve the Royal Family of Hyrule.”

“Does this mean they’re Sheikah?” Sky asks. Time just shrugs.

“We brothers also served the Royal Family, and were assigned to study the hereditary mystic powers of the family. Though we never could figure out the power of the Triforce, we had almost completed our study of controlling time with the tones of ocarinas.”

“I’m still saying time stones,” Sky crosses his arms.

“It’s the only thing that makes sense.”

“True, and add in the royal family’s magic, it’s a powerful tool,” Legend agrees.

“If it’s so powerful, where is it?” Wind asks.

“I know mine is probably destroyed or at the bottom of the ocean, but what about yours?” He looks over at Twilight. Twilight just shrug.

“I’ve never heard of a time traveling ocarina before, but it could’ve past into myth if it was known by the public, which I don’t think it was.” Time says nothing, face staring straight at the screen.

“Uh, I mean... Actually, we did complete that study! We would have been famous, if that hateful Ganondorf had not tried to steal our results. We could never let him reap the fruits of our research! That's why we gave our lives to protect the secret.”

“Wait,” Sky sits up straight, eyes fully alert.

“Does this mean Ganandorf has been on a killing spree for a while and the King hasn’t done anything yet?”

“I thought we already established that?” Hyrule says. Legend scoffs.

“Either the King is playing the long game, or he’s ignoring everything in front of him.”

“Do we know how long they’ve been dead for?” Wild asks Time. Time shakes his head, never having known himself. Warriors falls into deep thought.

“Ganandorf doesn’t strike me as reckless,” he says slowly, trying to piece together the evidence and from the stories he’s heard from others about this iteration.

“I doubt he did this around the time of poisoning the Great Deku Tree or else it may have been noticed.”

“You think that was done years ago.” Twilight surmises. Warriors nods.

“At the time, it could’ve been done as a simple assassination, or Ganandorf could’ve done it himself, but that would've run the risk of being caught. I doubt he would’ve done that.”

“I wonder if this was widely known, what they were researching,” Wild says quietly. He’s always wondered about that, especially in his own time, why Ganon chose to strike on Flora’s birthday. It was well known what they were doing and he wonders if it’s a similar situation here.

“We also don’t know how old Ganandorf is here,” Legend says sharply.

“If he is a sorcerer, then he certainly could’ve delved into dark magic to extend his lifespan.”

“Unless there was someone to do it for him,” Time says thoughtfully.

“Twinrova,” Legend growls out the names as a curse. Time looks at Legend in surprise, wondering how he’s heard of the two witches. They were dead in Wind’s time, and he’s never had any issues with them in his own time either, unless they were just waiting to see what will happen.

“He also said they were finished,” Sky says slowly.

“Did anyone ever find out about the power in the royal family?”

“Not that I know of,” Time says slowly. Twilight, Wind, and Legend all shake their heads.

“Everything was destroyed after the Great Flood,” Wind says simply.

“Too much time,” Twilight said simply, not to mention he’s pretty sure the Royal family either destroyed the papers, or they’re under lock and key.

“Wars.” Is all Legend said with Warriors nodding. Hyrule shakes his head, knowing that his Hyrule barely has anything from before his predecessor. Not to mention the Ganon from his time was little more than a monster, barely having any intelligence.

Four just shrugs. Dot never really cared about knowing all the details, not to mention Gaon was a mindless beast when he fought him.

Warriors isn’t sure about Artemis, unless during the Time Wars she was told. If she was, she’s doing a good job with saying nothing about it.

Wild knows that no one in his time knows. That’s part of what got them into a mess in the first place.

“The Triforce is whole so it can’t be that,” Hyrule says while thinking.

“Could it be the ocarina itself?”

“Maybe,” Four says uneasily.

“Lullaby did say it was passed down as it’s one of the keys to the Sacred Realm.”

“Maybe it’s not so much a power as a secret,” Wind suggests. Twilight shakes his head.

“It could be both in this case,” he’s thinking. It’s the only possibility he can think of right now. Legend shakes his head.

“In any case, I don’t think we’ll know unless there are any more hints or clues.” Everyone reluctantly nods and keeps watching.

Time watches as the ghost disappears before looking at Navi. Navi just floats to the other small gravestone on the other side.

“Royal Composed Bros Flat the Younger R.I.P.” Time once again, bested the ghost.

“GYAAAAH! I'M DEAD AGAIN!”

“If it wasn’t so tragic, it would be funny,” Wild comments.

“What? You again?”

“Bu…it’s a different poe,” Hyrule says, dumbfounded.

“Whose to say they don’t talk?” Time says in amusement. Warriors gives Time a flat look.

“You know when you say things like that, it’s hard to know whether to believe you or not.”

“The moon,” Wind cough out. Time gives the teenager a dry look.

“Somehow, you remind me of... Princess Zelda... Hmm... Since you may have some connection with the Royal Family, I will tell you a little more of our tale.”

“There’s more?” Wind says in horror.

“Back then, people called us great composers because of the many musical masterpieces we wrote. But we brothers were not just composers. We had a mission to analyze the mysterious powers of Hyrule's Royal Family. Our names would be a part of Hyrule's history if we could complete our research! We kept our study extremely secret until we completed it. To tell the truth, each of us was studying a different song, one to summon the sun and another to summon the moon.”

“Please tell me that’s not literal,” Legend says, giving Time a beseeching look. Time just has a blank look on his face.

“If you were really sent by a member of the Royal Family, I will tell you about the results of  our study. We inscribed it on the royal tombstone. As a messenger of the Royal Family, you should show your Royal credentials on top of the Triforce mark. Do you want to hear what I said again?” Time shakes his head and the poe disappears.

“So they completed this song and before they died, they inscribed it on the royal family tomb,” Legend summarizes, making sure he has the facts right.

“I will say again, when did this all happen? Because it sounds like it happened years ago from this time.”

“I don’t think we’ll ever know Vet, not unless you march up to Lullaby’s castle and demand to see the records.” Twilight says with faint amusement.

“Still, it leads credence to the theory that Ganon has been working on this for a while though,” Hyrule says as he thinks over everything.

“I agree with the Captain with that. The Deku Tree seems to be the latest in the events to get to the Sacred Realm.”

“Ganandorf can’t get to the Sacred Realm, not without the ocarina of time,” Four says.

“Whose to say he won’t get it in the future?” They all swivel their heads to Time.

“I’m not saying anything,” he says tightly. Wind pouts but nods. Legend lets out a sigh and continues watching.

Time jogs towards the large gravestone at the back, a mark of the triforce is dug into the ground.

“Is this where the lullaby is to be played?” Hyrule asks. Time just nods.

Time fumbles with the ocarina and it takes a couple tries before he can get the lullaby correct, especially with how slippery his fingers are from the rain. Thunder and lightning crack in the sky before a light appears on the grave. A crack of lightning strikes the stone, blowing it to pieces. Time is thrown back with a scream as he lands, rock raining down around him.

Everyone cringes at that. That must have been terrifying for the child.

He slowly gets up at the now revealed hole. Taking a deep breath, he jumps in.

"Are those skeletons?” Wind asks.

“Grave robbers most likely,” Warriors says. Legend is squinting at the writing at the back, wanting to growl when he can’t make it out.

“Or could they be from Ganandorf wanting that song?” Wind ponders.

“It’s an idea, one I hope is wrong,” Legend agrees.

Time looks up at the flying monster.

“It’s a Keese,” Navi says. Time nods and gets out his slingshot to shoot them down. Once done, Time takes a moment to look around while the grate on the door opens, the two unlit torches stand beside it. He walks up to a skeleton sitting against the wall.

“Those who break into the Royal Tomb will be obstructed by the lurkers in the dark,” Navi reads the jagged writing on the wall beside the bones.

Several shiver from that warning.

“Sounds like ReDeads,” Wind says with a shudder. Those things still haunt his dreams, the lifeless black eyes, the grabby hands…Time gives the teen a worried look, to which he got a shaking head in return.

Navi flies off to the other side of the room, hovering over a skull.

“Did someone carve this on a head?” Sky asks in horror.

“Looks like it,” Legend squints.

“Shine light on the living dead.”

Warriors has a hand on his chin while he thinks. Maybe it’s in reference to the song the Composer brothers talked about.

Time walks through the door, sword out and shield up, as an eerie green fills his sight.

“I don’t like the look of this,” Legend declares. He eyes to green steam coming off the pools of water in suspicion.

“Those are ReDeads,” Wind says in slight terror, looking at the one whose standing innocently halfway across the room.

“Navi,” Time says nervously.

“ReDead,” Navi whispers.

“Its gaze will paralyze you. If it bites you, you must escape any way you can!”

“Are they like Gibdos?” Hyrule asks.

“They’re almost identical,” Legend says, but not without a slight tremble. Those enemies always give him trouble, no matter how much experience he has. Twilight holds in a shiver, knowing that Shade’s instructions are the only reason why he got through the Arbitur’s Ground. Wind is tense as Time tries to hug the wall going around the ReDead and almost jumps when it screams, freezing Time in place. He darts his eyes to the older man and only relaxes a fraction when he see’s that he’s still there, especially when Time on screen shakes off the effects and sprints across the room.

“Looks like some were desperate to get to the tomb.”

“I’ll say,” Legend quips as they look at the two skulls and scattered bones about.

“Hopefully it was quick because I don’t want to imagine the ReDeads getting them,” Wind shudders. Warriors, Sky, and Twilight all look at Wind.

“Where did that come from?” Warriors exclaims. Wind shrugs.

“You hear stories.”

“I don’t think I like that one,” Hyrule says, looking slightly green.

“This poem is dedicated to the memory of the dearly departed members of the Royal Family.”

The rising sun will eventually set.

A newborn's life will fade.

From sun to moon, moon to sun...

Give peaceful rest to

the living dead.

Restless souls wander

where they don't belong.

bring them calm with

the Sun's Song.

“This is an interesting poem...huh?” Navi hovers closer, looking at the weird scratches in the corner. “Something is inscribed on the tombstone. It's the secret melody of the Composer Brothers!” She says in excitement. Time brings out the ocarina and looks at where the dots are. From what he can tell, the lower the dot, the lower the sound.

Warriors nods, thinking along with the logic as Time would never have come across a piece of written music before.

He runs through the different combinations and is able to figure out the song when he hears a single crack of thunder, and then it becomes quiet once again. Heading back towards the ReDeads, Time decides to try the song. It couldn’t hurt, could it?

Everyone watches with baited breath as Time plays the melody. A sharp crack is heard and all the ReDeads are paralyzed.

"That's useful," Legend says with a grin. He wonders if Time will show him how to play it on his own ocarina.

“Get 'em, get 'em!” Wind eggs on as Time kills them one at a time while they're frozen.

“No lasting trauma from those is there,” Sky murmurs to Warriors. Warriors can only give a weary nod at that.

As Time climbs out, it’s still dark out, so he decides he really wants to talk with one of the brother’s again so he pulls the gravestone once again (how did it move back?), and defeats Flat.

“Did you try to play the Sun's Song?” He asks eagerly. “Like I told you before, with that song, you can turn day to night or night to day whenever you want. When you're in darkness, that song should bring the sun's light to you. You should try it.”

“Already did.”

“Against the ReDeads maybe, but not outside,” Twilight points out.

Time plays the song, and nothing happens for a moment, before the sun begins to rise.

“How is that possible?” Legend rounds on Time.

“Time manipulation, really? With one song?” Time just gives a mysterious smile before it drops.

“It only goes forward, not backwards.” He says curtly.

"Ganandorf could wreck havoc on Hyrule with a song like that." Warriors frowns. 

"I wonder if that's really the only song they created," Twilight says, weary eyes staring at the ocarina. 

"Makes you wonder doesn't it?" Legend has a humourless smile of his face.

Time stares at the ocarina in awe at its power before noticing another child in the graveyard, waving around a stick. He races down to them, wanting to say hi.

“Little kids can't go on the Heart-Pounding Gravedigging Tour described on the sign.” The child sulks.

“Since I can't do that, I'm just imitating Dampé the gravekeeper all day. But with my cute face, I'm not heart-pounding at all, am I?” Time just shakes his head, causing the child to pout at him.

Time can’t help the faint tremble through his arms. He still wonders to this day, what that child’s fate was. Did he run to the Lost Woods and become a Skull Kid? Was his family killed by Ganandorf? Or were they lucky and able to flee Hyrule?

Time runs around and begins to pull on a stone.

“Don't cause trouble! I'll tell Dampé!” Time drops his arms, promising himself to come back when it’s dark out. He gives a slight glare before running back towards the village. He stops before the house and knocks.

“Be quiet!” Time jumps at the volume. “It's only 06:35! I, Dampé the gravekeeper, am in bed now! Go away and play! Maybe you can find a ghost in the daytime?”

“Little cranky,” Legend says.

“Not like others have pulled all nighters and stayed awake during the day.” Warriors raises an eyebrow, curious to know how sluggish the Vet got by then, but figured he better not touch that bomb.

Time heads back into the village where cuccos are clucking everywhere, men are running around, and all around chaos.

Twilight can’t help but smile at the chaotic nature of small villages.

“Have you seen Mr. Dampé, who lives in the graveyard up ahead?” Time starts when a large man comes running past him.

“That’s Shiro,” Time says with a bit of affection, "one of the builders.”

“It's 06:35 right now, so he's probably asleep in his hut. Why don't you go out onto the field and kill some time?” Time gives him a flat look before turning and looking at a lady who is panicking.

