Chapter Text
“Hey Twi?”
“Yeah, kid?”
“What if I never get back to my mama and papa? What if - what if the portals don’t bring me home?”
“Of course you’ll get home, kid. Your mama and papa are gon’ give you the biggest cuddle too.”
“Hmmm.”
“Baby?”
They were sitting in the guest berths of Wind’s ship, the gentle swell of the ocean rocking them gently from side to side. They had arrived in his era a few hours ago, the portal spitting them out right in the middle of the main deck and directly on top of where Niko had been trying to swab the deck, sending his mop-bucket flying.
Oops. Sorry, Niko.
Once the initial (and understandable) uproar at eleven people being thrown onboard the ship died down, they had all received a warm welcome. Literally - while back in their previous era it had been cool and stormy, it was a hot, balmy day in Wind’s great sea, the sky cloudless and clear and only the barest wind stirring the sails of the Windblaster.
And yes, Tetra had named the ship herself. She was very proud of it and would hear no criticisms.
Wind was, of course, not terribly pleased about this, especially considering his relationship with the ship’s cannons, but he was categorically not allowed a say in the matter.
Tetra’s ship, Tetra’s rules.
Speaking of: Tetra had begun her customary tirade against Wind as soon as she saw him. The Chain had been here often enough by now to know that when she called him a useless bilge-rat and a no-good stowaway, what she actually meant was ‘Hi Link, my dear and treasured friend, I am very glad to see that you are safe and am excited to have you aboard’.
She did not, however, get very far into her rant, because no sooner had she started than she saw Baby. And her eyes got wide and glittering, and she gave into the cute.
So now here they were, cuddled up and comfortable in the guest berths as up in the galley. Wild had set to work making their dinner and the rest of the Chain were spread throughout the ship, otherwise helping out, or relaxing, so for the moment at least, Twilight and Baby were alone.
“What if they don’t!” Baby cried, his eyes wide and frightened as he looked pleadingly up at Twilight. “We’ve been going for weeks and- and we still haven’t gone home! What if we don’t!”
“Baby-” Twilight began to say.
“You said we always go back home eventually, but I didn’t get pulled in like you guys! The dark-monster stole me! What if the portals don’t know where to bring me! What if I never get back!” Baby’s breathing had sped up and his voice risen several octaves as he spoke, and Twilight could hear that the tears were only a few moments away
“Baby,” he soothed, “I promise, you will-”
“BUT WHAT IF I DON’T!” Baby cried, jumping to his feet and throwing his hands in the air. There was a beat of silence, broken only by the slow creaking of the ship, and then Baby burst into tears. “I- I’m sc-sca-ha-hared!”
Twilight’s shoulders slumped as he let out a sigh. “Oh… oh, Baby.” he whispered.
Baby was trembling as he spoke. “Wh-what if i don’t, Twi! What if I never go home! What if we never go there because the portals didn’t take me from there in the first place! WHAT IF I NEVER SEE MY MAMA AND PAPA AGAIN!”
Twi sighed and held out his arms, smiling softly. “I know. I know. C’mere.”
Baby sobbed as he rushed into his arms, curling up on his knee and sobbing into his tunic.
“Where will I go?” he whimpered. “You’ll all go home and I won’t and then where will I go?!”
“Baby-” Twi soothed, stroking through his hair and holding him close. “Baby, listen. You will go home. You will. You’ll see your mama an’ papa again an’ they’ll give you the biggest hug-
“But-”
“But if somethin’ did go wrong - which it won’t - an’ you didn’t get home - which you will - then you could come an’ live with me. Remember how much you loved Ordon? You could go there whenever you fancied, an’ you could come to the city an’ live with me an’ Shad, an’ we’d look after you. Or if you wanted, you could go live with Time an’ Malon instead - I bet they’d love to have you.”
He broke off, chuckling a little as he ruffled the kid’s hair. “But little cucco,” he continued, “you will get home. Either the portals will bring us there or we’ll yell at Hylia ‘til she sends us there or we’ll get all our time-magic stuff together and brute force our way through. But we’re gonna get you home, Baby. We will.”
Baby looked up at him, his wide, teary eyes glittering with hope. “…Promise?”
“Promise.”
-
“FI FIE FOE FUM!
I smell the blood of an Outset Man!”
They had long since finished their dinner and were all sitting out on deck, laughing and singing together as the sun sank below the horizon. The crew of the Windblaster had passed around hot toddies of rum and were teaching the Chain the words to the various shanties that they sang around the ship.
