#Hyrule x aurora

[mariasparrow]

Warriors is Hyrule's successor and Artemis is Hyrule's granddaughter!

So I've been doing some thinking, and I've come to believe that after all the blood, sweat, and tears Hyrule shed for his country, the end result is the prosperous kingdom we see in Hyrule Warriors! And that Artemis is his granddaughter!

I think we have strong evidence for it as well! During Hyrule's second adventure, he reads from a scroll that only a "Great King" could. Zelda II legendary difficulty could be seen, in-universe, as a trial of Hyrule's worthiness to receive Kingship. Which the Downfall Era desperately needs after its Prince was corrupted and his sister cursed.

Through his skill and refusal to give up, Hyrule triumphs over both the monsters and the dark side of his own soul. And he retrieves the Triforce of Courage needed to awaken Aurora (the Sleeping Princess of AoL).

Judging from the kiss she gave him at the end, I'd say she's rather smittened!

(Art by Kikker-Oma for me from Fan Joy July, used with her permission- isn't she great!)

With the Triforce in one hand, his Fae-blood in the other, and Aurora at his side, Hyrule brings his kingdom out of the Downfall and into a new golden age with his power and street smarts. He is called the Fae-King and the Traveling King because he rarely stays in one castle to long -he loves traveling to much, and uses it to help expand Hyrule while Aurora minds court and their kids. She's called the Gentle Queen for bring back the old culture. Hyrule's Fae blood is why faeries are such allies in Warriors Era, in remembrance of their brother.

But of course, evil is lingering. Remember Ganon floating spirit fragments, and how they were locked under heavy duty chains all through out Hyrule Warriors? I'll bet that was Hyrule's attempt to beat his blood curse (TM), and that upon his death, he ordered his body to be split apart and lain to rest in separate locations.

Needless to say, Aurora didn't help with this, she couldn't take it. But she managed the seal to buy time...

Until their granddaughter came of age.

Art belongs to @linkeduniverse

I can't be the only one who thinks Artemis seems a little more...Fae-like than Goddess in Hyrule Warriors. She's wild, bold, hands-on and leads from the front, and has STRONG magic. I like to think a great deal of that comes from her grandfather. Maybe her parents died young, so Artemis was raised by Hyrule and Aurora, who adored her and taught her everything they knew. Aurora taught her music magic, ancient history and legends (and fashion, cause that didn't come from Hyrule). Hyrule taught her battle magic, fencing, and survival skills that come in handy when she's disguised as Sheik (he also taught her his thunder spell). That's how she can do Hyrule's sword beams with her kunai in the game. His pet name for her was "Little Fairy." She adored them right back.

It would be rather poetic, if the granddaughter of the most passive Zelda (but still interesting and one of my favorite!) ends up the most active.

When Artemis saw that Ganon's forces had defiled her grandfather's resting places to retrieve his spirit fragments she was inconsolable...and FURIOUS. She loved her grandparents and vows that evil will not destroy all they suffered and bled to build. She will defend their legacy will all the magic and will power she has. Fortunately, she has her own Hero to help her seal evil right back where it belongs.

[marte-14]

I am sorry, Aurora

I am in a mood for zelink in this period, now it’s Aurora and Hyrule turn!

This is from an actual fanfiction I am writing and it’s not finished for now. So no small story under this post, but the link of the fic will be added when I am done.

[psykheofthestars]

(Heads up, this post has a bunch of grammatical errors because I wrote it at 2am)

When Aurora woke up from her slumber, Dawn offered to abdicate the throne so that Aurora could rule but she immediately turned it down. She was never meant to be a ruler, from the beginning that was her brother's thing. Instead, Aurora is curious about the world around her! She wants to explore and make the best of her current situation. Sure, she lost everyone and everything that she had ever known but she wants to look to the bright side (as bright as her situation can be..) and explore. She wants to meet new people and help out with reconstructing the kingdom from the outside. Sure.. Her insistence to help people has caused a bit of mistrust before but all of that has been resolved.

She is also very creative with words, often creating some very interesting nicknames for her loved ones such as her beloved Prince Tomcat, Link! Another thing she's quite talented at is magic! As a descendant of Hylia and her hero, she's always had the trademark prophetic dreams and sacred power. Even though her father had insisted that she doesn't have to train those powers of hers, she insisted that it would be good to train them and that eventually lead to her playing around with other spells such as Nayru's Love, Din's Fire and Farore's Wind.

Aurora also loves meeting new people, easily worming her way into people's heart in a second. Even the people in this dark stage of the kingdom felt themselves warm up to the curious princess.

Aurora is optimistic often to a fault. The most prominent example of this would be when she fell asleep. She had thought that her brother would listen to reason that fateful day, she told herself that her brother was simply stressed because of his new found duties as a king. She had been so caught up in her own thoughts that she didn't realise that the fuse was going off right under her nose and that eventually resulted in her curse, resulted in losing everything and everyone she ever loved. It's okay though, because she has her new things in the current era! She has friends like Link and Dawn and new places to explore and new places to see now! It'll all be okay if she thinks to the future!

Alright, that wraps up Aurora's mentality in the aftermath of Zelda II! She's curious, creative and optimistic but her wishes to simply look on the bright side will occasionally cause her to get burned. She may not be ready to admit it but she was traumatised by what had happend to her and I wanted to explore that as well as her shift between the two ages. She went from a happy and bright kingdom to a somber and just beginning to recover kingdom.

Now, I'm going to explore her relationships with Rulie and Dawn a bit.

So, as I said earlier, Aurora wants to explore the world that she's woken up to and thus she and Rulie began to travel together! They support each other through many things. Sometimes Aurora can't uphold her optimism anymore, her burns will flare up and she'll break. Rulie will be the hope to soothe those burns and smooth over the cracks. Sometimes Rulie's self doubt will get him down and Aurora's optimism will help him stand up again. Aurora's curiosity will leave her teetering over an abyss of darkness with a piece of knowledge that makes her think that she deserves to be sucked up by the darkness and Rulie will help her realise that no, you don't deserve to be sucked up by the darkness! They trust each other. Again, they uplift and support each other no matter what! The two are also some pretty big chaos gremlins. Remember, they're both a Link and a Zelda. They've got chaos built into their genes. They've definitely accidentally burnt a tree before with their fire spells (they thankfully didn't cause a huge fire because because Aurora Nayru's loved it until the fire went out).

(Can you tell I ship them?)

Aurora's relationship with Dawn is akin to 2 sisters. Aurora is willing to let out her problems to Dawn and Dawn shares some of her own as well! They both often look out for each other and make sure that the other is okay! If one isn't ready to share a problem then they'll assure them that jf they need help they'll always he there. They're both daughters of the royale bloodline and they understand the pressures of being in that role. Dawn is also a little protective of Aurora as well as Rulie. These two are the only people she's truly opened up to other then Impa, she trusts and loves them with her whole being so if anybody dared to hurt them then *cracks knuckles* you best believe your about to be throwing hands with the queen of Hyrule! Same thing with Aurora, harm Prince Tomcat or Madame "broke the triforce and sprend them across dungeons at 11 hears old" and you best believe that you're gonna get burned like that one tree! All in all, Dawn and Aurora are sisters through and through! Dawn is also the braincell sibling between the two. She is GENUINELY the definition of the tired older with her energetic little sister. Madame "broke the triforce and his the pieces throughout dungeons" can't really talk though, now can she? Lol, I feel like you can tell I have siblings from this.

