Chapter Text
For once, Link couldn't complain that every day looked the same, because he sure didn't get the fuckass purple-ish portal yesterday.
The thing had the audacity to appear right in his orchard, in the middle of his trees. He was about to do some trimming, for fuck's sake.
...Guess the trees would have to wait a little longer.
He didn't really have the strength to even feel annoyed about it. He could tell, from deep within his bones, that he was about to get dragged into another weird story, a shit show that he wouldn't be able to tell anyone if he didn't want to be taken for the biggest liar in town.
(Not that he had a lot of people to tell these stories to anyway, but, well. It wasn't exactly a choice.)
He sighed and checked that he had everything with him. Sword and shield, magic bag with a collection of items, important rings on the hands, the others must still be at the house... He only had empty bottles, but potions could be found anywhere, right ?
He sighed, not feeling ready, but knowing the divine powers didn't really care how he felt about the ordeal. If he walked away, it'd either come back in his face somehow, or put someone else through the trouble.
Someone who wasn't prepared. Someone who didn't know.
If there was something that drove him forward, it was the idea that if it was him, it wouldn’t be anyone else.
That’s why, after adjusting his hat on his head and checking that his belt and straps were all solidly secured around himself, he walked straight into the portal.
It didn't take long to understand that this quest was another trip through time. And actually, it didn't even take long to understand that heroes from other eras would accompany him for the ride.
Because he already knew two of them.
When he saw Forest and Ocean, Link felt like his heart had stopped.
They had met for what was arguably his strangest quest, and what was especially the most fun and light-hearted.
Two people that he had ended up considering siblings of his, who helped him so much after everything that had happened the first time he fought for the greater good… After Uncle died a second time.
Having two big brothers who protected and reassured him all the way had been a breath of fresh air in his lonely path up to then, and created some of his most cherished memories.
He still today found himself wondering what advice they would give him in dire situations, wishing he could see them again.
And now, they were right here in front of him.
Sure, they had both changed (one more than the other, Din's fire, Forest, what did you eat ?), but he'd recognize them anywhere.
Link wanted to greet them, run into their arms or something, or scream their names, why not. Maybe just start to cry on the spot.
However, a deep, unpleasant feeling settled in his guts. A sentence, echoed in Forest's voice, that forbade him to say anything.
“ - You'll take care of yourself, right ? ”
“ - Of course, ” Apple said with a toothy grin.
He didn't think twice about it ; like someone answering to a 'thank you' with 'you're welcome'.
Forest seemed to catch on to that easiness, and shook his head.
“ - No, listen to me, pumpkin, ” he prompted, cupping the youngest's face with his hands.
“ We won't be there to watch your back anymore, Ocean and I. And I know you're able to handle yourself alone, but you have to promise you'll be careful, alright ? Because if I can't be there to make sure you're alright, then you're the one who has to take my role. ”
It was almost funny for Apple, to imagine himself taking care of his own injuries like Forest had, by panicking and fussing and overdoing it.
But since he sensed that it was important for his big brother, he nodded twice.
“ - I'll be careful, ” he declared. “ And I'll take good care of myself ! ”
“ - Alright, ” the older teen assessed with a genuine smile.
He then turned to Ocean, pointing dramatically.
“ And don't you think you're exempt ! ” he yelled, as if he was scolding him. “ Just try to pull any stupid tricks without me to stop your ass and I'll travel through time if that's what it takes to stop you ! ”
Ocean only burst into laughter, knowing underneath this disguised annoyance was as much tenderness as he had shown for their smaller brother.
“ - Aaw, Forest ! ” He called with a smirk. “ You love us !
- Are you kidding ? ” Forest exclaimed with emotion, and for a split second Apple got worried, but the next part quickly reassured him.
“ Of course I do ! I don't care that we're not from the same place in time, you two are my little brothers ! ”
Something warm filled Apple's chest, a bright feeling that climbed all the way up to his eyes. He bit his lips because they started to tremble.
Even Ocean looked kind of stunned, his teasing turned into a heartfelt declaration.
