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No Longer You

Previous Next Read on Ao3 Shadow: Holding the Braincell

Hyrule pat Shadow on the shoulder. “You’re healing well! It shouldn’t be long until you can take off the bandages, maybe another day.”

“Th-thanks.” Shadow smiled sheepishly. He had hidden into himself since he’d been found out. Everyone had been at least civil with him if not nice. It had at least helped that Green Red and Blue vouched for him, and had told the group of their quest. With how suspicious he had seemed at first, it surprised him when Legend was the first to approach over Red. He had just sat next to him on the log at the fire and started working on a project. He found the silence surprisingly comfortable.

Over a few nights they slowly warmed up and tried to get him talking again. Even Blue would sometimes playfully nudge his shoulder but the real topic and question loomed over them all like a guillotine. No one knew why or how Shadow had appeared instead of Vio.

Hyrule pat Shadow on the shoulder. “You’re healing well! It shouldn’t be long until you can take off the bandages, maybe another day.”

“Th-thanks.” Shadow smiled sheepishly. He had hidden into himself since he’d been found out. Everyone had been at least civil with him if not nice. It had at least helped that Green Red and Blue vouched for him, and had told the group of their quest. With how suspicious he had seemed at first, it surprised him when Legend was the first to approach over Red. He had just sat next to him on the log at the fire and started working on a project. He found the silence surprisingly comfortable.

Over a few nights they slowly warmed up and tried to get him talking again. Even Blue would sometimes playfully nudge his shoulder but the real topic and question loomed over them all like a guillotine. No one knew why or how Shadow had appeared instead of Vio.

“Hey,” Green started softly one night. They were having a calm night. Everyone is full from Wild’s amazing cooking, the immediate area clear of monsters, and just sitting or playing or crafting. “Can I ask something? You don’t have to answer.” Shadow looks up at him, his true red and blue eyes reflecting the campfire. The sun was nearly fully set. “What do you remember between the tower and now?”

“Ah.” Shadow frowns “Notta lot. Et’s maor the memoree of how et felt? Dunno if that makes sense. Like ah knew et happend but ets like… a blurr. Yew ever just float around inna lake? Felt like that, but if the wader was heavier and ah was fully submerged.” Shadow took a sip of the tea mug he had been given earlier. “Ah assume et was the inside of the meer or wherever ah went when inside it. And then there ah was an y'all were shoutin’ an’ I panicked.”

“Inside the what?” Red tilted his head.

“The dark meer?”

“Oh, mirror. Sorry,” Red flushed embarrassment. “Well, now you can help us look when we get back to our era!”

“And get you a proper weapon.” Blue grunts, both offending and complimenting at the same time.

“Yewanna make me a sword??” Shadow asked, surprised. She only did that for very special circumstances, according to Green.

“No,” She waves a hand in the air, “Course not.” he deflates until she continues on. “You suck with swords, Hylia knows how you’re part of Link.” she snorts. “No. You should have some daggers. A few super sharp lightweight for throwing with your shadows and some curved ones for hand combat. Maybe some enchanted rings like Vet for your magic.” Blue was still looking down at the sword she was sharpening. “I can make those, but we would have to see the Minish for enchanting. Unless you wanna take a go with it,”

“Ah- uh-” Shadow’s notched ears were twitching up and down. The warmth that bloomed in his chest isn't new but the source was. It didn't escape notice the thought put into the answer. “Have yew thought about this befoar?”

Blue put the sword away, turning her attention to them now. “Well, yeah.” She says like that was the most obvious thing in the world. “Green was talking yesterday about how you fight.” How different it had been from Vio he was sure left unsaid, he had been so obvious thinking back on it. “Where you place your balance, how you swing, how you work in a group and all that nonsense.”

“It’s not nonsense!” He rises to the bait. “It's a real combat maneuver and analyzing strategy!” he crosses his arms and Red laughs. If their faces weren’t hint enough they never failed to act like siblings.

“Yeah, yeah nerd.” Blue grins at him, “It’s true though. You tend to fight on the balls of your feet like a boxer, similar to Red doing hand to hand. Oh you two should spar sometime! that would be fun to watch.”

“You mean fun to bet on,” Wind pipes in. “I give 20 on Shadow, he can move .” Shadow whips his head between them as the chain makes bets, about fifty-fifty. Even Time pitches in, that mischievous half smile on his face.

