Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The portal came before Twilight and Wild returned. Time hesitated turning to Rusl who had joined him and Warriors some time ago while they waited outside of Ordon.

“I’m sorry. It’s likely they have their own portal to go through. I have no reason to believe they aren’t already waiting for us on the other side.

“Very well. Could you give this to Link.” Rusl pulled out a letter from inside his shirt.

Time couldn’t help but think about how it had been over the man’s heart. Perhaps this was where Twilight got his sentimental values…

“Of course. I’m certain Link will be home soon.”

“We will be waiting. Our boy will always have a home here. Don’t you let him forget that.”

Our boy.

Time had to take a slow breath through his nose to control himself.

Rusl had no idea. He wasn’t sure if Twilight had told him… Maybe he had but Time didn’t have a chance to find out.

Warriors caught his arm leading him towards the portal.

“Us first, old man. Find your partners! Let’s move people.”

Time nodded offering one last wave to the man who would raise- had raised his grandchild… maybe great grandchild…

Just as they had hoped Twilight’s bright smile greeted them on the other side and quickly before anyone else walked through their portals Time hugged Twilight to his chestplate.

He didn’t care if he was smothering. Right now, he just needed this. He could feel Twilight’s hand tightening into his undershirt holding him close in turn.

When they pulled away the letter was passed directly into Twilight’s hands.

His mute successor read the scrolled handwriting and nodded tucking it into his belt for later.

‘Thankyou. I have to tell you about what happened later. It’s okay.’ Twilight reassured Warriors’ careful frown.

‘It’s good.’

“Very well. Now. Where are we?...”

The chain found themselves behind a large brick building with some sort of stone laid across the roof. Several chimneys blew smoking up into the fluffy clouds above. The slowly setting sun tossed the world into peachy orange colors that were quickly fading into blues and violets. Dusk would soon be upon them.

"Perhaps some time in-between?" Legend offered coming to stand beside them and reading one of the signs above the building.
"Light's End.  It's my written language at least but I've never heard of an inn called that."

Wild hummed thoughtfully beside Twilight and made sure his hood was up.
If this was Legend's timeline then he wouldn't be safe out and about alone.

"An inn huh? Then let's head inside and ask around.  Find out where this dungeon Dinkle mentioned is."  Warriors pointed out.

"We could get rooms if it's far away.  Since the sun is setting here too." Time hummed thoughtfully.

"Sounds good. Legend?"

"I'll do the chatting unless pretty boy wants too."  Legend grumbled and took the lead through the small garden and up the front steps to the inn.

The double doors were pushed open, smoke from iron incense holders repelling the bugs outside. It was clear this inn was filled top to bottom with people. The crashing noise had Wild whining and holding onto Twilight’s sleeve. He did not want to get lost in this place. Music came from above and Wild looked up wide eyed at the second and third level of the inn. Each level had balconies which overlooked the first floor. It was much taller than he had assumed standing outside or perhaps the first level was sunk into the earth creating a sort of basement.

Instantly the chain found the well which took up the center of the inn. The well spanned at least ten feet across. Tables were set around it and an oversized pully system hung over the endless darkness below. Wild wondered why it would need such a thick rope for water...

When Wind leaned over to look into the depths, War’s automatically reached out to hold onto his shirt tightly.

“I’m Fine! I’m not dumb enough to fall!”

His bitching was interrupted by a chubby grinning woman with red hair and sparkling green eyes that matched her dress.

“Hey there Newcomers! Welcome to Light’s end! Can I help you?”

Legend stepped up to speak rapidly with her.

Wild was just able to catch their signs otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to understand what was said.

“Hello. I'm looking for a dungeon-”

“Oh yes!” She gestured to the well beside them grinning.

“It costs five rupees per person to go down, five rupees to come back up paid ahead of time. You'll all be going down?... so that's... a silver rupee up front. Perhaps you'd like a room or two for the night? A hot meal and alcohol before you go? Many adventures pass through this inn on their way to greatness. All of them try the ale!”

“Yes! Please I have many questions as well.”

“I will answer any question you have at the host booth.”

From there the group split up faster than Wild could follow. Wind and Wars ran upstairs, and Time and Legend and Hyrule went to go talk with the host. He could just hear Engine describing the inn to Sky on their other side.