“What should I do!? My Cuccos have all flown away!” She spots Time and points at him. “You, little boy, please! Please help me bring them back to this pen!” Time stares at her.

Nearly everyone else stares at her as well.

“You had to catch cuccos?” Legend says slowly.

“The demon birds?”

“They’re fine Vet,” Sky says with some exacerbation.

“Just because you get along with those things too well doesn’t mean the rest of us want to deal with them!” Legend may have also had to catch them, it doesn't mean he likes them.

Twilight hides his smile at Legend’s wailing. Wait until he see’s what happens when he get’s in range of one…

Time turns and finds a white bird clucking nearby. So he picks it up, and runs back to the pen before chucking it in.

“My Cuccos have run away!” She wails.

“Please catch six more!”

“The Great Hunt,” Wild says solemnly. Four snorts at the pretension of it all.

"Could be pigs," Wind has a glint in his eyes.

Time runs up towards the Windmill and opens the door, music playing and reverberating throughout the room.

Time is already getting the familiar headache associated with this song.

“Go around! Go around and around and around!” The man sings. “What fun! I'm so happy! I'm a music man who loves to go around and around! Go around and around!!! I'm trying to come up with a musical theme inspired by this windmill...going around and around and around!!!” Time notices a heart piece, fingers twitching, but knows he can’t reach it, so he leaves after not finding any cuccos.

Looking around, he can see another cucco behind some fencing near the windmill. Trying his luck, he decides to jump, but falls short and brushes the dirt off his knees, glaring up at the posts.

He walks around towards the unfinished house and tries to get up on the beam, when another man knocks him down, ignoring the child he knocked off.

Twilight and Warriors grind their teeth at that while holding their tongue.

“Look at that poor girl over there,” the man waxes on, “she works so hard taking care of her chickens, even though touching them gives her goose bumps...What a trooper! I would really like to help her! I've just been feeling so charitable these days! Don't you feel that way, too?” Time just glares up at him.

“Sounds like she has an allergy,” Warriors says. Twilight cringes in sympthy. Sara has a nasty one which is part of the reason why she runs the general store.

Time can feel his frustration bubbling under the surface as he stomps up the steps.

“All day long, we are working on many construction projects in the village. It's going to take awhile before everything is done. Our boss works us very hard!” Time just storms past before finding a cucco. He smashes his fists against the wall near the bird, startling it. Time looks at it in curiosity.

“Don’t do it, DON’T DO IT!” Legend shrieks, hiding his eyes beneath his hat.

“Do what?” Hyrule asks. Legend just points at Time, who irritated the bird enough that it called in the cavalry.

“Demon birds, demon birds,” Four’s eyes flash blue as he mutters, eyes staring at the floor seeing nothing.

Wind shudders as he begins muttering, trying to ward off their evilness.

Hyrule now looks terrified, happy that they don’t exist in his time, but also now more terrified about what could’ve killed them.

Sky watches in awe and slight terror at the damage these birds can do.

Warriors shudders. He’s seen the battlefield after those demon birds are done and they’re terrifying.

Wild shudders. He’s set them on bokoblins on purpose for a reason.

Time slams into a door as the birds peck at him.

“My little boy isn't here right now. I think he went to play in the graveyard…” Time throws himself across to the next house, hearing the clucking of the cuccos. He gulps in air, the cuts on his arms and legs stinging. He turns around to see an empty shop and a man inside.

“A job where you can make a lot of money without much effort...The only thing I can think of is thievery... Is that a bad idea?”

“Yes.” Several voices ring out.

The boy just stares at him in confusion. Thievery? Time shakes his head, ears straining for any noise outside. When he hears nothing, he slowly opens the door to the regular clucking of a cucco. Snatching the now dubbed demon bird, Time looks at the fenced off area near the building site where he can’t reach before looking at the bird and the roof of the house beside him.

“Oh no,” Warriors groans.

“Oh yes,” Wind says evilly.

Time jumps off the roof and hovers down towards the next cucco near the uncomplete house. Chucking the one in his arms, he picks up the new one and brings it to the pen before backtracking and grabbing the original one.

Warriors can only bury his face in his hands. This is what he had to deal with when he had Sprite with him. Complete, and total chaos in the camps. Somehow he never got court martialed for the antics, thank the goddesses.

Wind and Wild give Time flat looks.

“Why do you tell us not to do stunts like this when you clearly did them too!” Wind exclaims. Time raises an eyebrow at him.

“Adult. Supervision.” Wind narrows his eyes.

“And if we ever meet your Grandmother…”

“You play dirty Old Man,” Wind hisses. Wild has a smug look on his face before Time turns to him.

“Zelda. Impa.” Wild opens his mouth before closing it with an audible click before giving Time a sour look. Twilight sags in relief.

Time runs up the stairs towards the Windmill, looking at the fence in determination.

Legend snickers at Time while watching him try multiple times to get the cucco to reach the fence.

“There you go,” he coos after the fifth time. Time gives Legend a flat look while Wild giggles nearby, Hyrule muffling his own snickers.

Time barely skims the fence and throws the cucco on the other side, running down to grab the second cucco and also throwing it over the fence after running up the side of the house. He ignores the hole in the ground at the moment, staring up at the third cucco on top of the cliff where a ladder is.

“That’s five isn’t it?” Wind asks.

“Missing two then,” Four points out after Time throws the cucco into the pen.

Time runs around, listening for any noises. He can hear a skr-skr-skr inside a house. Curious, he heads inside.

“That doesn’t look like a house,” Four frowns.

“Looks more like an abandoned house,” Legend notices with all the spider webs everywhere.

Time looks around the place when a shadow appears.

“Watch out!” Navi cries. Time jumps back when a skulltula appears. Time brings out his sword when Navi flies closer, forcing Time to take a look at the monster.

“Is that a person’s face on it?” Hyrule asks in horror. Legend’s eyes are wide as he nods.

“Curse?” Four asks the room.

“Curse.” several reply. Warriors can’t help but whistle.

“One nasty curse I’d say,” he says. Twilight can’t help but agree, fingers twitching for the shard under his shirt. At least he was a proper animal and not turned into a monster people would kill automatically.

“Yeaaarrgh! I'm cursed!!”

“We can see that.”

“Can they say anything else in this form?” Sky wonders, as Time runs around the room and gets the same answer every time.

Time just shrugs, not knowing the answer himself.

Time looks up and notices a large skulltula in the middle of the room. Staring up at the ceiling, he shuffles forward until it comes flying at him. Time jumps back and stares at the largest of the bunch. This one though, has a human arm and hand at the end of a Skulltula’s leg joint.

Everyone couldn’t help but shudder at this. A fate worse than death, they all silently say.

“That’s horrible,” Wind says quietly.

“We all look like this because of the spider's curse.”

“Spider’s curse?” Hyrule tilts his head.

“They never explained what happened,” is all Time said.

“If every Spider of the Curse in the entire world were destroyed, the curse would be broken.”

“Makes sense,” Twilight says slowly.

“When you destroy a Spider of the Curse, a token will appear. Collect it as proof of your achievement. Of course, this is just our dream. You don't have to do it if you don't want to.”

“Guilt tripping?” Sky has a frown on his face at that.

“To a child no less?”

“I wonder how many other’s were asked,” Warriors says quietly, a dark look shadowing his eyes.

“The Old Man looks like he’s not from the village so I don’t think he counts to them,” Twilight offers quietly. He hates the thought, but that’s how the extremely isolated villages think, at least in his era.

“If you break the curse on my family, we will make you very rich.”

“Bribery?” Legend says in disgust.

“Seems like this proves that them being greedy was the cause,” he scoffs.

“Or, they were cursed just for the sake of it,” Warriors argues back.

Time tune out their bickering and has a blank look on his face. He has conflicting feelings about this family. On one hand, it’s terrible to have to suffer a curse like this, not going outside for fear of being killed and needing one hundred tokens to be changed back to normal. Not to mention the possibly innocent people in the family being cursed because of one man. On the other…it could be argued that they brought this on themselves by being greedy, the family head being the worst and bribing him to keep looking for the tokens. Of course, he never said anything about it to others because he’s not cruel. Although, after coming back to the timeline he’s in, he did make sure that the curse was properly broken, to the family’s delight. He still got a massive wallet which he refused to turn down.

Time says nothing and just leaves the house instead. Deciding to climb up the long ladder to a small deck, Time looks around the village, trying to find the cuccos. He can see one at the entrance of the area where he first came through, but can’t find the second. Was it in a house? He hops off the deck and rolls, ignoring the screaming in his ankles.

Wild, Wind, Twilight, and Sky all cringe at the height of the fall, knowing that Time would be hurting somewhere.

He heads to the entrance and picks up the bird before bringing it back to the pen with its brethren. Deciding to check in the houses he hasn’t been in, he checks all the doors, some locked, and others he’s already been in. He went inside the house at the bottom of the ramp to the top of the hills. Heading inside, there’s a woman tending to the fire.

Everyone stares at her.

“Nice hair?” Sky says uncertainly.

“That’s what you comment on?” Warriors turns to him.

Legend shivers at the large teeth, and the fashion. One does not survive Hytopia and come out without a small sense of fashion.

“Hi, boy! Is this the first time you've visited this village?” She asks kindly. Time nods eagerly.

“A great woman, Impa, opened this village to us poor folk. Well, make yourself at home. The food isn't ready yet, though.” Time refuses kindly, not wanting to take her food away and quickly leaves the house so she doesn’t try and offer it again. He circles the village twice before wanting to rip out his hair.

Deciding to try that hole he ignored earlier, he grabs a cucco from the pen and flies into the gated area. After throwing the cucco away, he jumps down and stares at the hole. He gives an uncertain look at Navi, who flies to hover over it. Taking a breath, Time jumps down the hole. A sandy pit with a few puddles, a chest, and a stone with an eye carved on it are at the end of the area. Time eagerly goes to the chest and fishes out a red rupee.

“Nice,” Legend says with a smirk.

Time crawls out of the hole and notices a side ladder leading up to the back of a house. Curious, he heads up and jiggles the door knob.

“Who’s there?” Time couldn’t help but jump. “What a bad kid, trying to enter from the rear door! Such a bad kid.” A pause.

“I have to tell you some juicy gossip!”

“What?” Wind’s face is utterly confused.

“They, he…what?”

“I think the Sailor broke,” Twilight says to Warriors with a small smirk.

"The boss carpenter has a son. He's the guy who sits under the tree every night. Don't tell the boss I told you that!” Time just jumps off and climbs up to the windmill, trying to find the last cucco after throwing the one he borrowed back in the pen. Time can feel himself getting frustrated with himself the longer he can’t find this cucco. He even jumped into the well to find it!

Time holds in the shiver.

Going around, he circles the area where he can hear the bird clucking.  He comes across the house he ran out of where the clucking is the loudest. Time can’t see anything but a crate.

“It’s in the crate,” Several voices pipe up. Legend just groans and puts his head in his hands.

“Why didn’t I think of it before?” He moans.

“Because they usually can’t get into crates,” Twilight says blandly.

“They’re not like cats.”

“Bloody demon birds,” Legend hisses.

“Should we find a relic to ward them off for him, or gift him one?” Warriors asks Twilight with a smirk. Twilight looks at him like he’s crazy.

“I want no part of that since I enjoy living.”

Navi hovers above the crate, uncertain. Time just glares at it and hopes the bird is in there. He’s too close for the first two tries, but the third one is the charm and the cucco in all its glory, clucks and runs around now. Time runs after it before finally catching it and throws it in the pen, glaring at it before sweetly smiling up at the lady.

Warriors shivers at that smile.

“Thank you for finding my Cuccos. I have allergies, so I get goose bumps when I touch them.”

Sky feels sympathetic to the lady, unable to take care of her birds without breaking out into rashes.

“For helping me, I will give this to you. It's fine glass, and should be useful. Please take good care of it!” She hands Time a bottle.

“That’s two!” Wind crows.

“Hopefully there’ll be more,” Hyrule says.

“There’ll be more,” Legend says certainly.

“There’s always more than two.”

Time grins at her happily as he takes the empty bottle and stashes it with the other that’s holding the poe. Now it’s time to head to Death Mountain. He heads up towards the guarded gate that’s shut, a little wooden sign is off to the side. 

Death Mountain 

No passage without a Royal Decree!

“I wonder what’s causing the segregation,” Twilight muses.

“Maybe something to do with Hylians?” Wild offers. He remembers some of the Zora’s temper over him showing up after waking up. It took defeating the Phantom Ganon inside the Devine Beast before those old Councilors out even look at him without glaring.

“My money’s on Ganon,” Four says.

“When in doubt, blame Ganandorf,” Wind says solemnly.

“I do that anyway,” Legend waves off. “However, it could be that relations have deteriorated. I’ve seen it happen in my era with the Zora’s as they’re falling into factions.”

“In mine, the Zora’s are enemies of Hylians,” Hyrule says quietly.

Twilight can’t help but stare at that. In his era, the Zora still have good relations with Hylians, even if some of it is tense because of the Twilight Invasion.

“We’ll possibly find out what’s causing this if we keep watching,” Warriors says.

Time looks at Navi and the gate, before heading over to the guard.

“The road is closed beyond this point! Can't you read the sign over there?” Time gives him a flat look. This was that kid’s father?

“Eh? Oh, I see. You're just a kid, and you can't read yet. Ha ha hah!”

Warriors, Sky, Twilight, and Legend all glare at the screen, daring him to keep laughing.

“It’s not a crime to not be able to read,” Hyrule says tightly. His reading and writing are pretty basic, he’ll admit, but his Zelda’s have been helping in that regard.