Baby was having the time of his life, boldly dancing across the deck as he sang along. His voice was high and joyful and didn’t fit in with the low harmony that the crew were singing, but no one cared. It was a warm, gentle evening and the mood was light and happy.
They all knew that Baby had been getting more and more antsy over the last couple of weeks. He was seven years old, after all, and he missed his family. When every portal they stepped through took them seemingly anywhere but his home, it was only natural that he would become more and more nervous that they never would.
So seeing him happy like this? Bouncing and joyful as he sang along with the sailors’ songs? It was more than any of them could ask for.
“What other songs do you know, Gonzo?” Warriors asked, reaching over to grab another piece of bread and cheese from the platter that Wild had set out.
Giggling, Baby seemed to have worn himself out for the time being and flopped down beside him, panting heavily as he curled up against the Captain’s side. Warriors smiled fondly and ruffled his hair, easily draping an arm around his little brother’s shoulders while Gonzo hummed.
“I know a fair few tunes, lad.” he said at last. “T’would take a brave few nights to teach you ‘em all.”
“Woah,” Baby whispered, looking up at him with awe. “Well, what’s your favourite, then, Mr. Gonzo? Will you teach us that?”
Gonzo couldn’t help but chuckle at that, his grizzled, sunburned face twisting into a grin.
“Aye, lad, I can do that.” he agreed easily as he reached over for his mandolin. He looked up and around at his assembled crewmates and grinned. “Alright, lads! All of you upright: make an effort now. This song’s for the little’un!”
The crew all cheered, breaking off from their various conversations as they gave Gonzo their full attention. To one side, Twilight pulled out his flask of his special reserve Ordon brandy and began to pass it around.
Gonzo plucked out a few notes and the crew hummed as they recognised the song, and then he began to sing. He was a big man, probably not very much older than Time but with a face worn and grizzled from years in the sun and spray, but his voice was warm, gentle, and when he sang no one could help but give him their attention,
“Kind friends and companions, come join me in rhyme
Come lift up your voices in chorus with mine
Come lift up your voices all grief to refrain
For we may or might never all meet here again…”
It was a slower song than the shanties they had been singing before, but no less powerful. The crew all joined in with aplomb, and it wasn’t long before the Chain were joining in with the chorus. Baby’s eyes were wide with the sound of their harmonies and he snuggled up closer to Warriors, his tail curling happily around his leg.
Warriors smiled as he was passed the hip flask and took a swig. It was a mild night, but there was nothing like a tot of brandy to warm your bones. Then he laughed as he saw Baby looking pleadingly up at him and shook his head, but obligingly wet his fingertip with a single drop of the drink and let Baby taste that.
“Bleugh!” he hissed, shaking his head.
Welp, at least they didn’t have to worry about underage drinking!
Here's a health to the company and one to my lass
Let us drink and be merry all out of one glass
Let us drink and be merry all grief to refrain
For we may or might never all meet here again
Twilight’s reassurances to Baby that they would get him home did seem to make a difference to his mood. He still very clearly missed his family, especially at night when he curled up to sleep, but above all else he trusted the Chain. If they promised that they would do everything they could to get him home, then they meant it. And if Twilight said that if he never got home (although of course, he would) he could stay with him in Ordon, then Baby trusted that too.
Still, he was only little and had a lot of things to worry about, far more than the average seven year old did. And there was something about being at sea that can make even the least introspective person thoughtful, so as he spent his days helping out where he could, climbing the rigging, and making friends with the pirates, Baby could feel his worries surfacing more frequently.
The sun was shining. It was just after midday, and they were all stuffed to the gills after Wild’s massive lunch of fish tacos and rice. Baby had, as he was wont to do after a meal, scaled the rigging and was flopped down in the crows nest. He may not have been a literal cat, but he still had some decidedly cat-like tendencies, and falling asleep in the heat of a sunbeam was one of his favourite pastimes.
This time he wasn’t alone, though. Twilight had come up with him to see what all the fuss was about and was now contentedly dozing beside him, face slack and relaxed as he rested.
Baby had not drifted off, though. He was thinking.
“H-hey Twi?” he asked at last, his voice small and nervous.
Twilight hummed as he blinked his way out of his doze, looking over at his little brother.
“Yeah, Baby?”
“Wh-when I get home…” Baby began slowly, not looking up to meet his eyes. “Will- Will I ever see you again?”
Twilight stared at him as he felt his mouth turn dry. That - of all of the questions that Baby could have asked him, he’d asked the one thing that Twilight did not have an answer for. That none of them did, or ever could. It was something, he knew, that they had all thought and wondered and worried about, but as it stood?