“ - Yeah, ” he said, his throat audibly tight. “ Yeah, it's been nice to learn to have brothers. I'll never forget you two. ”
Apple nodded vigorously, words stuck in his throat, tears rolling down his cheeks. Ocean put a hand on his shoulder, and he threw himself in his arms.
“ - Ah— come here, you, ” Ocean chuckled, catching him easily. “ I'm going to miss your hugs.
- 'M going to miss yours, ” Apple retorted, his voice all high and trembling.
“ I'm going to miss you both ! ”
At these words, Forest wrapped them both in his arms, and since he was crying, there was no reason to hide for either of the others, now.
Goodbyes were always hard, Apple would come to learn (̶a̶g̶a̶i̶n̶,̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶a̶g̶a̶i̶n̶,̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶a̶g̶a̶i̶n̶.̶.̶.̶).
But at least, he knew his brothers were safe and sound, and would never forget him.
That's why, while he did cry a little on the way back home, he also managed to smile.
“ - Are you alright ? ”
The question brought him back to reality.
He had just gotten a full-on speech about heroes throughout time being brought together, weird monsters and weirder portals, and though that was interesting, he was distracted. His eyes kept being drawn towards Forest or Ocean, subconsciously waiting for them to come to him and ask about Hytopia.
This older version of Forest had noticed his staring, and had asked the question politely, maybe even worriedly.
Link stared at his big brother, the one from what felt like another life, wide eyed and waiting.
This one cleared his throat, uncomfortable.
“ - Wars didn't introduce everyone, did he ? ” he asked, and didn't wait for an answer.
“ We're pretty much using our hero titles as nicknames, since there's starting to get too many ‘Link’ to keep this one ! I'm Twilight. ”
Twilight, huh. Why didn't he keep the nickname he already had ? Did it feel too childish ?
...Was Apple a childish memory that he wanted to forget ? Was that why he was pretending he didn't know him ?
“ There, we have Warriors, then Four, Hyrule, Sky, and Wind, ” he carried on, pointing at them.
(Wind, not Ocean, did they actually forget everything ?)
Forest turned towards Link again, who still kind of expected him to say something like ‘and your nickname will be Apple, right ?’
That it was some kind of weird prank, like big brothers did.
“ - Do you know your hero title ? ”
Link swallowed around a lump.
Maybe it was better like this.
Apple was just a memory, after all. He had died somewhere along the way, between Koholint and Lorule, if not even before that.
It was time for a new nickname, then. Something that fitted better the hero that was getting tired of being sent repeatedly in deadly quests.
He remembered what the oracle of ages had called him once.
“ - I'm the Hero of Legend, ” he declared, trying to hide how lost he was.
Forest, well, Twilight smiled at that.
“ - Oh, that's a pretty flattering title, ” he joked.
It stung, somehow.
Legend, since he intended on using this nickname now, scoffed.
“ - I did earn it, ” he reminded him with a fed-up smile.
Twilight seemed surprised at the cutting remark, blinking a little.
“ - Ok, well then, ” he said. “ I'll let you... Meet the others ? ” he suggested, vaguely uncomfortable.
And it was infuriating, the way he was staring straight into his eyes with not even a spark of recognition.
“ - Yeah, you do that, ” Legend grunted.
That night, he didn't meet the other heroes.
That night, he stayed alone, fuming, and buried the thought of ever getting his two brothers back.
He should have known, really. Fate never let him keep anyone close.
Whether it was family, friends, or the sparse one who were more than that... They always disappeared in some way.
Death. Stupid time travel. Parallel worlds.
He definitely had a knack for getting attached to the wrong people.
And those heroes that came from everywhere through time, they had homes to go back to, probably. Eras to go back to. There was absolutely no way this quest wouldn’t end up in adieus.
That's why, that night, Legend decided to absolutely forbid anyone to get close to his heart.
The world wanted him to be alone ? Fine, then he'll give a reason for people to leave him. He'll be mean, he'll be biting, he'll become the asshole everyone seemed to take him for.
He wouldn't make friends, wouldn't create any bond with the heroes, would just do his fucking job like everyone expected him to and leave without a word.
(And maybe then, when the time would come to separate, he wouldn't suffer as much.)