#▲ HYRULE’S LIGHT (visage)

[tokiro07]

With Zelda finally taking on the hero role and my speculation goggles firmly adhered to my eyeballs, I find myself asking an interesting question: what if each Princess Zelda had a title the way that each Link does?

Skyward Sword: For her status as the Goddess Hylia reborn, Princess Zelda the Divine

Minish Cap: For the strong concentration of the Light Force she holds within her, Princess Zelda the Radiant

Four Swords: For her lovely visage that bewitched even the wizard Vaati, Princess Zelda the Beautiful

Ocarina of Time: For the seven years she spent training, biding her time and preparing to overthrow Ganondorf, Princess Zelda the Patient

Link to the Past/Echoes of Wisdom: For her ingenuity and clever use of magic to personally face the Demon King, Princess Zelda the Wise

Oracle of Ages/Seasons (if taken to be a different Zelda from LttP OR if EoW is a different Zelda after all): For the faith and optimism she inspires in her people, Princess Zelda the Hopeful

Link Between Worlds: For the magnanimity shown in forgiving her captor, Princess Hilda the Fallen, and bestowing upon her a miracle of the Triforce, Princess Zelda the Loving

Zelda 1: For her great fortune in finding the Hero who not only saved the kingdom in its darkest hour but also revived the slumbering princess, Princess Zelda the Blessed

Adventure of Link: For her great tragedy in being put to eternal sleep by her own family, Princess Zelda the Accursed; alternatively, for the love shown in preserving her body and memory for all time, Princess Zelda the Treasured

Twilight Princess: For the grave choices she bore upon her shoulders, sacrificing her pride to protect her people and offering her life to save another, Princess Zelda the Resolute

Four Swords Adventure: For her trust in her allies and commitment to cooperation, Princess Zelda the Harmonious

Wind Waker: For her rebellious spirit and rejection of both tradition and throne, Tetra the Free

Spirit Tracks: For her proactivity to save her own kingdom and the bravery to face her greatest fears, Princess Zelda the Spirited

Hyrule Warriors: For her bravery to fight amongst the vanguard and power to vanquish her enemies single-handedly, Princess Zelda the Mighty

Breath of the Wild: For her stoic dedication to her research, Princess Zelda the Studious

There might be better titles I could have chosen, and some iterations of Zelda really didn't give me much to work with in the first place, but this is definitely something I'd like to see explored in canon if for no better reason than to help differentiate them aside from saying "the Zelda from such and such game"

I'm particularly proud of the Zeldas of 1 and 2 being the Blessed and the Accursed, if they got their own game I think that would be a very fun angle to approach their comparisons, contrasts and dynamics from

[bigsoftmarshmallow]

Heads up for the first aid:

How would Bandit, Noctis, Wake, & Vendettas react to their wife, Nemma, asking them to visit Hyrule Castle again the next day after a very boring & irritating day of “diplomacy” with the rich uppercrust of Hyrule?

Now, he very much doesn't want to, but…

There was that mischievous light in her eye that he'd know anywhere.

“What are you planning?”

Though, still mostly stoic, the corners of her lips quirked towards ever so slightly in a similar way to when a cat has devoured a bird whole. “Why, whatever do you mean, shinainaru danna-san?” (beloved husband) She says, fluttering her lashes at him demurely.

But that only raised both his suspicions… & his curiosity.

If he decides to return the next day…

He'll be greeted by the sight of king's expression of restrained humor as his servants & attendants scurry around furiously & the pompous elites from the night before wailing & complaining about “the indignity of such a horrid vandalization!”

And, when they drew close, those insipid wretches attempted to keep him from the main hall. But just as he was about to react, the king remarks, “Oh, come now! It was a harmless prank. How are we to make alliances if we hide our warts! Let them in.”

Confused, he glances at his wife, who’s hiding the lower half of her face behind a fan, eyes bright with glee. Now, the curiosity had a chokehold on him.

However, whatever he might've been expecting, it very much wasn’t what he found.

The main hall, that just the night before, had been gloriously, ostentatiously, even pompously, & vibrantly painted, was now a drab, uniform, unpainted, & unattractive gray with piles of what appeared to be peeled away paint upon the floor. Servants were furiously trying to repaint the walls or sweep the debris away. A couple were even weeping pathetically at the loss. It was utter mayhem.

What are his thoughts & feelings? Like, really go into it. I'm guessing half confused.

I’m also hoping for humor that he must valiantly fight against projecting upon his visage & possible sputtering that was covered up quickly when he takes out the gentlemen’s fan that his wife had handed to him just before they left for the castle.

Maybe clearing his throat before asking, “H-how exactly did this occur?”

Regardless, the king remarks that, evidently, some mischievous little scamp had acquired a jar of Ordon’s finest & highest proof moonshine, then hid it open inside the hall. (Ganondorf was nearly unable to keep himself from snapping his neck to look at his wife, who had only just the night before last bought such a jar of Ordonian Moonshine. 2, in fact. Note: The highest proof of moonshine could very well do something like this if left open in a room overnight.)

Though it will take a lot to fix, the king had to admire that sort of creative genius! So simple, yet so effective!

How do they feel throughout this? How do they react upon the pair finding a moment alone away from prying eyes?

I’m hoping for hysterics or retrained giggling or chuckling or something to that effect. Possibly to the point of tears in his eyes, because his queen will certainly be giggling behind her fan, shoulders shaking with jubilance at having made such a mockery of the courts & gotten away with it.

However, should he ask, Nemma will simply state that just because they cannot strike just yet, does not mean that they can’t strike in other, possibly more subtle, if petty ways.

Also, she noticed how awfully the pompous aristocracy was speaking to him & how frustrated he’d been about not being able to put them in their places like she knew he wanted to, so she wished to “defend his honor” she supposed. Though, she hadn’t been planning to use the moonshine in such a way when she bought it, she remarks somewhat mournfully. She’d wanted to cook him a meal tonight & it would've paired well with the corn spirit. Luckily, she'd only needed to leave one jar, so she had enough left to at least bake a new dessert idea she'd had. Fall Moonshine Cake. It should be a lovely spiced thing full of apples & drizzled with a glaze. She was actually looking forward to it.

I love this. Yessss! I love mischief and mayhem! Look at her go! <3 <3 <3

*********************************************************************

The Ganondorfs and Demise, as varied and complex as their personalities may be, would all share a moment of confusion, curiosity, and—ultimately—amusement upon seeing the chaotic aftermath of Nemma’s prank on the Hyrulean elite.

Wind Waker Ganondorf (Wake): As Wake enters the hall, his usual stoic composure cracks slightly. The sight of the once-glorious chamber now stripped bare, servants wailing over the destruction of their precious décor, forces him to stifle a laugh. He quickly covers it up by pulling out the fan his wife gave him, clearing his throat. His mind, however, races with a mixture of shock, admiration, and pride in his queen's cleverness. "So much for the self-important pomp," he thinks, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as he surveys the ridiculous scene. When the king mentions the jar of moonshine, Wake's eyes widen slightly, flickering toward Nemma, whose fan hides her playful grin. He knows exactly where that moonshine came from, and it takes everything in him not to burst into laughter then and there.

Later, when they find a moment alone, Wake can no longer hold it in. His deep, hearty laughter fills the empty hallway as he clutches his side, tears of amusement welling in his eyes. "You are more dangerous than any blade, Nemma," he says between fits of chuckles, his respect for her mischievous mind growing even more. Her explanation about defending his honor only makes him laugh harder, and the thought of a moonshine-baked dessert afterward just adds to the joy of the day.

Ocarina of Time Ganondorf (Bandit): Bandit steps into the hall, his arms crossed, a deep frown on his face, still annoyed from the previous day’s diplomatic nonsense. However, the moment he sees the chaotic scene of elites complaining and servants scrambling to repaint the drab gray walls, his brow furrows in confusion. The king’s cryptic remark about a harmless prank makes him even more suspicious, and when he glances at Nemma, her demure yet wickedly gleeful expression sends alarm bells ringing in his mind.

When the king explains the moonshine fiasco, Bandit nearly sputters, the fan in his hand snapping open with a loud fwip as he covers his mouth. He narrows his eyes at his wife, who now seems to be enjoying his struggle to contain his laughter. "Moonshine?" he mutters under his breath, finally understanding what had transpired. The sheer ridiculousness of it all, paired with his queen’s audacious wit, threatens to break his composure.

Once alone, Bandit leans against the wall, his shoulders shaking as he fights back the urge to laugh. He runs a hand down his face and shakes his head, eyes twinkling with reluctant amusement. "You couldn’t just let me deal with them in my way, could you? No... you had to outsmart them in the most spectacularly petty way possible." Nemma’s explanation about “defending his honor” makes him groan in mock frustration, though a small, appreciative smile finally breaks through.

Twilight Princess Ganondorf (Noctis): Noctis, ever the most composed and regal of the Ganondorfs, strides into the hall with a bored, tired expression after the day of diplomacy. But when he takes in the sight of the destruction—the walls now dull and bare, the elites whining incessantly—he freezes. His golden eyes sweep across the hall, trying to comprehend what has happened, and then they land on Nemma, her mischievous smile hidden just behind her fan. He immediately knows something is amiss.

As the king explains the moonshine prank, Noctis blinks, still trying to process how something as simple as a jar of alcohol could wreak such havoc. He opens the fan Nemma handed him earlier with a graceful flick, subtly fanning his face to cover the smile that’s trying to break through. The image of those snobbish nobles having their grand hall ruined by a jar of Ordonian moonshine is too deliciously ironic to ignore.

When they’re alone, Noctis lets out a low chuckle, a rare sound from the usually stoic king. He shakes his head, folding his arms over his chest. "I cannot decide whether I should be impressed or furious," he admits, though his lips quirk into an affectionate smile. "I hope you left enough moonshine for our dinner, Nemma. That cake sounds intriguing."

