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Wild and Hyrule had been gone for longer then usual, about two hours longer then they had been permitted. Legend wouldn’t show it, but he was worried about his two closest friends, sure their known for wandering off and getting lost, but this felt off. Legend couldn’t explain it, but everyone had learned to trust his instincts when it comes to wild and Hyrule, the last time he had saved them from a yiga attack.
“Hyrule?! Wild!” Legend called out, it had been an hour of wandering, and he was still yet to find his friends, there was no way they got much further right? twilight was alongside him, in wolfie form of course. He had been attempting to use his nose to sniff them out, yet had no luck thus far.
Twilight howled out a loud howl for the two boys, he couldn’t say their names but it was good enough, everyone knew wolfies howl by this point. He could hear wars and wind calling out to his right, far in the distance, while time and sky was to his left, yelling their names. Four had remained at the camp, all four of the colors on watch to make sure the two didn’t come back to camp.
“Twilight, is there any sign of them.” Legend asked, twilight shook his head at him, continuing to sniff the ground. “Some help you are.” He grumbled, twilight gave the best attempt of a glare as he could in the form, which ended up in a particularly pathetic display. “Oh stop that, your not scary and you know it.”
They continued on forward, calling the two missing chain members the other voices fading into nothing as they got further from one another. Instead of voices, he heard running water, along with.. a voice? was that a voice or was his mind playing tricks on him? He followed the voice through the bushes to find wild sobbing over Hyrule, the two sitting at the base of a cliff on the other side of the river. Wilds hands glowed a light blue as he desperately cried for anyone to help. Shit.
—
Today wasn’t a good day was it? wild and Hyrule got separated while exploring once again, wild was now stuck climbing yet another mountain, still there was a lack of any sign of Hyrule, no footsteps, no noise? it was as if he disappeared out of thin air. Wild was usually good with keeping track of where hyrule was, they stayed together most of the time, branching off once in a while to grab items of interest. But they always generally knew where the other was. This time was different.
Wilds foot caught on a rock, slipping slightly before he regained his grip on the rock. Must have rained before we got here. He thought idly, gripping onto a root that hung down the cliff as he scrolled through his Slate, grasping at it tightly as he got out a sticky potion, it would last around five minutes or so, enough to get him up the mountain to continue his search for hyrule. Wild uncorked the bottle with his teeth in a practiced fashion, he had done it too many times not to have it perfectly done. He drank half the container before leaning the bottle against the rock and resealing it. He shoved it in his pouch for quick potion use and continued up the now less slippery mountain. It wouldn't be until later that wild realized there was a much easier way to get up the mountain, but did that really matter? Mountain climbing was one of his favorite activities.
After a while he finally reached the top, gasping for air from how far he had to climb. “Oh i swear if hyrule isn't here…” wild said rubbing his wrists. He continued up the grassy land to see a figure sitting on the edge of the cliff, he could hear sobs coming from the person, wild tried to squint his eyes to get a better look at the person who was sitting in front of him. No doubt, it was hyrule. Whats going on? He cautiously walked over to hyrule standing just behind him before he finally noticed him. Wild saw hyrule scrub at his eyes, he could catch a glance at the fact that hyrule had a piece of paper clutched tightly in his hands. He could see scrawls of writing on it, from where he stood he couldn't make it out.
“I.. I was hoping you wouldn't find me.” hyrule hiccuped, wild furrowed his eyebrows, confused.
“What's going on rulie?” he asked, “you're not hurt are you?” hyrule shook his head, his hands gripped at his arms, nails dragging against his skin.
“I'm tired wild.”
“We could, I could take your shift for a while if you want?” wild asked, confused as to what hyrule was implying. “I don't mind really-”
“Not… not like that Wild.'' Hyrule laughed humorlessly “I'm done with all this, with Hylia and her stupid missions. With the portals?” he turned to wild, his face coated in tears, his face all red and puffy. “I can't watch you all get hurt like this anymore, I can't keep healing you all as if nothing happened. Do you know how many of our friends I've watched almost die? How many i've had to basically revive from the dead?”
“Hyrule what-” wild stood frozen, unable to comprehend what hyrule had been saying.
Hyrule cut him off, “Im done, ok? I was hoping that you wouldn't find me here. Didn't want you to have to see all this.” he whipped some more tears from his eyes, he looked at wild miserably, he looked so miserable and exhausted. “I wanted nothing more then for you to not have to see this wild im sorry.”
“We all cry its ok-”
“Not that… not that wild.” hyrule clambered to his feet, stumbling a little.
“Hyrule what's going on.” hyrule looked pitifully at him.
“I always forget your basically two years old.” wild blinked at him, was that an insult? “Don't take that wrong, it's fine that you don't understand.” wilds head spun, should he know what hyrule was talking about?
“What's that supposed to mean? Hyrule what are you talking about? Your acting weird-”
“Wild, I'm sorry. You’ve been my best friend on this adventure, I really loved being your adventuring partner." Hyrule began, he furiously whipped off some tears from his face, wild took a step forward, scared to what hyrule was meaning with this sudden apology.
“Hyrule i'm sorry i don't understand but- but help me understand? I want to help-” wild tried, he couldn't understand what was going on, whether he had forgot what this could have meant, or it was something he had never known, he wouldn't ever know.
“Goodbye wild.” hyrule let his arms out, taking a step back.
“Hyrule- you're going to fall.” wild warned.
“Wild… that's the entire point.” hyrule took his final step back, his body going off the edge of the cliff, wild ran to the edge, grabbing his paraglider out and leaping off after him, hyrule doesn't have a way to slow down, hyrules going to die if he falls from this high.
Wild reached out his hand to hyrule, desperately trying to grab hold of his best friend's hand, wild could feel the panic seeping through his body, hyrule wasn't grabbing his hand, with the ground rapidly approaching, Wild finally remembered what Rulie had been doing.
Suicide, the thing that killed so many people in his era, so many had killed themselves to avoid dying to ganons army. His own family had killed themselves when wild had been killed, when the monsters had surrounded their house. According to Purah, she had found their bodies at the bottom of a cliff, their grave had been put behind their house, which wild had later found out is the house that he lived in now.
