#I am so normal about the legend of zelda come closer

[satellite-juice]

Playing spirit tracks and seeing the direct references to the passage of time between that and phantom hourglass/wind waker:

The stained glass window of tetra. Linebeck’s letter. Old Man Niko. I’m never gonna emotionally recover from this

[amiharana]

i know you made a post of links singing voice but since you write link with dialogue what do you imagine his normal speaking voice to sound like? as a whole seeing how different people write link speaking is so fun, do you think link is more witty or stoic, rambly or to the point, loud or quiet, vulgar or formal.. 🤔

you're right this is a very fun ask anon let me kiss u /p. after ingesting this ask, i of course started having a flood of ideas in my brain so i wrote . a lot . again. so get comfy, sit down, and have a snack!

i can't remember where i saw this or if it's even considered canon, but i remember seeing something about botw link being from the country, and as you might have guessed from reading one of my recent previous posts, i am very much a link's-hometown-was-hateno-village truther. i believe in-game bolson's text about the house in hateno pretty much implied that link might have been the previous owner prior to the calamity, but my take on it is that it was link's family home and the guy who left it behind was actually link's father, who sold the house and took link with him to hyrule castle. anyways regarding link's voice as a kid, besides probably sounding like a high-pitched little brat, i like to imagine that kiddie link probably had a heavy country accent. i'm clutching my stomach in laughter as i type this, but i thought about that topher kid from that one tiktok as what kid!link would sound like. god this topher kid is so fucking funny sdkjfjdkfkj i bet this paragraph didn't end how you thought it was going to

from here on, we know that pre-calamity link somehow got a hold of the master sword when he was like 12 or something, and sometime between then and being chosen as zelda's knight, he chose to remain silent because he knew the entirety of hyrule had their eyes on him, which is a very nerve-wracking situation to be in. since moving to closer to hyrule castle town with his father to join the knights, link's country accent slowly faded since the noble kids would make fun of him and call him farmboy and that he was dirt poor :/ so link carefully trained himself to talk in the standard dialect, but his accent slips if he gets too emotional or upset. when he got a hold of the master sword, the nobles were real fucking mad, saying stuff like The Master Sword is meant for legends, not a pathetic farmboy born in a pigsty like you. yeah i do not like these fake hylian nobles i just made up very much lol...

i like to think that when he felt more comfortable with the champions and zelda, he started talking a little more with them but mostly stayed quiet and communicated nonverbally. my first instinct was to say that link's voice would probably be rough and dry from disuse since he wasn't speaking very much, but i remembered my roots as a singer!link supporter and now i'm thinking about him humming to himself as he cooks himself a pumpkin stew like he does in-game, or whistling whatever notes come to mind, or (get this) singing quietly to zelda's batch of silent princess flowers in her private greenhouse in the castle gardens as he tends to them because he think that will make them grow stronger and healthier. he has never spoken to the king because he outright refuses to, tbh, but if he had to, i think link would do his best to sound stoic and formal. i doubt that he ever received like. "noble linguistics" training or some more classist bullshit like that, but when he and zelda get closer, link actually makes fun of her royal accent once or twice. he'd be doing shit like this video of bts namjoon's british accent and zelda is facedown on the floor laughing her ass off.

overall, i think pre-calamity link is very quiet and soft-spoken when he feels comfortable enough to talk, so quiet that daruk feels like he has to stop breathing to try to listen to what link is saying. don't get me wrong though, link isn't meek or shy (unless he's around revali teehee it's like his brain gets rewired around the rito). he simply just doesn't feel the need to broadcast his voice to everyone in hyrule. i also really like the idea of link knowing sign language, but he only likes to use it with zelda when he prefers to communicate nonverbally and later on, with the other champions (revali takes extra care to study as much hylian sign language so that he can understand link :> ).

now post-calamity/resurrection link... whew! it's pretty clear in the game that link has some method of communicating with everyone else in hyrule since we're given dialogue options despite link not having an actual VA saying words. i have chosen to believe that link becomes a vocal menace when he gets resurrected. since he wakes up with no memories, he obviously doesn't remember his whole History Has Its Eyes On You mentality (sorry for the h*milton reference) and goes apeshit on his own vocal chords. mf is running around the great plateau screaming and shouting and cursing (that's the one part of his memory that was kept intact). he also ends up talking to himself a lot, because for a lot of botw, you're alone. yes, you go to villages and meet travelers along the way, but for like 80% of the game you are . alone. so link has to keep himself entertained one way or another, to make sure he doesn't go completely crazy, and yeah you know what? he does get rambly sometimes, because he doesn't spend a lot of time with people as he traverses through hyrule so he doesn't really know the best times to start or stop talking. he gets a hang of it though! he told a random traveler once who was interested in getting up into the great plateau that he woke up on the plateau, an old man made him go get these dumb purple balls in those shrine things for the paraglider that he just knew needed to be with him, turns out the guy was the ghost of KING RHOAM BOSPHORAMUS HYRULE, and then he jumped off of the plateau using the paraglider. the traveler dude looked at him like he was insane, so link was like yeah i'm never talking about this to anyone else ever again.

now when link remembers memories of the past as he travels... he goes unnaturally silent for a while. of course, if he gained this memory while talking to someone, he still continues to talk to them, just... with less words. but when he's out there in the wilderness by himself get psychologically assaulted by shattered and frayed images of people he can hardly remember, memories getting replayed in his head and tattooed behind his eyes, all because this neat alcove under a tree in the rain looked kinda cool... his throat locks up and his mouth dries and he remembers even for a sliver of a moment, what his past self must have felt like, choosing to stay silent despite all the pressure trying to crack his ribcage open like a tree nut. those memories are on replay in the forefront of his mind for a couple days and he can't sleep. it was even worse when he went to rito village to fight windblight ganon, and link started have full body pains as he received memories of revali all at once, collapsing in pained sobs in saki and teba's roost. why did his heart so much? it didn't hurt like this when he remembered daruk, or even mipha...

also from the in-game dialogue options, link is very sassy and that's so #real of him. some of those options really spoke to me, like the dumb puns he makes ("Let's seal the deal!" oh you think you're funny huh?) or when he demands the paraglider from the old man ("Hand it over!" #throwback to my post about the paraglider). idk sometimes i can only imagine link with crossed arms and a hip cocked out and an eyebrow raised like yass come on mean girls! imagine meeting the hylian champion and you call him pretty and he's like awh thanks you too! and you're like omg thank you :D and he's like. so you agree. you think you're pretty? so yes link is a little bitch sometimes LMAO

i also think it would be funny if link came up with his own curses as he travels and when he curses in front of others, they're standing there like. what just came out of your mouth????? because link is out here saying shit like Suck my lynel guts you fuckheaded shitshroom Like dude is just stringing words together from what the hyrule compendium told him when he took pictures of the ingredients and items he was finding. just making shit up and saying whatever words he wants based on vibes and whatever feels right. impa takes him aside and gives him a list of proper/modern curse words, but link will still fight bokos and be like I'm gonna shove this ancient core up your ass and roast you on a spit shroomfucker. his accent definitely bleeds back into his voice when he does his weird version of cursing too, so link will save random travelers from monsters and sometimes yell at them while he's fighting them off if his emotions are running high, and the travelers are just like Who is this guy and what is he even saying

i think that link would still retain his soft-spokenness after some time, especially post-calamity fight when the champions are revived. like a lot of what i just said are more kind of special cases; screaming on the great plateau is a perfectly normal response to waking up with amnesia and then there's these red little pig-faced guys trying to bite you. and of course i'm not saying link is always talking to himself as he travels across the map. his horse would have kicked him off long ago from being irritated. but when he stops to rest and make food for himself and his horse in the wilds, he hums or sings quietly as he cooks, because it's comforting to him even if he doesn't remember why. sometimes he'll take a nap in some random cave or just sit quietly under a tree listening to the sounds of the rain falling around him. (link calms down considerably when the champions are revived, and he gets revali back, because now he's able to properly deal with his memories and eventually regains most of them peacefully. revali is horrified though when link stubs his toe and link starts hissing like Ah fuck this you keese-faced gutfucker Like HUH? EXCUSE ME?)

overall, post-resurrection link is just a traumatized little guy with no inhibitions and lets some his impulsive thoughts win. he's a chatty, charismatic prettyboy who also will go completely silent and stare with dead eyes and definitely jumpscared beedle like that once.

[secretlysheikah]

I posted 4,645 times in 2022

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#ive been keeping on a longplay of twilight princess in the bg while i write my thesis and i think thats the only reason i havent lost my min

I sent 1 gift in 2022

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Sooooooooo....

guess who got carried away and drew some fanart for your Sky oneshot?

trick question it was me. <3 love you bestie

MROW! MROW HOLY SHIT!

OH MY GOD AAAAAAAHAAHHHHHHHHH

I love it so much mrow! I’m already crying in the club and it’s only just past 7am!!!!! How dare you do this to me!!! I WEEP! (Tears of how fucking cool this is thank you oh my God)

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66 notes - Posted January 5, 2022

#4

A Tale from the Sky

So after my last one shot I made for 2021 I got a request for a continuation by the lovely @mrows-fan-works and I have to say I feel in love with the request. So here we have it, I hope you enjoy. 

Here is a link to the fic on Ao3 if you prefer to read it there! 

Happy first fic for 2022, may it lead to many more! 

Start Here: 

When the last of the healers finally left the room, Warriors found himself alone until the others were found, hopefully alive and in better shape than Sky was. Speaking of their Skyloftian, he looked absolutely wretched. He was pale, his lips just a touch blue at the corners but he was assured by multiple people that he was breathing just fine and that it would fade. The skin under Sky’s eyes looked sallow and waxen as well and with the clean white bandages wrapped snugly around his chest it only served to make him look even more sickly. He found himself swallowing hard as he remembered the blood that he had only just managed to slow down long enough for a medic to get there. He looked down at himself, the blood was already dried and stiff on his tunic and his beloved scarf lay on the floor, nearly completely soaked through. That would be a pain to clean. Maybe if he put it in water to soak with some soap it would be easier to remove the stubborn stains? Even as the thought crossed his mind it left, leaving him with a metaphorical monster in the room. 

He looked back at Sky, and just by looking at the sleeping hero you would never guess just how frightening he could be. He had only just managed to get back to the keep where he had left Sky, cursing himself at how long he had been away. It had taken longer than he wanted to find the corporal who was leading the defense of the keep and the monsters that got in the way only added to his irritation. 

Much too long, it had taken much too long and when he finally came back…. He swallowed as he remembered the way Sky was shaking, practically convulsing as he was surrounded by a swirling black cloud. Wizzro, that bastard had looked smug, almost feral as he moved closer ready to strike Sky down. He was just about to leap to Sky’s aid when the man had let out a roar of rage that rooted him to the spot. He had never heard a sound like that come from Sky before, never thought it could even be a possibility given his normally soft spoken nature.  

Sky was, well, he didn’t even know where to begin, he had never seen Sky that angry before in all the time he knew the sleepy head. Sky had bellowed and raged and brought down gleaming strike after strike against the monster until it was down and dragging itself away with Sky stalking after it. He hadn’t even had the power to call out to the man, was hopelessly entranced by the display playing out before him. 

“Do you know who I am? I am the first hero, chosen by the Goddess and imbued with the hero’s spirit.” He had yelled, no more like boomed and Wars had been struck dumb by the sheer power in his voice. The scene continued to play in his mind, nothing around him registered in his head as he was completely enraptured by the scene replaying before him. He blinked and suddenly he was back in the smoke filled air of the keep, watching as Sky plunged the master sword through Wizzro’s back and twisted it cruelly as the monster screeched an unholy noise. 

“I am a slayer of a God, I have killed the very incarnation of hate and lived to tell the tale. Now tell me, what are you to a God slayer?” Sky had hissed, and even though it was quietly spoken Wars had trembled as if the very ground itself had tried to rend itself asunder. It was so callous, so cold even as his voice had been filled with burning hot rage. Wars mind could scarcely put the image of Sky as he was during that battle to the one he always knew. The two versions of Sky were so completely opposite that it was like staring into an alternate reality. He had snapped back to himself when Sky turned around, and offered him a sheepish smile and the blood, oh Goddesses above. 

“I guess you saw that huh?” 

Oh he had seen it all. 

“What? No I’m fine Wars this isn’t even my blood,” 

Sky wasn’t fine and the longer he stood there doing nothing the less likely he was going to be able to save him. He had to move. Now. 

“I’ll be fine Wars, Just need a quick nap.”

By the three, please no. Please.  

It was a blur from there. Just red seeping into blue, and pale skin going paler by the second and desperation. He felt himself starting to hyperventilate and he dug his fingers into his pant legs, too scared to reach out and touch Sky’s sleeping form. Never once had he been this terrified of another person. But what was he scared of? This was Sky, he knew Sky. Was it the injuries? Was it the way he looked so fragile now after the utter unworldly display of power he had shown not hours before? Whatever it was he was on the verge of quaking now. 

“God slayer,” Wars whispered to the silent room and the words seemed to call back to him and settle into his bones. God slayer, that was what Sky had called himself. Memories from a warm sunny day outside of Wild’s home, surrounded by the children of his village now settled in and filled his eyes. Sky had looked… Remorseful? Bitter? Both? 

“Oh Gods can die, just be glad all they left behind this time were bones,” Sky had said as he had tossed what remained of his apple away. He recalled the way Sky’s warm face had twisted and the vision shattered before his eyes leaving him back in the sick room. He was left struggling to put pieces together of a clearly incomplete puzzle that was the Skyloftian, the whole thing was maddening. There was clearly another side to his brother that he had not seen until now and he was dying to know more. There was a slight movement on the bed and Wars glanced over, mind still miles away as he studied the movement blankly. 

“I wasn’t fast enough, too late… Heh, what else is new? But now you… All suffer for it,”  

Wars snapped back to himself so quickly his head spun and he nearly toppled off his chair when he came eye to half lidded and distant eye with Sky. He was breathing heavily, his hands tightening in the sheets that were draped across his lower body. Wars watched as his eyes moved sluggishly around the high vaulted ceilings and he was fairly certain that anything Sky was seeing was not actually registering in his mind.  

“Sky?” Wars whispered but hesitated to move his chair any closer to the bed. Sky sniffled and sighed before he let his head fall to the side to look at him. Wars could just make out Sky’s sapphire blue eyes peeking out from underneath his thick eyelashes. The dark, almost bruised like skin that clung underneath his bottom lids only made the blue of his eyes stand out in stark relief. Sky blinked at him lazily, grimaced and made to clutch at his chest, the pain obvious on his face. Before he knew what he was doing, Wars had scooted his chair closer and grabbed Sky’s hand, holding it tightly so that he wouldn’t tug at the bandages. 

“Hey now, none of that,” He scolded lightly and was graced with a barely audible sigh. 

“Hurts,” Sky mumbled and Wars gave his hand a soft pat in understanding. 

“Do you need me to go get a healer? They can get you something for the pain,” He offered, the words scarcely out of his mouth before Sky was shaking his head in the negative. To Warriors dismay he was trying to sit up.

“No, no, Don’t go… Not yet, I have to explain,” Sky panted as he continued to struggle to sit up fully. 

“No you don’t have to, no wait,” Wars started but quickly gave up when Sky continued to struggle. 

“Fine alright, just stop trying to sit up,��� He snapped and to his relief Sky let himself drop back down to the mattress, and Wars could feel the tremor in Sky’s arms from the strain. 

“I’m sorry Wars, I owe you an… e-explanation… An apology… I am ”  Sky slurred and Wars felt himself stiffen. 

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68 notes - Posted January 9, 2022

#3

Yahahaha! You’re clogging my damn vacuum find a new spot to hide damn you.

131 notes - Posted April 17, 2022

#2

Earth day appreciation post! Have some pictures from my rambles in the woods!

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169 notes - Posted April 22, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

ALRIGHT HERE WE GO!

I wanted to draw my blorbo, Hiri in her elder clothes! This is my interpretation of what the elder Sheikahs would look like/wear. The only thing you can see is that they also wear earrings. But the spooky vibe spoke to me so here we are.

186 notes - Posted May 30, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

AAAAAAAAAAYYYY not a bad year I think

[luimagines]

RQ: He’s upset and needs comforting

Masterlist

Ya'll want angst? Because I have some angst.

Very hurt/comfort

Set platonically and within the group since there was no specification. Hope that’s ok! Sorry it took awhile, it got away from me again. I think this may be a trend.

Scenario under the cut! It’s super long so take caution!

Sky

It took a while for you to notice but eventually you do.

Sky has been acting weird all day.

It was only clipped responses at first, then it was was the lack of attention where Sky would have been the first to comment or act otherwise. What really tipped you off finally was how he seemed to be evading the whole group. Not necessarily stepping away and out of sight but he didn’t interact with anyone and when they approached him, he didn’t make eye contact, seemingly trying to cut the conversation short.

No one has said anything. 

You mention it to Twilight about his out of character behavior but he says that it maybe a bad day, or he slept wrong, or some other reason that you stopped listening to because it didn’t make any sense.

Sky was always trying to be friendly no matter his mood and it took a lot to shake him up.

What was eating at the Chosen Hero?

Soon, the uncertainty begins to eat at you too and you wait for night fall, once everyone is asleep to strike.

Strike up a conversation that is.

Sky usually takes the last watch because he’s usually the first one out regardless of what activities for the day so you strive to wake up early.

It works for the most part, your internal clock doing what you want it to do when you blink your eyes open. Part of you begins to drift off again so you sit up and nearly fall asleep that way.

A hand comes up on your back and rubs a small circle. “Nightmare?”

It’s Sky and he’s looking at you with mild concern.

You smile and shake your head. “No. I’m alright but I think I’ll stay up with you if you don’t mind.”

“I wouldn’t mind the company.” He moves out of your space and back to where he sat.

You follow, still groggy from just waking from your slumber but succeed in not stepping on any of your friends or waking them up as well with the added noise. you sit next to the Hero of the Skies with little fan fare and let the moment settle on the both of you before looking skyward.

“Can I ask you something?” You don’t look at Sky and continue star gazing even if they’re a little harder to spot as the sun travels closer for it’s shift.

Sky hums in agreement and follows your gaze upwards.

“Are you ok? You seemed a little off lately.”

Sky doesn’t say anything for the first few seconds and you suspect that maybe he didn’t hear you. With him spacing out so much and the fact that you whispered for the sake of your still sleeping friends, you’re inclined to repeat yourself but Sky answers in time.

“Just thinking a lot, I suppose. Nothing serious.”

“Yeah?” You don’t look his way. This is casual. This is friendly. This is not a big deal. “Rupee for your thoughts?”

“It’s not that interesting.”

You shrug. “Hit me with it anyway. It’s got to be something if it’s throwing you off your rocker. Maybe a new perspective will help clear some of it up?”

Sky frowns at your attempts, once again retreating into his mind. You let the offer hang in the air and let it sink in.

You’re disinclined to bring it up anymore. Your brain is still tired and you’re wondering your effectiveness when half of your thoughts are still muddled with sleep and fatigue. You could have totally slept in some more. What on earth made you think this was a good idea?

“Time mentioned something earlier that I can’t seem to let go of.” Sky begins.

You hum back and let him keep talking.

“I never fought this Ganon guy they all so talk so much about. I fought the God Demise. Before I could land the final blow, he cast a curse on me, on us, that some cycle would continue. His hatred would last forever and my blood line and Zelda’s will be cursed to deal with constant darkness caused by him.” Sky admits, looking now at his intertwined hands. “I finished him soon after that but... I wonder... Am I the cause-... Is this all my fault? Am I the reason that we’re all here right now? That everyone has gone through so much? So many thing happened that should have never occurred. Time and Legend and Wild have all suffered so much.... more than I can possibly ever imagine and it seems like it’s never ending. Everyone starts they’re adventures so young... If I had killed him sooner... If I had just got it over with... If I had just shut him up-”

“Hey.” Your hand lands on his shoulder, cutting off his tirade.  “None of this is anyone’s fault. The only people to blame are Ganon and now, this Demise guy. You did what you could. You still got the job done and no one here will ever blame you for what has happened to them or to Hyrule. You were young too... you’re still young. Give yourself a little kindness and understanding, just as you do with everyone here. You didn’t deserve it either. It’s not like you asked to fight a God.”

“Well...”

“Sky you know what I mean.”

“I should have been faster. If-”

“There’s no use in worrying about what if’s.” You shove him slightly. “This is our life. Even if you ask, no one is capable of giving you the answers. I get it. It’s hard to know if the path you took is the right one if it’s all you’ve ever known and you can’t see where the other would have lead... But... Even if horrible things happen, I’m still glad to have met you. I’m glad I met the others. I’m happy to be here with you and with them, and I’m glad that it’s not just me anymore.”

You let the words sink in before leaning down wards and trying to get him to look you in the eye. “I can’t answer your questions. But what happened, happened and the best thing we can do is learn how to play with the cards we’re dealt.”

He take a deep breath and  finally looks in your direction. “I know you’re right.” 

“Naturally.”

“But I can’t help but feel responsible for being-”

“But you’re not responsible for their pain or any of this Sky. If Ganon has anything to do with Demise then it’s all Demise’ fault. His and his only. Understand?” You stress. “I wish... I wish I could do something more to help.”

Sky places his hand over yours where you still have it on his shoulder and sends you a small smile. “I know. Me too.”

Wild

“Zelda, would you please drop it!” You hear the Champion yell, his voice carrying over the wind and somehow getting louder. “We’ve had this conversation before and it’s not the time to have it again. I have things to do excuse me.”