I UNDERSTAND THE ASSIGNMENT. I UNDERSTAND THE LOVE WE HAVE DESPITE HOW TIRED WE CAN GET OF EACH OTHER! SIBLINGS RISE!!!!!!!

Thank you or reading my little post about how I perceive Aurora's personality as well as her relationships!!

[bandnerdlevel43]

Ravioli Week, Day One- Love: Platonic/Romantic/Friend (Favorite AU)

Ravio x Lu Legend (Ravioli), Spirit Tracks Link x Zelda (Zelink) (< Implied)

Summary: Ravio is on a mission to rescue his husband from the Shadow’s tower. Not only does he dread what he finds, the mission doesn’t exactly go as planned, either.

Word Count: 3,742

Warnings: TW for mentions and evidence of torture and drugging, implied talk of Rulie’s whole sacrifice thing, Shadow does swear but it’s minor and I censored it anyway (I don’t swear :/), writer can’t resist making Legend a damsel in distress, mostly angst

A/N: Hello, everyone! I apologize for being… *checks calendar* …an entire week late? Holy Hylia, guys, I am so sorry. I totally missed the actual Ravioli Week. Well, I hope this is worth the wait!

As for the au, I'd like to explain. I didn't really have a favorite au before this, so I decided to use my own that I’ve been playing around with. Essentially, it's Hyrule Warriors Part Two: the Electric Boogaloo, with various companions attached in some way to each Link shoved together in the same adventure. For example, from Wind's Hyrule, Tetra; and from Wars’, Impa. I also added Spirit and his Zelda, since I love Spirit Tracks so much (older than Wind and Tetra bc I think it's funny how Wind would react that his successor is older than he is). And, of course, I had to include Ravio, with a side of marriage because I said so. Basically, this whole au started with me thinking that Midna and Hilda just screeching at each other was hilarious, and now Legend and Rulie are in Dink Jail and the Idiots have to get them out. *Shrugs* What can you do? 

If you're still reading this, I use the name “Spectre” to refer to Spirit's Zelda. I can't remember where I found the name, but if anyone can find the person who came up with it, please tell me. Thank you!

That's all I have to say! Enjoy!

----

“Close it, close it, close it!” Ravio gasped.

Link slammed the door shut behind him, throwing his slight body against the rusted steel. Ravio's fingers fumbled against the lock as the screech of claws on metal howled in his ears. The wolfos bayed frustratedly, making Ravio jump. Link groaned, his legs visibly shaking under the strain. Frankly, he was surprised the boy hadn't already snapped like a twig.

“Done!” Ravio scrambled away from the door. The wolfos behind it was very angry at the setback, that he could tell. He held his breath, waiting for the creature to burst its way in despite his best efforts. The thick metal rattled and, in some places, warped before its force, but its attempts proved fruitless. A snarl sounded from behind the door, and from then, silence. Ravio sighed while Link sank to the ground with a tiny whimper.

“Are you alright, Mister Link?” Ravio panted.

“I'm fine,” the Hylian chuckled. “That hurt, though.”

Ravio helped him up. Link stumbled to his feet, but he was relieved to see no further struggle. 

“Next time, I'm locking the door,” Link told him. 

Ravio shuddered. “I should hope there is no next time,” he mumbled.

Link snorted. Suddenly, his eyes widened, stepping around Ravio with his jaw agape. Ravio blinked, turned around, and sucked in a breath. 

He had never seen anything like it, and not in a good way. The dungeon was two floors tall, but apparently empty. The only light came from a couple of holes in the ceiling that allowed the smallest rays of sun to poke through. The smell of mildew drifted on stale, chilly air and burned his nose. Broken pieces of stone littered the floors and soaked in pools of water, giving the whole place a dilapidated feel. The cells were somehow even less sanitary! It was obvious that these cells had held a variety of creatures. Clumps of fur had been hastily shoved into corners, piles of hay lay rotting in a plethora of puddles, and rusted chains had been ripped from their place on the walls, bits and pieces of them tossed carelessly to the floor. The whole place reeked of decline and despair. Ravio's heart sank. 

“Wow,” Link laughed nervously. “I’d almost rather have another go with the wolfos.”

“Link,” Ravio breathed.

“Hm? Oh- hey, wait!” Link called as Ravio dashed off to the nearest cell.

He went from cell to cell, giving each the briefest glance possible to confirm they were empty. He never considered himself a religious man, or at least one who actively worshiped the Goddess. Faith was for those who still held hope that things would get better on their own. He was far from believing in divine intervention, especially not invoked by his own hand. Despite this, he found himself pleading to Lolia to please, let him be somewhere else. Somewhere other than this horrible cesspool of a prison.

“Link?” His wobbling voice bounced off the stone and danced around his ears. “Link, it's Ravio. Can you hear me?”

An agitated pause. Ravio licked his lips anxiously. Maybe there was hope. Maybe they misjudged and this was the wrong chamber. Legend would be somewhere clean, humane, and maybe even comfortable. He almost sent a prayer of thanks to the Goddess when a weak, piteous moan destroyed his optimism.

Link (this was about to get confusing, very quickly) caught up. “He's upstairs,” he said seriously. 

That was all he needed. Ravio ran for the stairs, Link close at his heels. He nearly tripped multiple times and even stepped in a puddle once. Still, the icy water couldn't hope to compare to how his blood ran cold with dread. Hilda had told him to be prepared for the worst sights, and Impa had been far too ready to provide vivid descriptions of torture, druggings, and- ohh, he was going to be sick. His own paranoia made him lightheaded. 

“Ravio-” Link puffed. “Ravio, you have to remember-”

“I know,” Ravio replied tightly.

“We don't know what's up there,” Link insisted. “You can't do anything rash, alright? Stick to the plan. Whatever happens, don't…”

Ravio froze. Link trailed off, following his eyes until his own rested on the slumped form two cells down. It watched them, wary but unmoving. Like a prey animal that had already accepted its demise.

“Link?” Ravio asked shakily, fearing the response.

The figure hesitated. Then came the hoarse reply: “Rav..?”

“Lolia,” Ravio swore under his breath.

He was there within seconds. Legend sat up, slowly, with a grimace. His chains clinked as he shifted, and Ravio couldn't help but notice how well-oiled and shiny they were compared to the despondency of the rest of the cell. Anger swelled in his chest. He cursed the Shadow, and the monsters who did this to him. He cursed Lolia; and, while he was at it, he cursed Hyrule's goddess Hylia as well. How could she let this happen to her chosen hero?

“Ravio,” Link said abruptly. “The portal.”

“Right!” He dug into his satchel until his fingers bumped against the jagged shard of metal. He lifted it out and gingerly set it on the floor.

The sound of chains shifting caught his attention. He glanced over. Legend had moved into the light, and oh- it was worse than Ravio could have ever imagined. He was covered head to toe in gashes and bruises. Many of his wounds were red and swollen from infection. His wrists were wrapped in harsh burns. Worst of all, though, were his eyes. His eyes were heavy but dark from too many sleepless nights. They carried so much distrust and uncertainty, but within that a small glimmer of hope that was too hesitant, too weary. Ravio's heart never ached so painfully before. 

Legend reached his hand out between the bars, his fingers shaking with miniscule tremors. The flesh on the top of his hand had been shredded and torn thoroughly, and only on that hand. Ravio had only a heartbeat to feel a flicker of confusion before Legend’s fingers touched his cheek, brushing his skin lightly.