“Do they have schools in this era?” Sky asks. Time just shrugs, never having gone to one.

Time fishes out the letter the Princess gave his and shows it to the guard.

“Oh, this is... This is surely Princess Zelda's handwriting!” He takes the letter. “Well, let's see... Hmmm... OK… "This is Link... He is under my orders to save Hyrule." The guard bursts out laughing. “Wah ha ha ha hah! What kind of funny game has our Princess come up with now?!”

“When written like that, I can see why he’s laughing,” Warriors says begrudgingly.

“OK, OK, all right. You can go now... Just be careful, Mr. Hero! Wah hah ha ha hah!”

“Doesn’t mean he has to be rude about it,” Four says, a frown on his face as he watches.

“Most people don’t take kids seriously,” Legend says, knowing from experience.

“Then when the child is proven right, some start scrambling.”

“Not all adults,” Twilight says pointedly at him.

“No, not all,” he begrudgingly agrees.

The guard opens the gate. Before Time starts walking, he gives him a piece of advice.

“By the way, Mr. Hero... If you're going to climb Death Mountain, you should equip a proper shield! It is an active volcano, after all!”

“That will burn up,” Wild says knowingly.

“Fire does like wood after all.”

“You’re the expert on that,” Four says unimpressed.

“If you go back to Hyrule Castle Town Market, you should check out the Bazaar. They sell the shield you need there. Tell 'em I sent you and they should give you a special discount! If you think you're good to go already, don't worry about it.”

"Helpful." 

"Wish I had that," Twilight grumbles, knowing that Malo would never offer anything lower than what he think he's owed.

Time gives Navi an uneasy look. He doesn’t want to lose his Kokiri shield and be left defenseless, but he also really wants to head to the Gorons. Navi, flutters her wings so she’s flying towards Kakariko’s entrance, showing her opinion on the matter. Time sighs and nods, starting to walk away back towards the castle.

“Now, I'd like to ask a favor of you.” The guard calls out. Time stops and tilts his head. “No, I don't expect you to do it just because of the great tip I just gave you! I'm just asking! Have you been to the Happy Mask Shop that just opened in the Hyrule Castle Town Market?” Time nods. “Everyone is talking about it! My little boy pesters me for a popular mask, but I don't have time to go there. So, could you go and get the mask for me next time you are in the Market? If you don't feel like it, that's OK, but... Well, I have no choice, this is my job.” He lets out a sigh.

“Since you’re going back, I don’t see why that wouldn’t be a problem for you.”

Warriors wonders which mask Time ends up picking. He’s seen several in Time’s collection when he was in his era, and when he pulled them out to show the group (and give him a heart attack).

Time heads back down the hills, knowing that his pockets are going to be lighter and the weight on his back will be heavier. He can see an older man standing at the base of the tree his son was sitting at when he first came in.

“I am the boss of the carpenters that Impa hired to improve this village and make it into a true city! But young men these days don't have any ambition... Do you know what I mean, kid? My workers are just running aimlessly around the village, and they're not making any progress at all... Even my own son doesn't have a job, and he just wanders around all day! They're all worthless, I tell you!!” Time just stares at him before walking back towards the entrance. He’ll take a nap and then head back to Castletown.

Chapter Text

When Time makes it to the drawbridge of Castletown, he races in as the lively music gets louder.

Legend can’t help but enjoy this Castletown with how lively everything is.

Wild watches, memorizing what he can so he can tell Flora all about it as they reconstruct their own Castletown from the century of destruction.

Time heads into the Baazar, the man behind the counter booming “Welcome!” as soon as he walks in.

“I feel like he isn’t getting enough sleep,” Warriors comments, looking at the man’s bloodshot eyes.

"I find most business people are unhinged," Wild says. Legend gives him a dry look.

"You fit right in then."

“My current hot seller is the Hylian Shield, but it might be too big for you, kid.”

Hyrule cringes at the 80 rupee price tag.

“The guard at the Death Mountain gate told me about your shields!” Time gives the man a sunny smile. The elder softens as he looks down.

“You heard about us from the guard at Death Mountain gate? Well, I have to give you a good deal then!” He says in a jolly voice.

“Only knocked five rupees off?!” Legend howls as little Time hands over the rupees.

“Malarkey of a deal,” Wind muttered viciously.

"Five rupees are five rupees though," Hyrule points out, not wanting to remember his own Hyrule's struggling economy.

Time heads next door to the potion shop as he still has the empty bottle from the Cucco Lady to fill. Looking at everything, he stares at the red potion.

“That’s thirty rupees,” The shop keeper said.

“So cheap,” Legend stares at the price. If he had that price, he’d be racing to the potion shop every chance he’d get.

Twilight just hymns with a small smile, while Four and Warriors stare at the price as well, fingers twitching at the price.

Wind just shrugs, considering that’s what he pays, while Wild doesn’t have any potions.

Hyrule stares at the price as well, considering what he also has to pay to get his medicines.

Time stares for a moment before racing out of the shop. He slows down near the drawbridge where THE ROOM is.

Everyone can feel smiles curling on their faces.

Entering the room, all the pots have been replaced, so Time gets to work destroying them all and got enough rupees to cover the potion. Looking at the boxes, Time decides to destroy them, seeing what he gets. Instead of rupees, there’s a golden skulltula inside the one box. Killing it, a gold token appears for him to grab. Satisfied, Time heads back to the shop and gets a red potion before heading back to Kakariko Village.

“What about the mask?” Wind asks in confusion.

“I go back for it,” Time says lightly.

“He admits to something,” Warriors says under his breath.

Time heads back towards the Death Mountain gate where the same guard still stands.

“I wish I could go to the mask shop in town to buy a present for my kid,” he sighs as Time runs past him. A long, thin trail snakes through the mountain, to the point where you can't see the top.

"Impa said that the Spiritual Stone of Fire is somewhere on Death Mountain." Navi says, trying to pass the time, nervously hovering near Time. Time meanwhile, is looking for any creatures before the sun completely sets. He spies a spider like creature before turning to Navi. “Red Tektite,” Navi told him as he stares at the one eyed creature. Time slowly creeps up to it as it jumps at him. Time watches as it leaps over head so he brings his sword high to slice through its belly. Moving forward, he miss-times the next one and is clipped on the shoulder instead. He slowly makes his way up the trail, killing the tektite’s until he comes across a huge boulder in front of a cave entrance, a sign that reads

Dodongo's Cavern

Don't enter without permission!

-and a rock like creature beside it. The creature looks around before face planting into the rock.

Legend, Wind, Wild, and Twilight all bark out a laugh at the display.

Time pokes at the creature with his sword until it wakes up.

Warriors and Sky can’t help but facepalm at this. Wind cackles.

The creature groans before leaning up and looks over at the small child.

“I am one of the Gorons, the stone-eating people who live on Death Mountain. Look at that huge boulder over there! It blocks the entrance to the Dodongo's Cavern, which was once a very important place for us Gorons. But one day, many Dodongos suddenly appeared inside the cavern.” Time can only stare in confusion. What in the forest is a Dudongo?

“It became a very dangerous place! On top of that, a Gerudo man in black armor used his magic to seal the entrance with that boulder!”

You can hear the grinding of teeth at the mention of Ganandorf.

“If you want to hear more Goron gossip, head up to our city! Goron City is just a little way up on the trail. It won't take much longer to get there, even on foot.”

“Goron gossip is the best!” Wild chirps. Twilight shakes his head with a smile, remembering the Wild child coming out of the city, chattering about all the latest gossip he’s heard and speculates about all of it.

Time keeps heading up the trail as the darkness of the night and the howl of wolfos fills the air in the distance. He reaches a small plateau where another goron is sleeping. The goron wakes as the child walks closer.

“They say that a beautiful fairy lives on top of Death Mountain! Don't you want to see her?”

Warriors lets out a small shiver at that. He and Great Fairy’s (because that’s what it sounds like here), don’t get along the best, on his side at least.

Time only shrugs, not knowing if he does or not. He finds a sign that says

Follow the trail along the edge of the cliff and you will reach Goron City, home of the Gorons.

Time keeps heading farther up the trail, not realizing he’s walked all night and the sun is beginning to rise again. A rolling sound quickly becomes louder and louder before Navi screams “watch out!” Time lunges for the side, praying he won’t go over the cliffside when the rolling begins to fade.

Warriors can feel his heart pounding at that. He begins to feverishly hope that Time doesn’t do this at night again.

Twilight cringes. He knows what it’s like to get thrown by a goron as an adult. As a child…that would’ve hurt by at least ten fold.

Time watches Navi’s light as she flutters to the side, the pale light revealing an entrance and many small rocks that Time throws, revealing rupees to his delight before going inside. 

Land of the Gorons

Goron City

Everyone leans forward, wanting to see Time’s version of Goron City as Sky and Hyrule never went to one. Sky just wants to see what one looks like and wonders how different all the others will look as well.

Time walks out on the highest level of the city, the air hot and dry with clangs, voices chattering in the air, the ground subtly shaking, and the many levels below him teeming with life. Ahead of him is a wood stump held up by rope in three spots by wood protruding from the rock, a goron sleeping near a raised bit of wood. Time walks over to the goron near the entrance as it groans.

“Oh...I'm so hungry... Everyone feels faint from hunger because of the food shortage in this town.”

“Don’t tell me,” Wild can feel dread building in his chest. Time gives a nod, face blank as he watches the gorons suffering.

“We are in danger of extinction! It's all because we can't enter our quarry, the Dodongo's Cavern.”

“Why did I have a feeling this was the case,” Legend groans softly. So far Ganandorf has killed the Guardian of the Lost Woods, had the composer brother’s murdered, and is now trying to starve the goron’s into submission. He forces himself to not think about what could be worse than this, in case he get’s cursed (it’s been known to happen).

Wild is still having trouble figuring out why anyone wants to harm the goron. They’re some of the friendliest people he knows! While they can fight, they prefer to live on their volcano, eating rocks all day long if they could.

“We Goron's live on a diet of rocks,”

Twilight’s eyes flick to Wild, knowing what he’s done and eaten. That kid has the stomach of a volcano to digest just about anything in his opinion.

“-and the most delicious and nutritious rocks around are found in the Dodongo's Cavern! But that seems like ancient history now... We've become such gourmets that we can't stand to eat rocks from anywhere else! Sigh... I want to eat the top sirloin rocks from the Dodongo's Cavern!”

“Sirloin rock? I thought that was from an animal?” Wind asks in puzzlement.

“It’s better not to ask,” Twilight shudders. He was invited to eat some of the “Victor’s winnings” after another bout of wrestling when his quest was finished, and let’s just say he got a little bit more than he bargained for.

Time nods and looks over at the stump, seeing a large statue below him. As Time gets closer to the rope, a large goron is rolling around on a lower level, going around and around without stopping.

Warriors holds in a small groan as he knows what Time is going to do.

Sky’s lips twitch as he gives a small pat on the back.

Time carefully walks on the tightrope. The goron on the stump shakes the drowsiness from his eyes as the child slowly makes his way across the rope.

“Hey! It's dangerous for a little kid like you to come out here. You might fall down!”

Warriors is screaming in his head as well.

Time is swinging his arms a bit whenever he is about to lose his balance until he makes it to the stump. The goron who is sitting there, watches him until Time walks up to the podium that’s decorated, but empty.

“If I'm not mistaken, you came out here to eat the red stone!” Time looks at him in confusion.

“Well, too bad! It's not here!”

“I’m not here to eat it,” Time says, “I’m looking for a spiritual stone!”

“What? That's not why you're here?” The goron says in bewilderment. “You're looking for a "Spiritual Stone?" You must mean that delicious-looking red stone that was once displayed here! I was so hungry that I thought it would be OK to just give it one tiny little lick...so I snuck out here. But, it was already gone!”

Legend wrinkles his nose at the thought of licking a stone, but each to their own he guesses. 

Time hangs his head in disappointment. Did the Desert Man take it already? “I think Big Brother took it away.” The goron muses. Time snaps his head back up eagerly. “He always says that everyone is after that red stone! Big Brother has shut himself up in his room saying, "I will wait in here for the Royal Family's messenger!" Time looks at him in glee before looking down.

Warriors is staring at Time across from him, mentally screaming while Time ignores him, a tiny twitch of a smile dances on his face as he knows Warriors is staring at him.

Time jumps.

Warriors grabs a pillow and lets out a tiny, muffled scream at this.

“You do know it’s going to get worse, right?” Twilight says cautiously. Warriors turns a dead stare onto Twilight.

“I realize that, thank you very much,” He clips. Twilight just holds up his hands in surrender.

Time flattens himself as the large goron comes rolling past him. Navi finds a sign and reads it to him. 

If you can stop my wild rolling, you might get something great.

-Hot Rodder Goron

“Well, that won’t happen for a while,” Hyrule chirps. Four just glowers, knowing that he’ll probably never be any taller than he is now.

“Are those goron drawings?” Sky asks in fascination. Time nods.

“Ritual dancing if I’m not mistaken.”

“It’s still well done considering the rockface isn’t flat,” Legend compliments.

Time heads to the stairs where there’s a goron near them.

“I'm so hungry that I can't think about anything but food!”

“What happened to the Spiritual Stone?” Time asks.

"Spiritual Stone?" That red stone that was lighting up our city? Big Brother Darunia took it away. Then, he shut himself up in his room and won't come out. Since then, it feels like all the lights in the city have gone out... Everyone seems so...depressed… I want you to bring fire from Big Brother's room back here.” Time blinks at that before he heads down the stairs where another goron is.

