Time's Moving Faster Than I Can Count

Revelations

"Yes, he did." He growled. "The version that you met hadn't met me yet, so when he taught me, he knew what I was. And he did everything he could to protect me from people like you."
"Link, sit down." Zelda stood and tried to ease him back. "Ignore him, he's not helping."

Zelda managed to coax him into sitting back down, Louise jumped onto his lap and took his attention away again. The feline made a note to herself to talk to him later, but for now she was happy to steal his attention to stop him from snapping. She knew he wouldn't hurt her, oh no, it was everyone else that had something to worry about. Telma decided she wasn't going to put up with all that, and slapped Auru across the back of the head.

"He saved all our asses during the war, and that's what you've gotta say? That's how you're gonna treat him?"
"Telma! That beast-"
"That boy," She glared. "Saved Hyrule, in case ya forgot!"
"I can't believe I never realised." Ashei mumbled. "I knew that wolf had eyes like yours!"

Link didn't say a word. He remained unmoving. For a few long minutes, no one said anything. The only thing that could he heard was the bar clock  ticking. Then, Link spoke again. There was a reason he was there, and Shad picked his pen back up.

"Time saved my life back then, and he did it just to make sure I didn't suffer like he did. And I worked, I became stronger. He became a wolf because he knew I'd investigate another strange animal. He knew I'd go see what was goin' on. He understood then, because he'd already met this version of me. When I met this version of him, he understood quicker than anyone except Wild. Time was the second to find out, and he used his ability to be real cryptic to confuse the others until they found out 'cause it couldn't be hidden anymore." He didn't move, just watched each of them carefully. "I don't expect any of y'all to understand. The Chain understood 'cause we've all seen and/or experienced things like that before. Zelda understood 'cause she just knows about stuff like this. None of ya have to understand, but ya do have to keep yer thoughts to yerselves. Nothin' y'all could say would be worse than what I've told myself already. But I'll remind all of ya, this is about Time, not me."

They sat in shock. Rusl struggled to get his head around the fact his son could become a wolf. Not just any wolf, but the very same one he'd attacked just three years ago. Suddenly, all those sudden and odd changes to his appearance and his reluctance to talk about it made total sense. He looked at Link now, who was once again focused on Louise. The boy was biting his lip, and his fangs were very visible. The sharp blue eyes, the blue earrings that never changed. And, damn it all, the markings on his face were exactly the same just inverted in colour.

"At the end of everything, he told me he was free. He had eased the regrets he was carrying through death, and he could finally pass on. I want you to think about that. Imagine being dead, and waiting for a century, just to pass on the fighting techniques you knew so the one who came after you wouldn't suffer like you did. Think about that." He sat up, watching Louise jump onto the table. "His last words to me were; 'Go, and do not falter, my son!' Because he knew. If you don't believe anything else, then just believe that he was there for me when no one else could be. Believe that my ancestor, the Hero of Time, taught me, protected me, and sacrificed everything for all of us."

Shad finished writing everything down. Over the last few hours, he had more than enough to write a brilliant book. He wasn't sure about everyone else, he believed every word of what Link said. Too much strange stuff had happened for him to be picky about what he believed. Link stood up again, slower this time, and looked towards the door. Petting Louise one last time, he spoke.

"He once said; 'The next step you take might leave a scar, or change who you are.' And he was right." Then, he walked out without looking back.

He wasn't running, nor speed-walking, merely walking. He took his time walking through the busy streets of Castle Town, not stopping, but he didn't have a reason to rush. He wanted to, of course he did. He wanted to run and hide until the end of his days, but he knew he couldn't do that. Things were about to be way less peaceful for him now, but maybe Zelda could keep him busy. Maybe he'd get lucky and die in battle somewhere before he ever had to face his Ma - could he even call her that anymore?