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A/N: So I was chatting with my friend Star606 and she mentioned this idea of how the Chain would react to someone impersonating Wild before they met the real one. And this just... sort of wrote itself. :Wild_Laugh: I hope you enjoy this little spiff.
Link was just resting at the Woodland Stables. Echo had ignored his urgings to go explore and brought them both to the stables with a flat look and a hoof stomp, and he knew his horse had a point—they both needed some proper rest. He didn’t know why, but he’d been restless for weeks. There was something in the air—a swirling divinity he’d come to associate with Hylia. Something was coming, and he had no idea if it was good or bad.
Whatever it was, it was Link’s job to figure it out and protect everyone. He’d already told Zelda something was amiss, and she was staying with Purah in Hateno while he tried to figure out what was going on.
He looked up when he heard voices. A lot of voices. His eyes widened when a group of nine people came in. Link didn’t recognize any of them, though one guy looked vaguely familiar. He had a simple tunic with a crudely drawn sword design that somewhat reminded Link of his own Champion’s Tunic, though the blue was far too dark. He also had a strange painted stone on his hip… was that supposed to be a Sheikah Slate?
He started listening in on their conversation. “So you’re Link?” The guy in the red tunic asked. He had an unimpressed look on his face, as if judging the guy.
“I sure am! The hero of this land.” The stranger puffed out his chest, and Link startled. This guy… was impersonating him ? Why? The thought that anyone would want to impersonate him was baffling. Wasn’t he worried about Yiga coming after him for it at the very least?
Kish, the only person in the stables at the moment, had a look of indignation on his face. He glanced at Link, who shook his head. He wanted to see this play out. Kish huffed but let things continue on. It made him feel good to know that the stablemaster would defend him, though.
“Ah, then you’re the person we’re looking for.” The oldest of the group—a man with only one eye—nodded. Something about his tone felt off to Link, like he was being sarcastic or something, but the imposter didn’t seem to hear it.
“Yes. Whatever you need help with, I can get it done! Not at all like the coward that came before me.”
Link flinched. Was that… meant to be a jab at him ?
It seemed the strangers didn’t know what he meant either, because while a few of them looked miffed, they all seemed rather confused. “The hero that came before you?” The one in heavy armor and a blue scarf asked hesitantly.
“Don’t you know? The story of The Great Calamity?” The imposter tilted his head.
“We’re not from around here.” The shortest one answered easily.
“Oh. Then I’ll tell you. A hundred years ago Calamity Ganon attacked Hyrule and the hero that was supposed to stop him ran away. Ganon destroyed everything and I had to clean up his mess.”
The words made Link pale, and Kish looked absolutely enraged . “I would advise you…” Kish grounded out, startling the group. “Not to speak ill of the hero.” Though Kish didn’t know Link was the same hero from a century ago, he knew that the comment had hurt Link.
At the same time, Link bit his lip. Was that how his people saw him? A coward who ran away from Ganon? What was he supposed to do? He did run… but he’d run to save Zelda. Zelda, who had to fight Ganon alone for a hundred years because Link wasn’t strong enough. Everyone had been depending on him, and…
“It’s not good to talk bad about the dead.” The stranger with a wolf pelt agreed, a look of distaste on his face. He shot a look to the other strangers. They all seemed to be rather angry at the comment, but Link couldn’t understand why.
“Well, it’s true.” The imposter crossed his arms with a huff. “But anyways, you never told me what you needed.”
“Well,” the one with a white cloak stepped forward. Link’s eyes were drawn instantly to the sword at his back. The same one that had nearly killed him to draw. Why did this stranger have the Sword that Seals the Darkness ? “See, we’re heroes too.” His smile was pleasant enough, but there was a dangerous edge to it—like he knew the man before him was lying. “And we’re on a journey through time. We’ve come to pick up the hero from this era.”
Link stilled. They were here for him ? No. No, this must be… a mistake. Yes, it was a horrid mistake. There was no way he was meant to travel with this group of real heroes. He was just a failure. A kid who was forced to clean up his own mess.
A wind caressed his face, winding its way lovingly towards the one with the sword. The softest whisper of apology and encouragement gently floated to him, and he knew Hylia was answering his concerns.
Go with them.
He was supposed to leave his land behind? To… to what, go die again? To leave everything he’d ever known and come to love? His journey was done. He’d defeated Calamity Ganon, freed the Divine Beasts and Zelda. Wasn’t that enough?
No. He wasn’t going. Not this time. He’d let the stranger who wanted to be a hero go instead. Or they’d discover he wasn’t a hero and then move on after they couldn’t find Link. It would be fine.
“Huh?” The imposter blinked. “You’re joking, right? Another quest?”
The one with the sword smiled knowingly, drawing the shimmering sword from his back. “This is the Master Sword. The sword of the hero. Surely, you know her?”
“Oh, yeah.” The man brushed it off. “The Sword that Seals the Darkness, everyone knows that sword. I wielded it against Ganon myself!”
Something about the way he talked about the sword, like she was a thing , pissed Link off. He may not have liked the blade that burned his hand more than once, but he had a healthy respect for the ancient weapon. She wasn’t just a thing to be swung about, despite the way Link fought.
It seemed the guy with the sword thought the same, because his smile became something sharp. “Then you wouldn’t have any reservations about holding her?”