It finally registered, Hyrule was killing himself to get out of their mission, to get out of seeing all this carnage, all the death and blood that surrounded them. Hyrule their healer, the person who everyone depended on to make sure they all stayed alive, was now free falling through the air, a smile on his face, eyes closed as he fell, all by his own volition.
Wild couldn't reach him, rulie isn't letting him catch him- he was going to fall- he was going to–
Rulies body hit the ground before wild could say anything, wild deployed his paraglider, gliding the last couple feet down before he got rid of the glider, tossing it to the side as he fell to rulies side, he wasn't breathing. His body lay broken on the ground, blood coating the floor where he landed, wild looking down at his hands, blood coating his hands and pants from where he kneeled on the ground next to him.
“Rulie. Rulie please wake up. Rulie?!” he cried out, he put his head to Hyrules chest, no heartbeat. He died on impact, he fucking died on impact. “Hyrule please, please don't do this to me, don't die on me, i promise ill never do anything rash again, i swear, ill do anything. Just please- don't leave me? Please rulie?”
He knew it wouldn't work to beg, hyrule hasn't breathed in minutes, he hadn't had a heartbeat in minutes. He was in all ways of the sort, dead. Dead like wild had once been, had been many times, miphas grace? Could he use miphas grace to save hyrule? Wild had never attempted to use it on others, he had never attempted to even channel it through him. Would it work? Could he even do anything to save him? Please mipha, i don't know what you can do, but let me save him please. He remembered how mipha held her hands when healing him, what she had said on the countless times he had asked how she did it. How did hyrule do this? Look over a body of his friend without breaking down?
“Please?” anyone? Please! Someone help!” he yelled in a panic, he felt hot tears spilling down his cheeks, how did mipha do this? What did mipha always say? “It… it would be my pleasure?” he begged between sobs. A light glow covered his hands where he held his hands, he felt surprised at the light glow, it was working? “Please?! Legend?! Twilight?! Anyone please!” he continued as the glow continued to grow, still no signs of life filled hyrule. He sat there for nearly half an hour, or thats what it felt like. His head hurt, his eyes raw from tears. His voice was near worn out from his screams for help. He nearly thought he was going insane when he heard a rustling in the bushes. Please, please be someone we know.
“Wild?! What the hell happened?!” a familiar voice yelled out, falling to his side, he caught a glance at the familiar sight of legends tunic at his side, across hyrules body he saw twilight mid transformation running over to him, he could hear the frantic voices around him, but couldn't tell what they had said, he held his hands clutched over hyrules chest, the glow growing, but no sign of life continued to fill the usually lively boy he had grown to know so well.
“Wild what can we do to help, what happened.'' Twilight said in a calm voice, they all knew it was a front to calm him down, to keep him from breaking down any further or losing concentration. Wild froze, the light fading from his hands. “Wild what are you doing.”
Oh he had a plan, a horrible plan, one that would probably not work at all but if it did, goddesses rulie would hate him if it worked. “I have an idea.”
“Wild.”
“Tell mipha to save hyrule before she saves me, ok?” legend grabbed wilds wrist, who had reached over to his side pouch, pulling out a knife from it, it was a knife Hyrule had found while traveling around with him a while back, ruby encrusted, silver blade and a handle wrapped in black leather. He looked at the blade that would soon cause his Fifty-second death of his life, his fifty-first miphas grace use. He looked at legend, who whipped his own eyes.
“Wild what are you–” he stabbed into his carotid arteries, all he needed was an inch and a half in, he had perfected it after he had gotten so injured once he had resigned to using this method to save himself when needed. He cut it too shallow once and suffered a long painful death, this way, he had ten seconds maximum. Lucky for him? It took only five this time.
—
“He didn't just- did he really just…” legend gasped out, taking the knife from wilds body, “is he seriously killing himself for this. I'm going to murder him if this doesn't work.” a small figure of a Zora shrouded in blue light appeared next to wild, a bright blue light in her hand as she began to work. “Wait! Wait, wild- no, link wanted me to ask you to try and heal hyrule, he.. He killed himself for it please-”
“Link did? To save… him? I can try.” she said softly, her voice held the same accent that wild had, a voice that legend had grown familiar to when wild had died on a multitude of times on their trip. She turned to face hyrule, glowing hands slowly working their way over the injuries that he held, nothing fixed, no sign of life being breathed back into his body whatsoever unlike when wild was being healed by her. She continued to drag her hands to every injury he had, waiting for anything to work.
“Well?!” twilight demanded.
“Im sorry.” she mumbled, retracting her hands, before beginning to heal wild. “It wont work. His injuries are… i can't heal anyone other then link. Its a curse for a healer like me you know? I wish nothing more then to heal him but.. It wont work im sorry.” she kissed wilds forehead, the injury healing up. “It would be my pleasure.” she said softly, before dissipating into blue flames. Legend stared dumbfounded as wild sat up, eyes wide as if expecting to hear or see hyrule once more, but turning around only left him with disappointment.
“She… hes. He's still dead.”
“She couldn't heal him, she tried, trust me. Miphas grace only works for you…” twilights voice broke, “im sorry wild. He's… Hyrules dead”
–
It wasn't long before everyone got back to camp, the other groups sitting glumly as they had found their search futile. When legend showed up through the bushes, their eyes lit up before falling to horror at the sight behind them, Twilight holding Hyrules body in his hands, stained with blood. Wild was on Legends back, asleep from hylia knows how long of trying to heal hyrule. He was covered in both his own and hyrules dried blood, his face puffy and red from his crying. Legend hated to admit it, but his face looked the same.
“Legend, Twilight what happened.” Time said, looking at hyrule in horror.
“We dont know, we found wild trying to save him at the bottom of a cliff, Wild fucking killed himself to try and save hyrule.” legend sniffed, taking a shuddering breath before he finally spoke once more. “Hyrule died.'' Silence befell the camp as twilight finally put hyrules body down on the side of the camp, the group crowding towards him.