Hyrule Warriors Ganondorf (Hedony): Hedony’s first instinct is to assume that something violent occurred when he sees the mess in the hall. The paint peeled off, the nobles screeching like wounded animals—it all points to some grand act of destruction. But when he hears the king’s explanation and sees Nemma’s barely-contained laughter behind her fan, the realization of what really happened hits him. His lips twitch, wanting to curl into a smirk, but he keeps his face impassive, though only barely.

The idea of using moonshine to cause this level of mayhem is... brilliant. Simple, yet effective. He clenches his jaw, holding back the urge to laugh aloud. "How exactly did this occur?" he asks, voice tight with the effort of not breaking into hysterics.

Later, when they’re alone, Hedony finally allows himself to laugh. His booming voice echoes through the corridors as he pulls Nemma close, kissing her deeply. "You’re going to be the death of me, woman," he says with a grin, his pride in her devious mind shining through. "But what a glorious way to go."

Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf (Vendettas): Vendettas, ever suspicious and brooding, walks into the hall, already irritated by the previous day’s events. His eyes scan the destruction with a raised brow. The nobles whining, the king trying to calm everyone down—it all seems so trivial to him. But then he sees Nemma’s smirk hidden behind her fan, and his annoyance fades, replaced by curiosity.

The explanation about the moonshine catches him off guard. He stops in his tracks, blinking in surprise. "Moonshine? Really?" His hand twitches toward the fan she gave him earlier, and before he knows it, he’s covering his face, trying not to snort. The absurdity of it all, the sheer pettiness, is enough to make even him struggle to maintain his composure.

When they’re alone, Vendettas lets out a rare, deep chuckle. "I didn’t think you’d take it that far," he admits, shaking his head. "But I’m glad you did. They deserved it."

Demise: Demise, ever the most prideful and straightforward, enters the hall with a scowl, his patience already worn thin from the previous day's tiresome events. But when he sees the disarray, his scowl deepens. He shoots a suspicious look at Nemma, whose playful eyes behind her fan give everything away.

As the king explains the moonshine incident, Demise’s scowl falters, replaced by confusion. "Moonshine?" His deep voice rumbles as he looks between Nemma and the king, trying to comprehend how such a simple substance caused this chaos. But then he remembers the jar Nemma bought, and realization dawns on him. He tries to stifle his amusement, but a deep, guttural laugh escapes his throat despite himself.

Later, when they’re alone, Demise grips Nemma by the waist, pulling her close. "You are a wicked woman," he growls softly, though there’s a note of admiration in his voice. "But I wouldn’t have it any other way."

[jarino]

Giving up the Ghost: Chapter 11 (This Can't be Good)

Link heads to Hyrule Castle to investigate the false Zelda. When the sages arrive to help, he discovers life-changing news.

AO3 Link

When Link teleported to Lookout Landing, he could immediately sense that something was wrong. Everyone was staring in the direction of the castle and the sky was showing signs that a blood moon was imminent.

He quickly made his way to Purah’s tower to check in with her.

Link found her glued to her telescope, clearly fascinated by whatever she was looking at. She took notice of him and said hurriedly, “Link, look at this! Quickly!”

She had omitted his nickname, which meant things must be dire. He did as instructed and moved to look through the telescope. What he saw had him gasping. What looked to be Princess Zelda was standing on the edge of Hyrule Castle, staring down at him with a melancholic gaze. He turned to Purah, sharing a shocked look with her.

The blood moon began to fade away then, and when he looked back through the lens, Zelda had vanished, a wisp of red smoke left in her place.

It wasn’t her. He knew it wasn’t. The real Zelda was circling the skies of Hyrule. This had to be the imposter who’d been causing mayhem across the land.

“Your highness…” Purah said sadly, gazing at the castle in concern.

Link waved to get her attention and signed, ‘It’s not her.’

“Sorry? What do you mean?”

Sighing, Link answered, ‘Zelda was sent to the past. In order to heal the Master Sword, she swallowed her secret stone and became the light dragon.’ He clenched his fists, letting out a shaky breath. ‘She’s gone. We can’t turn her back.’

Purah reeled back in shock. “Linky…are you serious? This isn’t some cruel joke, right?”

He shook his head.

Purah leaned back against the railing, bracing herself. “The princess is a dragon? How…What about the reports we’ve been getting? Who is that, if not Zelda?”

‘I don’t know,’ he signed, determined, ‘but I’m going to find out.’

-----

The image of Zelda kept taunting Link, appearing just out of reach and smiling at him wistfully just before a horde of monsters appeared to attack him. Each time she materialized, he was filled with pure rage. Something was using his friend’s image for evil. Whoever they were, they were going to pay.

He made his way to the throne room, on the lookout for the fake Zelda.

She appeared at the top of the stairs, a look of faux joy upon her face. “At last…” she said, “I have been waiting for you to arrive.”

There was something off about her voice…it didn’t sound natural.

“Now, Link,” she continued, “There is something here I want to show you.”

She spread her arms wide and the dilapidated throne room magically restored itself, golden light spreading across the stone.

“What do you think?” she asked, stepping down the stairs slowly. “Hyrule Castle, perfect and glorious…

“Does it awaken memories?”

Suddenly, she was behind Link. Taken off guard, he turned to face her, filled with shock.

As she spoke, she continued to appear in different spots of the room, moving around like a ghost. Her voice began to take a sinister turn, as well.

“Well, really take in every detail,” she spoke, malice dripping from her voice. “After all, this place…

“Will be the last thing you ever see.”

Ganondorf’s voice echoed hers then, a ghostly visage of him appearing in the air above the faux Zelda.

Gritting his teeth, Link glared at the man, his hand on his sword.

Ganondorf continued to monologue about how Link had survived, and how he puppeteered the false Zelda to lead him astray.

Link let out a growl, bristling as he listened to his words. He was going to make him pay. He deserved it, after all the suffering he’d caused.

The gloom that made up the fake Zelda’s body dissipated and began taking a new form. A phantom version of Ganondorf dropped to the ground, twitching to life within moments. Link drew the Master Sword, its blade gleaming bright with sacred power.

The sage’s avatars immediately jumped into battle and Link joined the fray.

The Phantom Ganon was malicious in its attacks, not letting up for a second. It was already a tough foe, but when it summoned copies of itself and covered the ground in gloom, things took a turn for the worse.

Link desperately tried to back out of the range of their attacks, but they were fast. He began firing arrows with explosive ingredients, hoping to chip away at their health as much as he could.

Despite his best efforts and the support of the avatars, he ended up severely wounded. He continued firing arrows at the phantoms, pushing through the pain, and though it took a long while, the battle eventually came to an end.

He knelt on the ground, using his sword to prop himself up. He exhaled heavily, trying to keep pressure on his injury.

“It seems there is more to you than the power Rauru has gifted,” Ganondorf jeered, “but not much more.”

Gloom shot out from the Phantom Ganon’s corpse, flying straight at Link. He closed his eyes and grit his teeth, anticipating the attack. He was too weak to dodge it, and he wouldn’t be able to raise the sword in time to parry it. Was this how it ended?

Strangely, the pain he expected never came. Slowly, he opened his eyes, and found the sages standing before him. The real sages.

He blinked in surprise. They had truly come…

“Link, we are here!” Sidon shouted, standing in front of him protectively.

Ganondorf continued to speak about the sages’ destiny and of his plan for world domination, but Link didn’t absorb much of it. He was far too distracted by the fact Sidon was here.

Though he wished he didn’t have to face the zora king, Link was grateful that his friends had come to his rescue. But how did they know to come? And how did they even get here so quickly?

After showing them all a vision of the ancient past where Ganondorf had controlled an army of monsters, his apparition vanished with an evil laugh.

“Was that the Demon King we were warned about?” Tulin asked. “It all really happened?!”

“This is dire,” Sidon said, “The Demon King, the man who nearly destroyed the world…With his return, everyone’s in danger.”

“Oh, this isn’t good!” Yunobo exclaimed. “If that really was him...Oh, we’re in real trouble!”

“Hold on,” Riju cut in. “He must not be at this full strength. Otherwise, why flee instead of finishing us off?”

Everyone looked at her, seeming to realize that what she said was true.

“We should head to Lookout Landing and decide what to do next,” she continued before turning to Link. “Link, you should come too.”

He had been in the process of stepping away, but stopped the moment she said his name. Link turned around guiltily, everyone’s eyes on him. His hands twitched by his sides and he looked away, too scared to meet anyone’s gaze. ‘Ok,’ he signed reluctantly.

He needed to get his wound treated, after all, and he supposed they needed to come up with a plan, but…Hylia, he really wanted nothing more than to flee right now.

Link proceeded to build a zonai device that would fit all of them so they could easily make their way back to Lookout Landing.

Upon arriving, Link and the sages all gathered near the center of the space. They spoke for a while about how to handle the impending threat, and came to the realization that there was a fifth sage somewhere. Link would need to investigate ancient ruins in search of this missing ally.

When there was a lull in the conversation, Link asked, ‘By the way…how did you all know to come? And how did you manage to get here in the first place?’

“Well, I don’t know about the others,” Tulin said, “but as soon as I saw you were in trouble, I was so focused on helping you. Before I knew it, I’d swapped places with my avatar.”

“Oh, it was similar for me, goro,” Yunobo added. “I thought ‘Link needs me. There must be something I can do,’ and before I understood what was happening, I was at the castle.”

Link stood there in shock, trying to understand the implications of their words. ‘When you say you saw that I was in trouble…’

“If we concentrate really hard,” Riju explained, “we can see you through our avatars’ eyes. Did you not know about this?”

Link’s blood ran cold. Against his wishes, he turned his gaze to Sidon, who was looking at him guiltily.

Hylia, no…

All the things he’d said and done, thinking the avatar was just a replica of his friend…Sidon had seen it all.