“It- It is you,” he croaked. “I-I thought they had drugged me again. Ravio, I-”

“Shhh,” Ravio hushed softly, gently holding his battered hand. He gripped Ravio’s own tightly, like a man drowning. “Save your strength. We’re getting you out of this place.”

“Ravio, I lost it,” Legend said hoarsely, squeezing his hand. “I tried to hide it, but they took it. They took your bracelet, too-”

“Breathe, Link,” Ravio soothed best he could. “What did you lose?”

Those were definitely tears welling up in his eyes, threatening to spill over at the slightest provocation. “The ring,” he whispered. “I lost our ring.” He hung his head shamefully. “I’m sorry, Ravio.”

Ravio’s heart shattered. He shook his head violently, cupping Legend’s face with his hands. “No,” he said sternly. “No, Link, look at me- It's not important. It's just a dumb piece of metal. It's not important.”

Legend's expression was so pained it had Ravio’s eyes stinging as well. He forcefully swallowed the growing lump in his throat. Keep it together, you stupid rabbit, he scolded himself. He doesn't need you breaking down too.

“It's more than that,” Legend mumbled. He looked like he was about to say something else, but a bout of coughing attacked Ravio's ears instead. He groaned, his breath rattling in his chest.

“The portal's ready.” Link approached from behind Ravio, and Ravio didn't miss how he had unsheathed his sword, standing protectively over the two of them. “The keys will be here soon.”

“Thank you,” Ravio said genuinely. Link nodded in return. 

Legend’s eyes flickered in suspicion. “Who are you?” he asked.

“My name is Link.” Link lifted his hat in a polite greeting. “But you can call me Spirit.”

Thank the Triforce he had a name ready. However, Legend didn’t share his welcoming attitude. “There’s another one?” he remarked incredulously.

Link- Spirit- grinned at that. “Seems like it.”

Legend snorted, which encouraged another coughing fit. “Delightful,” he grumbled.

While Ravio was glad to see some of his usual sarcasm show through, he was concerned for the younger hero. He didn’t want him hurt or put down by Legend’s gruff exterior, but it seemed he didn’t need to worry. Either Spirit (This is going to take some getting used to) hadn’t detected the edge in his words, or he was simply being a good sport.

It was probably the former.

Ravio didn’t have time to elaborate on the thought. Without warning, an invisible finger traced a circle in the ground by Link- blast it, Spirit! Startled, Spirit leaped back as the circle developed a waterlike film over the center. Ravio only stood when the portal spat out Shadow- and only Shadow.

Shadow hung in the air, his lip curled as he hurled an explosive back down through the portal. A muffled boom and a warped chorus of shrieking answered him.

“Hey!” he snapped. “Is this a rescue team or a statuary?! Shut it now!”

“Where’s Zelda?” Spirit demanded, the color drained from his face.

“She’s fine!” Shadow snarled. “Leave that open and we won’t be!”

To highlight his point, a large, meaty hand reached from the open gateway, swiping at Shadow’s feet. He drew his bloodstained sword without hesitation and thrust the blade through the monster’s muscle. He yanked it out ruthlessly and kicked the hand back down. Ravio quickly snatched the piece of the Master Sword off of the floor, which caused the portal to seal closed. Shadow huffed and spat at where the portal once sat.

“Where is she?” Spirit shouted, accusation evident in his tone. “You left her with those monsters, didn’t you?”

“Cool it, train boy!” Shadow bared his teeth, exposing dark tips that made Ravio flinch. Had- Had he bitten a monster? “She told me to. Listen, I don’t like it any more than you do, but loverboy over here-” he jerked his head at an affronted Legend- “is critical to our plan. She…” His voice cracked. He cleared his throat, tipped his chin defensively, and finished, “...is not.”

“WHAT?!” Spirit nearly threw himself at Shadow, who made no move to defend himself. Alarmed, Ravio had to act quickly. He stepped between the two and held the younger back. Spirit yelled at him now, saying, “Let me go, Ravio!”

“I can’t do that, Link,” Ravio said through gritted teeth. “You’re not thinking clearly!”

“Coward! Let me go!”

Ravio winced. He had to admit, it had been a long time since that word had any bite to it, but this time, it wasn’t the word that hurt, but the mouth that spoke it. He held fast anyway. He didn’t mean it, right? “If Shadow says it’s a death trap to go back, then we can’t go back, but Link, listen to me! You have to trust her!”

Spirit stopped struggling, his hands dropping to his sides. Tentatively, Ravio let go. He took a step back, and relaxed when he saw no signs of aggression. 

Spirit lifted pleading eyes to Shadow’s. “Please tell me she'll be okay,” he begged.

Shadow nodded cautiously. “She's more capable than all of us combined,” he assured. “She cut down the most massive Hinox I had ever seen with just her sword.” A tiny smile twitched at his lips. “I'm more worried for the monsters than her.”

Spirit mulled that over in his head. Ravio knew how little he trusted the darkling, even after all this time.

“Trust her,” Ravio repeated.

That seemed to work. Spirit glanced his way, then nodded. Not at Shadow, but at him. “Let's hurry, then. The faster we get him out, the less time she's in danger.”

Ravio winced and threw Shadow an apologetic look. The other man simply shrugged indifferently, as if to say, “What can you do?” He unhooked a ring of keys from his belt and said, “What do I shove these into?”

Ravio gestured to the lock on the door, wringing his hands restlessly. He made quick work of it, allowing the cell door to creak open. Ravio rushed in, dropped to his knees, and wrapped his lover in a tender embrace. Legend grunted, but otherwise did not protest. Instead, he lay his head limply on Ravio's shoulder, exhaling deeply.

“I'm sorry we didn't come for you sooner,” he whispered into his hair. “I'm so sorry, Link.”

“Don't…” Legend rasped. “Don't apologize. Just… don't.”

“Hate to interrupt,” Shadow said loudly, “but I have to get between the two of you to release ‘Mister Hero’ here.”

Ravio hastily released Legend, who frowned at Shadow, then at him. Shadow took his place and began unlocking the shackles. Legend continued to stare at him, not at all subtle in his careful assessment. In turn, Shadow winked. Legend looked scandalized.

Shadow stood, and Legend shook the chains off his wrists. Shadow dropped into an exaggerated bow, smirking. “He's all yours.”

Ravio blushed, but knelt before the Hylian once again. Legend's brows furrowed, still glaring at Shadow. “Say his name is Link and I'm punting him into the Sacred Realm,” he warned.

“Ha!” Shadow snickered. “Believe me, I would've done that myself if I was anything like you twinks.” An ironic statement, considering he was the smallest of them all. “No, I'm Shadow. Not the Shadow. Just Shadow. No relation, by the way.”

Legend regarded him with even more suspicion, if possible. Ravio decided this was the perfect time to change the subject. “Can you walk?” he asked.

“Does it look like I've tried?” he retorted. There was an instant flicker of guilt in his worn eyes, and he stared at the ground. “Sorry,” he mumbled.

“No, you're okay.” Ravio smiled softly, brushing his bangs out of his face and tipping his chin up. “It's not your fault.”

“Hurry it up, you two,” Shadow called irritably.

Legend scowled. Ravio distracted him with an outstretched hand. His heavily lidded eyes softened as he clasped his own hand around Ravio's. With a grunt, Ravio pulled him to his feet, which immediately gave out beneath him. Ravio dipped down and caught him before he could fall. 

“Oof- I don't think I can walk, Rav,” he chuckled ruefully. 

“I'll carry you,” Ravio suggested.

Legend looked dubiously at him, his legs visibly quaking despite being held up by Ravio. “Are you sure?”

