#Hyrule field guide

[mirensiart]

Hey Miry what are some fun (or maybe angsty) headcanons you have for the boys, including Chain?

Hmmmm 🤔 ok let me think

Sky: I know most people headcanon Warriors as the field medic, but I feel Sky is also versed in first aids and is really good at it, he has excellent bedside manner. Like the knight academy probably taught him all about it, so the 3 medics of the gang are warriors, hyrule and him. I also believe he has an impeccable stitch technique, like barely leaves scars at all. Really dexterous with his hands too, thanks to his wood crafting and harp playing, he's really good with them hands lmao.

Four: he's a blacksmith sure, and knows a lot about making weapons and maintaining them, but I like to believe he's also really good and making stuff out of leather. Like he knows how to make leather belts and pouches for the weapons his grandpa makes or leather clothes as protection in battle. Idk just a very crafty little guy that offers the entire deal aka a weapon and the leather belts to carry it, all in one service hehe

Time: I like to believe he lost his eye in a very mundane non heroic way, like maybe he fell off a rowdy horse and landed in the worst way possible or a farm centric accident. He makes up different stories about how he lost it, every time someone asks, he changes it, some stories are batshit insane and some others are super normal. He actually has told the real way he lost the eye in between the fake stories, but no one believes him. He thinks it's hilarious btw.

Twilight: I've mentioned before that I headcanon him to be a very sensitive guy, like small things can make him tear up aka a baby animal absolutely makes him want to start sobbing lmao. I like to believe he gossips and talks a lot with his epona as wolfie, like when you're in wolf form in twilight princess you can talk to animals and epona is so sweet with him when you talk to her, they are soulmates man. The guys do something dumb and he turns into wolfie just to walk to epona like "can u believe those guys??" Epona knows everything tbh like he tells her everything, she's the only one who truly knows his woes over losing midna.

Wind: I love to believe the little guy can legit control the winds, like the wind waker is a way for him to channel his magic, but he can control the wind unconsciously, too. When he gets really mad, the winds pick up speeds around him, or if he's happy, a gentle breeze circles around him, etc. His hair is always blowing in the breeze even when he's inside doors, and there's no wind. It just does that.

Legend: Excellent gardener, has a talent for growing plants, flowers, and trees. They flourish under his care. Extremely particular about soil and water and shadow/light for his plants, he not only has an apple orchard, but also grows veggies and rare flowers. Ravio maintains his garden under extreme rules and guidelines lmao ravio is not allowed to sell the apples or veggies from legend's garden, but legend encourages rav to use them for cooking instead.

Hyrule: disney princess aka animals love him lmao typical guy who befriends every single creature he meets, he could pacify a bear if he wants to. His fae part is what makes him have such an affinity with nature in general, I see him as the elves from LOTR who can feel and communicate with trees and they guide him. It's why he never uses maps, he doesn't need them.

Wild: using LOTR as my base for headcanons again lol but I see him like aragorn in the sense that aragorn is a human who was raised by elves so he feels a strong connection to elf culture because of it. I picture wild to be the same, but with the zoras, since he was childhood friends with mipha, we can imply he spent A LOT of time in zora's domain as a child. He is way more versed in zora customs, language, holidays, etc, than the hylian ones. It's also why I feel the older zora are so pissed off with him in botw, like they saw him as one of their own for so long, utter betrayal that he didn't protect their princess (mipha) and failed them all lol he has some zora mannerism in the sense that sometimes, he eats fish raw LMAO when he absentmindedly ate one in front of everyone the first time everyone was shocked for a while lmao

Warriors: absolute nervous wreck, always riddled with anxiety, really low self-esteem, is probably screaming 24/7 inside his head at all times, but is EXCEPTIONAL at faking it, like fake it til you make it is his way of life lmao he exudes over confidence and is always worried about his looks as a way to hide how much of a mess he truly is. Time & Wind has seen him at his worst and know that he's a great actor, which helps him cause he can stop pretending around them for a while

And now my link lmao

Chain: All bark, no bite. He is ironic and sarcastic and shows himself as a tough guy, but he's actually a sweetheart, and things get to him pretty easily. He learned pretty early on than carrying his heart on his sleeve is a really bad idea around the Bounty Hunter guild, since soft nice guys don't last long, so he replies to hurtful comments with sarcasm and a tough attitude, when in reality he's really hurt lmao he also jokes to cope, he'd rather throw a joke or two at you than really open up and talk about his feelings.

[trippygalaxy]

My Opinion on the LU Boys DND Classes

as a DM of 3 years and a enjoyer of dnd for MUCH LONGER, i have so sososos many thoughts on what classes the boys would be. This will also include subclasses CAUSE ITS MY POST AND IMMA DO WHAT I WANT! /LH SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG!!!!

Time -> Fighter, Eldritch Knight

Twilight -> Barbarian, Path of the Ancestral Guardian

Warriors -> Fighter, Battle Master

Sky -> Paladin, Oath of Devotion

Wild -> Ranger, Gloomstalker

Legend -> Wizard, Bladesinging

Hyrule -> Warlock, The Celestial

Four -> Fighter, Echo Knight

Wind -> Rogue, Swashbuckler

Taglist cause I know somepeople were interested! @catreginae @next-hero-in-line @unexpectedstormy @nancyheart11 @majorproblems77 @ladye-zelda @ajscico @mishwanders @violetregrets1837 @1dragon-mustard1

Under the cut will be explanations as to why i picked these classes! (as well as the official descriptions of the subclasses for context)

Time, The Eldritch Knight

Subclass Description; They focus their study on two of the eight schools of magic: abjuration and evocation. Abjuration spells grant an Eldritch Knight additional protection in battle, and evocation spells deal damage to many foes at once, extending the fighter's reach in combat. These knights learn a comparatively small number of spells, committing them to memory instead of keeping them in a spellbook.

--

Fighter is a go to for all the boys, but I think Time is a perfect fit for the class as he is shown time and time again to be a frontline fighter. He's quick to draw his sword and quicker to swing it.

Though Time is not a heavy magic user in the LU comics, he is known to have quite a few spells/magical abilities in his games and comics! Many of these abilities are defensive or to deal with large 'groups' of enemies at once, which is what Abjuration and Evocation spells are used for -respectively. The Class is still heavily rooted in melee rather than magic -like Time- but the magic they do use is to add a extra kick to their punch.

There are also abilities that make the Eldritch knight much harder (if not impossible) to disarm!

In higher levels, the subclasses allows the user to be more effective and quick with their spell casting who their actions are free for melee attacks, which would be a perfect fit for the quick and preciseness Time uses in battle.

Twilight, The Barbarian of Ancestral Guardians

Subclass description; Some barbarians hail from cultures that revere their ancestors. These tribes teach that the warriors of the past linger in the world as mighty spirits, who can guide and protect the living. When a barbarian who follows this path rages, the barbarian contacts the spirit world and calls on these guardian spirits for aid.

--

Barbarian is a common pick for Twilight as it is the most strength based class and while I agree with it always never quite sat right with me due to the violence the class is stereotyped to lean towards.

The subclass itself was picked because I connected it with not only the Hero's Shade but also the light spirits that Twilight encounters on his journey. Its very much a spirit heavy class that deals with a lot of themes regarding 'guardian' like figures which fit perfectly for the 'guardian' spirits Twilight runs into -and is trained by- during his adventure. I also choose this one because of how defensive it is, especially when it comes to protecting others!

Twilight is a protector, in the LU comics, in his games, in his manga, he is shown time and time again to protect others so to have a subclass to reflect his protective nature is a perfect match for his character!

