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The Temple was far more eerie than any of the other places they had ever gone through. The nine Heroes were all on edge while going through the hallways, staircases and rooms. The beasts they faced were all kinds of ReDeads and Gibdos. The floors and walls were stained with rusty red colors which clearly meant for blood.
Time tried to keep everyone together and close by. He feared the idea of them getting separated for a reason or another. This place reminded him way too much of the Shadow Temple. In the back of his head he kept begging and praying for only one thing. Yet, unfortunately, that was the wish he was denied entirely.
The leader of the Chain was keeping the rear as they left a room which oddly enough hadn’t had anything within it. No monsters, traps or puzzles to solve. It was entirely confusing but also welcomed change in the place… Until unseen hand took a rough hold of Time and yanked him backwards. He gave out a startled scream which got the eight Heroes to turn around but there was nothing they could do. Bars slammed down on that second and separated the one eyed fighter from his group while letting the others see perfectly well what would happen in the room.
“NO!” Time screamed out in horror as the thin and straight arms came into sight after one of them had snatched a hold of him. The arms latched onto his arms and legs. “NO! LET GO OF ME!” Time screamed in pure panic while desperately fighting against the hold.
The more he struggled, the more arms appeared and took painfully tight hold of him. The sharp fingers dug into his skin as the grips grew even stronger. Slowly the amount of the arms stopped Time’s struggling.
“N-no… P-please… L-let me go, damn it…” Time began to beg while realizing the situation. He half screamed, half gasped when new hand appeared and took hold of his hair. It yanked his head backwards into bit awkward position.
Time started to tremble when the sound of rushing wind informed of the Dead Hand having appeared. “N-nononono! NO! LET ME GO! GODDESSES, PLEASE, NO! NOT THIS! ANYTHING BUT THIS!” He screamed in absolute panic as he tried to fight again against the hold but not getting even one yank done. “PLEASE! DON’T DO THIS TO ME!” The leader of the Chain begged from anyone that could hear him but his words went for deaf ears. “P-please… N-no… Not like this….” He nearly whispered while crying and trembling. “N-no… Nononono! Please… No….”
Suddenly Time gasped and flinched as something swished right past his head. It was soon followed by a roar of pain from behind him. The realization hit him like a lightning from clear sky. “PLEASE! HELP ME! TAKE IT DOWN! TAKE IT FUCKING DOWN! PLEASE!!” He screamed in absolute plea while not being able to really see the Chain he traveled with due to his own panic and terror. He wasn’t able to hear the shouts of his name. He wasn’t able to recognize the voices. He was way too panicked to understand anything else than the Dead Hand and someone attacking it with arrows.
Time screamed out in terror as the beast crashed onto the ground right behind him. The second the hands vanished and let go of him, he fell to his knees onto the ground. Yet, he was swift to turn around while drawing out his Gilded Sword and scrambling backwards. He stared wide-eyed at the dead body of his worst nightmare.
The second the Chain’s leader understood the monster to be dead, he scrambled to his feet while already turning around. In thorough panic he dashed to the hallway and turned around to stare horrified at the room only after having passed several of his boys. “Time…?” Twilight called out and gently touched his arm.
Time screamed out in shock and panic as he turned towards the Rancher while already backing away with wide-eyes and sword ready to attack with. He was breathing fast and shakily, just barely even understanding of being surrounded by people. “Sprite?” Warriors called out tentatively and Time snapped his gaze into him. “Sprite, it’s okay. You’re safe now. We got you.” The Captain talked as calmly and soothingly as he could.
“W-Wars…?” Time called with quiet and trembling voice.
“I’m here, Sprite.” Warriors replied and slowly reached out to Time’s arm. “It’s okay, Sprite, it’s okay.” He continued gently as Time flinched roughly at the touch but he didn’t pull away. “Sssh, Sprite, I got you.” The Captain kept talking while slowly and carefully pulled Time into his arms.
“Wars!” Time’s shout was still quiet and terrified but laced with desperation. He rounded one arm around the Captain fast and tightly while hiding his face into his older brother’s chest. Warriors gasped slightly at the sudden action but he was quick in trying to soothe Time’s panicked and terrified mind. Out of old habit the Captain pulled his scarf from behind him and wrapped it around trembling Time and most off all over his head in the way of hiding him from the dangers and horrors of the world.