Wild storms into his house and shuts the door behind, blocking it with all his weight and waits for the indignant shrieking on the other side to go away. The voice ends with a frustrated huff and after a moment of silence, Wild relaxes and steps away from the door and further into the house.

You’re almost scared for the moment. You’ve not known Wild to yell, even less so for a Link to be on bad terms with Zelda no matter the universe. To make matters worse, you were the only that was actually within the house at the moment and you weren’t entirely sure how to proceed from here.

“Trouble in paradise?”

That probably wasn’t the way to go, if you were being honest with yourself.

Wild groans, loud and exaggerated and sits at the table in front of you with as much fan fair.

“Do not...call it that.” He sounds tired.

“Sorry.” You amend with an apologetic shrug. “That-” You reference to the scene outside. “-Didn’t sound ideal.”

“No. It’s not.” Wild sighs and places his face in his hands with his elbows on the table. Bad table manners, a small voice in your head pipes up. But it’s his house, so you bite your tongue.

“Can I ask what it was about?” You hesitatingly venture.

Wild takes a deep breath and slowly lets it out. “I wanted to live a simple life.” He starts. “Everything was over now, right? That was the idea I had. Defeat the evil and get to finally live as a normal man. Maybe explore more of my home and show Zelda all the cool things I’ve seen and done. Everything I knew, everything I remembered is gone and has been gone for a while. No one alive misses it. No one alive even knows about it. This is the world they were born into and they wouldn’t have it any other way. I was prepared to accept that and join them.”

Your face twists in sympathy as you nod along. “I take it that’s the issue here.”

“When I defeated Calamity Ganon and reunited with Zelda, she seemed so full of hope and purpose.” Wild continues. “I saw it in her eyes. She wanted a different thing to what I wanted.”

“And what’s that?”

Wild gives you a pained look. “Zelda wants to try and rebuild the kingdom. Make it into what she remembers it to be. She wants to strengthen relationships with the other nations and reestablish the royal family and a whole lot of other things that I cannot begin to think of how long it would both take and last considering all the damage that already been done. She wants to be Queen. And over what? Hyrule Kingdom is no more. Can’t be a Queen without a kingdom to rule and there’s not a lot of Hylians left that would agree to being ruled over or even enough of them to count as a kingdom to begin with.”

“I suppose it’s not a bad goal to have but you do make a point.” You try and add to the conversation, feeling wildly out of your depth. “Does she know that you-”

“Yes. And she thinks I’m crazy for it. She thinks that I’ve given up on my friends and the past and the future and- uugghhh.” Wild leaned forward and slams his head on the table with enough force to make you jump.

“That look like it hurt.”

“I’ve had worse.”

“I believe you.” A small smile covers your face.

A beat passes before Wild continues to talk with his head still on top of the table. “I don’t think she realizes that I’ve changed after everything. Maybe if I had my memories to begin with, or maybe if I had managed to defeat Calamity Ganon sooner, I’d be more inclined to agree with her, but I’ve experienced so much and done so much that I don’t want to go back to how things were. I’m a different man now.” Wild looks up at you. “She’s different too but I don’t think she’s ready for that conversation.” 

“So you’re stuck with this one?”

“Yes.”

“That sucks man.” You shift in your seat. “Anything I can do to help?”

“Not if you can change the past.” He pouts.

“Shame. I’m fresh out of past changing wishing powder.”

“That’s not a thing.” He pouts even more.

You chuckle at the display before sobering up ever so slightly. “Do you want me to talk to her?”

“What good will that do?”

“Maybe a third person party has to step in. It could be that it’s because you’re the one who saying that she isn’t listening.” You shrug. “I think you’re right but I’m willing to give her chance to tell her side of the story while you cool down in here. I can be a distraction so you can sneak out quietly and she won’t know you’re here anymore! It’s a win win! And maybe you guys can come to an agreement when you both see each other again with new perspectives.”

Wild gives you another tired look and leans into his hand. “I doubt it would work. Zelda is incredibly stubborn, one of the most stubborn people I’ve ever met. But if you think it would help, I won’t stop you. I’ve run out of arguments and I’m done hearing hers.”

“Ok.” You say getting up and moving around the table. “I think it’s worth a shot. There’s a saying where I’m from that goes, ‘it’ll all be alright in the end, and if it’s not alright, then it’s not the end.’”

You give Wild a hug around his shoulder and squeeze him tight. “I have faith that you’ll pull through and get to live peacefully, but until then, you’ve got us on your side ok?”

He leans in your direction and wraps his arms around your own. “I know. I figured as much.”

“Good man.”

“I’m definitely sneaking out of here though.”

“That’s fair. Go hide.”

“I will... And thanks for listening to me. I didn’t mean to go off like that.”

“That’s what I’m here for.”

Four

"I'm sorry, what?" Four snaps his head up to stare at the Champion.

"What?" Wild tilts his head. "What? There's no stuff in the grass in my Hyrule. Just crickets and lizards...you know normal stuff. I don't know why there's tools and rupees in all of yours."

"You don't-" Four cut himself off with a click of his teeth, a piece in his mind clicking into place. He stands suddenly, clearly upset and tense as he processes the information.

"Four?" You call out to him but he doesn't respond to you, nor does he look back.

"Four!" Hyrule calls as well. "Where are you going?"

No reply.

"I'll go with him. Just in case." You stand up in a rush and nearly knock over the equipment at your feet in the process. "Don't wait up for us."

You follow him.

Four is fast and quiet and it takes very little time to lose him- or rather, for him to lose you.

Before you knew it, there's no trace of him and there's nothing within the forest that would give you a hint to his whereabouts.

"Great." You hiss and look around.

Nothing.

"Four!" If he won't show himself, you'll just have to make some noise. "Four! Four! Show me a sign so I know you're not dead!"

You wait.

"Don't make me get Wolfie!"

Nothing.

"Four!" You scream a little louder and begin to run. Now that you've said it out loud, despite being a joke in the beginning, the thought of Four being dead somewhere spikes your panic and anxiety and it fuels your quest.

It's only been a few minutes and Four can handle himself just fine but you don't think about that.

"FOUR!"

"Why are you screaming?" A voice come just beyond you.

You sprint toward it and find Four in a small clearing, crouched down and appearing to hold something in the palm of his hand.

"I was calling you." You don't know how you find it in you scold him. "A response would have been nice."

"Sorry." He shrugs. "I was having a conversation, it would be rude to drop it."

You get on your tip toes to look around him and find nothing. "With... With what?"

Four looks down into his hand and places it, ever so gently, on the ground, pausing and standing up to see you. "You can't see them?"

"See who?" You step over to him. "Four? Are you ok?"

His face twists in annoyance before sighing. "I'm fine."

"No offence, but I doubt that."

"It... a group of creatures that can only be seen by good children. They were important on my quests and have helped me greatly. Children usually stop seeing them around the time when they turn sixteen."

"Would it be easy for me to chalk it all up to magic?" You bit your lip.

"Probably. If it'll help you sleep at night." Four sighs and looks down to the ground, a small smile on his lips before it twists into a painfully and... he looks seconds from crying.

"I did so much to help them... and they helped me.... They leave gifts in the grass to help travelers and us heroes alike and yet... Wild says it doesn't happen anymore..." Four gulps and looks away from you and what ever is by his foot. "They wouldn't stop.... They're incredibly kind and hospitable and... There's no reason for them... Why are they gone?"

"Four." You reach out and place a hand on his shoulder.

"What happens to them?" His Adam's apple bobs a bit as he sucks in a breath. "It just means there was no one to help them."

"Oh Four." You pull him into a hug and nearly crush him with it.

"There's nothing I can do to help them, is there?" He sniffles into your chest.

"No, I... I don't think so Four. Not that far out into the future." You shake your head and begin to rub circles on his back.

You don't think he's crying but he might be fighting it because he does begin shaking.

He doesn't say anything else and you're loath to let him go when he's so emotionally charged. So you hold him. You hold him for as long as he needs and you wait for him to pull away first.

When he does, you keep your hands on his shoulders and he stays within your reach. Four begins to take deep calming breaths with his eyes closed and you instinctually run your hands through his bangs and push some of the loose hairs from his face.

Minutes continue to pass and the sounds of nature around you fill the void.

"I'm sorry." You say. "I wish I could help you but I don't know how."

Four nods and rubs his eyes. "I don't doubt that. Thank you. I'll be ok."

You don't think he's ready to go back to the group just yet, not after all that. "Tell me more about these friends of yours. How did they help you? How did you help them? What are they exactly?"

It earns you a small laugh and he grins up at you with a watery smile. "Sit down. And let me tell you about the Picori."

Twilight

“You almost died and for what?!” Twilight screams at Wild for the umpteenth time.

It startles you to hear his voice reach such volumes but you’re inclined to agree with him this time around. After Wild’s stunt with taking a hit to the head for Wind, you’d been on the look out for his more... self sacrificing behavior. You knew he wouldn’t think twice to do it and you tried to make it so there wouldn’t even be a chance for him to make such a decision.

This time though, in this last fight, you took your eyes off of him for only a moment and that’s when he broke his streak of uneventful fights. 

Twilight, of course, is livid and has no regard for the poor creatures of the forest that have to endure his tirade as he unleashes his concern and worry in the form of rage and over exaggerated gestures.

When Hyrule finishes healing your more minor wounds, you slink away from the soon to be screaming match since Wild is very much still conscious, if a little roughed up. You don’t intended to stray as far as you go but you don’t find it in yourself to care for the time being.

Being around so many people for so long is taxing. You make the executive decision to remove yourself for the time being while tensions are high, to both cool off and to avoid getting hit in the crossfire.

There’s a small creek nearby, you find, and decide to make a small space for yourself there until dinner comes rolling around. The birds and the babbling waters calm your soul and snuffle out the last of the adrenaline. You don’t know how long you sit there, but you can faintly hear the screaming match in the distance that you dipped out of.

You don’t regret it.

More time passes and you find that you may or may not have taken a small nap in the meantime. If the position of the sun is anything to go by.

Despite the pain in your back from sleeping against a tree, the slight ache in your neck from the angle you slept in, you feel better. Clearer, even.

You hope your absence wasn’t entirely noticed but you can’t seem to regret leaving either.

Footsteps creep closer to you and you huddle into a small ball out of habit to avoid detection.

It’s Twilight.

He walks near the creek and takes a heavy seat next to it. He looks both pale or red faced at the same time but exhaustion is laced in his entire body from what you can tell.

He doesn’t notice you.

You uncurl and set your legs out in front of you. Leaning forward a little, as quietly as you can, you see that he’s upset. It doesn’t surprise you. But seeing as you don’t how to deal with an upset Twilight and you can’t really sneak away without crossing his line of sight or making any miniscule noise, you still yourself and wait.

And wait.

And wait.

Twilight calls your name. Quietly and hollow- like he’s not all there. Or in the way one would talk to a memory.

It’s immediately unsettling. Both in how he sounds and how he knew you were there without you doing anything. But you suppose Twilight can just sense things like that from times to time. It’s certainly not the first time he’s done it.

“I’m here.” You reply.

“How long?”

“A few hours I think. Longer than you were here that’s for sure.” You shrug and slowly crawl out of your hidey hole. “I think I fell asleep....The sun wasn’t over there when I first got here.”

Twilights hums in what you think is agreement but it’s really only a sound. “It’s a nice spot.”

You smile. It’s tense and little fake, but he’s not looking at you so you don’t care for authenticity. “Good thing it’s big enough for the both of us huh?”

“Yeah.” He looked into the distance again, noting that the sun is beginning to set and takes a deep breath. “Do you ever feel a strange sadness as dusk falls?”

“Can’t say that I have.” You move closer to him, aiming to sit by his side. “I’ve always enjoyed sun sets and I find them calming to watch but hearing someone finding them sad is a new one. Do you feel sad as dusk falls?”

He hums again. “They say it’s the only time their world interacts with ours.”

“Whos?”

“Lingering spirits I suppose...” Twilight tilts his head upwards before twisting it to look at you. “It’s nothing. I’m just reminiscing about my life before my adventure is all. My... father told me those words and I haven’t forgotten them since.”

You hum this time and lean back to mirror him. “Wanna tell me why?”

“That Champion reminds me so much of myself and yet... he’s ten times worse.” Twilight falls backwards with a soft thump. “I know why he does it but I...”

“You care about him and don’t want to see him hurt.” You shrug. “It’s not exactly a new concept.”

“Tell that to him.”

“Maybe I will. He gets just as upset as you do when this happens, you know.” You shift your weight to make it easier to stand up later.

“Does he? You’d think that he’d get the point to stop doing then.” He growls.

“Maybe he’s scared of losing more friends.” You blurt before you can stop yourself. That was something Wild told you in confidence and while he didn’t say you couldn’t tell anyone- that was kinda implied.

Twilight stills for a moment, the fight leaving him again in a single breath as he considers your words. They don’t seem to be new news to him.

Wild is pretty close to Twilight...Maybe he already knew.

“I still think I’m entitled to not like it.” He settles.

“It’s not he’s asking you to be ok with it. I know I’m not.” 

“I guess that’s fair then.” Twilight sits up again and stands up in one fluid motion that you envy. With a turn on his heel, he holds his hand out to you to take.

You take it and feel him effortlessly lift you off of the ground with that one hand.

You don’t comment on it.

“Come on.” He says. “I’m going to need you for moral support.”

“Why?”

“If I yelled in front of him of the whole group, I should apologize to him in front of the whole group.” He admits and wraps his arm around your shoulders. “But I might need an excuse to get close to him again after all the things I’ve said.”

“I get your desert and you’ve got yourself a deal. I left to not get involved and here you are... involving me.” You tease. “I demand payment.”

“One desert? I can do that.”

Hyrule

“I can’t do this.” You snap your head to the sound of the voice and see Hyrule with his arms cross and shaking.

“What? What’s happening? Hyrule?” You step closer to him as you’re the only one within arms reach. “What do I need to do? How can I help?”

“There’s nothing. Nothing you can do, that can make this better.” Hyrule takes one ground step before throwing his arms down. “Don’t you see them? With all their tools and experience and then there’s- me. Just me. Some magic later and a old man with a sword and I found myself trying to save my princess and defeat some evil, but these guys...”

You look around, trying to see if Legend or Sky are close enough to give you back up, or better yet, take over. You suppose it’s better than a panic attack but it’s so left field that you’re stunned and floundering to catch this hot potato of a conversation.

He keep talking.

“For all that is good and holy, they are heroes. Do you see them? Some of them have training, and families and skills and I....was just a boy in a grave yard. How can I even compete with them? I don’t, that’s how. But how can they consider me an equal? When I was in town and listened to the elders and their stories, they would tell me of a legendary hero from the past who courageously defended our home until the very end and who was virtually undefeated in all his adventures. And then I meet Legend....and he’s so much cooler than all those stories combined.”

“Link.” You call out to him and back to the real world. “You need to slow down for me honey because you’re too fast for me to keep up. What do you mean how can they see you as an equal? You defeated Ganon just as they did. You stood up for your home just as they did. You did it all on your own just as they did. Why wouldn’t they consider you an equal? No one cares about where you’re from, if that’s what you’re concerned about.”

“But they can do so many things even without the sword!” He exclaims. “They all have a place to go to, a person who cares about them, a title or a skill and a world that’s not on the brink of collapse-”

“Ok, whoa, hey.” You step into his space and take his face into your hands, bringing it up for him to look you in the eyes.

“I have no idea what brought this up but I won’t stand for anyone talking bad about you. And that includes you. We... can talk about your home with clearer heads later, ok? Maybe the others can help with that when we get there, yeah? And well....” You’re sinking. You don’t know what to do with all this information and you have even less of an idea about how to address it.

“Good golly, when it rains, it pours with you lot, doesn’t it?” You hiss under your breath and bite the bullet. With a strong grip, you wrap your arms around the Traveler and pull him close. You try to keep your grip strong without fear of hurting him, but it hits you then how thin he is. How light he actually is. You can feel the hint of armor under his tunic and it does little to quell your fears.

“Clearly there’s a lot on your mind. And... I’m probably not the person to help you through this. If you want to talk about not belonging though, I’m free to listen. I’m the only one here who’s not a Link, if you haven’t noticed.” You try to joke but it falls a little flat. “You though... You belong here with all of us... all of them... And if you need more convincing then I’m bringing this up with Legend who’s is over the moon proud of you and what you can do and he told me himself that he couldn’t be happier to have you as his successor-”

“Really?”

“Not in those exact words admittedly,-” You gulp as the word vomit continues to bubble out of you in waves of panic. “-but I know that’s what he meant because he doesn’t stop talking about how cool you are.”

“Hm.”

“And everyone has a different background, ok? Everyone has skills and people that the others don’t have. That’s ok. It’s not a competition. I get worried that one day you guys are going to create some game out of all your trauma. Like... who had it worse and just go around in a circle listing off all the things that happened to each of you... Whoever runs out of things to say or can’t think of something as bad or worse than the others is out. Last man standing wins.”

“Don’t give them ideas.” You feel him chuckle. It’s breathless and small and it doesn’t reach your ears despite your closeness but you feel it.

“Good thing it’s just you and me right now.” You sigh a little in relief and loosen the hug. “Look, just.....whatever you think you can’t do, just know that there is someone who is confidently doing it wrong right now. In the group or not, just keep your eyes and watch. They don’t plan on doing it better either and people are celebrating them for it. Please believe in your own excellence as much as they believe in their mediocrity.”

“Big words.”

“You’re awesome for trying. Others are not and don’t plan to. You’re already better than them.” You amend, stepping away to look him in the eye again. “The group can’t do magic like you can. That’s all you. They all have items sure but no one can do what you do... and you’re self taught, right? That’s incredible! You have just as much as a reason to be here as the others. I swear it.”

Hyrule sighs and gulps. He doesn’t believe you. It’s not enough.

You knew it wouldn’t be and it’s definitely doesn’t scratch the tip of the iceberg of the bomb he just dropped on you but... step by step. Little by little. you have a plan.

“Screw it. Let’s catch up with Wind and Warrior and get them to tell you how awesome you are, since you won’t listen to me. And if you’re still a nonbeliever then we move on to the next pair. We’ll go down the line if we have to.” You nod and grab his hand, beginning to drag him along.

He laughs after you, a little hysterical and in disbelief. “You’re crazy.”

“That is not new information.” You reply, hiding your grin. “I say it’s Hyrule loving hours and I’m gonna get everyone to join.”

“You’re not joking are you.” It’s a statement. He already knows the answer.

“Nope!”

Legend

It was your turn on watch for the night. In an hour or two you were supposed to wake the Veteran for his shift and finally catch some sleep.

The others snored and slept away without a care in the world. It was just you and cackling fire that was active but you’d kill for something to help your mind get passed the boredom.

Anything but monsters or an attack that is. You’d hate to jinx your good luck so far.

In the corner of your eye, while fighting to keep your head up, you see Legend shift. Not necessarily unusual. You’re inclined to ignore it.

But then he shifts again, whimpering like he’s been hurt and a white knuckled grip on the blanket.

You still and begin to wonder what’s your level of care here.

Part of you, in kindness, wants to go wake him. The lack of sleep seems more merciful than letting him suffer a prison of his own making.

But you also don’t know how he’ll react.

You know he’d hate to be seen as weak for whatever normal reason and he’s been inclined to wake up swinging in the right circumstance.

Twilight suffered a broken nose for the whole night because he was disinclined to wake up Hyrule or take a potion.

Not you’d make the same decision and suffer the whole night in the same manner but it certainly fails to sound appealing.

Just as your about to appeal to your better nature and force yourself to go wake him before it gets worse, he shoots up into a sitting position with a strangled scream. The job seems to have been done for you- but in the worse way.

He’s breathing hard with his hand gripping his chest. Legend begins to frantically look around and slowly begins to piece together where he is and what’s happened. He never looks behind him, where you are, before running a hand through his hair a little harder than you think reasonable and getting to his feet.

You cough slightly, leaning away from the fire and back into previous position. You hadn’t realized you leaned into his direction as you watched him, inches from putting your face into the flame.

He startles at the sound and whips around, one hand poised to reach the sword he’s not equipped with.

“It’s just me.” You wave. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you.”

He calms somewhat and you can see his jaw flex. “Well, goodnight to you.”

His voice is croaked- from disuse or an overwhelming emotion, you’re not sure.

“For me maybe. But you? That was quite a scare you gave me as well.” You play it off. You can at least pretend that you weren’t watching him. That you would have saved him a little earlier and took your sweet time doing it. You offer a peace offering to your morals. “Want to talk about it?”

“What’s there to talk about?” He snaps, furiously rubbing his face. “It’s nothing new. We all deal with it one way or another.”

“True. But it’ll be easier to let it go, and let the experience float up into the air and never return. Otherwise it’ll fester and grow.” You shrug. “But I won’t force you. I know you’re not exactly fond of me.”

Legend glares into the fire as you talk and refuses to look at you. Once you finish though, he moves his head away, still not in your direction but visually drops more tension from his shoulders.

He doesn’t say anything.

“There’s a spot next to me with your name on it if you want it.” You offer. “A little company wouldn’t hurt.”

He takes more time to respond and you resolve to go back to staring at the fire.

A moment or two passes and you hear the faint sound of crunched foliage. It takes of your will power to not look up as he approaches and even more so when he decidedly sits next to you.

The fabric of his tunic brushes your leg for a minute and it strikes you odd that he sat that close despite the rest of the log at his disposal.

It must have been bad if he wants to be close to someone right after. The thought enters your mind. Once it’s there you don’t chase it away and instead casually lean back with your hand behind you.

If the angle causes you to lean closer to him in the process, you don’t say anything. 

And if Legend notices, he doesn’t say anything either.

