Babble - Beyond Dimensions

Chapter 13: The one where you think a lot

After successfully surviving the embarrassment of the year, you quietly followed the others. They talked in low voices and sometimes louder, whenever Time seemed to reprimand someone. By now not only Wild and Wind were practically glued to you, but now also Hyrule. He pointed to some things and “hya”ed, to probably explain them.

Gosh, you apparently now got somewhat adopted by them. They had already given you a new name. You hoped that at least their discussion over your custody was over for now cause you were really not ready for another screaming match.

Four also held close. But he apparently had not adopted you (yet). Instead he pointed to something and asked you to name it and then he’d go still for about a minute, probably to burn the word and it’s for him complicated pronunciation into his brain, his eyes now never-ending purple. You hoped that Vio, if Four truly was as interpreted as he was in the manga with the difference of now sharing a body, did not overload himself and the others with the information dump.

And so you all traveled for the next few hours. You sadly hadn’t had your phone anymore and thus your feeling for how much time had passed was gone, too. But at least, you had some rhythm.

First you’d explain a word to Four. (“Tree.” “Three?” “T-r-e-e. Tree.” “Ah! Tree.”)

Then he’d fall a bit behind to mumble the word he had just learned to himself. (“Tree. Tree. Tree.”)

Meanwhile Hyrule would point to something and start to talk and Wind would join in with hands and feet and sometimes even the wind itself. (“Hyaaa, yah haya, hay.” “I have no idea what you just said, but okay.” “Yahaha! Hyjay jaj hay.” “I guess this plant is dangerous. Or sharp? What do you mean with this cut-throat gesture?”)

And then Wild would join in to fret over you. (“No, I’m fine! Really. So much walking sucks, but at least I have trainers. You only have stupid boots. The panting is only cuz I…breathed wrong. I can still go for hours, really! I’m top fit, really!”)

Then Wild would turn to Twilight, who’d say something to someone else, maybe Time, maybe Sky, maybe Warriors.

And then the person would turn to you. You’d smile and wave them off, and then shudder as soon as they’ve turned away under Legend’s eyes that were still boring into your back.

And Wild would see your shudder, but before he could start fretting over you again, Four would be there to ask about the next thing.

Rise, rinse and repeat.

And all the time you couldn’t help but also think about the freakish notebook in your backpack, which seemed to weigh heavier with any moment. But that could also be your exhaustion slowly setting in. You weren’t a videogame character after all. You couldn’t just run for forever until you dropped dead from exhaustion.

Also, at least you now were sure that the culprit of the magic done was definitely not you, but the notebook. When you wrote your letter and nothing has happened. But then again so had with the notebook as long as you avoided should, which you subconsciously had in your letter…

But then again, and here dread filled your stomach, you had written down your survival list, hadn’t you? And zoom, next day you just so managed to get a way to contact home. That was a bit too convenient, wasn’t it?

What if “should” simply enforced that whatever you wrote happened at the moment and left through butterfly effects the other things to happen over a longer period of time?

Shuddering again at that thought and the possibly horrible conclusion that would come with it, you glanced behind you, meeting Legend’s eyes for a second before looking away. You could still feel his gaze burning into you.

Had he even blinked? Your hands itched for a pen and to use the notebook to get him to blink, if only so that he’d stop burning your back with his glares. But then you mentally reprimanded yourself, because if you wrote it down, maybe he’d be extra unlucky and get blinded because instead of a fly it’s a wasp that made him blink. You so did not want to be responsible for that.

But his mistrust in you was definitely totally unfounded.

That you had his “secret song” on your phone was something he should have never known and if he had left it alone and accepted this thing called privacy he never would have known.

And how were you supposed to know that you came from somewhere down the timeline after him and Hyrule? He probably thought that this was too convenient.

Just like your running into the Link was and that you were chased by monsters almost every time.

Not your fault he was that mistrustful. He didn’t have a point, at all.

…

Okay, maybe a little. But all of this was not your fault.

And gosh, hylians apparently had come to Earth. What did that mean for you, your family, your culture? When had it been?

Briefly touching your now long and pointy ears (and wasn’t that a strange feeling), you sighed. They definitely were too long to have been watered down properly if basic genetics knowledge was to be trusted. Which meant that this other-world immigration had to have happened in a more recent generation. But nothing you had heard from your family histories pointed to having been otherworldly.

Also, why hadn’t you had pointy ears at home? Why did you only get them once you crossed over to here? What did it all mean?

And how did your world know about all the history of Hyrule and the different timelines to work them properly into a whole videogame franchise? Especially when the people only came from the downfall timeline?

Why couldn’t you say your name?

And how did that freaky notebook end up in your backpack?

And why was this all so complicated? You wanted answers, damn it!

A finger poked your side carefully, effectively ruining your train of thoughts.

“Shirt” you said, tired. Four repeated dutifully and you snickered at the slight mistake he had made this time. Shaking your head at his questioning gaze, you gently corrected him.

And when he fell back once more and the others started up with their routine again, you were alone with your thoughts again.

What he had just said, summoned your situation up pretty good. But you would deal.

You were tough.

“Just a little longer” common sense encouraged.

You could do this, would do this.

And, as you looked at the faces around you, even if you were sweaty and tired, you were not alone. If the notebook works as you suspected it means you’ll be home soon.

You could do this, just a little longer.

And then, when the sun started to set, you finally reached a small village.

If asked, you wouldn’t be able to describe how you finally ended up in the inn where the Links had rented three rooms.

You were out like light even before your head hit the pillow of the bed you had been given.