He needed to go. Now.

He started to take off at a run, but he only got a few steps before Sidon’s hand clamped around his wrist. “Link!” he pleaded. “Please…don’t go.”

Against his better judgement, Link turned around to face Sidon. His wide, misty eyes were begging him to stay. Link gulped. He let out a pained sigh, his body deflating as the fight went out of him. How could he say no to Sidon?

“Ok…” he murmured quietly.

Sidon knelt down so he was closer to Link’s height and gently ran his hand across his side. “You should really get that treated. May I escort you to the healer’s tent?”

Link’s throat swelled and he found it hard to breathe.

Why was Sidon being so nice to him? Wasn’t he revolted after finding out his true feelings? He should be. Especially after seeing everything Link had done with his avatar…

Wordlessly, Link nodded.

He had a feeling Sidon had more to say, and he dreaded what awaited him in the tent. Whatever Sidon was going to tell him, it couldn’t be good.

[aiyexayen]

✿⋆₊⊹ Zonai Facts ⊹₊⋆✿

Mammalian features.

Furry.

Bipedal.

Had exclusive access to incredibly potent but finite power source obtained by unsustainable mining practises.

Opened enormous pit mines in underground caverns beneath every single major city of every nation across Hyrule in the pursuit of more of the energy source.

Bound naturally-occurring root systems in tight woven nets throughout Hyrule's underworld to funnel large quantities of daylight down from the surface, introducing invasive species of surface flora in the process, in order to see better in pursuit of more of the energy source.

Named the energy source after themselves.

Energy source notably corrupts other beings who mine for it.

Used their power and technological advancements to invent fully modular mass weapons of elemental destruction.

Created an army of effectively-immortal, autonomous war robots that are hostile to all lifeforms and attack immediately with deadly force.

Had the power to semi-permanently suspend enormous land masses in the air and did so.

Seeded aforementioned robots on these land masses across the entire skies of Hyrule suspended over every other peoples' land.

Spread their Zonai-exclusive-access technology across the entire surface of Hyrule as well--into towns, caves, valleys, mountaintops.

Supplanted many Hyrulean culture's beliefs and religious practises, building all of them enormous temples with little apparent religious function beyond interacting with the Zonai themselves.

Built over ancient sacred grave sites with their own architecture.

Constructed their own buildings on sacred land intruding on the homes of spirit beings.

Perpetuated the belief that the Zonai themselves were descended from gods.

Filled each of these Zonai temples across Hyrule with technology exclusively able to be accessed by the Zonai or those few they grant permission.

Each temple's technology contained the enormous elemental potential to wreak extinction-level destruction on the peoples and land of Hyrule, not unlike enormous floating war machines.

Seeded the temples with scores of their previously-mentioned immortal, armed with deadly force, universally hostile battle robots.

Places where the Zonai land masses interact with Hyrulean ground cause the latter to begin to disappear, native ecology being replaced as patterns of unknown nature spread out from the point of contact like a living tattoo.

Made a marriage alliance with the most populous and centrally-located race in Hyrule, who also claimed divine bloodline.

Both accepted and demanded allegiance from every other prominent nation in Hyrule.

Described as "warlike" by those who outlived them.

Commandeered the most powerful spiritual leaders from each race and bonded them to ancient and powerful Zonai amulets.

Crafted Zonai-style animal masks for this elite team of mages that they appeared to wear permanently, while the Zonai and Hylians remained unmasked.

Ensured their own visages and names would survive eternally through hundreds of shrines built in their image across the land and sky, filled with an absurd quantity of light energy from an unknown source (and battle robots) to eternally preserve and protect them.

Left the other mages' faces and names out of history entirely--until they do not exist even in the records of their own peoples and nations.

Adorned royalty with intricate stone jewellery.

Severed limbs capable of functioning independent of rest of body.

Had white hair.

Very tall.

Fuckable?

[cloudninetonine]

What about Player who doesn’t know about blood drinking fae Hyrule and finds him in a bad spot?

—

The past few days hadn’t been great to say the least. Sky had broken his wrist after a powerful moblin strike, Time was feeling guilty over being partially involved in said wrist break, Legend was having stess induced migraines, and Four was lashing out randomly (what you assumed was his colors’ distress).

To top it all off, Hyrule was ill, very ill.

It hadn’t gone unnoticed, with everyone keeping close for the past few weeks in fear of their more vulnerable state with two team members down and out, it was easier to pick out details on those who more than often wandered off.

Hyrule had gotten sicker than a dog within days, growing pale as breathing became a slog. You stayed beside the groaning hero, gently brushing the sweat out of his scruffy bangs on hot days.

It all came to a head during the middle of your third week stuck in the same ditch. You forced Time to sleep, as he was exhausting himself after taking watch for the past three days. Now you sat and watched the surrounding area, a small groove cut out of the land in the middle of a snowy spruce forest.

For a moment you let yourself get lost in the stars, letting the cold, bleak twilight air brush through your curls.

Wild would probably yell at you for taking the watch. He had unfortunately bothered to listen to your ramblings of your life and he and Hyrule had decided that no, you were not fit for watch. Really it was just an excuse to make you as comfortable as possible, the doofuses.

Though you thought maybe they were right, as you realized that you hadn’t actually been paying attention to the camp. You shook yourself, doing a quick scan of the small ditch.

Something felt… off.

You looked it over and over until you realized the issue.

Hyrule was gone.

You jumped to your feet, leaping up from the rock you had sat yourself on. You desperately whipped your head about, as if it would somehow aid you in finding your lost hero.

You slapped both sides of your head, urging yourself to think. It was snowy, white cloud covered the forest floor, meaning tracks. You moved up to the bed roll, discovering barefoot prints that led up and out of the ditch.

Without a second thought you rushed forward, scrabbling up the side, grabbing onto dead tree roots to haul yourself up, the lifeline breaking off behind you.

You took off, trudging your way through thick snow. You cried out to the winds, receiving nothing but a taunting zephyr back. It didn’t take long for you to be gasping for breath, eyes shaking in their sockets as the trail began to get fresher and fresher.

Eventually you were at the very edge of the small spruce wood, panting for breath. There was a partially frozen over river, only a small six or so feet long. In front of it was what you were looking for.

Hyrule, crouched down and over something as gargles came from where he positioned himself, it sounded as if he was guzzling something down.

Something was wrong, very wrong.

“Rulie?” You whispered out, a cautious curiosity in your voice. “Are you… okay?”

All motion stopped from the traveler, he stayed crouched over for a long moment, almost long enough for you to feel the need to call out again. Before you could Hyrule suddenly stood to his full height, letting himself drop what he had been holding.

You let out an involuntary gag as a mutilated fish fell to the snowy floor with haunted, white eyes, the exposed bone’s surface licked clean of blood. Hyrule’s neck suddenly snapped around as his gaze locked onto yours. A shiver traveled down your spine as the edges of his silhouette were painted ominously by the bright light of the full moon directly behind him, the rest of his visage blackened out by darkness.

He turned and slowly stumbled in your direction, head hanging limply. You moved backwards, periodically looking behind yourself as to not run into a tree.

“He-hey! It’s me! It’s me, (Name), yeah?” Your instincts screamed at you to run, but you were certain that the man who had been on the run all of his life was faster then you, and you weren’t exactly in the mood to play predator and prey.

You were surprised by the uplift of his head, which resulting in a very sudden burst of speed as you were knocked onto your back, neck whimpering as the cold snow drove away whatever warmth you had.

His face was pressed directly against the crook of your neck. His breathing was shallow, yet louder than the chirping of the crickets with him so close to your ear.

“I- I can’t…” he wheezed, each inhale long and drawn while each exhale was quick and impatient. “I- I don’t want to hurt you.” Something wet was left against your neck as he whispered against your skin, the cold dampness dripping off his lips.

“I-“ you tried to compose yourself. You didn’t know what Hyrule was talking about, but he was clearly in distress, and he needed… something from you.

“You- you aren’t going to hurt me, Rules.” You brought a hand to his tangled, messy mop of hair. “I trust you with all my heart and soul. There isn’t a world where I don’t trust you, where I don’t help you with… whatever is going on.”

“…Truly…?” He rasped, squeezing you just a little tighter.

Gingerly, you pushed the hero to rest on his knees as you sat up, finally spotting a dark, crimson liquid slowing drying on his chapped, frosted lips.

You understood now, you weren’t an expert on the fae but you had read your fair share of lore on them.

“Yes, truly.” You pulled your gifted arm guard off and brandished your arm. “You holding yourself back while starving says enough.”

Slitted pupils grew to the size of dinner plates, a look of utter astonishment and reverence on his face. Without another word his quivering hands took hold of your arm, you looked away just as you felt a sharp pinch.

—

UAGABAH He loves them so fucking much that even while starving- because he can’t sneak off and feed- he forced himself above the waters to keep them safe. However, he simply cannot resist an offer, maybe if he were lucid but right now he’s too hungry to care.

Also when he was on top of them and breathing he was just trying to smell them, get a load of their scent and that blood he wants SO BAD but he knows he shouldn’t have. Honestly making it worse for himself but he doesn’t particularly care.

NAH BECAUSE I LOVED EVERY LAST SECOND OF THIS

Our favourite vamp fairy, in all honesty, especially because he holds back- would they only experience a few moments of pain? Yes, but any pain he inflicts, even the tiniest bit fucks with his morals for the one he loves so he's not gonna do it.

He just loves them so much and it just makes me JNDNWNXNKSD

[gaymergal]

@helloallec

So like for that Wip I do have a solid middle chapter done 😅 (but like the backstory to get to this point is…overwhelming, I have some of it outlined but 😓 idk if this will ever be a finished fic)

😶 if you want the chapter is below the cut

“Gan?” Sheik yelled into the fog. He cupped his hands, trying to project louder. “Gan? Gan, can you hear me?” Panic tinged at the edge of his voice. He had longed to call out to Link, but knew the plea would have fallen on literal deaf ears. He prayed to the goddess that she had fallen somewhere close to Gan.

