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Sighing with exhaustion, Link leans back in his seat, eyes lazily watching the endless expanse of plain fly past the window of the locomotive. The repetitive scenery and the rhythmic puffs of the engine urge him to drift off for a quick nap; unfortunately, sleeping on the job is strictly against regulations. After all, you never know when a potential threat to your cargo might appear, or when some idiot might wander onto the–
"Great Lokomos!" Link startles upright as a flash of pink darts onto the tracks. He slams on the brakes, steel screeching in protest.
It's too late to fully stop, Link realizes with dread. He urgently tugs at the horn, the piercing whistle echoing his own internal screaming, but the rapidly-approaching creature remains stubbornly in place.
"Shoot shoot shoot–" he chants under his breath, knuckles white on the brakes. "Great Spirits, Queen Tetra have mercy–"
The train shudders to a halt with an annoyed squeak. Link nearly topples from the abrupt shift in momentum, gasping for breath.
"Please don't be dead, please don't be dead–" Link mutters as he stumbles out of the train, brain conjuring horrific images of pink smeared across the front of the locomotive. He finds the animal unharmed, eyes wide in fear of the steam engine halted mere inches from its face. Link sighs in relief.
"A rabbit," he laughs–a strangled, anxious noise. The rabbit glances in his direction, alarmed, ears flattened against its head. "Hey, buddy. You're not supposed to be on the tracks…"
Thankfully, Link knows rabbits. Recent advances in technology are beginning to threaten the once-booming local populations in New Hyrule, and in his downtime, Link has taken it upon himself to catch and tag any rabbits he finds for the royal researchers. Any in immediate danger enjoy a quick vacation at the local wildlife rescue.
Link raises his capture net. The rabbit watches him, wary, ready to bolt the moment Link steps too close. Unfortunately for it, Link is faster than it realizes.
"Got ya!" Link cheers as he closes the net, rabbit securely contained inside. It tugs desperately at its confinements, limbs flailing in a heap. "Hang in there for just a bit longer, I'll bring you to a safe place so you can calm down."
The "safe place" being the cozy rabbit pen in the passenger car. Once inside, Link releases the net, and the rabbit flings itself away from his grasp. It curls up in the corner of the pen, eyeing him with blown-out pupils and breathing raggedly.
"Hey, easy," Link soothes, keeping a comfortable distance from the scared animal. "Bit of a shock, huh? But you'll be alright now."
To Link's surprise, the rabbit's breathing evens out, as though it had understood him. However, its eyes remain suspicious. Link rummages through his pockets, fishing out a half-eaten oatmeal bar.
"You hungry?" he asks, offering the snack in his open palm. The rabbit's nose twitches, curious. Hesitant, it takes a few careful hops towards Link, then takes a small bite of the oatmeal. Soon, it fully occupies itself with eating, calm, and Link takes the opportunity to run his hand through its plush fur.
"Pink, huh?" Not common for a rabbit. "You must be special."
The rabbit rolls its eyes, unimpressed. Link laughs at its unusually human-like behavior, continuing to pet it. Suddenly, his fingers catch on a patch of sticky, matted fur.
"Woah, you're hurt!" he exclaims, finally noticing the growing red smudge on its hind leg. The rabbit furrows its brow and attempts to hide the injured limb under its thick fur. "Hey, don't be like that! We'll get you patched up right away."
Link knows just the man for the job. He scoops the rabbit into his arms, ignoring its protesting wiggles, and moves to restart the train.
"We're going to Rabbitland," he rambles as he fiddles with the controls. "Ever heard of it? It's like… bunny heaven. Maybe you have friends who've been there."
The rabbit stares back at him, expression blank.
"Actually, you don't strike me as the social type," Link muses. He quickly retracts his fingers away from an annoyed nip. "Wow, so unfriendly!"
Despite their playful banter, the rabbit begins to tremble again in his arms, almost imperceptibly. Link squeezes the tiny animal to his chest, comforting.
"Don't worry," Link assures it. "Bunnio knows his stuff."
The rabbit does not seem as encouraged by that as Link thought it would be.
Another day, another round of ice deliveries. The thrill of possible failure had long grown dull, as he'd so thoroughly optimized the task that the ice melting along the way was hardly a threat anymore. Thankfully, he has something more exciting waiting for him at the end of his shift.
"Hey, Bunnio!" he calls out, walking up to the main gate of the Rabbitland Rescue. "How's the new patient doing?"
"Good evening, Link!" Rabbitland Rescue's eccentric caretaker, Bunnio, greets. "The fuchsia fury is doing well. He bit me about five times while I bandaged his leg, but he'll make a full recovery. Spirited, that one!"
"Wow!" Link whistles, impressed. "Can I visit him?"
"Of course!" Bunnio says. "Truth be told, I haven’t a clue what kind of rabbit he is, so I've settled him in with the forest bunch for now."
"Even you don't know?"
"Nope," Bunnio says. "He's unique. Maybe a little too unique."
Link frowned. "How so?"