Warriors, the Battle Master

Subclass Description; Those who emulate the archetypal Battle Master employ martial techniques passed down through generations. To a Battle Master, combat is an academic field, sometimes including subjects beyond battle such as weaponsmithing and calligraphy. Not every fighter absorbs the lessons of history, theory, and artistry that are reflected in the Battle Master archetype, but those who do are well-rounded fighters of great skill and knowledge.

--

Another fighter! Like I said for Time, this class is very much a 'go-to' class for any and all of the LU boys! But warriors fits so well for this class, a undeterred and seemingly never ending energy in a fight, Fighter fits perfectly!

I think that we all can agree that Warriors is one of the top 3 swordsmen in the group, his way with his sword is unlike the others as he holds an elegance and swiftness that can be rivalled by very few. The Battle Master subclass is built upon the idea of 'Yeah, you can try to hit me but get ready for your shit to get rocked.' It is about countering, using the enemies weaknesses to your gain and getting your hits in whenever you can.

A Captain in a war would be a battle master without a doubt!

Sky, Paladin of Devotion

Subclass description; --They hold themselves to the highest standards of conduct, and some, for better or worse, hold the rest of the world to the same standards. Many who swear this oath are devoted to gods of law and good and use their gods' tenets as the measure of their devotion. They hold angels – the perfect servants of good – as their ideals, and incorporate images of angelic wings into their helmets or coats of arms.

--

Is...Is this a surprise to anyone? A little cliche yes, but how can you blame me when it suits him so well!

First, Divine smite? PERFECT for the Skyward Strike, without a doubt and I don't think theres anything that could fit it so well! A mighty strike blessed with divine power and -depending on what spell/ability- can shed a great amount of light and cause lightning/thunder to burst from the strike! There is also abilities with the subclass that makes your weapon a beacon of light for a short period of time

Sky is devoted to many things. But its obvious hes devoted to his Zelda -the reincarnation of Hyila, a goddess- so much so that before he knew of her divine spirit he was willing to head into a world unknown just to look for her. He is so devoted to her and Skyloft that he fought a GOD to keep everyone he loved safe and sound.

Wild, The Gloom Stalker

Subclass description; Gloom stalkers are at home in the darkest places: deep under the earth, in gloomy alleyways, in primeval forests, and wherever else the light dims. Most folk enter such places with trepidation, but a gloom stalker ventures boldly into the darkness, seeking to ambush threats before they can reach the broader world.--

--

Since TOTK I feel like this would be fitting for the hero to be proficient in fighting in the darken places of the world. The name of the subclass is also suits him considering a huge part of the game -The Gloom- is apart of this class in a way.

Ranger is a great class for Wild, it is the definition of a hunter, an explorer, one that finds there own path in the wildness. Wild, though seen to get lost in the comics, has a great understanding of his Hyrule and its geographic locations and terrain, both surface and depths. He is also a great archer, and a even better hunter!

The hero is a survivor of the wilds, and Rangers are the best suited to do such a thing

Legend, The BladeSinger

Subclass Description: Bladesingers master a tradition of wizardry that incorporates swordplay and dance. In combat, a bladesinger uses a series of intricate, elegant maneuvers that fend off harm and allow the bladesinger to channel magic into devastating attacks and a cunning defense.

----

Legend is one of the more magically inclined Heros, and though thats mostly through his artifacts and magic items that doesn’t take away the fact that the hero has a broad knowledge when it came to magic.

I picked bladesinging specifically because while it’s main focus is magic it still uses the sword and it’s connection to ones-self. Legend is still a fighter at heart so i don’t think he would toss away those skills in this situation. He is shown in a few panels to have some sort of connection/bond to the mastersword and likely his own weapon, so it was important for me to somehow intertwine his two biggest skills together.

And a bit selfishly, i think he would look very very cool dancing around with his sword-

Hyrule, The Holy Warlock

Subclass description: Your patron is a powerful being of the Upper Planes. You have bound yourself to an ancient empyrean, solar, ki-rin, unicorn, or other entity that resides in the planes of everlasting bliss.

---

I know most people would make Hyrule either a wizard or nature based magic user but in all fairness, I dont think Hyrule is one to learn magic by the traditional means (reading/studying it). This isn’t to say the kid isn’t capable of doing so, but with the whole “hero of Hyila,” you’d think there would be a bit more a divine connection there.

Warlocks make deals, pacts, with some sort of higher being for their magic intentionally or not and Hyila ,a holy celestial, being fits perfectly to be his patron. The magic granted to a celestial warlock is based on a clerics abilities, healing, protecting from the undead and fiends, lighting a path etc. Warlocks also are also a little more focused on melee/combat and if picking the right pact boon, can have a special relationship/connect to their sword!

Four, The Echo Knight

Subclass description: Echo knights harness fading shades of unrealized timelines, pulling a shadowy duplicate of themself called an "echo" to fight by their side. The echoes are somewhat fragile, but the echo knight can summon another at any time.

--

Okayokayokay— HEAR ME OUT ON THIS ONE!!!

One of the echo knight’s main abilities is being able to make shadowy versions of themselves to fight alongside them in a battle. These shadows or ‘echoes’ are an extension of the person’s form/soul and are able to communicate and aid the original knight. They are able to project their consciousness into these shadows to get the information they have seen/witness and collects it all once they all fuse back together.

TELL ME THAT AINT PERFECT FOR FOUR!!!

Wind, The Swashbuckler

Subclass Description: You focus your training on the art of the blade, relying on speed, elegance, and charm in equal parts. While some warriors are brutes clad in heavy armor, your method of fighting looks almost like a performance. Duelists and pirates typically belong to this archetype. A Swashbuckler excels in single combat, and can fight with two weapons while safely darting away from an opponent.

--

….i feel like this is pretty straightforward as to why i picked this for Wind.

Wind, shown to be quite a sneaky Link in his games, is probably the most rogue like in the Chain. He’s a strong kid, but he specializes in quick strikes and keeping his opponents on their toes and unexpecting. He is also, very clearly, a pirate! So it isn’t surprising for the hero to have one of (if not the only) pirate theme-d subclass! The class is very agile, but the subclass specifically is focused on disarming, ‘backstabbing’ and overall being sneaky in plain sight!

And thought i do think this is a great fit for the hero, i could also see him as a Storm sorcerer, which was my second pick!

UHHHH! YEAH THATS IS! if you're reading this, thank you so much for listening to me ramble and if you have any ideas/thoughts of your own i would LOVE to hear them!!!

[bjekkergauken]

Sooo, I have a weak spot for old flora/fauna field guides (Can never resist buying them when I find them at thrift stores, lol) and I tried painting some flora & fauna of Hyrule in that style

[bynineb]

What pieces of media are your biggest creature design inspirations?

ooh how fun! let's see...

Pokemon Crystal (Ken Sugimori)

(src: Bulbapedia)

I had a Pokemon Crystal strategy guide with all 251 Pokemon in it that I studied religiously when it came to making monsters of my own. I love Ken Sugimori's illustrations so much - the dappled paint makes it so soft, gives everything the feeling of being struck by light dancing down from foliage above. The subtle implied detailing with line strokes and shadow allows the imagination to run wild. They, truly, feel like creatures to have adventures with. And of course, Pokemon is a juggernaut of an RPG, facilitating those childhood fantasies, and then there's a TV show showing them playing and shouting their name and fighting... No wonder so many people got hooked on it!

Dragon Warrior Monsters 2 (Akira Toriyama)

(src: Dragon's Den)

Since they're designed as enemies foremost, Dragon Quest's monsters can get a lot kookier & scarier than Pokemon can. And Toriyama gives his monster designs so much charm and personality! You feel like he always has fun coming up with them, and it makes every Dragon Quest game more delightful for having them be your foes (and sometimes friends). Also, all the English names are puns and portmanteaus and other fun word things!