“Just breathe, Sprite.” Warriors half commanded calmly and tried to pick up a way of breathing for Time. “You’re safe. Everything’s okay now.” He kept talking and gave a simple warning look to the others and a shake of his head to keep them to their places and not to ask questions.
The Chain just watched in shock at the scene without really realizing what had just happened. Before that beast had snatched Time their leader had been his collected and calm self. Now… Now he was crumbling to pieces right in front of their eyes. They glanced towards the room but not getting too good look of the monster that clearly had a trauma effect on the strong minded one eyed Old Man. Yet, their gazes fell right back into Time when they heard him start to talk.
“I-it… I-it was gonna eat me…” The words came out shakily. “I-it… I-it wasn’t… W-wasn’t gonna let me go… N-not… N-not like before…” Time tried to explain with fear laced voice. “Wars!” That last word came out as a desperate whine with clear beg for keeping him safe and sound.
“You’re safe, Sprite.” Warriors whispered while bit wondering what the beast had been. “I’m not letting anything to harm you, little brother.” He promised and gently sat them down to the floor. Time gave out a startled gasp and his hold in the Captain tightened in fright. Warriors held in the pained cry as Time’s hand took bit too strong hold of his shoulder. Luckily the hold loosened up a bit when Time got used to sit on the floor as he listened to the reassuring words of the Captain’s.
Slowly Time’s trembling lessened and his breathing calmed down. “You with me, Sprite?” Warriors inquired while raising the edge of the scarf to see Time’s face. His brother blinked few times and raised his gaze up with a confused frown. Warriors smiled fondly at him and kissed Time’s forehead. “Everything’s okay, Sprite. You’re safe.” He told while placing the scarf back over his brother’s head.
Time sighed in relief and closed his eye while little by little starting to relax. That was when he jerked awake into the situation and shot both of his eyes open. He started to tremble again while his ears drooped. This had NOT been the way he had wanted others to see him.
“It’s okay, Sprite.” Warriors called gently while having two different reasons for his brother’s reaction: The memory of what happened and the fact of being with the Chain of Links. He decided to go with the second just out of gut feeling. “No-one’s holding this against you, Sprite. If anything, they’d just like to get some answers but those can wait.”
Time sighed heavily and quite well slumped against Warriors’ chest. “Dead Hand.” He finally half whispered but in the place they were in the words were easy to hear. “Fought it twice before. First at age of ten. Second at age of seventeen but with the mind of a ten year old.” He explained quietly while keeping his gaze in the piece of scarf he was holding in his hand. “It’s a creation of the Sheikahs. It eats its victims alive. Grabs with those arms and lets go just a second or less before biting. It doesn’t go for kill straight off. It makes things as cruel as possible while keeping the victim alive as long as possible. The victim’s lucky enough if death comes by blood loss rather than getting the head, throat or heart eaten.” Time told and sighed heavily with a shake of his head. “That’s what I knew before I faced the first one. Not exactly encouraging story to a ten year old kid whom is going to take the said freak down.”
The shocked silence was tangible as Time fell silent. Yet, he was soon shaking as he began to cry. “I… I-I thought that I was getting better. T-that I had gotten over this. I…. M-Malon knows… A-all of it.” He told without really knowing who he was talking to. He gasped slightly when Warriors tightened his hold and rest his head over Time’s.
“You’re safe, Sprite. Everything’s okay now.” The Captain whispered quietly and gently. “It took you off guard. That’s the only reason you weren’t prepared, little brother.”
“I…” Time started while starting to frown. “I-I didn’t kill it…” He half stated out but it was more of a question. The realization confused him entirely while trying to figure out what or who had taken the beast down.
“Wild shot it to death.” Warriors replied while hoping that Time was more with them than a while ago. “He just climbed up to the ceiling to get a clear shot at it. He simply told us to give him arrows as he kept attacking the beast.” He explained and Time only nodded but the Captain wasn’t entirely sure if his brother actually understood a thing at the moment.
Time let go of the scarf and tried to clean up his face a bit. After that he took a deep breath before pulling away from the hold. He carefully took the scarf away from around him. He gave a small smile to Warriors and nodded once firmly. At the moment it was the best he could do as a way of saying his thanks.
Time took another deep breath and forced himself up from the floor before sheathing his Gilded Sword. He turned towards the still worried Chain and locked his gaze into the Champion. He smiled slightly and made his way to him before already pulling him into a tight embrace. “Thank you. You saved my life in there. Entirely.” He told and kissed the top of Wild’s head before pushing him off but still holding his hands on his savior’s shoulders. “I can’t give you my stuff since I’m still needing them but I can give you one promise.” He started as calmly as he could.