“No offense, Link, but you're practically a skeleton,” he pointed out. “I think I can handle it. Now, hold on.”

Granted, Ravio himself was somewhat doubtful, mostly because of his own lack of confidence, but he had to pretend he had it. For Legend's sake. So, he scooped his frail body into his arms and hefted him up. He admittedly stumbled once or twice, but Legend was still shockingly light. He felt another pain in his stomach.

“Ready? Good, can we move?” Shadow said impatiently. 

“What's up with you?” Spirit folded his arms.

“In case you hadn't noticed,” Shadow snapped, “Zelda and I weren't exactly making friends-”

“‘Zelda’? What happened to the little nickname you gave her?” Spirit scoffed.

Where had that come from? Ravio widened his eyes, taken aback by the aggression in the young hero's voice. “Guys?” he said timidly.

“Excuse me if I don't see the relevance of Spectre's nickname,” Shadow snarked, his cap lashing like a cat’s tail. “As I was saying, Zelda and I-”

“You wouldn't have to if you hadn't left her to fight a horde of monsters on her own!”

“Would you let me finish my d— sentence?!” Shadow shot up into the air, looming above Spirit, his red eyes flashing menacingly.

Spirit jabbed him in the chest with a finger. “Not if you keep acting like an arrogant hog!” he spat.

Oh, dear. There was way more tension between these two than Ravio had thought. 

“Really? You're the one who can't comprehend the fact that Zelda can be friends with someone other than you!”

He was going to have to be the adult here, wasn't he?

Spirit laughed bitterly, the sound devoid of humor. “You would think that I have a problem with her making friends. No, I have a problem with narcissistic, manipulative, self-serving liars like-”

“Shut UP!” Ravio exploded. “Just shut up, both of you!”

The dungeon fell abruptly silent. 

Ravio's ears flicked back. He chewed the inside of his cheek anxiously. 

Then, slowly, Shadow lowered his feet to the ground. Spirit let his sword fall to his side. They watched him, likely startled that such an exclamation could come from one so emphatically against conflict. To be fair, Ravio was surprised with himself as well. 

He waited until all hostility was gone from the two of them before speaking. “Shadow, tell us what you were trying to say.”

Shadow opened his mouth, but Ravio interrupted him, adding, “And no witty quips. Or passive-aggressive comments.”

Shadow gave him a flat look. In an even flatter tone, he said, “Zelda and I didn't make it to the Traveler. We were intercepted by a squad of the Shadow's underlings- which, by the way, were poorly chosen. Personally, I would have gone with something quicker. Lizalfos would've had a much easier time; besides, they have more style than Hinox-”

“So we need to find Hyrule ourselves,” Ravio concluded, ignoring how Legend stiffened in his arms.

“Well, yes,” Shadow conceded, somewhat miffed at being cut off for the third time. “But there's more. It wasn't just chance that a fully armed attack team was just wandering around where we happened to be at the time. There has to be a reason why, and I can only think of two.”

“Spit it out,” Spirit muttered.

Shadow, thankfully, pretended to be deaf. “One:” he announced, holding up a finger, “our information was wrong and they're more heavily armed than we thought. Two, which I believe to be more plausible: the Shadow knew we were coming.”

Ravio sucked in a breath. “So, what you're saying is-”

“We're about to have a whole lotta monsters on our hands.” Shadow glanced at Legend. “And something tells me they're not here for a civil discussion over tea and biscuits.”

“Really,” Spirit said dryly.

“Lay off, Spirit,” Ravio chided. He likely didn't look very intimidating, considering how pale he was. He really shouldn't be the leader here. Where was Hilda when you needed her? “Do you have a defense plan?”

“Other than run with our tails between our legs?” Shadow said wryly. “Nothing.”

“It's an idea,” Ravio sighed, only a little sarcastic. “Escape plans?”

“Hide until Aurora calls us all to rendezvous.”

“How high are our chances of Spectre getting to Hyrule?”

Shadow looked at Spirit and exhaled deeply. “Look,” he started. “I have no doubt that she can scrape through alive. But alive with the Traveler? No chance. She won't have time.”

Ravio sighed again. “You're really great at having a positive outlook, aren't you?”

“Glad I could help.”

He wrinkled his nose, but continued. “What about us?”

“What?”

“What are our chances of reaching Hyrule?”

Shadow narrowed his eyes. “Depends on what your husband knows.”

Legend stilled. Ravio gazed with concern down at his lover, who had squeezed his eyes shut, as if to hide from the world.

Ravio was torn. They were probably Rulie’s only hope of escape, but he hesitated to ask. Legend looked close to tears again. He opened his mouth, but to his surprise, Legend spoke. 

“They moved him about a week ago,” he said. His voice was hoarse again. “He'll be somewhere cleaner. To- To keep him healthy.”

The way his voice broke didn't exactly put any of them at ease. Shadow's jaw was tense and his skin looked more gray than Lolian brown. “That's quite a lot of positivity, Sunshine.” He licked dry lips. “Don't overdo it, now.”

“Wait, hold on a minute- What do you mean ‘keep him healthy’?” Spirit asked apprehensively. 

Ravio wasn't sure he wanted to hear the answer, but before either could respond, Shadow's ears pinned back against his head. Without warning, the darkling pounced at Spirit and threw him to the ground, shouting, “Get down!”

Twin fireballs of blue and orange hues whizzed over their heads. Ravio ducked in the nick of time, the blue one just grazing his hair. Chills scrambled down his spine as he whipped around.

Spirit tossed Shadow aside with a growl. He jumped to his feet and froze. Before his eyes floated a large bat-like monster with a flat snout and rings around its intelligent eyes. And it was swelling. Fast. Great Goddess, did this thing even have a skeleton?

“Look out!” Shadow hollered.

Spirit let out a string of colorful curses that would've made Tetra proud and dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the creature's breath, which of course had to be fire. Why did it always have to be fire?

The flames singed the end of Shadow’s cap. He rolled to put it out and drew his sword in a fluid motion while Spirit, for some odd reason, pulled his boomerang from his pouch.

“I killed you!” he shouted furiously. “What’re you doing here?”

“You know this charming fellow?” Ravio gasped.

“Unfortunately.” Spirit grimaced. “Real pain in the- Shadow, duck!”

Shadow leaped into the air. Blue fire shot from underneath him. The bat screeched.

“What do we do?”

“That's the best question anyone's ever asked today!” Spirit snorted.

The cogs in that head were turning; Ravio could tell. He took in his surroundings in less than a second and dropped to his knees. He began rifling through his pack. “Shadow, get cozy. Distract that thing!”

“What?!” The darkling swore through his teeth. “Alone?”

“Exactly! Ravio, take the Vet and get out of here. We'll stall him.”

Shadow turned sharply. He flicked his fingers, tossing something shiny directly at Ravio. It flew through the air and landed awkwardly on Legend's nose.

“Keys!” Shadow yelled. “Go! Find the Traveler!”

“We'll handle this!” Spirit agreed.

Ravio took a step back. He gawked at Spirit. He couldn't deny his overwhelming panic, but he wasn't about to leave them!

“Go!” Shadow commanded, bloodstained teeth glinting in the light of the fire.

He hesitated, afraid. Could he really turn and run, just like that? But then an image of Legend bloodied and motionless presented itself in his mind’s eye, so he turned and fled. 

What could he say? He had always been a coward.

He just had to hope that his family didn't end up the same way.

----

A/N: So, yeah! If you have any questions about my au, feel free to scream at me through my asks or the tags. (Bonus points if you can guess who they’re fighting hehe) Love you all!

