Master Smith: Legacy || Chapter 4
Pairing: Linked Universe x Reader
Words: 2,506
Overview: It seems you're now stuck with this group for the time being, so you might as well learn each other's names (it's the friendly thing to do, after all). A continuation of this
Series Masterlist ⚔️ Legend of Zelda Masterlist
CHAPTER FOUR: WHAT'S IN A NAME?
The evening sun has grown a lot warmer after reaching the day's peak, yet beneath the cover of leaves and branches, it only feels like a mere whisper of itself that briefly brushes against your cheeks whenever stepping into any sort of clearing.
To think, that's the same sun you'd sometimes sit under while listening to the children play nearby...It seems so distant now - which is a strange thing to feel sad about given only four years of your life have been spent right next to it. If anything, you should feel more comfortable down here on the Surface, the place where you actually grew up...and perhaps you would, if your family were here with you.
Alas, you're alone amongst a group of eight Hylians, the distance of the sun a single fleeting thought that distracts you for some few seconds before your mind quickly falls back into line. Now isn't the time to feel homesick - Not when your direction relies solely on your own memory and instinct.
You've officially reached a section of the forest the boys no longer recognize; their apparent leader - as you've concluded he must be - made a point of acknowledging that at your last turn. According to him, they had walked along the river after coming from the South, however you chose to cross it while confidently continuing West.
That's what ended up solidifying your place at the very front of the group where you've since led them down shadowy embankments then back up winding hills, retracing your previous steps back through this forest to the best of your ability.
Even with the aid of Fi's dowsing, there are times when you must stop to search for familiar landmarks or take extra turns once you realize you've been heading off course, yet the boys say nothing - at least not aloud - to doubt your navigation.
...Honestly, they don't say much to begin with. They're all rather quiet, you've noticed, more willing to embrace the tranquility of their surroundings than feel obliged to fill it with unnecessary commentary or forced conversation. Usually, you'd appreciate that about someone, if only the circumstances were different.
Your father is a man of few words, and Link had never been much for 'social' endeavors, so silence has always been a frequent yet welcomed visitor in your life even if it goes against the traditional gregarious natural of most Hylians...however the paranoid voice inside your head bothers itself with this particular group's lack of expression, wondering painfully if they're not secretly planning a betrayal against you.
Can your suspicion truly be blamed? They don't say much if anything to you, although you can still make out the faded whistle of whispers that they pass along to each other. A bit of hissed complaining, some faint snickers...At times, you glance back over your shoulder, hoping your brief attention would be enough to remind them that you, too, have ears. If they have something to say, why be so reticent?
Of course, the answer is actually quite simple: you're a stranger - one who's hardly been very friendly, either, if they were to acknowledge your hypocrisy. The heroes know you no better than you know them, leading to a range of comfort - or rather discomfort depending on their varying experiences in life.
Those who are uncomfortable with your presence show it in different ways. For example, some are subtle, in fact even their companions might be fooled into believing they're unconcerned with the relaxed way they carry themselves, giving no indication that they're currently studying your every movement in careful assessment as if weighing an incredible threat. Others aren't so concerned about appearances, shamelessly keeping their distance with a clear line of caution set between you and them; an outsider vs friends.
Sky will admit he doesn't really find himself a part of either wary side - and it's not because he's 'naive', as the Veteran has accused before. Yes, he knows not everyone has great intentions, but he also refuses to let that poison his view of the entire world. As far as he's concerned, he can express caution while still being kind, especially to someone who hasn't given him any reason to be rude. With that said, the longer you all walk in this tense silence with a noticeable gap between you and them (both literally and figuratively), the more his heart begins to ache with guilt.
Unable to take it any longer, he jogs forward to your side, doing his best to match your pace while bashfully rubbing the back of his neck with a slightly awkward chuckle, "Hey, um, sorry, but I just realized none of us actually asked your name before. I'd feel bad only being able to call you 'ma'am'."