Wild raised his bit confused gaze up while still being bit blushing at his leader’s actions. “When the time’s passed me, the Biggoron Sword and the Gilded Sword will be yours. All you need to do is to find them. At then, give that claim of unbreakable into a test of yours.” Time told fondly before crossing his arms over his chest while smiling bit lopsidedly. “But, until then… I owe to you so whatever you wish for, I’ll try to make it happen.”
Wild was entirely out of words. Part of him felt like he shouldn’t request for anything. Just telling he did what he would’ve done for any of his brothers. Yet, his gaze found Twilight and he couldn’t help the grin appear to his face. “Um… I-I wasn’t going to ask for anything but, uh…” He started and gave a sheepish smile. ”Could you keep Twilight off of my case when I next time do something that’s considered as stupid?”
Time chuckled and nodded before giving another kiss to top of Wild’s head. “Consider it done.” He promised with a fond smile before turning his gaze into Twilight. The Rancher gulped a bit while waiting for getting a word or few about letting Wild go off without reprimanding at the next foolish action of his. Yet, what he gained wasn’t what he thought to happen.
Time moved over to him and pulled him into a hug. “I’m sorry.” He half whispered. “I wasn’t in the right mind and I freaked you out when you simply tried to help.” He told while pulling off a bit.
Twilight sighed in relief and raised his gaze up into his mentor with a small smile. “It’s okay. Wasn’t your fault. I’m just glad Warriors was able to help you.”
Time nodded before chuckling a bit as he turned his gaze into the Captain. “Yeah, the two of us shared bit of past when I was ten. Year and half, to be exact.” He explained with a slight shrug. Yet, soon afterwards he sighed bit heavily and moved to lean against the closest wall to get the whole Chain into his sight.
Time looked at each and every one of the Links with him. He felt entirely uncertain of the situation so he turned his gaze off while scratching the back of his head. “Everyone… I’m sorry. I freaked you all out by my actions. I just…” He started while taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. “This place reminds me a lot of the areas I faced the two earlier Dead Hands. When it snatched me… When I saw those thin arms…” He tried and shook his head. “Shit… I just freaked out. I fell back into those two battles while, somehow, still being in here. I… I just panicked. I…”
“It’s okay, Time.” Sky called gently and snapped his leader’s gaze into him. “We all certainly have our monsters and traumas from the past.” He told before bit shrugging. “Sadly, those usually hit when we least expect them. Nonetheless, none of that changes a thing between us nine. In fact, we only learn to know one another bit better at those turns and we’ll be quicker to react and to do something to aid.”
Time nodded with a small smile. “Thank you, Sky.”
“He talked on the behalf of all of us.” Legend commented with slight defiance in his voice.
Time was bit startled at first but it was because of the voice rather than the words. He chuckled and nodded. “I think I figured that much but thank you for the clarification, Legend.” He told with a lopsided grin before turning his gaze back into Wild. “Anyway, Wild, you up for doing me a favor?”
“Sure! Just name it!” Wild replied eagerly. He wasn’t thinking even one bit about the fact of what the word ‘favor’ actually held in. All he really wanted to do was to help Time feel better and if this was a way for it, he’d do it straight off.
“Blow that fucking corpse to pieces.” Time stated out firmly with slight anger within it. He drew out his Biggoron Sword while moving towards the doorway. The Chain moved off of his way and gave the room for swinging the blade. “If even one part of it comes this way, I’ll tear it to pieces.” Time tried not to snarl but he couldn’t keep his voice entirely calm and collected.
Wild swiftly climbed up to his earlier place and took out Bomb Arrows instead of normal ones. “You sure of this?” He queried while looking down to his leader. Time simply nodded while taking a stance just in case. “Okay…” Wild half whispered and took few deep breaths before aiming at the dead beast in the room. A moment later he let three bomb arrows fly. “I would’ve blown that piece of shit up if it had been far enough from you.” He confessed just before the projectiles found their target.
“I appreciate that.” Time answered with a firm nod. He kept close eye on the situation at the room before narrowing his eye and slightly growling. He really had hoped none of the pieces would come at him. Yet, as he saw the head of the beast, he screamed out in rage and swung the sword far harsher than ever before.