After Armageddon Gaiden (artist unknown - dev is PandoraBox)

(src: Bogleech, who also wrote a wonderful article on these critters: https://bogleech.com/halloween/hall18-aagolem)

Uniquely grotesque beasts from a deeply obscure Japanese RPG named After Armageddon Gaiden, the second in a duology about player-controlled demons fighting alien invaders. Some of the designs get quite gory or disturbing, fair warning. But in a cool way!! The sheer strangeness of these designs are something to behold!... And they have the best names ever, like "Barabumblebo"...

YU-GI-OH early card art (Kazuki Takahashi)

(src: Yugioh fandom page)

Yu-Gi-Oh's early monster designs are something I think about a lot. I don't know what that says about me, but I do know they're unbelievably cool, a blend of genuinely scary Egyptian-flavored horror and wacky, tropey, cartoony fantasy. The fact that these ridiculous designs are frequently art for a card that's completely worthless in terms of winning duels, combined with their randomly specific descriptions about how unbelievably powerful they are, gives them a certain mystique. It's as if the creature you see depicted truly exists as a part of some greater fantasy world...

Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

(src: me, many moons ago)

Seeing properly scary monsters inside a strange virtual world in Ocarina of Time was quite the experience for my young self. For example, I had nightmares about the Stalchildren who used to burst, endlessly, from the ground of the strangely empty Hyrule Field. But that also made it feel like such an adventure! The thrill added to the experience. And even many of the game's races are quite monsterlike; Gorons, Zora, Deku, and so forth. This had me imagine turning a "bad" creature into a friend, a concept I cherish to this day... hence Love-Love here.

Well that's that! Thanks for asking, this was fun to write : )

[blueskittlesart]

what do you think his thoughts were at that moment?

this is an insane question and i am going rabid trying to answer it. for context this is about my. link dead on the fucking floor compilation. i. e. "what do you think went through link's mind as he all but DIED in precalamity botw."

i've thought about this before because. well obviously i have. look at how many times i've drawn it. i think context matters more than anything when examining that moment, because it's essentially the culmination of link's entire life up to that point in the worst way possible. you have a kid who has been raised to either win or die. those are his only two options. he's known this for basically as long as he can remember. either he defeats the calamity like he's supposed to and lives the rest of his life as an untouchable gold standard of soldier, as proof that all that pressure and pain he suffered worked, or he dies and dooms everyone he has ever loved to suffer horribly for the rest of their likely very short lives. And i do think he thought about this extensively, because how could you NOT, and i think that he probably believed that death was the most likely outcome. He was raised by a soldier, around soldiers, to be a soldier. soldiers are practical. soldiers strategize for the most likely scenario. they're not pessimistic, but they know how to look at a situation objectively and make a judgement call. Looking at link's situation objectively, it would have been obvious that he couldn't win. he was one kid, a 16-year-old boy, with maybe some above-average swordsmanship skills, but too many variables were missing. he couldn't hear the sword's voice. zelda's power wouldn't manifest. Hylia, who should have been there guiding them through this prophecy that SHE had supposedly inflicted on them, was completely silent. the divine beasts may have given him some hope, initially, but it was clear below the optimistic facade that hyrule was toying with very dangerous forces they didn't truly understand. I think he very likely went into that confrontation with the calamity anticipating death.

what's most interesting to me about the scene of link's death isn't that he fell, but WHERE he fell. because he didn't die in the sanctum, at the scene of the calamity's birth, as one might have expected. he died in an empty field along the road to a fortress that might have been able to protect him. Link, the bearer of the triforce of courage, the boy raised to die a martyr at the hands of the calamity, who had all but accepted his fate before the monster even showed its face, chose to run for safety, what some might call the coward's approach, instead of dying where he stood at ganon's hand. and it seems almost out of character at first, when you think about the person he was when he first met zelda, the person who would do anything in his power to show no weakness, to take the pain and the stress without flinching or faltering. the boy who so completely embodied that idea of "courage." but i think that zelda was the piece that changed him. If it had just been him at that final confrontation, maybe he wouldn't have run. maybe he would have been content to take his final stand and accept the death he'd been promised. but zelda insisted on being there, too. "there must be something i can do to help." and while link was a soldier, more than willing to engage in self-sacrifice, he was also a knight, sworn to protect this girl, and so he couldn't in good conscience sacrifice HER, too. so he ran. he tried to live, at a moment when he should have expected to die. and i think that was infinitely more courageous of him. to go against everything you have ever known and expected is infinitely scarier than accepting the outcome you've always anticipated. Running for his life (and for zelda's) was running into the unknown. escaping death in that way was defying everything he'd built himself up to be, everything everyone expected of him. Who is link if not the hero who faced the calamity with courage? what would he have to be if he could not be what was expected of him? in that moment, he made the choice to step into the unprophesized timeline, into a world where his actions were no longer defined by some great all-seeing power. and that was the most courageous move he could have made in that moment. he must have been terrified.

so what was going through his mind as he made his last stand? Honestly, i think the only thing on his mind was zelda. I don't think he cared about himself, his physical condition, any of it. I think he made the choice to run because of zelda and so he made the choice to take his final stand where he did because of her, too. just before zelda's power manifests, we see him try to continue fighting even inches from death, so gravely injured that he's unsteady on his feet, using his sword to keep himself standing. i think he must have known that he was in no condition to fight anymore, but he expected death to come for him at one point or another. what mattered was that she might live as long as he kept going. that's why he ran in the first place. not for himself, but because zelda was there and zelda didn't deserve to die like this. Even once zelda's power manifests, link only gives up and allows himself to fall once a beat or two has past--once he's sure that there really is no more danger. that she'll be okay, that she can make it past the fort and into relative safety even if he lets go here. He collapses then, and only then, after running miles through fields and woods, already gravely wounded, because in that moment he sees that the danger has past. a soldier's work is only done when there is nothing left to fight. a knight's work is only done when his princess is truly safe.

maybe he was relieved that he'd managed to hold on as long as he had. that he'd been able to find her some form of safety, in one way or another. maybe he worried about what manner of things would come for her once he was gone. maybe he wondered why she wouldn't just leave him and run for the fort. i'm sure there was a flash of regret in the back of his mind, for the family and friends he'd leave behind, for the people he'd let down, for the calamity he wasn't able to defeat. but this was the outcome he'd expected, even if it had come in a slightly different form. Even if now there was a girl hovering above him begging him to open his eyes.

[bokettochild]

Why I Can't Epic Legend

I finally understand.

I've complained before about struggling with writing Legend. I've spoken about how bringing out the stars inside him is difficult in comparison to Every Other Hero Ever, and now I understand why.

Warriors is a captain, the Hero of Warriors. Warriors is a man of battle, of fighting. He's a person who turns to the blade as his first move when trouble arises. His strength lies in his skill on the battlefield.

Time is a hero who's spent every moment fighting. Time has everything to lose, everything he's always wanted and finally has. Time strikes first before anything else can strike him, can take, can steal everything he's managed to claw back from Fate.

Wild stands alone. Wild does not fight with but only beside. Wild relies on himself and himself alone. He does not wait for others who will only fall to join at his side, he runs ahead and strikes hard and fast with no thought given for those around because in his world there is no one around.

Hyrule knows how to strike first and how to survive. Hyrule knows fighting and knows that when a battle begins, sitting back will do no good. He strives to be enough, to fight for a place among heroes he can only look up at, rather than see himself level with.

Wind strives to be seen as a man. He fights every moment to earn the respect of those who've faced less than what he has defeated. Wind stands in the shadow of the heroes who came before, in the shadow of the Hero of Time, and he is running, racing, striking out to escape that shadow and join his brothers in the light.

