Work Text:
To most, the wind was unpredictable. Sometimes, it was an ally, a caring friend, letting sailors go by without so much as a complaint. Other times, though, it was dangerous. It destroyed towns, it destroyed homes. It tore apart families, leaving those left behind mourning.
It really just depended on how the Wind Gods felt that day. They, or more specifically, Cyclos, didn't care for their pleas. They meant nothing in the end.
There was one exception though. There was one person, who, if he dared, could stop even the fiercest cyclone. All with the flick of his baton, and/or a plea to the Gods above.
This boy, the young Wind Waker, Hero of Winds; the Gods favored him, one could say. When he called upon their power, they answered. By extension, the wind answered, bending to his will. Becoming gentler or harsher, blowing just the right way to change an arrow's course, or even deflecting something back at its sender. It was at his service, and it was the most loyal servant one could ask for.
So, when he got sent on a new quest, one that would take him eras away from the Deities he was fond of, he brought the Wind Waker. Proof of his mastery of the wind.
"Sailor," Legend asked, "what's with the baton? I've never seen you use it before."
Wind just smiled. They didn't know just how powerful that little "stick" was.
"Just a little something from my adventure," He replied. Not the truth, but not a lie either. "I keep it around for the memories. The King gave it to me at Dragon Roost Island."
Their Veteran thought for a moment, seeming to think over this, then nodded. "Huh, interesting. Maybe you can conduct for us someday, eh?"
"Maybe!" Oh, they didn't know the truth. He had been conducting. It's not as if they'd believe him, and he made great effort to conceal it. It was unlike him. Usually, Wind would brag about it, make his actions known. This time though, he let it stay a secret.
It's not like it mattered anyway.
In time, it was revealed the Sky was known as a god slayer amongst some. Wind wondered if that's the wind seemed oddly still around Sky, especially when they went to his era, only following what Wind told it too. He wouldn't be surprised if Cyclos and Zephos hid, trying to ensure that they would live.
The aura of one who dared to kill divinity was unmistakable, after all. So he'd heard.
The wind seemed curious around Time and Legend, always circling around them. Like they too, had some connection to the Divine. Wind knew Mask, er, Time did (thank the War for that knowledge), but Legend? Wind didn't know.
It was weird though, Wind had to admit that, at least.
He shrugged it off though. It wasn't like he could just ask. Not without being seen as "weird" himself or asked how or why. He couldn't say that he could tell what the wind was doing or— gods forbid— feeling. He couldn't help but wonder if this is how Time felt with, well, time. He wondered if his ability to know the time down to the second was from the title. If he knew when time was messed with. Wind would test it with either his Phantom Sword or the Song of Passing, but he decided not to. Not unless things got really desperate.
A monster camp was just up ahead, and the Chain was trying to avoid the archers, those who stood guard. There were ten of them. This camp had to be big. Maybe it had twenty monsters? That count seemed right. They were trying to sneak in, to try and get them from surprise. Wind had warned against it, but Time had insisted that they do so anyway. Everyone was decent enough at stealth that it would be fine.
It wasn't fine.
Hyrule tripped. He fell into the archers' line of sight, and they got ready to fire. Hyrule was good at dodging, at moving out of the way, but there was no going back. They had to fight now, or the traveler would fall. Wind had this confirmed when Warriors practically yelled for them to get out into the open, to get ready to fight, stealth be damned!
That didn't help. It made it worse. Four yelled at them that the monsters had black blood, that this was going to be hard, but that hardend the Chain's resolve. They would get out of this. Everyone would live.
For Wind's part, he took on two of them, luring them away from the rest and beginning to try and get them. One lunged at him, but he backflipped, aiming to counter before he was stopped by the other one landing a hit on his face. Wind pulled back and hissed. It stang. It stang so, so badly. There was blood coming from his face, and—
No. Wind couldn't let this stop him. He had to fight. He had potions on hand, but first? He had to survive this. Then he could heal.