"He doesn't get along with any of the other rabbits," Bunnio explains. "Bites anyone who tries to get close. He doesn't even enjoy frolicking, despite the ample space."
"Is that bad?"
"Not necessarily. He's a tough little guy–a survivor. And when you're used to just surviving, it's hard to handle comfort."
"Oh." Link's expression softens, sympathetic. He hadn't adjusted well to normal life after his adventure, either. Becoming a royal engineer had been his dream, but after everything he'd experienced, running the same deliveries day after day just didn't have much appeal.
He's fine now, of course. Sometimes, there are even days he enjoys driving back and forth between the same stops three times while passengers complain about how fast he takes turns. He doesn't miss dungeons, and he definitely doesn't dream about fighting monsters.
He doesn't.
"Link!" Bunnio urges. "You'll teach him the joys of frolicking, won't you?"
"Of course!" Link agrees with an enthusiastic salute, then enters the rabbit pen.
Amongst the light and earthy tones of the other forest bunnies, the pink newcomer sticks out like a sore thumb. While the others play and frolic around the safely-enclosed plain, the grumpy rabbit instead curls up against the edge of the pen, glaring at anyone who drifts too close. Cautious, Link approaches the rabbit and crouches to the ground nearby.
"Hey, there," Link greets. The rabbit twitches an ear, acknowledging. "How are you feeling? Getting comfortable?"
This place is hell, his perturbed expression seems to say.
"It can't be that bad," Link argues. "Look, you have food, room to play, friends…"
The rabbit grumbles, annoyed. Well, maybe not that last part, Link concludes.
Slowly, Link reaches out. The rabbit recoils, irritated, but doesn't snap at him as Bunnio had warned. His hand sinks into petal-soft fur, and the rabbit's head dips with an involuntary sigh of comfort.
"Not so grumpy now, huh?" Link teases softly. The rabbit's eyes flutter, too exhausted to argue. "I should give you a name. Since you're special, you know?"
The rabbit's ears perk up, eyes flickering with curiosity. Link wracks his brain, trying to come up with a suitable name for a rabbit. Bunnio is taken, but what about… Rabbio? Or, better yet–
"How about Ravio?" Link suggests. The rabbit goes stiff under his fingers, ears flying up in surprise. "You like it?"
The rabbit quickly shakes his head, flustered.
"Great, Ravio it is!" Link cheers. Ravio's head drops face-first into the grass, resigned.
Ravio never warms up to the other rabbits or Bunnio. Link, however, quickly becomes his exception. Whenever the engineer drops in after a long day at work, the rabbit's ears subtly perk with interest, intrigued by the scent of steam and coal that clings to him. A grudging affection, Link supposes, though Ravio would never admit to such a thing.
…Not that he could admit to such a thing. He is a rabbit, after all, not a person. A fact Link frequently overlooks while rambling about his day.
"–and I told Zelda, 'Look, I can't keep replacing these pots out of my own wallet.' I mean, the dang things cost like three hundred rupees each, and they shatter if you breathe too hard–"
The rabbit tilts his head, intrigued.
"Oh, do you recognize Zelda?" he asks. The rabbit nods. "I guess it's good to stay informed on politics, even for rabbits."
Ravio bumps him with his nose, insistent. You're missing something.
"Oh, I forgot her title, didn't I?" A blush blooms on his cheeks. "Not again… I'm going to be in so much trouble with the king…"
For more than just improper address, Ravio's expression seems to say, lips twitching in a facsimile of a smirk.
"Oh, shush, you!" he urges, embarrassed. "Worry about your own love life. Haven't you found a cute rabbit to settle down with yet?"
Ravio's face falls, his eyes drifting beyond the fence to somewhere far away.
"Oh," Link gasps. He hadn't even considered–
Ravio grimaces with an agitated flick of an ear. Don't get the wrong idea.
Link sits back on his heels with a thoughtful frown. From the moment he first brought Ravio to this place, something has been nagging at him. A question that he just can't seem to find the answer to.
"Ravio," he starts. "You aren't happy here."
The rabbit shrugs. Isn't that obvious?
"But, why not?" Link asks. "Don't you have everything you could possibly want? Food, warmth, shelter, other rabbits–" A dream job, a generous income, a girlfriend–
Ravio just shakes his head. It's missing something.
Freedom, of course. The ability to live your life as you please, beyond rigid tracks and scheduled arrivals.
"Ugh, you're right, aren't you?" Link groans. "Not everyone can be happy like this."
Ravio shoots him a confused look. Are you still talking to me?
Link sighs, squeezing his face between his hands. Underneath his palms, a mischievous grin tugs at his cheeks.
"Say, Ravio," Link suddenly offers, "how about we cut and run? Just you and me."
Ravio furrows his brow, apprehensive of Link's abrupt change in attitude.
"Great!" Link cheers, shoving the unsuspecting rabbit under his jacket. "I knew you'd agree!"