Giggling tore him from his thoughts and he whipped his head around trying to find the source. By the light of the three, these woods were truly haunted.

“Who’s there?” Sheik pulled out his Sheikah Slate and tried to use its torch function, but to no avail. Though he knew it to be fully charged, the slate would not turn on.

More cackling echoed around him, seemingly coming from a different direction. “Show yourself!” He bellowed only to be met by silence. He rummaged around in his backpack to find a lighter. There was enough loose sticks and foliage around for him to make a fire.

He kept it tight. A medium sized fire, something hopefully bright enough that his partner and childhood friend could spot it in the thick of the fog, but not large enough to catch the forest on fire.

He tried his Sheikah Slate again. Even when he pulled out his portable charging unit and tried plugging it in, both the battery pack and Slate read as dead. “Fuck these woods,” he said blowing at the fringe of hair the fell over his left eye.

He surveyed his surroundings once more, and was unsurprised that there was fog and mist everywhere he turned. He had thought that the three of them were prepared, thought that they could enter the Lost Woods, domain of the restless forest spirits, find the sword of legends and go home.

Something rustled at the edge of his visage, Sheik took a sizable branch and lit it from the fire pit. He didn’t bother to call out to it. He edged closer to the rustling, flaming stick in hand. He could make out a little bit of the ground he walked on, could see that something was rustling the leaves on the forest floor. He tracked it slowly, eyes so glued on the ground beneath him that he didn’t notice the crumbling stone wall until he smacked it with his shoulder.

He yelped, dropping the stick, which promptly set the pile of leaves closest to him on fire. “Shit!” he cursed, stomping on the fire closest to him but it did him no good. The fire spread before his eyes, lighting a trail of leaves that surrounded the stone structure he had run into. His pale blue eyes widened in fear, it was bad enough that he had lied to his mother when he said he, Link, and Gan were going to the Herba region rather than sneaking off on their impromptu quest.

He imagined his mother’s face when she learned that he had burned down the most ancient and sacred forest in all of Hyrule…even if it was fucking haunted and infested with ghosts.

Princess Zelda was a fair and kind constitutional monarch, but as a mother she was known to be much more of a hardass. Sheik would rather combat a magical forest fire rather than face the wrath of his mother.

Thankfully the fire stopped spreading, sparing Sheik’s hide, but it did not burn out. Red flames danced, staying eerily within the courtyard of the highlighting a large decaying stone structure.

Or at least he was pretty sure the building had been comprised of stone at one point. The structure now was nearly completely mossed over, slowly returning to the forest with each decade it remained unused. Sheik carefully approached a broken archway of the courtyard and gasped once he stepped over the threshold.

There was something here…something old, older than the decayed building that housed it, older than the crumbling stones surrounding him, and older than the large gnarled tree roots underfoot. He swallowed thickly, feeling the presence close in around him. Sheik scratched at his right hand, the old magic lingering in the air made his skin itch.

He tried his Sheikah slate one last time, hoping that it would let him signal Gan or anyone really. The screen remained dark, and he lamented that magic and technology rarely ever worked well together. He placed his backpack down by the entrance way and made an arrow point towards the heart of the structure, an old temple he presumed. He filled his pockets with his non-tech arsenal. A sickle and chain, kunai’s, cherry-bomboms, and a potion his grandmother had brewed for him two years ago that he was fairly certain was just moonshine now.

He took a swig of the amber concoction, it imbued him with a liquid courage that was not at all due to the workings of royal magic. With his trusty sickle and chain in hand he entered the Forest Temple of the Lost Woods.

His hand tingled again as he pushed deeper into the temple. He tried his best to follow the pull of magic, but whoever built this temple was definitely drunker than he. That or Grandma’s potion was more aged than he thought…but no, alcohol induced or not, Sheik was standing sideways on a wall looking down at the entrance way he had just gone through. Across the gap of the foyer, he saw a hallway jutting out of the wall with no discernable path to it.

He looked around and saw what might have been a chandelier at one point but was now a mass of mossed over metal hanging from the ceiling. He swung the chain of his sickle and threw it to the light fixture. He tugged hard where the chain had caught, it didn’t budge much, but there was no guarantee it would hold his weight. Sheik made the sign of a triangle with his right hand before attempting the swing across the foyer.

The ancient fixture groaned heavily under his weight and Sheik was clenching hard even before it cracked and fell from the ceiling. He was barely half a story up, he braced himself for the fall, but was unprepared for his breath to leave his lungs so abruptly when his back hit the floor boards. Sucking in a breath he went to stand but heard the tale tell signs of cracking wood planks. “Sweet Hylia!” he hissed. The floor broke beneath him and he scrambled for his sickle.

There was nothing for his chain to catch on to, so he angled the blade to catch the stone wall of the chamber he was falling into and slowed his descent. Sparks flew, crackling and spitting embers at his face until his legs, then torso, were submerged in water. He was grateful for having left all of his tech outside, his clothing was soaked in gross moldy water. “For the love of Nayru!” he cried to the dark waters.

He awkwardly dog paddled around, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the dark flooded basement.

There was a light coming from a distance and with nothing better to steer to he headed that way and ended up on a shore line? It wasn’t the flooring of the temple above. It was soft dirt, the water that he had fallen into lapped at the edges like small waves. He shivered, stepping out of the water, and took off his hoodie and shirt in an attempt to get warm. He thought of discarding his trousers, but didn’t want to be wandering around this creepy ass temple in just his boxers.

The shore was only marginally lighter than the pitchblack waters he had fallen into. Wherever the light source was coming from, it didn’t fully encompass the shoreline. He fished around in his pockets for his cherry bomboms and lighter. The lighter was uselessly wet, he gathered the driest looking driftwood he could see and struck the cherry bombom with a rock until it detonated , catching the driftwood and his hand in the tiny explosion.

Sheik cursed for the umteemth time that day, blaspheming to the remaining members of the pantheon whilst shaking his hand. He cradled his hand clenching and unclenching his fist and plopped down by the fire.

He was beyond pissed. Today had not gone to plan at all. His frustration gave way to curiosity. Even from here he could feel the old magic growing stronger. If he strained his ears he could hear something, not the giggles of mischievous forest spirits, not the voices of Gan or Link, something calling to him. Only him. It only wanted Sheik. That’s why it had to send the others away.

While he tried to dry out by the fire, he could feel old magic pulsating from whatever laid down the path to the light. He shivered, it had to be the sword of legends, the blade of evil’s bane. The Master Sword. It was crazy to think they had actually found it! With the sword of legends in hand the three of them could make their own destiny.

Sickle at the ready, Sheik rose from the fire. In the soft dirt he drew a deep arrow, pointing towards his best estimate of where the light was coming from. He wanted Gan or Link to find him, he hoped that in her genius Link would find away to avoid the mossy water.

He walked away from the shore, and once again encountered fog.

It was as if he was back outside in the forest. He nearly tripped several times over, the fog getting thicker the further he got. Tree roots were once again abundant, but they were unlike the trees he had encountered outside in the forest. Nestled in the grooves of winding roots were pools of water. As he passed them he caught glimpses of movement, the water reflecting things that were not there…Or at least he hoped were not. One particular tree gave him pause, it looked familiar to him, though he knew not why. The reflection in the pool of water gathered at the ancient tree startled him greatly and he stumbled away.

It was her! It was him! Well, the old him. He approached the pool again this time prepared for the blast from the past. A young Zelda stared back at him. She looked just as he had in a family portrait that hung in his mother’s chambers. He raised his arm, and the young Zelda did the same. It was unsettling. He had started transitioning not but two years after the memory the pool reflected. He touched the scars on his bare chest and the Zelda reflection made the same movement.

He stomped in the puddle, erasing the image of his past self. That young girl didn’t exist any more. He had spent the last eight years forging a unique path for himself. He wasn’t going to be a Zelda like his mother before him or her mother before her.

The royal family, much like the rest of Hyrule, clung to their old traditions and superstitions. Every royal daughter named Zelda, every child of the captain of the guard named Link, every Gerudo voe named in the likeliness of Ganondorf.

Was it any wonder why every couple generations the tragedy of the Triforce appeared? Power to the King of Sands, Wisdom to the line of the Goddess, Courage to the Champion of the realm.

Power corrupted by the Demon Demise. The curse of Din, named after the minor goddess who first fell under the immortal demon's spell. Forever damning her descendents to seek the Triforce of Power, to claim the powers of the triforce as their own.

Cursing them to fall at the hands of Courage and Wisdom

Like a broken record, round and round it went, Hyrule had burned and been rebuilt a dozen times over and still the tragedy played out. Din’s descendants would seek out Power. The Goddess Hylia, bonded to the minor goddess Nayru, would bless their descendants with the Wisdom, and Light to trap Din’s children. A Champion blessed by the minor goddess Farore, chosen not for their bloodline, but for their Courage and fealty to the realm, would arise and would be the vehicle by which Nayru’s and Hylia’s children slew Power.

Thoughts of Gan, and their sweet smile, filled Sheik and he stomped his way through the misty grove. Shoving old growth and branches out of his way.

He would never raise a hand against his partner.

Chaos was leaking back into the kingdom. Monster attacks, a rarity in this modern day and age, were popping up with a growing frequency. It had been six generations since the last Triforce war. It was foolish for his Mother to simply pray that they be spared from their destiny. If not them then who? His sisters? His sisters’ children?

He was going to be smarter than their ancestors. He was going to break the cycle before it started. With the Master Sword, the blade of evil's bane, he would have the Power to seal Demise before it took hold. He would have the Power to break the Triforce before its tragedy could begin anew. He would have the Power to save Gan. He would have Power.