Time dogs Sky's heels. Whispers of failure driving him to not stand back, to strike, to fight, to stand foremost against an enemy that fears him above all else, that flees before his blade and his blade alone. Sky will not be too late again, he will not wait, he will not stand back. He will not let ruin fall again because he lingered.

Ghosts and failures not his own haunt Twilight. Just over his shoulder lies the reminders of a beloved mentor who fell too soon to do right by his bloodline, too soon to settle a soul long steeped in turmoil. Fear at a loss brought too soon, a loss he could prevent, a fate he can't stop but wishes to put off, sends him to battle, to watch the backs of a father and to stop a second death to the ones he calls brothers.

Four is so accustomed to a team of his own making, of his own mind and body and soul, that to work with others beyond himself is still new, still a struggle. Effort lies there, an attempt to offer aid, but new skills are not to be learned mid-battle just as weapons ought not be tested the first time against enemies in combat. He's still getting there, still fighting, but when all fails, his own strength is what he can trust in, his own blade what he can trust to see him through.

And that leaves Legend. Legend who has spent so long fighting, seen every flavour of battle and war, that he falls behind. He doesn't stand weak at their backs, letting stronger blades than his own take the brunt of the attack. He doesn't cower and hide in fear. Quite contrary, his strength far outweighs their own, his skill surpassing theirs. He has at his disposal knowledge and skill and strength that they will not achieve even in this venture. He does not lead with this strength though, not when so many feet charge to the front. He does not guide and call to aid as he has in past before armies and kingdoms.

The Hero of Legend, the Herald of Hyrule's Golden Era, the Star of Hyrule's Sky, is the shield to protect the backs of the eight swords that strike out against the evil that dances through time. His skill and strength and talents are poured into covering the weaknesses left open by those less experienced. Where they charge he holds back, covering, watching, eyes trailing not one but all of the field, attention turned not to the greatest threats as the others do but to the multiple smaller ones that will hamper the steps of those whose focus is not on them.

Legend does not step out and foremost, into the spotlight and taking the front lines because that is where everyone else already is. Legend holds back to watch their asses and, as such, cannot take the lead or the focus. He won't, he can't, not when no one else stands to fill the place that he does, the one that needs heart and hands attending to it at all times.

That doesn't make for good fic fodder though. It dances out here, but in a story this would fall to the sidelines; a comment or note about the veteran's whereabouts that will quickly be overtaken by the actions and movements of heroes who race to the forefront of the viewer, to the climax of the battle that Legend so intentionally stays back from.

To bring Legend to the spotlight, to the front lines and into a place where his true power and skill would be made most evident, one would have to somehow level all other heroes with a threat beyond their ken, beyond their skill. To do so would be to bring a threat worse than Ganon, worse than Demise upon them.

And who can fathom such a threat?

How can one level eight men and boys, all who have overcome the greatest threats of their kingdom, and somehow manage to leave only one standing? How can such a scene exist without somehow reducing Hylia's Heroes to pathetic children and amateurs? How can such a thing happen without painting a scene so unbelievable as to make the hero who overcomes it seem not a valiant protagonist, but rather a childish depiction of one?

And thus exists the reason why every hero will bear the spotlight but the one I most wish to direct it to :(

[crazylittlejester]

Saw the post about the Chain and their god domains and my greek mythos obsessed brain got scritched so here is the Chain as Greek gods/mythos:

Time: The old man gave me such a hard time. absolutely going insane over him. He’s Hades. being one of the big three (this fucker split the timeline (almost like how the underworld is split)). Ive never finished MM or OoT but i believe the lore is that all the masks are possessed to put it simply, thus the spirits granting link his power, making Time a maestro of the dead. Many interpretations of hades also depict him as cunning, a trickster, while also being stern, much like our resident little shit (affectionate). Hermes was a big contender here for that reason.

Sky: This was a toss up but im gonna have to say Zeus honestly, mister Godslayer himself. less of a connection between their personalities honestly and more just focusing on their similar dynamics, skills, and symbolism. Obviously we have our favorite lightning motif, plus the position of leadership they both share - in the sense that zeus is more or less the leader of the gods and sky being the ‘leader’ so to speak of the timeline. Plus the parallels between demise and kronos, and zeus/sky’s respective roles there. It was between the big man or persephone.

Twilight: Artemis!! Our very literal leader of the pack. Goddess of the hunt, patron of animals, domain over the moon (cough twilight cough). Though, Demeter and hestia were fighting me here, the fursona won over the country bumpkin sadge.

Warriors: You are Athena! badass in the arena! /ref. Honestly, i feel like i should be assigning them their ‘obvious’ gods and then give them one that attaches to them more symbolically. Yes, everyone’s favorite captain is THE captain goddess. Cunning, strategist, warhead, intelligent, and alot of people forget that Athena is both charismatic and incredibly physically beautiful, in most adaptations. she was in the lineup for paris and guided the trojan war. I forget who it was on here that is a big “wars = helen of troy” truther but theyre absolutely so correct.

Legend: Also a tricky toss up, but i ultimately landed on apollo. Apollo’s known for being a sort of jack of all trades god, between his dominion over the sun, medicine, music, archery, and more. With the vet’s all encompassing experience, with his multitude of instruments and proficiencies in different magical items it made sense. Me, personally, I loved the stories of apollos shape-shifting mortal ventures more than say zeus or any of the other gods. Also, depending on your characterization of the vet, their supposed personalities line up quite well, with apollo being charming and somewhat arrogant/snarky with others

Hyrule: This feels left-field but rulie gets to be Persephone! Adept with magic, goddess of fertility and the harvest and just general growth (of nature), with the double edge of being the queen of the underworld. Ugh im so obsessed with downfall duo rulie is so tragic. left with a desolate wasteland, yet (depending on characterization) ushering in and doing his damndest to nurture life and growth. I love the headcanons where rulie is a survivalist through and through, proficiencies in botany and herbology, respect for the land and its inhabitants. 

Wild: Demeter! Wild is of the land, they are one and the same. The way his world is absolutely teeming with life, and the way he is molded to adapt and live with the land to complete his adventure,,, ugh its too good. He is the most in tune with the wolves, the bees, the cows, the reeds, the flowers, the dragons, the spirits, they ARE him. he woke up with NOTHING, except a vast land full to bursting with life and lessons. 

Four: Hephaestus, obviously. dont get me wrong, I love four so much, but anything else felt blasphemous (The way i could write essays about it—). He is the god of blacksmithing, if i assigned him anything else i fear he may just manage to kill me. 

Wind: Notos! God of the east Wind, known for the bringing of summer, cyclones, and warmth. love that funky little whirlwind hes so fun and spunky. being a god of wind was so on the nose it was too good. I didnt ever consider poseidon, winds too squishy and fluid for that. this kid is bouncing around like a cat 5 hurricane he is the wind, he is free (to cause chaos).

Ugh i love yapping about the mythologies. i may do this again except with minor gods/demigods (i will get back to that legend-achilles parallel i swear). I hope this was amusing to you

OKAY OKAY GO OFF!!!!

(I’m a huge Wars = Helen of Troy truther, I ain’t the only one, but I’ve yapped about it a lot akdkkdk)

you absolutely ate this up on my god i agree i agree i agree i agree. LEGEND AND ACHILLES?? SIGN ME THE FUCK UP IF YOU EVER FEEL LIKE YAPPIN ABOUT THAT THE FLOOR IS YOURS AND THE ASK BOX IS OPEN ID LOVE TO HEAR IT

[offeryoucannotrefuse]

So, I'm replaying Tears of the Kingdom, and I am really hyper critical of stuff, I realize that more and more, but god the game is a mixed bag. A really, really good mixed bag

On the one hand, I don't know if I will pick up Breath of the Wild in the next decade because of how much better the gameplay and combat and collectables and ultra hand and god the new enemies are so good. Horrablins are fantastic, just make a Proboscis Monkey evil, and Gleeoks and Frox are great, and of course it just has literally double the content of Botw, and it's just so good and I got the Official companion book (the game guide, not the masterworks) and it's great and I got the MM and Oot amiibo so now my paraglider can be Lon Lon Milk god it's a good game.