A moment of time passes in silence, the only sounds through the whole forest are crickets and a passing owl with the occasional whisper through the trees.

“How do you do it?” He asks.

“Do what?” You tilt your head in his direction.

He’s still not looking at you.

“Keep going.”

The answer shocks momentarily but you’re not surprised that it’s coming from him out of the whole group. “Legend-”

“I’m tired.” He says instead. “I hate this. I hate that sword. I hate that pig demon. I hate that I can’t be done.”

You hand comes up to his shoulder and you force him to look at you. 

He lets you and he looks up to you with tears building up in his eyes and for a moment you’re struck by the odd balance of how old he sounds but how young he looks- is.

You stuck floundering for a response to answer him with but he asks one more thing. “Why can’t I be done?”

You pull him into a hug before you can stop yourself. “I don’t know. I don’t know Link.”

You find yourself wanting to cry as well once Legend collapses into the hug. He’s not hugging you back but he’s being held for the first time in... you don’t know how long. Your grip tightens.

“But I do know is that you’re not alone. Not anymore. And maybe....maybe this is the final fight. That’s why we’re all together right? A darkness so evil ahead that every hero is required and then....rest. For each and every one of you.”

You sniffle, carding your fingers through his hair without a moments hesitation. “If it’s not then I’ll fight everything for you from then on. I’ll take your place you hear me. I’ll take your job and title and you won’t have to do this anymore.”

“I’m the Hero of Legend. That’s not exactly an easy thing-”

“No. I am the hero now. I’ve decided it.” You hide the tears in his hair to the best of your ability.

Legend snorted, loud and wet but you elected to ignore it just as you were ignoring the ever growing wet spot on your shoulder. “I don’t think that’s how it works.”

“It does now. I said so.”

A beat.

“...Ok.” He sniffled and rubbed his head on your shirt. He took a deep breath and exhaled, letting the night take over the atmosphere again. “Thanks.”

“Anytime.”

“Don’t tell anyone.”

“I won’t tell anyone.”

He nods once, definitive and final. Your expecting him to let go now and return to his roll, already electing to take over his shift as well and just push through the next day.

Except he doesn’t.

Legend calls your name, testing the waters and lifts his head up ever so slightly. “...It’s not that I’m... not... fond of you-”

“Save it for a rainy day.” You grin. “I think you’ve had your fill of emotions for the night.”

He nods and eventually slips into sleep with his head on your chest, no doubt lulled by your heartbeat.

With tearful eyes, you stare back into the fire.

Time

Time marched from the stunned group the same way a parent does after making a scathing remark instead of a lecture.

You know the one. 

“I’m not mad. Just disappointed.”

The poor boys suddenly didn’t know what to so with themselves or how to get back into Time’s good graces.

You felt for them and their awkward meandering through the camp. So, with your pride swallowed, you follow in the vague direction where Time went off to and decided to at least talk him down.

He is... decidedly harder to find than you previous imagined.

Just as your starting to think the Old Man doesn’t want to be found, you hear subtle swing. It’s to your left and it sounds heavy.

So naturally you follow it

Which leads you to a small clearing just beyond a bunch of bushes.

Time is there, full armor still on and swinging his giant sword forcefully, each swing stronger than the last. It’s as if it weighs only as much as Four. You’ve wondered in the past what it would like if he decided to actually throw the smallest ones of the group but out of fear, do not voice your ideas.

Just because Time won’t doesn’t mean that the others won’t try.

It’s hard being the responsible one when there are nine Links to take care of, each as much as a gremlin as the last. It must be hell on Time’s back to carry the group.

You see where he’s coming from and yet...

“You can stand to be a little more patient with them.” 

The words are out of your mouth before you can actually stop them.

Time stops abruptly, in both the figurative and literal sense, before the man turns to you with that same face of neutral disappointment.

“They are heroes.”

“They are also children, Time. I think that it’s because they are heroes that they deserve to act their age every now and then.”

“Slacking won’t divert the evil away from our home.”

“Running face first into the problem won’t solve it either.” You sigh and walk up the man. He tenses as you approach and slowly lets his weapon down. The Hero of Time is an intimidating creature but you refuse to let that dissuade you.

“Look, I know why you’re upset. I get it. It’s hard to get a job done when you feel like you’re the only one it’s important to... But have a little faith in our group. Please.” You plead and stop right in front of him. You have to look up at him slightly due to the angle but he was forced to acknowledge you here.

His arms cross and he opens his mouth to respond but you cut him off.

“You’re right, they are heroes and there is a job to be done and an evil to be done away with. But they were even younger when they earned the title. They still vanquished the darkness even for their age. You have to trust that they will do the same here.” You reach up and put your hands on his shoulders, getting onto your tip toes to look him in the eye better. “And they will. Because they are heroes. Because they have the spirit of courage. Because they are Link... Just like you.”

He softens his stance ever so slightly but he still doesn’t look pleased.

“It’s not easy I know.” You get down again. “But they look up to you. I think all of them do. And I can’t stand to see how hurt they look when you get upset when they act their age. It’s not like they can help it.”

He takes a deep breath and uncrossed his arms. He takes a minute to respond. Time stared at you intensely before he drops all the tension in his body and finally lets his weapon go. A single hand comes up to pat your head. 

“Let’s head back to camp.”

He says nothing else and continues to walk past you and back the way you came.

You don’t ignore the sense of accomplishment and refuse to dampen it when you catch the tiniest slivers of a smile before he turns away from you completely.

Wind

You’re lying peacefully on the dirt when you hear someone sit beside you with more power than would ever be needed.

You don’t open your eyes for the sake of the other person, not really thinking much of it and even forgetting that they were there until you heard the smallest of sniffles.

Now, you’re sitting straight up with wide and concerned eyes locking directly onto the crying form of your beloved pirate. 

It’s hard not to feel for him and while you’re not sure what sprung this up, you don’t have it in you to turn him away, or to ignore that he was upset.

Neither of you say anything and you’re almost afraid it make the picture in front of you a little too real.

Instead, you move yourself closer to him and open up your arms.

Wind doesn’t hesitate to throw himself onto you and let his body sag with unwanted emotion.

As sobs silently rack his body, you begin to feel yourself rock back and forth for both his comfort and yours. Soon you start running your hands through his hair and rub small circles on his back. 

He cries for a long time and never once gives you a clue why.

You don’t ask either.

Still, once the moment has passed, you continue to hold onto him. He doesn’t make any moves to let go of you any time soon and you’re happy to be there for as long as he’ll let you.

That doesn’t stifle your concern over the cause but you’re loath to bring it up.

Minutes pass with the boy in your arms and it’s only when you shift positions, does he look up at your face. His eyes aren’t as red anymore with the amount of time that’s passes since he’s stopped crying but his face is still a little puffy and his cheeks are both stained in tears and incredibly red.

A small smile creeps onto your face when you look back at him. “Feel better?”

“A little.” He admits and sniffles the last of the tears away, wiping his face with his sleeve. “Thanks.”

“For you? Anytime.”

Warrior

It struck you as odd that it was dinner time the group seemed to be missing someone.

Earlier that day the group had split up to take down some troublesome monsters on the border of some tiny town defenseless town and that was that.

It didn’t seem like big deal nor was it a particularly hard thing to do. The monsters weren’t infected and they didn’t have numbers on their side so your group took care of the pests in a matter of moments.

And yet, when everyone regrouped there was a visible tension.

Some thing had happened on the other side of the fight and no one wanted to fess up, even less so when Time mentioned it.

It worried you.

Now, as it stood the tension was still there but Warrior didn’t want to come out of the wood work.  He had left earlier claiming to need to check up on his appearance and no one had questioned him. No one offered to go with him.

It was always dangerous to go alone.

“Hey, has anyone seen Warrior?” You glance around again, hoping it was just a miscount on your part. “It’s been awhile since he left.”

“He takes his sweet time.” Legend snapped. “And you know how narcissistic he is. He’s probably trying to get every single little hair in the right place and working out every little blemish in his stupid uniform-”

“I’m going to look to him.” You stand, placing your cooling food down by your foot. You don’t know what happened or what caused it but at least an idea begins to form. “It’s been too long regardless. Keep my food warm for me, yeah?”

You don’t wait for a response and walk away into the tree line where you think Warrior might be.

“It’s getting dark. Be careful.” Someone calls from behind you, mouth clearly full of food.

“Yes sir.” You reply.

You march on.

When you’re sure you’re far enough away, you begin to call out to Warrior.

It takes a minute to get any results but you’re starting to worry about your friend. The sun is lowering in the horizon as time goes by and you’re beginning to feel silly and frustrated and-

“I’m here.” A tired voice replies.

“Oh thank goodness.” You cross the distance between you two. “I was really starting to worry.”

Warrior puts on a brave face and a small smile that doesn’t reach his eyes greets you when you stop in front of him. His look a little puffy and you think his eyes might be a little red but it easily be the lighting- or lack there of.

“Are you ok?”

“Obviously.”

You doubt him and it must have shown on your face because he immediately begins walking away. “Well look at the time. Crazy how fast the sun goes. Let’s get back to the group and eat. I’m starving-”

You grab his wrist as he pasts you and get a good look at him. “Are you ready to go back to the group? They can wait a little longer if you want them too.”

It irritated you that it’s come to this. How no one went to check on him. How no one offered to go with you. How no one seemed bothered by this. How long that he was alone dealing with something that’s been bothering him. How it took you so long to do something.  

“No. It’s fine.” He says. Lying. It must have really bothered him, usually he’s better than this. “It’s about time to head back anyway.”

“They can wait.” Your grip tightens. “The sun can wait. We’re not obligated to be there. What’s wrong? ...If you want to talk about it that is...” You trail off uselessly. It only occurred to you that near the end that he may not even speak about with you. You weren’t the closest in terms of grouping but you can’t stand the thought of someone hurting alone.

“I’m fin-”

“You look like you were crying.” You cut him off. “If you don’t want to talk about it with me, that’s fine, just say it. But you might need more time before you head back anyway if you actually want them to believe you when you say you’re fine.”

He sighs and runs his hand through his hair.

“Warrior?”

“Nothing. It’s nothing.”

“If it bothers you then it’s not nothing.”  You push. “But....fine. I won’t force you to talk to me. I just wanted to see if you were ok... You’re not but it’s better than seeing you bleeding I suppose.” You grit your teeth, annoyed by the lack of results. You did tell him that he didn’t have to talk to you and you don’t hurt him further but part of you wants to fix this. Even if you don’t know what it is, your heart calls for justice at his pain.

But he is unwilling.

“Camp is this way by the way.” You mention, looking at the ground. “You were actually farther away than I thought, so it’s a bit of a walk.”

“I just think it’s easier for people when I’m not around.”

You still and slowly turn to face him. 

He’s looking at the ground as well, unable to say it and look you in the eye. It’s not what you were expecting and you’re not sure how to follow after that.

It’s a rare moment of vulnerability for him- even rarer that he’s showing it to you and you don’t want to squander the show of trust.

“Back home...there was a lot of... attention on me. A lot of blame... for starting the war. Or at least being the cause of it.” He admits, scuffing his shoe against the dirt. A little bit kicks up and sticks to the toe. He does nothing about it. “People listened to what I had to say because I was some destined hero. At first I didn’t think anything of it because I had thought it was one big mistake and sooner or later people were going to see that I was just some soldier not worth the time of day. It happened to be pure luck that Impa got it right when she gave me this uniform. Zelda made me a captain because of it and suddenly I had all of these men I had to give orders to. And if anything failed or if we lost, it would all have fallen on me. The blame, the guilt, the responsibility of the war...and then we found out why Cia was even opening these portals to begin with-”

You hug him.

“Please don’t cry.” You say into his chest. Your throat is tight and it a little hard to breath but you power through. “I’m not good at this. I never have been.”

“I’m not going to cry. It’s not worth crying.”

“I’ll cry for you then.” You admit and hug him tighter. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. It was no ones fault.” Warrior hugs you back and rests his head on top of yours. His voice seems a little tight too and you’re sorry for all the things that he must have gone through. 

You hug him for as long as you deem appropriate before letting your arms go lack and stepping away.

Or... at least you try to.

Warrior suddenly has a grip on you and refuses to let you leave.

“Please... Just stay a little longer.”

You do.

[bokettochild]

If you’re still taking requests maybe Legend showing off his outfits from Triforce Heroes (if you consider that one of his games) or just the fierce deity outfit if that’s to much

Good grief! This one really took it away! I liked the prompt so much, and had so many ideas for it, that I think this might have to be a multi-parter (wasn't expecting that).

I touched on three outfits in this one, but I have six more I might do as well. For reference, I included the Kolkiri Clothes, Linebeck's Uniform and the Cozy Parka.

I also realized while writing this that this is the first time I've written from Wind's perspective, which is positively criminal!

I am still taking requests by the way! If you want to see something, shoot it at me!

(Fic below the cut)

It started so normal, Wind never thought it would get so insane.

They were in the Old Man’s Hyrule, too far from the ranch to make it by nightfall but close enough to still be in a relatively safe location. Time had called for them to set up camp and as they were close to a stream, Twilight had called for the additional order of baths.

Watching Twilight drag his protégé into the water was almost worth having to have his head scrubbed by Sky.

Most of them had taken the chance to cool off and mess around once they were clean, and while Warriors attempted to duck Time under the water (a mistake, they soon realized, when the man easily overpowered the captain, who ended up getting dunked instead) and Wild sat in a tree watching their backs (hanging up to dry, Twilight had joked), Wind found that the rest of them were content to swim idly in the water, with only the occasional splash from one or another of them. Usually, there would be more noise, but Twilight was teaching Hyrule to doggie paddle, and they needed calmer waters so as to not scare the Traveler.

He cast his eyes over their group. A red-faced Warriors was coughing and spluttering out insults at a smug looking Time (boy he needed his picto-box), Twilight was gently coaxing Hyrule to the other bank in a manner highly resemblant of a parent urging a baby to walk, Wild was keeping watch, and Sky was relaxing in the shallows.

Where were Four and Legend?

A glance upwards and a signed conversation with Wild later and Wind was making his way upstream a way, around a bend that blocked off most of the noise but that Wild could still see over if needed, to where Four and Legend sat together one the bank.

Or rather, Legend sat, Four was floating in the shallows with a curious expression as he watched the vet- cleaning clothes?

“We’re out here having a good time and you’re doing the laundry? Boring much.” He drawled, drawing the attention of the two heroes.

“I don’t like swimming around others.” Legend scrunched up his nose in disgust, it wiggled, almost cutely. “And my things needed a wash.”

He snorted, turning his questioning gaze to Four.

The smithy shrugged. “It’s quieter over here, and Wars will try and dunk me if he gets the chance.” A heavy sigh escaped the shortest hero. “He really needs to be taken down a notch some days.”

“Some days?” Legend snorted.

Wind just rolled his eyes. So, what if Wars had a bit of an ego and spent a lot of time messing with them? It was just the way the captain expressed himself, Wind would do the same if he could get away with it and had a few inches on the others.

A flash of color in the spring caught his attention, bright pink against the soft blue of the water, and he surged forwards. “What’s that?”

Legend’s hand hit his face as the vet reached out to push him back, effectively pushing the excited child under water, and for a brief moment, Wind could swear he saw a pink skirt drifting just before his face before it disappeared and he was popping up out of the water again with a splash.

“You have pink clothes?” He grinned at the bundle of fabric in the Vet’s hands.

“I have clothes in all colors.” Legend sniffed, batting another piece of fabric at him in a shooing motion.

“Doubt.” Four and Wind deadpanned. “Nobody has that much clothing.”

Legend’s face was drawn, eyes dark with that haunted look that Time sometimes got when looking at the moon. “I do.”

Wind and Four exchanged a look. “Why would you even need so much clothing?”

“Adventure number six.” Legend sighed, returning to his washing.

Another shared glance was exchanged and the two boys swam closer to the older teen. “And you used all of it?” Legend nodded. “All by yourself?”

The vet paused. “I had some...friends, with me.”

“You have friends?” Wind sat up again, who knew the Vet actually got along with people other than Ravio and Zelda?

“Ouch.”

“Yeah, Wind, that’s kinda mean.” Four murmured.

“I don’t mean you don’t have friends,” He huffed bangs from his eyes to look at Legend better, it did nothing, they still drifted into his view and cut off his view of the top of Legend’s hat. “I mean, we’ve never seen them so I didn’t realize you were on good terms with more people than Ravio.”

Legend shrugged. “You probably won’t ever meet them, I... became acquainted with them outside of Hyrule and they’ve never been seen leaving the land where we traveled together.”

“What were their names?” Four asked lazily, eyes trailing after leaves that floated off downstream towards where the others were.

Legend’s snort caught them off guard. “You don’t want to know.”

Now that was interesting, Legend never shied away from giving names to the people he had met in his travels, what was so different about these people? He’d had nothing against telling them Ravio’s name. “Why not?” Curiosity was tickling at his just like his hair was, and it was the only thing keeping him from ducking under again to relieve the itching of slowly-drying hair.

Legend cocked a brow at the two of them. “Their names are worse than ours.”

Now Wind really wanted to know! “What were they?”

Four echoed his question, eyes glinting in the light as he stared over at the vet, who was now beginning to pack away his things again. It took some nagging (something Wind had plenty of experience with) to finally get Legend to answer, but when he did, he didn’t disappoint.

“Red, Blue and Green. A set of nut cases if you ask me.” Legend drawled, not looking at them as he stuffed something glittery and gold in his bag. Four froze, eyes flashing four colors, one after another for a moment before he turned his sharp gaze on the vet.

“Did they call you Vio by any chance?”

Wind stared. “Why would they do that? He already has a name, he wouldn’t need to match, besides, Legend doesn’t even wear purple.”

“His eyes are purple.” Four pointed out, and Wind turned to very pointedly try and see what color Legend’s eyes actually were.

They were purple.

“No, they didn’t call me Vio,” Legend rolled his eyes, pushing Wind out of his face again. “They call me Link, same as any sane person does.”

“We’re sane.��� Wind protested.

“Debatable.” The two older heroes deadpanned.

Wind pouted, but let it go, gaze drifting for a moment as he let silence fall over them. Four was staring at Legend in a suspicious manner, eyes blue again, but he didn’t say anything, and the vet didn’t seem keen on saying anything either, instead getting up and walking over to the clothes he had draped across one of the trees. He wasn’t kidding, it looked like a rainbow over there.

“So, if those things belonged to your friends, why do you have them?”

“Only one with a bottomless bag.” Came the clipped reply. “That and I’m the only one who’s likely to need them again.”

“Your friends don’t need clothes?” Four balked.

“No! Of course, they do!” Legend made a face, swatting a hand at Four. “Wild’s the only one who goes around naked, I’ll have you know, and if any of them had done the same they would have been shunned by the whole kingdom.” The vet huffed, voice dropping to a mutter. “What with the fashion laws and all.”

“So, if they already have clothes of their own, what did you need all for this for?” He gestured towards the various garments that Legend was still packing away.

“They’re all enchanted, or otherwise intended for special purposes.” The vet winced. “Hopefully I’ll never need most of them again, but there’s always the chance.”

“Will we ever get to see them?” He watched as Legend stuffed another garment into one of his bags many pockets.

“Hopefully never.” Legend spat.

But when did things ever go Legend’s way?

It was a hat first.

A battle in the forest ended with black blood spattered everywhere, but with Legend and Wild having provided support from the sidelines in the form of arrows flying across the battlefield, injuries were more scarce than normal.

Of course, that could be attributed to the fact that there had only been a few of the black-blooded monsters in the camp they had just destroyed.

As most of them had gathered their weapons and wiped away the blood, Wild had come leaping down from the treetops with Legend following after at a more sedate pace. Wind wondered if that was because of the Vet’s arthritis is because of the huge hat on his head.

“Nice accessories, do some shopping while we were down here fighting?” Wars snarked, huffing a laugh at the vet as Legend’s feet touched the earth again.

Indigo blue snapped at the captain as Legend adjusted the pointed cap. “No time for that when I have you all to keep an eye on.”

Twilight sniggered. “What’s with the hat, Ledge?”

“Yeah!” Wind bounded up to the older hero, eyes wide as he looked at the strange accessory. “Where did you get that?”

“Is that one of the things you got on your last adventure?” Four mused, sparking further excitement in the sailor, if it was, than maybe Legend would actually be willing to tell them more about it!

“Yeah, is it?”

No one addressed the confused stares of the taller heroes as their three shortest members conversed.

“Yeah,” Legend lifted the hat off and brushed at its brim in a clearly fond display; if he even attempted to say anything about hating his adventure again Wind was not going to believe him, not after that smile. “A Kolkiri hat, made to aid archers and help them shoot more arrows. I don’t usually use it, but it helps when you need to take out more than one enemy at once.”

“You could just learn to shoot better.” Wild chuckled, plucking at the hats brim only to have the garment whisked out of reach by a glaring veteran.

“I can shoot well; this just helps me see better because it blocks the freaking sun.”

“Kolkiri you say?” Time mused, stepping forwards to peer at the pointed green cap.

“Sure, you didn’t just steal it off of a witch?” Wars teased.

“No witch could replicate this sort of quality,” And if there wasn’t pride in his voice than Wind would eat his boots. “Not even the finest tailors in all of Hytopia could imitate it, and they’ve tried.” Legend spun the hat in his hands before popping it back on top of his head. “Don’t know the tailor, but what I wouldn’t give to learn their tricks. Kolkiri know what they’re doing, and they do it better than most Hylian craftsmen.”

Time was smirking, and Wind really wanted to know why. “You should see the tunics they can make.”