[doodlesbf]

Hyrule x depressed reader

Trigger warning in case

Pronouns they/their/them for reader

[(♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡)]

Hyrule is glad that he's going to visit his fairy family since it's been so long and saving the princess from the demonking did give him trouble but helping people did feel good to him. He pant off the snow from his curly hair while walking by a big pond with a amazing view pf the aurora that Hyrule couldn't help but stop in his tracks to seen such a beautiful scene infront of him. Hyrule smile for a moment but suddenly he felt he wasn't alone and he slowly reach his hand to were his sword is yet carefully look around him as the snow continues to gently fall down but he see nothing til he look to were the big pond that Hyrule can faintly see a person sitting on the shore but what confused him is that this person isn't wearing a coat or boots/shoes only shirt and pants. Hyrule felt something is wrong by looking that the person that he start to walk to were their at but not daring to make a noise in case their not friendly.

Hyrule thought that this person must be crazy or something case who will be walking around bearly have anything to keep themselves warm during this snow but the closer he get the most he can make out on them but he doesn't dare to be seen afterall people try to kill him because he have the all three Triforce so he watch them.

Hyrule can see that they are wearing a short sleeve shirt but they look too skinny and he can bearly see their bone poking out but what made him start thinking of other possibilities is their face show no emotions and their eyes look....dead no show of life in them. He thought they died but suddenly they start to move and start to walk to the freezing water that he need to do something or they'll do the-

Reader watch the snow fall infront of them and the beautiful scenery of nature and aurora that reader decided its time and move slowly to stand back up. Reader feel cold but their used to this. Their used to being invisible to the town people back in their hometown and how their own parents forgetting their own existence did hurt for the longest time and that started their depression and the fact they try looking for help for it but no one noticed or care enough to help made reader even more depressed that they came here and think on what to do.

Reader sign and lift their hands up to hug themselves but staring into the water of the pond and slowly walk closer to it to see their own reflection star back without a emotion on their face even their eyes look dead that tears start to roll down their face and they hug themselvesbit more too. If they do this..they can-

Hey! Don't do it!!

Reader blink out of it and realized that their in the water that reach to their shirt stomach area and when they turn around to see who or what made the noise only to see no one there.

Reader:......was i... hallucinate?...I must be...

Reader walk back out the freezing water and their shivering too. Reader then head back the path to hurry back to their hometown unknown to them that the hero is watching them and hyrule sign in relief that he managed to stop them from doing that but he still feels uneasy about the stranger just almost seen a person almost take their own life but quietly following them, he'll have to wait a little longer to visit his family since he wants to help this depressed person. If he leave now than he'll worry about them try again so he'll try to help them afterall that's what a hero will do. Hyrule turn to his fairy form since it's alot quiet and easy to move around and hard to see too so watching their person is easy.

[twistedstoryteller]

What are your genre, tone, and topic preferences in fics? Which Link or relationships between Links do you like? Favorite ships for the Links and their partners? Preferences on the angst-to-fluff scale? Epics Tales vs One-Shots? AUs? Character driven vs plot-driven?

I can make better recommendations from there. Or I can just drop a list tomorrow (Ive been meaning to make one anyway).

First of all, oh my god that was fast and wow. I actually never genuinely thought too much on those kind of questions. Though I guess if I can sum it up

it’s kinda free lance, so nothing too specific I honestly have no preference between the epic stories and one shots. That and seeing the character and plot one could both technically quite the forte for me. I do prefer to at least see a happy ish ending for them(No unhappy endings, I avoid those. Plus no explicit ones either please. I very much definitely avoid those). Relationship between the Links, I enjoy them all. I do especially enjoy the brother bonds between them all, I’m quite chill(I’ve been getting to know what’s in the fandom as best I can ever since I jumped into this rabbit hole :]). I love to give them a hug if possible too, AUs seem cool cool, however I like to see them mostly focus on the time era of well the Chain are in aka no modern AUs in the list this time(Hey I don’t hate them, I mean I got one already forming at the back of my head at the moment, it’s just not what I’m looking for right now, though I don’t mind a separate list for that later), maybe Minish Four or Legend and Fable being siblings. Favorite ships plus the angst and fluff scale, on the other hand

Where do I even begin! Oh man, for starters and the easiest I can get out of the way. Ships, ahem. Time x Malon, that is obviously. Sky x Sun and Legend x Marin is there too(of course I can chill with Legend x Ravio but I prefer Legend x Marin). I really like Wild x Mipha a lot. Warriors x Artemis too(doesn’t have to be a requirement), Hyrule x Zelda(been bouncing between Aurora and Dawn cause well, different interpretations of them) as well(also not a requirement). But the ones I definitely want to say is not only Wind x Tetra but also Four x Dot!(I’m still sad there isn’t too much content around that :{) I love these two ships very much, especially with me thinking how wholesome these ships can be(well Four and Dot can, Wind and Tetra might be more, behind well. Pirates 🏴‍☠️ and how they are in general. They are more of an action couple. Wholesome can still squeeze in there just not as much as I can imagine for Four X Dot). I believe the next one is the scale of angst and fluff and I got to say I love everything in that scale. From the fluffiest of fluff with happy hugs and cuddling, to the deepest of deep angst where they are all suffering and crying. I love it, Hurt and Comfort that has both. Is even better cause it can have both the fluffiest of fluff and the angsty of angst. There’s literally so much you can do there. Like

a certain palace of the four sword that can be between Four and Legend for example! Gosh there literally so much I want to see and more. I really hope this isn’t too hard on you

🥺

However I’ll be really grateful regardless

🥹

🙏

[telemna-hyelle]

is grilled cheese shipping Hyrule x Aurora

It is not! Interesting guess, though!

[sailforvalinor]

Hyrule, about Aurora: "Just for grins, say I were interested...in someone--anyone--how would I...you know..." *gestures at Twilight* "Like you--"

Twilight: "--don't look at me. Last time I saw Midna she lied to me, left me, and destroyed the only way for us to see each other again."

Hyrule:

Hyrule: *turns to Time* "Time?"

Time, just back from a fight with Malon: "Sorry son, apparently I'm incapable of expressing my feelings or letting people take care of me."

Hyrule:

The rest of the Chain:

[ineed-moresleep]

Me and @script-the-skeleton did a collab for a fic I wrote called “Letters from Hyrule” and I think it turned out pretty darn great!

You can find it on ao3, and go pay the lovely Script a compliment, seeing as they did most of the work xD

[legend-of-binkus]

Three concepts i would love to see explored in the LU.

(if anyone knows of any fanfic with these themes please let me know!)

-

1. Ballad of the Goddess is just Zelda’s Lullaby backwards.

This one is just kind of funny to me. How did the Melody of the Royal family come about? Was it just either Sun or Sky messing around on their harp and they just randomly decided to play the Ballad of the Goddess backwards and were like, "Hey, this is a bop!"

Ballad of the Goddess is a song that was passed down from ancient times [X], so I find it amusing that the reverse would become the staple Melody of the Royal Family

Having said that however, the song is called Zelda's Lullaby. It's possible that Sky will play it for Sun OR Sun will eventually compose it for her and Sky's future children. I think it could be really sweet to see the birth of the song. Or if the Zelda's are ever brought together I can just imagine Sun being like, "I wrote a song for everyone!" "Wait... What's wrong?" Cue every Zelda crying as they remember their own mothers singing them that exact song. ),:

Does anyone else have a theory about how the song came about?

