draxeanlxia

[draxeanlxia]

You know what’s funny? I can really see even the Camel Ridge Trio (mainly Azure) just looking at Macaque like he’s the biggest idiot in all of the realms (which he probably is) after he says the triplets aren’t his. Like, this is a joke, right?

Azure: You’re joking.

Macaque: What? They’re not mine!

Azure: You’ve told some bad jokes before, brother but this is really bad.

MK: He generally thinks they’re not his.

Azure: (Shocked) Seriously? They look like him and they have features that no one else in the realms has.

MK: We have been trying to convince him for about a year now. No dice.

Azure: …….

Azure: Wukong chose this idiot over me!?

Macaque: HEY!

Peng & Yellow Tusk: (judging hard from within the scroll)

I wanted to revamp my designs for the kiddy’s that I originally sent to @quitealotofsodapop

The kids often invade Wukong’s bed. Thunder sleeping by his head stealing his pillow while more often then not he gets kicked and/or punched by Savage when she’s asleep. Meanwhile Rumble, his darling little girl, gives him a heart attack because she sleeps likes in a coffin.

Their sunset, daytime and sunrise themes persist.

Savage’s takes on PIF’s color palette and gets as close to her outfit as Wukong will allow with her own personal flare of course.

Thunder tied his hair back with a red ribbon now a days, taking inspo from Mk but too nervous to outright copy the way Mk ties his bandana. His color palette also taken from Wukong and Mk’s designs!

Rumble looks up to Ne Zha, he just wears a pink shirt with a lotus design, he tried the red scarf type thing but Wukong nearly chocked on a peach when he did so he sticks with the pink shirt.

They all have purple ears as they can hear the present but only Thunder can hear all that far or into the future. Rumble and Savage just have enhanced hearing compared to Thunder’s Future and Present hearing.

Savage is the most rambunctious of the three while Rumble is the loudest, with her footsteps and voice. Thunder is the quietest, often moving more like a shadow than his sisters.

[draxeanlxia]

This randomly came to mind but does anyone else wished that in TOTK, we could have had a quest on returning Dorian’s Wife’s journal to her family? If you don’t know, in the Kakariko Village well, you can find a journal belonging to Dorian’s Wife. Who was killed by the Yiga Clan prior to BOTW due to Dorian, a former Yiga, wanting to leave the clan to raise his family in peace.

It would have been so sweet to be able to return that to her family and to see Dorian and the girls’s faces once they realized what it was. I wish we could have done that.

[draxeanlxia]

TW: TORTURE

The Jade Emperor was, to say at the very least, confused. The court was in complete chaos. At first, it looked like civil war was going to break out.

Two sides.

One that wished for the Emperor to release the Six-Eared Macaque from his control due to Sun Wukong and his successor due saving the realms from the Lady Bone Demon, who the Jade Emperor had, at first, deemed not a threat to Heaven. That was quickly disproven.

The other wanted to keep the Six-Eared Macaque under control because without that, how can Heaven possibly protect itself from Wukong’s revenge for what Heaven did his mate and their children. They all had the feeling that this time, the Buddha will not help them.

Then the strangest thing happened(even for the Chinese pantheon).

A young woman. Wearing western clothings with a lot of purple and black coloring appeared. What was even stranger and that absolutely freaked everyone out was the bracelets around her wrists. They weren’t any bracelets but the Samadhi Fire rings!

“Girl! How do you have those rings?!” He yelled.

“Why should I tell you?” The woman said with bored tone as she conjured up a scroll. Her purple eyes glowed as they narrowed in rage. Her hands gripped that scroll tight, nearly ripping it.

“Do you know who you are talking to, girl?!” The Jade Emperor was nearly red faced. How did she have those?! They shouldn’t even exist anymore!

“Yes, the guy who will begging me to stop the pain long before I’m done with you!” She snarled before snapping her fingers and everyone, except Macaque, found their faces meeting the ground. Hard.

The woman walked over to the smiling monkey and placed her glowing hand on his forehead. The smile disappeared and Macaque groaned.

“Wha-?”

“Don’t worry about it. Just hug your mate and get therapy when you settle down.” She smiled at the confused monkey before conjuring a large purple bow on his head with a note. “Also don’t worry about your kids, I’ll handle that after I’m done with them.” She snarled that last part towards the Emperor before snapping her fingers once again. Causing Macaque to vanish.

The woman snarl turned into a sadistic smile as walked towards the down Emperor. “I’m going to enjoy this.”

“You won’t get away with this.”

“And who’s going to stop me? You?” She laughed, no cackled as she grabbed the man. “You think that because you have all this power you can do wantever you want? Newflash, there will always be someone more powerful than you and today, that is me.” She threw him onto a table that suddenly appeared. With another snap of her fingers, the Emperor found himself strapped in front of the court. No one except the woman could move.

“People of Heaven,” the woman announced, “Today will be a fun day. First I have released Liu’er Mihou from your tyrant’s control and have put measures in place to make sure that never happens again. Second you all will get a great show today. Today you all will watch as I torture the tyrant with all of the torture methods I know of, which is actually a lot, plus with my own creative methods. Those who support this tyrant’s methods will be feeling same things happen to you anyway. His pain will also be your pain.” Her smile was unnerving. “Those you don’t support him, don’t worry. You will not get the same treatment. All you will be doing is watch. Watch because even though your stance has now changed in the beginning, you are all for it. So for that, you must suffer. Let this show begin!”

With another snap of her fingers, a long table full of items appeared. It contained a bunch of knives, spikes, a chainsaw, a few blowtorchs, tongue rippers, thumb and finger screws, a pear of anguish, serrated whips, if you think it can be used to torture someone, it was on that table. What honestly scared the Emperor most, and made him lose control of his bladder, were the live rats.

“Don’t worry, this will only hurt. A lot. You also won’t die from this. I made sure of that.” The woman said with an evil smile as she held two very large spikes that were heavily sparkling electricity.

“Ju-just wh-who are yo-you?!”

“You don’t deserve to know my real name.” She stabbed one of the spikes into his abdomen. The electricity immediately makes him seized up and scream. “But you can call me Drax.” She stabbed the other spike into his right eye.

Justice for Liu’er Mihou.

Drax laughed in glee at the screams. This was so much fun. And this was only the beginning.

Now, should she use the rats now or later?

She grined as she grabbed the rats, a metal bowl, and a blowtorch.

This going to be so much fun. Maybe she should go grab the lion and bird as well. They more than likely deserve it.

Honestly if my OC, who is a basically slightly more unhinge version of me with witch powers, the power stone, and might be slightly eldritch who likes wandering different realities and is friends with her reality’s Monkie Kid Gang (although she does have her own personal issues with Mei, Macaque,and Pigsy), meet Grinning Shadows Macaque, she honestly would be horrified. She may not like her Macaque much but seeing GS!Macaque and learning the history, she absolutely go up to the Jade Emperor and tell him to let Macaque or be in a world of hurt. Given the fact she’s very sadistic and has been given permission to do very very painful things to the bird and lion in her reality by the court itself for their actions, it would be in his very best interest to say yes though he would most likely say no and learn anyway why saying no is very painful.