Legend returned the smirk. “Oh, I have, I own one.”

“As do I,” Their resident old man chuckles. “Although I doubt I could fit in it any longer.”

Wind giggles, trying to imagine Time in the clothes he’s seen on the spirits of the kolkiri, it’s hard, what with how big their leader is.

“Hat might fit you though.” And as the words ring through the air, Legend is already reaching up to pull the brim of his pointed hat over Time’s face. Their leader chuckles, brushing Legend off and adjusting the hat to sit more securely on his head.

Somehow, Time looks more comfortable in the hat than he does in his armor, and even though the two clash terribly, he doesn’t seem to mind, a light smile gracing his features as they set off again.

It’s a few days before Legend brings out another item from his collection of clothes, and when he does, it’s only after the others have drifted off to sleep. Wind would have been sleeping too, but you can only stay awake so long when your mind replays the horrors of the past, and Wind can only watch in silence for so long as giant ocean-monsters attempt to destroy those he loves the most. Tetra’s scream echoes in his own cracking voice as he startles awake.

The stars shine brightly overhead, brighter still as they blur from his tears. Despite what the others might say, or the confident way he tries to convey himself, Bellum frightens him, even now, and everything he had to deal with on that adventure... it weighs heavy on his mind.

A strangles sob escapes him as he sits up to bury his head in his knees, arms wrapped tight around his legs as he tries to shake of the after-effects of the dream.

That’s all it was, after all, just a dream.

Just like the Ocean King, like Lineback, like everything else in that world had been.

It’s just a dream.

“Hey,” Legend’s voice is soft and almost lost in his sobs and the crackling of the fire, but Wind is used to listening for even the softest of sounds in the night; be it due to Aryl having a night-terror –her own dreams aren’t free from their adventure- or someone sneaking around to make trouble. “Sailor, you all good?”

It’s clear he’s not, and he knows that, so Legend really has no business asking, but at the very least he isn’t being told to stop being a baby. “’m okay.” His own voice betrays him and Wind wants to sigh in irritation. Usually, he’d pout and groan at the way his voice cracks, but right now he doesn’t have the emotional or mental strength to do anything about it.

There’s shifting from across the camp, and even though his head is still pressed against his raised knees, he sees a flicker of golden pink in the firelight as Legend crouches down before him.

Thank Hylia the vet doesn’t sit back on his ankles, Wind doesn’t want to know if he’s not wearing shorts under that skirt of his.

“None of that now, what’s eating you?” It’s a weird term, especially coming from Legend, who’s usually so clipped and professional in his speech, and Wind can’t help but huff out a short laugh.

“Nothing,” His hand dashes across his eyes, wiping the tears away, only to have more of them prick at the corners. “Go back to watch, I’m fine.”

“And Twilight is a dog person.” Legend drawls. “Look, if you have an emotional moment or whatever, you’ll be tired as shit when we have to leave in the morning. I don’t know about you, but I don’t feel keen on dealing with another Sky.” It’s rough and gruff, but in a way that reminds him of Lineback rather than make him upset.

“I’m fine, just...” He dwells on his next words for a moment. He’s not scared, not really. It’s just the aftershock of a too-real dream about another too-real dream. He’s not really sad either, even if the island is gone now, he’s just... “I’m drained.” He whispers, scrubbing his eyes. “I miss everything back at home but,” He pauses, wondering briefly if Legend could even understand what he’s trying to express. “I guess I miss the things that aren’t there too.”

“Like what?” He doesn’t look up, but he knows the exact expression on Legend’s face; brow raised and mouth pulled into a thoughtful frown.

“Places... people. It’s all just dreams but..” He fiddles with the end of his blanket. “I miss the warmth of them I guess, miss the sea and the islands, even the fake ones, they were so... comforting.” He chuckles, surprising himself with the bitterness that tinges his own voice. “Even if I did spend so much of that time trying not to get killed.”

“Warmth, huh?” Legend hums. There’s a brief pause, one Wind almost takes for Legend rolling his eyes and deciding to leave him to his thoughts, but then there’s a brief rustling and something warm and thick settles over his shoulders as Legend sits at his side. “It’s no pirate uniform, but it still smells like the sea, if that helps at all.”

Wind wants to tease Legend for the sentimentality and love in the action, but when he turns to look at the Vet, his gaze falls instead on the royal blue coat that has been draped around his shoulders.

Too-long sleeves fall to fold at his waist while the rest of the long coat trails and puddles around him, rich, warm fabric blocking out the night chill. It’s a lovely coat, but it’s painfully familiar, and Wind finds himself running his fingers over the stitching and inspecting every detail with a precision that he only ever shows to his swordsmanship and sailing.

His eyes don’t fool him either, the coat is an exact copy of Lineback’s own.

“Where... where did you get this?”

“Like it?” The vet chuckles softly. “Hytopian tailors. It’s a sea-coat, made to aid traveling sailor’s in searching for treasure. Don't ask me how it works though,” A ringed hand waves lazily overhead. “I could never make sense of it all. What matters is that it’s warm, not even the ocean can chill you in that thing, and trust me,” Buck teeth and small canines shouldn’t look so chilling, but Legend’s smile is just that. “It’s tried.”

Wind decides not to push it. There’s no way Legend could know about Lineback, not with the gaps of time and timelines between them. So, instead, he nestles down into the coat, one which bears the promised scent of the sea, with just a hint of smoke and rum to it, and lets his mind drift off again while Legend hums something under his breath.

The vet doesn’t realize he’s humming any less than he realizes Wind is slumping into him, but by the time he does recognize it, Wind is out cold, his head pressed against Legend’s shoulder, the coat still draped over him as he snores softly. Legend doesn’t push down the warmth in his chest as he smiles down at the golden curls, no one will see him anyway. Gnarled fingers decked out with countless rings card through sun-bleached curls as a lilting melody pierces the silence around them, no one will hear it anyway.

In the days to come, Legend allows Wind to don the heavy sea-coat from that night. Warriors makes a comment about poor coordination between fabrics, and while Legend doesn’t seem to disagree, both of the older heroes seem of the opinion that it's for the best he holds onto it, what with the cold and all.

The last switch landed them in the mountains, and while the Hyrule they are in has not yet been confirmed, everyone knows one thing for sure: it’s cold. Wind buries his face in the raised collar of the heavy sea-coat, which, despite being in Legend’s bag for so long and the vet refusing to smoke or sail, much less swig rum, the coat smells of all three, and Wind buries a smile at the thought that maybe Legend didn’t get it new like he’d let on.

It does a good job of keeping him warm though.

He wishes he could say the same for Four.

The poor smithy refuses to be carried, but as snow whips around them as they trek through the knee-high snow, the diminutive smith is left chattering and shivering in their wake.

It really shouldn’t be a surprise that Legend has something to help with that.

Yes, the vet still isn’t wearing pants, but he doesn’t seem too poorly off, no matter how badly the others shiver. He and Wild only share a look and scoff when Warriors asks through chattering teeth how the two of them aren’t freezing.

“You should see the mountains in my Hyrule.” Wild chuckles brightly.

“Done this before, cold is cold, you get used to it.” Legend grins, swinging his fire-rod.

“N-not all of us c-can s-st-stand the c-c-cold.” Four chatters grumpily, sounding startlingly close to the minish he’s shown Wind in the past. “Jer-jerks.”

The concern on the faces of the taller heroes is obvious, but with Twilight’s teeth chattering nearly madly (the rancher's nose is somehow frozen) and Time wrapped as tight as possible in one of Wild’s extra cloaks, it’s clear most of the others don’t have warm things to spare.

They were separated in landing in this world, and even when they had all been pulling themselves together again it had become clear that there was nothing of Wild’s that could even fit the smithy, and not even the blue scarf that trails over his shoulders seems to be doing much good against the freezing winds.

“Hang on a sec.” legend huffs, already turning to rustle through his bag. The coat he pulls out is ridiculously plushy, and in a soft shade of violet that makes Four chuckle past his chattering teeth. The chattering doesn’t last for much longer though, not when shoves the garment over Four’s head like Wind has done to his sister so many times with the sweaters Granny has knit them. The smithy’s blond hair is mused beyond recognition, chunky and flying every which way as he pushes his face out of the plush, but the healthy flush to his cheeks assures the rest of them that he won’t be freezing any time soon.

“I- Oh...” Whatever Four was about to say cuts off as he looks down at himself. The coat is long, but not too long. Where Wild’s shirts would drown the smithy, a coat made for Legend only brushes against the smithy’s ankles.

Legend smirks. “It prevents slipping too.”

“Why aren’t you wearing it then?” Hyrule questions, the Traveler’s cheeks are rosy in the cold, but borrowed clothes from Wild, while also too big, seem to be keeping him warmer.

Legend winces. “It’s a pain to get off.”

“And inconvenience is enough reason to freeze?”

“Do I look cold to you, captain?” Legend snarks, turning an expectant look on Warriors. “Because I certainly don’t feel it.”

“Stop rubbing it in.” The captain huffs, unfortunately too big to borrow from the others, and now highly irritable from the cold. His scarf is still on Four, and if what Legend says is right about the coat, Wars won’t be getting it back for a while, leaving the poor captain to shiver as he clings to another fire-rod.

Four seems comfy enough anyway.

[queenof-literature]

Hyrule

Hi all! Time for the Hero of Wild series update! I hope you enjoy!

I also remembered I haven’t been updating my Masterlist. Whoopsie. Sorry about that. it’s updated now. 

Wild was getting restless, Hyrule could tell. Wild had been with them for about a week now, and Hyrule could see it was starting to get to him. He knew the look, because he was the exact same way. Based on what little Wild told them about himself, Hyrule knew they were similar. Both travelers and wanderers, both far more comfortable away from cities, both loving to explore the world around them.

Not to say the other Links didn’t love exploring, Four and Wind would accompany him during dinner sometimes. Wild and Hyrule however always seemed to disappear by the time Twilight and and Warriors would turn around. It started with Hyrule when he first joined the Links, it was difficult to simply stay on the trail. Sometimes he would wander off without really realizing it. In one moment he would be looking at the local plant life that was absent in his own Hyrule. In the next moment he would be getting dragged by the scruff of his tunic by Legend. And Wild was the same way. 

Obviously they couldn’t drag him back by the scruff of his neck, Wild didn’t let anyone touch him in any way. But Hyrule and Wild always ended up wandering off, and Hyrule truly wanted to get closer to his fellow explorer, but he didn’t know how. 

Exploring seemed to be a common interest, but how did he ask the other to explore with him? Did he just… ask? He didn’t really know how to ‘properly’ interact with people. His Hyrule wasn’t exactly where someone would want to go for a vacation. He loved parts of it but it was lonely. Legend had found him deep in these thoughts a couple of weeks in, before Wild had joined.

“Am I a bad person?” Hyrule had asked quietly when he heard his fellow Link approach. He always knew who it was based on their footsteps. 

“Why would you say that?” Legend had responded. 

“What if I don’t miss my Hyrule as much as I should?”

“You’re not a bad person for not liking certain aspects of your Hyrule kid.”

“But… what if I don’t want to go back when the time comes? Not that I hate my Hyrule, but you guys are nice. I’m just… tired.” 

“If Hylia thinks she’s tearing us apart after sending us on this hellish cucco chase she has another thing coming.” Legend had finalized. And Hyrule knew he meant it. 

Hyrule glanced up at the sound of footsteps, stifling the urge to laugh as Twilight led a disgruntled Wild back to the traveling party. His humor disappeared when he saw the look on Wild’s face. It was restlessness, the desperate need to get away. Not in a way of anger, but exhaustion. The absolute bone tired feeling of being around too many people for far too long. Hyrule felt that many times, and would usually wander off when it got too bad, pleading with Legend to not bring up his absence. 

It wasn’t Twilight’s fault, he didn’t know. Besides, this was a Hyrule no one knew, it wasn’t the best idea for Wild and Hyrule to be wandering around while the others were moving. Perhaps once they made camp Hyrule could work up the courage to actually talk to the boy. 

~

Wild missed his Hyrule, and he missed traveling alone. Wild didn’t exactly have a home like the others apparently did, but he still missed his Hyrule. Sure he had a house in Hateno that he loved, and he was extremely grateful for when he needed a free place to sleep, but it wasn’t always home. The wilds were his home. The woods with secret birds nests, the oceans with rocky coats to jump from rock to rock, the different domains with different obstacles and different beauties. That was his home. He loved Hateno, but he felt out of place among the residents. He never felt out of place in nature. But he certainly felt out of place here. 

The other Links were nice and welcoming, but Wild never missed the long glances towards his scars, or the annoyed huffs when he came back from exploring off the path. But another boy, Hyrule, he explored too. Legend would always drag him back with a fond smirk and the rest of the group let him be. Was it because Wild was new that they seemed to walk on eggshells around him? Maybe. That didn’t change the fact he missed traveling alone. The thought made him feel slightly guilty, everyone had been doing their best to include him into their group. But still Wild just felt like a piece that didn’t fit.

He also felt guilty Zelda didn’t know. They rarely traveled together, Zelda was happy to work in labs for now while she grew accustomed to their new Hyrule a century later. But he missed exploring with her too. He liked seeing her happy, and his few memories proved she liked walking along beaten paths and open fields as well. He wanted more time to do that, but based on what Time had said, he would be on this quest for the foreseeable future. 

Oh well. He would deal with it. He had been in worse situations before. At least this time he remembered who he was when in a strange world. Still, something in him ached to be away from all of this, to simply shield surf down a mountain, or tame a wild stag, or create a giant fire and fly where no one could reach him. He doubted the others would appreciate that though. 

Hyrule seemed to have a similar mindset. He wished he could talk to the boy, but he didn’t seem interested. Wild was already new, he didn’t want to upset or annoy anyone with his lack of speech. He was painfully aware how exhausting it was to communicate with him, especially when the people trying to talk to him had to put up with his language that was completely different from theirs thanks to the different timelines. And yet they made name signs for him. They asked his opinions on things. They asked him how to sign things to better understand him. Four gave him a journal to help him share his thoughts. They were all so kind and Wild was so, so confused.

~

Hyrule needed to work up the courage to talk to Wild. Soon. After almost a week of traveling with a group, Wild seemed to be really stressed. He was pacing around near Epona, trying to find something to unpack around camp to distract himself. He appeared to be moving his lips, having a silent conversation with himself, his hands ringing and reaching up to scratch lightly at his neck. Hyrule had noticed Wild had a multitude of nervous habits, some of them similar to his own. Epona also seemed to be worried, if her quiet huffing and nosing at Wild’s hair was anything to go by. Hyrule worried that if he didn’t approach Wild first, Wild might run off on his own before the day was over. There wouldn’t be a better time anyway. The older boys were washing tunics and the younger ones were swimming in a nearby creek. Hyrule gulped down his nerves and got up. 

He slowly approached Wild, popping his fingers absentmindedly. Wild glanced up at him, eyes filled with suspicion and curiosity. 

“Hey Wild. Do you want to go exploring? You seem like you like to and I like to and it's been a while since I’ve gotten away and being around people for too long kinda makes me nervous and it seems like it does you too. Erm, I mean I obviously don’t know that for sure but we could leave a note and get away for awhile and go explore?” Hyrule rushed out and mentally face palmed at his own rambling. Good job Hyrule. Glancing up at Wild, the boy seemed slightly shocked, but thankfully didn’t look offended. Wild took out his journal and quickly scratched out a response. 

‘Sure. You’re right. I’m used to traveling alone.’ Scrawled out in neat, small letters. 

“Alright!” Hyrule smiled happily, which Wild hesitantly returned. “Would you mind if we used your journal to write a note? I don’t have anything to write on.” Hyrule asked. Wild looked sad for a moment at tearing out a page from his gift, but figured the sooner they left the better while the others were distracted. He carefully tore a page from the back and wrote out a quick note as Hyrule watched, adding in when he saw fit. 

‘Went exploring, we’ll be fine. Need a break. We won’t go far.

~Wild and Hyrule’

After adding a large smiley face he knew would piss off Legend, Hyrule led Wild away from the camp, being sure to leave the note in an obvious place. They decided to go the opposite way of the river to avoid any stray Links. The trees around them were a bit taller than Hyrule remembers Wild’s trees being, the sun peeking through the canopy above. A few flowers bloomed sparingly in the grass, Wild stopping to take pictures with his slate. Already Wild looked more relaxed, and Hyrule felt himself decompressing as well. 

Before they could stray far from camp however, they ran into the smallest Link. 

“What are you two doing?” Four asked, eyebrow raised, green eyes shining in the peeking sunlight. 

“We could ask you the same question.” Hyrule spoke for both of them, copying Four’s expression. 

“Very smooth Hyrule. Amazing distraction.” Four fired back, seeming far more amused than angry. 

“Please just pretend you didn’t see us. We both need a break we’ll be careful and we left a note.” Hyrule pleaded. Four had to admit, the pleading expression on both Hyrule and Wild’s faces were hard to deny. Not that he was planning to anyways, but he was definitely going to give them shit for it. 

“Fine.” Four sighed out dramatically. “But do me a favor and try to stick in the area. Maybe Northwest as much as you can. Just so we know where to look when you to inevitably find trouble.” Four teased. 

“We’ll do our best!” Hyrule promised happily, rushing forward. 

‘Thank you!’ Wild signed quickly, rushing forward to catch up to Hyule. Four chuckled lightly. He could already tell those two would be the definition of chaos. 

~

“Sooo. What do you do for fun in your Hyrule?” Hyrule asked, slightly desperate for conversation. Normally he would be content to sit in comfortable silence, but he wanted to get to know this new Link with no one else around, and who knew when he would next get the chance? Hopefully Wild didn’t hate him too much for trying to break the silence. Wild contemplated for a moment.

‘Cliff jump.’ Hyrule snorted.

“A little hard to do that here.” Hyrule laughed.

‘Shield surf.’ Wild signed, fingerspelling it slowly when Hyrule made a confused hum.

“Shield surf? What’s that?” Hyrule knew by Wild’s betrayed expression that he would learn soon.

~

“Where’s Wild?” Twilight asked soon after the boys returned. 

“And Hyrule?” Wind questioned. 

“Hyrule probably ran off again. Did Wild as well?” Sky asked the group. Just then, Warriors noticed a page of Wild’s journal resting on top of a tree stump. Warriors quickly approached the page, slightly concerned it would end up being a ransom note. Picking up the note and reading the short writing, Warriors had to stifle a laugh. 

“What is it?” Time asked.

“Went exploring, we’ll be fine. Need a break. We won’t go far.” Warriors read out loud,

turning the page around to show the large smiley face and the two bokoblins who signed it. 

“That little shit.” Legend growled, looking at the taunting smiley face drawn on the note. 

“Those little shits.” Twilight corrected. He had yet to talk to Time about his friendship with Wild. Was it a friendship? Twilight still needed to ask if this is how a mentor felt. He felt towards Wild like he did towards the kids in Ordon, but this was a little different in ways Twilight couldn’t explain, but wasn’t really mad at.

“You’re right, Twilight. I’ll kill ‘em both.”

~

“So, I just stand on this and ‘surf’ down the hill?” Hyrule questioned, slightly nervous about his certain tumble down the steep hill they managed to find. Wild nodded, eyes brighter than Hyrule had seen them in days.

‘Do you want me to go first?’ Wild signed. 

“Yes please. I guess I just don’t understand how to do it.” Hyrule rubbed his hand across the back of his neck, slightly embarrassed. Wild just smiled gently, and summoned a shield out of his slate, jumping on the back of it. Hyrule watched in fascination as Wild gracefully sped down the hill they had chosen, weaving around small obstacles. It only made Hyrule more nervous. Not for the surfing itself, no, that looked fun! He just didn’t want to make a fool of himself in front of their newest member. Wild was up the hill in no time. The hill was steep, but not long and steep enough to make it hard to get back up. According to Wild, it was almost perfect. Hyrule wanted to know what Wild’s definition of ‘perfect’ was. 

‘Ready’ Wild signed with a large smile and carefree eyes. If Hyrule wasn’t going to surf before, he would have to now that he looked at Wild’s bright face. 

“Yeah, but don’t make fun of me when I eat grass and dirt for lunch.” Wild laughed silently, shoulders shaking. If Hyrule listened close enough, he could hear soft puffs of air escaping from the teen. 

 ‘You should have seen me when I first tried it, Hyrule’ Wild signed. Recently he had been trying to incorporate the other’s name signs more into his sentences, trying to get used to the signs they had given each other. Hyrule was quite fond of his sign, he loved the combination of wanderer and magic. 

“Yeah I’m sure that was interesting for everyone else to watch.” Hyrule snorted, laughing at Wild’s playful glare. This was nice. 

‘I’m ready, Wild.’ Hyrule signed to the best of his ability, trying to brush off Wild’s awe stricken face at the fact Hyrule had signed a simple statement in his language. Hyrule couldn’t sign much, but the look on Wild’s face was worth potentially embarrassing himself. 

‘Try to keep up.’ Wild signed, summoning another shield out of his slate for Hyrule to use. It was absolutely gorgeous. Gray metal with raised gold, creating the symbol of Hyrule with decorative accents surrounding it. 

“Erm, isn’t this a little too nice to use for shield surfing?” Hyrule questioned, not wanting to ruin a perfectly beautiful shield. By the look on Wild’s face, Hyrule knew that was a silly question. For all he knew, Wild could have ten more in that slate of his. 

“Okay so I just get on the back and try to balance as I ride down?” Hyrule clarified, not admitting to himself he was stalling. Wild nodded.

‘Maybe you could sit. Never tried it.’ Wild signed, fingerspelling words Hyrule couldn’t understand or couldn’t remember. 