The hit cut the face and small bit of the neck into two. Time turned around swiftly as the pieces flew past him. His glare was harsh as he kept it in the two parts that were left of his worst enemy. On one piece was most of the whole head and part of the long neck while the other piece had the lower jaw and lower piece of the neck. The Chain had moved fully off the way when they saw the parts come into the hallway.
Time moved over to the first piece, the one with lower jaw, and gave out a raged scream as he began to hack the freaky part of the monster into very tiny pieces. He was breathing bit heavily once he was done with the first piece but he still moved to the second one. With a growled scream he stabbed the Biggoron Sword through the skull of the Dead Hand before slamming the blade against the wall to cut the sword off of the rougher part. After that he went quite well berserk on what was left of the creature that caused the most horrifying nightmares of his.
By the time there was nothing left to destroy anymore, Time was breathing heavily. The Chain was entirely silent while being bit uncertain of what to say or to do. Part of that hesitation was caused by earlier situation of having seen their leader so panicked and freaked out. They simply didn’t want to scare him or end up having to dodge that deadly weapon while hoping for the best. And other part of them wished to snap the Old Man back to present. That was why everyone’s notion turned into the Captain.
Warriors gulped once while carefully starting to approach Time. “Sprite?” He called tentatively and inwardly sighed in relief when Time’s ear twitched to his way. “It’s okay, Sprite. The monster’s done for.” He talked calmly and soothingly again as he kept getting closer to his brother. The Captain was still ready to react if something would go wrong or…
Warriors gasped in shock and darted forward the second the sword slipped out of Time’s hold and he started to crash to the ground. He managed to catch the Chain’s leader just in time and gently lowered both himself and Time down to the floor. The rest of the Links gasped in shock too and moved swiftly closer while surrounding their leader. Yet the Captain showed them to back off a bit, to give Time room to breathe.
“It’s okay, Sprite. Everything’s okay.” Warriors whispered while feeling worried of the situation. He wasn’t entirely certain of which was the reason for Time’s crashing: The exhaustion of the whole situation and emotions or falling back to bad memories.
“I’m fine, Captain. Just… Out of strength.” Time told while keeping his eye closed and leaning his back against Warriors’ chest and resting his head bit on Warriors’ shoulder.
The Captain sighed in relief and nodded. “We just take a moment in here and let you rest. There’s no hurry to anywhere.” He told while letting others get closer to them again. It would be better for Time if he knew that all of his boys were close around him and safe.
“Time…” Hyrule called while coming next to the duo. Time opened his eye to look at the Traveler. “You’re bleeding. May I…?” Hyrule told as calmly as he could.
Time sighed a bit while closing his eye but he nodded in confirmation. “They’re superficial. It would’ve been different if that thing would’ve actually bitten me.” He told while moving one hand up and pulling the tunic and chainmail off. “Twice I wasn’t fast enough to avoid getting bitten. Don’t know how I was still able to swing the sword after that. Maybe it was just simply adrenaline, panic, fear and everything else.” He explained while showing the bite mark on the skin between the crook of his neck and shoulder.
“To make things worse, that beast was a black bloodied.” Four commented while carefully inspecting the demolition of the two pieces of the monster.
Time shivered at that notion. “No wonder I felt like it wasn’t going to let go. It wasn’t just the fact of harsher hold or the fact of more arms appearing to hold me down or the fact of immobilizing me fully. I just… It felt wrong from straight off.” He half explained before shrugging. “Anyways, it’s killed and that’s what matters.”
“Actually, what matters is that it didn’t bite you.” Wind stated out firmly while crossing his arms over his chest. “Your safety is what matters, Time. To us at least.” He told while waiting for their leader to challenge that claim.
Time chuckled a bit and nodded. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.” He replied with a small smile. “Anyway, let’s get this shitty place done and over with. The quicker we’re out, the better.” He stated out and got up while picking his sword up too before already sheathing it. Time turned around to help Warriors up too but the Captain had already scrambled to his feet right after him.
Instead of moving away from Time’s side, Warriors stayed right by him as they moved forward. The Chain kept close together in hopes of preventing earlier situation from happening. Since the Temple was giving too much of memories of earlier encounters with the Dead Hand, The Captain wrapped his scarf around Time’s shoulders without doing much of other. The leader of the Chain smiled fondly at the action while taking a slight hold of the soft fabric and letting it root him into the present and the safety his boys were giving him. He wasn’t alone in this hellish place and whatever he would face in there, he would be just fine with eight amazing fighters right by him.