But on the other, they ditched breath of the wild faster than they ditched the Virtual boy. Every single shrine and guardian (minus one) has disintegrated, including the shrine of awakening, so now it's just a joke that the yiga hang out in. So they deleted shiekah tech to make the same thing for zonai And while there are freedoms that come with the more magical Zonai tech, Sheikah tech actually has a backstory, and feels older. Calamity ganon was a known quantity to a degree, so the entire world made an effort to end that war before it began, so there was a tech boom, just like in real life. Then, just like after actual wars, there was an arms collection and the government destroyed them. The Zonai just existed, found zonite, made a civilization that never existed in the first game (excusable, but still throws you off),went basically extinct somehow (how the heck is Zelda related to Rauru, and also pick a new name), made a pathetic defense against a much smaller force than Calamity ganon, and lost.

The only people who have a connection to the era of myth (the tapestry battle) are mummified in the shrines in botw, and it's as if their souls are speaking before they go. There aren't robots that still exist and just tell you everything. And it felt like a valid reset with Botw, a unified timeline, where nothing from the previous games can affect creativity, but come on, the second time collecting memories of someone you don't know before they make a novel sacrifice so that you can rescue them does not have the same effect. Also secret stones are really pathetic compared to divine beasts and the champions inherent powers, although I like the modern day sages powers, but having a ghost follow you around feels unnecessary when the method from botw worked so well.

And Ganondorf...

For those who don't know, Ganondorf from Oot, TP, and WW (and all the ganons) is the same individual Gerudo, after different events and timeline splits. And the most interesting appearance of him was in Wind Waker, when he explained that some of the reason he attacked Hyrule was because the desert was just a horrible place to live, and why should there be green field when his people go without water. It's like 2 lines, but it shows more humanity in a villain than any other Zelda game has done, and when I heard they were hiring Matt Mercer to do Ganondorf, I thought they would give him more of that, something beyond generic ruthless villain, a reason this Ganondorf, a separate extremely rare male Gerudo whose a mage and has the powers of evil and a second form he gets using his yellow magic item, was worth using instead of just letting Ganondorf stay dead.

But the writers didn't, they gave more cunning to the giant purple cloud shaped like a boar than the man.

Really, I just didn't like what they chose to keep from the breath of the wild and what they chose to ditch. Dispute that, I think it's my second favorite game on switch now.

[derrickwildsun]

ZELDA TOTK SPOILERS (but mostly an alternate scenario for post-TOTK)

UPDATE:

I just made a drawing based on this idea! You can see it here.

I’m imagining an alternate version of the aftermath of the events of TOTK where although Zelda has been restored to Hylian form, she mysteriously retains the ability to transform into the Light Dragon and back at will. She loves using this ability to let Link and the children of Hateno ride on her back as she soars all over Hyrule, letting them take in the beautiful scenery; she essentially acts as a tour guide for these “field trips.” Link sits on her head, of course, where he pats, scratches, smooches, and snuggles her head; she never gets enough of these displays of affection. Meanwhile, the children are like, “We love our dragon teacher so much! She’s the prettiest dragon in all of Hyrule!” She makes sure to keep clear of enemy encampments while carrying the kids out of concern for their safety (although she herself has nothing to fear from enemy attacks due to her strong scales), but whenever she has only Link on her back, the two sometimes swoop down and attack bands of bokoblins because the two of them are for real the most chaotic couple in all of Hyrule. The first time she transformed at will, she was so scared and worried that the kids would be afraid of her, but they recognized her as the same dragon that occasionally flew by the village and were very happy to see her. No, I’m not getting really emotional with butterflies in my stomach as I type this. Why do you ask?

[newtabfics]

Rauru x First Kiss

He watches the way you laugh and smile as you walk through the fields of Hyrule. Such beautiful flowers. Such a beautiful forest.

And it all paled when beside you.

He watched your cheeks flush as you looked down shyly. "Rauru, stop flattering me."

Rauru chuckled. "Ah. I said it out loud again, didn't I?"

You chuckled and nodded as he approached.

With a hum, he lifted you, practically sitting you like a child on his shoulder. Your squeak made his heart warm as he looked up at you.

"You are the light that shines within me," He said affectionately.

What he hadn't expected was reciprocation. It wasn't that he was anticipating a one-sided love, but up until then it was all playful flirting.

When your lips pressed against the corner of his mouth carefully, he fell harder and kissed you with fervor you happily responded in kind.

"And you, Rauru, are the light that guides me" You said gently, making his heart flutter as he immediately moved you from his shoulder to cradle and kiss you more affectionately.

You only mourned that he no longer set you on his shoulder, but that was for another day.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Tabby: I'm gonna say it, I didn't think with TOTK I'd be SIMPING for RAURU. SAGE OF LIGHT RAURU??? OLD MAN IN THE SACRED REALM RAURU??? NOPE HE.

[skyloftian-nutcase]

(inspired by Ganon's Requiem by ROZEN)

The castle cut into the sky, a testament to all that Hyrule had built, a reminder of all it had lost.

Link swallowed, feeling the hair on the back of his neck stand up. This was it. When he had left his village a year ago, when he had waved goodbye to his sister and brother-in-law, he'd only had an inkling of what his journey would entail. When he'd left his village a year ago, he'd been a fisherman, a kid who was going on an adventure with the hopes that he could help rebuild a world that had been destroyed, a child of the Calamity.

He'd grown so much since then. Seen so much since then. Met so many new people, watched the hurts and healings of so many. He'd honed his skill as a fighter, he'd made new family, and...

He'd always known this day would come, but it had always seemed so far away.

All of Hyrule had fallen to the Calamity. Villages and town had been razed to the ground, all the champions had been murdered. Hyrule's greatest warriors had been unable to prevail over the beast, the princess had sacrificed herself just to hold it at bay.

His grandparents had died in the Calamity. His parents had died due to the lack of resources that had come in its wake.

His friend had suffered so much because of it. His new family had lost everything because of it.

"The Champions are with you, Link," his spirit companion said, eyes determined. "We'll defeat him together. You have the sword that seals the darkness, the abilities of the best warriors in Hyrule."

Link nodded, closing his eyes and shutting out the view of the foreboding castle. This was it.

It was time.

Marching ahead, Link opened his eyes, drawing the Master Sword and feeling it hum in his hand, warmth and light surrounding and filling him.

I can do this.

"Where do you think you're going? This field and the city will be covered in guardians."

Link paused, turning back to see the knight who had taught him and guided him since he'd acquired the blade. Abel watched him with a stern demeanor, but the worry in his eyes was evident.

"It's time," Link said solemnly. "The Divine Beasts are free. All that's left is Ganon."

"What was your plan, just going in alone, walking all dramatic while we stand here and watch you with awe?" Lyra asked, crossing her arms and furrowing her brow.

"We're going with you," Abel immediately confirmed.

"But--"

"Don't even try it," Lyra cut in, walking up to him. "I want that beast's blood on my sword. I want to hear it scream."

"Besides," Abel added as he also approached. "I can guide you to him."

Link looked at them uncertainly. "I don't want you to get hurt."

"That's cute," Lyra quipped, walking beyond him. "I was going to say the same thing. Now let's go kick his ass."