Sheik pushed further, deeper into the grove of trees and came across the source of the light. It was a larger pool of water, much larger. The lake before him stretched on for as long as the eye could see. Its waters lighter than the dark murky depths he had originally fallen into. Nearly blindingly so. He blinked rapidly, the whole area was bathed in light, coming from the dark temple above it was hard to adjust.

His hand jolted and it felt like a bombom had gone off in his palm. Sheik grinded his teeth and bore through the pain. Through squinted eyes he peered ahead and his stomach dropped faster and harder than when he had fallen through the floor. “No.” He whispered to himself.

“No!” He yelled out to the golden light dancing in front of him.

His eyes burned with tears, and he found he couldn’t look directly at the sacred emblem floating above the waters. He cast his gaze to the water just below, where the reflection of the Triforce danced mockingly at him.

“Sheik! Sheik, can you hear me?!”

Sheik whipped his head and turned to the sound of Gan’s voice, they sounded so far away, as if on another level of the temple searching for him.

“Stay away!” Sheik bellowed with all of the breath in his lungs, hoping the warning would carry through. By the goddess this couldn’t be happening now! He needed more time, they didn’t yet have the sword of legends. Power couldn’t take Gan away from him.

Gasping for air he turned back to the Triforce and hissed. “You cannot have them. I won’t allow it!”

Ċ̸̨̡̢̭̭̱̭̦̺̻͕̯͚̰̹͗͑̆̾̓̔̌͛̽͆͆́h̶͉̦̖̝̲͎͖͎̃͐̀̚̕į̵̨̛͉̏͋̿͛̎͗̌͌̋͝l̴̨͇͔̝̟̰̦̥̞̆̌̃̒͋̅̌̎̀̉̅̔̓͗̇͘͜d̷̡̛̼͙͍͚̥̯̘̩̫͖̣͍̱̜̓̈̈́̏̀̅͌̐͛̓̈́͒̂͘͜͠ͅ ̸̙̞̲̭̫̻̫͔̭̘̌͊̎̏͊̒̀͐͋́̏̕͝͠͝o̷̧̢̞̯̺̘̜͎̩̱̮̥͕̣͚͈͎͌͜͜f̷̣̠̻̝͜͝͝ ̵̯̾͒͌̅̎̋̚͝ͅD̵̡̡̡̧̛͕̤̱̘͍̭̮̺̼̖͈̿̅̓͌͆́͠ͅͅi̵̞̰͓̹̻͙̗͉͎̦̖͈̔̓̆ņ̸̨̞̯̯̹͎͖̼̣̯̊̀̃̿̒̓̓̓͜͝ͅ…̴̩͔̻̮̓̑̈̕ͅc̵̨̢̻̟̰̭̗̱͉̐͝ơ̸̳͓̰̝̭̣̳̜̙̹͍͔̈́͗̌m̷̧̛͙̳̟̫͖͉͉̲͔̙̬͕͂̈́̇͆͂̒͜ͅe̵̜̥̥͊̓̉̈́͋͒̄̉͐́̈́̀̐̚͝ ̵̳͔̒̓h̵̢̩͚̙̲̝͉̜̳͎̻͙͒̽̒̉̈́̊́̒͝ĩ̶̧̢̛͎̖̪̪̗͕̬̻̯͗̽̏̅̀̓͛̐̅͋͛̈́̎̈̈́̚͜͝ͅͅt̷̡̨̛̛̺͓̎̏́͒̀͂̓̊̎̏̏̌̚h̴̢̨̨̺̞̟͙̦̥̞̟̺͉̃̐̆̾̄̒͒̂͋̊̄̈̚̕͜͠ͅe̸̢̯̼̘̳͂̈̓̃͐̍̊̐̊̄̅͛̍ͅr̸͈̀́̿̑̃̾͗̉̒͝

Sheik flinched hard. The call came from within, the Triforce speaking directly to his body. He reached for his sickle and threw it. It was no blade of evil’s bane but it would have to do.

His weapon never made contact.

It disintegrated before it even came close. Sheik’s throwing arm froze as the handle crumpled in his grasp.

Hot tears ran down his face. The magic in the air was restless; the Triforce was ready to have a host once more after nearly 300 years of slumber.

The Wise decision would have been to have never stepped foot in this temple. Perhaps it was Courageous, walking closer to the divine relic, courageous to accept that he was bound to this cycle. In the end, he was driven to do what he did by Power.

He reached out his hand and grabbed the top most triangle, he seized Power. The golden triangle glew red, and soon everything was bathed in crimson. In a red flash the fog vanished, the water he was wading in evaporated, the trees turned to ash and were swept away by the unnatural wind that raged all around Sheik.

He couldn’t be sure that he wasn’t not screaming. The Triforce of Power fused into his hand. The other two pieces broke away and flew off.

He saw it. He could feel it. Power rising in him as he understood Demise’s master plan.

Their fates had been cast. Their fates were sealed by the actions of ancestors they never knew. After so many generations, the lines had blurred enough for Demise to gain a foothold.

Courage to the Champion of the desert, determined to change their destiny. Wisdom to the Scholar of the realm, the mislayed child of champions and queens…Power to the line of Din, who after eons of waiting had finally intersected with the line of the Goddess.

It would end soon. The war between Demons and Goddesses. In her eternal fight to wipe out Demise and his kind, would Hylia slay her own blood?

————————————————————————

[only-by-the-stars]

For the guessing game! Shock!

Naboris let out that cry again, sounding more like the tolling of a bell or a massive gong more than any living animal. Her strange face had been only briefly seen before Mipha turned and began her headlong flight in the opposite direction, but it haunted her. Something about the way those lights had been arranged in it gave her the appearance of smiling, but not in a friendly way. Perhaps her perception was biased, perhaps it would be different if she remembered her the way she’d once been—Urbosa’s benevolent and beloved partner—but the only memento she had of those days was Zelda’s pictograph, which had focused mainly on Urbosa herself. Naboris’ visage had not been visible, and maybe that had contributed to the shock of that first sight here, looming up in the strange green-tinted mist.

Not that it made any difference, since she was about to receive a far worse shock. Tears riddled with sand swam in her eyes, and she choked back what she was sure was one of her last breaths. This was it, this was where she'd die, she'd never free Naboris or save Hyrule, she'd never know where Link was, she—

—she tripped.

Her foot finally betrayed her, and she plunged down with terrifying speed into the sand.

[sonicasura]

SonicAsura's Doodles #71

Don't you know?

A dragon lives in those woods

Visage of a serpent

Bright fairy wings

Decor by the forest

Magic hums as it breathes

Fairy or dragon?

No one knows

Safety may come

If you respect its' abode

What tis' name?

Can't be told

But the fae given a title

The Great Fairy Dragon

Here he is, Great Fairy Dragon Hyrule, specifically in his early 20s so not full grown. I won't lie that his design gave me a bit difficulty and I rather not break the paper. Design wise, I wanted him to have some traits of Ancient Fairy Dragon since this Link is her son. Hyrule isn't the type who wears fancy or extravagant armor.

Personal preference being tunics or leather armor at best as he's simple in taste despite being a sacred dragon. Hyrule's magic is more akin to nature than light. Plants shall grow, storms may brew, and the land is his to revitalize or reshape. A bringer of paradise but also ruin.

Hyrule has helped rebuild fountains for his fairy kin and slowly undo the damage done to the kingdom. One personal creation being the Fairy Temple which serves as a den. A town called Avalon will soon be built around it and bring sanctuary to all in exchange for harmony.

When a certain Chain comes to recruit Hyrule, they got more than they bargained for. None of them but one feral Link knows. Both are going to be little shits about it too.

That's all I have for now! Until next time folks, I'll see you back in Hyrule!

[opinions-about-tiaras]

Link to the Past’s overworld design is justly famed, but the cracks show if you look.

If you really examine it closely, it’s a TINY overworld, even with the light world/dark world doubling. Compared to the sprawling, downright dangerous overworlds of the first two games you’re positively hemmed in.

It hides this adroitly; a lot of the overworld is gated off, behind rocks and hookshot posts and bombable obstacles and lakes and such. You’re constantly running around looking for the next item that, Metroidvania style, will let you access the next area. The running back and forth makes it feel bigger than it is.

But even that is indicative of the lack of fleshing out. They have TWO kinds of heavy boulders you need TWO “lift-heavy-things” magical gloves in order to pass, for example. That’s just lazy game design.

A consequence of this is that Hyrule doesn’t quite feel like it should. Even if we put the 3d Zeldas aside... venturing into the wilds, away from a fairy spring or a town with a bed, was a big deal in the first two games. In Link to the Past... when you hit the desert area you get four screens of desert-themed enemies, a single cave, and the dungeon is on the fourth screen in the northwest. And... that’s it.

And sure, there’s the world doubling... but what that more or less amounts to is “I need to go there, but there is not a path. Let me pop into the other universe... there we go, that’s how.” The dark world isn’t even a proper dark reflection; the only truly interesting thing they do with it is the whole “this is a desert in the light world but its a swamp in the dark world” thing. Other than that its nearly a one-for-one replica. The lake is still the lake, the town is still the town, the woods are still the woods, etc. The dark world reflection of Link’s childhood home is... a bomb shop. What a terrifying look into its twisted dark visage.

As you say, this is BADLY underutilized. Like... okay, the obvious thing to do with this is to set up elaborate puzzle sequences where you manipulate one world to cause effects in the other. This is the exciting selling point of the world doubling... but it only occurs in fits and spurts. “Throw a switch in the marshes to open up another generic dark world temple” isn’t really enough. Or if you have to be focused on dungeons, a full-on light side/dark side dungeon that is entirely centered on needing to constantly transition between both worlds in order to solve puzzles.