Wild curiously looked down into the depths and ignored the yells around him. Perhaps there were depths within Legend’s time as well... Did that mean they all had them and somehow only Wild had gotten to explore below the ground up to this point?... With everything Legend had gone through that somehow seemed unlikely.

“We got a room!” Time called to be heard over the noise. “Come with us! Wind! Get over here!” Time pushed through the crowd leading them into a room on the third floor and once they were all inside he locked it behind him.

The dull roar of people cut down to something more manageable and Wild accepted a cup of ale Legend passed around to everyone.

“Fuck that was awful.”

“Theres some really cool people here!” Wind said excitedly before pouting as he realized he had been handed apple juice instead.

“Asshole.”

“Deal with it.”

“Enough. Hyrule has warned me that he can sense the magic of a creature from his time here. They are called Ache and they are monsters who can hide among men. They transform into hylians and are hard to detect. I want everyone to stay together for now.

The woman was named Bonnie. She runs this inn and cares for her father who founded it. The Well is one of the only entrances to the dungeon. From what she understands it's a huge dungeon. Twenty levels at least all run by a Wizzrobe. This doesn't sound easy...”

Time rubbed his chin as Warriors wrote down all the information in his journal.

“What can we do to find these creatures Hyrule?”

‘You have to talk to them. Catch them in a lie. They can read minds so feeding them the wrong answer is easy. They usually attack if they get caught... but with how many people were in there it could be anyone... we’d never find them.’

“Very well... Time consuming... Hopefully we can manage breaks... Oh wait right. Our story telling. Is there a town nearby?”

“Supposedly a large town overlooks the ocean. We could restock there but she offered to do it for a fee.”

Warriors shook his head thoughtfully.

“I'll leave that up to you guys. I'm not the best person to decide since it's a dungeon and I've never done one.”

“When do you want to go down?” Legend asked seriously.

“Tonight or tomorrow. After the drinking stops. I don't want to draw attention to us because of these aches.”

“Then I say we pay this fee and see what we are dealing with. We can always come back if we need.”

Legend glanced at Hyrule who nodded in agreement.

“Dungeons tend to ramp up. The beginning usually calm.”

Warriors nodded continuing to write.

“Very well. Let's get ready and try to nap before we go down.”

Chapter Text

Wild stood on the edge of the well watching Legend pay for them all and Warriors locking his foot up in the rope so he wouldn’t fall.

“Alright everyone! We’ll head down- Wild!!”

Wild gave Wars a grin and a wave before he jumped down into the depths. He landed first pulling out his paraglider at the last second.

He sniffed the air grinning as Wind and Four landed down beside him.

“You guys stay right there!”

He could hear Wars above them and guessed they had fallen… maybe a hundred feet? Two hundred? It actually wasn’t that deep.

The room around them was too dark for the others to see, so Wild pulled out his flame sword to light the few torches within the room.

The floor beneath them covered in sand… or maybe it was ash…

Perhaps the inn burned something down here.

Was it monster dust? That would make sense.

Interestingly the only décor in the room were dozens of shields hung up on the stone walls.

Wild eyed them but had more than enough in his storage…

Oh! Then again! He had an idea!

Excitedly he gave his slate to Four pointing for him to collect the Shields.

“Oh! No Wild I think those are too old.”

Wild was ready to disagree but as soon as he touched them the rusted shields disintegrated in his hand.

“That’s not looking promising for you, Wild. Let’s hope the stuff further inside are in better condition.” Four sighed and handed back the slate.

“Oh wait! There’s writing! Wild break the others!”

Four’s purple eyes shined as Wild ran around breaking each one. A single letter was hidden beneath each and soon they had a sentence…

“I can actually read this!” Four said excitedly.

“It says: Within the tower the Mad Mage scries. Casting spells long after he has died.”

Four still mumbled to himself as Warriors finally landed beside them and pulled on the rope to let Bonnie know he had gotten down safely. The rope was rapidly pulled back up for the next hero.

“I don't appreciate you lot heading down by yourself. You could have been attacked alone down here.”

“Ah! Let it go Wars.” Wind huffed inspecting the wall to the north and curiously pressing on stone.

“What are you doing.”

“There's a secret door here. The wind is movin’ and there's ah hole...” Wind leaned in listening. They all held their breaths... Wind quietly pulled away and whispered into Warrior’s ear.

