#exorcising a demon (random idea ive had for ages i dont have energy to do justice)(im super rusty from depression induced writers block)

[berriethewizard]

Hyrule Warriors isn’t canon. Therefore, the other links in the game never actually went through the War of Eras. What if the Links Warriors knew were just a different version of the actual heroes? (392 words)

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Warriors swallows the lump in his throat, the name crawling to the back of his mouth as he stares at the man before them. He’s older, now, wrinkles and calluses driven into his skin by years of experience. Taller, too. He’s standing in the home he has made with his wife, a name familiar to Warriors yet only now with an image to accompany it. He’s retired. His face is haunted by marks of a power that is as long seated in his skin as the wrinkles.

There’s no recognition in his gaze, no familiarity. Just the determined resignation of a tired hero forced to don his armour once more.

It’s not him. You’re not him.

It’s the Skyloftian that does the talking. He’s best at explaining it, and has done so four times now. Warriors tends to step in, if the other does not take the information well, his experience and authority keeping a grip on the perplexity of the situation, but right now he’s just frozen. All he can do is stand there and stare.

There was the tiniest sliver of hope that this quest would bring him to those he lost, at the end of the war. When they came across the sailor, and he was too young, he let it pass through him – of course, across all the eras, they could meet someone at a different point in their life. The sailor just hasn’t met him yet (and thank the gods for that, sparing one young soul from the horrors of war).

Yet now, he faces the Hero of Time, savior of Termina, wielder of the Fierce Deity, youngest hero of the War of Eras – and he’s a stranger.

When they hit the road, Warriors does not loiter around their newest member like the others. He takes the back position, letting the Old Man, as they’ve nicknamed him somewhat tongue in cheek, lead them to the nearest town for supplies. And when they set up camp for the night, he excuses himself to patrol the area.

And for the first time in many years, the grief of losing his son brings him to tears.