Chapter Text
They have been together for nine months now. Killing monsters whenever and wherever the portals took them. Trying to find the source of black blood in monsters.
When Time was first introduced to them, he told them he did not wish to join, but Hylia had other plans. As a portal suddenly opened and sucked them into another era in Hyrule, that is where they met the most recent member of the group, dubbed the Hero of Twilight.
That was three months ago, and the group had started to work well with each other. Getting to know each other’s personalities, skills, and secrets. Of course, most still have secrets, but none were forced into revealing them to others.
They were currently in Four’s Hyrule, battling a group of black-blooded monsters that had ambushed them. The fight was lengthy and bloody, but they made it out alive. Tired and covered in cuts and bruises, they decided to make camp for the day. They went to a nearby river to wash the blood off and found a clearing to make camp. When they finally thought they could relax, a familiar swirling portal opened up at the center of camp. Time was the first to notice.
“Looks like a portal here,” he called out to the others, “everyone packed up.”
“Ugh, we just set up camp, damn it!” Wind and a few other groans as they repack their things.
I hope we get to see Malon again. Time ignores their complaints as he thinks to himself. He understands the frustration, he would have complained, but complaining won’t get him anywhere. Besides, it’s going to happen again anyway.
They ensured that everyone was accounted for and then walked through the portal into the next Hyrule.
When they first came through, they were immediately attacked by a lone bokoblin. It had red skin and was using a wooden club as a weapon. The monster jumped as it swung at Four. Twilight immediately raised his shield to block the blow before it could land a hit, as Four was recovering from the portal. Wind grabbed his sword and struck the bokoblin in the face, and it screeched in pain and backed away. Then Twilight came in and jabbed his sword right through its heart, killing it. It died in a puff of purple smoke. They looked around, ensuring there weren’t more, before returning to the group.
“How is everyone feeling?” Time asked. He recovered better than last time, and maybe he was getting more accustomed to the portals. Then came nausea. Ok, perhaps not.
“Nfmhuaiaicdvk,” garbled Four.
Even after numerous portals, he couldn’t get used to the feeling of waviness. Luckily, it didn’t take him long to recover. Soon the others did as well.
“Hey, does anyone recognize where we are?” Warriors called out while looking around. They all looked around, and a chorus of nope’s echoed through the group. They realized it was a new Hyrule. Looking out to the new world, it was vast, and the land seemed to go on forever. Looking closer, Time could see ruins of old buildings and pillars. What happened to this Hyrule?
“Wow! This Hyrule is huge!” Wind cheered, looking around in awe, then he gasped, turning to the others, “does this mean we’re getting a new Link added to the chain.”
“I bet the new hero will be like just Hyrule over here,” Legend said while smirking at his successor. Knowing full well that he would want to go out and explore the lands.
“From looking at this world, I think he’ll be worse than Hyrule.” Four Speculated.
“Hey! I’m standing right here, you know.” Hyrule called out.
A new Link? It has been three months since the last Link, so why did it take this long to come here? Whatever the case, maybe they should start searching for someone. Perhaps they could provide them with some information on this world’s hero.
They were about to make plans on where to go when Hyrule called out, “Hey, I see smoke.” pointing to the smoke up the beaten path.
“We should go to it,” suggested Twilight, “see if anyone is there that can give us some directions to find this world’s hero.”
Time nodded, and they went up the path. Sitting by the fire was an old man under a small alcove. He was tending the fire with a branch that had a lantern attached to it.
The Old Man saw them and said, “ho ho,” with a chuckle, “I don’t normally see travelers in this part of Hyrule. What are you gentlemen doing here?”
“We’re looking for someone named Link,” Time asked, “do you know of him?”
The man eyed them warily, “why do you wish to see him?” he inquired.
“We are from another country and heard there is a hero here named Link,” he replied, “and we wish to meet him.” One of the made-up excuses to tell strangers when asking about new heroes. This time, though, it doesn’t seem to work.
The Old Man gets up and jabs his cane at Time, “Why should I believe eight people who just came out of a portal, hmm?”
Huh? He saw them coming out of the portal. Strange people don’t usually see it happen.
“Who are you?” He looks to the others behind Time, his eyes widening as he lays eyes on the Master Sword, “Is that the Master Sword! How did you get it?”
The group looks at each other nervously. Should they be honest about who they are or tell the man about their journey? Sky decides to speak up.
“Well, you see, we’re heroes from the past. We are being brought together by Hylia because someone is making the monsters stronger, having black blood. She has sent us here to join forces with this world’s hero. Please, tell us, do you know where the hero is.” Sky explained.
The Old Man thinks before answering, “perhaps Hylia sent you here for another reason,” he doesn’t elaborate, “the sun is setting soon; follow me.”
He started walking, and they followed him down the path. Looking around again, he remembered his thoughts when he first saw the world. Something big must have happened to cause all this damage. Was it Ganon? Or was it some other powerful entity?
As they continued walking, They passed by a temple. Perhaps it is this Hyrule’s Temple of Time. The temple was also in ruins; it has certainly seen better days. Looking through one of the shattered windows, you could see what appeared to be a statue with a faint light surrounding it.
Approaching their destination, they see a group of bokoblin chatting around a campfire, with a bokoblin scouting out on top of a wooden tower.