What? I like a happy ending. If it means putting the Jade Emperor in a world of severe pain, then absolutely. She also would do the lion too.

You have my full permission to do whatever you see fit to the jerkwad Jade Emperor

make him suffer!

Grinning Shadow AU Masterpost

[draxeanlxia]

Long ago, I once mentioned that one of my headcanons was Wizzro once accidentally turned Wars and his twin sister Linkle into newborn babies. Accidentally because he was trying to turn Volga into an egg and then smash it. Of course, with the twins bad luck instead of hitting the dragon, he hit the twins. Volga was of course shocked to see two hylian babies with their umbilical cords (yes they were that newborn).

Anyway, during the Chain’s adventure, Wind telling the others about the war mostly the hilarious bits. At one point he brought up the baby twins incident.

Wind: Yeah, so many crazy things happened during the war. Though nothing will ever top Wars and Linkle being turned into babies.

*six pairs turn towards Wars*

Wars: Don’t look at me for stories. I only have second hand knowledge of the incident. I have absolutely no memory of what happened. Same with my sister

Time: You both were so adorable as babies. Though your scream at the sight of Linkle’s cuccos definitely hurt the ears.

Legend: Seriously, even as a baby, you were scared of them? I mean, as an adult, I understand, but as a baby?

Wars: Cuccos are demons with feathers!

Four: How do we know you’re telling the truth? Because the captain being turned into a baby along with his sister just sounds so far-fetched, even in a war across eras.

Wind: I have photographic proof! *Pulls out photo album and flips through it* Now where is it-ahah! *Shows photo of two nearly identical babies sleeping in a basket, one was in a green onesie with cuccos. The other baby’s onesie was also green but fairies on it.*

Four: That could be any pair of twin babies though

Legend: *squints his eyes a bit* Um, Four? You might want to take a closer look at the babies’ hands.*points at the fairy baby’s left hand and cucco baby’s right hand where the split Triforce of Courage was*

Four: Oh

Wind regales the Chain with all of the antics that happened with the baby twins. Time’s face soured when a picture of him covered in white baby barf while holding baby Wars at arms length surfaced

Wind: Don’t make that face. I warned you that there was a strong possibility he would spit up, given how fast he was eating at the time.

Time: You made it sound like only a dribble would come out of him. Instead he basically emptied his stomach onto me. It was disgusting and I wanna burn that picture.

Wind: 😁 I have copies at home and Tetra also has copies. So good luck!

Time: 😡

The rest of the chain: 😂😆😂😆



Wars and Linkle being bad luck magnets is so funny akskdkdk

WIND WOULD TAKE AS MANY PICTURES AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE IN CASE OF ANY POSSIBILITY OF BRINGING THEM UP LATER AFJSFSKF

he’s just lucky time hasn’t stolen his camera to take ridiculous pics of HIM

[draxeanlxia]

Warriors stared at the unconscious man at his feet. So did Legend and Twilight. In that moment, it proved that silence could, indeed, be loud.

"I wasn't expecting him to drop like that," Warriors said.

"I wasn't expecting you to have a left hook like that," Legend said. He sounded far too admiring considering there was an unconscious man at his feet. It didn't stop Warriors from preening a little.

"Is he okay?" Twilight asked. He gently nudged the man with his foot and flinched when he realized what he had done.

"He'll be fine," Warriors said. He pointed at the man. "See? He's already coming to!"

“Our cue to leave then,” Legend decided. Warriors nodded in agreement. Twilight stared at them both in horror.

“We can’t leave him here!”

Warriors rolled his eyes. Legend was already walking away. “He was only unconscious for a minute or so. He’ll be fine. Besides, do you want to explain what happened to Time?”

Taking the look on Twilight’s face as agreement, Warriors nodded and started walking after Legend. Twilight lingered. He couldn’t help himself. The man’s pained face was forming what was going to be a horrific bruise later. He never would have expected that from Warriors’s skinny arm. He struck as quick as a snake. Twilight hadn’t even realized what was happening before the man was on the ground. He hesitated until the man’s eyes began to flutter. 

His fear of explaining this to Time won. He took one last look at the man and jogged after Warriors and Legend.

“-- won’t remember the hit,” Warriors said to Legend. “With head wounds…”

Twilight wasn’t sure what was more disturbing: Warriors’s knowledge of head injuries and their effects or how focused Legend was on Warriors’s explanation. Or maybe the ease with which the pair left the man on the ground. 

He felt guilty, too, with how he didn’t fight harder to check on the man. He didn’t have Warriors’s knowledge, but he knew some first aid and he had a potion on him at Warriors’s insistence. The only thing worse, though, than needing to explain to Time that Warriors hit the man was explaining why Warriors hit the man. He thought about how scornful the man was about Wind and grimaced. He guessed he should be grateful that Warriors used his fist and nothing else.

“Ya sure he won’t remember?” Twilight asked.

Warriors grinned at him. He looked almost as wolfish as Wolfie. “If I didn’t knock the words out of the man’s head the first time, I wouldn’t mind doing it again.”

Twilight hoped for everyone’s sake that the man forgot he had ever met them at all.

[draxeanlxia]

Happy New Year!

The Hero of Time was smaller than the legends had led Link to believe. Of course, none of the legends had ever mentioned ages.

Link stood outside his tent. He sipped his coffee and watched the tiny hero dance around Epona, playing a song on his ocarina. Epona neighed and seemed to dance along, and it echoed within their small camp. Every now and then, others looked up from their tasks to watch the strange blond child. A child in a military camp was an oddity, but everything about this war was odd. No one paid Mask too much attention.

Good. Just how Link wanted it. He sipped his coffee again and ignored how his sleeve shifted with each movement. It rubbed against the white bandage there. Under that bandage were teeth marks. The legends had also failed to reveal that the Hero of Time was such a feral little brat.

Even with the annoyance, it was hard to mind. No one expected the Hero of Time to be small and wild with such sharp teeth. He was just Mask.

Link’s Mask. How funny. Link doubted Mask would agree. He had the scars to prove it. 

It didn’t matter. Link knew he had to try. He gulped the last cup of his coffee and handed it off to a passing soldier to be cleaned. The soldier accepted it with wide eyes and an awkward stutter. He was new. He would adjust soon enough. No one had a choice, really.

“Mask!” he called and walked forward. The boy’s subtle flinch hurt, as did the abrupt flattening of his ears. Epona neighed a small complaint and stomped one hoof. To Link’s surprise, Mask lowered his ocarina and turned to him without further prompting. Mask’s gaze flicked to Link’s wrist and --

Oh.

Link made himself smile despite the sharp pain in his heart. “They are planning on celebrating the New Year today. They usually do fireworks, but they can’t this year because of possible enemy attacks. Everyone is offering ideas from their eras on how to celebrate. Do you have any ideas?”

Mask’s ears perked up again. The familiar mischief returned to his eyes. Link relaxed. That was a much better look on him. He might be the Hero of Time, but to Link, he was still a boy.

“Do I?” Mask chirped. Link tensed again.