-

2. Legend is a Knight of Hyrule (slight spoilers for A Link to the Past)

Legend's distain for knights is also hilarious to me because he's arguably the Knight of all knights.

“Link...you must rescue Princess Zelda. Our people are fated to do so." - Link’s Uncle (A Link to the Past)

"Among the descendants of the Knights Of Hyrule a hero must appear." - Sahasrahla (A Link to the Past)

"Only a person of the Knights Of Hyrule, who protected the royalty of Hylia, can become the Hero... You are of their blood-line, aren't you? Then you must rescue Zelda without fail." - Maiden (A Link to the Past)

"You are perhaps the last one to carry on the blood-line of the Knights... It is ironic that the last one in the line has the potential to become the Hero of legend." - Maiden (A Link to the Past)

The Knights of Hyrule were a special clan of knights, but most of them died during the Imprisoning War [X] and in A Link to the Past it's shown that Legend is very likely the last one. Legend claiming to be an "Average nobody" couldn't be farther from the truth. I'd love to see/read about the others in the chain finding out about Legends heritage.

(It'd be too long for this post, but one day I do plan to write a more extensive theory as to why Legend wants to keep his lineage a secret, however I would love to see this idea tackled by other's as well!)

-

3. For generations, it was said that a "great king" would be the one worthy of the Triforce.

Have you ever been bored and just randomly decided to read the game manual for a 35 year old game? No? Just me?

Well... It just so happens that I found the most interesting little tidbit.

And who is the one that obtains the Triforce in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link? Hyrule! You know... this guy.

Seems to me that he doesn't want anything to do with that prophecy and is actively trying to avoid it. To Hyrule, the type of person he pictures as fitting of the role of "great king" isn't him. (To my knowledge, legends and prophecies in Zelda games are usually quite literal, so I'm pretty sure this isn't like a figurative type of king, but who knows?)

But hey, if Tetra can be a Pirate Queen, then Hyrule can be a Nomad King. Rather then trying to fit himself into the narrow definition that he currently holds for someone deemed "great king", I'd like to see Hyrule redefine the role for himself and be the type of king he wants to be.

In his world, there's already a ruler in a castle— Dawn (probably Queen Dawn at this point). There's no need for another. I don't believe Hyrule should have to change who he is to be another great leader.

(plus I'm a sucker for old fairy tale tropes and I just want Hyrule and Aurora to live happily ever after by traveling around the kingdom and helping the people wherever they go)

-

Any other LoZ concepts/plot points that you'd like to see brought into into the LU?

[legendstrauma]

Don’t @ me. Hyrule x Aurora is cute. It is. BUT! If someone were to create a Minish OC from Four’s era to be Fairy Roolie’s boyfriend, I would not mind.

Just imagine all the cute dates you can have when you’re small. Giant tea party. Cuddling on a flower. Reading a giant book together and acting it out. Precious.

[mariasparrow]

Spiting Image of a Live Action Hyrule!

While thinking about the Zelda Movie that may eventually come out, I was watching the 1968 Zeffirelli version of Romeo and Juliet. Excellent film, gorgeous. And I nearly spat out my drink when I saw the young actor playing Benvolio.

(Image credits: Pinterest)

This fine young man (though not so young anymore, since it was the 60's lol) is Bruce Robinson - you cannot tell me this isn't the spiting image of what Hyrule would look like if the Linked Universe was live action (never happening, but I can dream!) I mean look!

Image credits @linkeduniverse!

Look at him! He's even wearing a green tunic! Curly brown hair and tan skin! Even the upturned button nose! And Mr. Robinson's has such a quiet charm and easy grin in his role of Benvolio.

My shipper heart here wants to believe that this is Hyrule sneaking onto Aurora's balcony to reunite with her, as portrayed by a young Rachel Hurd-Wood.

In addition, I feel the movie's hot, dry, dusty, violent but still beautiful Verona perfectly matches our beloved Traveler's Hyrule! LOOK AT IT!

What actors or actresses or movie sets - from the past or present -do you think are a dead ringer for the Linked Universe?

[thetimelordbatgirl]

Villains High OCs

Description of OCs: Inspired by both Ever After High and Monster High, mainly Monster High, Villains High focuses on the children of villains as they attend a villains school and introduced in the series is also a Heroes School and younger school for both sides. 

Summary of Series: TBA.

*Draco Malora- son of Maleficent.  *Corvas Lokison- son of Loki Laufeyson. *Sage Occultist- son of Ursula the Sea Witch. *Qadr Djinni- daughter of Jafar. *Zee Quinzel- daughter of the Joker and Harley Quinn- stepddaughter of Poison Ivy. *Justine Kyle- daughter of Catwoman. *Rosemary Isley- daughter of Poison Ivy- stepddaughter of Harley Quinn.  *Robert Grimhilde- son of the Evil Queen.  *Natalia De Vil- daughter of Cruella. *Midnight Boogie- daughter of Oogie Boogie. *Cecily ‘Cece’ Cipher- twin daughter of Bill Cipher. *Greco Cipher- twin son of Bill Cipher. *Lolza Von Doom- son of Doctor Doom. *Morana Riddle- daughter of Lord Voldermort.  *Beau Labelle- son of Gaston. *Lupe Darkholme- daughter of Mystique.  *Libitina Thanatos- daughter of Hades. *Cerin Black- son of Pitch Black.  *Mirela Maximoff- daughter of Scarlet Witch- granddaughter of Magneto. *Kari Amoradottir- daughter of Amora. *Horatia Chronis- daughter of the Master. *Eden Whoiver- daughter of the Grinch and Martha May Whoiver. *Cai Glacier- son of the White Witch. *Sylvia Story- adopted daughter of the School Master. *Obsidian ‘Dian’ Lestrange- daughter of Bellatrix. *Callistro Lilhura- daughter of Gargamel.  *Akio Kyrano- son of the Hood. *Cato Luther- daughter of Lex Luther. *Tator Osborn- daughter of Harry Osborn- granddaughter of Norman Osborn. *Calypso Hook- daughter of Captain Hook. *Viola Facilier- daughter of Doctor Facilier. *Sirius ‘Si’ Sinestro- daughter of Sinestro. *Perseus Inferno- son of Blackfire. *Pandora Kristoff- daughter of the Wind Witch- granddaughter of the Storm King. *Diana Hood- daughter of Little Red Riding Hood- bitten by the bad wolf. *Damian Beast- twin son of Adam and Belle- cursed by a villain. *Chester Cat- son of the Cheshire Cat.

*Frery Beast- twin son of Adam and Belle. *Haqiqah Kassis- daughter of Aladdin and Jasmine. *Eira Ferdinand- daughter of Snow White and her prince. *Blair Pines- daughter of Dipper Pines. *Stephen Pines- son of Mabel and Pacifica Pines. *Roxane Agreste- daughter of Adrien and Marinette. *Morgan Tennyson- daughter of Ben and Julie. *Kari Thorson- son of Thor and Jane. *Cynthia Wayne- twin daughter of Batman and Wonder Women. *Theodore Wayne- twin son of Batman and Wonder Women. *Glan Waters- son of Ariel and Eric. *Dawn Bramble- twin daughter of Aurora and Phillip.  *Day Bramble- twin son of Aurora and Phillip. *Edward Riddles- son of Alice. *Abigail Kent- daughter of Superman and Lois. *Michelle Parker- daughter of Spiderman and MJ.  *Louis Mounier- son of Naveen and Tiana.  *Kayana Stalhbaum- daughter of Clara and Phillip. *Alice Mario- daughter of Luigi and Princess Daisy. *Stefano Mario- son of Mario and Princess Peach. *Phoebe Butterfly- daughter of Star and Marco. *Reid Lightyear- cowboy doll- adopted son of Buzz and Jessie. *Athena Fitzgerald- daughter of Rapunzel and Eugune.  *Frida Jones- daughter of April and Casey. *Hope Jordan- daughter of Green Lantern and Star Sapphire. *Oscar Kinkle- son of Sabrina and Harvey. *Juan Kinney- son of X-23- grandson of Wolverine. *Cynna Herod- daughter of Hercules and Meg. *Alvin Hollow- adopted son of Tinkerbell and Terrence.  *Carrie Skellington- daughter of Jack and Sally. *Kia Hyrule- daughter of Link and Zelda. 