“Shit did he jump off the cliff or something?!” warriors said, crouching next to his body, lifting his arm carefully, as he examined the damage to hyrule. Of course Warriors was calm in this situation, he was the only one who was used to this sort of death, as morbid as it sounded. According to warriors, he had claimed that he dealt with many soldiers killing themselves during the war.
“Four… take… take wind away please?” sky said in a horse voice, wind didn't protest like he usually did, he gratefully took fours hand, whose eyes were swirling with colors, going between expressions of horror, sadness and surprisingly anger, as if he couldn't decide what he was feeling at the moment, which was felt by most of the group.
“I think wild saw it.” legend said quietly. “I think he was there when whatever this is happened.” the group froze. “I don't think wild actually understood what happened. We found him yelling for help, and trying to heal hyrule… it– it didn't work." He let time take wild off his back, putting him on his already set out bedroll. They didn't worry about the blood left on the bedroll, only worried about the now corpse of their close friend.
Wild woke not too long later, the usually loud and energetic teen now silent and confused. His eyes looked exhausted, flecks of blood coated his face from when he had stabbed himself in the neck, he looked around to see the group, hyrules body limply laying next to him. Goddesses that must have been a rude awakening.
“Wild what…”
“I didn't know what he was saying.” wild said in a haunting tone. “He kept saying he didn't want me to find him, didn't want me to see him like that. He said he didn't… said he–” tears fell down his cheeks, as he spoke. “He was saying all these things, and i–” his voice broke. “I didn't know what he was talking about, rulie said how he was tired, and he was so done with all this stuff, the portals, us dying? Us all getting hurt and him near reviving us? I– i didn't understand until he was falling what he meant– i'm sorry i really didn't–”
“Wild, calm down, its ok, its not your fault ok? What did he do?” time held a hand hesitantly over wilds back who was struggling to take even the smallest breath.
“He jumped off the cliff. He jumped. I jumped after… I jumped after him, but he… I reached out my hand to grab him but he refused to take it.” Wild managed out, “i tried to heal him but… it- he- Miphas grace only works for me. It doesn't work for anyone else. I slit my own fucking throat to try and save him but it didnt work…. She couldn't even heal his injuries a little bit.” he broke down sobbing, shaking violently, his nails digging into his arms. Despite this all, just like a cherry on top, even if it was unconsciously after learning to use miphas grace in a new way, the light glow of the healing ability from earlier shone softly through his fingers, healing all the wounds on his arms wild glared down at his hands through tears.
“What's that glow?” time asked softly.
“I can't stop it.” wild said between gasps of air, “I did it trying to heal hyrule… it only works on me because of course it can't work on others! Why would it be able to heal others? I don't even want to heal and I'm just doing it. ” legend pulled his hands off his arms carefully, holding them in his own. He refused to say anything, biting back tears of his own, trying to ignore the horrible feeling in his gut, hyrule was dead, and it was their fault. They should have noticed, seen all the signs of this, legend should have seen the signs, warriors should have as well, seeing as he knew so many who had previously died this way.
Legend of all of them should have known, he had tried before just after his third adventure, during his fourth, most of all, after he lost Marin. He had been saved each time, yet he couldn't see it in hyrule? He couldn't even notice a single sign? He bit his lip in frustration, biting back a cry of frustration. Rulie was gone.
“Hey wild, why don't you go back to sleep ok? We're going to figure out what to do now ok?” time said gently, wild didn't seem to be listening, his eyes glancing back and forth between them and hyrule, dancing between the living and dead as he himself often did.
“I cant… do.. Anything for him?” he said, his voice sounding so small, like one of a child.
“No, cub.” times voice broke. “No, he's gone. We just have to hope hylia sends us to his world next so he can be buried in his own time.” that probably wasn't the best thing to say to him, wild scrubbed at his face, looking suddenly numb. How time kept it together and wasn't breaking down, no, how all of them were not breaking down, legend himself was moments away from breaking down but purely for wild he held it together. The second the kid was asleep? He wouldn't be able to hold it back.
“Guys.” sky said softly, putting a hand on hyrules left arm. “Help me pick him up, portal soon.” sky had always been good at knowing when the portal would hit, presumably since he was literally dating hylias human reincarnation.
“Wild, lean on me ok?” legend helped him to his feet, he stumbled forward before legend grabbed his shoulder, forcing him to stand still by his side.
“I got rulie.” twilight said monotonous, obviously he has to stay strong for wild, hes his fucking mentor. If twilight freaks out, wild will freak out even more.
“Are you sure pup? I.. I can hold him.” time offered, even he couldn't hide his horror, his pure shock at the situation. Twilight nodded, picking up the now corpse of their friend. If they didn't know better it looked as if he was just sleeping after a battle, tired from healing them all once again. Hyrules face looked so peaceful, as if he really was finally in peace, finally happy unlike he had apparently in the chain.
The portal showed up soon after, apparently hylia was being kind to them after their loss, she brought them to Hyrules world, right to the castle where Aurora and Dawn lived. What a cruel joke, they would have to break it to the two right then. As if hylia was punishing them, not giving them time to process. Wild looked up at the castle exhaustedly, unable to say anything, just pointing at the two women up ahead, who stood welcomingly at the entrance of the castle, as if waiting for Hyrule to greet them, which he never would again.
“Welcome back heroes, how has everything been on your journey?” Aurora asked, offering a hand out to time who took it carefully. “Is Link alright?” wild covered his mouth choking back sobs, legend looked away from the two, shit. Whos gonna explain this-
“I'm sorry your highnesses, can we speak over tea? I… think you both need to sit down for what has happened.”
—-
The two zeldas hosted a funeral the next day, only them and the chain all went. Hyrules body let down into the shallow grave they had dug for him, the group taking turns covering him in dirt, before finally his coffin was fully covered. They had dressed him in a clean tunic and wild had weaved flowers into his hair, hyrule wouldn't want any fancy clothes or items, nor would he want any sort of extravagant funeral. He only would want the basics, the simplest things for the simple sort of man he was. Hyrule didn't like anything complicated, honey and milk was his favorite. His favorite meal was crepes and honey, sometimes wild had added strawberries, which he loved when they could afford to add them. He loved to have wilds hearty soup when he could make it, and when he ate them he always said the same: just as good as it’s always been. Thanks wild. That was all, he said nothing more, nothing less.
