The five Links trekked back to Hateno Village, their shared experiences building an unusual camaraderie among them. Despite their different backgrounds, they had formed a strong bond through countless battles and shared moments, some serious, others absolutely ridiculous.The Hero of the Wild seemed unusually quiet, lost in thought as they walked. Age of Calamity Link glanced over, curious, while Tears of the Kingdom Link kept his guard up, half-expecting another surprise attack from any direction.Eventually, they reached Hateno, where they were greeted by familiar faces and a warm meal waiting for them. As they sat down together, the Links laughed about their recent antics, recalling the chaos they'd created along the way. For a brief, rare moment, they were just a group of friends, bonded not by duty or destiny but by the sheer absurdity of their journey together. As the evening drew to a close, they sat in comfortable silence, each reflecting on the odd family they'd found in one another, despite the worlds that separated them.
As they sat together, the Hero of the Wild suddenly went quiet, his gaze fixed somewhere distant. His expression shifted, pained and haunted, as if he were reliving something no one else could see. Tears of the Kingdom Link immediately noticed the change in his demeanor.
"He's fine," Tears reassured the others. "It's...a memory from before, from the past. I'm him too, remember? I know what he's seeing."
But before he could say more, the other Links felt themselves slipping into the memory as well, drawn into Wild Link's mind and transported back to that fateful day a hundred years ago—the day he fell.
Suddenly, they were in Hyrule Field, surrounded by a fierce, blinding battle. The Hero of the Wild, clad in the same tunic and armor they all knew, fought desperately against swarms of Guardians and powerful foes. The relentless onslaught surrounded him, and he fought with everything he had, but without Mipha's Grace, his strength was dwindling.
The Hero of Time watched in shock as he witnessed the scale of the battle, the sheer number of enemies overwhelming Wild Link. Age of Calamity Link's heart pounded as he saw just how much pain Wild Link had endured, refusing to give up even as his body betrayed him, inch by inch. Wild Link fought on, each movement slower than the last, until, finally, he fell.
The Links felt every struggle, every wound, and every desperate moment. They could feel Wild Link's fading breath, his last look at the darkening sky, and the sense of hopelessness that had lingered for so long. They could feel his final, quiet thought: that he had failed.
The memory ended, and they were back in Hateno, sitting in the warmth of the room. Wild Link's face was pale, a small shiver running through him. The other Links sat in stunned silence, deeply affected by what they had seen. The Hero of Time looked down, visibly shaken. Age of Calamity Link reached over, placing a steadying hand on Wild Link's shoulder.
Tears of the Kingdom Link finally spoke, breaking the silence. "He survived—against all odds, he came back, and he didn't let it break him. That's why he's here, and why he can face anything now."
The Hero of the Wild managed a small smile, feeling the strength and support of the Links around him. The weight of that past seemed a little lighter now, shared among those who truly understood.
The room settled into a contemplative silence as the Links took in what they'd just witnessed. Wild Link, though still feeling the heaviness of the memory, managed to gather himself, grateful for their presence.
The Hero of Time broke the silence, speaking softly, "I didn't realize just how much you've had to bear. You faced so much...alone."
Wild Link gave a small nod, his eyes still distant but steady. "It was hard. But...it feels different now. Knowing you're all here—" he paused, meeting each of their gazes, "—it helps more than I can say."