“Oh? We don't get many visitors way up here. Where are you from?”

“The forest!” Time chirps.

“The forest? What's a "forest"?”

“There lots of trees, grass, deku sticks, there’s seeds for my slingshot and then there’s the deku nuts! And plants-”

Sky bites his tongue as he smiles while Time becomes a little chatterbox talking about his home. Sky knows that he himself will do that too if anyone asks him about Skyloft.

“Eh? It's where a lot of "trees" and "plants" grow? Now I'm even more confused! Nothing grows around here besides the Bomb Flowers... We don't have "seeds" or "nuts" around here either. Even Deku Sticks are very scarce around here! I know a trick to conserve sticks! If you light a stick on fire, it will burn to ashes. Put it away before it completely burns! By the way, I hid a stick somewhere... Hehehee…”

Wild and Twilight twitch, not able to contemplate living fulltime in an area where there is no forest or plains to roam around in.

Time can only stare in horror. Gorons don’t know what a forest is?!! He jumps down again until he reaches the very bottom where a goron stands beside an ornate door with a soft looking carpet in front of it.

“Big Brother has shut himself up in his room saying, "I will wait in here for the Royal Family's messenger!" Time heads over to the door and tries knocking. When that didn’t work, he tries to show the goron Lullaby’s letter, to which it wasn’t even glanced at. In frustration, he grabs the ocarina and begins to play her lullaby.

“Might work,” Hyrule says.

It worked in the graveyard, it might work here. The large, stone door opens to a room with carvings, pots, and a single goron inside.

“Interesting statue,” Wild squints his eyes.

“That looks like a doorway.”

"Winder if we get to see what's inside." Hyrule muses.

Time goes up to him, thinking it’s Darunia. Darunia is startled and confused when a Hylian child walks up to him.

“What the heck! Who are you?! When I heard the song of the Royal Family, I expected their messenger had arrived, but...you're just a little kid!”

Legend crosses his arms.

“Now I’m offended,” he snarks. Four and Wind nod along with him.

“Has Darunia, the big boss of the Gorons, really lost so much status to be treated like this by his Sworn Brother, the King? Now, I'm REALLY angry! Get out of my face, now!” Time flinches backwards, but still stands tall.

“Why are you so mad?” He asks.

“Are you asking why I'm in such a bad mood right now?” Darunia booms.

Warriors swore quietly. Darunia must be extremely angry if he’s taking that tone.

“Ancient creatures have infested the Dodongo's Cavern! We've had a poor harvest of our special crop, Bomb Flowers! Starvation and hunger because of the rock shortage!” He looks down at the child. “But this is a Goron problem! We don't need any help from strangers!”

“Fair enough, but if you can’t solve it, sometimes it’s better to bring outside help,” Wild says quietly, thinking about his friends back in his era.

“Not everyone thinks like that unfortunately,” Twilight says with a grim smile, the aches throbbing in remembrance of being thrown off the small cliffs.

Time decides to try playing the lullaby once more. Darunia begins to dance before abruptly stopping. He puts his hands on his hips and taps his foot while shaking his head.

“Well, that’s not quite what I was looking for. I wanted to hear a tune, something…um…from outside the mountains. Something…green…natural. That’s the kind of music I want to hear.” Time looks dejected but nods before leaving the room. Entering back into the large cavern, Time looks at the large flower sticking to the side of the wall.

“Is that a bomb flower?” Sky wonders. Time hides his smile.

“Looks like one,” Wind bounces.

Time tries to pull off the flower from the wall, but isn’t strong enough to. So, he decided to leave it for now. Time heads up to where the stairs split and goes left. He runs up the stairs where the goron is rolling around and didn’t notice him until he’s flying back down the stairs.

Everyone cringes at the force of the hit, surprised that nothing broke in the process.

He pokes his head out long enough to know whether there’s another entrance but when he doesn’t see one, he heads over to the staircase on the right which takes him back to the top, with a glowing red room beside it. Time pokes his head over to look, heat wafting from the slow moving magma, the area bright red. Time scrambles back from the heat and races back to the top of the city. When he gets outside, he can’t help but feel dejected. Princess Zelda gave him a job and he can’t do it! He only has the Forest Emerald and nothing else, so what is he to do? He sits down on the stone and holds his head in his hands, fingers trembling while trying not to cry.

Twilight’s fingers tighten around each other as he watches his ancestor trying to not break down over a perceived failure because he’s a child.

Legend is frowning, along with Sky and Warriors at this state.

Four's eyes are slowly turning sapphire blue at the one who dared make the Old Man cry.

Wild can only look down as he's felt the same way on occasion, with only Wolfie there to try and cheer him up whenever his adventure got too much.

“What would Saria say if we told her we're going to save Hyrule?” Navi suggests quietly, trying to think of a solution. Time looks up at Navi before a wide smile splits his face. Saria would know what to do! She might know a song!

Warriors bites his tongue as little Time runs back down towards the Woods to find Saria.

Twilight can’t stop the smile on his face as Time’s little companion helps him out and voices some ideas that are helpful.

Time takes a deep breath and enters the Kokiri village.

“Oh, you're OK? You didn't leave the forest after all, did you?” The kokiri frets. Time just nods at the Know-it-all Brother as he keeps running, not wanting another confrontation like the one he had before leaving.

“Was leaving the forest that terrifying?” Legend asks, puzzled.

“They were always told to never leave the forest by the Deku Tree,” Time says patiently. “I don’t think they thought I would actually leave. I was told later that they thought I went deeper into the Lost Woods instead.”

Wind tilts his head and thinks of the korok before nodding at this. That makes sense he supposes.

“Saria wanted to see you... Did she find you already?” Time shakes his head at the Kokiri as he keeps running into the small village. Time frowns as he can’t find Saria anywhere.

“Where’s Saria?”

“Mido might know something about Saria's whereabouts.” A Kokiri pipes up, “I think Mido is sulking in one of the houses around here.” Time races towards Mido’s house, where Mido is sulking. The Kokiri looks up and when he notices that it’s Time, he scowls.

“If you're looking for Saria, she's in the Lost Woods, as usual.” Time wants to groan at that. “Don't tell me you don't know where that is!” Mido scoffs. “The entrance is up on the cliff overlooking the village! I know you'll get lost! Don't worry, you'll just end up back at the entrance! Harumph!”

“At least he’s trying to be helpful,” Hyrule offers. Wind can’t help but snort at this.

“Yeah, sure.”

Time just nods and leaves the house, heading towards the cliffside. He passes by other Kokiri, but doesn’t stop for them, wanting to get to Saria. Time watches as one of the Know-it-all brother’s is jumping around and doing backflips between all the small rocks.

Wild lets out a whistle, impressed at the skill it takes to avoid all those rocks and not land on them.

“Jumping is going out of style now. I'm crazy about doing backflips! Can you do one?” Time stares at him before doing one flawlessly.

Wind lets out a cackle at that.

He leaves quickly, scaling up the vines of the cliffside and heading inside the tunnel.

“Is that music I’m hearing?” Legend’s ear twitches.

“I would say so,” Wind nods. They watch as Time follows the music, stopping at the different entrances listening to whether the music is getting louder or fainter until he comes out by a small clearing where one entrance looks like it’s for a temple.

“It would suck if your hearing was blown out,” Sky saws with a small crease between his brows.

Warriors nods, the ringing in his ears from the different explosions still wreak havoc on him some days.

“Hey, over here! Hoo hoo!” Time looks up to see Gaebora the owl staring down at him from a branch. “Link...good to see you again! Listen to this! Hoot hoot... After going through the Lost Woods, you will come upon the Sacred Forest Meadow. That is a sacred place where few people have ever walked. Shhhh...What's that?” Time strains his ears. “I can hear a mysterious tune. You should listen for that tune too. Hoo hoo ho! Do you want to hear what I said again?” Time shakes his head and Gaebora takes off. Time just stares after the owl before turning to Navi in confusion. Navi just bounces up in the air like a shrug before they keep moving, finding an area that has a large pond and an underwater entrance to it, as they keep moving. They finally come across a clearing with tall grass. Time nearly drops his guard when a howl has him tense, a large wolfos charging at him from the grass. Time tries to defend himself as the Wolfos’ claws slice his arm.

“Wolfos, Draw it close to you and watch its movement carefully! Attack it when it drops its guard! “ Navi advises. Time nods as he watches the wolfos guard its head before circling around Time.

Twilight can’t help but pale, knowing he’s done that in wolf form as well.

“You alright Rancher?” Warriors asks lowly. Twilight just nods.

Legend shivers, his rabbit instincts are on high alert for this.

Time finally stabs the beast enough for it to howl one last time before disappearing, allowing him to enter on through.

“A maze,” Sky looks at it in worry with the tall hedgerows, thick enough you can’t see through it.

Time can hear a deku scrub spitting out the deku nuts as he gets closer to the first corner, wooden shield out to make his way around.

Wild is frowning as he watches Time make his way through the maze slowly, backtracking a couple times when the small ponds at the end don’t have another way forward as he faces deku scrub after deku scrub.

“Why do I get the feeling it’s going to get worse?” He hears the Captain say quietly. Wild can’t help but agree. This feels like a calm before the storm.

Time finds a ladder and climbs up, finding a Fairy Fountain inside one of the holes. Small, pink fairies fly around him, but no Great Fairy, the one he’s heard stories about.

Warriors can’t help the small breath of relief escaping him.

Disappointed, he leaves the cave before making a mental note to come back later. Maybe the Great Fairy was busy doing something else? Climbing down and towards the stairs, he makes his way past the deku scrubs and finds a large tree outside a dilapidated building, a familiar Kokiri sitting on a tree stump playing with an ocarina.

“I've been waiting for you, Link!” Saria says cheerfully as she looks up at Time with a large smile. “This is the Sacred Forest Meadow. It's my secret place! I feel... This place will be very important for both of us someday. That's how I feel.”

Time can’t help but wonder if Saria had the gift of foresight before becoming a Sage, or if she just knew that something was stirring in Hyrule, something Time himself didn’t understand as a child.

“If you play the Ocarina here, you can talk with the spirits in the forest. Would you like to play the Ocarina with me?”

“Yes!” Time chirps, grabbing the fairy ocarina Saria gave to him.

“OK, try to follow along with the melody I will play. Are you ready?” Time nods as Saria starts playing. He listens a couple times before trying to play himself. It takes a couple tries, but he finally gets it down, Saria clapping in happiness when he does. “Great! Great! Please don't forget this song! Do you promise? When you want to hear my voice, play Saria's Song. You can talk with me anytime.” Time nods happily and makes his way back out of the maze and into the Lost Woods once again.

“Hoo hoo!” Time looks up to see Gaebora once again. “Did you learn an Ocarina song from Saria? That melody seems to have some mysterious power. There may be some other mysterious songs like this that you can learn in Hyrule.” Gaebora takes off after that piece of advice.

“Other songs,” Hyrule tilts his head.

“I wonder if there’s music that can heal?” Time stays silent, pretty confident that the Song of Healing will come up eventually.

“You can do a lot with music,” Legend agrees, “but I’ve never heard of healing songs before. But with everything that’s been lost,” he shrugs, “who knows. What I do know, is that magic from music is extremely powerful,” he adds quietly, eyes becoming haunted as the cries of a seagull echoes in his ears.

Time watches the owl leave before trapiezing back through the woods, finding a small creature with a flute.

Twilight shakes his head.

“Skull Kid.”

“Skull Kid?” Hyrule asks.

“A child of the forest.” Time says.

“But isn’t that the kokiri?” Wind asks. Time shakes his head.

“These children are different.” He knows Navi is about to elaborate so he says nothing else.

“Is this what happens to kids who get lost in the forest? He might be our friend if we do something.” Navi ponders.

“Wait, wait, so children who wander into the woods turn into these?” Four asks, eyes wide.

“When those who wander into the Lost Woods, extremely few, if any, come out alive and these are the results for those who don’t.” Time explains patiently.

“But what about adults?” Wild squeaks. Time says nothing to that. Twilight can’t help but start to think that the Stalfos he met in his time, is what happens to an adult who goes back into the Woods. It’s an unsettling thought.

Time plays a couple notes when the Skull Kid chirps, “that's not quite Saria's Song.” Time adjusts his fingers and plays it, the Skull Kid playing along with him. “You know Saria's Song! We should be friends! Here, take this!” He tosses Time a piece of heart that he catches. Time turns back to see Skull Kid looking down. “Do you think my face is kind of plain? It's just not very unusual.”

“Maybe to you,” Hyrule tilts his head. It’s such a strange creature.

Time slowly makes his way back through the Lost Woods and is nearly back to the village when he notices a couple Skull Kids on tree stumps near an empty this. When Time climbs down and heads to the tree stump, he pulls out the ocarina when he notices the two have flutes.

“Follow along with our song on your Ocarina. We'll lead you into it.” One Skull Kid chirps. Time listens to the two play three notes.

“Ah, so it’s this game,” Legend sits back as he observes them. “You get part of a song at a time so you need to pay attention.” Wild tilts his head at this before looking back. While he doesn’t play, it kind of looks like fun.

Time makes it through the first song. “That was quite a nice session. As a token of our friendship, please take this.” Time is given a green rupee. “Do you want to play some more?” Time nods eagerly with a smile. The next song is a little harder, with the reward being a blue rupee. The third song was the hardest, needing to memorize nine notes, however the reward was a piece of heart so Time isn’t complaining. Time heads back towards the village where he’s stopped in front of the twin’s house.