A very intelligent, very destructive boy. Crap.

The next year, Mask was still there. The war was still going. Link’s bite marks had long healed into pale scars, and now Tune had a fresh set of wounds in the shape of Mask’s teeth.

“Why did he need that much sword practice with you, anyway?” Mask complained.

Link tried not to sigh too audibly as he pulled twigs from Mask’s hair. Tune’s response to the bite was to toss Mask into the nearest bush. Puberty was slow coming to the Hero of Time, and he was still tiny enough to lose himself in that bush. It would have been funnier if Link didn’t have to clean and bandage Tune’s arm. Bites were nasty.

“Because he has little formal training,” Link said. Again. “I have trained far more hours with you, haven’t I?”

“Well, but…” The tips of Mask’s ears pinked, and the boy glared at the tent wall. There it was. The reason why neither Link nor Tune could be mad at him despite the wound.

Mask was jealous. Link never would have seen it coming.

Link kissed the top of Mask’s head, so softly that Mask could pretend he hadn’t noticed it if he wanted, and pulled another twig out. “Why don’t you two practice together? You two have such different styles. I bet you two might learn something from the other!”

Mask calmed and his face grew thoughtful. Link had a bad feeling all of a sudden, but he didn’t know why. “Yeah. Yeah, that could work. Are you going to brush my hair, too?”

“Sure. I can do that.” Link smiled and had to use both hands to untangle the next twig.

Link’s Mask, they called him. Link’s boy.

He was finally beginning to believe it.

Later, Link realized he forgot to specify not to use steel swords in their spar. The excitement of fireworks weren’t necessary that day.

The next New Year’s, the war was over. Tune was gone.

Mask was gone.

Link gave a little wish to the sky as the fireworks flew that somewhere, his little boy wasn’t celebrating alone. If he rubbed the faint marks on his wrist, no one noticed. Everyone watched the bright lights above.

[draxeanlxia]

He almost snapped at Wind. That was his first sign that something was wrong.

If Warriors asked Time, Time would have suggested that the first sign should have been when Warriors jumped off a cliff to attack a King Dodongo from above. That didn't strike Warriors as odd at the time, nor later when Time scolded him for it. It made sense at the time.

Warriors didn't notice the second sign at first. Wild did.

"Are you okay?" Wild asked, quiet but anxious. They sat together and watched Wind demolish the rest of Warriors's dinner.

Warriors twitched an inquisitive ear at Wild. "I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

Wild nodded at Wind. "You gave him your lunch and breakfast, too."

Warriors laughed and brushed it off as Wind being a growing boy, but unease pricked at him. To his further dismay, he noticed Twilight's eyes on him. If Wild noticed, then Twilight certainly did.

With that in mind, Warriors waited until everyone was fast asleep and it was just him on his shift before he dragged out his bag and tore through it. He almost didn't offer for a shift. An awful exhaustion dragged down heavy bones, and a dull headache was building in his skull. Third sign.

The killing blow was the empty potion bottle Warriors found at last. He stared at it in dismay. It was an excellent thing that Wind wasn't awake for the string of curses which followed.

There was no help for it. They hadn't visited his Hyrule in months, and who knew when the portals would deign to drop them there again? With a grim scowl, the one he never showed around his brothers because it always made Hyrule and Legend leery, Warriors examined the contents of his bag. It would probably begin the next day. He would have to just make do.

If he hadn't been so tired, he might have noticed eyes watching him in the dark. As it was, his attention was focused on the long unused straps of fabric in his bag. The sight of them felt like old war wounds burning, but Warriors was, if nothing else, practical. He grit his teeth and prepared for the dawn.

The next morning was awful, but Warriors was ready. He swallowed back pained and exhausted groans and forced smiles for Time and Wind. What he couldn't do was eat the plate Wild handed to him. The sight and smells which should have been delicious made his stomach curdle.

As he was planning the best way to give it to Wind without Wild noticing, Twilight plopped on the log beside him and grabbed his plate. "Here," he said. He handed Warriors another plate. "Wild gave you my plate on accident."

The new plate was filled with cut up fruits, with small bits of meat and cheese. Warriors looked at Wild. Wild didn't look back at him. Warriors looked at Twilight, who was already eating.

"Accident, huh?"

"Yeah. Take your time. Time wanted to take the boys down to the stream to clean off before we left."

Warriors looked at Time, and yes. Time was herding Wind and Hyrule away, with Legend and Four following. Sky dozed against a tree, a content smile on his sleeping face.

"I didn't know he planned to do that," Warriors said.

"The boys stunk, and we all know it. Now eat up!"

Twilight didn't touch Warriors as he nibbled his breakfast. He sat close enough that Warriors felt the heat which always radiated off him. He slowly drifted toward Twilight until he was leaning against him.

His stomach still hurt and he felt heavy and gross and dazed, but this morning was going better than expected.

"It'll take some time before Time finishes with the youngins," Twilight said. Warriors barely noticed Wild take his plate again. "Why doncha take a nap? Good morning for it."

It really was. Warriors sighed and let his eyes close. He was exhausted, and it only made sense to gather his strength while he could.

The last thing he felt was Twilight resting his head on his.

[draxeanlxia]

This turned out more bittersweet than originally planned. Still. Merry Christmas!

Warriors called Lana “sweet” and “a friend” and never said a bad word about it, but Legend couldn’t help but be leery of the blue-haired sorceress. Warriors spoke kindly of her, but Legend saw how he didn’t linger near her. He watched how Lana stared after Warriors and how General Impa glared at her every time.

There was also something familiar about her. Something terrifying. Like there was something vast hidden in her slender body. Legend didn’t like it.

He also didn’t like how Lana was watching Warriors now. Legend sat on the stone wall several feet away from her and observed his brothers. Time was stretched out on the grass, resting his weight on his palms with his long legs extended in front of him. Warriors was teasing Wind. He would ruffle his hair and dodge away when Wind tried to retaliate.

“The timeline was broken,” Lana said quietly, breaking the silence between them. She didn’t look away from Warriors. Despite the power Legend felt radiating from her, the longing in her eyes was all too human. “The war was awful, but we were able to use it to bind the timelines together into something whole. The Hero of the Wild comes from the united timeline.”

Legend hummed but said nothing. She waited, as if expecting a response. When none came, she continued.

“It made me think that maybe the Lady Hylia planned it,” Lana said. “Or one of the goddesses had. Maybe more. They don’t talk to me anymore.”

Anymore. Legend filed that away.

In front of them, Wind had successfully tackled Warriors into the grass. Warriors was yelling about his hair while Time sat up to clap. Wind crowed with victory. It made Legend’s heart ache, reminded him of simpler times.

“I think it was more than just that now,” Lana continued softly. She nodded at the trio. “Link… the other heroes from the other timelines helped him, but he could have won on his own. It would have been harder, but he could have done it. I thought for a long time that the other heroes were sent to help him, but now I wonder if it was so Link could help them.”

