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The rancher was capable, Time knew that much, but still, he could only worry. Twilight was different from the other heroes. Time’s blood coursed through the rancher, Twilight was his student, his boy, his legacy. And ever since that ill-fated fight against the dark lizalfos, Time could only dwell on how close death had come for the younger hero. Every moment without Twilight was a moment the rancher could be somewhere hurt, alone, dying.
“Wait a minute,” Legend said, pausing at a sign. “This is—this is Ordon , right?”
Time paused glancing over his shoulder. “Elaborate,” he demanded.
Legend shuffled through his things, drawing out a paper map. In each era, Legend took the time to source out a map. He marked them himself, just to fix minor errors or pick out points of interest. The map of Hyrule from Twilight’s era was well charted, marked with forts which no longer stood. Towards the southeast was Faron Woods, and even further south, the border to Ordon. Beyond that border, there was nothing on the map. Twilight explained once that while Ordon was under the Hyrulean crown, it was more or less a sovereign entity due to its isolated geography. The first time in the Era of Twilight, the heroes learned how arduous a task it was to make the trip. Ordon was only accessible through the deep woods and they were largely unguarded and full of monsters. The only way in or out was on a narrow footbridge which suspended a deep gorge and Legend didn’t trust it to carry more than one cart at a time.
But as Legend peered at his map and back up at the mossy road sign, he realized they were already past the border and over the bridge. Legend dubbed it Ordon Grove—a patch of lush forest between the spring and Faron province. Just up the bend would be Twilight’s treehouse and further, the village.
“We’re here,” Legend said, pointing it out to Warriors.
Four kneaded at his stomach, fighting down portal sickness. “We’d better talk to Rusl,” the smith said. “He might know something.”
“I have a bad feeling about this,” Time sighed, clenching his fists.
Sky smiled reassuringly at the eldest hero. “I’m sure he’s fine. Hylia’s hand guides us with necessity. Maybe Twilight just needed to come home for a little while.”
Time glanced at Sky, his lips pressed into a tight frown. Necessity was a far cry from mercy and nearer to cruelty in the hero’s experience. He said nothing, swiftly turning his attention down the road.
“Vet,” Warriors said, “can you lead the way?”
Legend nodded, taking the lead with his map. Hyrule and Wild took up either side of the veteran, both ready to defend him at a moment’s notice. Warriors and Wind sandwiched Time for comfort and Sky lingered towards the back with Four as the smith fought off his nausea.
The walk was quiet, tense, and uneventful. The grove was peaceful, the warm sunshine falling through leaves and casting dancing shadows. The breeze was gentle and on its dull edge, there was the smell of freshly turned earth and cut hay. The bleats of animals drifted up from the quilted valley as the heroes passed along a ridge overlooking fields of pumpkin vines and corn stalks. Animals plowed the land, men and women working diligently as they chanted and sang. Fluffy tufts of cotton fell from alder trees and drifted on the wind and the chorus of crickets, cicadas, and birdsongs buzzed in an afternoon lullaby.
Finally, the heroes came to Twilight’s treehouse. It was just as they remembered, though the windows were open to the warm summer day. The horse hitch was empty, though the trough was clean and full. Time drew in a tight breath, shouldering his way past the others.
“Rancher!” he called towards the house.
There came no answer. The dread in Time’s heart swelled as he stepped inside. The house was quiet and empty, though it was cozier than he recalled. Additional furniture, a mess of books scattered across the ground. Childish drawings marked the wall beneath a window and a half-finished quilt lay across a table.
“Twi!” Wild hollered.
The champion frowned, heart twisting anxiously. He climbed up the ladder to the loft, but found it similarly empty. He noticed pillows on the bed built into the tree trunk and in the corner, a rustic crib. Wild frowned, worried then that something really had happened. Twilight didn’t sleep with pillows, nor did he have children.
“Time,” the champion called down the ladder, voice shaky. “Time, I don’t think he’s here.”
Hyrule came back up from checking the basement. “His gear’s down here,” the traveler noted. “But it doesn’t look like it’s been touched in a while.”
Time frowned, failing to calm himself. “Rusl,” he uttered. “We should talk to Rusl. Or Bo or Uli or—or—”
“Sprite,” Warriors said, laying a gentle hand on Time’s shoulder. “I’m sure he’s fine. We’re time traveling, remember?”