“Nah I’ll stand. Together?” Hyrule confirmed, placing the shield on the ground before him, knowing the other boy was about to leave him in his dust. Wild was talented enough to not need to put the shield down before him, Hyrule had seen him flip onto it like it was second nature. Hyrule would need a bit more of a base. Wild nodded brightly, waiting for Hyrule to start in case the other needed help. The boy got on top of the shield, wobbling a bit at first before balancing out. Wild felt slightly guilty he couldn’t force himself to balance the other boy out, that would require contact and he couldn’t make himself do that, no matter how nice Hyrule seemed. 

When he found enough balance, Hyrule kicked off gently with one foot, not expecting how fast he would be going right as he did it. Hyrule let out a small yelp as he slid down the hill, arms flailing out in a desperate attempt to keep balance. Hyrule glanced over and saw Wild staying beside him, even though this was definitely much slower than he was used to. Pushing down the panic and desperation to stay balanced on the grassy hill, Hyrule let out a laugh. It really was fun! Hyrule could see why Wild liked it so much. Except he should have been paying more attention. 

In the blink of an eye, Hyrule’s shield launched out from under him, flinging itself into Wild’s legs. All Hyrule heard was a raspy sound coming from the other boy sounding like a yelp before both of them tumbled down the hill, rolling uncontrollably all the way to the bottom. Hyrule could feel scraps and bruises forming on the way down. Certainly not enough to maim or kill him, but enough that it stung and Legend would make him drink some potion later. Hyrule finally stopped rolling, taking mental count of how many injuries he had. No broken bones, no concussions, nothing serious. He sighed in relief, before he remembered his fellow escapee.  

“Wild I’m so sorry! Are you okay? Did I hit your legs hard?” Hyrule asked frantically, rushing over to where Wild landed. The other boy was flat on his back, and had probably gotten the air knocked out of him. Oh Hylia, nice job Hyrule! Now Wild would hate you forever! Hyrule got his healing magic ready as he approached Wild, ready to jump into action. Only stopping when he saw Wild… laughing?  

 Hyrule looked on in shock as Wild was laughing. Not completely silent this time either! It took him being close, but Hyrule could hear some soft and raspy giggles coming from Wild’s throat. That one threw Hyrule for a loop. The others had suspected that Wild could perhaps physically talk, but the scars on his neck left that question unanswered. No one knew why he couldn’t talk. If it was physical, mental, or emotional. Not that it really mattered, Wild was Wild. But still, Hyrule was happy he actually heard the boy laughing, if extremely softly. 

“Wild? Are you okay? I’m sorry I promise I didn’t mean to.” Hyrule knelt down next to Wild, but kept a few feet of distance. The last thing he wanted to do right now is freak him out. That’s also why he refused to bring up Wild’s laughter, desperately hoping he wouldn’t grow embarrassed and shut down again.

‘Nice landing.’ Wild signed up, eyes bright and carefree. 

“Pfft. You too.” Hyrule laughed, almost offering Wild a hand to help him up. It seemed polite to offer, but he decided to stay still until Wild got up himself.

‘Again?’ Wild asked, face the definition of excitement and mischief. 

“Obviously.”

~

The entire afternoon was spent with two boys surfing down a hill, bumping shields and laughing like little kids all the way down. Hyrule was slightly worried that bumping shields, and occasionally shoulders, would bother Wild. But it didn’t seem to affect him too much, it must have been different in a more adrenaline induced setting. 

The two of them surfed until the sun began to set. Challenging each other to odd ways of riding down once Hyrule was better. At one point, this led to Wild attempting to make it the whole way down on his shield in a handstand. He didn’t make it very far. 

Another challenge led to them racing down the hill once Hyrule was more confident in his skill. Hyrule still ended up tumbling down the last quarter of the hill. Wild claimed foul but Hyrule claimed they never said how they needed to make it down.

By the time the sun began its descent, Wild and Hyrule were absolute messes. Twigs, grass, and leaves were tangled in their hair. Grass stains and dirt covered their clothes, along with blood from the countless cuts and scrapes they had collected along the way. And large smiles adorned their scraped and slightly bleeding faces. 

“A couple more times and then we’ll go back?” Hyrule asked, looking at the distant sun. “I think the group is so spoiled by your cooking we’d have a hard time without it.” Hyrule teased, chuckling at Wild’s embarrassed face. 

‘A couple more times. Try the spin’ Wild confirmed. Hyrule was getting better at jumping onto the shield, not being able to flip like Wild, but progress was progress. Wild could even jump and spin while he was surfing! He told Hyrule how to do it, and showed him a few times. Wild told him it was easier if he used the momentum from a small bump in the hill to get enough speed to rotate. 

“Okay I’ll try!” Hyrule beamed. Wild and Hyrule could go at the same time now, Wild not needing to give Hyrule a head start as the evening progressed. “One. Two. Three!” Hyrule called out, jumping on the back of his shield. He balanced out and leaned forward as Wild taught him, keeping an eye on the quickly approaching small hill he planned to launch off of. Hyrule bent his legs a little more, then twisted his hips quickly as soon as he hit the hill. He bent his elbows to the side, making sure to keep his back as straight as he could. He managed to make a full rotation! Before landing and having the shield slip out from under him. Hyrule rolled the rest of the way, but his successful spin made it hard for him to care. When he got to the bottom, his eyes were closed, doing another mental check to see if he had any broken bones. When he opened his eyes, he was met with a very unamused pair of bright blue eyes belonging to a certain wolf.

“Uh oh.” Hyrule glanced over at Wild, who also looked like a deer in the torchlight. Wild signed something that Hyrule assumed the wolf couldn’t understand. He was intelligent, but Hyrule doubted the animal could understand sign .

“He says we left a note.” Hyrule translated. 

~

They must have been quite the sight. Two bruised and cut Hylians covered in grass pouting as they followed a hulking wolf. They would have escaped the wolf’s fury, but he absolutely would not let them out of his sight. If one of the two got an inch too far, the wolf grumbled in his throat and glared. A wolf glared at them. Wild at least, knew the wolf was not just an animal. But that only meant he would be the one to get lectured by an angry Twilight later tonight. Wild and Hyrule were pouting, but they still snickered whenever they thought about today. It had been fun. Really fun. Wild didn’t feel overwhelmed anymore, he felt more content. 

“Here we go.” Hyrule muttered, seeing a small fire in the distance. Wild glared down at Wolfie when he noticed the smug look in his eye. The wolf couldn’t wait to see them get scolded. Wild would get revenge later. 

“Where have you two idiots been?” Legend yelled as they got closer.

“What in Hylia’s name happened?” Sky asked, rushing over to check their cuts with Warriors, keeping their distance with Wild. 

“Wild taught me how to surf on a shield!” Hyrule told them the story happily, brushing off Sky’s and Warriors’ fussing. 

“Awesome! Wild teach me next!” Wind ran up to stand next to Hyrule. The two could see Four hanging back, being suspiciously quiet. Hopefully if they didn’t throw him to the wolves for knowing, he would cover for them later on as well. 

‘Where’s Twilight?’ Wild signed innocently, resisting the urge to smirk down at the wolf beside him. 

“He’s scouting the area for monsters.” Time lied easily. “Wolfie, go get him please?” Wolfie glared one last time at a smug Wild, before running off to ‘find Twilight’. 

“Now.” Time began, and Hyrule and Wild glanced at each other, silently communicating that they were indeed fucked. “What were you two thinking running off like that?” Time asked. He didn’t really sound mad, he sounded more curious. He knew those two wouldn’t purposefully cause issues, especially with how shy they tended to be. Hyrule and Wild glanced at each other before Hyrule spoke up. 

“We just needed a break. We left a note so that you guys knew we were okay, but we both just needed time to unwind in the woods.” Hyrule explained sheepishly. Wild nodded along, keeping his head down. He really hoped Hyrule didn’t get in trouble. Even after all the work they put into learning his sign, Wild thought the group would ditch him in a random Hyrule any minute. He didn’t want to see his new friend get in trouble because of something they both did. If he needed to Wild would take the blame. Better just he get in trouble than both of them.

Time sighed, looking at their guilty expressions. He should have expected this, both of these boys spent most of their lives completely alone. Time thought back to his adventures. He loved exploring Hyrule on the back of Epona. Could he really fault these boys for exploring away from a group? Hyrule was getting better with being in a group, but he still struggled. And Wild has only been in their group for a week, he certainly wasn’t used to traveling with others if his fear of touches were anything to go by. Most of the boys said he ‘didn’t like’ being touched to soften the words and not offend the new Link but they all knew the truth. Something had given Wild a deep rooted fear of even being around Hylians. How could they expect him and Hyrule to be happy when constantly surrounded by others. Time was just glad they had found solace with each other. 

“I understand.” The two teens perked up at that, surprised. They barely noticed Twilight coming from beyond the surrounding trees. “I know exploring away from the path is fun, but Hyrules we don’t know are dangerous. I know I’m not gonna be able to stop you from doing it, but be careful. And come back with less scrapes and bruises next time.” Time teased, not missing the way they both relaxed, Wild especially. Hopefully the boy’s wariness would ease as the journey continued. 

“That’s it? They ran away!” Twilight complained, but the others could tell it was mostly in good fun. Wild however could tell the man was trying to get back at him once again. 

“You’re right. Wild make dinner. Hyrule, fill the water jugs. There. Karma complete.” Time smirked at Twilight exasperated look towards Wild, knowing full well he would need to chase after him in the next few days. Good, hopefully Twilight will learn how Time feels.

~

That night was spent the way many of their peaceful nights did, casual chatter and plans for tomorrow. Wild participated a little more this time, which the group was all grateful for. Legend grumbled and made them booth drink a little potion, no matter how much Wild refused. The rest of the night was spent with the group milling around or all grouped around the campfire. Four however, were beckoned over by Hyrule to have a private conversation. 

“What’s wrong?” Four asked, looking at Hyrule’s troubled face.

“Thanks for covering for us. We needed that.” Hyrule thanked before he moved on. “I’m worried about Wild.” Hyrule bit his lip now that his thoughts were out in the open.

“Why?” Four’s eyebrows furrowed. “He looks better than he has in a while and you two seemed to have fun.”

“We did have fun, but Four he laughed. Like with his voice.” Hyrule glanced over to make sure the boy in question was still making dinner. “It was quiet but I heard it. I think he can talk, Four. I mean I think he could maybe physically talk if he practiced. But I think he’s embarrassed? Or scared? He doesn’t have to talk if he doesn’t want to and I don’t want him to feel forced, but what if he wants to talk and he’s scared?” Hyrule finished. Out of the many things Four had been expecting, it wasn’t that.

“I think… that that’s a very real possibility.” Four started, there was no reason to lie. “But you’re right, he might just not want to, or it could be mental. Or a combination. The truth is we don’t know. I’d say for now let’s worry about things we can control and feel out the situation with Wild.” Four reached up and patted Hyrule’s shoulder. Like all the Links, Hyrule put too much responsibility on himself.

“Okay Four. Thank you… that helps.” Hyrule smiled, looking much better.

“No problem buddy.”

~

That night Wild slept a tad bit closer to the group than he had been. It wasn’t much, but it was progress they were all silently grateful to Hyrule for. Time was on second watch, but Twilight had stayed up to talk to him.

‘Pup, did Wild talk to you that night he woke up with Wolfie?’ Time had overheard a small portion of Four and Hyrule’s conversation. He had been coming back from the stream and didn’t stay long, not wanting to eavesdrop, but he heard enough to connect the dots of what Twilight had been avoiding talking about the past few days.

‘He tried.’ Twilight signed back in their shared sign. It hadn't changed too much from Time’s Hyrule to Twilight’s Hyrule, and they didn’t want Wild to overhear their conversation. 

‘He tried?’ Time questioned silently.

‘It was rough, Time.’ Twilight signed, glancing back at the boy curled up in his thin bedroll. 

“We’ll figure it out.” Time whispered, placing a hand on Twilight’s shoulder. Wild was one of them now.

[quepasta]

A Relentless Past - Chapter 6

Author: Quepasta | AO3 | Twitter

Find Chapter 5 here 

Summary:  Link wakes up with no memory, but discovers he has been asleep for 100 years. Now he must struggle with remembering his past, a painful past he has no memory of, and confronting his destiny in the present. Not to mention dealing with the crazy characters he meets while exploring the new world he has woken up in and the foes he runs into. Takes place during Breath of the Wild and expands on the story we know from the video game. (Part 1 of this trilogy. Also, you know I ship Zelink but this is the slowest slow burn I have ever written)

Link led his horse away from the shrine he had just come from, toward the odd structure that was before him. It was a tent of some sort, topped with what appeared to be a large man-made horsehead. It was a sight unlike anything he had seen so far, which maybe wasn’t saying much. But there were people here, and Link hadn’t run into too many yet. 

“Well hello there, traveler! Welcome to Dueling Peaks Stable! Do you need directions?” A man who was standing at the front of the structure called out to Link. He was wearing a plain tan shirt with a red vest over it and darker traveling pants. The man had dark skin, thick eyebrows, and blue eyes that contrasted heavily against his coloring.

As Link walked closer, he realized that there was another man standing behind the counter and he looked exactly the same as the first man. They must be twins, Link thought.

“That’s a nice horse you have there, would you like to register it?” The second man asked. 

“Register it?” Link asked

“For a fee of 20 rupees, we will give you a bridle and a saddle, the horse will be recorded in our records so if it is ever lost we will know who to look for, and you can leave the horse here at our stable whenever you want.” The man behind the counter said, politely smiling. 

It seemed like a good deal. Link didn’t have a lot of money but he did have enough to cover the fee. “I suppose a saddle and bridle would be nice. I’ll do it.” Link said, pulling out the rupees. 

“Excellent! What is your name, for our records?” The man asked, pulling out a large leather book and setting it on the counter. Link could see the countless rows of names on the pages from where he stood.

Link paused for a moment, before replying. “Link.”

“Alright, Link. I’m Tasseren, the stable manager ‘round here in Dueling Peaks. This here is my brother Rensa, he don’t do much ‘round here.” Tasseren chuckled, waving a hand at his brother. 

“Hey. That ain’t fair, Tasseren. I sweep them dirty floors once a week!” Rensa retorted back, chuckling as well. 

Tassaren shook his head as he jotted Link’s name down. “Okay, Link, I have you down in the books. What’s the stallion’s name?”��

Well then, that was a good question. It was time to give the wild thing a name, but Link hadn’t given much thought to it yet. He stared at the brown stallion, which had wide eyes as it stared at the two brothers. It made Link chuckle a bit, and for some reason a name came to him. 

“Wolf. His name is wolf.” 

Tasseren nodded, writing it down in the book. He then turned around to fetch a bridle and saddle and while he did Link piled the rupees on the counter. 

Rensa was leaning against the stable, his arms crossed in front of him. Rensa’s eyes kept glancing from Link to the shrine that Link had just come from, and then back to Link. Rensa raised an eyebrow in question, but didn’t say anything. It made Link feel somewhat uncomfortable, but this was also his first time around people. Perhaps he was the one acting weird. Regardless, he hoped to exit the shrine without being noticed. It seemed he had failed in that attempt.

“Here ya go, Link. Did you want to board Wolf as well then?” Tasseran came back, leaning over the counter and handing him the items. 

“Ah, no. I won’t be staying long. Is it alright that he stays out here for a few minutes?” Link asked, fiddling with the bridle in his hands. 

“Of course! He seems well behaved enough, come in and warm up. I can get you a drink too if you want.” Tasseren answered, waving his hand toward the door.

“I’m good for now, I’ll let you know if I change my mind though.” Link replied, leaning down to grab the saddle where he had laid it against his leg. He turned and approached Wolf, keeping his movements slow. 

The horse seemed to trust him, but he didn’t want to spook him now. Link made shushing sounds as he laid the saddle on Wolf’s back and was careful as he strapped it around the stallion’s stomach. Wolf didn’t seem to mind, he just watched Link from the corner of his eye. 

Link then walked over to the front of Wolf, giving his velvety nose a pat. “Alright buddy, this might be a little uncomfortable. But I think you will get used to it. Do you trust me?” Link asked Wolf, reaching up to scratch behind his ear. 

Wolf lowered his head and nudged Link’s arm, playfully biting his sleeve. This caused Link to laugh under his breath, and slid the bridle in Wolf’s mouth and over his head. After securing the straps and satisfied it was on properly, Link stepped back and had a look at Wolf. Everything seemed to fit him well and Wolf didn’t seem to mind his new ensemble. 

Link pulled out an apple and laid his palm flat out. Wolf gave an excited huff and bobbed his head, then leaned down to bite the apple. Much like Link, Wolf ate his food quickly and in one bite. 

“Stay here, I am going to go inside for a minute.” Link patted the stallion’s nose again, and turned to head inside. He passed Rensa on the way in, who still monitored Link with watchful eyes.

Inside the stable was one large room, but it was bustling with activity. Most of the floor space of the stable was filled with chairs and tables that were occupied by other travelers. But against the wall there were beds lined up, Link guessed that one could rent one for the night if they wanted. 

He glanced around. There weren’t that many people inside, but it felt a little overwhelming to him. Most were sitting and talking, some finishing up a meal. 

“Hey there! Did I overhear that yer name was Link?” A man called out to him. He had dark brown hair and matching facial hair. Link walked closer to where the man was sitting down at a table. He was sitting across from an elderly woman, who turned and smiled at him. 

“Uh, yes.” Link replied, uncertain why the man was asking. 

“Well that’s interesting. Isn’t it Edna? Just like the knight from one hundred years ago. Did yer parents name you after ‘im?” The man asked, tapping his fingers on the wooden table. 

“The knight?” Link questioned, trying not to show the shock on his face. Were they talking about him?

“Don’t tell me you haven’t heard about the fallen knight? You ain’t from around ‘ere then if you ain’t heard about the knight and the princess. You know, I can tell from your accent that you ain’t.” The man replied.

Trying to think quickly, Link nodded. “You’re correct. I’m not from around here, just passing through. What is this story, if you don’t mind?” Maybe he shouldn’t have been lying, or should have not asked. But he was curious, and these people might have the answers he’s been looking for.

“Oh young one, it’s the most famous story in all of Hyrule.” The woman, Edna Link assumed, spoke. “One hundred years ago, a great evil appeared. The royal family had been prepared to protect the kingdom from it, as the ability is passed through the bloodline. It’s said through our legends that the Princess of Hyrule possessed the sacred power, the power to seal away evil. But the land’s foe was too strong and everything fell apart. So many lost their lives that day, including the King of Hyrule. King Rhoam, may he rest in peace.” Edna said solemnly, and everyone in the stable echoed her prayer. 

Link hadn’t realized everyone was listening now. He looked side to side, there was a small crowd now, listening intently to Edna. Even those who had been outside earlier were listening from the doorway. Link felt nervous, his hands twitching and his heart was beating faster by the second. 

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Rensa glaring at him from the doorway. What was his problem?

“Most of the army had been defeated, the skilled champions chosen by the royal family were killed, it was just the Princess and her knight left.”

The man from before picked up the story where she ended. “Her and the knight fled the castle, saving any civilian they could find along the way. They passed right through ‘ere, across Blatchery Plains, trying to aid the soldiers who were defending Fort Hateno. It is said the knight protected the Princess with his life. You could say he was not a normal knight, he was the only one that could wield the sword that sealed the darkness. Our legends say that the two are reborn into this land to work together to protect it from evil. Blessed by the Goddess to protect us. But I guess how blessed were they if they failed, huh?” 

Edna rolled her eyes at the man and shushed him. “Hush now, Hino. We don’t joke about the darkest day.” She said, her voice emphasizing darkest day. She pulled the shawl around her shoulders closer and shivered.

“No one knows exactly what happened. But the knight fell, and when all hope was lost, Princess Zelda, hallowed be her name, realized her power.” Edna paused as everyone repeated her. 

“Hallowed be her name.” The crowd murmured. 

“She saved this part of Hyrule and ordered her knight to be brought somewhere safe. It is said that he still sleeps somewhere in the wild, healing to one day return to us. Supposedly, the Princess is still inside the castle. Keeping the evil at bay until her knight returns to her.” Edna finished.

“It’s all very sad really. My grandmother lost her parents in the calamity. But she doesn’t remember it, she was so young.” Another woman spoke up. Several people raised their drinks in agreement.

“Has it really been one hundred years? Wow, am I getting old. I remember when we used to only say fifty years.” An elderly man joked, smiling a grin that was missing a few teeth. 

“You sure you weren’t there the day of the Calamity, Bervis? You look old enough!” Someone else in the back yelled. Several members of the group laughed.

It seemed everyone had something to say about the story.

“Hino, do you believe that the Princess is really still at the castle?” A young woman asked, looking at the man who had first talked to Link. 

“You know, I ain’t sure. No one has ever been able to make it to the castle, it’s too dangerous. But you know what, Hey Edna. Isn’t this month the anniversary of the Calamity?” Hino asked. 

Edna frowned in thought. “I believe it is. It happened in the summer for sure.” Edna paused with a look that showed she was lost in thought.

 “My mother used to tell us stories about the calamity. She said that according to a sheikah she meant once, the knight would be asleep for at least one hundred years, before he would be able to return. I remember that we used to lay flowers down in the field over there, to pay respect to the princess and the knight, at the spot where the knight fell. May his soul return to us.” Edna said pointing towards the fields behind the stable, and once again everyone repeated her. 

“May his soul return to us.”

Link, supposedly the one with the soul they were praying about, gulped loudly at the prayer. At this point Link knew he had to get out of there. This was too much, but his feet felt like lead and stayed planted in place. 