“So,” Legend sits next to Shadow. “How about a new round of 20 questions, with your answers?”

“Oh! Oh! Yeaaah!” Wind and Wild sit in a circle with them. “Quiz time! Favorite color? Food? trinket? weapon?

“Uh- Purple.” That makes Blue snort again.

“More like Violet .” That makes him blush.

“Shuddup!” He huffed, but the teasing had gotten him comfortable around them all. It was familiar. “Ah haven had a lotta foods, but ah really like Wild’s beef stew. And the little honey crunchy things.” He thinks for a moment, “Ah don have any trinkets, an the swords the Gerudo have are really cool.” He gets nods.

“What animals do you like? Mine are birds.” Sky offers, everyone knows that already but he feels bad asking without also sharing.

“Oh, yer big wons right?” he makes a motion of his arms like giant wings. “That sounds cool! But my dragon is cooler! Uh- Ah dunno what happened to her though.” Shadow looks questiongly at the colors who shrug.

“Haven’t seen it since the initial castle raid.”

“Hm. Well Ah took Vaio for a ride when that all first started. Ah bet she found a cave somewhere to hoard shit.” He grins really big.

“Wait wait- a literal dragon?” Wild puts his hand up. “There are Dragons in my era but they're HUGE!”

“Well, she was big but ah wouldnt know the compare-esin.” He shrugs. Looking around now they were talking while most of the camp had settled in their bedrolls. Time was awake for the first watch as discussed Shadow would be second and Wars third. Wind was yawning and rubbing his eyes.

“Maybe yew should go to bed Sailer, et’s gettin layte.” he himself failed in fighting a yawn. His mouthful of predator teeth opened wide. “Aw dammnit now yew got me yawnin.”

“Well,” Legend moves to his own sack of blankets and pillow. “I for one am taking full advantage of being off watch duty” he gives a mock salute to Time and plops into his bedding. “G’night.”

“Night Leg,” Wind is giving in. “Ugh just when we were getting started. Will you tell me more about Vio sometime? You sound really close.”

“…Sure, Wind.” Shadow gets a sad wistful look before shaking it away. “G’night.”

The weeks passed similarly, Shadow always surprised but happy at his welcome.Their fighting got a lot smoother. Green helped him practice with a team dynamic and Shadow got to show off more of his powers. He was finding more and more new things he could do too. They were in their own world for a few days time by now.

Shadow was sitting on a nice bench in the middle of town, just gazing out. People bustled about. There was always homely chatter at a base noise level. Someone laughing, people gossiping, a gruff old man complaining about the increase in egg prices despite it being only 2 rupees. Watching everyone living their lives felt special. Like he was in the middle of real honest life discovering what it meant. They were so close to the heart of Hyrule. Occasionally he’d spot one of the Links shopping and running about. He caught parts of a conversation from the Vet chatting with Wars about some lady's atrocious outfit clash as they passed. Shadow smiled as Wind ran around place to place discovering the Minish and trying to convince Wild they were real.

He tried not to mind when people glared at him, they didn’t know any better. He’d say it was fair, honestly, he had been one hell of a menace. Although, with some of the not so whispered comments he was beginning to think it was just how he looked. He was debating sinking away into the comfort of the cool Shadows when he saw someone run by with glasses and a stack of books to the library. Nostalgia struck him in force. Vio reading in the rare calm times in the tower when his hyper ass finally settled down. The soft peaceful expression he had while reading, how it twisted into furrows or tiny smiles or clenched teeth as he devoured information and fantasy alike.

He missed him horribly.

Shadow wished they were in a position to look for him. Unfortunately the colors had guaranteed Vio wasn’t anywhere near. He could only rely upon rumors and hearsay for information at the moment. They had scoured every inch possible around the mainlands.

He knows Vio would go far to hide. Hell, he might even be in another country at this point! Shadow looked up at the warm blue sky. It made his chest ache to think about him. He had long since convinced himself the smiles and laughter he remembered were true. They had to be, if Vio left to search for the magic to find him again.

Red had explained he had stolen books on ancient magic, similar to his own but sinister. Outlawed everywhere for its heinous nature and corrupting properties. They had explained Zelda described it as something wicked, dangerous, and as old as the clay beneath their feet. Maybe that’s what attracted Vio to it in the first place, Shadow’s chest reverberated with a low hum. He was lost in thoughts now, the world around him disappearing. This magic situation worried him. He wished that Hylia, or whoever was giving clues and sending portals could help him find his Vio. Help him with whatever he had gotten himself into without someone there to be his restraint.

