[video]

[sky_child]

[ The screen snaps on, revealing the youthful face of a pointy-eared teen looking...not at the camera. His head is tilted at such an angle that one of his red earrings is visible, as is a great deal of hair. It's matted down in the back, as if he's only just taken off a hat he's worn for a while. The top of his beige shirt is just barely visible, but the purple-and-green hilt of his sword is in plain view--and occasionally taps the screen.

Eventually he sits up, his exceptionally thick eyebrows furrowed in concentration and his lips tugged down at the edges. In a second, his expression changes to something more...guarded. ]

Um...

Has anyone seen a girl named Zelda here?

Comments

[Video]

[ur_batteries_are_dying]

[Oh hey, Link! Have a familiar face!]

Master Link. You must specify which Zelda it is that you are seeking.

[sky_child]

...Fi?

[ The narration would have used more ellipses, but we're trying to conserve periods, here. ]

[ur_batteries_are_dying]

Yes, Master Link?

[sky_child]

[ Master Link just stares.

Perhaps he thinks that by staring he will somehow communicate that ???!!???@@????...???

Actually, We Just Don't Know what he's trying to communicate, and that string of punctuation marks more or less reflect his current state of mind. ]

[ur_batteries_are_dying]

[Kind of catching on. It just seems so natural to her when she's been here awhile. Give her a minute (or two) to realize it.]

Forgive me, Master Link.

I have only met two Zelda's while I have been here. The Spirit Maiden that you sought on the Surface is no longer present within the tower. Princess Zelda of Hyrule, the descendant of your Zelda, is here.

[sky_child]

[ This...is not making any sense.

Fi's on the other side of the screen when he never saw her come out of his sword. He's in some strange tower with a collar around his neck, and a letter that says his world is dead. And now Fi's talking about...other Zeldas? Descendants...? ]

I don't...understand...

[ur_batteries_are_dying]

Where are you, Master Link? I will come and attempt to clear up any confusion.

video

[outforheroblood]

*Hello, Link. Fancy seeing you here. Yes, those red earrings are so familiar. The camera is only focused below Ghirahim's nose, obscuring her eyes. But while the gray skin and white lipstick may look familiar, the voice certainly isn't.*

Hm...? Why, I do believe there is... a lovely princess of a kingdom founded long after our time. It sounds so much like a fairy tale, don't you think?

*her tongue flickers out briefly to moisten her lips.* I've been hoping you would show up at some point...Link.

[sky_child]

[ There's a smidgen of confusion on his face, but mostly it's just "Is this who I think it is :|"

He appropriately says nothing. ]

[outforheroblood]

*she giggles...and it's very definitely a woman's voice. The girlish pitch of her voice doesn't really matter, though, when it's the same laugh as a certain twin of hers.*

What's the matter? You're so quiet. Is that any way to greet a lady...?

[sky_child]

[ --Link apparently has no idea how to greet a lady, because he promptly switchess off his end of the feed. ]

[video]

[faithstaynight]

You mean the Princess? Yes, she's here.

[sky_child]

Princess...? She's not...why is she calling herself a princess?

[faithstaynight]

That is her title. She told me she was Princess Zelda, of a land called Hyrule.

[sky_child]

Hy...? I'm sorry. You're not making any sense.

[faithstaynight]

My apologies... perhaps we're thinking of two different people. [but Zelda sure is an unusual name...]

What does this Zelda you're looking for look like? If I have not seen her, I'll be sure to keep an eye out.

[sky_child]

She's about my height, and she has...long blonde hair...she might be wearing a white dress...

[faithstaynight]

[Hm, that doesn't help much... but there's only one girl she knows right now with long blonde hair.]

Does she have blue eyes? And pointed ears?

[Video] Sorry I am so late with OoT over here pfft

[ocariness]

[ This?

Is someone who looks almost just like you, Link, except... not quite. Hair's a brighter shade, parted differently, nose isn't quite the same, they're kind of short too. Voice is definitely androgynous and not the same. Regardless, they're beaming at you from the video screen.

... Also they also have the Master Sword, weird. Also wearing green? Equally weird. The outfit's a bit... different, though. ]

... You're back, Sky... I am relieved. When your name was absent from the rooms list, I must confess I had feared the worst.

no worries! i am also le slow

[sky_child]

[ Link of Skyloft understand being "kind of" short, too.

What he can't understand is why there's this person on the other side of the screen wearing something similar to but not quite like his tunic but that's definitely the Master Sword and did he just call him "Sky"...? ]

...

[ In this thread, Sky is the great conversationalist. It's him. ]

being slow is pretty sucky, but it does allow massive backtag potential?

[ocariness]

[ ... And that silence basically bursts the tiny happy balloon that has been Link's mood.

This isn't the same one. Different timeline or alternate reality, it didn't matter. Being the Hero of Time meant Link at least understood the implications well enough, and being in the Tower had helped them understand it even moreso, but...

It leaves a bitter aftertaste in their mouth. Both the Hero of Winds and the one of the Sky were gone; there had, at one point, been a whole timeline of heroes so much that they deemed giving one another "nicknames" would be the best way to go about it. ]

... Your world is different. They brought another one here, I understand, now.

[ It is a statement, not a question. Just like that, Link's entire demeanor changes to something quieter, a bit sad. They're so tired of losing friends... ]

I... apologize, I had assumed you were... someone I knew. Regardless, the Zelda you know is not here, at present, though if you are anything like me, you will likely tear the Tower itself apart to find her. The two Zeldas I know of are not the ones you are looking for, though my friend the Princess is directly descended from her bloodline.

i am a-0k with backtags! :D

[sky_child]

[ That, unfortunately, does not make him any more inclined to speak as before. "Another one"? Other Zeldas...? Just where in the world is he?

He's gotta be dreaming. There's no way any of this is real. He's just having a very lucid dream, that's all. Maybe he had let his guard down and was hit by a magic spell. Maybe something had gone wrong with one of Bertie's infusions.

Sure, there's some small part of him thinking it might all make sense, that there might be other heroes--wasn't there one before him? And wasn't the journey he and Zelda were going through just a repeat of past events?

And yet...

Not in another world. Not in this tower. There was no way he could be meeting other heroes, unless it was in a dream. ]

on the upside OoT will be able to help him, haha.

[ocariness]

[ The Hero of Time, fortunately, is massively patient. When you've been forced into the sort of situations they have, well, you learn patience and maturity quickly. ... Even if you're technically like ten? Whatever.

Link, when they had arrived here, hadn't honestly been too great with words. Instead, they used to rely almost pathetically and entirely on their fairy companion, thinking Navi would never not be there to explain FOR THEM and all that'd be needed is a nod and maybe a "yes" or a "no". Alas, the Tower is not so easy. ]

... You are confused. I am sure you are no doubt very concerned about the state of Skyloft. Perhaps... I should explain in person...?

[sky_child]

I--

I'm by my room. Room 3-16...

[ He's Not Sure If Want, but he can't think of a better idea. ]

[action now!]

[ocariness]

[ Yeah they're sorry about that, SS. It's a really trippy situation all around. Link gives a sort of semblance of a bow before the feed cuts and, in a few minutes, you have someone actually about as short as you. Nice right.

... They're feeling pretty sheepish about all this, but now's no time to get tight-lipped, so... ]

... Skyloft's Hero. I am sorry if this seems... confusing.

[ Ahh, where do you even start with something like this? ]

But... you have encountered time travel at least once, correct?