Time's Moving Faster Than I Can Count

A Sinking Feeling

Was he doomed to wander like his ancestor? Or would he get the immediate peace his ancestor had to work for?

Link had enough of it all. He wouldn't allow his mentor, his friend, his brother-in-arms, his ancestor, to be forgotten like some lowly worm anymore. He didn't know everything, but he didn't need to. He just needed people to know who Time was. He wanted them to know who stopped Hyrule from falling spectacularly before it even had chance to defend itself. He knew enough from the groups conversations, and he knew his own view.

If he had to, he would reveal painful things about himself. It didn't matter what, not anymore. It was worth it for the man he saw as a father to be remembered. The world deserved to know about the man who sacrificed everything for them, who did the hardest part of dealing with Ganon, who walked so he could run. Wild's era knew of Time, but did they really know him? Perhaps his writings would be found by his Cub. Perhaps some of those previously locked doors could be opened once more.

Gentle footsteps caught his attention as the tears continued to stubbornly fall. He didn't look down from the sky, still watching the trail of the shooting star.

"Link?" It was Rusl, and he sounded worried. "What's wrong?"

Link didn't answer, continuing to look at the sky. Rusl moved to sit next to him, immediately wrapping an arm around his adoptive son and pulling him close. He had guessed something was bothering his son, but he didn't think it was quite this bad.

"Hey," He gently shook him. "What's happened? Are you alright?"

Link moved his gaze to the floor, tears dripping onto his tunic, and took a deep, slow, and shaky breath. He was torn between saying he was fine, and being open. But deep down, he knew the biggest betrayal he could cause Time would be staying silent. He would betray the man he loved dearly if he said nothing. He swallowed thickly, and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.

"I met my teacher again in the Chain." His voice was quiet, and wavered under the weight of the confession. "He didn't know, but it's like he did. I... I had to say goodbye again, and..." A sob broke him off.

Rusl didn't quite understand, but he held Link all the same. There were many things he didn't understand, but came to realise Link would speak on it whenever he was ready to.

"I don't think he made it home alive." He whispered.

Rusl froze, stunned at what he heard. He had met the odd group Link had travelled with, so which of them did he mean? He kind of understood the situation, but it was time travel, so he didn't fully grasp it. Nothing since the Twilight Invasion had made sense. All eight of the young boys and men were lovely, helping out whenever needed even if they were tired or injured. They were pleasant to talk to, if a little strange, and minded their business regarding important things. If one of them heard something they weren't meant to, they acted oblivious and never brought it up. Link had smiled freely with them, something no one had seen since the Twilight Invasion. He was afraid to ask, but he wanted to help.

"Which..." Rusl trailed off momentarily, licking his dry lips as he thought. "Which one was it?"
"Time." Link choked out, still avoiding Rusl's eyes.

Rusl felt tears of his own start. Yes, he had been petrified one of the younger ones had passed, but hearing it was the oldest who kept their group together? It hit hard. He didn't think Time was that old, despite the groups constant jokes of him being the "Old Man". At most, he seemed about Rusl's own age, not even forty. It hit close to home, and he couldn't imagine the pain. Time had been the ones to rangle the group, let them loose, and then explain the situation to the concerned villages. He had watched the group, stopped any issues, helped out the village. He treated the kids with kindness even if they asked or said something that clearly triggered a bad memory, he gently explained that he didn't want to talk about it and moved on, making sure they knew they had done nothing wrong. He was always pleasant with the adults.