*Ragnhild Lokidottir- daughter of Loki Laufeyson. *Clarice Beast- daughter of Adam and Belle. *Serena Mario- daughter of Mario and Princess Peach. *Benjamin ‘Ben’ Parker- son of Spiderman and MJ. *Felix Cat- son of Cheshire Cat. *Ceil Wise- Girl spared and raised by Pennywise. *Adira Curry- daughter of Aquaman and Mera. *Tyree Wilson- son of Deadpool. *Marcus Bjorgman- son of Anna and Kristoff. *Wednesday Repulsa- daughter of Rita and Lord Zedd. 

[thegeminisage]

song meme!!

HELLO i got tagged by @starlightandsunshine​, thank you for tagging me!! i fuckin’ love doing stuff like this. rules are to post 10 song u have been listening to lately & then tag 10 people. i am EXTREMELY boring and have been listening almost exclusively to soundtracks/instrumental video game mixes in 2020 but here is my list irregardless, in no particular order:

su yunying | moment - there was an AWESOME post with a video of like two women doing interpretative dance about one of them getting possessed and i’m making it sound bad but it was the BEST please go watch it. this is the music that played in the back and according to my last.fm i have listened to it 115 times

linkin park | one more light - there was a scene in my fanfic i wrote to this and :(

lil nas x | panini - i listened to this for the first time when the music video came back & i haven’t stopped since. also dead ass wrote the fight scene from hell to this song. it really got me thru some dark says. 165 plays

cinnamon chasers | luv deluxe - i am never not listening to this?? 2nd most played song of all time at 507 plays (minor nsfw/violence warning for the video

oscar garvin | merlin and arthur - this is the only merlin fanmusic that i know of and i love it ;_; <3

barns courtney | fire - this one is cheating bc i only listened to it a couple of times and i haven’t even downloaded it yet but when @callowyn​ sent it to me and said “JESSE TURNER SONG” i immediately fell in love. just as soon as i am finished writing this stupid merlin fanfic i plan to loop it about 600 times

wiz khalifa, ty dolla $ign, lil yachty & sueco the child | speed me up - this is the credits song to the sonic movie and I ALSO HAVEN’T DOWNLOADED THIS ONE YET BUT I DID LISTEN TO IT A BUNCH look idc if you (general you, not specific you) judge me i enjoyed the FUCK out of this film and i was LITERALLY doing a lil dance to this on my way out of the theater. i cannot tell you how much joy was in my heart, there are not words

the whole of the pride & prejudice soundtrack by dario marianelli, but particularly your hands are cold & the secret life of daydreams waaahhhh it’s so good!!!

the whole of the maleficent soundtrack by james newton howard but my favorite ones are the christening (the drums coming in when she makes that man get on his knees and beg is enough reason to watch that movie even without anything else) & aurora in faerieland (there’s a piano cover which is also very good, UGH those harmonies). i read on wikipedia that some people think this soundtrack is bland and predictable and i would like every last one of them to contact my personally so i can explain my passions

the whole of the breath of the wild soundtrack, but particular the songs that play during the divine beast sections (do yourself a favor & click this even if you don’t know anything about zelda), reunion with mipha, & the last king of hyrule

ok normally im bad at tagging but today im gonna make an effort! i tag @spectral-stardust @fishoutofcamelot @machidielontheway @sneakyboymerlin @scottstiles @holisticfansstuff @sometimesthedragonwins @starsandatoms @paty-ofarrell @tomasortega & anyone else who wants to do it, do it & say i tagged u & i will come look!!

[spoookiepie]

○Stay With Me, Go Places○

I’ve created 2 playlists based on FFXV. The first, is a fan mix, with a collection of songs from my library that I feel fit the themes of the game.

The second is one full of grand, instrumental music, good for listening to while driving, if the in-game’s music isn’t doin’ it for ya. (also good for other games with long, open travel)

Track lists and links under the cut

♦Go Places♦

Wake For Young Souls - Third Eye Blind Ireland - Tori Amos Go Places - The New Pornographers Best Damn Friend - Barenaked Ladies Rainbowarriors - CocoRosie Would You Go With Me - Josh Turner Blood Sweat and Tears - Paloma Faith Ease - Troye Siva Warrior - AURORA Heartlines - Florence and the Machine Death - MADE IN HEIGHTS The Way - Xenoblade X OST Someday - Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance OST No Trouble - The Weepies What A Good Boy - The Duke’s Men Scar Tissue - Red Hot Chili Peppers Time Will Tell - Blood Orange Born to Die - Lana Del Rey Hungover in the City of Dust - Autoheart Blue Lips - Regina Spektor I Need Some Sleep - Eels This Too Shall Pass - Danny Schmidt Run - Snow Patrol Dust Bowl Dance - Mumford and Sons Beautiful Life - Charlotte Martin Youth - Daughter R.I.P. Burn Face - CocoRosie

○The Long Road○

Theme X - Xenobalde X OST Nascence - Journey OST Gaur Plains - Xenoblade OST Village on the Sea, Moga -  Monster Hunter 3 Tri Ryoshima Plains II - Okami OST Fang’s Theme - FFXIII Piano Collection This Land - The Lion King OST Dark Flute - Sword and Sworcery OST Gerudo Valley - Zelda 25th Anniversary MonoX - Xenoblade X OST Equinox - Kids on the Slope OST Heart’s Dice - Revolutionary Girl Utena OST Everlasting Words - Monster Hunter 3 Tri The Blitzers - Final Fantasy X HD Apotheosis - Journey OST Gaur Plains / Night - Xenoblade OST Rosario - Kids on the Slope OST A Wondrous Pace - Disney’s Tarzan Manon - Xenobalde X OST Besaid - Final Fantasy X HD KIDS ON THE SLOPE - Kids on the Slope OST Premonition in the Eyes - Revolutionary Girl Utena OST Abraxas - The Sunlit Garden - Utena Movie OST Gear Savanna (Day) - Digimon World OST You Only Live Once (Instrumental) - Yuri!!! On Ice OST Kilika - FFX-2 OST Kingdom hearts Instrumental - Kingdom Hearts OST Hyrule Field - Twilight Princess Symphony YURIKA  -   Kids on the Slope OST Legend of Mana Main Title - Legend of Mana OST Techno: The Sunlit Garden - Utena OST Gear Savanna (Night) - Digimon World OST The Calm Lands - FFX-2 OST March Caprice For Piano And Orchestra - Kingdom Hearts OST

[tt-review]

Blighted by the night, vanquishing the plight by the children of the light. No video game character conveys endearment and sadism in a single expression as well as the Blue Slimes. In Dragon Quest Heroes: The World’s Tree Woe and the Blight Below, these iconic teardrop-shaped blobs have never looked more adorable and homicidal, which is what makes killing them en masse one of this game’s greatest pleasures. It’s one of many delights aptly delivered by a collaboration that is one part Dynasty Warriors, one part Dragon Quest. As a hack-and-slasher with countless enemy encounters, character growth, and a shopping list of quests, it was joy to be reminded how much both series have in common.