I could happily have done without two or three of the dark world dungeons (the light world ones are pretty okay; the light world sequence of the game flows well and the discover of the dark world on Death Mountain is actually kind of delightful) for a bigger, better fleshed-out overworld.

Actual, non-shitposty video game opinion for once: I think the much-praised fact The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past has the largest number of full dungeons of any title in the Zelda franchise is more of a mark against it than a mark in its favour.

It feels like it has lots of dungeons just for the sake of having lots of dungeons; contrary to most mainline Zelda games, where it's obvious how much was left on the cutting room floor, ALttP's dungeons feel like they straight up started running out of ideas, particularly toward the middle stretch of the Dark World, where the visual design, puzzles, and even bosses start to get noticeably repetitive.

I think it would have been a stronger game if they'd cut the number of crystal dungeons from seven to five and devoted more attention to fleshing out the two-worlds aspect of the overworld instead, which is frankly badly underutilised as it stands.

[bigsoftmarshmallow]

How would the Ganondorfs (Wind Waker, Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, Hyrule Warriors, and Tears of the Kingdom) & Demise react to their SO running up to them, so very giddy, before revealing a small plushy of them? SO is so exciting cuz look!!! Tiny Demon King!!! So cute and squishy!!!

That’s an adorable scenario! Here's how each version of Ganondorf and Demise might react to their SO excitedly presenting them with a cute, squishy plushie version of themselves:

Wind Waker Ganondorf

Reaction: Surprised and Gently Amused

Thoughts: "I never imagined myself represented in such a... endearing form. Their joy is truly infectious."

Scene: The sun sets over the Great Sea, casting a warm glow through the windows of Ganondorf's chamber. He's engrossed in ancient texts when suddenly, his SO bursts into the room, eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Ganondorf! Look what I found!" they exclaim, holding up a small, plush version of him complete with tiny robes and a miniature beard.

He raises an eyebrow, clearly taken aback. The sight of his formidable image rendered into something so soft and adorable is unexpected. His SO presses the plushie into his hands, their enthusiasm undeniable.

He studies the toy, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. The plushie is meticulously crafted, and the thoughtfulness behind it touches him deeply.

"It's... quite the likeness," he remarks, his voice gentle.

His SO beams up at him. "Isn't it the cutest? Now I can have you with me everywhere!"

A soft chuckle escapes him as he watches their joy. Carefully, he places the plushie on a nearby shelf, ensuring it's prominently displayed.

"Thank you," he says sincerely, placing a tender hand on their cheek. "Your delight brings warmth to these old halls."

They grin and lean into his touch, eyes shining with happiness.

Ocarina of Time Ganondorf

Reaction: Amused and Slightly Proud

Thoughts: "A toy in my image? How fitting that even in playthings, my presence is acknowledged."

Scene: In the grand throne room of his desert fortress, Ganondorf sits, exuding his usual aura of dominance and control. The heavy doors swing open, and his SO rushes in, clutching something behind their back and practically bouncing with excitement.

"My King, I have a surprise for you!" they announce, eyes dancing with mischief.

He leans forward, intrigued by their unusual excitement. "Oh? And what might that be?"

With a flourish, they reveal a small, plush version of him, complete with his armor and piercing gaze but rendered adorably soft and huggable.

He blinks in surprise before a smirk spreads across his face. "Is that supposed to be me?"

"Yes! Isn't it amazing? Now there's a cuddly side to the mighty Ganondorf," they giggle, offering it to him.

He takes the plushie, examining it closely. The idea of his fearsome reputation softened into a toy is amusing, and he can't deny a swell of pride at being immortalized in such a way.

"Perhaps I should distribute these across Hyrule," he muses with a glint in his eye. "Let them all become accustomed to my visage."

His SO laughs, clearly delighted by his response. "I'm sure it would be a hit!"

He chuckles, handing the plushie back to them. "Keep it close. Let it remind you of my presence, even when I'm away."

They nod eagerly, hugging the toy to their chest. "Always."

Twilight Princess Ganondorf

Reaction: Initially Confused but Secretly Touched

Thoughts: "Such a trivial object, yet it seems to bring them immense joy. Perhaps there is value in these small pleasures."

Scene: The twilight casts long shadows across the desolate landscape as Ganondorf stands atop a balcony, gazing out in contemplation. His SO approaches quietly, their footsteps light but their excitement evident.

"Ganondorf, I have something to show you," they say softly, their eyes gleaming.

He turns to them, his expression stoic. "What is it?"

They reveal a plushie from behind their back—a soft, cuddly version of him, complete with his glowing forehead jewel and flowing cloak.

He stares at it, eyebrows knitting together. "What... is this?"

"It's you! Well, a mini you," they explain with a bright smile. "I thought it would be nice to have a softer side of you around."

He takes the plushie hesitantly, his large hands dwarfing the tiny toy. He turns it over, examining the craftsmanship. Despite himself, he feels a subtle warmth at the gesture.

"Hmph. It's... accurate," he admits grudgingly.

They laugh, clearly pleased. "I knew you'd appreciate it."

He casts them a sidelong glance, a hint of a smile ghosting over his lips. "I suppose if it pleases you, it can stay."

They beam, stepping closer to wrap their arms around his waist. "It does. Thank you."

He allows the embrace, his free hand resting gently on their back as he continues to hold the plushie, a silent acknowledgment of the affection behind the gift.

Hyrule Warriors Ganondorf

Reaction: Highly Amused and Slightly Flirtatious

Thoughts: "They've captured my grandeur in such a tiny form? How delightful. Their enthusiasm is truly charming."

Scene: Amidst the war room filled with maps and strategies, Ganondorf exudes confidence and power. Suddenly, his SO bursts in, their excitement cutting through the heavy atmosphere.

"Ganondorf! You have to see this!" they exclaim, almost bouncing on their feet.

He looks up, eyebrow arched. "This had better be important."

With a dramatic flourish, they present a plushie version of him, complete with his wild mane of hair and imposing armor, now adorably softened.

For a moment, he stares before a deep, hearty laugh rumbles from his chest. "Is that supposed to be me? So small and soft?"

They nod enthusiastically. "Yes! Now I have my own pocket-sized Demon King."

He stands, moving towards them with a predatory grace, eyes glinting with amusement. "Do you prefer this softer version to the real thing?"

They giggle, shaking their head. "Never. But it's nice to have a cuddly version when you're busy conquering."

He chuckles, taking the plushie and giving it a playful squeeze before handing it back. "Then keep it close, and remember who truly holds your affections."

They smile, tiptoeing to place a quick kiss on his cheek. "Always."

His gaze softens slightly as he watches them, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. "Good. Now, perhaps later I'll show you just how unmatched the real thing is."

They blush, hugging the plushie tighter. "I'll look forward to it."

Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf

Reaction: Mildly Surprised and Secretly Pleased

Thoughts: "Such innocence and joy over a simple toy. Their lightness is a refreshing contrast to my darkness."

Scene: In the depths of his underground lair, Ganondorf pores over ancient scripts, the air heavy with malice and power. His SO enters, their presence bringing a lightness to the dark surroundings.

"Ganondorf, I have something special to show you," they say, eyes twinkling with excitement.

He looks up, curiosity piqued by their bright demeanor. "Yes?"

They reveal a plushie crafted in his likeness, complete with his ornate armor and menacing aura, now soft and endearing.

He raises an eyebrow, clearly not expecting this. "Interesting. You've turned the King of Evil into a child's toy."

They laugh, undeterred by his words. "Not just any toy—a cute and squishy one! Now I can have you with me even when you're busy."

He studies the plushie for a moment before a subtle smile curves his lips. "If it brings you joy, then it serves its purpose."

They step closer, pressing the plushie into his hands. "Feel how soft it is!"

He indulges them, giving it a gentle squeeze. The absurdity of the situation isn't lost on him, but their delight is contagious.

"It is... surprisingly pleasant," he admits softly.

They beam up at him. "I'm glad you like it!"

He hands the plushie back, his gaze lingering on them. "Your happiness is of importance. Keep it close, and think of me."

"I always do," they reply warmly, clutching the plushie to their chest.

Demise

Reaction: Initially Confused but Ultimately Amused

Thoughts: "They dare to render my formidable presence into this soft form? Their boldness continues to amuse me."

Scene: The realm is dark and foreboding as Demise stands amidst swirling shadows, his presence commanding and fearsome. His SO approaches, unafraid and brimming with excitement.

"Demise, look what I found!" they exclaim, eyes shining.

He turns his fiery gaze upon them, noting their exhilaration. "What is it?"

With a triumphant grin, they reveal a plushie modeled after him, complete with his flaming hair and imposing stature, now transformed into a cuddly toy.

He stares for a moment, processing the sight of his terrifying form made soft and harmless. "Is that... meant to be me?"

They nod eagerly. "Yes! Now I have a cuddly version of the Demon King himself."

A low rumble of laughter escapes him, unexpected but genuine. "You have courage, presenting me with such a thing."

They smile brightly. "I thought it was adorable, just like you."

He smirks, amused by their audacity and the contrast between his dark essence and the innocent toy. "Adorable is not a word often associated with me."

They step closer, pressing the plushie into his large hand. "Well, now it is."

He examines it briefly before returning it to them. "Keep it, then. Let it remind you of my power, even in softness."

They hug the plushie happily. "Thank you, Demise."

He places a hand under their chin, lifting their gaze to meet his. "Your boldness continues to entertain me. Perhaps there is more softness in darkness than I realized."

They smile up at him, their eyes full of affection. "Always."

Summary: Each version of Ganondorf and Demise reacts uniquely to their SO's playful and affectionate gesture, ranging from surprise and amusement to subtle pride and warmth. Despite their dark and imposing natures, they all find themselves touched by the innocent and loving act, revealing softer sides beneath their formidable exteriors.