Legend looked sharply at her. She hunched her slender shoulders. She didn’t look back at him. She continued, her voice quieter than ever, “I think Link was given a different duty during the war. And now. The Hero of Time. The Hero of Wind. He taught them so much during the war. I didn’t see it then, but I see it in the Hero of Time now. I wonder how differently he would have been without Link’s love and guidance. He’s an adult now and will be the father of a great guideline. He was a great warrior as a child, but someone capable of that?” She smiled sadly. Her eyes followed Warriors like she couldn’t bear to look away. “The Hero of Wind is also destined for greatness. I have to wonder how much of that was aided by Link’s teachings and guidance?”

Legend bit the inside of his cheek and looked back at the trio. Warriors was sprawled in the grass, Wind still triumphantly on his torso. Legend knew and he knew Time knew that the only way Wind could have dropped Warriors was with his consent. Based on the pride shining from Wind’s face, he didn’t know, and no one was going to tell him. 

When Time listened to no one else, he listened to Warriors. When he grew tense and angry, Warriors calmed him like Twilight calmed Epona. 

Legend hadn’t thought about it before, but now he wondered.

“I think it was never about them helping him,” Lana said. “I don’t think I’ll ever know for sure. I don’t have the eyes to see anymore.”

“Maybe,” Legend said pointedly, “it’s because you keep staring in the wrong direction.”

Lana flinched and at last looked away from Warriors. Legend couldn’t feel guilty for it. Not when Warriors looked away from Wind and saw Lana there. Not when his brother’s smile faltered and his ears flattened. Wind poked his shoulder and Warriors turned to him with a bright smile, but it didn’t look so genuine anymore.

“Bad things happen when people lose sight of their responsibilities,” Legend said, voice hard with warning. Her power reminded him of the Oracles. He placed it, but it didn’t make him feel any better. It did nothing to soothe the new weight on his shoulders.

“Yes,” Lana said quietly. “They do. Have a good day, Hero of Legend.” She bowed her head at him and got up. Legend tensed when she looked back over her shoulder one more time at his brother, but Warriors didn’t look back. Without a word, Lana walked away.

Legend caught Time’s eye. Time nodded once at him. In silence, they turned back to watch their laughing brothers. There was a horrific story there between the four. Legend didn’t know, and with the memory of the shadows in Warriors’s eyes, he knew he wouldn’t ask.

He would pay more attention, though. It turned out that Warriors held more secrets than he ever could have thought.

[draxeanlxia]

Warriors was calm. Everything was fine. He was calm. He would assess the situation and make a plan. Everyone was unharmed. He was calm.

“What do you mean, we can’t get out?” Even his voice was calm. He stood straight, shoulders back, and his voice and face was calm. Yet Time’s head still snapped up from where he was examining Legend’s new ring along with Legend, Sky, and Four. No one else reacted. Wild was poking the odd magic shield from the outside, while Twilight poked it from the inside. Hyrule was keeping Wind from putting the ring on himself.

“It’s a shield,” Legend grumbled. He didn’t look up from the ring glowing in his palm. “Nothing gets in, nothing gets out. It doesn’t make sense, though. It should shield the person with the ring, not someone else.”

Twilight smacked the shield. Nothing happened. He didn’t look perturbed by it. He looked exasperated by Wild poking at it with a spear but that was it. Twilight was calm. Just like Warriors was calm.

Time didn’t look calm. Time stepped away from Legend and the ring and rested his hand against the clear shield. Warriors’s shoulders tensed but he didn’t flinch. Everything was fine.

“Captain,” Time said. Something in his voice made several of the others look up. Warriors didn’t look at them. It was hard to look away from Time’s hand on the shield, marking in the air where the shield caged them. “Captain. Are you all right?”

Not Twilight. Just Warriors. Something was slipping. Warriors smiled. “Of course. What did Legend mean, though? That we can’t get out?”

Legend stood up. Time’s hand didn’t move on the shield. “It’s just until I figure this out. Wars, are you --”

Trapped. Trapped in a clear cage. No doors, no exits. 

Could the air run out in here? There was plenty of room, but Warriors felt his chest tighten, anyway, like something was constricting his lungs. 

Twilight was looking away from Wild now. Everyone was moving now. It was hard to look away from Time’s hand. “Time,” he said. Calmly. “I want out.”

A muscle jumped in Time’s jaw, but the other man didn’t change his expression. “I know, Captain,” he said. “We’re working on it. We’ll have you out soon.”

Someone else was saying something. Warriors didn’t catch the words. “I want out now,” Warriors clarified. Perhaps he hadn’t been clear enough.

Wind was tugging at Time’s arm. He looked worried. Time didn’t look away from Warriors. “Soon, Captain. I promise. Twilight, can you do me a favor?”

Legend had turned back to his ring. He and the others were talking, voices high and excited. It was hard to make out their words. Twilight was closer, moving so close that Warriors could feel his body heat. The air was starting to feel stuffy, but Warriors still felt cold. “What can I do, Time?”

He sounded worried, too. There was no need for anyone to be worried. Everything was fine. Everything would be better once Warriors was free again.

“Transform into Wolfie,” Time said evenly. “Captain, I don’t know what’s going to happen when we break the shield, but there might be bright lights and magic. I need for you to stay close to Wolfie and keep your eyes shut. Twilight, stay close to Warriors.”

“Got it,” Twilight said, and Warriors made himself nod. The shield was clear but unyielding, like glass under Time’s hand. Unbreakable glass.

He didn’t notice Twilight transform until Wolfie nudged his hip with a low whine. He thought Legend said something, but there was a strange noise in the air. A low roar in his ears. It was so loud, it was hard to hear anything at all. Warriors grabbed Wolfie’s scruff to steady himself. The fur was thick and warm. Warriors gripped it tightly. The ground felt unsteady under his feet. Did the shield go under his feet? It was wrapping all around him. He just knew it. Wrapping all around him and moving and caging him.

“Captain,” Time said. “Link. Grab onto Wolfie and close your eyes. If there are any sparks, I don’t want either of you to get hurt.”

Right. Right. Warriors forgot about that. Everything was still swaying, so it was easy to let himself drop. It was easy to wrap his arms around Wolfie, keeping them both steady as the Great Fairy’s bottle rocked them.

“Close your eyes, Captain,” Mask said, and Link obeyed. Link buried his face in Wolfie’s thick fur and held on.

Mask would get him out. Everything would be fine. He held on and breathed. Mask would get him out.

[draxeanlxia]

Warriors's last memory was of a dark fog swirling around him. Then bone-deep agony and a terrible shock, like he had just fallen into ice water.

When Warriors opened his eyes again, Wolfie was licking his face.

No. Not Wolfie. Twilight. He was never going to get used to that.

"Stop licking me," he slurred. His head ached and now he smelled like canine slobber. Disgusting.

Twilight stopped and panted. He crouched in front of Warriors. His tail was wagging. "You're awake! I was beginning to get worried!"

"Yeah, yeah." Out of habit, Warriors reviewed his body before moving, assessing for the familiar feel of broken bones. Twilight was good at stopping bleeding but terrible about bones, and he didn't know how to check for certain types of major injuries.

Nothing felt broken, but nothing felt right, either.