As a contrast to all the dimension hopping that made up much of last year’s Hyrule Warriors (a Dynasty Warriors take on The Legend of Zelda universe), this Dragon Quest spin-off takes the reverse approach. Instead of protagonists jumping to various worlds in older Dragon Quest games, adventurers from those games come into the new world established in Dragon Quest Heroes.

[caption id="attachment_188" align="aligncenter" width="1273"] No performance issues in sight despite the battles’ high headcount.[/caption]

Welcoming these otherworldly guests is a new foursome comprising of two co-protagonists whose default names are Aurora and Luceus, the boisterous King Doric, and an skilled inventor named Isla. I have always admired the mainline series for defying traditional fantasy RPG party formations and archetypes and this new team could easily carry a mainline Dragon Quest installment. That’s a bold statement especially when Aurora and Luceus are two sides of the same coin. Their complementary personalities are best showcased during the cutscenes where your see Luceus’ analytical side and Aurora’s impatience to jump into battle. Aside from a momentary interlude where you’re forced to use one of the guest adventurers, you can have a wholly enjoyable time relying solely on these new characters while ignoring the rest of the roster.

It’s a varied cast where each warrior easily proves their worth over the course of a single battle. The only thing better than seeing 3D models of characters like Dragon Quest IV’s Alena and Kiryl is hearing them speak for the first time. Just as it was momentous to have voice acting in a Final Fantasy game in 2001 with Final Fantasy X, so too was the introduction of dialogue in Dragon Quest VIII ten years ago. Hearing much of the cast speak in English accents in Journey of the Cursed King created a rare connection to the Tolkienian roots of JRPGs. Having Yungus’ cockney accent reprised in Dragon Quest Heroes--by the original voice actor no less--only makes this reunion all the more special.

This mingling of heroes from other worlds helps distract from the story’s laughably generic premise of light versus dark. Even the two co-leaders are named Children of the Light. The story starts off on an uncommonly cheerful note, even by Dragon Quest standards, where humans and monsters are happily co-existing. Due to a spell by a dark wizard named Velasco, the monsters are suddenly reminded that they’re supposed to hate humans. The ensuing chaos and unrest gives the game’s heroes more than enough to deal with, let alone reason to investigate why their non-human friends suddenly turned on them. It’s a good thing the story has its share of twists and guest character interactions to compensate for this otherwise plain narrative.

[caption id="attachment_189" align="aligncenter" width="1271"] Even with a cast of heroes this large, there’s enough combat flourish to go around.[/caption] Nor, perhaps, will it fail to be eventually perceived, that behind those forms and usages, as it were, he sometimes masked himself; incidentally making use of them for other and more private ends than they were legitimately intended to subserve. That certain sultanism of his brain, which had otherwise in a good degree remained unmanifested; through those forms that same sultanism became incarnate in an irresistible dictatorship. For be a man's intellectual superiority what it will, it can never assume the practical, available supremacy over other men, without the aid of some sort of external arts and entrenchments, always, in themselves, more or less paltry and base. This it is, that for ever keeps God's true princes of the Empire from the world's hustings; and leaves the highest honours that this air can give, to those men who become famous more through their infinite inferiority to the choice hidden handful of the Divine Inert, than through their undoubted superiority over the dead level of the mass. Such large virtue lurks in these small things when extreme political superstitions invest them, that in some royal instances even to idiot imbecility they have imparted potency. But when, as in the case of Nicholas the Czar, the ringed crown of geographical empire encircles an imperial brain; then, the plebeian herds crouch abased before the tremendous centralization. Nor, will the tragic dramatist who would depict mortal indomitableness in its fullest sweep and direct swing, ever forget a hint, incidentally so important in his art, as the one now alluded to. But Ahab, my Captain, still moves before me in all his Nantucket grimness and shagginess; and in this episode touching Emperors and Kings, I must not conceal that I have only to do with a poor old whale-hunter like him; and, therefore, all outward majestical trappings and housings are denied me. Oh, Ahab! what shall be grand in thee, it must needs be plucked at from the skies, and dived for in the deep, and featured in the unbodied air! It is noon; and Dough-Boy, the steward, thrusting his pale loaf-of-bread face from the cabin-scuttle, announces dinner to his lord and master; who, sitting in the lee quarter-boat, has just been taking an observation of the sun; and is now mutely reckoning the latitude on the smooth, medallion-shaped tablet, reserved for that daily purpose on the upper part of his ivory leg. From his complete inattention to the tidings, you would think that moody Ahab had not heard his menial. But presently, catching hold of the mizen shrouds, he swings himself to the deck, and in an even, unexhilarated voice, saying, "Dinner, Mr. Starbuck," disappears into the cabin. [blockquote author="DALAI LAMA" pull="normal"]A given kill has the potential to drop a medal version of that respective monster. With the medal, you can summon that monster as an ally.[/blockquote] When the last echo of his sultan's step has died away, and Starbuck, the first Emir, has every reason to suppose that he is seated, then Starbuck rouses from his quietude, takes a few turns along the planks, and, after a grave peep into the binnacle, says, with some touch of pleasantness, "Dinner, Mr. Stubb," and descends the scuttle. The second Emir lounges about the rigging awhile, and then slightly shaking the main brace, to see whether it will be all right with that important rope, he likewise takes up the old burden, and with a rapid "Dinner, Mr. Flask," follows after his predecessors. But the third Emir, now seeing himself all alone on the quarter-deck, seems to feel relieved from some curious restraint; for, tipping all sorts of knowing winks in all sorts of directions, and kicking off his shoes, he strikes into a sharp but noiseless squall of a hornpipe right over the Grand Turk's head; and then, by a dexterous sleight, pitching his cap up into the mizentop for a shelf, he goes down rollicking so far at least as he remains visible from the deck, reversing all other processions, by bringing up the rear with music. But ere stepping into the cabin doorway below, he pauses, ships a new face altogether, and, then, independent, hilarious little Flask enters King Ahab's presence, in the character of Abjectus, or the Slave. [caption id="attachment_190" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] King Slime, you’re adorable. Prepare to die.[/caption] It is not the least among the strange things bred by the intense artificialness of sea-usages, that while in the open air of the deck some officers will, upon provocation, bear themselves boldly and defyingly enough towards their commander; yet, ten to one, let those very officers the next moment go down to their customary dinner in that same commander's cabin, and straightway their inoffensive, not to say deprecatory and humble air towards him, as he sits at the head of the table; this is marvellous, sometimes most comical. Wherefore this difference? A problem? Perhaps not. To have been Belshazzar, King of Babylon; and to have been Belshazzar, not haughtily but courteously, therein certainly must have been some touch of mundane grandeur. But he who in the rightly regal and intelligent spirit presides over his own private dinner-table of invited guests, that man's unchallenged power and dominion of individual influence for the time; that man's royalty of state transcends Belshazzar's, for Belshazzar was not the greatest. Who has but once dined his friends, has tasted what it is to be Caesar. It is a witchery of social czarship which there is no withstanding. Now, if to this consideration you superadd the official supremacy of a ship-master, then, by inference, you will derive the cause of that peculiarity of sea-life just mentioned.