“Well if the story is true, I guess we will know soon enough. About time too, I am tired of running into the monsters and guardians. Nowhere feels safe.” A young man said, thumping his mug on the table. 

“I don’t see how they could be alive that long, they weren’t sheikah.” Someone else piped up.

“They weren’t normal hylians either. Two souls blessed by the Goddess and bound by legend. They’ll come back. One day.” An old man said, chugging the remnants of his mug as if their return depended on him finishing his cup.

“Well what do you think about that story, lad?” Hino smiled up at Link, but his smile fell when he saw Link’s face.

Link had been silent the whole time, Hino had thought it was because he was intrigued by the story. But Link’s eyes were wide and scared, his face had lost all it’s color. And Link stood in front of the story tellers trembling. 

“You okay there, son?” Hino asked him, his face scowled in concern.

“I-I have to go.” Link said abruptly, running out of the stable as fast as he could. Wolf popped his head up from where he was nibbling on the grass when he saw Link, and didn’t flinch when Link landed on his back with no warning. 

“We have to leave now, buddy.” Link whispered to the horse, and pushed his heels lightly into Wolf’s sides. Wolf understood and took off, faster than Link had dared to ride him yet. 

Behind him he heard Rensa yell something after him, but Link ignored it. He focused on the reigns in his hand and tried not to look at the field behind the stable. He was hyperventilating, his hands still shaking. He had died here? In the plains behind the stable?

His vision felt blurry and his head hurt. The scar on his left side throbbed, and he knew then that had to have been the fatal blow to him. What happened to him? What struck him so hard that he had lost his life? And when would the time come that he would have to face it again?

Link felt tears form in the corner of his eyes and he let them fall. He didn’t think he was much of a crier, but it’s not everyday that he was told the story of how he died. He let himself sob, feeling the loss of his previous life for the first time.

[raisingsupergirl]

I'm Back! Returning to the "Real World" After Six Weeks Unplugged and Undrugged

If I'm being honest, I don't really want to write this post. I don't want to go back to the way things were. It feels like returning from vacation on a Sunday evening and setting my work alarm for Monday morning. I know my next vacation won't come for a while. I know I'm "back in it" now. And the sensation is completely opposite of what I'd expected from all of the "restrictions" I put on myself six weeks ago. But I'm sure you're just dying to know how I did, so here goes.

I failed. A lot. Just like I said I would. And the number one thing I failed at was reading to my kids. I tried it. Once. I started Harry Potter, but it felt like pulling teeth. I didn't enjoy it. The kids didn't enjoy it (even though I poured all of my energy into the BEST character voices). But even if I didn't read to my children, at least I didn't fail completely at reading. In fact, I stayed pretty true to my goal of replacing my weeknight TV with reading (with a subtle exception… but I'll get to that later), and it was honestly one of the biggest successes of all. Just an hour or two of quiet entertainment and contemplation in the evenings (whether with a Bible devotional or a bloody space adventure) did wonders for my mood and sleep habits. And speaking of sleep habits…

I failed at that, too. Again, not completely, but I definitely didn't live up to the whole bargain. I don't care how comfortable I got with going to bed at 9:45 pm and waking up at 5:45 am, when I would get home from work at 9:15 at night, there was no way I was going to have time to eat, shower, and wind down enough to be asleep within thirty minutes. And so, I bent the rules a little. But never more than an hour. And that's where I found my rhythm. I would never go to bed or wake up more than an hour different than I did the day before. That compromise allowed me to adjust slowly to different schedules without suffering too much.

Interestingly enough, the things I succeeded at completely are the things that sound like the biggest commitments. I worked out every day without fail, I didn't get on social media or YouTube, and I cut out all drugs (aka alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, night time snacking, and weekday fast food) cold turkey, right down to my morning pre-workout drink, which has a little caffeine in it. I'm not sure exactly why these things were easier to stick to. I'm sure a part of it has to do with my particular personality, but I suspect the bigger part is the nature of these things. They're easier to define. Easier to grasp and control. So what's the big deal about sleeping in a few extra minutes on the weekends (half-asleep rationale is always a little bit skewed…)? Why should I fight to read to my kids if they don't even enjoy it? But exercise and diet are very external. They're obvious to myself and to others when I screw them up. There's more accountability, so they're not as easy to make excuses for. The hardest promises to keep are the ones nobody knows about.

And… there's a third factor, and I hinted at it earlier. Remember when I said I didn't TECHINCALLY stick to the "no TV during the week" goal? Well, I didn't "watch" TV during the week, per se. But that's because I was playing a video game. A video game called "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild." And, well, I was completely unprepared for it. First, Zelda is my jam. Always has been since I was a wee lad. Like most functioning adults, I fell away from video games after high school because I was trying to make all the monies and didn't have time to spend six hours at a time in front of a screen. But when Santa brought us a Nintendo Switch for Christmas, I knew there was a game I "had" to try. And, well, BotW didn't disappoint. Those who have played Skyrim or other open-world games would have known what they were in for, but I didn't. 

The moment I popped open that glider and drifted off of the Great Plateau, the real world faded away. This game had no limits. No boundaries. It's impossible to describe my awe at that slow and continuing realization as I delved into underground temples, climbed distant peaks, and trudged through vast deserts, so I won't try. Those who think video games are "a waste of time" will never get it, and those who embrace the value of story telling already know what I'm talking about. Suffice it to say that I "did the Zelda things." Not all the things, mind you. I didn't find all the koroks, beat all the shrines, or kill all the lynels, but I DID awaken the Divine Beasts, sneak into the castle dungeon to claim the Hylian shield, tame the royal mare, ride all the animals, build Tarry Town from the ground up, and head butt a guardian to death with the Lord of the Mountain. I trudged through every region and stared out at the realm from the highest spire of Hyrule castle. In the end, I defeated Calamity Ganon and brought peace to the land. And in that triumphant moment, I finally realized the truth about the game…

It was just another drug. You see, I never did have a real urge to sit down to a whiskey and a pile of snacks on a Saturday night, even though that had become an engrained habit over the past year. Why? Because I had an entire world to explore and save! And I needed to stay hydrated and healthy to beat the biggest baddies in Hyrule. The game completely overshadowed other primal urges. Any time I was feeling lazy or weak—times when I would look for a quick, mindless reward—I would pick up the Switch controller. And sometimes, that would be during the week. In fact, all told, I played 110 hours over six weeks. That's around two-and-a-half hours a day, EVERY day! So the amount of time I would have generally wasted with social media, TV, or "drugs," I instead committed to Zelda.

In the end, I'm not sure what to think about the whole six-week experience. I do know that I grew closer to God. My thoughts cleared significantly. I experienced deeper and wider peace, seeing previously scary and stressful situations with new clarity and confidence. I loved my family more completely, and I committed harder to my duties (work, family, etc). But I had low moments, too. Not enough to hit rock bottom or consider giving up, but because I knew what it felt like to ride that "high" with my savior and creator, to be present in the moment with a sense of purpose and appreciation, every moment of minor disconnection or apathy hit me harder than it normally would have. So I guess everything is relative. Once we know just how good we can feel, our expectations rise. On the other hand, my perspective has changed regarding rewards and fulfillment. A moment of earned relaxation or celebration doesn't need to include a glass of wine. I don't "need" to stay up late and sleep in on the weekends. And most importantly, my joy comes from God, not from the things I do, but there ARE some things that keep me away from God's joy. Mostly things that become habit—things I fall back on when I want to "check out."

And I guess that's the whole point. When we're present and intentional, life's good. We're happy with our choices and usually with the results. But when we're exhausted, when we've given all we can and think we've earned some reward (or at least a break)… well, that's when we make mistakes. And that's when we should just go to bed. Sure, maybe a little reading to calm us down and get our minds right first, but we're never at our worst than when we're mentally tapped out. And so, I plan to be more aware of this fact through the rest of the year. I'm going to continue to cut out electronics during the week. I'm going to avoid the Facebook scroll (which doesn't appeal to me even a little bit anymore). I'm going to enjoy sunrises and cuddles. And, most importantly, I'm going to create the time and space for quiet thought and divine whispers.

That's my secret to happiness. Do less (especially less "check out" activities like Twitter and television) and think more. Talk less and listen more. Let your "yes" be "yes" and your "no" be "no." In other words, live a life that speaks for itself and don't feel the need to justify your thoughts and actions to everyone. Live lightly, love deeply, and let the rest wash away with the tide. That's all I've got, friends. And you know what? This post was actually a joy to write. I'm excited to be back, to see my friends again, to share what I've learned with you, and to learn FROM you. And most importantly, I’m excited to enjoy all the beauty that the real world has to offer...

[karasuno-writings]

hello! could i get kenma, kuroo and iwaizumi with reader who plays video games and gets super competitive? and sometimes when theyre really focused and the boys maybe disturb them they get a bit snappy? tysm!!!

Hello nonie! I was actually looking forward for this request!! I love playing video games so much so this was fun, and I also love these boys!! I based the games I chose entirely on my personal love for Nintendo! I hope that is fine!! I hope you like them!! (Also I have to post these on mobile bc we are locked out for the moment, if there are any errors I’ll fix them ASAP)

____________________________

Iwaizumi

The silence was unnerving, were it not for the happy racing music the tension would be unbearable.

Iwaizumi sat on the rug at the foot of his bed, brows furrowed and gaze intense, fixed on the television that stood on a desk before them. Y/N bit their lip as the race started, sitting on the bed as their legs lay at the sides of their boyfriend. This was the one and only all or nothing, if they won they would get a fairly deserved box of chocolates, and the sweetest treat of them all, victory .

It was a normal afternoon as every other, Y/N was out and about on their boyfriend Iwaizumi’s house, it was bound to be a lazy day, loose shirts and pants were worn comfortably by the two of them.

The sun was setting when a wonderful idea occurred to Y/N, mario kart; three races, two players and one winner.

“Hajime…” They smiled as they leaned on his shoulder.

His attention was immediately directed to them, as he lay his head on theirs, humming in acknowledgement.

“How about we play Mario Kart? Three races and a box of chocolates for the winner, what do you say?”. Iwaizumi furrowed his brows,thinking about it, and with a smile he stood up.

“Deal.”

Y/N yelped as he wrapped his arms around them to lift them up, carrying them to his room. The game was officially on.

They sat down next to each other on the bed, playfully elbowing each other, the first race was just about to start. Y/N took the lead on the first lap and Iwaizumi, as hard as he tried, couldn’t keep up.

Feeling the need to concentrate in order to win, Iwaizumi slid to the floor closer to the television, Y/N shuffled to the position they currently held, he could feel their breath on his neck, intense.

The next round seemed to be his, which Y/N took with little grace, sticking their tongue out to their boyfriend, which turned to them with a very smug-looking smile.

However that meant this was the round that mattered most. The first lap was down and Y/N was once more in the lead, with their boyfriend close behind.

If they kept it up like this he would have to admit defeat; he stopped furrowing his brows as an idea came to mind and an evil smirk slid onto his face. Eyes still fixed on the game, as the second round carried on he shuffled to the side, now both of Y/N’s legs were hanging at his right side, they did not pay this too much attention considering how all-out for the win they were.

Last lap, Iwaizumi was just behind, Y/N was now smirking, glare in occasionally screaming at the tv as they doged green shells and banana peels.

In the spur of a moment however, a strong hand pulled them down in one swift movement, making them slide right into Hajime’s lap, whose hand returned to the controller just in time, as Y/N let go of theirs, taken aback by the sudden change of position and the sensation of falling. Their car stopped just as Iwaizumi’s crossed the finish line.

“Seems like I won Y/N”, he said contempt, eyes closed as he innocently smiled at them.

However, when he looked at Y/N who was laying on his lap his smile faltered, he usually was the intimidating one but good lord did they look mad.

“Iwaizumi! How dare you!?” They snapped at them, clearly angry at the boy, shuffled out of his lap and onto the floor next to him. They were about to say something else when strong hands held their arms, eyes meeting their boyfriends slightly panicked expression.

“Don’t worry Y/N, the victory was yours truly, and I promise I will get you your chocolates”. However, he knew it would take more than that to get them to forgive him, still he would say their current adorable pouty expression was worth it.

Kuroo

This was all too familiar to Kuroo, Y/N was laying with their head on his lap, however they were far from focused from him, instead they were intently fixated on the game in their hands. He did not mind, considering he was used to this antics from Kenma, so he absentmindedly played with their hair as he read a book he intended to catch up on.

They were thoroughly focused, tongue slightly sticking their tongue out and once in a while yelping or jumping, clearly struggling to pass a level.They squealed, Kuroo stopped reading and looked at them, adorable as the light lit up their face, squinting at the difficulty of the boss they were facing.

Kuroo ran his hand through their hair, “Hard level, kitten?”

Y/N eyes drifted to him momentarily as they paused the game, a small pout forming on their lips as they nodded. “I can’t seem to pass it, I can’t figure it out”

They showed him the game, Legend of zelda, stuck in a boss fight with only half a heart left. Kuroo hadn’t exactly played that one game yet, but he had played enough Legend of Zelda with Kenma to know what this was all about. Y/N returned their focus to the game, completely drifting away from Kuroo. He was not interested in the book anymore, he needed their attention but knew he wouldn’t get it until they were satisfied.

“Y/N, I have an idea” He spoke up, making them momentarily flash him a glance to acknowledge that he had got their attention.

“Let’s see who is able to pass the level first, if I win you have to come with me to get some coffee”.

They paused the game and looked at their boyfriend who was smiling down at them, squinting their eyes they sat down, “And if I win?”.

“Then I’ll go and fetch you coffee while you play, sounds good kitten?”. A small smile spread on their face.

“You got yourself a deal Tetsu”. Kuroo smirked and planted a kiss on their cheek, gabbing the console.

Five times, five times each of them had tried to pass the level and failed, however they had gotten the hang of it, it was now just up to the execution.

While Kuroo was good playing video games, there were two people he could never win to; Kenma and Y/N. It was Y/N’s turn now, they had already gotten the hang of it, it was just a matter of time before they passed the level.

Kuroo had to do something if he wanted to get you outside with him for a while, and he had to do it fast. He had also gotten the hang of the game, he just needed one more round but this one seemed to be the one for you.

He turned to look at Y/N, their lips pouted as their eyes moved avidly from side to side of the screen, that's when the idea came to his head.

Kuroo smirked, he scooted closer over to them, pretending to look at the screen as they were almost about to win. He looked at their sides, vulnerable as their hands were holding the console. Playing innocent, he ran a hand down their back, stopping right on the middle.

Y/N squirmed out of Kuroo’s grasp, gasping for air and trying their best not to drop the console. His hands however did not move from their ticklish spot.

“Let...go...of..me Tersurou!” They begged in between laughs. The game long forgotten, they managed to scurry away.

“Your laugh is adorable you know?”

Y/N looked at the screen, the legend game over plastered across it. Glaring, they turned to their boyfriend, who was still smiling innocently.

“You know how pissed I am right?” They huffed as they crossed their hands over their chest. Grabbing the console they started to leave to the other room.

“Just so you know, we are not getting any coffee”

Kuroo pouted, rushing to hug them from behind. “Even if it comes with your favorite cake?”

Y/N raised and eyebrow and smiled, “Fine ...I just have to actually pass this level”

“You got it kitten”

Kenma

It was a normal day at your house, Y/N and their boyfriend naturally playing video games. Taking turns to choose exactly which game to play. Leaning softly against each other, ocasionally turning to kiss Kenma’s cheek as he watched them play Detroit. He loved the story and the game, however the two of them had been playing for a while now and he wanted something a little more challenging.

“Let’s play smash” he suggested, a small smile on his face.

He knew Y/N well and playing competitive with them was one of his favorite things, they were a worthy match to his wit and it amused him. It was always a close call, however he knew they could only play for so much ,considering their competitive nature.

“You know me well Kozume” smiling they stood up and changed the game, mind set on the challenge, their boyfriend could easily out best them, but not today.

Kenma is not a known as a prodigy strategiest for nothing, he knew exactly how to read their every move, specially since he had grown accustomed to them after dating for so long.

Y/N knowing this all too well, had developed a dynamic strategy, and while fooling Kozume was surely a hard job, they had mastered the element of surprise.

Kenma was pleasantly surprised by this, they were putting a challenge harder than the usual. They were both down to one life each was down to one life and he was taking too mucho damage for his liking.

Drastic measures were to be taken, if their game was surprise he would resort with a little trick up the sleeve of his own.

Cupping their cheek he placed a soft kiss on their lips, knowing exactly how things would go down.

Their eyes opened wide, taken aback by the unusual boldness of the usually collected boy. They wouldn’t go as far as to say that affection from him was unusual, as Kenma liked the attention between closed doors. He liked to be next to them, specially when they wrapped their arms around him or just made small contact, but to kiss them out of nowhere? That was new.

They found this pleasant, sinking into his sweet lips, oblivious to his true intentions. As soon as they closed their eyes he took the chance he was looking for, attacking them as much as he could until he was the ultimate winner.

A small smirk on his face as he pulled back. Now he jus had to live up to the consequences of his actions.

Y/N blinked as they looked the screen, then at Kenma, and back at their screen.

Oh

“You smug little...” they looked at him, squinting their eyes. “I can’t believe I fell for that, you cheater! That is not fair!” All composure lost, they were more annoyed at themselves for not even suspecting anything out of the odd gesture.

Kenma shrugged, not trying to hide the triumphant smirk on his face; “I did nothing wrong...maybe you should one up your game Y/N”, he placed a kiss on their cheek “however, you were an interesting challenge”

“Oh it’s on Kozume”

[kaialone]

Spirit Tracks Translation Comparison: Intro

This will be a comparison of the original Japanese version and the US English localized version.

Specifically, this will cover the intro cutscene of the game, detailing its backstory.

You can also watch this cutscene for yourself in English and Japanese. If you want, you can check out the EU English version, too.

For the comparison, the usual points apply:

Bolded is the original Japanese text, for the reference.

Bolded and italicized is my translation.

Italicized is the official NOA translation.

A (number) indicates that I have a specific comment to make on that part in the translation notes.

As you read this, please keep in mind that with translations like these, it’s important not to focus on the exact literal wordings, since there is no single “correct answer” when it comes to translations.

Rather than that, consider the actual information that is being conveyed, in which way, and why.

--

The Backstory:

これは遠い遠い昔… 人がこの地に生まれた頃の物語

This is a tale from long long ago... From the age when people were born in this land.

This is a tale from long ago. It's the tale of the first settlers of this land.

神の御名において治められし 大地は安寧のなかにありました

Ruled in the name of a God,  (1) the land was at peace.

In the beginning, the people followed the spirits of good, and all was peaceful.

けれどもその穏やかな時は 突如として失われたのです…

And yet, that time of tranquility suddenly came to an end...

But that era of peace soon came to an end.

闇の権化 魔王の襲来…多くの 命が奪われ 大地が焼かれました

An incarnation of darkness, the Demon King, invaded... Many lives were lost, and the land was burned.

The evil Demon King rose to power, destroying everything in his path.

全てを支配せんとする魔王は ついに神にも戦いを挑んだのです

The Demon King was close to seizing control of everything, and at last challenged the God as well.

The spirits of good had no choice but to face him in battle.

魔王と神の戦いは 永きに渡り 幾度も繰り返されました

For a long time, the battle of the Demon King and the God kept repeating over and over again.

The war that ensued seemed to last an eternity, and much blood was shed.

永遠に続くと思われた争いの果て 神は遂に魔王を討ち果たしました

At the end of their seemingly everlasting struggle, the God finally slayed the Demon King.

Finally, the spirits subdued the Demon King, though they could not destroy him.

しかしその神も かつての絶大な 御力を失ってしまったのです…

However, that God had also lost their once tremendous power...

Their powers were greatly depleted.

神は残された御力で魔王の魂を 闇の床に葬り…

With the power they had left, the God buried the Demon King's soul in a bed of darkness...  (2)

With their remaining power, they buried the Demon King's spirit in the ground.

彼の者が這い出ることが かなわぬよう塔を建てられました

To ensure that he would never crawl out again, they built a tower.

They built shackles to imprison him, and a tower that acted as a lock.

塔を要に魔を縛る封印が施され それは今も大地を覆っています

They fit the tower with a seal that binds demons. It covers the land to this day.

These shackles cover the land to this day.

全てを終え力尽きられた 神は天界に戻りになりました

After all was done, and with their power exhausted, the God returned to the heavens.

With their power drained, the spirits of good returned to the heavens.

神も魔も去ったこの大地は今 私達の手に委ねられています…

This land, left by both the divine and the demonic, has now been entrusted to us...

Suddenly bereft of both demons and spirits, this land was entrusted to us.

Translation Notes:

What I translated as “God” is 神/kami in Japanese. This can also be translated as “Gods”, but I have my reasons for going with singular instead, which I will explain in more detail below.

What I translated as “bed” is 床/toko in Japanese, which does mean “bed”, among other things, but in a loose sense that can also refer to something like the floor and the ground.

--

Comparisons & Thoughts:

Since this scene establishes the basic foundation of the entire story, which has seen some minor changes in English, there is a lot to talk about here, even if the text itself is short.

-

First of all, there are multiple points I want to go over regarding the divine entity which ruled the land in the past.

In the English version, they are called “the spirits of good”, but in many other language versions, they are called “the gods”, which is a closer translation of 神/kami, the word used in the Japanese version.

I want to point out that, depending on the context and one’s definition of what counts as a god, 神/kami could actually be translated as “spirit” or “spirits”, too.

However, in the case of the Zelda franchise, there are already creatures called “spirits” in the English adaptations of the games. These are called 精霊/seirei in Japanese, a word which more unambiguously translates to “spirits”. They include characters such as the Light Spirits in Twilight Princess, or Link’s spirit companions from Phantom Hourglass.