“Someone is listening to us. I can hear them breathin’.”

From then on as soon as the others were in sight, they all shhed them until Warriors could tell them to be quiet and explain why.

It still took almost half an hour before they were all safely down in the dungeon.

Hyrule stepped up, grabbing Warriors’ arm.

‘We should all stick to sign if we can. If people are listening. We should also pick a safe word. I still feel Ache magic down here.’

‘Right. Pretty simple. No one in this time knows us. We just ask what our real name is.’ Warriors offered.

‘Yes... yes. For now that's good enough.’ Hyrule agreed.

‘Then lets go everyone. Be careful try to stick with your partner.’ Warriors warned them all.

‘Thats a pretty small hallway.’ Legend signed pointing to the only way out of their current room.

‘That is why we’ll pair off.’

In pairs the party spread out, searching this maze of a dungeon room by room.  Legend tells them to always pick a side and follow it around and around to find the exit. Run your hand along the wall if you must.
Hyrule is practically tethered to the veteran by his tight grip but Legend allows him to decide where they go because at least then they'll be together.
Wild climbs straight up the stone walls in some places.  Curious about the noises he could hear above them.  Voices. Merchants.  Perhaps the streets of that seaside town Time had mentioned.

At Twilight’s quiet whistle he came back down refocusing as the pair came across a puzzle room.

Wind and Wars were already working on it, Wind excitedly encouraging Wars to work it out himself only commenting on the interesting details along the wall.
Wild sighed already mentally solving the puzzle.  You only had to move the statues a few feet to trigger the switches.
'Give him a chance!  It's his first time.'

'Yeah.' Wild agreed with Twilight.
'It's just becoming obvious why my shrines were small and short.  I'm already bored.'

Twilight slapped his arm lightly, teasingly.
'Stop that.  Dinkle is gonna drop a monster on us.'
Wild's laughter cut off as Wars finally solved the puzzle earning himself several high fives from more than half the group.

The next hallway actually had lighting. Up until now each room had been dark until they lit the torches.

‘Someone's up ahead.’ Twilight warned Wars darkly. ‘I can hear them arguing.’

‘Hylian?’ He checked hand resting on the handle of his sword thoughtfully.

‘Sounds like it.’ Twilight confirmed.

Wars nodded and made his footsteps louder.

“Theres some light up ahead! Hey! Is someone there?”

“Just down here!” Someone called back after a long moment. Wild could just hear them arguing more. Something about the first man failing to warn them about just how many men had come down.

Ahh their quiet entrance had been enough to surprise them?

Wars tossed his blond hair as the two hylians came into view.

The second man cursed lowly before jumping up to greet them.

“You'll have to be careful down here adventurersss!” He stressed the rest of the word growing more and more pale with each pair coming into view.

“W-wow so many! Haha...ha...”

“Yes well... Me and my brothers are just passing through.” Wars offered his winning smile and making sure the man got a good look at his sword and armor.

“R-Right uh...” The first man elbowed the second and he coughed.

“Right! My name is Kane. I should warn you. There are redead down here and much much more! If you take a wrong turn you'll end up joining them. You just happen to be in luck though. We know the fastest way down to the second level. For just ten rupees... Each. I’ll personally make sure you pass through this maze safely.”

Wild couldn't help but notice how the man glanced around their group only deciding on the price after looking at their gear.

Seems he wasn't the only one to notice.

“Thats fucking bullshit we all know it. Let's see these redeads huh?” Legend drawled coming to stand by Warriors.

“Oh! That's actually why we stay here. There are dozens in this next room! They just keep claiming more and more victims! We can't get any loot And make sure people don't die so I think the price is rather fair, don't you think?”

Wild was getting ready to shake out the rupees from his slate when Legend held up his ringed hand to stop him.

“I've lived with Ravio enough to know when someone is selling me a story. The longer you talk the more I can smell the shit on your breath. Let me see this room.”

The man, Kane sneered.

“If you have a death wish fine.” He waved to the door right across from the playing table they had clearly just been using and Legend confidently swaggered to the door opened it and raised an eyebrow at the darkness within.

Wild could already see two of the creatures laying prone by the doorway just waiting for someone to awaken them. He could see dozens more, far too close to each other to risk entering.