“Link, are you going to go away?” Time turns and gives a small smile.

“I’ll come back, I promise.”

Time can’t help the bitter smile that overcomes him at the promise. A promise of a child that believes that because he’s a hero, nothing will go wrong.

Time takes off once again, towards Castle Town so he doesn’t forget to pick up the mask for the little boy’s father. Heading inside, he finds the shop open and pokes his head in, a large sign beside the counter that looks to be the same as before.

“Hiyeee!” Time jumps, not seeing the man behind the counter.

“Welcome to the Happy Mask Shop! We deal in masks that bring happiness to everyone! How would you like to be a happiness salesman? I'll lend you a mask. You sell the mask and bring the money back here. If you want to read the fine print, take a look at the sign right over there. After you've sold all the masks, you will become happy yourself! Have faith... If anyone is interested in the mask, he or she will ask you about it. Someone may want the mask. Somewhere in the world, somebody is waiting for these masks. Just have faith.”

Time can’t stop the small shiver. That man has always given him the creeps, the smiling expression unsettles him in ways that he hasn’t felt since Clock Town.

Time points to the fox mask, the bright yellow paint reminding him of the sun.

"This mask should do for the little boy, right? “Keaton stuff is hot, hot, hot!” The Salesman says happily. “Do you want to rent the Keaton Mask for ten rupees?” Time happily takes the mask and puts it on.

Warriors can’t help but smile at the way Time runs around wearing the mask, reminding him of the few times Sprite dropped his own act and became the child he still was, even if it was only for a short time.

Time leaves the shop and begins running around Castle Town wearing the mask. A woman shrieks as he zooms by.

“I hate foxes!”

“Foxes are adorable!” Wild says in outrage.

“Loftwings are superior,” Sky sniffs.

“No way,” Wind says, suddenly having an impish look on his face.

“Clearly, the Like-Like is superior.” Four’s hand twitches, holding back the urge to pummel Wind to death with a pillow.

“Please,” Twilight scoffs.

“It’s the Ordonian goat.”

“Those things are weird,” Wind says flatly.

Twilight shakes his head, “clearly you haven’t been around any then.”

“With how much you talk about them, I don’t need to.”

“Cuccos are cute,” Sky says innocently. Everyone froze and turns to Sky, who’s giving a sunny smile.

“Sky,” Hyrule says solemnly.

“-you have issues,” Wind finishes bluntly.

“Who likes those demon birds anyway?” Warriors holds in a shiver at the thought of those things coming near him again.

“YEEEAH! What’s your problem?!” Another woman screams.

“He’s a child,” Sky says, good mood vanishing at that.

“A mask…when I was a little kid, I also wore masks around.” Time tilts his head, looking at the old man.

“I can’t see that.” He says innocently.

Twilight let’s out a bark of laughter.

“What? You say you can’t imagine me doing that?” The man makes a sound as Time skips past him towards the gate.

“Welcome to Hyrule Castle Town. It’s a peaceful, prosperous town.” The guard looks down at Time. “Oh, that’s the mask everyone is talking about! Looks kind of strange,” he muses. Time just runs past him. He can’t wait to show Malon the new mask he got!

Sky holds in a small squeal as they watch Time run to the Ranch for Malon. Everyone’s ears twitch as they hear the familiar sound of a gold skulltula up in a tree that Time got.

He runs up to the paddock where Malon is taking care of the horses and puts the mask back on and pops up beside her. Malon jolts before recognizing the outfit and smiles when she see’s the mask.

“Oh, I know that character!” Malon says in delight. “It’s Keaton! He’s very hot right now in Castle Town right now!” She stands on her toes, looking a the mask from every angle, chatting about different things about the ranch. Time does eventually take the mask off and helps Malon with simple chores as she directs him.

Warriors bites his tongue hard at the two children on screen. They are adorable!

It eventually becomes nighttime and Malon waves at Time as she heads inside the house. Time waves back as the door shuts, leaving him alone. Looking at Navi, he decides to explore the ranch a bit more. Exploring, he keeps alert as three guay circle around him.

“Watch out!” They begin to dive towards the child. Time tenses his arms before giving a yell as he strikes at one, the second one coming right behind him, and the third staying out of reach for now. He suffers some scratches after dealing with the two guay and begins to jog around the ranch, the last guay following closely. Navi keeps looking around, keeping an eye on the bird as Time runs to the back of the paddock and finds a golden skulltula, taking the token as the guay dives down. “Watch out!” Time rolls out of the way and springs back up, the guay soaring low to the ground. Time slides sideway before bringing his sword down, killing the guay and leaving him with some peace. He walks around, seeing a small rock face with a golden skulltula on it just out of reach.

“I don’t remember seeing that,” Wild tilts his head.

“It’s not there anymore.” No one notices the very tips of Time’s ears turning bright red in embarrassment.

Time looks over and see’s the silo, deciding to go in and see what’s inside. Two cows apparently. He looks over and see’s a bunch of crates scattered in a corner. Curious, he climbs up, seeing lots of gaps and a small hole in the wall. Wanting to see, he moves the crates around to fully expose the hole and crawls through, revealing a piece of heart. Satisfied, he crawls back out and settles beside a cow, falling asleep until morning.

Twilight can’t help the red crawling onto his face. He’s done that many times as well with the goats.

Morning comes and Time immediately takes off again towards Kakariko Village, the clock soldier calling out, “the time is 12:48!” Putting on the mask, he runs inside the village. The old contractor just gives him an unimpressed look.

“What? If you want something you should say it clearly!” Pouting under the mask, Time goes to the nice cucco lady.

“Oh wow! Cute! But cuccos are much cuter!”

“No they’re not,” Several voices rang out.

“Loftwings.”

“Horses.”

“Goats.”

“Seagulls.”

“Pigs.”

“Mice.” Hyrule, Time, and Wild all stare at the others.

“Why would you pick one?” Wild asks.

“Why would you pick ?” Hyrule can’t help but question their sanity. Time can only smile and shake his head.

Time runs around and passes one of the builders who gives out a high pitch scream.

Several heroes snicker at the high sound.

“I shouldn’t scream like that or the boss will yell at me!”

“The fact that you’re running around and he hasn’t is impressive,” Warriors said instead.

“True,” Twilight said. They watch as Time runs around the village with the mask on, enjoying the reactions he’s getting from people. However, it gets dimmed when Time reaches one house and the guard lets him in.

“You idiot!” The man yells. Time jumps. “When you talk to someone, you should take off your mask! And do you always enter other people’s houses without permission? Didn’t your parents teach you any manners?”

Legend wishes he could turn into a rabbit at will and scratch the person’s eyes out.

“Kinda hard when your dad is a tree.” Wild deadpans. “Or you’re raised by a wolf.” Twilight barely holds in the urge to strangle the child for the cheeky remark.

Sky’s hands twitch and his eyes darken, taking offence over the parents remark.

“Oh well.” The man said airily.

Wind is grumbling under his breath, making plans to somehow introduce him to Tingle and see how much he likes his existence.

“Did you see a lady behind this house? She’s going through hard times. Oh well. If that lady asks you about chickens, you should listen to her.” Time leaves after that, the sting of the words staying until he reaches the guard at the mountain pass. The guard looks at the child wearing a mask.

“Wha-ha-ha-hah! Do you think you're in disguise, Mr. Hero?” He cackles. “Oh? Is that a "Kee...something..." character mask? I heard he's very popular recently? He's my boy's favorite. That "Kee...something..." mask... If you don't mind... Will you sell it to me?” Time nods and takes it off, trading it for ten rupees. “My boy will be very happy with this! You really are Mr. Hero! Wha ha ha hah!” Time wastes no time and heads back up the trail and towards Darunia.

He is huffing and puffing by the time he reaches the bottom level where Darunia is, looking very unimpressed. Time takes a nervous breath before playing Saria’s Song. Darunia listens for the first couple measure before he starts dancing.

“Oh! Oh-oh! C'mon! Come on! Come on! Come on! HOT!! What a hot beat! WHOOOOAH! YEEEEAH! YAHOOO!! Heeey!! What a nice tune! Just like that, my depression is all gone! Something just came over me! I suddenly wanted to dance like crazy! I am Darunia! I'm the big boss of the Gorons! Was there something you wanted to ask me about?"

"The Goron Ruby," Time says. He's not leaving without that stone!

"What?" Darunia says, aghast. "You want the Spiritual Stone of Fire, too? The Spiritual Stone of Fire, also known as the Goron's Ruby, is our race's hidden treasure..." Darunia peers down at him, a strange look overcoming his face. "But hold on-I'm not going to give it to you that easily, if you want it so badly...Why don't you go destroy the monsters inside of the Dodongo's Cavern and prove you're a real man? That way, everybody will be happy again! If you do it, I will give you anything you want, even the Spiritual Stone! I have something for you. I'm not really giving you this in return for anything, but take it anyway. If you wear this, even a little fella like you can pick up a Bomb Flower.”

"So into the cave I guess then," Legend says with a groan. 

"When is it ever easy for us to get any item?"

"Did you forget about the two different sections of the Song Sky needed?"

"One was an apology because of what happened at the volcano and the other was as a thank you for making him not a pile of bones anymore." Four says flatly. The two stare each other down.

"Settle you two," Warriors calls over.

Darunia gives Time a golden bracelet embedded with magic. Slipping it onto his arm, Time feels no different. He looks up at the Goron who’s only smiling at him. Not wanting to offend him again, Time quickly leaves the room and begins pulling at the strange flower for the room beside it, revealing a shop that Time isn’t interested in. Time grabs his deku stick, lights it on fire, and begins to light all the torches. When the final torch is lit, the large urn begins to spin.

“It’s not spinning in a direct circle,” Legend mutters to himself.

“Ooh, maybe a bomb needs to be thrown in,” Wind says, glee bright in his eyes.

Time runs up a level where a bomb flower is by the stairs and there’s a wide ledge near the urn.

“Throw the bomb in?” Wind suggests.

“You’re as bad as the Champion.”

“I’m a teenager, I like exploding things.” Twilight can’t help but groan. Spirits help them all when the village kids become teenagers, and for Wind to get older. He’s going to be a handful.

Time picks the bomb and throws it over the ledge, completely missing the urn.

“Not as easy as it looks then,” Warriors says as Time tries again, missing once more.

“It’s a timing issue,” Sky says thoughtfully.

“No, there’s something else, it has to be the part where it's not spinning in a perfect circle.” Legend says as a bomb goes in and nothing happens.

“Do the faces have anything to do with it?” Wild asks.

“Maybe. It was frowning at the Old Man, so maybe it needs to smile?” Wind says after thinking for a minute. They watch as Time keeps trying to get the bomb into the urn when he finally succeeds.

“It’s a good thing that the bomb flowers grow so quick,” Hyrule says with a grin. They lost count how many throws Time did to get the heart piece, blue and red rupees.

Looking over at the goron on the far side of the ledge, Time can see more torches, so he decided to see if there’s another reward if he lights them up. After getting his reward, Time sets his deku stick on fire and races up to the two torches. The goron near them looks up.

“How was Big Brother?”

“Happy now…I think,” Time says, unsure of the answer.

“I see... By the way, do you know the music coming from deep inside of this tunnel? We all like this music!” Time strains his ears and can hear Saria’s Song playing. Determined to find out why, Time pulls a bomb flower and sets off a chain reaction, unblocking the passage. Running through, Time can feel the familiar forest magic he’s known his entire life, getting stronger. Emerging from the tunnel, he’s surprised to see himself inside the Lost Woods.

“I wish,” Legend moans, remembering the confusing forest when he was trying to retrieve the Master Sword himself.

Twilight hides his smile, remembering the fog and Skull Kid leading him around the Woods.

Looking back, he decides to head back through the tunnel again, not wanting to have to run all the way back up the mountain again. Time runs up a couple levels where the large goron is rolling around. Time, after getting knocked down, decides to try and stop the rolling. Throwing a bomb flower, he pouts when the goron rolls past it, the bomb exploding seconds afterwards.

“That’s the worst,” Wind nods sagely.

“Mistiming the bomb throws.”

“Been there.”

“Done that.” Several voices ring out.

After many, many, false starts, Time finally gets the goron to stop rolling. Going up to the giant, the goron looks down at the child.

“Why did you stop me? Don't stop me here! You can't stop my wild rolling! This wild rolling is the only way to relieve my stress! Now stand in awe of my wild, wild rolling!!” The goron begins rolling once again, leaving Time behind. Puffing his cheeks and stomping his foot in frustration, Time turns back to the blocked entrance. Looking at the bomb flowers, he decides to have fun and see where it leads. After the flower explodes, he eagerly looks in to see…another blockage. Time throws another flower. Another blockage.

Warriors lets out a small whistle.

“Someone didn’t want this found.”

“Apparently,” Legend says, impressed.

“Wonder if there’s lots of rupees.”

“Or maybe an item?” Four muses.

A large goron lays at the end of the tunnel. “I'm working on something really cool right now! But I think it's going to take a while... If you can wait five or six years, it should be ready, OK?”

“Five or six years?!” Four exclaims. Heads turn to him as Four is never one to really yell.

“You okay there Smithy?” Warriors asks. Four seems to be having a small meltdown.

“What could take five or six years ?! Months I understand considering chainmail is a pain in the neck to do, but years? I feel like that’s a bit excessive!”

“So..” Hyrule leads.

“I have no idea what that goron is trying to do.” Four declares.

“Oh boy,” Twilight says under his breath. Sky stifles a small laugh with a cough.