[hyrulecast]

he baby

[courageunbound-blog1]

tag drop! these tags kinda suck but oh well

[wizard-finix]

(felt like writing something for this bc I love it, hope ya dont mind)

~~~~~

The shadow was watching Hylia’s mortal incarnation.

She stood further away from the safety of the shelter blessed by the goddess of horses, near the edge of the forest where the shadow lay in wait. The hero of this era was not here, having been thrown through portals into different areas with the other incarnations of the hero’s spirit, and would not be able to interfere; the shadow was taking the opportunity to analyze a potential threat and decide if she was better left alone and unaware of its presence, or if she was worth removing from the picture.

It would demoralize the heroes chasing the source of the black blooded infections across the eras of Hyrule. The goddess incarnation was not to be underestimated, but she was preoccupied and would not be expecting him.

The goddess incarnation turned around, and the shadow chose that moment to step forward from the forest, silently stepping into the light cast by the small fire she was currently tending to and pausing several feet behind her. 

She turned around, and it waited in anticipation for the moment that she would realize that something was wrong, that this twisted visage of her precious hero was–

“Oh! Link!” she said, jumping slightly. “You startled me for a moment, appearing like that! Where have you been?”

It paused. What?

“...I’m taking your silence and the fact that you’re wearing your dark tunic to mean that you’ve been off gallivanting who-knows-where again. I don’t know where Kilton finds such strange costumes, nor why you’ve acquired so many of them,” she said, misinterpreting the shadow’s silence. She turned her back towards it, facing a pot full of something that was bubbling. “Well, your timing is perfect!”

The mortal goddess incarnation… believed it was her hero. 

There had been no fear in her eyes. Not even a hint.

What?

It was so caught off guard that it almost didn’t realize when she turned back to it and handed it a bowl filled with something, and it nearly dropped the bowl in the process.

“It’s not perfect, but I think I’ve managed to recreate your recipe for creamy heart soup!”

Its eyes widened a little. Soup made of hearts? That was… shockingly ruthless of this goddess incarnation; the shadow never thought she would stoop to such a level. It wondered if she had crafted it from the hearts of her enemies. It sounded brutally effective as an intimidation tactic, though not particularly useful for anything else.

“Well?” she asked. “Go on and try it!”

It blinked in surprise. She… wanted it to taste the soup?

Well. It couldn’t say it wasn’t intrigued by the idea of her creation, and there was little harm in doing so. 

It raised the bowl to its face and took a deep drink of the soup. Disappointingly, it didn’t taste anything like hearts, so the goddess incarnation must have used extremely little, but the shadow tasted a blend of chopped vegetable roots and spices, and the soup was pleasantly warm and creamy.

It was good. Surprisingly so.

“How is it?” she asked.

Unable to give a verbal response without tipping her off that she had mistaken its true identity, the shadow simply nodded and continued to eat at a much faster pace. 

~~~

Zelda was fairly certain by now that this wasn’t her Link.

She truly believed it had been him at first; Link had shown her the strange dark armor that changed his appearance when he donned the black tunic and cap and glamoured him to show gray skin and red eyes. She never looked too hard at his face for all that those red eyes unsettled her, so that was part of the reason she had been fooled at first.

His mannerisms gave him away, though. Link hadn’t been this quiet since before the Calamity; he had opened up somewhat and allowed himself to speak a little more freely, offering small smiles and small bits of conversation. Whoever this was hadn’t uttered a word, nor had he smiled or made any attempts to examine the pot that held the still-warm creamy hearty radish soup.

She didn’t truly believe him to be a monster, though. He hadn’t made any attempts to harm her yet, and was busy enjoying her culinary creation, even letting her know that he thought it was satisfactory.

How peculiar.

She laughed softly. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it so much. I was worried I hadn’t gotten the spices quite right, but I see now there was nothing to be afraid of,” she explained. “Although… what do you think of bananas? I was thinking of trying my hand at making banana bread next.”

This person who shared Link’s appearance only stared at her briefly before returning to his soup. 

No reaction. She relaxed. Most likely not a Yiga assassin then, though if they were this certainly would have been the strangest attempt so far. She couldn’t stifle her disappointment that this wasn’t truly her Link, but she was certain that wherever he was off to, he would be fine.

Besides, if this person was enjoying her hearty radish soup this much, she thought that there was little to be worried about.

Stupid AU idea:

Wild leaves his era before he can tell Flora abou the portals/other heroes. Dink, sensing an opportunity, tries to attack Flora while she's unaware her hero is gone.

Flora sees a person who looks like Wild but with grey skin, black hair, and red eyes, and since she already knows about the dark armor, she just assumes that Wild's finally entered his emo phase.

Dink is expecting her to cower in fear of his appearance, a twisted version of the hero of this era. Instead Flora just goes "Oh hey Link, I like the new look! 🥰 Now come taste this soup I just made!"

And Dink is so caught off guard that? He just does?? And by the end of the night he is so, so confused, but also full of delicious soup and high off of the first friendly contact he's ever had.

He keeps coming back, and Flora ends up rehabilitating him. (She may or may not have caught on to the fact that Dink is not Wild about halfway though her first time meeting him, but decided to keep quiet and see where it went)

[person-i-guess]

The Time Has Arrived

The First Chapter of Reverse Mentor AU is Here, offically titled “The Ties that Bind Us (are more tangled than you think)

ao3 link

Word count: 1245

Relationships: Time & Twilight

Time didn’t recognize the era they had landed in, no one did. This Hyrule was distinctly darker than the ones they had been to before. Not in a malicious way, just dark. The shadows lingered out a bit farther than they should, shifting with impossible patterns that were never there when he took a second glance, leaving an impression too obvious to brush off as a trick of the light, but subtle enough to make him question if he was hallucinating. Everywhere you looked was covered in a thin veil of warm light from the sunset. A welcome distraction from the tinge of tragedy that seemed to linger just under the homely visage of the village. This place, while wholly unfamiliar, was saturated with reminders of fond times turned bitter-sweet. He was once again trapped in a graveyard of memories. Some long-since faded around the edges, remembered by no one other than him. Others were vivid, so much so that he would get lost in them if he looked too long. One, in particular, called out to him. The wind whipped at his face as he desperately clung to his mentor, his family. Time’s hat had been taken into the swirling vortex ahead of them by the wind stinging their faces. “You can’t go!” he cried. The powerful gusts threatened to pull him away. Twilight’s expression was shaped by guilt and sorrow. “We both knew I had to leave at some point, Pup,” he sighed. “You can’t!” Time yelled. It was hard to tell which tears were caused by the winds. “I know kid,” Twilight sighed, pulling Time into his chest, “I don’t want to go either.” “But I have to,” he finally relented. “I promise I’ll never run off again without telling you. Or hide rocks in your bag. Or–” Time’s voice broke as he let out a sob. “Just please don’t leave me too,” he begged, voice so soft that even Twilight struggled to hear it. Twilight pulled Time from his chest, gripping his shoulders. “Pup, I need you to look at me,” Twilight began, “I’m not leaving because you did anything, or because you’re a bad kid. You’re the best kid I could have possibly had the honor of caring for. Know that if I had any say in the matter, I’d stay with you forever. But I don’t and I can’t,” Twilight sighed. He shakily wiped away Time’s tears with his thumb. “So let’s make the most of tonight, yeah?” he began, “We’ll go to the market before heading to Lon-Lon Ranch.” Time shakily nodded his head. That night, the two of them had eaten their favorite foods, carved out beads, and shared countless stories. Time’s eyelids felt like lead by the time it was coming to a close. Twilight had carried him to bed, despite his protests. “Do you have to go?” he asked shakily. Twilight looked at him with determination. “I promise we will meet again, whether it’s in this life or the next. I don’t care if I have to fight Hylia or whatever gods might stand in the way. I’ll fight as long as it takes to be sure of it.” The last thing Time remembered before falling asleep was a kiss on his forehead and Twilight’s guilty expression. The next morning, he had woken up to a wrapped package on the table and no sign of Twilight.

The lack of warmth coming from the space next to him made itself more apparent the further into the village they went.

When he had joined the chain and learned more about what was going on, he had immediately scanned over the group once more. ‘Just to make sure,’ he told himself. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t disappointed when he didn’t see the familiar markings. In the nearly three months since Time had joined, their numbers had jumped from four to seven, and still no sign of Twilight. He was beginning to doubt. Maybe Twilight wasn’t able to see him again. Maybe he just didn’t want to see him again. As the years had steadily passed by at the Ranch, Time’s hope slowly dwindled down to embers. Would Twilight still be searching for him? What if he never saw him again? What if he had died looking for him? What if he didn’t want to look for him?

He had felt a small flame of hope reignite from the embers once he joined the chain, however, in the three months Time had been with the Chain, there was still no sign of Twilight. Saying he wasn’t disappointed would be a lie. With each new Link, Time’s hope dimmed more. Their numbers had increased from four to seven, and none of them were Twilight. Time was beginning to wonder exactly how many Links there were.

Abruptly, he was torn from his thoughts by Warriors grabbing his shoulder. Time looked up to see the lake, just a few steps in front of him. “We don’t need you swimming with the fishes just yet, old man,” Warriors smirked. Time sent him a half-hearted glare before letting out a sigh. “I was just thinking is all,” Warriors looked at him, eyebrows furrowed in question, smug expression gone. “This place reminds me of him,” Warriors hummed in understanding. He’d heard enough from Time during the war to know a few things about Twilight. He was a hero, he was very important to Time, and that he’d been forced to leave at the end of Time’s second adventure. Being a hero meant making sacrifices. Sacrifices that you didn’t know you were making most of the time. None of them had made it through their journey without some kind of lasting mark that would more than likely stick with them for the rest of their lives, and Time was no exception.

“We should get going. The guide’s waiting, and I’m not sure how long she’ll be able to put up with the rest of them.” Time let out a sigh and nodded, walking back to the unruly group of heroes.