Link manages to contain his manic glee only until the moment they board his train, then bursts into laughter. Gasping for breath between cackles, he lets Ravio out of his jacket, then reaches to start the engine. Ravio watches him quietly, perturbed.
"Sorry, sorry," he wheezes, trying to calm down. "I just–I think that's the first time I've ever gone off the rails."
Link pauses, slowly recognizing his unintentional pun. Then, he loses it all over again, his laughs devolving into something between howls and sobs.
"Ah… I really need a vacation," Link says once he finally settles again. He shakes his head to clear it, then turns to address Ravio, the rabbit watching him with palpable concern. For a moment, Link wonders if he's just been projecting his own issues onto this poor creature and has completely misinterpreted his feelings. Then, he remembers the mournful, desolate gaze Ravio had given him in that enclosure, and dismisses the thought entirely.
"Where should we go?" Link wonders out loud, taking a moment to straighten out Ravio's mussed fur. "The Ocean Realm is nice. Do you like the beach?"
Ravio offers no opinion, so Link makes the decision on his behalf. Now that he's charting the course for himself, the familiar plains seem less tedious–more promising, and full of potential. When they get to the beach, maybe he'll go for a swim. Or build a sandcastle. Or, he could steal a boat and start a promising new career as a pirate–
His daydream comes to an abrupt end at the sudden appearance of several suspicious figures on the tracks ahead.
"Woah!" he shouts as he slams on the brakes, clutching Ravio to his chest so the poor rabbit doesn't go flying. The train screeches to a halt. Curious, the strangers surround the train, appraising the device with hands on their swords and other various weapons.
Train robbers, Link realizes with an unexpected thrill.
"Wait here, Ravio!" Link orders, grabbing his own sword and shield. "I'll knock these guys flat!"
Blade singing from his scabbard, he hops off the train, already in a battle stance.
"Hey!" he shouts. The men turn to him, curious, swords remaining sheathed. "You can't hang out on the tracks!"
"Oh," a man in white cape blinks. "Sorry." To Link's confusion, he steps aside, the others following suit. Confused, Link lowers his sword.
"Forgive our intrusion," a tall, one-eyed man says with a polite, short bow. "We're searching for a companion of ours. Have you seen a man in a red tunic with a blue hat?"
"Lots of bling?" another one adds.
"...No," Link offers hesitantly. "I haven't seen anyone–"
A pink blur darts under his feet. Horrified, Link realizes it's Ravio, rushing towards the suspicious strangers. The caped man's face lights up in recognition.
"Legend!" he calls out, kneeling. As Ravio approaches, the man draws his sword. Link's blood runs cold.
"Ravio, no–!" Link cries, bracing for the worst. However, the blade doesn't strike. Instead, it envelopes Ravio in a brilliant light, dark flecks peeling off his form until a much larger figure–a human–stands in his place. The man in the red tunic sighs, exhausted, as a dark crystal falls onto the grass.
"Not. A single. Word," the man hisses out, face as pink as his hair.
"Nice to have you back, Vet!" the caped man greets, smiling. "It's been a while. We were worried."
"You guys have no idea what I've been through," he groans, running a hand down his face.
"...Ravio?" Link stammers, a wave of vertigo washing over him. To his horror, the man responds to the address.
"Not my name, kid," he says. "It's Link."
The strangers watch the engineer in silent anticipation.
"...Okay?" Link finally says. "That's not really what I have questions about."
"Don't you think it's odd that we have the same name?" he retorts.
"Why, should I?" Link asks, tilting his head. The motion only makes him feel more dizzy. "It's really common."
A blonde boy in a blue tunic whoops with triumph. "I told you!"
The man formerly known as Ravio rolls his eyes. "For Din's sake–"
"Transformation magic?" Legend groans. "That is so tame!"
Of course Legend would say that, Spirit thinks, rolling his eyes from his spot on the outskirts of the conversation.
"Of all the sights you've witnessed, how is that weird?" Four questions.
"Okay, no, c'mon!" Wild argues, trying to defend himself. "Just imagine it! One day, you're traveling with your trusted animal companion, and the next, he's just some guy!"
"Tell me about it," Spirit groans. "I had nightmares about Legend for weeks."
Legend startles, suddenly the center of attention.
"You kidnapped me!" Legend sputters. "It's not like I could explain!"
"Oh, the hardship," Spirit drawls with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "All the snacks and free pets you could want. The sheer duress of you constantly falling asleep in my lap."
Legend buries his rapidly-reddening face in his hands as laughter ripples throughout the group. Wild, still preoccupied with clearing his name, jogs to catch up with Time.
"C'mon, old man–" Wild prods. "How would you react if one day, Epona just became some lady?"
An unspoken tension settled over the group as all eyes turned to their stoic leader. Silently, Time grimaces.
"See?" Wild exclaims. "I'm justified!"
"I once knew a guy who turned into a boat," Wind comments.
"We should stop this conversation here," Time suggests. "And never bring it up again."
Spirit eyes the embarrassed veteran from his periphery, smirking. No promises, he thinks.