Link turned to watch her go, anxiety eating away at him. He was already scared, he--

A hand settled on his shoulder, warm, heavy, and comforting. He looked back and saw Abel watching him.

"I wasn't there to protect my son," Abel said quietly. "I will not make that mistake again. You fight for all of Hyrule, Link. Let Hyrule fight with you."

Link watched him a moment, his eyes stinging, heart swelling with emotion, throat tightening in response. He couldn't adequately express how terrifying this was, nor how relieved he was at hearing Abel's words. He leapt forward, slamming into the knight's chest and wrapping his arms around him. Abel stood there for a moment, stunned, before gently returning the hug.

[triplecatattack]

This was based off of @cloudninetonine 's fanfiction called a players aid and honestly I loved it so much I started to write again so made a little fic about it in my down time if y'all got any comments or criticisms let me know.

≠============================≠

Across time

LU/oot link x child!reader

the guide is 11/12 during the events of the story

Tw: general angst,light body dysmorphia?, Poor editing, oot spoilers.

The hero of time had a child not physically but mentally in a way he dubbed them the guide normally the child be concerned a strange small voice talking talking to them like they had known him his entire life like he was there best friend and them in return and it was quite annoying.

Until he had to leave his home behind the first time he heard them go quiet was after he left the kokiri Forest for the first time saying farewell to saria and the place you've known as a home for all his life was not an easy task maybe even worse by the silence his guide presented after saying goodbye to one of his only friends he felt them he felt there warm tender embrace he could feel there kindness and empathy radiating within him.

"I'm sorry link I know this must be hard for you, to just leave everything and go on a journey like this but hey at least you're not alone you've got me and I'll make sure we get through this together, ok." The child-like voice spouted, sounding not much similar than his own.

"Thank you" he whispered

"What's your name?"

" I'm Y/N " they replied with childlike enthusiasm.

"Do you think we will really stay together through this" he spoke silently walking into Hyrule Field.

"Yeah well we got to, I know you have navi, but who else is going to watch your back." The guide exclaimed to the child hero.

And they did, even when link had went to the master sword sealed within it's pedistle anxiety radiating within him he pulled sealing his fate.

Saria was gone

Princess Ruto was gone

Dariunia was gone

Zelda was missing

All he had was navi and his guide

Y/N had proven to be a beacon of light in his dreary adventure' not to say Navi wasn't helpful but Navi never had any helpful puzzle solving skills and the guide had an odd but unique scence of humor.

Whenever the mood got dark and whenever link let his mind wander too much he could always count on his guide to make a off-color/strange, funny joke, awful pun or even just some reassuring affirmation to keep his Spirit's up.

But then it all changed as soon as the master sword was pulled out of its pedistle it all changed the young boy had the body of a young man, but not the mind to match. And everything, was changed not just the young hero but his land castle town was decrepit, a shell of its former self,Zora's domain a frozen pit, and gororn city all but abandoned.

Hyrule had gone to "heck in a handbag" as they said the one thing stayed the same, his only constant thus far his guide.

Y/n

But things never really got better after finding all the stages but y/n remaind through every hardship trial and quest no matter how bleak it got at least he had people to rely on navi and his self proclaimed "guide".

Until the inevitable end.

Zelda was taken by gannondorf, trapped in a crystal and taken to the remains of Hyrule castle.

This was the endgame he knew it and so did y/n.

"Don't worry link we'll rescue Zelda and save the day together ' we just gotta!" They exclaimed with the typical childlike nativity.

Link on the other hand was not so sure he couldn't escape the sinking feeling that something bad was going to happen regardless of how this was going to end.

"Ok then let's finish this and bring peace to Hyrule!" Link exclaimed.

The battle and escape was grueling, every attack from Gannon hurt tenfold however this was nothing with his guide and navi by his side the two people he could depend on most.

He could take on anything, right?

"Right, Y/n......"

"Y/n"

"Y/n"

" I'm sorry link The adventures over it's time for me to go" they sniffled.

Were they crying?

"Please I already lost navi I don't want to lose you too' don't go please." He sobbed did everything they went through together.

"I,m so sorry I don't want to go but the adventures over I wish I could stay longer but I cant"

"I'm sorry link, goodbye."

And then as if he felt his soul leave his body they left.

Just like that.

There warmth and tenderness he felt all throughout his very being was gone.

"Y/n"

"Y/n"

"Please come back."

≠===========================≠

This was already submitted to cloudninetonine's blog but I was kind of proud of it so, it's going on mine now(⁠ ⁠ꈍ⁠ᴗ⁠ꈍ⁠)

[summertimemusician]

Linktober (Shadow) 2023

Spirit

Welp turns out my exam season throughly steam rolled through my general Linktober plans, so you get this VERY late thing for now folks who find this, at least until I decide whether to continue this until I finish it even though it's no longer Linktober or if I'll make whatever other stories come later their own thing after exam season is over (mostly because the original for this one is my preferred draft, and that I feel the one for the Link/Dark Link prompt would be kind of wasted if it just sat there collecting dust cause I worked hard on the tension and horror there lord darn it, along with a few others mainly involving Fae Hyrule, Twilight, Time, First, among other Links like Legend, Sky, Warriors, just all of the boys, I wanted to give them all proper spotlight and still want to do that in any way I can). Welp. *Downs coffee like a shot* Also really need to find out how to make a Masterlist on mobile, figure out how AO3 works and answer asks.

Anyway, not really any warnings this time besides Reader Not Being Okay (par the course really) and angst.

As always can be read as either romantic or platonic, Reader is gender neutral on purpose, technically is meant to be read as either Hero's Shade Time x Reader or First x Reader mainly, but you can interpret it as any Link really lol

Good reading!

This corner of Faron Woods was quiet this time of year.

The woods were solemn in this Hyrule, the sliver of moonlight barely enough of a guide through the mist, it was silent but for the soft padding of animals through the underbrush and the howl of a wolf in the distance (not Wolfie's, not musical enough). The stars were your only company as you were separated from the group, the air was cold agaisnt your skin as you attempted to find your way.

Being alone in the forests of Hyrule never spelled anything good for anyone, but as you felt the brush of a hand tenderly twined in yours, the ghost of leather and the faint clinking of steel, and a faint glow of pale gold and ivory cutting through the veil of the night, mindful of roots you may trip onto and never flickering too far out of sight you couldn't feel safer, even  if instead something like melancholy threatened to lock your throat with the chains of silence, you felt as warm as the soft twilight glow and as frigid as ice, frostburned with the bitter cold of your own warring emotions.

You can't help but chuckle a bit whille holding a old scabbard close to your heart, it's a wry sound, "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

There is no answer, of course there isn't, but you don't mind, you know he'll listen, thorns wrap around your heart and crawl up your throat, the smell of lilies and steel coats and sticks in your throat like honey, or maybe blood, "... I didn't think you'd show up, you know? I always considered the possibility but..." You trail off, you feel something brush your side, you can only see him in the corner of your eyes or with a passing glance, there but not, existing but gone, so you keep your eyes on the road and in the flicker of light, so you carefully don't look to your side, you don't think you could contain the shaking in your heart otherwise, to stare at inevitability and prophecy, "... I know, I know you're fine. At least for now, I apologize for all the trouble I gave you."

'It's alright. It could never be a hardship aiding you.', the voice echoes in your ears, and you swallow thickly, breath hitching, the warmth of the sun in the fields of Hyrule, the wind caressing your hair, the song of the animals in Faron Woods, someone holding you carefully, fondly. The warmth of your hand in his. Not really here, but not gone either, more feeling than true echo.

You chuckle, and try to pretend it's not a bit breathless, something like a wounded keen, "... You're too kind. Too, too kind, thank you."