Hyrule was a simple man, he used the same basic spells despite him being able to do so much more. He wore the same clothes he wore on his mission, because he couldn't get anything better, but everytime someone offered him new clothes he claimed he liked his, saying they were so normal to him that the idea of wearing anything different seemed odd to him. He was a simple man, he used the same sword every time, no fancy items, just his sword, and shield. He didn't use a bow often, but when he did he used the same one, even though wild offered better, even though four had offered to fix it, he refused, saying the norm was perfect for him.
Hyrule was a good man, he liked to adventure with wild off into the night, scaring the group beyond belief, all those nights he would laugh with wild who made some milk and honey for them. Goddesses wild missed his best friend.
Wild sat next to his gave, he had been cooking all of hyrules favorites, the rest of the chain had been inside, sleeping or eating. Aurora and dawn had a meal after his funeral, but now it was dinner time, the royal staff made food for them, yet wild didn't eat it. He didn't show up. Wild had been cooking all of hyrules favorite foods for him, a crepe with honey and strawberries was on one of the plates, hyrule would have yelled at him for spoiling him, for wasting so much resources just to make hyrule a good meal. But hyrule wasn't there.
Wild had made a bowl of hearty soup for the both of them, placing hyrules favorite bowl with the soup on his grave. The bowl was simple, it had a nice light green color to it, with small gold leaf designs around the bottom. It was nice, something Hyrule had found in warriors hyrule when they were waiting for a ball to start. He thought it was so nice but didn't want to waste money. The look on his face when he was served some soup that night with said bowl by wild himself.
Lastly he put the mug of honey milk on the grave, clinking the edges against one another. The part fairy had always loved the stuff, when wild had shown it to him he had nearly cried in joy. Claiming it was the best thing he ever had. Wild had been speechless by how much praise hyrule gave him just for the most simple recipe alone. But that was just the type of man hyrule was.
“ Ya know, that always was my favorite.” a haunting voice said, wild looked around wildly for who had said it, only to be met with a slightly blue tinted hyrule who sat atop his own grave. “ Hello wild.”
“You died. What are you doing here? " Wild said weakly, barely able to breath at the sight of his friend. Like the champions, he had similar blue flames around him, the blue tinting minimal until it reached his hands and feet, becoming a brighter blue. A light blue aura surrounded him, specks of goldish blue spiraling around him, just as all the champions had looked when he met them.
“ Hylia wouldn't… let me leave the mission. So i'm stuck here, i have to follow you all around until its over. Then i can rest.” hyrules ghost sighed, looking sad. “ I spoke to her, you know? She was so mad.” he laughed pitifully. “Said I can't just leave this mission this way. So here I am, the ghost of our stupid mission across time.” he took another sip of the honey milk, only then did wild notice how half of the food he had set out was also missing.
“You can eat while dead?” Wild said in a daze. Hyrule nodded slightly, setting his cup in his lap.
“ It wasn't worth it by the way. If you were wondering. If I could have stopped myself I would. I was selfish ya know? I thought I could have gotten out of all the pain by ending it, but now I'm forced to follow you all, no one seeing me. No one hears me. Do you know how painful it was to watch my own fucking funeral?” hyrule said, the usual calmness gone from his voice in a now self pitying way. “ I wish you didn't have to see it wild. I… my ghost form watched as you killed yourself to get me back to life, i can't believe you actually went through all that. I mean, I died once, and it sucked, but you died what? Fifty-two times? I can't imagine that.” hyrule leaned back on his hands, looking contemplative.
“Rulie… could I have done something? I mean i didn't understand i wish i had just-”
“ Wild, nothing could have stopped me, I feel bad that I did it infront you specifically, I separated from you just so I could do it, hoping you wouldn't find me. I know you didn't understand, you did it so many times, only for the idea of keeping yourself safe, but I did it so I could finally be done, free from all this stupid stuff were dragged into. Wild you're just a kid in all ways possible, i mean your basically two- '' wild couldn't help but feel his heart sink, did hyrule just see him as a little kid he had to take care of? “ Not in a bad way wild, not ina bad way. I was selfish doing that in front of you ok? I guess I was hoping someone would be there with me, so I could say goodbye. Thanks for being there.”
“I didn't save you though.”
“I didn't want to be saved.” hyrule said, jumping down from the grave. “ Listen wild, i… I wanted you to have this, I mean I'm dead so I have no use for it anymore.” an all too familiar orb shone out from hyrules hands, a green in color.
“Hyrule please- no i can't- not another one please-” wild begged, backing away from hyrule.
“ Wild it's what hylia thinks is best, i have to give it to you ok? You'll…” hyrule blinked back golden tears, did ghosts cry gold? “ It's called Hyrules light. At Least that's what hylia called it. It will allow you to-” he paused, whipping his eyes frantically. “You can heal the group now. I'm so sorry wild I really didn't want to curse you with this." Wild felt the orb fly into his chest, the green seeping through him as he was lifted into the air as always happening with the powers given by the previous champions, quickly being set down after. “ Im sorry wild.” hyrules ghostly form hugged him, even if his arms went through wilds.
“Its ok hyrule… im… im here…” wild gulped down the guilt and pain he had been feeling. “Its fine, I can handle this. I can't die so i have no out right? I'll heal them,” he furiously wiped his tears away, “it's fine right? I'll be able to see you right? Or are you going to disappear and only show once and a while like the rest of ‘em.'' Hyrule looked away from him.
“ I think you might always see me. That's what she had told me atleast. Im sorry wild.'' Wild closed his eyes, running a hand through his hair as he settled into his new reality. “ Listen i really wish-”
“Its fine hyrule. I don't mind.” he breathed out, “at least i have a permanent travel buddy?” wild said hopelessly, hyrule laughed at his words slightly, leaning on one hand on the grave, the other resting on his lap as he leaned to one side.