He noticed the wind circling around him protectively. If he could remember the Song he was taught, he could probably use it to his advantage somehow. He looked down at his sword, contemplating using its ability to stop time for a moment, but deciding against it. He didn't have time to draw the figure eight needed.
He stopped paying attention to the pain and got back to fighting. At some point, part of him just… wasn't there anymore. He was on autopilot, moving and attacking only on instinct, not thinking things through. This way, the pain stopped. The wound wasn't able to bother him. He wouldn't give away any weaknesses.
He wasn't able to beat them. Not because he was weak, but because he heard a sound that caught his attention.
A scream. Someone was shouting someone else's name. Wind turned instintively, snapping out of his trance, just to see who it was. His face paled when he saw what was happening.
Sky was cornered. Sky was in danger. The others were too far away to get to him. Two bokoblins surrounded the injured man, getting ready to land the final blow. Before they could, an arrow was shot, making its way towards his chest. No no no no no no no no no no no no—
Then, Wind remembered something, despite his dizziness. The Wind Waker. He had it. He always took it to battle. He could stop Sky from dying, as he wasn't sure if Sky spotted the arrow.
Ignoring the tears beginning to come from his eyes, Wind took out the white baton, using small motions to conduct Wind's Requiem, and pointing the baton just in a direction. Any direction, so long as it saved Sky. And it worked. The wind redirected, and the arrow's course changed with it, just enough to avoid hitting Sky. Wind had done it. He had saved his friend.
Unfortunately, one bokoblin took this moment as an oppurtunity to stab him. Wind's eyes widened in shock, and he began panting, baton falling to the ground. If his cut had hurt, this hurt more. He was burning, the life was slowly fading out of him. The world was spinning, and it wouldn't stop. The blood wouldn't stop flowing. How many bokoblins had been in that camp, anyway?
It didn't matter, though, as Wind's strength had almost went out. He felt drowsy. All he could do was smile softly, feeling the wind growing harsher in response to his wounds.
He passed out, and the world was gone, just like that.
The wind did not react well, but its child, its favored one; he had know way of knowing this as the healer rushed over to heal him, trying to stop the blood that was coming out of his wounds. It worked, though. The boy's bleeding stopped, and the healer looked at his baton, hesitating, but putting it back in the boy's pouch, where it belonged. Good.
Wind woke up eventually, nauseous and tired. He was laying down, but he could still see the others looming over him. Was he at camp? Wind couldn't tell, his memories were a mess. Despite this, though, he flet for his pouch, the one with the Wind Waker, and fortunately, the baton was there.
"Thank the Golden Three you're awake." He heard Twilight say. Wind nodded.
"I… yeah. Uh, the camp, did-?"
"We cleared it out." Twilight confirmed. "It took longer than I would've liked, but 'Rulie kept a close eye on you, so you weren't at risk."
"You scared us a lot, you know." That was Warriors, this time. Wind braced himself for a lecture, but it never came. Wind didn't know why.
He saw Sky's eyes look at him though, almost in a knowing way. Sky must've figured it out, Wind figured.
"The wind was crazy after you passed out." Sky explained. "I've never seen it so angry. Perhaps it was just reacting to the Hero of Winds, though."
Ah.
Wind honestly zoned out and couldn't hear what the others said after that. Although, Warriors got everyone out. He thought he overheard something about blood loss, but he wasn't sure. He was just glad to be safe.
Wind had to stay in bed a lot for the next few days, and when they set out, the wind was colder. Wind (the person) frowned. That was unusual.
That didn't matter though, Wind continued using his little white baton to assist in battles when he couldn't attack, and if others asked? He'd just smile and say that it was nothing. It was just a coincidence. It meant nothing. He was just happy to do what he could for his brothers. He knew the wind did too, and as a "child of the wind"? He was going to use it for all it was worth.
He'd tell the truth some other time. It'd be amusing to see the others' faces when he told them that the Wind Gods favored him!