They just didn’t know.
“T-Twi?”
“We have a bunch of time-items.” Twilight heard himself saying. It was true - most of them had, at some point in their journeys, traversed from one era to another. And while they were known less for their wisdom than for their courage, they weren’t exactly unintelligent. There had to be some way that they could harness all of that collected magic into something that they could use.
“An’!” he continued, “We have Time! He’s gotta have that name for a reason. Right? No matter what, Baby, we’re all staying in touch after this. Hylia can’t bring us all together and then not let us see each other again. We won’t let her. We’re absolutely gonna stay in touch.”
Baby looked away, ears drooping despite Twi’s optimistic tone.
“...Baby?” he ventured gently.
“…But what if we don’t?”
“B-”
“I- I’ll miss you, Twi.” he admitted, his voice so small that it was barely a whisper. “When I go home. I- I really wanna see my mama and papa again and I wanna go home but- but I’ll miss you.” he was still looking down, still refusing to meet Twilight’s eyes.
The rancher sighed. “I’ll miss you too, Baby.” he admitted. “But I promise you - I'll never stop tryin’ to get a way to visit you. Just you wait - you’ll have us all showing up and stealin’ all the biscuits in your house. You won’ be rid of us!”
Baby giggled, finally glancing up. Twilight grinned, seeing his opportunity to cheer his little brother up and seizing it with both hands.
“You’re gon’ be sick of us! You’ll be goin’ ‘Twiiiiiiiii you have to goooooo you’re bein’ annoyyyyying!”
“Nooooo!” Baby openly laughed now, crawling over to shove Twi’s arm. “I won’t!”
“‘TWIIIIIIIIII LEAVE ME ALONNEEEEEEE!’” Twilight continued, throwing himself into the part with gusto, pulling a face of mock-horror.
“NOOOO!” Baby giggled, wrapping his arms around Twi in as big a hug as he could give him. “I won’t! I want you to come visit! Come visit me! You can have all the biscuits you want!”
“WELLLLLLLLLL…” Twi pretended to consider as Baby continued to laugh. He grinned, squeezing him into a tight hug. “Well, I guess you’ve convinced me, then. You drive a hard bargain!”
Baby giggled again, curling in close. For a long moment they just sat there together in silence, enjoying the sea breeze and the warm sun on their faces, the view of the unbroken sea, the calls of the sea birds overhead.
Then Baby sighed. Quiet. Content.
“…I wanna be like you when I grow up.” he said quietly.
Twilight quirked a smile, laughing softly as he ruffled his brother’s hair. “’S’that so? - you wanna be a goat rancher?”
Baby giggled. “Naw… I wanna be a hero like you. You know. Kind. Like you.”
Twilight paused, a decidedly warm and gushy feeling spreading through his chest. He smiled, pulling Baby into another hug.
“Aw, Baby.” he murmured. “I think you’re going to be amazing, no matter what.”
Baby purred softly, snuggling close.
“Do you mean it, Twi?” he whispered “You’ll try to come visit?”
“Course I do, Little Cucco.” Twilight promised into his hair. “I’ll never stop trying. You’re my brother - I love you. I always will, no matter what.”
Baby hummed, sniffling a little.
“Forever?” he asked.
“Forever.” Twilight promised.
Our ship lies at anchor, she's ready to dock
I wish her safe landing, without any shock
If ever I should meet you by land or by sea
I will always remember your kindness to me
The portal appeared floating over the quarter deck, swirling gently and seeming to pulse in time with the rocking of the boat.
The Chain sighed. They had known that it was coming, of course. Hyrule had sensed it the day before and they were all packed up and ready to go - it was just that they had all been really starting to relax into the rhythm of the ship. That was the way that this journey went, they all knew it; they got somewhere and they settled in, and then they had to move on.
Baby, as ever, held onto Twilight's hand as they stepped through. His earlier enthusiasm for the portals was a little dampened now that he had been through jump after jump but still not been reunited with his parents, but still. He always looked forward to finding somewhere new, and this was no exception. So he gripped his brother’s hand and stepped through the portal.
On the other side, they stepped out into a bright, sunny field. It was not as hot as on the Great Sea, but it was a mild day, with only a few fluffy white clouds in the sky, dotted between the just-visible floating islands that marked this as Wild’s era.