“Huh so you weren't lying...” Legend shrugged and pulled out his fire rod.

“W-wait what a-” Kane frowned slow to react.

“He is gonna kill them!” The second hylian yelped suddenly tackling Legend to the floor. Swords were drawn and more yelping came from inside the room. Wild backed up unsure who the enemy even was here!

“Fall back! These ones are too smart!” Kane yelled before growling. Wild blinded watching several of the bandaged mummies rise up scrambling for the far door, their movement far too Hylian in nature. Just normal people wrapped up like the dead?...

“What the fuck just happened??”

Kane pulled his man up weary of the half a dozen swords pointed at him.

“Gentlemen. Let’s talk this over...”

Warrior’s huffed and helped Legend up, roughly brushing the dirt off his tunic.

“Why bother? You lied to swindle us. Do you actually know the way down to the second level? Or was that also a lie.”

“Yes. I'll show you my map for our lives.” Kane said slowly still eyeing Time’s sword which was closest to his throat.

“Let me see it. Now.” Legend huffed growling as he looked over the man's map under Twilight’s lantern. “You shouldn't play stupid games like that! I could have killed them!”

“We should kill them anyhow.” Wind remarked darkly earning a few looks from the chain.

“What? They’ll remember us. Lying thieves.”

The group didn't relax until the door between them was shut and locked by Cane. They would need to head in the opposite direction if Cane’s map could be believed. It warned of Bokoblins, robots of some kind and strange worms which crawled on the ceiling. Wild assumed those were constructs and like-likes.

‘Wind, you can’t just kill someone because they tried to trick you.’ Twilight signed.

“Says who. You lot still pretend I'm some kid. Ganon wasn’t the first person I killed! He wasn't the last either. I can’t be the only hero willing to do what needs to be done. Wars, Time, during the war you-”

“That was during a War. Wind.” Warriors interrupted him with a frown.

“Whatever pretend you’re all better than me. Whatever.”

‘No.’ Hyrule gently rested his hand on Wind’s shoulder before continuing.

‘I’ve had to do it. Ache tell them lies and Men will do anything to survive...’

“Exactly!...” Wind’s defenses fell at the knowing look in Hyrule’s eyes, and he spoke quietly.

“Out alone on the Ocean. No food. No water. Men are far scarier than Monsters.”

‘Who has taken life.’ Hyrule signed slowly looking around the group.

Wild raised his hand slowly joined by Time and Twilight then Hyrule. Wind nodded as Sky raised his hand as well.

Four just shrugged.

“My enemy was sealed away. I didn't have to kill anyone. In that I was lucky.”

Engie nodded thoughtfully. “A demon. I needed Zelda's help.”

Legend huffed unhappily as eyes turned on him when he didn't answer right away.

“Soldiers were mind controlled remember?”

Fuck that was right. Legend had told them about his first adventure... to be that young having to fight fully trained soldiers...

Warriors shook off the heavy mood around them first.

“Let's keep moving. Keep your wits about you. Legend led the way.”

The map proved to be accurate and Legend lead them around the worst of the monsters. They stopped just outside the entrance to the second level and held off from opening it given it was a fairly safe room to stop and camp at.

Wild excitedly pulled out some wood to start a fire. It would be great to have a good meal after all that fighting and slow puzzle work. It hurt his brain watching Warriors struggle with that second statue puzzle. The rooms they passed through were so interesting though! Even if half of them smelled like sewage. One room even had a horrifying bone throne. Someone had taken the time to stack the human remains as a big chair!

Hyrule had promptly lit that on fire before anyone could be dared to sit on it.

Wild was pulled out of his musings over the cooking fire by Sky clearing his throat.

“Oh. You aren't asleep yet.” Legend snarked causing Sky to roll his eyes and sigh.

“Ha ha... I wanted to... well... I was hoping to tell you guys about my adventure next...”

“It’s too soon.” Wars worried. “You'll be missing Sun-”

“I don't care. We don't have to go home yet- Maybe Dinkle will save it for later. I just don't think it's fair! I should tell you... because it's my fault.” Sky’s cloudy blue eyes lingered on the fire like he could see it.

“What exactly do you mean by that.” Legend huffed his sharp violet eyes now watching the God Slayer like a cat would a mouse.