Time looks at them like they’re crazy before leaving the city once again. Time leaves the city and heads back outside, where he decides to play Saria’s song. He heard her giggle.

“Link...? This is Saria. Can you hear me?”

“Yes!” Time says eagerly.

“The forest is connected to many places! If you can hear my song, you must be somewhere that is connected to the forest!”

“The goron chief Darunia loved your song a lot! I was able to get him to tell me what he needs so I can get the Goron Ruby!”

“I am so happy to hear that Mr. Darunia loved my song so much! I am even happier to find out that it helped you on your quest, Link! Tee hee hee!” Saria fades away and Time smiles brightly as he heads back towards the mountain trail when he notices a goron sitting near a bomb flower. Time looks over at the sign.

Natural Wonder

Bomb Flower!

Danger! Do not uproot

“Why…are you here?” Time asks, not sure if he’ll like the answer.

“I'm standing here to shade the Bomb Flowers from the sun. Do you have a question for me?” Time points at the flower.

“What’s that?”

“Those plants growing over there are Bomb Flowers. They are "mining plants" that grow only on this mountain. They usually grow only in dark places, like caves, so Bomb Flowers that grow in a place like this are extremely rare. If you have the Goron's Bracelet, even a little kid like you could easily pick it up.”

“And Dudongo’s Cavern?” Time asks. He wants to know what he will find.

“Did you see the cavern on your way here? That is the Dodongo's Cavern. Because the light inside is very dim, the Bomb Flowers, a plant unique to this mountain, grow like crazy in there!” Time peers over the wooden fence and see’s the boulders blocking the cave. He looks back at the bomb flower, then to Navi.

Several evil grins are seen around the room. Twilight glances around at the others who aren’t even trying to hide them.

Time grabs the bomb flower and throws it over the edge, watching the bomb fall closer and closer to the ground, before it finally explodes, the boulders splitting into pieces.

Wild barely hides his sigh. He loves watching big boulders explode (does he hold a slight grudge against Talus’ who wouldn’t give up precious minerals? Maybe.).

Time looks at Navi with a big smile before running down to the entrance. Taking a big breath, he races in, eager to get the Goron Ruby.

Twilight claps his hands together, making some of the chain jump at the unexpectedly loud sound.

“We’re taking a break for a bit.” He stares down Time, daring him to say something. Time just nods and swiftly stands, leaving the room. Everyone looks at his back as it disappears around the corner.

“So….what are we thinking?” Wind asks.

“That shit is about to start,” Legend says drily.

Chapter Text

As soon as he gets to his room, Time curls his hands against the wall and leans against it. He barely notices his trembling arms as he takes a deep breath, the Deku Tree’s death hitting him harder than he thought it would.

“You’re not a child,” he whispers harshly, wrenching himself from the wall. He furiously paces the room. The silence is deafening to him as his thoughts press down on him. Everything is coming back to the forefront, everything he doesn’t want to think about. The group has barely seen the surface of everything, let alone scratch it. For the incalculable time, he wishes Malon was with him, the one person that he’s told everything to. If for nothing else than to retain his sanity, especially after he lost his eye and so he has someone to talk to if everything gets to be too much. He sighs as a hand runs through his hair. His hand drops and he glances down at it. Looking at all the small scars littered throughout the back of his hand and palm, he can’t help but muse what everyone will think when he pulls the Master Sword, playing right into Ganandorf’s hands.

“Won’t have to wonder much longer,” he muses. He looks up at his armour near the dresser on the pole while his sword is beside his bed. ‘Will they look at me differently,’ he wonders. Will they look upon him with disgust as he cursed them? The one who created Ganon in the first place? While he now knows of Demise’s curse, Time really didn’t help with it either, cursing the world with Ganon who became immortal, forever being the evil being that the others know of. ‘At least I got to see the Deku Tree one last time,’ he thinks with a small smile. Along with the other Kokiri who bounce around in the forest. He knows they won’t recognize him now (he knows they haven’t been able to in years for a fact), but he does wonder how they’re doing, how Saria is doing. He hasn’t seen her in person since getting her song for Darunia in this timeline and to be honest, it hurts, not seeing the one who was an older sister being in years, who’s probably forgotten all about him as they are eternal children of the forest after all. He takes a deep breath and decides to try and put it out of his mind, knowing that the Temple of Time is coming up soon, and will need to brace for that, and the boys’ reactions, especially considering some of their histories with Ganon.

“Old Man?” Time looks up at the door.

“Yes?”

“Supper is just about ready, I’m letting everyone know.”

“Alright, thank you Smithy.” Time looks over in the mirror, seeing how tired he looks, the small lines of age on his face. He can’t help but snort at the irony of it all.

“If only Mido could see me now,” he says with a small smile before leaving his room back to the hall where he can hear the chatter of the others.

Legend stares at the screen as he mulls over everything he’s seen so far. He feels like he’s going to need a notebook of his own to write his notes in and theories. He can’t help but think that this all has been too simple, too easy at this point. Ganon is cunning and bloodthirsty, he won’t stop at anything for the power he wants. He looks up and can see that everyone is thinking everything over.

“So we have two spiritual stones with the last one to grab. Does anyone else think something is suspicious?” Legend asks.

“This does seem too simple,” Four agrees, hand resting on his chin.

“Ganandorf is smart,” Warriors says.

“He always has a backup plan.”

“And a backup for the backup,” Legend grumbles.

“Does that mean he’s using the Old Man and the Princess?” Wild wonders.

“You could make that assumption, but that would also indicate a level of knowledge that I don’t think he has,” Hyrule frowns.

“My Ganandorf was little more than a wraith,” Four admits.

“Mine was a beast. I don’t know if there was much intelligence left, just vengeance.” Hyrule adds.

“Mine was cunning, and deceitful,” Warriors says tightly.

“Mine too,” Twilight concurs. Wind shifts in his seat, uneasy.

“Mine was a bitter man,” the sailor finally says.

“You came from the timeline where the Old Man defeated him right?” Warriors asks, turning to the teen. Wind nods.

“Then it makes sense as to why.”

“He also had his victory snatched from him because of the Goddesses and that didn’t help either,” Wind admits.

“What I can’t understand,” Wild says, “is why go through all this trouble?”

“The triforce is still whole in this era,” Twilight says suddenly.

“It has to be a play for the Triforce and its power.” 

"We can guess all we like, but only the Old Man knows what happened.”

“For now,” Four cautions.

“For now,” Warriors says with a frown, looking at the hallway where Time disappeared down.

“I think I’ll get supper ready,” Wild says, getting up.

“Oooh, can I help?” Wind asks. Wild narrows his eyes in suspicion at the smiling Sailor.

“Keep your sticky little fingers away from the knives.”

“Promise!” Twilight shakes his head with a fond smile seeing Wind’s crossed fingers.

“Hopefully those two won’t kill each other,” Sky says.

“I’d be more afraid of him and the Traveler teaming up.”

“There’s no caves for them to wander into.” Legend grumbles. Twilight snorts, remembering it taking hours to find those two as Wolfie. The lecture Warriors and Time gave them was glorious however.

“Champion letting anyone else touch the food?” Four says doubtfully. Legend thinks about it and nods. Champion won’t let the Sailor touch anything that will be of consequence he’s sure. Warriors is still sitting on the couch with a furrowed brow as the younger heroes all leave, him, Twilight, and Sky the only ones left behind. Sky’s hands twitch and fidget as he looks unsure.

“All of this is making me uneasy,” Sky admits.

“I mean, Gaepora is an owl now!”

“Are we sure it’s not just a coincidence?” Twilight asks.

“Sure, and Impa, Link, and Zelda are names that are always around,” Warriors said with a sarcastic lit.

“This has been going too smoothly and if we know anything from what we know of both our own quests and seeing Sky’s, then something is going to happen,” Twilight said, looking at the Captain.

“Vet is right, Ganandorf is never this sloppy and for me, he was more than willing to use a puppet to do his bidding while he hid behind the scenes.” Warriors can only frown at all of this.

“I know that, but what good will that do for any of us? Say Ganandorf is using the Old Man, what then?”

“We’re missing something, for him to be so quiet about all this,” Sky says hand on his chin while he thinks.

“Could it have something to do with the Master Sword?” Twilight wonders.

“I’ve always found his aversion to it a little strange with how intense it is.” Sky wilts at that, knowing he’s the one that made the version everyone knows.

“Sky, this isn’t your fault.” Warriors says, seeing Sky’s look.

“Isn’t it?” Sky scoffs.

“No one can stop the greed of man and you know that.” Warriors shoots back.

“I think we’ll have no choice but to wait to see what happens next.” Twilight intervenes. “Besides,” his eyes flicker towards the hall the Old Man went down, “something has him unsettled, and I think there’s something else going on.”

“Well,” Warriors stands up, “we won’t know unless we either ask, or we get to watch it.”

“Not sure which is worse,” Sky says drily before standing himself.

“Rancher?” Twilight snaps his head back over, not realizing he was staring at the hall.

“You coming? I think supper is almost ready.”

“In a minute.” The other two leave, leaving Twilight to his thoughts. 

Legend heads back to his room and flops on the bed, barely noticing his jewelry on the dresser and weapons propped beside the bed. He lets out a noisy breath while covering his eyes with his arm. Seeing this isn’t helping him in the slightest.

“In a realm beyond sight,

The sky shines gold, not blue.

There, the Triforce’s might

Makes mortal dreams come true.”

He grits his teeth at the rhyme, remembering being taught it as a child by his Uncle, not understanding the warning in his voice when he said it. Later, he found the fragile scrolls that hold the lore of Hyrule that escaped the destruction during the Imprisoning Wars, deep within Hyrule Castle’s archives, a place very few are allowed in as the scrolls seems to disintegrate on touch, the few that survived unscathed. His arm falls off his eyes and instead looks at the faded triforce mark on his hand.

“Is this the start of that war?” He wonders. The history is fragmented, only legends and whispers remain now.

“Maybe it’s not.” He tries to convince himself.

“Maybe there’s some other unlucky person who crossed Ganon before getting Sealed.” He doubts it, but is sure he’ll find the answer to his question before long. He hopes. Does the Old Man even know about his timeline? Legend wonders as he finally gets off the bed and crosses to the dresser. There’s the timeline he’s in right now, and the Sailor has said that his was left from when the Old Man left his time…but the way the Old Man is, and with the Rancher being pretty confident about his place as a successor, where does he fit in? Is there something missing? Is he after Wind and they founded a new Hyrule? But then, where is the Great Sea then and those legends? He rubs his head with a grimace, or is he after the Rancher with centuries passing by and the war happening from there?

“We’ll find out later I guess,” he says to himself.

“Vet? Supper’s ready.” Smithy calls.

“Alright. I’ll be out in a minute.” Legend calls back. His fingers curl on the dresser.

“Get a grip on yourself Link,” he scolds himself.

“It doesn’t matter. What happened, happened and nothing will change that.” He hangs his head as the Traveler's description of his land fills him with dread, almost certain he comes after as no one else's Zora is as monstrous as theirs (or getting there in Legend's case).

“There’s nothing to be done,” he whispers to himself. He drops his hands before turning to the door when he notices a dark red book on the floor next to the dresser. He picks it up and flips through it, noticing the blank pages. He looks up at the ceiling with an unimpressed look before leaving the room and back towards the kitchen where he can hear chatter and the clicking of porcelain and silverware being put down.

“-all I’m saying is that my pirates can take on your squad any day.” Sailor said. The Captain gives Wind a look of pure amusement.

“Whatever helps you sleep at night.” Wind just glares at him while some of the others laugh.

“Not missing any limbs are you?” Legend asks Wind as he sits down. Wind just crossed his arms.

“He let me stir and put things in the pot.”

“If I wanted extra bones in the meal I would get them from a cow and not your hand.”

“I know how to handle a dagger Champion!”

“Cooking is different and I know you know that.” Wild says with a raised eyebrow.

“And with that, I would like to eat,” Four says before the matter spirals. Everyone sits down and begins to eat, passing the food and drink around not saying too much, no one wanting to break the silence. They all know that something will be going down soon, but are unsure of how soon that’ll be.

Wild got up and grabbed dessert, the smell of berries hyping up Wind and Hyrule (who is now addicted to any berry he comes across).

“Everyone grabs theirs first before Traveler and Sailor or else we won’t get any,” the Cook says in amusement. Small snorts are heard as the two in question pout, tracking the dessert with narrow eyes to make sure there’s some left for them. They finish off the large bowl, staring at the raspberries, nearly drooling at them before decimating their bowls.

Legend raises an eyebrow at the scene as he slowly eats a raspberry covered in oats and cream.

“This is good,” Sky says in delight. Wild’s cheeks turn red.

“It’s really simple.”

“You’re talking to the group who can burn water if we tried hard enough,” Four says drily. Wild lets out a small laugh at that.

“True I guess. I got this from Hateno, one of the locals made this and let me know how to make it since it’s pretty simple. The hard part is the oats and whether I want it to crunch or be soft.”

“Regardless, this tastes very good Champion,” Time says. Wild can feel his face going bright red.

“Thanks Old Man.”

“I need to know how to make this!” Wind exclaims.

“So you can bounce off the walls? No thanks,” Four says, eyeing the teenager. Is he already vibrating? Everyone finishes up, making sure their bowls are scrapped clean before they do a quick wash and head back to the screening room. Legend quickly sits and fishes out a small pieces of graphite and begins writing in a red notebook no one saw him having before.

"Dare I ask?" Warriors says. Legend makes a small noise.