The walk to the mayor’s house was peaceful, tranquil even. Their guide was concerningly welcoming of seven fully-armed strangers. It was a sharp contrast to the consistent fighting they had all gotten used to. It was almost suspicious. No, it was definitely suspicious. The gods have never given them breaks like this before, why start now? They were led to a house with small red banners on the outside. Time approached the door when he was interrupted by the rustling of leaves. There was some kind of animal stuck inside of a large bush. A large one, judging by the little they could see of it through the branches. “Not you again,” their guide groaned. “Go on! Shoo! There’s plenty of food for you in the forest,” she scolded. There was a brief blur of movement as the beast wandered off back into the forest. “What was that?” questioned Legend. “Wolf. It likes to hang out around the outskirts of town. I think that’s the closest I’ve ever seen it get to town. I swear, one of these days it’ll get adventurous and steal one of the cuccos. It luckily doesn’t seem to have too much interest in people, though I’m worried one of the children will decide to go chase after it and get their hand bitten clean off,” she sighed. “Interesting,” Time hummed, opening the door to the mayor’s house.

Tagging people who asked to be tagged:

@ra404 @thequeenofdragons @hyperfixatezz @rainbow-renegade-with-a-blade @starshineandbooks (not sure if you rebloged the concept post three times on purpose, but I’m assuming that you’re interested and so I’m tagging you, sorry if you’re not) 

[sonicasura]

Traveller's Guardian Nightmare: Night and Hyrule

The second set of headcanons for our dear fairy boy! It's a two in one as I'll be going over Night(Nightmare Luffy) too. Any Night(🌃) or Hyrule(🧚) centric headcanon will be marked with these respective emojis.

You know those siblings who have take care of each other's weaknesses and chores? That's Hyrule with Night right there. Whenever they travel or live in a house, both have a chore list.

🌃 Night can actually cook! He handles all the meals as Hyrule just burns water. Night collects recipes and has a homemade cookbook. He will eat any meal Hyrule makes even if its both burn but also raw at the same time.

They always sleep next to each other, no exceptions as it makes them feel safe. If Night is in his true form, then he either sleeps on his back with Hyrule on top of him or in the big spoon position. Otherwise they hold each other in swapped positions.

Hyrule takes advantage of Night's size to hang on his shoulders or head like a koala. If they need to climb steep cliffs, then the shadow handles the climbing with his brother safely secured. Since his body is rubberlike, he can absorb any impact from a potential fall and keep Hyrule safe.

🧚 Hyrule likes to give gifts to Night. Pretty flowers, shiny gems and even finding fantastic sightseeing spots. He wants to make sure his big shadow brother know he's appreciated for everything.

They both goof around with Night's rubber abilities. Making scary faces even freakier, play games like jump rope or come up with new ways to traverse places. The Gum Gum UFO is probably the funniest technique both Hyrule and Night ever invented.

Training happens quite often with the duo. Night teaches Hyrule various sword and bow techniques that ingrained into his original incarnation. Our Traveller helps the shadow understand magic more but also a few techniques of his own.

🌃 Night sometimes has dreams about his original incarnation. Adventures he never fully experienced but feels too real to be fake. It always makes him wonder about the real person that was once blanketed by his shadowy visage.

Hyrule and Night like to try different things together like new outfits. Both had once dressed up as each other although the shadow had to keep his brother from dying himself blue. Night often alters his Hylian appearance to look like Hyrule albeit with black hair. Twinsies!

🧚 Hyrule was given Night's straw hat! Our fairy boy wears it whenever he can and does his absolute to keep the hat in good condition. He asked Fable(his Zelda) to teach him how to sew and knit so he'll be able to repair. Most likely to punch someone for touching his straw hat without permission.

Hyrule and Night fight in perfect harmony. Both can devastate their opponents with amazing team attacks or counter strikes meant for the other. Their bond is so powerful that they can fuse together to become Elysium, a shadow like Great Fairy who can weave light and darkness to aid him.

Once the Chain found out about Night, both brothers were instantly protective of each other. Nearly everyone was practically walking on eggshells as upsetting one sibling angers the other. Four however is the exception as Night admitted Hyrule could trust him. (I wonder why.)

It takes AWHILE for the Chain to not only patch things up with Hyrule but also trust Night(Luffy to them as only Hyrule can call the shadow his nickname). In order: Four, Twilight, Wild, Wind, Time, Legend, Sky, Warriors. Both brothers don't isolate themselves from the group anymore.

🌃 Night often ponders about the shadow or Dark Link. He doesn't believe all these events where orchestrated by Dink but someone else. The fragments of the shadow used to make him feels the same way.

Shenanigans of two become shenanigans for five. Wind, Wild and Sky get into chaos very often with the two brothers. None of them are allowed to be alone together after the 'Gum Gum Fireworks' incident.

🧚 Hyrule often feels like he is 'out of place' with the Chain. The man is just a simple half fae traveller who has a guardian shadow. It gets worse when a Link discusses something he isn't familiar with yet everyone else doesn't feel loss like he is.

Night and Hyrule do become protective of the Chain once the remaining tension is gone. If one or more Links decide to join the brothers for a nap then they're welcomed. Even when the time comes for everyone to go their separate paths, Hyrule and Night will make it rememberable.

That's it for now! Make sure to vote in the polls right here! Until next time folks, I'll see you back in Hyrule!

[obraveyouth]

of course the women wanted an explanation, an explanation that link at this moment couldn’t give, at least not without halting his current progress… and the fact he was still a beast. but the bearer of the triforce of courage had limitless amounts of it and wit ( only outclassed at times by the keeper to the triforce of wisdom ): link took pride in many things and his intelligence in the spectrum of problem solving was one of them. his shadow takes the guise of something even more otherworldly ( as something exotic / as something alien ): the visage of the twi imp promptly takes his back once again as her living breathing throne on paws.

❛    well there goes tryna be lowkey. ❜ link thinks to himself tuning out whatever midna is saying for the time being. her lifelike reddish orange locks blowing in the winds of the arbiter's grounds and somehow not a spec of sand nor dust seemed possible to cling to her. with her appearance it changed a few things for the current situation. for starters, link just went from looking like a very peculiar lone wolf—to a wolf being ridden by a maybe childlike foreign girl or something. link could sense the way midna was eyeing the women, his ears flinching at the only understandable to him twili rolling off her tongue. he had to figure out a way to lose this women he had to think—

however, before his mind can think of a proper solution, one of midna’s contagious laughter of mischief ring in his ears as she presses the shadow crystal onto his forehead and before link could possibly hide away in time or stop it, he can feel the dusk in his veins shifting into something less heavy, something more pure and holy flowing even. his stance going from four legged to two and fur changing for the green garb of the soul of the hero he shared. ❛    well, now wont this be interesting? ❜ midna hums into his mind, now safely hidden inside his shadow and undetectable by any creatures who lived under the cover of light.

❛    midna! what happened to not letting people see? ❜ link shouted back through their weird telepathic connection. truly, this twi was going to be the death of him moreso than any murderous shadow beast or servant of evil on this journey ever could. all link is met with his more laughs and ❛    you asked for me to translate and to turn back. talk for yourself now, she probably is ridden with even more enquiry now. ❜ usually link found her sarcasm and retorts pleasing but now was no such time, before him stood a women already demanding too many answers of him and all midna had aided in is giving her more reasons to oppose his path. 

❛    nota random wolf, ❜ is all link can muster out. except its unpolished, muddled with the heavily thick southern drawl found amongst the common folk of ordon. if he had more time he’d carefully select and ease his speech and carefully pick his words but the master sword stone like diamonds on his back, the crest of the royal family upon his shield, and he’d just changed into the form of a man before her very eyes. definitely, no place for the prior thinking of mannerisms. ❛    name’s link. no god, no spirit. the old gods of destiny says ‘ma ‘ero but i disagree. jus wan’ ‘ave my friends ‘n now ‘m tryna save anotha. ❜ his eyes linger onto his shadow, directly at the person he speaks of.

❛    but now ain’t ta best time to try n talk ‘bout this. how ‘bouta truce for now and once ‘m finished up here i’ll answer whateva ya like. ❜ he meant it, link was a dutifully honest man, he was simple when his journey had begun and he’d always view himself as such. even if the truth now was a lot more complicated than that. but he also needed to reach the mirror of twilight, to aid midna in defeating zant. so forgive link if there where more pressing matters to attend too. even if this temple was once scared ground ( and truly, he felt for the women’s plight ): he also had the entire fate of hyrule on him and that was a burden he’d sooner be done with than hold onto for longer than absolutely necessary. the chills of murderous intent where getting ever so closer to this courageous one and link nor midna needed anyone causing a hinderance to their current objective.

The beast shook its fir free of sand, grains of it flying through the air around him. However, the clank of metal against stone caught her attention, golden gaze falling to the key resting at the hound's paws. She understood what he wanted without his snout thrust in the direction of the nearest locked door. The acquisition of the key once more suggested her suspicions about this wolf was correct: this was no ordinary canine that roamed the wastes on occasion.

The creature had a mission: to find its way into the depths of the grounds. Not only that, but it had enough intelligence and problem-solving skills to retrieve a key and make it this far.

If not an average wolf, what was this thing? Should she even continue to humor it by allowing it further access to the temple prison?

" You're a strange one, " she muttered, swiping up the key. She jogged over the to door in question, the padding of her shoes on sandstone near silent. Despite her misgivings, curiosity won out in the end; she slipped the key into the lock and unlocked it.

" Before I let you go further, " she began, turning around once more. Her hands rested on the serpentine hilts of her dual blades. " You're going to need to find a way to tell my why you're here. What you're looking for. This was once ground sacred to my people, so I can't help but be protective of it, despite their blood and the darkness that now taints our sacred site. I'm not convinced you're just some random wolf, so if you're some god or spirit with a mission here, you're going to need to tell me. "