“There appears to be a group of monsters down there,” Time stated.
“No need to fight, just leave them alone,” the Old Man said, “they will not attack as long as you stay out of their territory.”
“Wouldn’t it be safer to kill them, so other people don’t get hurt?” Asked Warriors.
“I promise they will not leave their territory unless they’re out hunting,” he reassured, “besides, we are the only people here. No one can get to this place without proper gear.”
They heeded his advance and continued onward. Wondered where they were. That people would need proper gear to get to this place. They soon come across a small cabin with a cooking pot in front of it. Birds fly away as they get closer.
“Welcome to my humble abode. I know it doesn’t look like much, but it functions as shelter,” the Old Man laughs heartily, “drop your things inside. I’ll cook you all something, and I’ve been working on some recipes I think you will enjoy.”
“Yay! We don’t have to eat Hyrule’s cooking today!” Wind cheered as they all dropped their bags inside.
“Well, I think my cooking tastes good,” Hyrule muttered, looking offended. It was his turn to cook.
“Ah, how rude of me,” the man chuckled, “I never asked you for your names.”
“We’re all named Link, but we go by our hero titles; I’m Sky,” he gestures to himself. Then to the others. “That is Time, Twilight, Warriors, Legend, Hyrule, Wind, and Four,” Sky explained, “what about you?”
“You can call me, Rhoam,” he answered.
After introducing themselves, everyone started settling, and Rhoam began cooking. Four was looking around his house. There indeed wasn’t much, just a bed and a table with a few other items lying around. There was a book on one of the tables. Four was about to walk over to it when the delicious scent of the food attracted everyone to the cooking pot. That’s also when the heroes started to ask questions.
“So, what are you making?” Wind wondered, mouth-watering, “because it smelled delicious.”
“It is a simple meal of meat and mushrooms on a skewer.”
“I have to ask, where are we in Hyrule?” Four inquired.
“We are on the Great Plateau, known as the birthplace of Hyrule. The place is high up, so be careful not to fall off the edge,” Rhoam stated.
Once the skewers finished, they started eating.
“Mmm! This is delicious!” Twilight exclaimed.
“Thank you, but it is only a simple meal.”
“This is the best thing we had in a while; everyone here is terrible at cooking,” Legend explained, “you think out of the eight of us, at least one would know how to cook, but nope.”
Then Warriors asked, “Rhoam, while we were walking here, I saw a couple of ruins; what happened here?”
Everyone grew quiet as they looked over to Rhoam.
“Well then, let me tell you the story of the Great Calamity,” he sighed, “It was known as Calamity Ganon; it was a destructive force that attacked the kingdom of Hyrule 100 years ago.”
Calamity Ganon, is that what people in this Hyrule called him? They all continue listening to the tail.
“To know Calamity Ganon is to know the history of the kingdom of Hyrule. The demon king was born into this world, but his transformation into malice caused the destruction you see around you. Over 10,000 years ago, the Sheikah created autonomous weapons known as Guardians. They also built four Divine Beasts, giant machines piloted by warriors from different parts of the land. These Sheikah weapons were used to help aid the hero, who wielded the sword that seals the darkness, and the princess, who held a sacred power, to seal away Ganon.”
So, Calamity Ganon has existed for over 10,000 years. Knowing that your enemy has lived for that long is disturbing. Sky shutters at the word guardians.
“The kingdom of Hyrule feared the Sheikah technology, so the king decided to have them exiled. These weapons were buried underground, never to be seen again. Until 100 years ago, there was a prophecy that Calamity Ganon would return. We heeded that prophecy and started uncovering these ancient relics. We found the princess who held the sacred power and her knight, who wielded the sword that seals the darkness. Not only that, but we also chose people from the four races to pilot the Divine Beasts. These pilots were called Champions, and they were on their way to sealing away Ganon, but…,” he sighs, “Ganon was cunning and learned from his past mistake. He rose from under Hyrule castle and used his malice to possess the Guardian and the Divine Beasts, turning them against us. The Champions lost their lives that day, as did many inhabitants near Central Hyrule, and so, in a single day, the Kingdom of Hyrule was no more.”
“What about the princess and the hero!?” Wind questioned, “what happened to them?”
“Sadly, the hero died protecting the princess,” he said, looking away, “however, the princess survived and went to face Ganon alone. Even now, she is still holding back Calamity Ganon.”
They pause to take in the information.
“Earlier, when you said that perhaps Hylia has sent you all here for another reason,” Legend reminded, “do you mean as in we have to save this Hyrule from Calamity Ganon?”
“I do not believe that is the case,” retorted Rhoam, “perhaps your questions will be answered tomorrow.” He looks up at the night sky, “until then, we should get some rest. It’s getting late.” Then he gets up and walks into his cabin, leaving the heroes to their thoughts.
They were left in shock, to say the least. The hero died protecting the princess. Ganon is so powerful that it destroys an entire kingdom in just one day. The only reason this world has survived for the last 100 years is that the princess has been holding off Ganon. The chain didn’t like the sound of this. If the hero is dead, who is the new hero? Would there be enough time in between for the new hero to come forth?
Rhoam is right. It is already quite late, and they would have to think about this later. They spread out their bedrolls in the area and went to sleep. Hopefully, they will get their answers tomorrow.