A large, pale wolf walked up behind Twilight. Warriors immediately snarled a warning.

Literally snarled. That was not a human noise which emerged from him.

Warriors snapped his mouth shut. His eyes widened. What the hell?

"Take it easy, Captain." Time's voice emerged from the pale wolf, even though its mouth didn't move. "It's a bit of a shock the first time it happens."

What happens?

Warriors looked around. Only then did he recognize that the colors were off. Everything smelled stronger than it should. He inhaled deeply and promptly sneezed. It smelled like wet dog and rabbit fur and --

A pink rabbit glared at him from beyond Twilight. "What are you looking at, mutt?" Legend snapped.

...what the hell had been in that fog? He was delusional.

Warriors whined and started standing up. His legs felt odd under him, and he almost fell over trying to look at them.

Four legs. Four furry legs with large paws at the end.

Mutt.

The Goddesses toyed with him more every day.

"You've got to be kidding me," Warriors said flatly.

Twilight's tail wagged even harder. "Nope! You're a wolf like Time and me! Sky was unaffected because he held the Master Sword, and he can turn everyone back to normal later."

"As normal as Wars gets," Legend grumbled.

The pink rabbit grumbled.

Warriors felt his tail begin to wag. He couldn't blame it. He beamed at Legend. He supposed his situation could be worse. "Aren't you adorable?" he cooed.

Legend bared his teeth at Warriors. Warriors merrily bared his own. By the Three, he needed to find a mirror.

Twilight licked a wet swath up Warriors's cheek. Warriors yelped and jumped back. Twilight looked unabashed, tongue lolling. "I know you probably still feel odd, but... want to run around? It's fun! I promise!"

His brother's tail was wagging so quickly behind him that it was a blur. Warriors looked at Time and saw his tail betraying him in a slow wag, too.

Ah, what the hell. Warriors darted forward. His legs still didn't feel right, but really, this wasn't the oddest situation he had ever been in. Warriors licked Time's nose and rejoiced in his startled yelp. "Tag," he said cheerfully. "You're it." Before Time could recover, Warriors bolted, Twilight laughing and sprinting behind him.

More voices rose in laughter behind him, but Warriors didn't dare stop. Mask had been a competitive little shit, and he knew that hadn't changed as his boy grew up.

Later, he would check on the others and see their own transformations. Right then, he cackled and played tag with Twilight and Time.

[draxeanlxia]

This is part of the kitty Wars series. 😺

Everyone was watching them. Legend didn't care. The only thing he cared about was Warriors in front of him and the mug the man held in his hands. Warriors stared back at him. His eyes glittered. Legend snarled back at him.

"Don't," Legend gritted out. "You. Dare."

Maintaining eye contact, Warriors raised his mug to his mouth. Legend's eye began to twitch.

"I mean it, Wars," Legend warned. "Don't you dare. Don't you do it."

Warriors's mouth quirked in a smile behind his mug. It was mostly hidden, but Legend saw it. He saw the awful gleam in Warriors's eyes.

"Captain!" Legend snapped.

It was too late.

Warriors did it.

Never breaking eye contact, Warriors stuck out his tongue and began to lap his milk.

Legend shrieked. Around him, several other members of the chain began to laugh and Wind, the brat, even clapped. Warriors looked far too pleased with himself as he lapped up the LonLon milk Time had given him.

"You aren't in your cat form!" Legend shrieked as Four and Sky exchanged rupees. "I know you know how to properly drink it! Knock it off!"

Warriors preened at everyone's laughter. When Legend turned away to complain to Hyrule, he winked at Wind and quickly tossed the rest of the milk back. When Legend turned around again, Warriors made a show of licking up the last of the milk in the mug.

Legend's howl was almost deafening, but everyone agreed it was worth it. No one breathed a word about Warriors's final act.

That time or two days later when he did it again with a bowl of soup.

[draxeanlxia]

hi I’m sorry to bother you again but I really need the comfort right now. Can you write me warriors having to admit and explain to the rest of the chain about an eating disorder tattoo. He could have it on his ribs or his shoulder or wrist or something. and to assure wild that it’s not his cooking that’s the problem. How eating regardless of what it is, It can make him so sick he wants to throw up. Sometimes the thought of eating can give him nausea.

this is the design for the eating disorder tattoo.

i’m sorry to bother you with these things, if you want me to stop I will but it helps reading about my comfort character is going through the same things. I went from 117 pounds to 109 and under a year. When you don’t have the weight to lose it is an extremely upsetting realization. I feel like warriors because of what he went through with Cia Word the struggle the most with something like this. I’m sorry to unload my problems onto you if you want me to stop by will, just say so but I really do appreciate you writing these things for me.

Hi! Please don't worry about bothering me with these prompts. I enjoy doing them, and I enjoy the different challenges you send my way! I hope you enjoy what I write for you!

Warriors had a tattoo on his right wrist.

It took Wild months to notice it. From the start, Warriors was always completely covered. Legend teased him about it, which always prompted Warriors to tease him back about his bare legs, which usually started an argument about clothing habits which involved the whole chain. Legend was right, though. Even in their downtime, Warriors remained fully clothed.

Wild didn't see what the big deal was. He changed right in the middle of camp. Only Twilight seemed to care, and Wind loved pointing out in those moments that it wasn't like Woflie wore underwear. The shrieking was hilarious. Wild noted, though, that Warriors was never bothered by his nudity. It seemed only his own bothered him.

Warriors never joined them during communal baths and he never swam with them. Wild thought that maybe Twilight and definitely Time had seen him undressed, but he didn't understand what the big deal was for the rest of them. Wild knew that Warriors had burn scars. Warriors didn't seem bothered by Wild's own scars, but maybe he held himself to a different standard. Legend teased him all the time for being their resident pretty boy, after all.

Wild thought about it sometimes, but he didn't really focus on it until he saw the tattoo on Warriors's wrist following a hard battle. A gibdos had torn Warriors's clothes, and Wild had been right beside him when he fussed over his right arm.

"I didn't know that you had a tattoo," Wild said. He leaned over for a closer look. He got one good look at it before Warriors started wrapping it up with a bandage. The cut was above it, so Wild didn't understand why Warriors wrapped that, too. The tattoo was an odd design. Wild noted it and the worrying boniness of Warriors's wrist before he covered the area in white bandage.

"A small thing from my time," Warriors dismissed. "Do you need help with your shoulder?"

That night for dinner, Wild offered him an extra helping. Quietly, so others wouldn't complain about their smaller servings. Warriors declined it with a smile and rubbed his wrist. He changed into non-torn clothes as soon as he could, Wild noted. Out of sight of everyone.

In the morning, Wild offered him an extra portion of breakfast. Only when Warriors declined again did Wild note that Warriors hadn't finished his breakfast, either. He played with it before offering it to Wind, who devoured it in moments.

Wild lasted several more days before he broke and tugged Warriors to the side. "Is there something wrong with my food? You aren't eating. Do you want me to make something else?"

This time, he knew he saw Warriors hesitate before he gave Wild a charming smile. "Your food is great, Wild! I just don't need to eat as much as certain lugs in our group. I swear Twilight would eat an entire deer if you let him."