Link straightened up. If anyone not chosen by the blade attempted to wield her, they could easily be killed. If he was lucky, he’d just get burned, but… Was this even the real sword? It certainly felt like the real sword. Then again, perhaps this guy needed a lesson about impersonating people. It was better to have a little shock than be assassinated by the Yiga, right? The Sword that Seals the Darkness would only kill someone stupid enough to hold her for too long… right?
Kish shot a worried look to Link. It seemed Link wasn’t the only one that sensed the sword’s power. But the idiot imposter didn’t really hesitate much. “O-of course!” He reached out, and before he’d even made contact the blade let out a furious chime, arcs of lightning reaching out to scald the man’s hand. He pulled it back with a shout, eyes wide with shock as the sword clattered to the ground.
“I’ve gotta say, this is the first time I’ve seen someone try impersonating a hero.” The one with the blue scarf scowled. “But you were so obvious .”
“Really. No one talks about their journeys like it was a thing to be proud of.” The one with the red tunic glared.
“I didn’t expect him to really try.” The shortest one with the multicolored tunic snorted. “That’s gotta hurt.”
“I…” The imposter was finally starting to get over his shock. An angry expression started coming over his face. “You did that on purpose! I really am the hero!” He kicked the sacred blade across the room, towards Link, causing the one who’d held her to let out a cry.
“That’s enough.” Kish spoke up. He rounded the edge of the counter, an enraged expression. “I didn’t speak up earlier because I was asked not to, but I can’t let this continue. I know Link. And you are not him. Now I’d recommend getting the hell outta my Stables before I ban you from the entire network, you piece of scum.”
The imposter pulled out his own sword, only to be met with seven other swords pointed his way. “Don’t you think this has gone on a tad long?” The guy with short curly brown hair smirked. “You aren’t him. Stop trying.”
Link sighed, standing from his position at the table. The sound of the chair scraping the floor drew all the attention towards himself. “Here’s a word of advice.” He said as he took the time to push his chair back in, the action pulling apart his cloak to show his Champion’s Tunic and Sheikah Slate. The man’s eyes went wide and he started to tremble. “If you’re going to impersonate someone…” he bent down and reached for the Sword that Seals the Darkness, ignoring the shouts from the strangers. They all fell silent when he straightened up, sword in hand. “At least make sure they’re not in the room.”
He heard the wind laughing outside. Hylia was very much enjoying his show. Link casually walked towards the group, holding out the shimmering blade towards its rightful owner. “I think you dropped her. She seems fine, if a little angry.”
The man took her with wide eyes. “You’re…”
“My name is Link. I’m not a hero, though. I’m just… Link.” His answer seemed to be exactly what they were looking for, because they all let out this massive sigh of relief.
“Thank Hylia , I thought we’d be stuck with that dimwit.” The one with a multicolored tunic muttered, sending a sidelong glare at the imposter.
“I…” The man’s voice was trembling now.
Link glanced sideways at him. “I would advise you not to parade around as me unless you’re prepared to face any Yiga that’re dumb enough to believe you—and trust me, they are that dumb.”
“Y-Yiga! But they’re gone now!”
Kish snorted. “Gone? Why the stablemasters and I have to patch Link here up twice a month from Yiga encounters! Gone. As if they’d ever crawl under a rock and live quietly.”
Link snorted, amused at the thought. “It’s only my clothes that need mending. You know I can take care of myself.”
“Um…” The one with the sword spoke up as the imposter made his escape. “So… about that whole journey thing…”
“I’m not a hero.” Link shook his head. “Didn’t you hear him? This land has been in ruins for a hundred years. All I did was fight a monster.”
“Not a hero.” Kish scoffed. “You killed Calamity Ganon. If you ain’t a hero, then I’m a goron.”
Link shot him a small glare, causing the stablemaster to raise his hands in defense. He was about to say something when Hylia swept into the room, divinity absolutely glowing as she circled the heroes. The sword seemed to be the only other being in the room that sensed her. Link tilted his head as the blade let out a chime of greeting.
“Is this what you want me to do?” He asked, ignoring the odd looks. Kish just shook his head fondly.
“He’s talkin to a spirit or somethin. Happens a lot with ‘im.” He explained.
“A spirit?” The child in the blue tunic spoke up, a look of excitement and confusion on his face. “But I don’t see anyone.”
Hylia gently pushed him from behind, towards the heroes. He sighed. “It’s not a spirit.” He reminded Kish. “Not like that.”
“Not a ghost?” The child tilted his head.
“Not quite.” Link smiled softly. “At any rate, I suppose I am supposed to go with you. She’s very clear on that.” He scowled lightly at the laughter on the wind.
“She?” The one with the scar frowned.
“Hylia.” He answered after a moment. “She talks to me sometimes. The Sword can hear her, too, right?” He got an affirming chime in response.
“You can really talk to her?” The one who held the sword beamed in delight. “That’s great! Oh! I’m Sky, by the way. Since we’re all Link we go by nicknames.”
“Nicknames, huh?” He was just wondering what he should choose when Hylia whispered to him again.
“I wish you luck on your new journey, my precious Hero of the Wild.”
“Wild.” He stated firmly. “My name is Wild.”