“Wild, what are you doing? Its nearly midnight.” legend yawned, wild hadn't even noticed him approach. “And who are you talking to? I didn't want to interrupt but what the hells going on?” hyrules ghostly form walked over to legend, giving him a hug despite his hands going through him similarly to how it happened with wild himself.
“I was talking to-” he noticed hyrules shaking his head. “No one, talking to no one.” Legend rolled his eyes.
“Listen, you can admit you were talking to hyrules grave, ok? I was coming down to do the same to be honest.” hyrule looked at legend suspiciously before glancing back at wild.
“ He was looking for you actually. He's worried about you.” hyrule said softly, sitting next to wild in the blink of an eye.
“I'll leave then.” hyrule looked at him with a shake of his head.
“ I wanna hear what he says though.” hyrule took another sip of his honey milk.
“Then stay here? You don't have to be with me at all times.” wild responded, only to be met with a confused legend sound from in front of him. “Not you.” he clarified.
“Sorry what? What the hell are you on about.” legend asked, “wait- did you make all his favorite food?” legend glanced down at all the food on the floor, half eaten for hyrules half, barely touched for wild.
“Nothing.” he stood, “ill let you be, ill be over there… we can walk back to our room together ok?”
“Don't leave,” legend said horsley, picking up one of wilds crepes, “mind if i?”
“Go for it.'' Hyrule next to him took another bite of the crepe, watching legend as he sat next to wild, the three all leaning against the grave. Except, legend couldn't see hyrule, he just assumed it was the two of them. “What would you do if you started to hear him?”
“ Wild dont-”
“ I would ask him why. Why he did this and left us all fucking on our own. Why he didn't ask for help or even talk to us about how he felt. I…” he cleared his throat. “Why he didn't even say goodbye?” wild tried to ignore Legend's strained voice as he fought back tears, scrubbing his eyes.
“ Shit i-”
“ Im sure if he was here he would apologize, in fact I think I know exactly what he would say.” Wild turned to face hyrule, who looked at him sadly.
“ I'm sorry I left, I wish nothing more then to be with you guys. I made a mistake, and now i live with my consequences, or rather… I don't live? Its confusing isn't it. Hylia likes to make things complicated doesn't she.” hyrule said, wild repeating word for word. Legend turned to look at him, his eyes narrowed.
“Are you sure thats not something you wish he would say? I mean I can see him saying it but seriously, lets… lets give it a rest. There's nothing we can do about it anyways. I would give nothing more to her him actually say that.” legend said wistfully. Wild nodded at hyrule, which legend interpreted it as him nodding at legend. “Whatever. Not that he could hear us or anything. Fuckin up there with Hylia and shit. Think our future selves are there with him?”
Hyrule nodded, “I think so, yeah.”
“Huh. Whatever, let's get going, it's late. Ill help you make some crepes for… uh… everyone if you want to.'' Legend said cautiously, looking at the offerings wild had brought, “yeah, the Queen and princess got us a nice room we can stay in, let's head there ok?” wild glanced over at hyrule.
“Will you still be with me if I leave here?” legend threw a confused look at him but he ignored it.
“ Maybe. Probably?” hyrule questioned. He looked to legend and nodded, using hyrules tombstone to stand.
“Someone there?” Legend offered a hand to Wild, who took it cautiously, glancing back at hyrule, who followed behind them, his form remaining consistent no matter how far from the grave they got.
Hyrule really was here to stay.
–
Legend was suspicious of wild, even since he left hyrules world, and honestly even after that night at the graveyard, he had been talking to seemingly no one at all times. Whether it was wild going insane from watching Hyrule kill himself, (the even just thinking the words made legend gag, the feeling of dread resettling in his gut.) the group had not been even close to the same since hyrule died. Twilight and time had retreated to talk and be mostly separated from the group, Wind, Sky, and Warriors had all formed their own group, sticking together and talking quietly. Four had been talking to himself as per usual, but would often talk to legend about whatever was on his mind, usually he would avoid the topic of hyrules death to not upset legend further. Wild hadn't said anything to anyone, only talking to himself and making careful gestures and head movements to indicate how he felt on things. He held this tired expression on his face that legend had grown to hate. His eyes were sunken in and empty. His hair was matted and dirty, his clothes hung off him loosely, they usually did, but now even more so.
Wild refused to make anything that hyrule didn't like. Warriors favorite was a fish dish, that hyrule so happened to hate. Wild made nine plates worth, taking two with him as he left to eat away from the group. By the time he got back, both dishes were stored in the slate already, no one being able to tell if he had really eaten or not.
Legend had been picking at his food that day, wild had made Hyrules favorite, Hearty soup. None of the rest of the chain was a big fan of it, not even wild himself. Wild had often made it for Rulie after a big battle, which Hylia had been kind to them in helping them avoid any battle while they were grieving. Everytime they would land somewhere, Wild would wander off, talking to himself all the while, he would appear again, no signs of battle or any injuries, indicating there was nothing up ahead.
“Hey anyone want some of my soup? Its a bit sweet for me.” warriors said quietly, they weren't sure how far wild was from them and wanted to do anything but offend him.
“None of us enjoy it.” time sighed, “but its better then nothing, so eat up while we can. This period of peace won't last forever.”
“You still think its Hylia letting us be in peace?” legend grumbled, the group turned to face him. “What? She's never been nice to us before.” sky raised his hand as if to protest, only to be met with legends glare. “Save it sky. No one wants to hear about how ‘ perfect my beautiful girlfriend Sun is!’ ” skys own glare leveled with Legends, the later kept his gaze even with skys. “Am i wrong with what you were about to say.” sky ducked his head down, suddenly not interested in talking. “Thats what i thought.”
“Legend dont be rude.” Warriors said, he didn't particularly love Hylia either, but he at least had a higher regard for her then Legend did. “I'm not one to agree with legend,” he paused at legends indigent ‘ hey!’ “but i agree with him. Somethings up. Hylia isn't nice to us.” sky pouted in the corner, everyone ignored him on this.