The last part wasn't a lie, but Wild couldn't bring himself to believe the rest. They all knew better than to believe Warriors when he gave that smile.

"All right," he said. What else could he say?

Wild watched him, though. He watched Warriors eat, and he swore that Warriors was eating even less now, looking at Wild from under his lashes and rubbing his mysterious tattoo. This only made Wild more determined than ever. He increased Warriors's portions and offered him snacks throughout the day. He studied Warriors's jawline and cheekbones. Were they too prominent? Did he seem pale?

It came to a head one evening following a battle in Twilight's era. Warriors had used his rarely seen magic, and it was clear that he was exhausted when he sat down in their camp that evening. Everyone was always hungry after a battle like that, especially if they used magic, so Wild made sure to whip up a hearty meal and gave Warriors an extra-large plate. When Warriors saw it and looked green instead of enthused like the others, Wild was ready to snap.

"Are you sure nothing is wrong with my food?" he demanded. "Tell me what else I can cook! You need to eat something!"

Holding the plate with both hands, Warriors started. His eyes looked too bright and wide. Time cursed lowly and stood.

"Wild," Warriors said, and his voice was too calm, too soothing. "I'm just not hungry. It's probably leftover adrenaline from the fight. I'll --"

Time was walking toward them. Twilight and the others were sitting up straighter, their own food forgotten. Wild ignored all of them. "But you always say things like that! If there's something wrong with my food, just say it. I would prefer to make stuff you'll eat so you don't starve!"

Warriors flinched. "I... It's not..."

"Wild," Time said, and his voice was too even. It grated on Wild's nerves like dirt on scar tissue. "Let's talk somewhere else so everyone can eat, okay? It's been a long day."

The odd, pained grief in Warriors's blue eyes only made things worse. Something about all of this tugged at Wild's long-forgotten memories, and Wild felt his breathing pick up. "No! This is ridiculous!"

"Cub," Twilight started.

"I have an eating problem," Warriors interrupted. Everyone silenced. Warriors stared at Wild as he put his plate down. "It isn't your food, Cook. It's me." Hands free, he tugged at his sleeve and bared that mysterious tattoo. "This tattoo... It's a symbol, I suppose. It used to be worse. I used to throw up almost every time I ate." He smiled ruefully at Wild, but he still looked sad and stressed as he assessed Wild. "The tattoo is a bit of celebration that I'm getting better, I suppose. Things happened during the war and I haven't been able to eat right since. If I try to eat sometimes, it makes me sick. " He looked earnestly at Wild. "It's not you or your food, Cook. I promise. Your food is great."

Time reached past Wild and made to rest his hand on Warriors's shoulder, but in a telling motion, he paused and then pulled back. Warriors smiled wanly at him. Wild noted that Warriors made no attempt to tell Time that it was okay touch him.

"It's not you, Cook," Warriors repeated quietly. "I promise. I just don't have much of an appetite most days."

Wild wilted. Whatever answer he expected, it hadn't been that. "...oh."

Warriors smiled at him. That awful, soothing smile. "It's not you. It's me. Go enjoy your dinner, all right, Cook? I'll eat what I can, and I'm sure Wind will make sure it's not wasted."

Wild didn't know what to say to that. Warriors didn't give him much room to respond. With a final nod which gave Wild a mild flashback to dead leaders of old, Warriors picked up his plate again. Time silently wrapped an arm around Wild's shoulders and tugged him back to his own food.

The conversation never quite rose to regular levels after that. Wild spotted some of the others peeking at Warriors's wrist, but after that, Warriors seemed more comfortable leaving it uncovered. He still kept the rest of himself under wraps.

Wild still didn't quite know how to help, but he worked to give Warriors a variety of easily eaten options throughout the day. He also stopped watching Warriors eat. In return, Warriors's plate seemed a little emptier before he gave it to Wind to finish off.

Wild didn't know how much it helped, but he hoped it did something. When he dreamed of that tattoo in the nights following Warriors's explanation, he was never sure if it was from Warriors's arm or a lost memory.

[draxeanlxia]

If Captain Link had been more awake, he absolutely wouldn't have done it.

He hated when Mask used the Fierce Deity mask, but he was slowly warming up to the creature. It had proven to have no desire to harm Link's people, and it had actually acted in defense of Link and Tune. Nothing would stop the fear. Not really. The Fierce Deity was too strong, too alien, and was possessing Link's boy. Things had improved, though.

Improved enough, even, that Link's first thought when he stepped out of his tent, exhausted, worn, and desperate for caffeine, and saw the Fierce Deity towering over one of his soldiers, his first thought wasn't that the Deity would hurt his soldier. It was that it was too Goddess-damned early for this.

It wasn't his fault. He was running on two hours sleep and the previous day had been nothing but nasty battles. He had given his spare potions to Mask and Tune and a bad bruise on his back kept him up even when exhaustion begged for him to sleep. It truly wasn't his fault that he looked at the silent mess in front of him and broke.

"No!" Link snapped, stomping over to the pair. The soldier was a lieutenant from another unit. Link couldn't remember his name, just that the man was at least ten years his senior. As such, he should not have been cowering so pathetically in front of the Deity. Link shoved his way between the two, glared at the Deity, glared at the lieutenant, and then glared at the useless clump of soldiers just standing around and watching the scene. "We are not doing this right now. Lieutenant! Grow a spine and deal with your troops."

"Captain," the lieutenant began. One vicious scowl cut him off.

"Did I stutter, Lieutenant?" Link snarled. "Now."

The Fierce Deity shifted when the lieutenant scuttled off, like he wanted to follow him. Oh hell no. Link was not dealing with that. Several soldiers flinched and grabbed their weapons, and Link was ready to yank his fire rod out in the middle of camp.

"Don't the rest of you have enough to do?" he snapped at them. "Start cleaning up camp! Leaders, make sure everyone is fed and ready to go. Have there been preparations made to transport the wounded to the nearest village? Move."

Not bothering to see how they responded, Link whirled on the Fierce Deity. He placed his hands on his hips and glared into those blank white eyes. "And you. Aren't you supposed to be an ancient war god? Shouldn't you be better than this? Return Mask so he can help us move out and by the Three, I expect better from you the next time I see you!"

Silence reigned over the camp. Link's head throbbed. The Fierce Deity stared at him. Link didn't know what he was thinking and right then, he didn't care.

"Now," Link said pointedly.

Someone whimpered behind him. Link was ready to strangle the lot.

The Fierce Deity looked at Link and then nodded once. Soundlessly, forever soundlessly, the Fierce Deity raised its hands and grabbed the edges of its face. In a move which caused Link to eternally cringe, it yanked off its face with a soundless scream. Just like that, the Fierce Deity was gone and Mask swayed in front of Link, looking at him like he had never seen him before.

"Captain," he whispered in awe.

Mask looked pale and exhausted. Link bet he hadn't had breakfast, either. Link leaned down and scooped Mask into his arms. For once, Mask didn't protest. Taking advantage of Mask's silence, Link stomped toward the tent.