Spirits in Hyrule never spell anything good, in this wild land of light and shadow in a gestalt of divinity. There are some exceptions though, even if it hurts to witness then. So you follow him through the dark, certain that as you've guided his way once, he'll lead you now to where you need to go.

----------------------------------------------------------

... The clearing he leads you to is open, but by no means truly quiet among the trees, there is no peace to be found for the armored skeleton here. You choke on sorrow, on unfinished business, on the cruelty of being brought to ruin and being denied peace, and you stumble towards the familiar figure, almost in a trance as your vision blurs, roots and thorny vines wrap over rusted armor and a thorn cape, the skeleton's void sockets piercing through your soul, illuminated by the solemn gaze of the wretched moon and it's uncaring maids of honor in the stars.

You fall to your knees near the decaying skeleton, biting back against the wounded sound that attempts to leave your throat with enough strenght to bleed, you lay the scabbard by his side with a bouquet of lilies and shiver at the gentle, phantom touch, so soft, so loving it almost leads you to ruin all over again.

'... It's foolish to grieve for someone who isn't gone yet.' the thought comes to you, yet you can't help it. You still hurt for him, you still hold onto the fury at the heavens themselves for denying them quietus. For denying them rest over and over and over again. To watch this cycle and be helpless to stop it all due to the will of uncaring gods.

Alive. Dead. Alive. Dead. Denied full rest over and over again, to watch the chance at rest to the kindest of souls found in this world you found yourself in.

You barely register the touch to your cheek, ephemeral as it is, as you can't help but shed tears, can't help but grieve. Because if you don't, who will?

You know by now that some wounds can never heal, some rifts can never be mended. Even with the guarantee of cyclic, eternal rebirth, some things never return to how they were. And reminding yourself of this inevitability to them will never not hurt, even if you know it's futile to blame anyone but the one god who started this, and maybe the goddess who stood complacent to it. It leaves a bitter taste in your mouth that it'll one day come to this, that the frost of death and the sharpness of pain will leave a mark the sands of time can't scar over.

You reach a trembling hand towards the one in your cheek, try to find catharsis in the remains of decayed, dead yet ever eternal, ever growing love. And you breathe.

'We'll meet again. So do not mourn for me, please.'

You don't think you could deny him if you tried. Not when you know he's trying to soothe you, to thaw your sorrow. To allow your heart's healing to fallow.

"We will, I know. I'm sorry for making you worry." You chuckle, leaning into the cold, trying to brand the memory of the shadowed, but not gone love given to you so you can return it in kind. Just until you meet again, just until you can give all you can to his not yet decomposing self, grasping onto what remains of him, "I love you."

'I love you too. Until we meet again.'

The cold is gone, the echo of love leaves. And you breathe, and pretend you don't feel empty.

(When you see Link again, reuniting with the Chain on the next day's twilight. You hug him as tight as you can, and hope you he doesn't notice the tears in your eyes. And that you don't feel the lingering traces of a frigid embrace.

When no one is looking, you wave goodbye to the shade. And pray he dreams of warmer days until he finds quietus.)

[yourlocaltreesimp]

What if Gannon just decides to just possess guide reader

TW: Possession, Implied murder, Implied SH, Depersonalisation

Well my first thought is chaos incarnation. At first it’s be a small gnawing voice in the back of your head, an itch scratched by chaos. It’s begin with little pranks or nabbing items off of members of the chain. But it’s when you saw the blood bloom from your ‘little prank’ that made the voice go wild. You’d teeter on the brink of endangering yourself and others without much suspicion as the malice seeks into your thoughts.

And then one morning you wake up alone. The woods are quiet. Your arms and legs have jagged cuts, some from a blade and some from stiff sticks. You’re covered in dirt and leaves and your muscles are sore when you drag yourself to a stand. You hear the camp, their voices little more than wind whispers. You limp across the forest floor as blood bleeds down your battered legs. And you’re met with chaos. And you’re met with the sobering understanding that you don’t crave it anymore. Not as Time cuts down waves of swamping monsters. Not as Sky and Twilight have to stay back to back to fight off the creatures. Not as Hyrule heals a bloodied Four. Not as Wild curls in on himself. Not as Wind cowers from you. Not as Legend charges across the field at you. Not as the sword sinks into your tunic.

[cerame]

Any idea when the next “A Guide To Endings” update will be? No pressure and no rush; I just want to know when to sort of expect it :>

(Also if you don’t think you’re gonna keep updating it that’s cool too! I loved “A Guide To Living (Again)” so much and I’m so happy we get to see any epilogues at all.)

😰 oh god I totally forgot about that.

Uhhhhh honestly I can’t promise I’ll put anything out there. I really do want to, but my brain dies every time I do much as think about opening that document. Tbh I think once I got the “important” ones (being Abyss and Dark) published, my drive to write for it checked out entirely.

I do have plans for the others, though. I’ll put them below for those who do want to know.

Ok so. As with the other epilogues, obviously, death warning. This entire thing is about dying, albeit usually dying happily…….. I am carefully not looking at Time and Dark as I say that.

Midnight: You were raised by wolves and voices

Midnight goes on a roadtrip with Twilight, bonding and bickering in equal measure, with Midnight bitching the whole time about it even though he’s the one who wanted this roadtrip in the first time place.

They get to the arbiter’s grounds, at which point, they have a nasty argument over Midna. Midnight remembers Midna vividly, and he disagrees with her actions and thinks of her as a hypocrite and a liar. Twilight, naturally, does not like this.

Midnight storms off and wanders on his own for a while. He meets the Hero’s Shade in the woods and learns of Dark’s fate and realizes that, despite the whole thing about lone wolves, the idea of being alone is terrifying. So he goes back and finds where his light has gotten to.

Twilight has refounded the ranch in Hyrule Field, and he accepts Midnight back into his life, and Midnight shows vulnerability in return.

Legends say that even long after Twilight passed, a wolf might be spotted roaming the fields, both as a terrifying specter and a guardian of travelers and children.

Secret: What you see is not the dark, it’s the just gods upturning inkpots

Secret moves in with Legend and Ravio and falls into a rhythm with them. They end up doing TFH together, and it’s a chaotic mess. This is a good chunk of the chapter

Something occurs to Secret in a dream, and he brings it up to Legend. They follow the dream memory and go to the Palace of the Four Sword. Cue a repeat of my other fic Fuck It, Refounds Your Family but with both Four and Shadow being recovered

They got stuck in there by accident. I would have come up with a much more reasonable series of events leading up to it if I actually wrote it

Secret realizes this era is home :)

Shadow goes with Four when he passes, but Secret decides to stick around a bit longer after Legend and Ravio pass. From the shadows, he watches the collapse of Hyrule. He narrowly escapes the wrath of Aurora’s brother, and as time passes, he realizes that sometimes, disguising himself as a monster makes things easier. And then, one day, a kid stumbles into his cave and startles him. Surprise, he’s Secret The Moblin, and that kid is Hyrule

He decides to wait to see Gloam again

Gloam: the dark things that wait

Hyrule and Gloam get along surprisingly well. Hyrule usually prefers to adventure alone, but he got used to company during LU, and Gloam is pretty quiet anyway, so they vibe. Hyrule explains everything to his Zeldas.

They leave the castle sometimes to help the people of Hyrule, meaning that Hyrule helps while Gloam hovers behind him. At some point, Secret shows up and accidentally jumpscares them, but he then joins the party. He has been touchstarved for a while

Secret’s personality is quite different by now, much closer to Legend and Ravio, and his “I want to let you learn it for yourself” attitude about the world adding to the dynamic makes the traveling funny at times

Interlude: I’ll stand here with you

Least developed chapter, thrown into my notes after the original note draft

Basically, it happens during the timeline merge. Secret got a princess to unweave him at some point, peaceful and content with his life. Gloam has been left behind then, and with the triforce sealed away again after so long, he no longer really has a job to fulfill. He wastes his time watching nature now, and one night as he’s stargazing, a certain mask salesman stops by and has an unnerving conversation before handing off a mask that Gloam finds too familiar

Abyss manages to speak with Gloam from inside the mask. They both really miss everyone. They get to confide that they had fun while it lasted, that they learned to love, and now, it’s just them. If any of the others are still around, they wouldn’t know.