“Well what are we supposed to do? If hylia's not dumping us in these nice calm places, then why are we here.” Twilight stated, gazing down at his soup in disgust. “Anyone have some goron spice? Might make it better.'' The usually good food wild made was gone, now sloppily made and meals only hyrule would have liked. When he was… alive, wild would usually make two meals, one for hyrule and one for everyone else. Wild had been absolutely infatuated with hyrule. Wild would follow him around, excited to even be close to him, their joint love for exploring had lead wild to want to spend all his time exploring with hyrule, commonly ignoring everyone else to spend time with the healer.
Legend had found out from hyrule quickly that wild didn't have many alive friends. He had been alone on his journey, and having hyrule with him was like being able to experience life how it should be, fun. Legend was mad, no, he was pissed. Hyrule didn't talk to them, didn't ask for help, and he killed himself, in front of the one person who truly relied on hyrule to keep him stable. Sure it was probably a lot of pressure, but all they did was take walks. Hyrule told him all about how wild had eventually opened up to him about his past, refusing to repeat it out of respect for his fellow explorer.
“Maybe they aren't so nice places.” time said thoughtfully, a hand on his chin as he considered his options. “Maybe someones been clearing them out.” they all understood the implications it had, staring at the eldest.
“You think wild has been killing them all?” Twilight said in shock, the others followed his sentiment.
“All of the camps?”
“Are you crazy time?”
“He always comes back completely uninjured its not possible.” sky commented. Legend winced at his words.
“No, no times right. Its completely possible. Miphas grace, his ‘i can come back from the dead’ ability?” he made air quotes about coming back from the dead. “When he… tried to save him, he knew the exact location to hit and how deep to go so it wouldnt cause a bigger problem. I think that's what he's been doing. He kills everything, kills himself, and shows back up like nothing happened.'' The camp fell silent, all now looking at Legend, horror on their faces as they came to terms with the truth about their peace.
“Wilds been… doing all that? But why?” Wind asked, his soup sat next to him, long forgotten. “We can handle them all together cant we? Why isn't he-”
Twilight froze eyes widening in panic. “We cant be healed anymore.”
“We are well aware of that.” warriors stated, motioning for Twilight to continue.
“Wild can heal. ” twilight clarified. “No matter how.. Terrible it is, wild can heal himself to an extent. I think that he believes it's the only way to keep us safe.” silence befell the entire camp, no one was able to even speak upon the realization. The group didn't move for a while, only moving when they heard rustling in the bushes, Wild appearing through the bushes, a couple cuts from thorn bushes he had come through.
Wild cocked his head to the side, looking at their full soup bowls. His eyes narrowed, looking behind him for a moment, ears twitching as if listening to something. He nodded at whatever he had been ‘hearing’ pulling out some meat and rice, along with some goron powder. He looked at them as if to ask if it was good for them, they all nodded at him, legend swallowing the guilt he felt. Wild probably just came back from clearing things out again, he probably didn't even eat dinner. Wild got back to work, putting some butter in the pan and putting the meat in it, he slowly scraped some salt off one of his thousands of salt crystals. The group stayed silent, no one wanting to be the one to ask wild the question on all their minds.
“Wild.” time said slowly, wilds ear flicked in recognition. “Have you noticed how we havent had any monsters around us lately?” wild nodded. “Whats your thoughts on it? Were trying to figure out whats happening.”
“Hylias being nice.” wild said quietly, pouring a small amount of spice on their steak. “That's all.”
“You of all people should know shes never nice.” legend grumbled, wild ignored him, putting the rice in the second pot, slowly starting to cook it.
“Hm?” wild hummed, looking at legend curiously. No, he wasn't looking at him, he was looking past him.
“Whatcha lookin at champ?” Twilight asked, seeing what legend was seeing. “Something there?” wild tilted his head to the side, a smile crossing his face before he shook his head, going back to cooking their second meal of the night.
“You see somethin?” twilight repeated, wild stared at him, confusion on his face.
“Why ask?” not a no. legend thought, he turned to look at wild once more.
“Your just looking in a spot with nothing there.” legend said carefully, watching his words unlike he usually would. “So again is there something there?” Wild didn’t respond, returning to spooning the butter and spice over the steak.
“ Think he’s losing it?” Warriors whispered to legend who swatted at his shoulder, wilds ears twitched, sending a glare to warriors who shrunk back in his seat. Wild did miss how legend had nodded to warriors, who sighed and got up. “Hey wild why doesn’t legend handle this for a min and we go talk?” Wild shook his head, pointing at legend, then the food, and then drew a line over his neck. ‘He would kill it.’ Is what he seemed to be saying.
“Alright then, we can wait till your done cooking.” Wild nodded at him and continued what he was doing, checking on how cooked it was every so often. Eventually he started to form the rice balls, stuffing the meat inside and handing each person two of them each. Everyone ate them gratefully as wild put each dish into his slate, something for if they were in a bind, legend assumed.
Warriors held the two rice balls and motioned for wild to follow him, which the younger did, a blank expression as his eyes trailed away from warriors, looking at whatever he saw next to him. The two walked off into the forest, silence fell over the camp as they attempted to listen to what warriors was saying, only catching bits and pieces along the way.
—
“Wild, come sit with me.” Warriors said, sitting against a tree, wild stood awkwardly, looking between him and Hyrule. Hyrule nodded to him, motioning for him to sit, which he obliged. “Listen, I don't really know how to say this—“
“I’m not crazy wars.” Wild stated, Hyrule raised an eyebrow at him. “I know I seem crazy but I’m not.”
“Wild, I’m not here to accuse you—“
“You are though.” Wild insisted. “I heard you guys ya know.”
“Listen, we’re just worried about you wild.”
“And there’s no need to be worried, I have everything handled.” He glared at warriors, who took a bite of his rice ball in response, Hyrule looked at it curiously.
‘New recipe?’ Hyrule asked, wild nodded.