Against his hopes, it doesn't seem to improve your brooding mood any, but at least you decide to humor him, sighing as you introduce yourself by name with little fanfare. It should be expected to exchange simple pleasantries when meeting someone new, so you don't think much of his question seeing as you're now stuck with this group for the time being...however your response holds much more weight than intended.
"Y-You -..." Sky startles, repeating your name breathlessly as he stops dead in his tracks, causing Wild to run into him and nearly trip. The Skylofian barely notices the impact, absorbing it like a brick wall as he stares at you with a baffled expression. His eyebrows furrow, pinching at the bridge of his nose while his eyes narrow slightly as if he's trying to decode some complicated riddle you've stumped him with, not a mere name, "...But then..."
You stop only to raise an eyebrow at the stricken hero, waiting for him to elaborate beyond his floored reaction. At least you can take comfort knowing you aren't the only one who's apparently confused by it with several of his companions having also stopped to look at him expectantly.
"None of you have introduced yourselves either," You remind him, looking across the group in search of an answer from any of them.
"Ah, well, that's actually pretty easy," Hyrule smiles, yet there's a sharp pull at the edge of it which already gives away the amusement he must feel towards such a question, "We're all named -"
"- W-We go by nicknames!" Sky interrupts, quite literally jumping in as he steps over to block the brunet from your view, "Our names are a little...um, difficult to pronounce given the different times we come from and all, so we really just go by nicknames."
You blink, his words needing a moment to sink in before you're slowly turning to face him. When your mouth first opens, there's no sound, almost like you haven't quite decided what your reaction should be. Once you do find your voice, it's through a stammer, "...D-Different times -? What could you possibly mean by that?"
Sky jolts as if bitten by electricity. Whipping his head around, he swiftly looks over his shoulder to his companions with slight panic behind his voice. "...Did we not tell her that part yet?"
A few of the boys facepalm while the rest look only mildly inconvenienced by this reveal which they know will now inevitably lead to a much more in depth conversation later, but it's Time who sighs with a tired tone, "I don't believe we had, no."
You straighten by the time their eyes turn back to you, although the action looks more like a flinch to them.
There's pity to be found in Sky's expression as he bows his head, clearly feeling ashamed, "You know how we told you that we, um, came here through a portal? Well, as it would turn out, these portals don't just take us from location to location. They also connect to different...periods in time, too."
"We had all been individually investigating their source when our paths met," Time elaborates, the boys behind him nodding as they glance at each other, "Since then, we've been traveling together."
"It's more effective to combine our knowledge and work as one than go it alone," Four adds, possibly noticing the question in your eyes.
It's certainly a shock as you stare back at them, watching closely for any sign of a smirk or sniffle of laughter. Alas and to your horror they all seem to be quite serious, not a hint of humor to be found in the strained air between you.
A portal that takes you from Skyloft to the Surface within a single step had already been strange enough, but different times, too? How different do they mean? You had noticed variations between them, be it with their clothing or manners of speech, although you never would've thought - Such a thing is impossible! ...It seemed so impossible, anyway...however you had also noticed these woods look more wild compared to those you once knew and loved...almost like they've long forgotten the touch of Hylian breath...
Gulping, you bare the force of the hundreds of questions that suddenly pop into your mind before you're shaking them all from your head. You should probably sound more scared when you speak - just as frazzled as you feel inside - yet your tone comes across as more worn and exhausted than upset, "...Is there anything else I should know about your group and this situation before we carry on?"
The boys look to each other once again, truly having to think (which isn't any comfort to you). One goes to open his mouth, but Sky beats him to it, shaking his head with a strained smile, "N-Nope. Nothing that comes to mind at the moment."
You inhale sharply, squeezing your eyes shut while giving a silent prayer to the goddesses to provide you strength. Your exhale brings a much calmer expression, although irritation still shines through, "And you were saying your names are...?"
"Oh, uh, usually everyone here just refers to me as 'Skylofian' or 'the Knight'...Since I'm the only one here who comes from Skyloft - Well, aside from you now, that is! And I'm a knight there, sooo..."
"Skyloft...?" You echo with some amazement, looking over him as if expecting to suddenly recognize him as a neighbor or friend, "I take it from a...different time then, as that's apparently possible?"