Because of this, translating 神/kami as “spirits” in this game here does conflate them with the previously established spirits in a misleading way.

It’s possible that they didn’t go for “gods” in English to avoid religious connotations, which is a bit of a bigger concern for a handheld title, since those are assumed to have a younger general audience.

But they actually do have at least one mention of the word “goddess” in the English version, and also feature the word “demon” a bit more prominently than most Zelda games.

So it’s not entirely clear.

For all we know, it could simply be that they came up with this idea of “Spirit” being the general theme of their localization (Spirit Tracks, Spirit Train, Spirit Flute, Zelda being a spirit), and thus went with “spirits” for branding purposes.

-

The next detail I need to address about this divine entity is the fact that I chose to translate 神/kami as the singular “God”, rather than the plural “Gods”.

You see, the Japanese language doesn’t truly have distinct singular and plural. Thus, any noun could be translated as either, and the only way to know which to go for is by knowing the context.

When it comes to the Zelda franchise, normally the obvious thing would be to translate 神/kami as plural, since this universe canonically has multiple deities, major and minor ones.

And these usually appear in groups too, like the most prominent gods in the franchise, the Three Golden Goddesses themselves.

But, as I was looking through the Japanese text of Spirit Tracks, I never came across anything that specified whether the 神/kami from its backstory was supposed to refer to multiple deities or a single one.

Once I realized that, I went back and noticed that the pictures in this intro cutscene actually seem depict a single entity fighting the Demon King:

If these were meant to be multiple deities, it feels like they would have depicted them as such here, but they didn’t.

So, while this isn’t concrete evidence that it was a single deity, I have never seen any evidence that it was multiple deities either.

For me, these pictures push the odds slightly in favor of it just being a single deity, so I have decided to go with that.

There is not much to truly go on, but given what little we have, I do believe this is the more likely option. I also think this ultimately fits slightly better with a few story details that come up later.

Going with the singular “God” does give me a few other problems, though.

Just as Japanese lacks a true plural, it also lacks things such as articles and capitalization.

Because of that, I might need to go with “God”, “a God”, “the God”, and so forth in my translation, depending on the context. And I’ll also have to make a choice when to capitalize the word or not.

Just be aware that in Japanese the word would always just be 神/kami, completely unchanged.

Additionally, the Japanese language also only rarely makes use of third-person pronouns, especially gendered ones. That’s just how the language works. As a result, the gender of this deity is never clarified either.

I decided to go with they/them pronouns for them in English, rather than to assume, but please note that this is just my translation choice.

In the Japanese version there simply aren’t any pronouns used for them, and that’s not an unusual thing.

These sorts of choices are always unavoidable when translating something from Japanese to English, so please be aware of them.

This is one of the many reasons why one should not take a translation’s wording exactly literal.

-

This next point isn’t related to this cutscene specifically, but I still wanted to mention it.

A little bit of trivia regarding this deity:

They don’t seem to have a specific given name, but in recent Japanese media I have seen them be referred to as 光の神/Hikari no Kami, which means “God(s) of Light”.

The earliest official instance of this term being used that I could find was actually in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS. It was also later used in The Legend of Zelda: Encyclopedia.

I have seen it float around online a lot earlier than that, but I have never been able to find the original source for it.

As far as I am aware, this title does not appear in the game at all, at least I have never seen it anywhere.

If you happen to know where this title originated from, by all means, let me know!

-

With all that covered, we can move on to the more direct comparisons for this cutscene.

There is a very notable difference right at the start:

This is a tale from long long ago… From the age when people were born in this land.

This is a tale from long ago. It’s the tale of the first settlers of this land.

In the original Japanese version, it’s established that the events of this tale first began during the time when “people were born in this land”.

This makes it pretty clear that this tale involved the native population of this land.

In the English version, they instead say it’s the tale of “the first settlers of this land“.

This is quite misleading, as it gives the false impression that this tale is about the Hyrulean settlers, who arrived to this land 100 years ago.

Even if one were to argue “first settlers” could refer to previous settlers, the people described in the tale were clearly supposed to be natives of the land in Japanese.

This is no minor change, and from what I’ve seen, it led to a lot of confusion about the game’s backstory among English-speaking fans.

There are quite a few people who seem to be under the impression that Tetra and her crew would have fought the Demon King, but in reality, this conflict is supposed to have taken place many years before the Hyrulean settlers even arrived.

It’s a history that is unique to this land and its original native population.

This would also somewhat change the implication of this tale being told to Link. If you imagine it to be the story of the Hyrulean settlers, it’s Niko just telling Link about something that occurred in their recent history.

But as a tale that precedes the Hyrulean settlers, it’s Niko passing on knowledge about the history of this land prior to their own arrival.

This also happens to be one of the instances I know on top of my head where the EU English version has a more faithful translation, instead saying it’s the tale of “the first people of this land”.

-

Going forward, there are a few things to say about the battle with the Demon King as it is described here.

In Japanese, the Demon King is called 闇の権化/yami no gonge, “an incarnation of darkness”, which I feel might be interesting for people who want to speculate.

But I’m not sure if we are supposed to take this part literally, or if it’s just a poetic way to describe him.

The English version goes with a non-literal interpretation, adapting it as “The evil Demon King”.

-

A minor detail, but the Japanese version states that the Demon King went to challenge the God himself.

The English phrasing leans more towards it being the spirits of good who challenged the Demon King, but it’s a bit ambiguous.

-

Most interesting to me personally is the part where the Japanese version states that the battle between the two “kept repeating over and over again.“

The battle is stated to have been incredibly long in either version, but something about this phrasing here makes me imagine a conflict that keeps flaring up again and again across centuries.

Maybe even something slightly similar to the recurring conflict between Link and Ganondorf in the old Hyrule?

It’s a minor difference, but still one that affected my mental image of these events.

-

Finally, in Japanese it’s outright stated that the God “slayed” the Demon King, which is presumably why he was reduced to a soul.

In one sense, he died physically. It’s just that when you’re a Demon King, that doesn’t mean you’re out of the picture just yet.

The English version tones this down a notch, simply stating that the spirits “subdued” him. They even go as far as to´clarify that the spirits “could not destroy” the Demon King.

This actually will be a recurring element in this localization. For some reason, they seem to avoid this story detail.

-

Another little bit of trivia here:

This Demon King, whose actual name we learn later on, has the honor of being the first “Demon King” ...in English.

In Japanese, the titles “Demon King” and “Great Demon King” were frequently used for Ganon/Ganondorf already, but they were always translated as something else in English, like “King of Evil” or “Prince of Darkness”.

But with Spirit Tracks, they finally let this term be used.

He is still kind of special in Japanese too, since he’s the first one to be called Demon King who is not Ganon/Ganondorf, so let’s give him that.

-

And the last bit I want to compare directly is this part:

To ensure that he would never crawl out again, they built a tower.

They built shackles to imprison him, and a tower that acted as a lock.

They fit the tower with a seal that binds demons. It covers the land to this day.

These shackles cover the land to this day.

The differences here are simple.

In Japanese, the train tracks are a part of the larger “seal” that binds the Demon King, but in English they are made out to be like actual “shackles”  that directly hold him captive.

At this point in the story, this seems like a fair interpretation of what the tracks probably do, but later in the game we will get a more detailed explanation that differs from the English version.

Like I mentioned in the Introduction part, this change is most likely to elevate the importance of the tracks in the game’s lore, to fit with the English game title being “Spirit Tracks”.

Minor changes like these for the sake of branding aren’t unusual, from what I’ve seen.

-

All in all, the localization in this cutscene suffers a bit when it comes to accuracy, due to some changes they probably had no choice but making.

The story changes regarding the tracks is something that affects the whole game, naturally.

It’s an overall minor change, just a slight alteration of how this Demon King prison functions, but something the deep lore analysts among you might want to keep in mind.

Arguably, this change also causes some ever so slight plot holes later in the story, but mostly if you want to be nit-picky.

My biggest gripe in this scene is the “first settlers of this land“ line, especially since the EU English version has an easy fix for it.

It’s just a few little words, and yet they drastically change the implied context of this scene.

And I know for a fact that it has been misleading English-speaking fans for years, so I think it’s fair to say that this is a notable difference.

However, those aspects aside, this cutscene is well-written in English.

It’s faithful to the Japanese version in a way that isn’t too stiff, they did a good job of localizing the text in a general sense, and handled the changes they made well enough.

I’m still somewhat astonished they were able to have mentions of demons, the heavens, and even get in the line “much blood was shed “, which was not this violent in the Japanese version.

I know technically none of these are completely new to English Zelda, but still.

Anyway, that’s all for this part, feel free to proceed to the next one!

--

 | Start | Next Part >

--

[possiblyelvenart]

Land Legs

[link to Ao3 | part 5 in a series]

Prince Sidon receives a visitor; and then another, more unexpected visitor. Captain Bazz is a good friend. Princess Zelda is a fantastic wingwoman.

---

“You look tired.”

Sidon startled out of his daze, turning to look at his companion. She was a small girl, barely into her teens, but with the expression of someone much older and wiser. At least, until an impish grin split her face.

“I know you’re not supposed to tell people that, but you do. Is something keeping you up at night, your highness? Or someone?”

Sidon spluttered at that, setting his tea cup down hard. “R-Riju! Really, so unnecessary. I’ll be quite alright, don’t give it another thought. How was your trip here?” The younger royal rolled her eyes, well aware that he was dodging the question. She was right, of course; the words that Princess Zelda had said kept ringing in his ears every time he tried to sleep. His dreams had been filled with eyes that glittered like waves in the sun, golden hair, sweet smiles. He couldn’t remember the last time he slept properly.

Riju crossed her ankles, suddenly looking thoughtful. “You know, there was one odd part about our trip this time.”

“Really? I hope you didn’t run into any trouble.” Sidon sat forward, genuine concern for his friend overriding his embarrassment.

“Not exactly, no.” Riju took a sip of her tea. “It was when we were a few miles out. We normally meet a few travelers, but this boy was different. He must have been one of yours, because he was too small to be a Gerudo who had wandered off from his place in the retinue. He was walking oddly, as if he was drunk.”

Sidon nodded. “Go on.”

“He was tiny, though! Clearly full grown, I’d say your age, but small as can be, like a little elf. He was dressed all in rags, and never said a word. It became clear that he wasn’t drunk, but very tired and a bit shaky on his legs, though I’ve no idea why. We offered food and drink and some extra clothing, though, and he was most appreciative. While he was eating, he asked us where the castle was. Through sign, you know?”

Sidon felt his heart leap into his throat, and he stood suddenly, hand slamming down on the table in excitement and sending his tea cup flying.  “What did this boy look like? Not his clothes.” Riju looked mildly surprised, but mostly unimpressed.

“Manners, Sidon,” Riju teased, and Sidon reluctantly took his seat again. “He had blonde hair, but his eyes… my, they were striking! As if they were made of luminous stones. I swear they would have glowed, had it been nighttime.”

Sidon could hardly keep from vibrating in his seat. He itched to sprint out of the room, out of the castle, and go search for Link. It had to be him, right? No one else could possibly fit that description. “And where is this boy now? Did you bring him with you?”

“We would have, but when we offered, he refused. Before anyone could stop him, he’d disappeared again, as if into thin air. Perhaps he was a forest spirit.” Riju looked at him, suspicious. “At least, I thought so, but you seem to know him. Who was he?”

“A friend, I think.” Sidon tapped his fingers on his leg. “A merman. But… there’s no way a merman could get on land, is there?”

“There are stories,” Riju corrected, setting her cup down and sitting up straight, serious now. “Old legends that tell of Hylians trading their fins for legs, but the legends say it’s quite painful for them. Like walking on shards of glass, if my memory serves.” Sidon’s eyes widened. “If that young man was your friend, then he’s going through quite a lot of trouble to be here.”

“I have to find him!” Sidon rose again, and this time, Riju didn’t try to stop him. He took her hand, pressing a light kiss to the back before backing towards the door. “Thank you, Riju, for telling me all of this.”

“Good luck, Sidon! Give your friend my regards once you find him.”

“I will!” He gave her a final wave before heading out of the room at a quick stride, determined to find the captain of the guard.

It took them two days to find Link. Captain Bazz had told all his guards to be aware of a small young man with blond hair and blue eyes, likely wearing Gerudo style clothing, and to bring him to their prince if he was found. Above all, he stressed, the young man was not to be harmed. If he wouldn’t return with them, then they were to tell Bazz immediately, who would then pass the information on to Sidon.

Eventually, he was found in a tavern, trying to haggle for something to eat. Bazz himself had stopped in for a bite of food, and lo and behold, there was the man in question, insistently adding precious stones to a pile on the counter to an increasingly bewildered bartender.

“Pardon me - Pava, let the boy eat his fill, put it on my tab. Sir, would I be correct in saying your name is Link?” Link turned to him with wide eyes, unsure how the man knew his name. Bazz held up his hands, trying to appear as nonthreatening as one could be while still wearing most of a guard uniform. “It’s okay, sir, I swear. I work for Prince Sidon.”

Link lit up at the mention of Sidon, thoughts of food and stones abandoned for the moment. You work for Sidon? You can take me to Sidon?

Bazz nodded, smiling. He could see why Sidon was eager to bring the young man in - his enthusiasm was infectious. “Yes, I can. Let’s eat first, shall we? It won’t do to go on an empty stomach.”

Link nodded vigorously, turning again to the bartender and pointing to a few things past the counter. Bazz noticed, heart melting (though he wouldn’t dare to show it) to see that Link had to stand on tiptoe to gesture properly over the counter. Once he was done, Bazz ordered for himself and herded Link to a table in the corner where they were unlikely to be bothered, though Link received some curious looks on their way over. It wasn’t as if Gerudo clothing was common around these parts. Even with the Gerudo Chief visiting at the castle and some of her retinue coming into town, Link was clearly not a part of that entourage.

Bazz noticed with some concern the way that Link was walking. It wasn’t quite a limp; rather, it was more like he had trouble keeping his legs steady, almost falling over once or twice. It reminded Bazz of a calf he had seen once, right after it was born. It wouldn’t be polite to mention it, of course, but he kept one hand free in case he needed to catch the poor thing. He figured it must be due to exhaustion. After all, if his unsuccessful bartering attempt from earlier was any indication, he may have been unable to get food or a place to stay in the time since he disappeared from the Gerudo company.

Link kept his cheerful demeanor as he made his way over to the table, almost vibrating with excitement. If Bazz could make a guess, the young man was eager to continue talking with him, but couldn’t with his back to Bazz. Sure enough, as soon as they were seated, Link was leaning forward and signing rapidly.

Who are you? How do you know Sidon?

Bazz grinned. “My name is Bazz.” He added the sign for his name - the sign for captain , but with his hand in the sign for B . “I’m the captain of the guard for the royal family.”

Link stared at Bazz and folded his hands on the table, thoughtful. After a moment, he added, I am too.

“You - pardon me?” Bazz raised his brows, wondering if the young man was teasing him.

Captain of the guard. Head of the royal guard. He waved his hand in a gesture that seemed to say ‘aren’t they the same?’. Where I come from, I serve the princess. You serve the prince. Yes?

“Well… Yes, that’s right. Prince Sidon hadn’t mentioned that when he asked us to keep an eye out for you.”

He asked you to keep an eye out? Link blinked at this, leaning back in his chair.

“It seems he heard something that implied you were nearby, yes. He was worried for your health.”

Link looked flattered, hands splayed out on the table as he thought. He quickly removed them as a young woman came by, laden with food, and set multiple plates out in front of them. He hardly paused to sign Sorry! before digging in. For such a small man, Link had a voracious appetite. Bazz watched in amazement as dish after dish disappeared, one right after another, pace never slowing. Nothing would deter him from his meal, no matter what Bazz tried.

“How do you know his highness, Master Link?”

A flat look before returning to his food.

“Er… are you an envoy from your princess, then? Since you didn’t warn his highness personally that you were arriving…”

A small snort of laughter, a shake of his head, but nothing more.

“For that matter… where are you from?”

That one didn’t even merit a look up, only a moment of hesitation before returning to his meal. After that response, Bazz decided to stop bothering the young man and simply eat his own food. Link somehow managed to finish his multiple dishes by the time Bazz finished his one, and as soon as the captain had finished, Link was back on his feet, palms flat on the table and fingers tapping rapidly in his excitement.

We go now? You’ll take me to Sidon?

Bazz nodded, unable to say no to the exuberant young man. “If you’ll follow me, sir…”

Link became more subdued the closer they came to the castle. Bazz wasn’t sure if fatigue was catching up to him, or if he simply understood the solemnity of meeting a royal in their castle. It was hard to say, given that Link had abruptly stopped replying to him about halfway through the ride back. His gaze was as sharp as ever, though, and he continued to sit up straight in the rented coach as they passed through the castle gates.

“Evening, Captain,” the guard on duty greeted him cheerfully. “Got a runner from Pava’s place warning us that you were bringing back a guest. This is the man his highness had us looking for? Evening, Sidon’s friend!”

“Evening, Ales.” Bazz kept his voice mild, as Link gave the man a small wave. “Has anyone sent that message on to his highness?”

“Yessir.” Ales saluted his captain with a grin. “He’s asked you to escort your guest to his antechamber.”

“Thank you, Ales. You can return to your post now.” Bazz stepped out of the coach, paying the driver as Link carefully made his way to the ground. He offered a hand to the young man, but Link waved him off, steadying himself and looking around.

Link followed Bazz, keeping up with his metered pace, down into the private parts of the palace. His expression was almost contemplative, as if he hadn’t quite thought his plan through. He kept fiddling with a small shell on a strap of leather around his neck absently, flipping it between his fingers and drawing little designs over the top. Bazz almost asked him about it, but got the feeling that Link wouldn’t enjoy his bringing attention to it, so he instead pretended not to notice.

He stopped at an ornate door, knocking politely. Almost immediately the door was flung open; Bazz would bet his entire money pouch that his prince had been waiting on the other side, pacing or simply vibrating where he stood with impatience and excitement. As soon as Sidon saw his visitors, he lit up, grinning widely. “Link! It is you! Bazz, thank you for getting him here safely.”

“Of course, my prince.” Bazz bowed, pleased that he could be of service to Prince Sidon. “Is there anything else I can do for you or your guest?”

Sidon waved him off. “No, no, that’s quite alright. Submit a request to the treasury for compensation for tonight’s dinner, it’s the least I can do to thank you.”

“Really, your highness, it was my pleasure - ”

“I insist.” The prince’s tone brooked no argument, and Bazz lowered his head slightly in acknowledgement.

“Thank you, your highness. Master Link, it was very nice to meet you.”

Link snorted, but signed back Nice to meet you, too. Bazz took this as his dismissal, and he beat a hasty retreat, allowing Sidon to whisk the puzzling young man into his personal chambers and close the door behind them.

Master Link. Link’s gestures were exaggerated as he looked at Sidon, amused.

“He wants to be polite, Link, surely you can’t fault him for that.” Link’s only response was to tilt his head this way and that, as if he couldn’t fathom being called by a title, especially in a foreign land. Sidon gently ushered him over to an ornately carved bench covered with large, squishy pillows, ensuring his comfort before moving to pour them each a glass of wine. “Sit, sit, you must be tired. How have you come to be here, my dearest friend? Where did you come by a pair of legs, and where are your fins? How long will you be staying? I’ll have arrangements made - ”

Sidon stopped short as he turned around, seeing that Link had a hand in front of him, twisting his wrist rapidly back and forth in insistence that Sidon stop talking. He almost apologized, only stopping when Link started to sign again, that same look of amusement on his face.

I asked Zelda. I asked Zelda, gone for now. A week or so. Which do you want explanation on first?

Sidon blushed, realizing that in his eagerness he’d been rambling. He offered one of the glasses to Link, who took a sip and looked intrigued by what he found. Sidon wondered if merfolk had to drink, usually, and if all drinks were a mystery to his friend or simply the alcoholic ones. Somehow, he didn’t think it prudent to ask, even if they’d talked about their cultures before. After all, there were more important questions to ask at the moment.

“Er, something different entirely, actually,” Sidon replied, swirling his glass in hand. He wasn’t sure how to phrase it, but if he didn’t ask, the anxiety in his chest would keep rising, expanding, until it burst like an overfilled balloon. In a rush, he blurted it out: “Does it hurt?”

Link looked at Sidon patiently, head tilting to the side to ask him to clarify.

“Your - your feet. My friend - my friend said that if merfolk get legs and come on land, their feet hurt. Or - or their legs, I didn’t bother to ask, actually. But she said it was like walking on glass, and - ”

He was drowned out by Link’s laughter. Link waved his free hand, quickly setting down his drink with the other to keep from spilling it all over the plush carpet. Sidon almost spluttered in indignation - he was worried for his friend, and Link was laughing at him. Link moved his hand in unsteady circles over his chest, hindered by the fact that he was still howling with mirth.

“I beg your pardon , Link,” Sidon started again, miffed, and Link sobered quickly, though the grin never left his mouth and he continued to sign Sorry .

Who told you that old myth? Link’s eyes danced as he looked at Sidon.

“As I said, my friend. And she’s quite a good friend, too, so if you’re going to insult her intelligence - ”

Link shook his head quickly. Type of friend? Zora, Gerudo, Rito?

“Oh.” Sidon stopped shortly. “Gerudo. Why does it matter?”

Gerudo are friends to merfolk, or were. We remember Lady Urbosa.

Sidon blinked. He knew that name from his studies - the chief of the Gerudo during one of their early Golden Ages. “Lady Urbosa knew of you?”