“I added butter and a different spice this time, I hope it’s better then usual.” Wild explained to him, momentarily forgetting about warriors presence.
“Huh?” Warriors responded, mouth full of food. He swallowed quickly, “who are you talking to?” he looked at where wild had been talking to, nothing there for him as far as wild could tell. “Nothings there.”
‘ How rude, I’m nothing now?’ Hyrule sighed. ‘ You die and suddenly your reduced to nothing.’ Wild bit back a laugh, ignoring hyrules comments for now. Warriors grabbed his shoulders, forcing him to look at him.
“Wild, talk to me buddy. I’ve seen people go insane over deaths of best friends, I’ve seen them talk to nothing as if they were still there. If hyrules there, he’s not. Hyrules dead wild.”
“I know.” Wild blankly stared back. “I’m not highly aware that he’s dead. I saw him die, I killed myself to try and save him, and now, he’s—“ he glanced at Hyrule who nodded. “He’s following me around, just like we always used to hang out.” Warriors sighed, looking to the floor, his hands still on wilds shoulders.
“He’s not there wild.”
“You don’t know that.” Wild countered. “He’s right there. Hylia didn’t let him move on so now he follows me around and talks to me.” He shoved warriors off him, standing up. “Stop thinking I’m crazy. It’s not my fault that Hylia cursed him to stay here with us until the end of the adventure.”
‘ Wild careful. You sound insane.’ Hyrule whispered in his ear, hovering behind him. ‘ Just leave the conversation and let’s go kill things.’ Wild nodded, turning on his heal and stalking away from warriors, who stood dumbfounded at wild.
Wild kicked a rock at one of the nearby boulders. “He’s crazy, you're right here. Fucking Hylia just won’t let anyone see you but me.”
“Wild, maybe you should sleep–”
“Im not crazy wars.”
“Wild its ok, were all grieving, you were the closest to him. I totally understand that you need time–”
“Wars im not crazy! ” he cried, he got up suddenly, warriors following him. “Stop acting like im crazy im not!” warriors reached forward, grabbing his hands, trapping him in place.
“Wild, calm down please– lets go get time, or maybe legend? Twilight?” warriors asked, wild struggled against his hold, kicking at warriors shins weakly, i don't want to hurt him, i don't want to have to hurt him. He begged internally.
“Let go of me!” he cried out, shoving warriors away from him. Warriors gave a shocked look frozen in place at what wild had done. “Im not- im not…” he clutched at his head, looking back at hyrule who had an alarmed expression on his face. “I'm not crazy…” he whimpered, backing into a tree, his back slamming against it as he sank to the ground.
“Woah– hey are you ok?” warriors face shifted from shock to alarm, looking around at the area around them in fear. “Dude you need to calm down, i'm not saying… ok i might be, but you're not crazy, you might just be seeing things?”
“Im not… hyrule your real right? Your right there!” his head spun, was he going crazy? Did he finally loose it? “Your… your here.” he clung his hands to his hair, near ripping it out with how harshly he was pulling on it. Hyrule sat by his side, warriors in front of him with confusion on his face. Hyrule couldnt particularly do anything for him, just offer emotional support as much as he could.
“Wild please, lets just calm down-” warriors attempted to reason, looking over his shoulder carefully, as if begging for someone to help him handle this. “Well shit–” he cursed suddenly, running a hand through his own hair.
“Wars you have to believe me…” wild begged, struggling to breath in even a gasp of air. “Hes here… his ghost is here I swear.” He turned to hyrules ghost for backup, which he provided none of.
‘ I don't know what you want me to say wild…’ hyrule said softly, holding his hands hesitantly over wilds form, ‘ its fine, your fine im real. Try and calm down, im sure your gonna be fine.’ hyrule assured, wild struggled to take in another breath, glancing between the living and the dead in panic.
“Hey follow me breathing?” warriors asked, he glanced at hyrule who nodded at him. Warriors took a deep inhale of a breath, wild attempting to follow suit, which resulted in an aborted gasp of air. They continued this for many minutes after, nearly half an hour now that wild thought about it. Sitting there, breathing calmly and not saying anything, no accusations of his insanity, no failure to feel the line between the dead and reality. He just was there.
–
‘You really should stop doing this you know.’ hyrule hummed, floating over wild as he decapitated yet another bokoblin. ‘ What happens if they find you doing this? Or healing? What then wild?’
“Its not my fault that this is the only option.” Wild swung once again at the next bokoblin, a screech sounding out as he made contact with the monster. “Its better that I take the brunt of it, rather then attempting to heal them.” His hands glowed slightly as he charged some electricity through his sword, stabbing it into the next bokoblin, which dropped to the floor in pain.
‘ You really do like my lightning ability dont you.’ Hyrule said, examining wilds blade as he cleaned it off from the last monster that had befallen his blade. ‘ You use it everytime and your obviously good at it, who says you wont be good at my healing–’
“Im not risking it Hyrule. Their lives are not worth risking my questionable use of your ability. Sure i can use it on myself. But others— i still dont know. I cant risk that.”
‘ Their going to catch on soon.’ Hyrule said, taking the candy wild dropped out of his slate. ‘ You can’t win me over with bribes.’
“Touché.” Wild answered, taking his candy and popping it in his mouth.
‘ Wild.’
“What?”
‘ You ate the wrapper.’ Hyrule said cautiously , ‘ you need to sleep. Take the day off, tell twilight to cook. Whatever works. Just take a goddess damned break.’
“You can’t tell me what to do.” Wild grinned at Hyrule. “The wrapping paper is made of rice by the way. It’s edible. So there.”
‘ Not this batch. You specifically told me that you ran out of rice paper, so you used normal paper.’ Hyrule argued back, wilds smile fell, spitting out the paper from his mouth.
“You got me there. But! Just because i forgot that i didnt use my normal rice paper doesnt mean anything. Besides thats unrelated to whether i fight or not.” Wild argued back, pressing a hand to his ribcage where he had been stabbed minutes before. The light glow of hyrules ability flashed, brightly casting a healing spell from hyrules light. The wound cleared up quickly, energy sapping out of him just as quickly as the wound had disappeared.