"Ask the Goddess." Was all he said. With the silence now turning awkward as small scratches are heard, Warriors decides to take point. 

“Ready?” Warriors calls out. Everyone nods and the dungeon crawl begins.

Time walks into the tunnel and finds it blocked with a bomb flower beside it.

“Bomb flower,” Several voices say. Time doesn’t bother writing that one down considering how easy it was.

In the cavern's main room, there is an enormous skull in the shape of a Dodongo's head on a wall.

“Those teeth are huge!” Wild bounces in excitement. Warriors looks at him like he’s crazy.

A large stone stands in the middle of the room amidst the magma flowing around the room, separating where Time is standing and the two opposite sides of the area.

“It looks like there are many lava pits around here, so watch your step!” Navi warns. Time nods and they walk further into the room on a platform, heat blasting off the molten rock.

“Is that a beamos?” Legend squints.

“Hey!” Navi said as Time stared at the creature. “Beamos, watch out for its searching beam! I bet it doesn't like smoke to get in its eye!” Navi advises. Time nods and jumps over onto the middle stone where the single eyed creature stands, its teeth near its legs.

“How does that work?” Hyrule asks with a frown, tilting his head. Legend just shakes his head.

“I try not to question it anymore and avoid getting hit or bit.”

The eye turns blood red and a laser shoots out, smoking as it comes near Time. Time runs around in a circle, the beam following him without a problem. Skirting towards the edge, Time glares at it, before jumping to the right onto the smaller rock and heads to the side. A small wall that looks blastable with a bomb flower near it, Time takes the flower and destroys the wall, only to reveal a Sheikah Stone.

“Will we ever learn what those are for?” Hyrule asks curiously. Time just nods.

“Either you have to climb up above where the bomb flower is, or you have to skirt around the next beamos.” Wild says as he looks at the screen in concentration.

“The Old Man wouldn’t be able to climb that,” Twilight says, “so either there’s a door around the beamos, or it’s on the other side of the room.”

“Or both,” Sky says, “there are dungeons and temples with circular layouts.”

“Don’t remind me,” Twilight groans. The water temple was a big enough of a headache to deal with.

Time grabs the bomb flower and throws it beside the beamos, waiting for it to explode.

“I’ve never seen a head like that pop off before,” Wind says in excitement. He hates beamos, especially when he runs out of arrows and has to run to not get burned.

Time watches the eye explode as it hits the ground, and finds a blocked wall.

“Bomb.” Several voices call out.

The bomb explodes the wall and little green creatures come slithering after Time as he breaks a pot and finds a blue rupee.

"Aww!"

"I feel like he was dropped on his head as a baby," Legend says, eyes narrowed in concern at Wild who is cooing at the screen.

“Baby Dodongo!” Navi cries. “Watch out for its leaping attack! It will explode after it's defeated!”

"I want one!"

"Of course you do," Twilight sighs, sounding like an exhausted parent. Warriors just grins at the suffering Rancher. He is now feeling the pain he felt with Sprite!

Time is knocked off his feet before quickly recovering and swings his sword at the creature. It turns onto its back and explodes as Time is facing the second baby Dudongo after it crawls from the ground. He heads a bit further in as he hears the skr-skr-skr of the gold skulltula.

"Still want one?" Twilight asks with a sigh, knowing the answer. Wild looks at him like he's insane.

"Of course I do! When I figure out how to multiply them, they'll make great distractions for bokoblins!" Hyrule leans away from the crazy grin Wild is now sporting. Twilight just groans and throws his face in his hands, Sky reaching over and patting his back in comfort.

Legend’s ear twitches as he tries to figure out where it’s hiding. A hidden side room perhaps?

Time finds a blocked off area with no bomb flowers around.

Legend’s frown grows deeper.

“Does this mean the item is a bomb bag?” He wonders.

“Maybe,” Hyrule offers.

“Or maybe he needs to go back in again,” Sky offers.

“We’ll see,” is all Legend says to that.

Time runs to a platform that’s just high enough to climb with a door bolted shut, a button at the bottom and two statues to the sides.

Everyone watches as Time steps on the button and the grate goes up, and as soon as he steps off it the grate goes back down.

“Statue!” Wind yells.

“You have to drag a statue over to the switch!” Legend and Four give a little pout, Wind’s quick talking beating them to the punch. Everyone watches as Time tries and struggles to move the one statue over to the button, feet slipping as it doesn’t want to go over the switch.

With one last push, the statue slips over the switch and lifts the grate. Time climbs up and opens the door, showing a short tunnel with another door. Two keese fly around his head, to which he grabs his slingshot and takes them out. Opening the next door, heat wafts through his hair as there are six separate areas with magma trailing between them.

Sky lets out a quiet curse when he notices the lizalfos.

“At least this one doesn’t have a spiked ball on its tail,” Twilight says sympathetically.

“Still a pain to defeat though, even without a shield,” Hyrule points out. Legend is just thankful he never had to deal with these on his adventures. The monsters he had were more than enough.

Time scurries backwards as the monster jumps towards him, wishing the metal shield wasn't so heavy for him to lift.

“Lizalfos, use your shield well!” Navi advises as she flies upwards. Time barely got his wooden shield up in time to block the strike before going low and cut at the monster’s ankle. Time watches as the lizalfos circles him and swings his sword up, forcing the creature back. It goes to jump away and falls into the magma.

Wild nods along with this, having seen and done this as well. The timing is always the tricky part.

Time has his hands over his ears as the creature shrieks before the cries die off. A second lizalfos sneak up on him from behind as he watches.

“Watch out!” Time glances backwards and rolls to the side. “Look!” Time stabs his sword and the lizalfos jumps away, Time now chasing after it. Getting a couple strikes in, the monster jumps over him and tries to strike at his back, to which Time spins and stabs at the monster, finally defeating it and opening the next door. 

“What are those?” Four asks as lumbering beasts walk around the next cavern.

“Dudongos,” Twilight says while scrunching up his nose.

“Those are what have the gorons up in arms?” Legend says with a frown.

“They’re quite easy to defeat if you know the weak point.”

“So…”

“The dudongo the goron’s are worried about will come up,” Time says, looking up from the book, “so you’ll have to wait and see.”

“I’m beginning to hate that answer,” Four says lightly. Time just raises an eyebrow at that.

“Is that a blocked passageway?” Legend squints his eyes.

“Looks like it,” Twilight nods.

Time grabs a bomb flower as the thundering steps of the dudongo stomps around. He runs back down the tunnel and throws it at the blockage to reveal a door that leads to an almost empty room, a deku scrub nesting in the middle. Time, now knowing their trick, has the deku nut that was spat at him hurling back to the scrub. It dances out of its hole before looking at him.

“All right! You win! In return, I will sell you Deku Sticks! 1 piece, 15 rupees they are! Let’s make a deal!” Time thinks about it before remembering he already has a bunch of sticks.

“No way,” he shakes his head. The deku scrubs squeaks angrily.

“YIKES!! I’m going home then!” The deku scrub disappears into the ground.

“Someone is annoyed,” Wind grins.

Time leaves the room and heads back into the tunnel where it opens up to two different paths. Time can hear heavy footsteps creeping closer and looks at the large reptile that has nasty horns on its back.

“Dudongo, watch out for its fiery breath!” Navi whispers.

Legend lets out a whistle at the size. Either the Old Man was very, very small, or those dudongo’s are huge.

Time switches out his little wooden shield for the metal one, struggling to get it on his back as it’s extremely heavy for him to lift with one arm. He looks at the bomb flower beside him and grabs it, thinking of his plan.

Sky can’t help but smile, knowing that Time is either going to try and get past the hide (which he doubts will work), or will do what he did in his Earth Temple, and try to get it in its mouth. Warriors can’t help feeling the pins he’s sitting on as Time throws the bomb flower and misses, only to have to dodge a fan of fire spewed his way, thankful he’s already switched out his wooden shield. He can see Twilight frowning at the screen, listening to Navi as she floats near the back of the monster.

“I wonder if it’s like my dudongos where you have to aim at the tail,” he muses. Warriors flickers his eyes at Time, quick enough to see the small uptick of his lips at the thought.

“I would say you’re right,” he says quietly. Twilight hymns in response.

Time is quick enough to have the flower explode by the dudongo’s tail to stun it, but not fast enough to follow up in it as Time runs to hide from it, waiting until the creature loses interest and begins pacing again. Time, deciding to try and make a run for it instead, runs down the hall, seeing two more dudongo's and a gated door, passing unlit torches as he goes.

“Light the torches,” Legend says, “I’m pretty sure that’s what has to happen and don’t need to defeat the dudongos like the previous room.”

Time, deciding that nearly getting scorched isn’t worth it, decides to light up his deku stick and light up the torches to unlock the door. He comes out to the original main room of the cave and presses a floor switch, opening the grate on the door across the room from him. Time has a determined look as he maps out his route, and runs, jumping onto the pillars rising and sinking into the magma, skirting around the beamos, before hauling himself up onto the otherside of the room. He saw the closed up room and wants to know what’s behind it so like before, he grabs a flower bomb and gets rid of the beamos before bombing the entrance to the room, revealing a large chest.

“Please be the map, please be the map,” Legend prays. Wind can’t help but snicker.

“To think we could have had it if the Old Man went the other way first.” Legend gives Wind a dry look.

“Like you’ve never done that before.” Wind sticks his nose up, neither confirming or denying his claims.

It’s the map.

Twilight smirks at Legend.

“Looks like you were right there Vet.”

“Of course,” Legend says haughtily.

“Mogma,” Hyrule coughs with a grin, dodging the pillow Legend throws at him. Hyrule just laughs as he caught it and holds it.

“Mine now.” Warriors can only shake his head with a smile.

Time grabs another bomb flower and heads to the next bombable area which holds a deku scrub. When Time beats it, it offers him a new wooden shield. Time glares at it before hissing out, “no way!”

“Someone doesn’t want a new shield,” Legend blinks.

“I wouldn’t want a new one either if I could help it,” Twilight shrugs.

He leaves the room and heads to the now ungated door. Time enters it, which is a tall tower with stairs at the top and a ring of bomb flowers at the bottom.

“Blow them up!” Everyone calls out in excitement.

“Wow! Look at all those Bomb Flowers!” Navi says in amazement. “Is there any way you can set them off all at once?” Navi asks. Time instead heads to another hidden room where the grate blocks the door behind him.

“Aww,” Wind whines.

“Armos!” Legend sits straight up. Those were a pain to deal with in the castle the first time around, especially with how unpredictable they are.

“That’s what those are?” Twilight gives Legend a surprised look. He has armos in his time, but they look nothing like this. Sky nods with him.

“Looks like they were originally goron,” Four said with a furrowed look, “the mark at the top gives it away.”

“Do you think Ganandorf turned them?” Wind asks. Warriors can only shrug.

“It’s possible, or it’s something else.”

“When in doubt, blame Ganandorf,” Wind says sagely.

“They still look like normal statues,” Wild argues.

“It’s armos, trust me,” Legend says seriously, “if they’re like that around a chest so you can’t access it, there’s a very good chance they’re armos."

Time looks at the chest they’re guarding, wanting to see what’s inside it. He creeps closer and the statues stay still. Taking out his sword, he slashes and stabs at them.

Warriors wants to groan but can’t, knowing that he would’ve done the same.

When that does nothing, Time looks around and finds a bomb flower.

“Oh no,” Warriors groans.

“Oh yes,” Wind has a creepy smile on his face as Time places the bomb beside the statues and one comes alive as it’s blown up. Four frowns.

“Did you notice that the goron mark disappeared and there’s now a creepy smile there?”

“Now that you’ve said it, I can’t unsee it,” Hyrule wrinkles his nose at that.

“Stop its movement and then destroy it!” Time grabs another bomb and throws it at the armos but it moves before the bomb explodes. Time quickly grabs another before watching in puzzlement as the armos goes back to guarding the chest. He tosses the bomb and immediately runs to the other side of the room to pick another one as the armos comes straight for him. He drops the bomb and runs literal circles around the armos, waiting for the bomb to explode as he dives out of the way. The armos breaks apart and the grate lifts, leaving Time to open the chest.

“Dungeon item?” Legend wonders.

“Compass,” Twilight guesses.

“Rupees,” Wind throws out. When Time pulls out the compass, Twilight grins.

Time leaves the room and immediately picks two bomb flowers up at the base of the tower and watches it explode. The bombs go off, but the tower doesn’t fall.

Everyone concentrates as they think.

“Navi may have the right idea and set them all off at once since the first two grew back before the others all went off,” Hyrule says.

“Extra bomb flower,” Wild says suddenly. When Time does figure that out and the tower begins to fall, Legend sighs.

“Of course the bomb happy maniac figures it out.” Twilight silently snickers at the thought of Wild being the only explosive happy person here. He’ll eat his pelt if that were the case.

Time slowly makes his way up the large steps, listening to the skr-skr-skr as he heads further up. He is very pleased with himself when one is a golden skulltula and grabs the tolken from it before heading ot the next room full of armos.

“All, or some?” Hyrule asks. Legend and Four frown.

“I’m saying all.”

“I’m going with some then,” Four replies.

Time is quick to get rid of the fire keese flying around his head, thankful he put his wooden shield away now. Now knowing how the statues work, he makes quick work of five around the base. The sixth that’s blocking the ladder, doesn’t come alive.

“Looks like you only needed to get rid of one of the ones beside it and then climb the ladder for the switch,” Hyrule says.

“So Smithy was right then.”

“Vet could have been, but not in this case.”