Shadow gnawed on his overworked lip. This was a bad habit he just couldn't break. Even when he tasted the little blood from breaking skin. He needed him to be okay, he held his heart. Vio was the very reason he had turned good in the first place. Shadow even dared say he might love the man, no matter what he had now become.

“Stop biting your lip.” Green scared him, making him jumped comically.

“Shit!” Shadow pulled back the little shadow ball he’d brought up on instinct. “Don’t do that!”

Green laughed and sat next to him. His hair flowed with the light breeze that always seemed to follow him around. “Haha, sorry I wasn’t trying to scare you. Thinking about Vio?”

“Howdya know?” he brings his foot up, putting his boot on the bench seat and resting his arm over the bent knee.

“There’s a certain look you get. And destroying your poor bottom lip.” Green swings his feet back and forth. “Do you wanna talk about it?”

He hesitates. He does trust Green, but he isn’t used to talking about his emotions. “Ah’m worried. His brain scares me, what he can do.” Shadow admits, “Ah know he doesn’ mean to think those things sometymes, et only comes from an analyticul view. But Vaioh bein’ emotional is terrifyin’. Who knows what he’d do? He promised once to keep a limet on what he researched or experimened with, but that was when ah was here. He has this dezayre to learn.” Shadow forms a shape with his hands while he speaks. It was another tell of his, speaking with his hands. Green listens patiently while he rambles. “Et’s like some kinda need, like when yew get thirsty, he needs et to survive. An idea just gits into his head an he has to solve et. Like et would hurt him if he didn’. He described et once like this flush of heat that boils innis skin until he does et an’ if he doesn’ et just gets warmer an’ warmer an’ he cant think of anythin’ else.”

“Hm.” His face is pensive, brows furrowed and arms crossed. “That’s concerning to say the least.”

“Well that’s why ah’m makin’ fayces!” Shadow huffs a laugh, “Ah just hope we aren’ too late when we find him.” Green claps his shoulder.

“I’m sure we’ll get there in time, Shadow. Besides, you’re back! He can’t exactly do the whole crazy magic off the deep end kinda ritual if you’re already in existence right?”

“Ah guess so,” Shadow automatically ducks as someone throws a drink at him and it flies past. That was the fifth one today already! Green jumps and glares at the civilian.

“Hey!! That was rude!”

“Et’s fine, Green. They’ve been doin’ that awl day.” He waves him off, standing up. “Ah should probably git back to Blue anyway, she was workin’ on those daggers.” He turns a fangy grin at him, changing the subject. “An’ ah would love to try those babies out!”

Green looks like he might push the subject, but the stranger was gonna already once they realized who Green was. Scurried off like a rat. “Alright.”

“We can review layter, but ah did write down some stuff the towns people were sayin’. Et could just be gossip, but some of the little guys,” He means the Minish, “Were real helpfull. There could be some mareit to a few. When we got everyone together we should make a map of where y'all have checked around.”

“That’s a good idea,” He nods, only a pace behind Shadow. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

“Ah dunno, maybe Ah’m the brains now.” He teased, “Ah hold the brain cell today, sorry nawt sorry…” he trails off, “There’ve been a lotta mentions about a town of the Southside-a Hyrule. An archur that killed a HInox that took villagers in a town, ah couldn’ catch a name but that’s a pretty good lead. Ah’m sure we wouldn’ be able to reach it before the next swap, though.”

Red had joined up while Shadow was mid-sentence. “It’s a good start! Maybe we’ll appear closer next time!” Always the optimist, Shadow appreciated it. He ruffled his pretty blonde curls in affection. “And if it doesn’t work out, then at least we can check out if there are any more monsters. Hinox is a weird monster to be out in deep woods.”

“Unless it’s not a Hinox from our era,” Green adds.

“That’s trew.” Shadow’s hood tip curls up in a circle: curiosity. He had been letting it do its thing since he transformed back into himself. Twilight laughed at him that it was similar in movement to a cat’s tail. “Thanks for listnenin’ to me go on an’ on today.”

Red skips up closer, giving him a sly side hug. “It’s not rambling nonsense if it’s important to you.”

“Way to use my words again’t me.” Shadow huffed, but accepted it nonetheless. “C’mon slow asses, Blue’s waiting.”