"There had better be coffee when I get there!" Link roared. Three different soldiers bolted in the direction of the makeshift mess hall.

Ridiculous. The lot of them.

Including the thrice-damned Fierce Deity. If they insisted on acting like overgrown children, then Link would treat them that way.

[draxeanlxia]

This is part of the kitty Wars series. 😺 Here you go, @elle-rosewater!

Twilight bit his lip to keep himself from whining pathetically at the scene before him. He should have seen this coming and expected it. He should have. He knew he should have. He remembered his own mishaps during his adventure, after all.

Warriors stared sadly at the empty plate in front of him. Wild also stared, but with a look of horrifying intrigue on his face. "I guess we're not having chicken for dinner tonight," Wild commented.

"It didn't taste right at all," Warriors lamented. "Maybe it wasn't fresh enough?"

Twilight was about to cry. "It didn't taste right because you aren't a cat anymore. You need to eat cooked meat."

Wild nodded sagely. "I ate raw meat when I was on the Great Plateau. I threw up for a couple days." He frowned at the empty plate. "It was raw boar, though, not chicken. I haven't tried raw chicken yet."

"And you aren't gonna, either!" Twilight snapped. He looked at Warriors. "How much did you eat?"

Warriors and Wild looked at him, then the plate. In unison, they gestured at the plate. The plate that was bigger than their hands. Twilight blanched.

"Time," he called, not looking away from Warriors and the plate. "We're going to need to stay here for the next couple days."

"It didn't feel right, either," Warriors said with a sigh. "Hylian teeth are too dull."

Warriors showed no symptoms that night, but Twilight had Wild make soup for dinner, anyway. It made the morning easier for Warriors when he woke up and almost immediately started vomiting.

Time and Wind was never far from Warriors's side, so there was no need for Twilight to be there. They helped keep him hydrated and clean, and Wild always had soup or simple breads available. The empathy and compassion in Wild's eyes made Twilight feel worse.

Because of all of them, he should have known better. He remembered the days after he transformed back into a Hylian, how instinctive certain actions were. If you were hungry, you could just eat. No cooking necessary. That needed to be relearned.

Warriors groaned, clearly in pain but still trying to bite back the sound. Cats kept their pain close, after all. He tried curling up in a ball but Twilight shushed him and stopped him. "I know your stomach hurts, but it'll hurt more if you curl up."

Warriors's eyes were wet and pained when he looked at Twilight. Twilight pet his hair and only realized too late that he was petting him like he was a cat, but Warriors didn't seem to mind. "Being a cat is easier," he croaked.

Twilight bit the inside of his cheek. He would keep a closer eye on him, he promised to himself. Warriors had only been a Hylian for a month. He was still struggling. He still needed Twilight's help. "I know," he said softly. "But at least you can eat chocolate and snacks now, right?"

Warriors smiled weakly at him. "More after this?"

"After this," Twilight promised.

Warriors closed his eyes and nuzzled Twilight's hand. "We need to talk after this," he murmured. "Can't keep doing this."

Twilight stroked his cheekbone with his thumb. "Doing what?"

Warriors didn't answer. He was either asleep or ignoring him. Twilight studied his pale face and the dark circles under his eyes and his chapped lips. He was doing better. Sky and Hyrule both were hopeful that he would be better by tomorrow.

Twilight had to work on getting better, too.

"This won't happen again," Twilight said quietly. "I promise."

Like a true cat, Warriors didn't answer.

[draxeanlxia]

after the last post I would love it if you would write one of warriors hitting on llia just to piss twilight off. I want to read that fight go down.

Ha! I think I can do that.

Twilight was pretty sure that Warriors didn't even like women. He grew uncomfortable when they flirted with him in bars in a way which always left Twilight feeling angry and protective. Warriors and Hyrule seemed to be in agreement that sleep was the best thing someone could do in bed, so Twilight didn't think that Warriors like anyone at all like that.

He doesn't like women, Twilight told himself, watching Warriors and Ilia laugh together. Warriors leaned close to her, elbow resting on the fence, and said something to her that had Ilia literally doubling over with laughter.

Twilight didn't know if Warriors liked men or just liked being alone, but he was confident that Warriors didn't like women. He usually wasn't even comfortable around women.

Except with that bright grin, Warriors seemed very comfortable around Ilia now.

Ilia noticed him staring and imperiously waved a hand at him. "Aren't you supposed to be taking care of Epona? I can't believe you let her get that dirty!"

"After she takes such good care of him, too," Warriors agreed. Twilight's brother sounded far too cheerful when he said that. When Ilia turned to him, though, his expression turned commiserating and he shook his head at her. Ilia sighed and Twilight knew she had that "I'm not angry with you, but I am disappointed" expression that she and Uli did so well. Twilight was not pouting when he turned back to Epona's mane.

His girl was dirty, but it wasn't Twilight's fault! They had been attacked after they left the portal, and it had just rained! Everyone was filthy!

Except Warriors somehow. His brother looked immaculate and charming as he smiled at Ilia. Ilia, who smiled back.

Twilight grumbled to himself and resumed detangling Epona's mane. Epona snorted at him and tossed her head, which only made it worse. "C'mon, darlin'," Twilight murmured. His shoulder slumped. "I said I was sorry."

Epona snorted at him again, unimpressed. Twilight did not pout as he worked a bramble out of her hair. All right, so maybe he should have directed her away from the battle, but he hadn't realized the slope was that muddy!

Twilight peeked at Warriors and Ilia again. Ilia was covering her mouth with one hand and giggling. Warriors beamed at her. Twilight reminded himself again that he was pretty confident that Warriors didn't like women.

But if he did, it would make sense that Ilia could turn his head. Ilia could turn anyone's head, and Warriors could be smart when he wasn't being an idiot and he was a great judge of character...

How many brambles did Epona get in her thrice-blessed mane, anyway?

Another burst of laughter and Twilight broke. "What are you two chattering about over there, anyway?" he shouted. A bramble stuck under a nail and he growled curses under his breath.

"Oh, nothing much!" Warriors sang back. "Just how you need to worry about cleaning your hair after you finish cleaning hers!"

His hair...?

Ilia burst out laughing again as Twilight slowly reached up and touched his hair.

Brambles.

His hair was filled with brambles.

Twilight cursed so fiercely and loudly that Uli started shouting at him from her window and Time yelled, "Language!" from somewhere out of sight.

Warriors and Ilia cackled like the fiends they were, doubled over and chortling. Twilight was tempted to throw Epona's brush at them, but he knew he would be the one who needed to fetch it. He just knew it.

And maybe it was nice to see those two of all people relax and let loose like this. Maybe it wasn't so bad being the butt of their jokes if it made them laugh like that.

"Don't s'ppose you two could help any?" Twilight called, trying to sound cross. "Or did you just want to -- hey!"

Epona huffed in his hair and resumed nibbling at his bramble-covered hair. Ilia and Warriors only laughed harder as Twilight swatted her away.

Warriors might not like women much, but damn, did he love laughing at Twilight.

"A little help, please? C'mon!"