Twilight sighed. Doubtless, Baby would be disappointed again, especially as they had already been here twice before. But, well, as far as Twi could tell, they were fairly central at least, somewhere in Hyrule Field. Wild would probably suggest they head to Lookout Landing and Baby could see all of the friends he had made the last time they were he-
Huh.
Wild had said that they were planning on trying to fix up his Hyrule Castle, but turning to look at it now, Twi hadn’t thought that he meant they were going to do anything quite so drastic. Wild’s castle, even in its destroyed state, was a vast, hulking building, but now it seemed that most of that had been knocked away. What was left of the castle was small, covered in scaffolding as the builders swarmed all over it.
“What in the-” came Wild’s voice from behind him, which wasn’t terribly reassuring. Twilight was just about to turn to him and ask what was going on, when-
“I’M HOME!”
Baby had pulled free of Twilight’s hand and run forward a few paces, dancing excitedly from foot to foot. He was staring at the ruined castle with unbridled glee, his eyes sparkling as-
Wait.
Oh.
Oh.
That wasn’t the ruins of Wild’s castle.
Baby would one day grow into someone that Wild knew only as ‘The Ancient Hero’, a Link who had fought and sealed the Calamity millennia before he was born.
They were not looking at a ruin being restored. They were looking at a new castle being built.
This was not Wild’s era, for all that the land looked similar. It was Baby’s.
They’d made it.
He was home.
…so why did Twilight suddenly find it so hard to plaster a smile on his face?
(Here's a health to the company and one to my lass)
“Twi!” Baby called, still beaming as he turned and ran up to him, his arms held aloft in a plea to be picked up. “Twi this is my home! You get to meet my mama and papa now!”
Still, Twilight managed to grin, even if he wasn’t feeling it, picking Baby up and settling him on his hip.
“Yeah!” he cheered. “Do you know which way to go, Baby? Are we close to your home?”
Baby hummed and wriggled in Twilight’s arms, looking around. Then he grinned again and pointed into the southern sky.
“That island!” he shouted. “C’mon let’s go!”
The Chain all laughed as Wild pulled out his slate, experimentally flicking to the map. It flickered for a moment, the screen filling with static, before slowly resolving into a clear image. A map of this era.
“Nice.” he mumbled. “The Sheikah of this era have a map already made. Hey, Baby, here’s a map of all the sky-islands in your home. Do you think you can point us to the right one?”
It took a while to get a firm answer. Not because Baby couldn’t read maps - it was very clear that the children of this era were familiarised with charts of their islands from an early age - but because. Well.
Because they had finally gotten Baby home, and he wanted to tell his big brothers all about it.
Finally, though, they established that he lived on a chain of islands floating over Faron that either no longer existed in Wild’s era or were still too far in the sky for him to have reached yet - and yes, they were all fairly certain he would take that as a challenge.
But for now, they didn’t have any reason to pause or to hesitate. They were in Baby’s home era, they knew where he lived, and at the end of the day: he was a missing child. There was absolutely no good reason to put off bringing him back to his family. Not when he was so happy to finally be home. Not when he was so eager to see his family again.
(Let us drink and be merry all out of one glass)
So the Chain set off. They only faltered for a moment, wondering how on earth they were supposed to get up to the distant islands, before Wild laughed and came up with a solution. Before long, he and Baby had constructed a flying machine big enough for them all to climb aboard.
And then they were off, speeding across the countryside and up, through the clouds. If they had been worried about startling this era’s inhabitants with such a sight, they needn’t have bothered. They had only been flying for a few minutes when they realised that they could see other people zooming through the sky on similar contraptions, some big enough for a family, some small enough for just one. Twi could already see the cogs in Wild’s head working as he looked around at them as they passed, already thinking up how to build them himself.
And for the whole journey, Baby chattered nonstop, overflowing with joy to be home. He pointed out towns and cities as they passed by or overhead, telling stories and bubbling over with laughter. The entire time he refused to let go of Twilight’s hand, clinging on tight as he chattered.
Even with Wild’s flying construct, it still took several hours for them to get to what Baby told them was called the West Faron Island Chain. He chattered the whole time, but the closer they got to his home island, the less he seemed to think of things to say and the more he just seemed to vibrate with excitement, watching as their destination grew larger and larger on the horizon.
(Let us drink and be merry all grief to refrain)
It was mid afternoon by the time Wild gently guided their ride down to land in a leafy, quiet copse of trees. The leaves and grass were golden in the sunlight, and from where they landed only a few metres from the island’s edge, they had an unparalleled view of the rivers of Faron.