‘Wild this is dangerous. What if you dont have enough energy to heal yourself one day? What if you die?’ Wild glanced back at Hyrule, raising an eyebrow at him.
“I have the whole death thing handled. Thank you very much rulie.” Wild clicked on a new outfit in his slate, trading his normal in for the climbing set. “That can fix itself, then I can tell the group that it got dirty when I was looking around. Easy as cake.”
‘ Pie.’
“Huh? What? You want some pie?” wild said in confusion, spluttering in his confusion.
‘ The saying is easy as pie.’ Hyrule corrected, fingers pinching the bridge of his nose in his annoyance. ‘ You know its really annoying to watch you be so reckless. Can you please be more careful.’
“I am careful. Do you see me? Im being careful. ” Wild argued, dusting himself off.
‘ If this is careful im scared to see what its like when your not careful.’ Hyrule gently ushered wild forth, nudging him as much as he could without a physical body. ‘ Now get going, everyones going to start getting suspicious if your not careful.’
–
“Where were you?!”
“Exploring.” wild said simply, pushing past Twilight to get to the fire. “I found a cool mushroom but it was poison so i made sure to box it up and away.”
‘I told you it was poison.’ Hyrule deadpanned, his form hovering over Twilight, arms draped over his shoulders dramatically. ‘ You didn't do anything.’ wild stuck his tongue out at Hyrule, twilight gave a confused look to him but didn't say anything about it.
“New clothes?” Time asked, Wild nodded at him. “What happened? Did you get attacked?” Yes.
“Nope! Just fell in some dirt and mud. Just changed clothes so i could let them get dry and clean.” wild gave a smile to time, Hyrule coughed behind him, glaring at wild as he lied through his teeth.
‘ Liar.’
“Shut it.” he hissed back to hyrule, Time gave a surprised look to him, tilting his head to the side in curiosity.
“Who you talking to champ?” Time pushed, giving a gentle pat on his back.
“Huh? Oh just talking to myself.” And hyrules ghost. His brain added. “Don’t worry about me, anyways what would you like for dinner tonight?”
‘ Wild take a break.’ Hyrule glared down at him.
“ No . I’m fine ru—“ he cut himself by slapping a hand across his mouth, realizing what he was saying only after he started saying it.
“Wild? What we’re you saying?”
“ Nothing time.” He insisted, pulling out some fish, salt, oil and butter. “I’ll make some fried fish tonight. I know wars likes that.” Hyrule gave a defeated sigh in the background, wild pointed to his slate off to the side, showing the soup left overs he had that Hyrule loved so much.
“Not a dish he liked?” Time questioned.
“He can deal with it.” Wild responded nonchalantly. “He always dealt with it before.” Wild waved time off.
“He can… deal with it?” Time pressed, urging wild to continue. “Wild he isnt… he can’t really eat anymore.” Wild suppressed the urge to laugh, hearing a small chuckle from Hyrule from off to the side.
“I’m aware.” He pulled out the other soup, continuing to fry the fish. “He likes this, so he can eat this.” Time groaned, rubbing his eyes in exhaustion.
“Wild hes dead. He cant eat.” Time pinched the bridge of his nose, no real annoyance behind his voice, just pure pity for wild.
“I died and I can eat.” Wild responded mildly, spooning some butter over the fish.
“But your alive now. Your a… different case wild. Listen I know you don’t want to hear it; but Hyrules gone wild. ” Wild blinked.
“I’m… very aware. I was infact there when he died.” Wild pointed at time with his spoon, butter dripping off it. “It’s not that I’m in denial time. I know he’s dead. Ive died enough times, and seen people die enoigh times, to be able to tell that he’s not coming back.”
“How many times have you died.”
“What?”
“How many times—“
“No I heard you but why.”
“I want to know.” Time explained gently.
“Fifty two times, you know this time.” Wild insisted, he wasn’t lying whatsoever, when Hyrule died was the last time he had died. Time raised an eyebrow at him, kneeling next to him.
“You don’t have to lie wild, it’s ok if the number went up.”
“It didn’t go up.” He fired back, “I haven’t killed myself, nor have we had any battles for me to die in. I haven’t died.”
“Wild you can—“
“ I’m not lying!” He yelled, the camps heads spinning to look at him, confusion crossing their faces momentarily. “Why do you think I’ve killed myself since then?!”
“Wild it’s just that—“
“That hyrules gone? I’m not killing myself again time.” Wild dropped the spoon in the pot, glaring at time.
“It’s not that Wild. It’s that we aren’t lucky like this. Hylia isn’t nice like this. Just tell me now, have you been clearing out all the monsters from the area.” Time grabbed his shoulders, forcing him to face him. “Don’t think about lying to me. I will know. ”
Wild felt the blood drain from his face, Hyrule behind him said something along the lines of ‘told you so,’ his blood ran cold as he stared into Times eye, attempting to find a way out of the situation he was currently in.
“Time I—“
“ Don’t lie.” Time said, watching him closely. “Wild I want to help you, we get it, your the only one with a way to heal, but we have potions. We can manage, sure it won’t be easy but it’s better then you exhausting yourself by taking out every monster possible.”
Oh.
“But I— it. Listen it’s fine that I do it— not saying I do, but if I was, then it would be perfectly fine. It wouldn’t be hurting me, and hypothetically, it would be keeping you all safe, so in this hypothetical situation, I think that version of me would be smart to do it.” He stuttered out, hearing a smack as Hyrule facepalmed.
“Wild we all can tell your lying.” Time offered, “it’s fine if you are, but we need to know, we can take it out together ok? You don’t have to do everything alone.”
“I’m not alone though.”
“ Champ—“
“I’m not alone and I’m fine. End of story.”
“You can’t just—“
Wild stood up, handing over the ladle that had dropped into the pot to time. “Figure out the rest of dinner yourselves. I’m leaving.”
‘ Wild don’t you dare.’
“ We’re leaving. ”