[draxeanlxia]

This is a different take on UniWars inspired by @sonaiyas. If there are any issues with this, you know who to blame. :D

Warriors didn't mean to grab Twilight's amulet. Why did Twilight not have it more guarded, anyway? The battle had been chaotic, Warriors had been fighting a Lynel, he had been thrown into Twilight --

The next thing he knew, he had been disoriented, his body alien and aching with a soul-deep pain, and Twilight was screaming his name.

The shock almost knocked him out. Black edged his vision and he swayed dizzily. It was only the Lynel's roar which kept Warriors on his feet.

His four feet. What the hell.

The rest of the battle was a blur. Years of training kept Warriors moving and fighting more than anything else. When the fight was done, he relied on Twilight and Time to lead him to their new camp. He didn't come back to himself until he was kneeling on the ground, dazedly drinking from a bowl of water Wind held and half-listening to an argument above him.

"I have the Master Sword," Sky was saying. "I can --"

"No," Legend cut off. "A transformation like this takes too much out of someone, especially the first time. He can't deal with them back-to-back."

"How do you know that?" Wind demanded.

"Does it matter?" Four's voice. "It won't hurt him to stay in this form. Let him catch his breath."

Some days, Warriors was so grateful for Four's practical presence. Practicality wasn't a strong trait in Hylia's heroes.

"I suppose it only makes sense that he's a war horse," Time said. Warriors felt Time's familiar, calloused hand stroke his neck. So that's what he was. That made sense.

Warriors had never thought much about what beast could hide in his heart. He didn't like looking inward that much. Knowing it was a war horse of all things hiding in his soul soothed him more than he expected.

"I didn't think horses had horns on their head," Hyrule mused.

Warriors stopped drinking the water. What?

"Horn?" Wild's voice, bewildered and concerned. "Rulie, I told you to be careful about eating the mushrooms in my era. Most of them are safe to eat but --"

"Wild, it's right there," Twilight interrupted. "See? On top of his head!"

Warriors closed his eyes. He shivered. Wind murmured something soothing and stroked his cheek and neck.

"Twilight," Time said slowly, "there's nothing there."

"Just some pretty marks," Sky agreed. "They remind me of Wars's scarf a bit."

"Are you guys okay?" Wind asked. He sounded worried. "The horn is bright gold and really long. It's hard to miss."

By Farore's sweet wind...

"Ah, guys?" Four again. Perturbed like when they went to Time's era and Twilight didn't realize what exactly Nabooru was inviting him to.

"Oh, by the Three!" Of course Legend would catch on. He sounded horrified and entertained like only he could. "So Twilight, Wind, and Hyrule can see the horn and Wild, Time, and Sky can't. Four, can you see it? Four?"

"Can you?" Four shot back.

"I don't understand." Hyrule.

"Did anyone else eat the mushrooms?" Wild.

"Spirits, please kill me now." Twilight. Warriors thought it made sense that the stories existed in some eras and weren't popular in others.

"Wait, Twilight... Really?" Legend's glee might have made Warriors grin in a different situation.

"Legend, don't tease," Time said, but Warriors thought he sounded disturbed about the new revelations himself.

"Don't tease about what?" Wind whined. "I don't get it!"

"The Captain is a unicorn!" Sky exclaimed. "I get it now. Only the... the... ah..."

"Untouched?" Four offered.

"Untouched," Sky agreed. "Only the untouched can see a unicorn's horn."

"Untouched by -- ooooh. Hey!"

"One day, Sailor. Don't rush it."

"Time, Time, get your mirror shield," Legend said. "Put it in front of Wars. Wars, open your eyes. Did he fall asleep?"

Only the pure of body could see a unicorn's horn, they said in Warriors's era.

Warriors didn't know if Time grabbed his shield. He didn't open his eyes.

He didn't want to see. He didn't want to see. He didn't want...

[draxeanlxia]

In Time's memory, Warriors remained bigger than life. Bright smiles and explosions of magic and laughter which filled their small tent. For years, Time carried those memories of his big brother, and when he painted the picture for others, he often made Warriors even bigger and more dramatic just so they could have a good understanding of his big brother. In Time's mind, Warriors was supposed to remain strong and bright, so it hurt when Warriors was brought low.

Warriors whimpered and shifted restlessly on the bed. Time wanted to whimper, too, as he checked Warriors's shoulder again. The infection looked better, but the skin around the wound still looked painful and sickly to Time.

If Warriors was conscious, Time knew, he would hate all of this. He would hate every pained noise which slipped through his iron control, would hate being shirtless and vulnerable like this, would hate the knowledge that the boys were peeking through the doorway to check on him. Warriors was the medic. Warriors was the captain. He was the one who took care of people. People didn't take care of him.

Time forgot, over and over again, how much he relied on Warriors's steadiness. He pointedly did not look in the direction of the door and the worried watchers as he gently cleaned Warriors's wound.

It was getting better, he reminded himself. Sky had said so before he left to get some rest. When the infection was finally handled, they would be able to heal the wound with some red potion. Everything would be fine.

He heard Malon shooing the boys away from the doorway. Just hearing her voice let Time relax a bit more. If this happened without Malon's presence, Time had no idea what he would do.

"I want to go in there!" Wind protested. "I won't get in the way!"

"He's sleeping now," Malon said. "Link's taking care of him. He got blood on his scarf, though, and I haven't had a chance to clean it. Do you think you can help me with that?"

By the Three, Time loved her.

Wind grumbled, but Time heard Twilight's voice chime in. Of course, the only thing which would drag Twilight away was taking care of another member of the chain.

Warriors groaned as Time finished cleaning the wound and put a new bandage in place. His head lolled on the pillow. Time couldn't resist brushing his hair away from his face. As Time tucked his hair behind his ear, Warriors blinked his eyes open. "Mask?" he asked hoarsely.

Time swallowed another whimper. He rested his hand on Warriors's sweaty head. "Yes, it's me. Go back to sleep."

Warriors pouted. It reminded Time so much of the captain when he was younger that Time had to smile. "Ugh. How long have I been sleeping?"

Time couldn't resist. "Obviously not long enough. You have bags under your eyes."

Warriors made a face at him. Time grinned back. Warriors rolled his eyes. "Brat."

The bandage on Warriors's shoulder was clean and white. So different from how it looked yesterday. "Just rest. I'll wake you in time for dinner. Wild is going to help Malon in the kitchen."

Despite his annoyed frown, Time could see Warriors's eyes grow heavy again. Blood loss and infection took a lot out of him. "Don't let me sleep for long, 'kay? Slept too much..."

Warriors's words cut off with a yawn. Time smiled and pulled Warriors's blanket a little higher, covering his bare chest. "Yes, yes. I'll make sure you don't miss anything."

That earned him another look, but Warriors was already starting to doze off again.

He would be fine. Everyone had assured Time of that. Time knew that. It was a nasty wound, but they were able to take care of it in time and they were in a safe place.

Yet Time found himself lingering, anyway, hand still on Warriors's head. One day he would lose Warriors for real. One day he would lose his rock.

But not today. That day wasn't today.