“Well, Baby,” Time was saying as he stepped out onto the ground. “Here we are. Which way’s home?”
But Baby didn’t respond. He was still in the construct, clinging onto Twilight’s hand and staring out at the island with wide eyes. Through the trees they could see the beginnings of a street lined with little houses, each with wide gardens filled with trees.
Twilight kneeled down at his side, squeezing his hand.
“You okay, Baby?” he asked gently.
Baby nodded, still staring, still silent.
Twi smiled. “You excited to get home, huh?” he asked. “Little bit overwhelmed?”
Baby nodded again, turning in towards Twilight and burying his face in his big brother’s tunic as he hugged him tight. Twilight chuckled as he hugged him back and then scooped him up, balancing him on his hip.
“Well then - why don’t you tell me which way to go and I’ll carry you home. That sound better?”
“Uh-huh.” Baby whispered, still clinging onto Twilight, his tail looped tightly around his arms. “That way.” he pointed down the street.
(For we may or might never all meet here again)
Somehow, Twilight had always imagined Baby’s homecoming to be an excitable, jubilant affair. In a way it was - he knew that Baby was thrilled to bits to be home. But he was only seven, after all, and that was a big feeling for a seven year old who is already having to deal with a lot of big feelings. So the walk down the shady, golden-tree lined boulevard was quiet and calm. Twi led the way with Baby in his arms, the Chain’s combined excitement and nerves building with every step.
More than once, as they passed a tree, they saw a poster nailed onto it. A poster with a picture of Baby’s smiling face - a missing poster. Baby’s family had been very clearly been searching for him, doing everything to bring him home.
Twi smiled softly. It would be good to get his little brother home. Yes, of course, the rancher would miss him with all of his heart, but this was the right thing to do. Baby was only seven, and he deserved to have a childhood. He deserved to be at home, safe and warm, with a family who loved and treasured him and could help him grow up.
So when Baby gasped and said “There! That’s my house!”, Twilight found himself smiling as he turned up the path.
It was a small, comfortable cottage, with a yellow painted door and flowers in the windows. There was a gold-leafed tree out front with a swing suspended from one of its branches, and even before they climbed the front steps Twi could hear a commotion behind the front door. It swung open and a zonai woman who could only be Baby’s mother ran out, her hands flying up to her mouth and tears leaping into her eyes.
“Link!” she cried out, and in Twilight’s arms, Baby wriggled and jumped down.
“MAMA!” He shouted and raced into her embrace, wrapping his arms around her neck and sobbing into her hair. “Mama, mama! Mama, I missed you so much!”
Behind her, another zonai, Baby’s father, came out to see what was going on. When he saw his son he shouted in joy and raced to join the hug, clinging onto where Baby was finally safe in his mother’s arms.
Twilight stopped where he was, not wanting to intrude on this moment. The Chain would step forwards in a minute or two, would introduce themselves and explain the story, but not right now. Right now, what they had to do was stay back and let this family who loved each other so very deeply be together, and rejoice in each others’ company.
Here's a health to the company and one to my lass
Let us drink and be merry all out of one glass
Let us drink and be merry all grief to refrain
For we may or might never all meet here again
-
They stayed two days in Baby’s era.
Two days for getting him to his home island, returning him to his family, explaining the story to his bewildered, delighted parents, and getting ready to say goodbye.
Once Baby explained that the Chain had been responsible for rescuing him from his kidnapper, his parents were only too happy to welcome them into their home. They all crowded into their little living room as they told the whole story and ended up staying for dinner - which, given that Baby’s parents were clearly too busy to cook, ended up being made by the two dozen neighbours and friends and family who swarmed in once word got out that Baby was home. Any of Wild’s offers to help were roundly ignored: he was a rescuer and was not allowed to do anything other than sit back and relax with his friends.
It was nice. Really it was. Baby’s family were warm and loving and it was easy to see how he had grown to be such a sweet kid. Baby, less overwhelmed and now just overjoyed to be home, seized Twilight’s hand and dragged him around the little house, showing off his bedroom with all his toys, the garden with his swings and where he liked to climb trees, his favourite spot in the kitchen window-seat -
It was all just so lovely and warm and right.
And the Chain knew that they would have to leave. Still, the two nights that they spent in this era were nights that they would never give up for all the world. There was nowhere near enough space inside Baby’s home for them all to stay in, but they happily set up camp in the back garden, giving the family the space they needed to reunite but still staying close by enough that it didn’t feel like goodbye. Not yet.