“Yes,” Time hissed. “But I—if he’s hurt, if he’s—” He couldn’t finish the thought. “Why would we be sent here? ”
“I don’t know,” the captain sighed. “There’s still plenty of places left to check.”
Time nodded, though he seemed unconvinced. Gathering themselves, the heroes wandered towards Ordon proper.
The village was unchanged, they found. Still drowsy and quiet, the river’s lazy current whispered as it swept up against the mossy docks and turned creaking waterwheels. Most of the residents were out working and so there was no one there to greet them—
“...oh my,” Rusl said.
The heroes turned, catching sight of the blacksmith. He was grayer than Time remembered, one full streak of silver in his dark bangs. His face was tanner, his eyes crinkled with laugh lines.
“Rusl,” Time urged, “where’s Twilight?”
Warriors pulled Time back. “Time,” the captain scolded gently, “allow me.”
Rusl smiled. “He’s safe,” the blacksmith answered.
“We’ve just come through a portal,” Warriors explained, “and he’s missing.”
Rusl nodded. “Well he’s been home a few years,” he replied with a warm smile.
Warriors paused, falling quiet.
“A…a few years?” Wild questioned.
Rusl nodded, gesturing for them to follow. “You came at a good time. C’mon, he’ll be thrilled to see you again.”
The heroes traded looks, most of them utterly befuddled. It’d been hours for them yet years for Twilight?
They followed Rusl towards Bo’s house. Stepping inside, they found the little treehouse quiet, but in disarray. Uli sat on the sofa, quietly knitting as a little girl slept in her lap. There were dishes and blankets strewn across the room, scattered toys and drawings. She glanced up as the heroes stepped inside, her face catching in shock.
“Goodness,” she gasped.
Warriors nodded in greeting. “Ma’am,” he said.
Wind wormed up to the front, eyes big and round. “Is that…Cora?” he asked, pointing at the girl in Uli’s lap.
Uli smiled warmly. “You remember?”
“She was just a baby!” Wind cried. “When’d she get so big?!”
“Here,” Uli offered. “Would you like to hold her?”
Eagerly, Wind nodded. He joined Uli on the couch, taking the woman’s child into his lap. It reminded him of Aryll when she was little and the way she’d fall asleep while he or Grandma read to her at bedtime.
“Where’s Twilight?” Time asked urgently.
Rusl smiled, clapping the man on the shoulder. “He’s fine,” Rusl laughed. “You should rest while you—”
“...guys?” a familiar voice said from the stairs.
The heroes turned, glancing up towards the rancher. He was older than they recalled, filling out his clothes and having grown his hair. He was tanner, crossed with more scars, dressed in Ordon fashion. There was something more mature in his expression, a bit of stubble across his jaw.
“Twilight!” Time scolded. “We were worried—”
Twilight dashed down the stairs, grabbing Time in a crushing hug. Time froze as Twilight nearly squeezed the life from his lungs. After a moment, Time melted, hugging Twilight back.
“Pup,” Time said, “it’s alright. Are you safe? Are you hurt?”
Twilight shook his head, drawing away. He wiped tears from his eyes, a bright smile across his face. He sniffled, trying to gather himself. His eyes were dark with bags, there was a warm exhaustion in his features.
“You should be sleeping,” Rusl scolded.
Twilight nodded, fussing to dry his face. “I did,” he got out. “I thought I hear som’thin’ though ‘n so’s I…spirits, t’think it were y’all.”
“Are you sick?” Time pressed.
Twilight shook his head. “No,” he laughed. “I uh…wait here a moment?”
Time frowned, but nodded, letting Twilight go. He hated letting Twilight out of his sight just then, but Twilight vanished upstairs.
The heroes relaxed, their missing rancher accounted for. Uli got up, ushering them all to sit down and take their weight off their feet. They shed armor and weapons and each drank a glass of cold goat’s milk before Twilight returned.
In the rancher’s arms was a small bundle swaddled in a thickly knit blanket. He brought it to Time first, his eyes bright with tears.
“Ain’t your first grandbaby,” Twilight murmured, “but she’s just born this mornin’ real early.”
Time froze. “...grand…grandbaby?” he balked.
Twilight nodded, offering the warm bundle to Time. Dumbly, Time accepted the infant. She was so small , her tiny face gathered in a fussy scrunch. From the blankets, one tiny hand grasped at the air. Twilight sat on his knees in front of Time, soothing the baby by brushing his thumb across her forehead.
