Chapter Text
It was only on rare occasions I was able to see my sister, once every few months if even. When I was gone she was left in the care of Loretta. An old herbal sage of the quiet town nestled in the mountain base. But whenever I stopped for a quick visit, Loretta kindly stood back and let me take care of her as I had nonstop for eight years. On top of the last five years, I cared for her when I could while juggling the weight of the world.
Even now that the threat has passed… my time with Sadie has not increased, much to both of our disappointment.
Traveling with the Champions was a rare occasion as well. They were each cleaning the messes their respective Divine Beasts had caused. I was even far from the princes at times. Attending the Kingdom's other needs.
But today we were all together. An odd feeling to readjust to. And an even odder feeling was adjusting to them as they approached my roots.
“So how far away is this village?” Mipha asked, reasonably tired, considering her body was not equipped to ride horses for long periods of time without rest. “I hate to complain, but I am incredibly sore. I’m sorry.”
“Do not apologize.” A silky voice said sternly. “You're not the only one in need of rest my dear.”
“Can't you just heal yourself?” Daruk asked the only one besides Revali not riding a horse. “You know, Cure your soreness?”
“You're made out of rocks, why not just bite off your finger when you are hungry?” Urbosa said with a smile while Daruk returned with a laugh. Out of all the relations in this group. Theirs was the strangest. When I overheard Zelda asking about it. They laughed and said it was the ‘bond of age’ Only then did I think about how old Urbosa might be. I know Daruk is well over 50 but there is no way Urbosa is that age, right?
Zelda's slate hummed. “If Links marker is accurate, we will be there in less than ten minutes.”
“I would hope it's accurate. It would be a shame if I forgot where I lived.”
There was a halt in the group. Easily compared to the sensation of re-reading a sentence because your brain can’t grasp the words.
“I thought you lived in the palace,” Mipha said.
“I have a room there for me, but I don’t live there per se, I didn't grow up there either.”
“I never thought about that. I kinda just never saw you being anywhere else than there or in respective Domains. I’m sorry to make assumptions.”
I brushed away her apology. There was no need to. She did sound genuinely sad that she didn't know where I grew up though. So I forgave her so she would no longer be upset.
“If I'm being completely honest, I thought you just spawned one day. Like all bugs do. One day they don't exist, then the next day, poof, you have an infestation.” Revali quipped from the tree just ahead of us.
“That's how Gorons are made! Take a little rock from each parent, set it in a magma pool then POOF! A little pebble ready for Goron life! Mining, eating, sleeping, fighting, mining, eating-”
“What are your parents like?” Zelda asked as she commanded her horse closer to mine. And everyone else as well to listen in. “I hardly remember my mother… but you met my father of course. You hardly see him be a father, though he is a good King. But is a decent father behind closed doors as well. Well, he is now anyway. We had our fair share of ‘head butting’, as Revali would say.”
I breathed in the dusk air. Of course, they would ask questions about my heritage. Especially Zelda, she was naturally curious.
I turned to Zelda, opening my mouth to say anything to her, and the listing group. Perhaps change the subject.
Revlia interrupted. “I said ‘head butting’ once. Why is that my thing?” Gods I never thought I would be so grateful for that bird to open its beak. “I say a lot of things, why not something us Reto actually do? None of us head butt!”
Zelda sighed, outwardly expressing her disappointment that the question's opportunity was shut. “None of you head butt because your bones would shatter. Your bones are hollow!”
“Then why did you say I would say that!”
“Because you have said that! Many times in fact!”
I made my horse trot faster. If I actually spoke my mind. My conversations with Revali would go a lot like how Zelda and Revali started ‘communicating’ after Calamity.
Urbosa stirred her giant horse around the two bickering to match my pace. And made our way up to the village guardsmen in comfortable silence.
By comfortable of course I mean outwardly comfortable.
My mind was paving too many paths at once. One path, an old friend I called Overthinking, was slowly pathfinding towards Imagination. The always straight paver, Logic, tried to keep the two in their own lane, as it should be.
Sadly even if logic was between my Overthinking and Imagination. They could still shout in my head at each other from a distance. Causing my head to swim with the possible outcomes of this stay. To completely unrealistic factors of this temporary accommodation.
It's only for two weeks, Logic reminded me. Just until the new post is reopened. What could possibly go wrong?
They could lose respect for you. They could hate it here. Ruin is one of the last places you can turn to for sanctuary, Overthinking suggested.
Or maybe they do like your home village, chimed Imagination. But they get so upset about the future hopes that you have. Try and creatively get in the way of them. Uning all the assets they have.
Hmm. I guess it can go rather badly.
The physical silence was broken by an old friend, who leaned up against a wood fence. Lantern in hand, sword in the other.
“Whoo-ho-ho, is that the one and only Wild?”
I rolled my eyes at the nickname “It's good to see you too Chubs. Though I don't think that name fits you much anymore.” I said pointing to his tightly knit armor.
He patted his stomach. “Yeah, war has some upsides I guess. My Fiancé hates it though. Says she misses her pillow very much. Haha.”
“Fiancé? How long have I been gone?” I asked, genuinely surprised. Not to mention a huge slap in the face. If Chubs is younger than me, but can legally be married… then that means- How old am I again?
“Last you were in was about six months ago. Maybe five. Oh, and you will never believe this! My finance is McKenna.”
“McKenna Davis? Are you kidding, you two had such a big feud that your families didn't even talk to each other. Not while sober at least.” I mentioned as I felt Urbosas eyes bouncing from him to me.
“All the water is under the bridge now. Got a wedding in three weeks' time now, we would both be happy if you could attend if not you should stop by while your here, we would love to have you over-”
There was an abrupt sneeze from Mipha behind me. “Sorry.” She whispered shyly in the new company.
Chubs turned to the group. “Ah sorry, kinda zeroed in didn't I? My name is Jackson, or Wild calls me Chubs. Well, more like the whole village does. Speaking of which, welcome to Ordon Village. Coziest spot in all of Hyrule. Then again I'm kind of biased. Been here practically all my life. Don’t get to travel much, unlike Wild here.”
“Is Wild a nickname?” Zelda asked as Chubs stood to the side as our horses started maneuvering through Ordons village's wooden gates at my command. As excited as I was to see Chubs again, we need to recuperate. Get sleep, and get Mipha off her hours before she gets sick.
“Long time nickname. The first one to get one in our little gang.” I rolled my eyes as Chubs gave a wink. “See you ‘round Link. be sure to stop by before you and your friends head out. If not for the wedding, then for catchup.” He then brought his hand up and tapped his pointer finger to his thumb three times:
‘stay calm.’
I raised an eyebrow but he waved us off his post and to the Stables, still a good uphill walk from here. “Get some good sleep tonight. You can drop off your horses on the way to Links. But Link's house may accommodate all of you… maybe.”
I hopped off my horse, now extra aware of my surroundings. The Autumn chill now becomes apparent through my champion's gear. “I'll see you tomorrow, Jackson.”
“See you Link, see you tomorrow.”