But, of course, goodbye had to come sooner or later. Still, when the portal swirled into existence on the path leading up to Baby’s house, the Heroes all resisted its pull. Just for a moment longer.
They had known that it was coming. Hyrule had sensed it and they had all said their fond goodbyes, had all given little gifts and tokens to their littlest brother, had hugged him fondly and hidden their tears and promised not to forget him.
But still, even now, it was hard to let go.
“Twiiiiii,” Baby whimpered, clinging onto the Rancher’s shoulders. “Don’t go!”
Twilight chuckled, trying desperately to fight back his tears. “You know I gotta, Baby.” he replied. “It’s okay. Remember what we talked about, yeah? I’ll see you again someday.”
Baby sniffled. “Promise?”
“I promise.” Twilight swore. “I’ll always be your big brother. Just you wait and see.”
“…Forever?” Baby whispered.
“Forever and ever.” Twilight replied.
And that was that. There were a few more parting words, Twilight kissed the crown of Baby’s head, and then the pull of the portal strengthened.
They had to go.
Their goodbyes all said, there was nothing more that the Chain could do but smile tightly, wave one last time, and step through. The one benefit of walking away and into a portal between times was that Baby didn’t have to see how quickly they all broke down when they turned their backs.
And then they were gone.
They stepped out once again into a wide, grassy field. Above them floated islands in the sky. In the distance stood Hyrule Castle, much larger now, with obvious repairs being done to its structure.
Twilight sighed, lifting a hand and knuckling away tears. It felt almost cruel, really, to send them forwards to Wild’s era so soon after leaving Baby. He wasn’t really sure how they were supposed to just go about their day, with one of their own missing.
“Huh.” Wild said, and when Twilight looked around he was bent over his slate, frowning as he tapped its screen, squinting at it through still teary eyes. “That - that’s weird.”
Twi swallowed, pushing down his grief as he went over to check on him.
“What’s up?” He asked.
“Hmm.” Wild tapped again. “S’fine, just- the map’s taking a while to register. It’s still showing the one from Baby’s era- huh. Huh.”
“What is it?” This time Time was asking, his low voice commanding and concerned all at once.
Wild finally looked up from his tapping, his face screwed up in confusion.
“That’s not my Hyrule Castle.” He said simply. “It’s been destroyed and it’s being rebuilt, but- it’s not mine. The map isn’t stuck - it’s updated alright - it’s just… we’re still in the past. A bit later than when we left but… this isn’t my era.”
What in the - the Chain, understandably had a lot of questions at that, but Twilight tuned them out. If they were still in the past, just a bit later than they had been, then - then was it possible that-
He stepped away from the Chain, looking at the rolling hills around him, the towns rising in the distance, scanning the skies for - there!
Zooming towards them on a wing not unlike the ones that Wild carried in his slate, was a figure, guiding the glider to come to a gentle stop only a few feet away from them.
The man that stood up from it was huge. A fully grown Zonai, resplendent in his vestments and jewellery, proudly wearing the tattoos that marked him as the mightiest of warriors. He stood well over seven feet tall, with red hair that flowed to his waist and a nasty scar cutting through one eyebrow - this man had seen action, of that there was no doubt. Over his shoulder they could just see the hilt of a familiar sword - the Master Sword - announcing him as this era’s Hero to any who saw it.
…but there was still a telltale glint of mischief in his eyes. His ears, pierced many times over, still wore the small enamel loops that the Chain had bought him the time he snuck off and insisted on having his ears pierced.
“…Baby?” Twilight whispered.
His little brother, no longer quite so little anymore, smiled.
“I always knew you’d come back.” He said.
Twilight was at a loss for words, tears welling up behind his eyes all over again. Overwhelmed, he took a step forwards, then another, and then ran full pelt into the grown man who was his baby brother.
“Oh Baby!” He cried as he hugged him, as the whole of the Chain ran up, laughing, to join their embrace.
None of them knew quite what to say, but that was okay. They didn’t need to say anything. Instead they all clung to each other as they sunk into the soft grass, laughing and crying and refusing to let go. Explanations would come later, as would stories of journeys and heroism and sleeps and shrines- but for now they were together and that was all that mattered.
And come what may, though they may not know it yet, they would always be together. Whether on this journey or after, when a goddess who too often could seem cruel, would grant them a boon that was unerringly kind.
They were brothers after all. And as brothers, they should always be allowed to see each other. To go between eras. To be brothers.
But for now, none of that mattered. All that mattered was that they were all together, here and now in this moment, and nothing - not goddess or demon or mortal - would ever force them apart again.