They come to an agreement. They talk through the night, and when dawn comes, as the sun rises, all soft and sweet, Gloam destroys the mask, and the power backlash annihilates them both.

Civil: Tomorrow I’ll be brave

So, Civil learns that Wild is a fucking liar and won’t kill him yet. And no, Flora is still faultless in his eyes, so it’s definitely Wild’s fault.

They deny him immediate unweaving because they want to give him a last meal and take him wherever he wants to go. They’ve got a couple weeks until the next full moon anyway, so they’ve got time to spare.

They end up going on a little trip to find somewhere pretty to die.

It’s awfully sweet, and if Civil were an emotional person, he might have cried. He takes their kindness to heart, and one sunset, when he is content, Flora unweaves him. It is a gentle, painless death, and it would be the only unweaving I’d write in detail.

At some point, I wanted Civil to tell Flora “I love you. I do not know the nature of this love, but I know it is written into my very being. All I have ever been has been for you. I failed you, and for that, I’m sorry.” It’s the most she will ever hear from the hylian champion of the past

[waywardangel-wilds]

anyway, based on the choice of the like, 2 people who voted, here's the first part of my BOTW Legend of Zelda fic. Did I originally write this thinking it would be a 3000 word max fic? Yes. Is it now a 12000 word monstrosity spanning months of their lives? Yes. Here's the opening scene [UPDATE: Here's the ao3 link]:

“May I ask… Do you really remember me?”

The princess gazed upon her knight hopefully. After one hundred years of pain, could one friendship remain? A touch of honey, after a mouthful of bitterness? The wind blew across the fields, scattering leaves and scents past them, a singular flower, a silent princess, billowed by. The knight’s gaze followed it for a moment, before returning to her own.

“Yes,” the sound of Link’s voice, still so unfamiliar, even to her, barely broached the silence. She felt herself smile, a small feeling of release settling in her chest. She turned away from him to gaze longingly back at the castle, now nothing more than an imposing ruin. What was left of Hyrule now? And what did it need a princess for, a hundred years too late?

“Princess?” Links’ voice surprised her again, as it haltingly cut through her doomed line of thought. “It will be nightfall soon.”

“Of course,” With one hand she gathered up her skirts. She turned towards him, walking down the slight hill she’d stood on. Her feet, now bare after a century of battle had eaten away at her leather sandals, were kissed by soft grass with each step. Once at his side she looked at him expectantly. “I trust that you, sir knight, have an idea of where we shall go?”

He made a startled sound but nodded. Bringing his hands to his mouth he whistled, long and loud. In the distance a horse answered his call and Zelda looked out onto the horizon expectantly. The thundering music of hooves preceded the arrival of a beautiful brown mare, bedecked in a traveler’s riding cloth which, upon closer inspection, had been hand embroidered with the seal of the royal family.

“Oh!” Zelda exclaimed as Link vaulted onto the horse in a flash, settling on its back easily. The horse snorted, marching in place once or twice to accommodate his weight. The knight looked down at her curiously, head cocked to side.

“My apologies,” Zelda answered his silent enquiry. “I did not expect you to move so suddenly.” She shook her head, embarrassed.

The knight offered her his hand, seemingly letting the awkwardness slide. Zelda glanced at it nervously, considering the height of the horse, the time since she’d last used her legs, and the heavy weight of her dress.

“I—” Zelda cut herself off. “Forgive me, it has been much too long since I’ve mounted a horse. I— oof!” Link grasped her hand himself and easily pulled her up and off her feet, swiftly grasping her by the hip and settling her on the horse before him. “Why, I never—!” the words died in her mouth as Link kicked the horse into a gallop, sending her scrambling to hold onto something lest she topple right off.

“Monsters roam the land, Princess.” Link’s quiet voice placated her. “We cannot remain here for long.”

“Right,” Zelda gasped, a wave of nausea overtaking her. It’d been so long since she’d last walked, let alone ridden, that all movement appeared to be most shocking. She screwed her eyes tightly shut, her fingers grasping the lip of the saddle. It would not do to vomit now, she told herself, breathing slow soothing breaths. No, it would not do at all.

The horses gallop settled into a steady rhythm, allowing Zelda to breathe out a sigh of relief. She opened her eyes and gasped, as the setting sun captured the world in a beautiful twilight painting.

“How lovely,” Zelda whispered, entranced. The knight did not respond, but she was keenly aware of his steadying presence as their bodies knocked against each other’s with every stride. Link’s arms pulled the reins to the side around her, guiding the horse onto the road. “Will we make camp somewhere nearby?”

Link made a sound in the affirmative but did not elaborate further. She settled against his chest, as there wasn’t anywhere else for her to go, a wave of exhaustion finally slamming into her. How many days would she have to sleep for, to catch up on a century of restlessness? The hours of unconsciousness stretched out before her in an endless line and her eyelids had no other choice but to slide shut.

Link guided his horse in the direction of Dueling Peaks. He didn’t want to be caught on the road once the moon fully rose, not with the princess in tow. He glanced up at the setting sun and cursed. There wouldn’t be enough time to reach a stable. He would have preferred the safety in numbers that a stable had, at least there he wouldn’t have to worry about something or someone snatching up the Princess while he slept. But that wouldn’t be an option now, regardless of how many times he kicked the horse into a gallop.

He slowed the horse down into a trot, pulling off the road and into a small patch of trees. He didn’t want their camp to be too visible, for fear of whom they might attract. If he were on his own, he’d probably ride the horse all the way home and face whatever foes might follow him into the night, but he wouldn’t risk the princess’s life, it was his sworn duty to protect her.

He settled for a nice patch of flat grass, flanked by tall trees, and hidden by a small outcropping of rock on one side. It would do for the night. Carefully, he slid off Epona’s back, the sleeping princess in his arms. Slowly, to not wake her, he lay her on the grass. It felt wrong to place her on the ground like that, but he’d need to put her somewhere, so he could build her a tent.

He doubled back to the horse and made quick work of unloading the necessary supplies. He had a tent he’d hardly ever used, but he was glad he had it. He built it against the rocky wall, thinking that such a placement would protect the princess from one side while he physically guarded the other. Carefully, he collected her from where he’d laid her previously, awkwardly sliding her into the safety of the tent.

Digging through Epona’s pack he considered the merits of starting a fire but ultimately decided against it. They didn’t need the unnecessary attention a fire might attract in the dead of night. He found some old roasted mushrooms and a hard hunk of bread at the bottom of the pack. He’d have to cook some other time, to replenish his stores. He could do that tomorrow, once the princess was awake.

He shook himself, trying to remain conscious as he sat before the mouth of the tent. He chewed his food without tasting it, thinking of all that had occurred up until that point. He watched Epona wander off somewhat into the tree line, nosing around for a patch of grass to her liking. He rarely tied his horses, even when he was camping. They typically trusted him enough to remain in his care, and rarely wandered too far from their master. He trusted the horse to settle down nearby once it was ready.

His vision slipped as he stared at Epona’s long neck, the horse mindlessly chewing on grass. He wouldn’t be able to resist the need to sleep, not after the long journey he’d just finished. He unsheathed the master sword, keeping it in his grip as his eyes slipped closed once more. If he heard something unusual, he’d be ready.