"Y-Yeah, way different," It's unclear if the laugh he uses to punctuate his response is meant to be out of humor or nerves.
For a moment, you almost let yourself get excited - At least you think this is some sort of joy you feel deep down. You're among the first Hylians to exist on Skyloft. If he's truly from the same sky island, then the only option would be for it to exist in a time past your own...That means your people must survive to get there.
"You can just call me 'Traveler', if you want. Or 'hey you' is fine, too," Hyrule shrugs without much interest before nudging the grumpier looking teen walking at his side, "And this is 'Veteran', but we sometimes call him 'Vet' for short."
"'Smithy' for me," Four raises a quiet hand paired with a polite smile.
"I'm a master of the seas, so everyone here calls me 'Sailor'!" Wind announces proudly with a thumb to his chest.
"You can call me 'Captain' -" Warrior introduces with a charming smile, although you avoid so much as glancing his way.
"- But we just call him 'Pretty Boy'," Legend snickers, causing Warrior to growl.
"Why you -!"
"- And we call him 'Old Man' for obvious reasons," Legend shows no concern toward Warrior's annoyance, instead completely ignoring him while throwing a thumb back at Time who grumbles at the nickname, yet unlike the Captain, says nothing to object. He knows that's a losing battle.
"Uh, I guess if we're doing the nicknames, then I'm 'Champion' - Oh, and this is Wolfie," Wild gestures to the wolf standing by his side who gives a short huff of acknowledgement.
"We have another around here, too, but he said he'd catch up with us," Hyrule explains, looking around the forest with some concern, although Time doesn't seem to share it.
"He will."
Your face scrunches, every name basically going in one ear then out the other. Maybe if you intended on getting to know them better, you'd ask that they repeat their introductions this time much slower so that you can actually process them properly, however that doesn't feel necessary given your temporary time together.
"...And that's truly easier than using your actual names?" You hesitate, sparing them an uncertain glance over your shoulder.
"It would get too confusing if we all went by our real name," Wild sighs, although he sounds somewhat bothered by the concept.
"...Very well," There's doubt evident in your voice, but you waste no further words on it. Looking around your surroundings, you search for anything to jog your memory regarding your current location before heading onward again.
Unbeknownst to you, Sky's expression promptly returns to a rigid stare, his gaze sharp and jaw locked against a topic much more dire than mere nicknames. His body seems to move on its own from there, dragging itself slowly after the rest of the group as a sick feeling sinks into his bones.
"What the hell was that?!" Legend hisses under his breath, pulling on the Knight's shoulder with a harsh grip, "She already doesn't trust us, then you go acting all weird like that and -"
"- I think...I might know who she is," Sky whispers as if still stuck in a trance despite that violent jolt that had him physically jerking back.
"Huh?"
"W-Why she's here - Why we crossed paths with her in the first place!" Like a trigger, a bit of life returns to his face, his expression suddenly desperate and determined as he spins to face Legend directly, "Don't you get it? That sword! Her name -! She -!"
No, the Veteran doesn't get it - which should be obvious enough by the way he leans away from Sky's touch as if concerned he might catch his 'crazy'.
He'll admit, the name you gave is awfully familiar, and perhaps if he were a weaker man, it might've even blindsided him more openly, but after all his years of adventuring, he'd like to think that he's gotten good at suppressing separating his emotions from his work.
To Legend, your name can be dismissed as a painful coincidence that shouldn't distract from their current mission, however there's clearly more to it for Sky.
"- Boys!" Alas, an answer for his odd behavior won't come yet. The rest of the group is still moving forward, save for Time who stands at the back of the line, his stern gaze speaking when words don't: they're both falling behind and he isn't willing to wait all day for them.
Legend rolls his eyes, but keeps one locked on Sky for the rest of their walk, not planning on letting this conversation completely disappear, although for the record, Sky doesn't plan on forgetting either.
Questions impatiently itch at the back of his mind, bouncing between thoughts of doubt and those of certainty while focused intently on the meaning behind your presence.
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