“Ain’t she perfect?” Twilight asked quietly.
Hyrule stared, wide-eyed. “She’s—Twi—you have…”
“You have kids? ” Legend demanded.
Twilight nodded. “Mhm,” he chuckled. “She’s the third.”
Time felt dizzy. “...kids…” he mumbled.
“What’s her name?” Wild asked, peering over the table.
Twilight smiled gently, waggling his finger at his daughter. “Malon,” he answered.
Time glanced up in shock. “Is it—she’s real, isn’t she?” he asked. “She’s really yours?”
Twilight nodded, laughing. “She is,” he confirmed. “Ilia done the hard part. She’s restin’ now.”
“Colin has the boys,” Rusl volunteered, setting a hand on Time’s shoulder. “Bo and Mido.”
Time almost protested as Twilight drew his daughter back. Twilight rubbed his nose against his baby’s face before handing her to Wild next. Immediately, the younger heroes crowded around the champion to all have a look.
“She’s precious,” Wild murmured, his heart twisting with emotion.
“Looks like ‘er mama,” Twilight chuckled.
“Boys!” Colin scolded.
Ahead of the teenager, two toddlers burst into the room. They were twins, Warriors realized, though not identical. One looked like a perfect blend of Ilia and Twilight, the other was almost a carbon copy of the rancher.
“Papa!” cried the boy who looked like both his parents.
Twilight smiled, sweeping up the toddler. “Ain’t causin’ trouble, are you?” he asked.
The other boy grabbed Twilight’s leg, hiding from the heroes.
Time gawked. “These are…these are yours too?” he asked.
Twilight nodded, tickling the boy in his arms. “This’s Bo,” he offered. He patted the shyer twin on the head. “‘N this here’s Mido. C’mon boys, say hullo to your uncles.”
Mido whined, hiding further behind Twilight. Bo stared at all of them, grasping Twilight’s shirt anxiously.
“Where’s Mama?” Bo asked, tucking himself against Twilight.
Twilight rolled his eyes over a warm smile, bouncing the boy. “Sleepin’. Hard work pushin’ out your sister. You c’n see ‘er after lunch, ‘kay?”
Bo nodded, meekly glancing at the others.
“Sorry,” Twilight chuckled. “They’s in their shy phase.”
Rusl scooped up Mido, blowing a raspberry on the boy’s stomach. Mido giggled, kicking and swatting at the blacksmith. Twilight crouched, setting Bo on the floor. Bo fussed, hiding in Twilight’s chest.
“Aw c’mon, Bobo,” Twilight laughed. “This’s your great granddaddy, ‘n all those uncles I always tell y’all ‘bout.” Twilight pointed out the veteran. “That’s the Hero’f Legend,” he encouraged.
Bo’s face changed, wild curiosity filling his eyes. Legend paused, unsure of the feeling gripping his heart at the toddler’s admiration. Glee? Love? He wasn’t sure, but Legend knew then that he had a nephew and if anything bad ever happened to Twilight’s kids, he’d go on a warpath.
Warriors mussed Twilight’s hair, cracking a grin. “So the wolf settled after all,” he teased.
Twilight folded his arms, smiling. “Only ‘cuz’a y’all,” he answered. “I know y’all ain’t done with your work yet, ‘n so I ain’t gone su’rpise you none but…thank you.”
Time glanced up, knitting his brow. “Thank you?” he questioned.
Twilight nodded. “Only still here ‘cuz’a y’all. Y’all teach me how to be…how t’be a person again.”
Time and Warriors traded a look, but Twilight was already nosing back over to his baby. He took the girl from Wild’s arms, cuddling her close. She stirred, beginning to fuss.
Twilight smiled tiredly. “I’m gone put the li’l ramlin’ to bed again, ‘n we can catch up after.”
The others nodded, watching Twilight go upstairs. As he vanished, Bo unloaded a hundred questions onto Legend. It was clear the toddler had a favorite among the heroes, and he pressed for details about everything . In true Twilight fashion, the rancher had exaggerated some of Legend’s feats, but who was the veteran to disappoint? Easily, Legend obliged Bo’s interrogation and slowly, Mido warmed up to the heroes as well.
Time found himself sitting there, telling stories like he wanted to his own children some day. And all the while, he held one of his grandsons in his lap. It was a particular feeling seizing Time’s heart then—a bigger picture, life itself. This was what they were fighting for.