Time enters through the now unblocked door that leads to the second level of the main cavern where the large dudongo skull hangs.

“So we still need to circle around then,” Sky muses.

“Considering we haven’t found the boss room yet,” Legend says with a raised eyebrow, “nor a key.”

“Is there a key in this one?” Wind asks, “the Deku Tree didn’t have one either.”

“We’ll see I guess,” Legend shrugs.

Time runs across the rotting bridge, jumping over the gap, before heading into the next tunnel where there’s a ladder for him to get down and tall, thick pillars covering the room.

“Have to look out for traps then,” Legend muses.

“Like the boulder in the Kokiri Forest?” Wild asks.

“Maybe somewhat, but not completely I’d say.”

Time climbs down the ladder as as soon as his feet hit the ground, he jumps, sharp blades slicing his legs and knees.

“Blade trap,” Hyrule hisses. His own legs are covered in scars from those. Legend also cringes, those things hurt when you’re not expecting them.

Time stumbles forward, blood dripping down his legs as reflex tears spring in his eyes.

“Watch out!” Navi cries. Time throws himself into the small area where the blade can’t reach him. He takes a minute to catch his breath before standing up on shaking legs.

Warriors clenches his hands as he watches this, as Time runs forward to get to the next ladder and avoid the spinning blades.

When he gets up there, the entrance is sealed, leaving Time on a precarious edge.

“Look!” Navi floaters over to a pillar with a bomb flower and chest on it. Time lunges forward and grips the edge before climbing up. Grabbing a bomb flower, he throws it, and the bomb drops to the ground where it explodes. Picking another, he waits until it’s almost ready to explode before throwing it, opening the passageway. Turning, he opens the chest to find twenty rupees.

“Nice!”

Time jumps forward and catches the ledge, hauling himself up and enters a room with a fire blocking the exit where he needs to jump to, and an eye at the top.

“Shoot the eye,” Twilight, Legend, Wind, and Sky call out.

Time grabs his slingshot and shoots the eye, the fire going out while a clock starts ticking.

Time can’t help but twitch at the sound.

He runs through the tunnel and comes out to another magma filled room, door gated behind him, and two lizalfos jumping the square to get to the easy prey.

"Separate, separate,” Warriors chants under his breath.

Time gets a few strikes in at the first lizalfos before it jumps away. Time follows it, not noticing the second monster now behind him.

“Watch out!” Time throws himself away, scratches covering his arms as he does a spin attack to get the second lizalfos to jump away before chasing after the first one. Back at the entrance, he stands still long enough for the monster to start attacking before backflipping and stabs it in the back enough for it to die. He refocuses on the second one, now jumping around to avoid his blade. Time catches up to it and after getting sliced up a bit, he finally kills it as well, opening the door. Time glances down at the map and heads through the door, revealing the second door with another eye.

“Shoot the eye!” Wind calls out quickly. When it’s shown that there’s two, Twilight is quicker.

“Small alcove has the second eye to shoot.”

Time jumps the platforms and emerges on the other side of the spinning blade room where a large chest is.

“Item!” Legend crows as Time pulls out a full bomb bag.

“Does that mean we can finally bomb that area with the green slugs?” Hyrule asks innocently, a mischievous gleam in his eye. Twilight covered up his snort with a cough at that description.

Time looks at the map again and notes another area below him that he hasn’t seen yet. Planting the bomb, he uncovers a door with two deku scrubs inside it. Time drops the metal shield before grabbing his smaller, wooden one just as the two deku nuts hit him, driving the breath from his chest.

“Five deku nuts for twenty rupees,” Legend has an unimpressed look on his face after Time defeats the first one. The second one tries to sell thirty deku seeds for 40 rupees. Twilight shakes his head.

“The deku baba’s can drop those, and they are also found in pots.”

When Time refuses the second one as well, he leaves the now empty room and makes his way back to the door he was originally going to go through. He makes his way back to the main cavern again and steps on the floor switch in fron of him, causing the pillars to move higher. There’s a stone in front that Navi reads:

Giant dead Dodongo,

when it sees red,

a new way to go

will be open.

Time looks down at the skull before making his way to the other side of the bridge where a chest lays behind the wall he destroys. Pocketing the five rupees, he starts thinking.

Everyone is also thinking about this.

“Drop a bomb in the eye sockets,” Wild says suddenly. Everyone turns to him.

“Giant dead dudongo is the skull. When it sees red, a new way to go will be open. The bomb blow up red and might trigger something if both eyes are done especially as there’s gaps in the bridge at the eyes to drop something there.” Time looks down with a smile and makes a mark next to Wild.

It takes Time a little bit longer to figure it out but he does and the eyes light up red and the jaw begins to lower. Time jumps down and lands hard behind the beamos, who spins around and Time is scrambling to get out of the way and nearly rolls off the edge before picking himself up and jumping to the orig inal area he went to and places a bomb in front of the blockage to reveal some keese protecting the golden skulltula and its token. Time eagerly grabs it and puts it in his pouch before heading back to the main cavern where he enters the maw of the beast.

“Those are some sharp teeth,” Hyrule says nervously.

Time enters the room where a block is on top of a very high ledge and a hole in the middle of the room holding a switch.

“Probably have to get up and get that block down somehow,” Twilight says, remembering his ice puzzles from Snowpeak Ruins.

When Time steps on the switch, the gated door opens but when he gets off, it closes again. So he heads to the only available area left. The next area has tall areas with small blocks around to get over the divider as keese dive bomb him. He ends up falling off the taller ledge when a keese throws him off balance before he can kill it. Seeing another blocked door, he bombs the entrance and finds a armos defending a gold skulltula. Grinning, Time throws a bomb to move the statue before throwing a second one passed it and kills the spider, leaving the token behind.

“Efficient,” Legend nods in approval.

Time races out of there and grimaces before taking his red potion, exhaustion wafting off him as blood still trickles down his body with minor burns covering his arms as well. He hauls himself up to the staggered ledge before dropping down where some pots sit. He bursts them open, showing deku seeds and a fairy. Time catches the fairy and whispers an apology before putting the stopper on the bottle for later. He heads to the ledge where the block is, however, every time he tries to move it, fire keese show up and burn him, making it very difficult to move the block until he pushes it down and brings out his slingshot to shoot the keese down. Area now empty, Time can pull the block to the switch and open the grate to the next door.

“Almost to the boss room,” Wind says with a grin.

“It’s empty,” Hyrule frowns.

“I don’t think this is it, he needs to drop down further,” Twilight eyes the discoloured stones on the floor, Lakebed temple coming to mind.

Time blows up the floor and drops down. Thundering steps are behind him as he can’t keep his balance. Turning around, his face is open with shock and terror as the biggest dudongo he’s seen is behind him.

“Oh Hylia,” Wild and Sky breathes.

“That thing is huge!” Wind says with wide eyes. Legend and Hyrule are staring at it with wide eyes. They watch as Time does the sensible thing and run. 

The middle of the room is filled with magma so Time has to stick to the edge of the room, not giving him much space to run. King Dudongo opens its maw and a huge stream of fire erupts, leaving Time smoking as the monster curls into a ball and begins rolling.

“That’s terrifying,” Hyrule squeaks. Four nods in agreement to that.

Time rolls out of the way as the monster hits the wall, momentarily stunned. Time uses that to duck under its leg and run in the opposite direction, out of its eyesite.

“Bomb in the mouth,” Hyrule says suddenly. Everyone turns to him. “Back when Sky was battling Scaldera, that’s how he defeated it and the Old Man and Rancher came up with the same answer,” he explains. Time smiles at the hero.

“Yes, that’s how it is defeated.” Hyrule glows at the praise.

“That’s good, but I want to see how long it takes for mini you to figure it out,” Wind says impatiently.

Time waits until King Dudongo is coming around the corner and grabs a bomb flower. He runs straight to it and when the monster opens its mouth, Time throws it. King Dudongo swallows it and a small explosion is heard, making it collapse. Time is able to strike it twice before it gets up again. It curls into a ball, crushing Time’s foot.

Everyone cringes at the sound of the bones getting crushed.

It still takes Time a while to defeat King Dudongo, mis-timing throws and only being able to get a couple strikes in once it’s stunned. He's covered in burns, soot, ash, and blood by the time the boss tilts back rolls into the magma, shaking in exhaustion.

“Is it dead?” Wind asks as King Dudongo throws its head and starts rolling once again. Legend squints his eyes.

“I…think so?”

“Looks like it,” Four says as it rolls into the magma, its death throes painful to Twilight’s ears as it sinks below the fire, bones and skin turning black, seemingly sapping the heat from the molten rock around it as it hardens.

The same blue light that appeared in the Deku Tree, appears again with a heart that Time picks up in relief, his burns soothes in the cool light and his foot's swelling goes down, and his foot repairs itself. Stepping into the light, he closes his eyes and takes a breath of relief. Time gently touches down with a grin on his face. He’s brushing himself off when a whistling noise is heard.

Everyone leans forward, eager to see what happens.

Time looks around with a cocked eyebrow but sees nothing amiss. With a confused look, he shrugs with a smile and lifts his foot to walk away when a boulder hits the ground beside him.

Everyone tenses when Twilight lets out a breath, noticing that it’s a Goron.

A second goron on his other side, then a final one that had Time jumping and covering his head when it falls to where he was standing. The goron stands up.

“It’s me Darunia!”

Warriors gives a breath of relief that Time dodged in time.

“Well done!” Time uncovers his head with an apprehensive look before standing to face the Goron Chief. 

“Thanks to you we can once again eat the delicious rocks from Dodongo’s cave until our stomachs burst!”

“Watch out!” Navi cries as Darunia gives two large pats, slamming Time into the ground.

Twilight shakes with laughter while Wild is trying to smother himself with a pillow, his entire body shaking from laughing. They both know how hard gorons can hit, even when it’s in a kind gesture.

“What a wild adventure! It will make an incredible story!”

Everyone bursts out laughing at baby Time’s dead, vacant look after getting pounded through the rock. Warriors and Legend especially are clutching their stomachs at laughing too hard. Even Twilight, known to be the serious one, is laughing pretty hard, giving up on the pretense. Time gives a huff, and tries to give a stern expression but his twitching lips give him away.

“Hello?” Navi said in concern.

That set Warriors and Wild off again.

“I can’t believe that the Dodongos suddenly appeared in such great numbers,” He kneels down.

“And that big rock blocking the cave,”

Wind falls off the couch and rolls on the floor while Hyrule slips to his knees, tears streaming down their faces. Twilight giggles at Darunia either ignoring or being oblivious to Time’s state.

“All this trouble, must’ve been caused by the Gerudo Thief Ganandorf!” Darunia slams a fist in his hand. Time finally shakes off the dullness and stares at the goron, still stuck in the ground. “He said ‘Give me the Spiritual Stone! Only then will I open the cave for you,’ and I said NO!!”

Everyone scowls at the lengths Ganandorf is willing to go, before laughing when they saw Darunia knock out another goron from his swing. Time smiles and huffs a small laugh. Darunia is definitely a character, there’s no doubt about that, and a good friend and ally when you have his loyalty.

“You on the other hand,” Time gives a small gasp as Darunia gently lifts him out of the hole and back onto the surface ground.

“You risked your life for us. I like you kid,” he says with a smile.

“What is it about us that Gorons like?” Legend grumbles.

"Our sunny personalities," Wild deadpans. Twilight snorts before coughing, trying to hide his laughter.

“How about you and I become Sworn Brothers?”

Twilight gives a soft smile, enjoying that he has this in common with Time. Legend has an unreadable look on his face.

Time looks uncertain before giving a crooked grin.

“Big Goron hug!”

Wild snickers at this. He’s been on the receiving end of those. One of the few memories he has is him getting crushed by one. Twilight smirks at Time as cracks are heard through the room.

“What’s this about not being old?”

“Watch it brat,” Time says fondly.

Time is dropped to the ground.

“There’s no big ceremony involved. Just take this as a token of our friendship.” Darunia produced the Goron Ruby. Time shakes off his fall and gets up again. “You’ll keep brushing up your skills as you travel, won't you? You should go see the Great Fairy on top of Death Mountain! She will power you up!” Darunia smiles at the child. Time reaches up and accepts the ruby. “Growing up can be scary. But, as long as you can smile, things can’t be all that bad.”

Twilight smiles widely at Time imitating the goron’s smile. It’s adorable he has to admit. All the teens are gripping the advice with their bare hands, as a reminder that not everything that has happened was horrible. Warriors can only give a sad smile, remembering the cold, apathetic looks his little Sprite would give as he traversed the battlefield and the struggle it took to get the child to open up. Time himself gives a soft, sad smile, remembering as he tried to cling to that advice when he was younger and failing, becoming a cold child who refused to let anyone else in for years. Until a few people slipped through his defenses and reminded him that it’s alright to smile and be happy.

“Hey, everybody! Let's see off our Brother!” Two gorons drop from the sky, startling Time.

“You did great!” They cheer.

“Now, how about another Goron hug?” The two begin to advance on him.

“Watch out!” Navi cries.

Legend muffles his snickers that are threatening to erupt.

Time’s brain finally caught up and turns to run, and bumps into another goron. Looking around, he’s surrounded by four before taking off screaming up the mountain.

Warriors bursts out laughing at Time running away screaming from the gorons.

“Alright chuckles, let’s see how well you take to Goron hugs,” Time is already thinking up of ways to get back at the Captain. 

"Bold of you to assume I don't." Warriors shot back. Time just smirks. It’s like he’s forgotten all the pranks he’s pulled during the war.