Link fluttered his fingers. ‘You’ like merfolk, yes. I am not so old.

“How old are you?”

Lady Urbosa was kind to us. Link studiously ignored the latest question. She agreed to let us keep to ourselves. Said she understood not wanting to let the entire world in. She made the myth with the Queen to explain why we did not come in. Guess it got lost somewhere.

“The queen?”

Link gave him an exasperated look. Zelda’s mother. Mother to a princess. Queen.

“Oh. Right, of course.”

Link softened then, looking away. We aren’t supposed to talk about her. King doesn’t like it.

Sidon’s heart seized, and he had to sit down. How many times had he heard that from his own people as a young child? “No, I… I understand that. My apologies, Link.”

Link peeked up through his bangs, looking as though Sidon had handed him puzzle pieces that didn’t quite make sense but almost fit. He sat up straighter as he worked it through. Your mother.

“We’re talking about you, Link.” Sidon’s voice was soft, lacking reproach.

Sorry.

“So… it’s just a myth to keep people from bothering you, then? You’re not hurting at all?”

Not hurting. My legs are tired but fine.

“Is that why you’re shaky? I noticed, as you came in…”

Link snorted. I have these for a week. Did you learn to walk in a week?

Sidon flushed. “I hadn’t thought about it like that, but… no, that makes sense. We’ll go to the next part, then - how did you get legs?”

Link picked up the pendant around his neck, laying it out on his hand so that Sidon could see it better. Sidon scooted over, attempting to pull it up to see it up close, only to have Link bat his hand away in a panic.

Can’t take it off. Legs go away. Unless you have lots of water, leave legs alone.

Sidon held his hands up in surrender. “Understood, my friend. I won’t take it off you. May I touch it?”

Link nodded, slowly holding it back up. Sidon leaned in to look, gently taking the shell between two fingers. It was a simple thing, really; a scallop shell slightly smaller than the length of his thumb and fairly sturdy. There was gold on the edges that shimmered oddly as he turned it back and forth, with a plain leather cord threaded through a hole near the base. “You said that you asked Zelda for this?”

He glanced up and suddenly realized just how close his face was to Link’s. Link blinked at him, looking almost as surprised as he imagined his own expression to be. Hastily he dropped the pendant, shifting backwards on the couch and clearing his throat.

“Er, sorry. I - that is - tell me more about Zelda?” Sidon realized his voice was louder than he intended it to be, forcing himself into what he presumed was a casual stance. Nailed it. Link looked like he was fighting laughter, but there were spots of pink high on his cheekbones.

Yes. Normally merfolk don’t go to the surface. We don’t have the equipment. He gestured to both his legs and his necklace. But we know it’s possible. Just not a priority, yes?

Sidon nodded his understanding.

So I ask Zelda. She learns how to enchant necklace, help me go to the surface. In exchange… He puffed out his cheeks, then shook his head. Not important. Stupid trade.

That was fascinating. Sidon leaned forward. “No, do tell. What did you trade?”

Link bared his teeth in what was clearly meant to be a display of intimidation, which didn’t exactly work, given that he was a small slip of a man with very average teeth. Realizing it wasn’t going to deter Sidon, he sighed. Tell you later. Promise.

Sidon nodded again. “Alright, fine. As long as you promise.”

Promise, Link repeated, nodding back as he did. The man seemed relieved. He settled back against the couch, sipping at his wine. Anyway. Said I am allowed to come for several weeks to practice walking, to find you, to visit. Then I go home to Zelda, to work.

Go home to Zelda. Sidon was surprised by the pang in his chest that Link’s phrasing caused. Of course his home was back under the sea, with the woman he’d known all his life. Sidon’s palace wasn’t home any more than the sea was Sidon’s home. Still, he supposed he’d had an odd, unreasonable hope that Link was here to stay. That could be examined later.

He realized that Link was staring at him, head tilting. The movement caused the merman’s earrings to sway, one laying against his cheek and the other dangling down onto his shoulder. The movement was mesmerizing, and he almost missed Link’s hands moving again.

Is something wrong?

“What? No! Nothing. Nothing at all.”

Link simply raised a brow at him, unimpressed. Sidon leaned forward, expression earnest.

“Cross my heart, Link. I’m deeply happy that you came all this way to visit me, and that your princess is allowing you to stay for as long as she is.”

Link tilted his head the opposite way, and Sidon had the uncomfortable feeling that the man was staring directly into his soul. After a moment, Link pursed his lips, moving his hands slowly. Can I ---- you?

Sidon blinked at the unfamiliar sign: both hands with the fingers all pressed into one point, lightly touching just the tips together, almost as if he was preparing to make shadow puppets. Surely it couldn’t mean what he thought. Sidon felt like his face was on fire as he cleared his throat, took another sip of wine, and finally had the courage to ask. “Beg pardon?”

Can I ---- you?

“I’m… afraid I don’t know that sign, my dear-”

Sidon’s normal epithet was cut off as Link grew impatient and fingerspelled his intention. K-I-S-S can I you please?

Oh. Oh. He hadn’t misinterpreted Link’s gesture after all. Dumbstruck, he found himself nodding, hand setting down his glass without having to think about it. Link, for his part, lit up, carefully scooting closer to Sidon. The smaller man searched Sidon’s face - perhaps waiting for the prince to stop him? Sidon wished he had the words to say that he wouldn’t, he would never, he wanted Link to kiss him far more than he expected.

Before he had the time to think about it too hard, Link was raising up on his knees on the couch and kissing him, soft and sweet. He tasted like salt water, but in an oddly pleasant way, mixed with the wine they’d been sipping and something Sidon couldn’t quite define. Link’s lips were chapped slightly, but he couldn’t say he minded. All too soon Link was pulling away again; the merman laughed softly as Sidon leaned after him.

Sidon, still robbed of speech, managed to get his wits about him enough to sign Good .

This, for some reason, made Link laugh louder, even as he mimicked the sign back to him.

The next morning found them curled up in Sidon’s bed, Link having been delighted by the large soft object and outfitted in the smallest clothes Sidon had available. The tunic still hung on the smaller man like a dress, but it was easier to sleep in than the Gerudo fashions that Link had worn previously. Sidon woke early, as per his habit, but rather than get up and get changed immediately, he was content to watch Link sleep.

When Link finally did blink awake, he was met with a warm smile that he matched with his own, rolling to the side to better face Sidon. Sidon laid a hand on the smaller man’s hip, and Link hummed. He was loathe to break the silence, but Sidon’s curiosity got the better of him.

“Forgive my curiosity, Link, but… what did you tell Zelda you would do, in exchange for being allowed to come here?” Link turned a lovely shade of rose, puffing his cheeks out and clearly pretending to not have heard the question. Sidon jostled him gently. “You promised you would tell me. I’d rather not have it hanging over us.”

Link groaned, rolling onto his stomach and burying his face in the pillow. He fluttered his hands over his head, batting at Sidon and making him laugh.

“Link, please. Tell me to drop it and I will, but you’re only making me more curious.” Link shot up, expression mulish, and signed rapidly at him. Sidon blinked, startled, and barked another laugh. “Again, if you please? Slower?”

Link huffed. Promised to tell you how I feel. Kiss you if you felt the same. Did it backwards, don’t tell her.

Sidon felt dizzy, and lighter than he had in weeks. He found himself laughing and falling back on his pillow, aided by Link throwing his much smaller body directly at his torso and knocking the air out of him. When he finally caught his breath, he wrapped his arms around Link, grinning.

“I won’t tell her, I promise, my pearl.” Sending her a gift of some sort, though? Now that he had plans for.

[jinmukangwrites]

Doubt

Prompt

Summary: It's funny how one thought can lead to another, and suddenly the whole world feels like it's tilting.

-o-o-o-o-

Sometimes the others would talk about something that Wild didn't recognize. They'll mention it casually in their conversations and everyone would nod along. Everyone knows what it is except Wild. Wild has no clue what it is, but everyone else knew so every time he's about to ask what they're talking about, his cheeks go warm and his voice catches in his throat.

Should he know what it is? Would they be mad at him because he doesn't? Why is he the only one left out when it comes to this mysterious item.

"Yeah, so, Zelda thought that the best way to keep the Triforce safe was to split of the Triforce of Wisdom up into eight separate pieces," Hyrule explains around the campfire. Wild watches as Time nods as if he understands exactly what's being said. Twilight has a thoughtful look on his face, Wind is watching Hyrule talk with wide and interested eyes, even Legend looks like whatever Hyrule is talking about is making complete sense. "So I had to go find all the pieces to save Hyrule."

"I'm glad I didn't have to deal with that," Warrior says with a sigh. "All the Triforce did for me was glow on my hand. I think that's how Zelda and Impa knew I was the chosen hero."

"Well, it glowed on my hand too," Hyrule puts in.

"Mine too, I also had to find eight pieces of the Triforce" Wind speaks up, holding up his hand and Wild stares at it, hoping to see whatever they are talking about.

"Twilight has it tattooed on his," Four suddenly speaks up and Wild spins to stare at Twilight in shock. He's never noticed anything on Twilight's hand, let alone some weird glowing thing.

Twilight is rubbing the back of his neck and looking embarrassed as everyone's attention turns towards him. "It's- ah- not a tattoo. It kind of a... birthmark?"

"That's cool," Wind says as Time smiles and pats Twilights shoulder.

Legend goes on to talk about how he had to deal with two versions of the Triforce and then Sky mentions that he's the one who assembled it and Wild gets more and more confused. Even Time puts in a bit of his story, saying that Ganondorf tried to take the Triforce for himself but it broke and Zelda got a piece and Time himself got a piece. Wild remains silent the entire time as the conversation eventually moves on from the mysterious Triforce to other topics such as what they are going to do the next day and who's going to take first watch.

Soon, everyone moves away from the campfire and snuggles into their beds. Wild is in the middle of sliding under his blanket when he sees Twilight taking off his gloves and arm bracers. He swallows and clears his throat.

"Hey Twi?" He asks quietly. Twilight looks up from the strap on his arm and smiles at him.

"What's up, cub?" He replies.

Wild flicks his eyes down to Twilight's hand before he clears his throat again and looks down at the ground. "Can I see it? The- um- Triforce?"

He looks up hesitantly and Twilight is looking at him in surprise. Wild swallows and instantly regrets asking. He has just hoped that maybe if he can see the Triforce... he'll know what it is.

"Neverm-"

"Sure," Twilight says, cutting out Wild's attempt to back out of the conversation. "Just let me finish taking off the bracers." Twilight turns back to his arm and finishes his task before he's climbing out of his sheets and scooting closer to Wild. Twilight holds out his bare hand, on the back of it is an oddly familiar looking design.

A triangle, four of them, pieced together like a puzzle to make a bigger form of the same shape.

"It's black?" Wild finds himself asking as he grabs Twilight's hand to get a better look.

"Ah, no, it glows gold when… when it's being used I suppose," Twilight replies. Wild realized suddenly that Twilight sounds uncomfortable and he quickly let's go of Twilight's hand. "Well, just the Triforce of Courage glows," he continues. Wild watches as Twilight returns to his blankets and yawns loudly.

Wild has no idea what that means, he supposes each triangle has a different meaning. Triforce of Courage, Wisdom, and Power has all been mentioned earlier that night.

"Shut up… you're both so loud," Legend grumbles from his own nest of blankets and Twilight chuckles as Wild mutters an apology. Legend scoffs and snuggles deeper into his blankets.

"He's right," Time speaks up from where he's leaning against the tree, claiming first watch, "you all need your sleep. It's time to quiet down."

Twilight rolls his eyes in response and winks at Wild before he lays down. Wild does the same, slower, thoughts occupied by what he has seen.

"Thanks, Twilight." Wild whispers and Twilight hums sleepily in response. Legend growls and Wild shuts his jaw, knowing if he made another sound Legend would show no mercy.

He stares at the sky for a few seconds. Something about the symbol was so familiar to him, and imagining that mark glowing gold struck something in him. He thinks… that maybe… Link from one hundred years ago knows what the Triforce is, but then again that feels wrong too. He's seen the Triforce before… he knows he has, he just has to remember…

His eyes slip shut with that not so encouraging thought.

-o-o-o-o-

He knows where he's seen the symbol before, and it does nothing but raise more questions. It took him a few days, but eventually, imagining the black symbol on Twilight's hand glowing gold triggered a half formed memory. He thinks it's understandable that it took him a few seconds to remember it, he was dying at the time after all.

He remembers standing there in the wreckage, about to meet his end to a deadly beam, but Zelda pushes him out of the way and lifts up her hand. His vision is so blurry and he feels actual fear course through his veins that they have failed, that Zelda is going to die before him. He needs to protect her, but he can hardly breathe let alone move.

Something tells him suddenly that she can protect herself and with golden light erupting across the land, he feels safe for the first time in a very long time. His muscles relax and his eyes flutter as he lets himself fall. He meets the ground in what feels like slow motion, and then he sees it. The back of her hand is glowing.

He saw it through blurry vision, but the more he thinks about it, the more it becomes clear to him. She has the Triforce glowing on the back of her hand, all three sections of it.

He wonders what that means. Twilight, Warrior, Wind, Time, all of them who has had it appear on the back of their hands say that only the Triforce of Courage had been filled in. Zelda has the Triforce of Wisdom. Ganon has the Triforce of Power.

But his Zelda has all three. Calamity Ganon has never shown any sign of having it. Wild himself knows that he's never had it either.

What does that mean?

It wracks at his brain as they travel. No one mentions their conversation from the past few nights, they've all moved on, but Wild can't stop thinking about it. He thinks of it as he cooks. He thinks of it as he's sparring with Warrior, he can't keep his eyes focused on anything other than Warrior's hand that has held a power that Wild cannot even imagine. He thinks of it as he keeps watch during the night, each of their stories bounce in his head like those giant metal balls in the shrines.

What does it mean. Zelda has all three. Wild has… none?

Warrior says he knew he was the chosen hero when he saw the glowing symbol.

What does it mean.

Time says that the Triforce is the most important and powerful artifact in the world. Why does Wild not have it?

What does it mean.

Wind says that he felt like he was just a normal kid until he put together the Triforce, then he was a hero.

What does it mean? What could it mean?

Does it mean… he's not like them? It wouldn't be the first piece of evidence. There's so many things about Wild that just isn't like the others. The Triforce isn't even close to the beginning.

He does his best to shake these thoughts away but they keep coming back, hitting him constantly, persistently clawing at the back of his mind during every step, every conversation, every meal, every single goddess damned blink of the eye.

Shaking the thoughts away are a lot easier said than done…

-o-o-o-o-

They don't want you.

That's not true. All of them talk with me and are so nice.

They don't think you're a hero.

But I am a hero. I saved Zelda, I defeated Calamity Ganon.

After you let everything get destroyed, of course.

It's… not my fault.

Hyrule didn't let Ganon destroy the world. Wind didn't. Twilight, neither Warrior, nor Sky. None of them failed like you did.

But… but I fixed it.

Barely. And if you think that's the only reason they don't want you around, you're dead wrong. The Triforce? You don't have it, what's a Hero of Courage without the Triforce of Courage?

I-

Nothing. You're nothing. Let see, what was it, you break everything you touch? Ah yes. Even the Master Sword I believe.

But it came back-

Sky yelled at you after that, didn't he? He never yells at anyone. Not even Legend after hours of relentless teasing. He doesn't trust you with the sword, you're more of a child than Wind.

Stop it.

//Speaking about Legend, he was the one to say it, right? You break everything you touch? Harsh, but you and I both know that's true.

Shut up!

How about when you broke one of the swords Warrior lent you? Or that time you caught Hyrule's sleeping bag on fire-

It was an accident-

Or the time you broke your promise to protect Zelda, to defeat Calamity Ganon? You did a botched job on that, you died and left her to endure torture for a hundred years.

… Stop.

The reason the goddesses didn't give you the Triforce is because they feared you'd break that too! The only reason you're here is because you just happened to be there when the Sword needed someone quickly, there's hundred of more people more qualified to be a hero than you. Or were. They're all dead now, after all.

…

Going silent? What a surprise, it's what you do best after all. Though, the others all prefer it that way anyway.

…

-o-o-o-o-

His eyes slowly open and he groans. Another nightmare, and one he can remember too. He kind of regrets wanting to remember his dreams, it's easier when he forgets. Though, he doesn't think that the nightmares he's having are the same as the ones where he'd have to be woken up, ones from the past, ones that his subconscious knew existed but the rest of his brain just couldn't hold a grasp on.

These are nightmares of the present, and it's been going on for a week. Every time he closes his eyes, words from a strange but somehow familiar voice are hissed into his ear, telling him about how useless and unwanted he is.

The worst part is? He's starting to believe it.

He knows he shouldn't. He knows that each member of the group actually enjoy his company and genuinely care about him, but the thoughts are still there. He hates it.

He slowly sits up, careful not to wake anyone else up, and leans forward so his head is buried in his hands. He breathes. Just breathes, because he doesn't know how much longer he can take this. It's eating him up, slamming at his skull constantly. He can't believe how far he's spiraled from a simple conversation about one thing. It was just the Triforce, now it's the way Sky slightly turns his back where the sword rests away from Wild, or how Time is constantly giving him pitying looks, or how Warrior seems to want to talk to anyone other than Wild, or-

He rubs at his eyes and brings his knees up. Something needs to snap, he thinks. Something needs to break and prove whether or not he's worthy of being there with the others. He doesn't know how much longer he can keep this up.

"Uh, Wild?"

Wild freezes, he forgot someone would be on watch. Slowly, he lifts his face and meets Twilight. Goddess, of course it's Twilight.

"You okay there?" Twilight asks from across the camp. He's leaning against the tree; he's looking sleepy but worried.

The song birds start to lazily chirp, their songs cut through the light blue sky and Wild tries to remember how to speak.

"Yeah," he says, finally. He hopes Twilight takes the choke in his voice as morning grogginess. "Just a nightmare."

Twilight's eyebrows come together and he stands up. Wild wants to yell at him to stay there and not bother himself, but he can't, he just sits there and watches as Twilight settles down next to him and offers a bit of dried meat. "Do you want to talk about it?" He asks slowly, like Wild is a ticking bomb.

No, because he's a friend and he's worried about Wild.

"I don't remember it," he lies. Twilight huffs and gives him a disbelieving look.

"I'm worried about you, cub," Twilight says and before Wild can protest he continues, "you've been quiet, I don't remember the last time you smiled."

"I smile," Wild insists.

Twilight gives him that disbelieving look again and Wild wants to scream. "A real smile, cub."

"I'm okay," Wild says shortly. He makes to get up and away from this confrontation because he's suddenly not ready. He's not ready to spill the beans and let his feelings come into the open. He's not ready for his fears to be right, he's not ready for them to hate him, he's not ready to find out that none of them actually want him around, he's not ready and he wants to pause it. Maybe tomorrow, or the next day, or the next, just not today.

He's not ready, so he says he's okay and he forces on a smile. He's not ready, so he makes up lies when confronted.

He's not ready.

"Wild-" Twilight says, starting to stand up too.

Something snaps in Wild in that moment. It was like that one word went through his ears and spread around his whole body like a poison, flicking every switch he has been desperately trying to keep off. Why don't they understand, he thinks, why can't they see that he doesn't want to talk about it, that he'd rather sit and figure it out even though his own thoughts are toxic. Why do they always hound him and scold him and baby him an why why why-

"You don't have to mother me!" Wild snarls, and Twilight stumbles back in shock, "I don't need your pity, or your sympathy, I don't need you breathing down my back every single goddess damned minute of the day!"

Twilight's eyes are wide and some of the others are starting to wake up, but Wild can't stop, he can't stop his hands trembling or the tears stinging his eyes despite how he's chanting in his head that he's okay over and over again. He knows he's made a mistake, but instead of staying and apologizing he turns and tries to run. His body is reacting on it's own, listening to how hurt and bruised his heart is and not his brain that's trying to rationalize.

"Wild, no-"

A hand wraps around Wild's wrist and something snaps again, he spins and punches Twilight straight in the jaw. Wild feels his heart shatter into a million pieces as Twilight falls backwards with a red bruise already beginning to form on his face. Time, who sounds groggy but awake, makes a surprised noise and Wind calls out in surprise.

You're always making mistakes. Look at you making another one, and they all saw. They're not going to want you back after this.

Wild brings his hands up to his ears, turns, and runs.

-o-o-o-o-

He's fine. He's thinking clearly. He can rationalize, he is in total awareness of himself and what he's doing. He just can't control it. He can't control the way he slumps against a tree or the way his fingers are digging into his scalp or how tears keep forming and falling. He tries to stop it. He's fine. He's okay. But it isn't working. He puts his hands down and they shake, they end up back in his hair. He shifts to stand up, but his legs feel like chu chu jelly. He stops his tears, but they start again a second later.

"You're fine," he whispers as he gives up and curls up with his knees touching his chest. "You're fine. Calm down."

He doesn't know how far from camp he ran. It seems like forever but he doesn't remember any of it. All he knows is that the bottoms of his bare feet are bleeding and he's panting.

They're not going to come for you.

He shakes his head and clutches his ears. How dare that voice creep into his mind during the day. How dare it escape his nightmares. Doesn't he hear it enough?

You're selfish, you want them to find you and comfort you and tell you you're worth it.

He doesn't want to answer but he whimpers one anyway. "I don't want them to come," he says, "I want to be alone."

Liar. You're constantly craving attention and validation. You want them to come and tell you everything is okay, that you're not broken, that you're part of their team.

"Stop it, stop it…"

Well, it doesn't matter anyway. They're not going to come. They're probably already traveling the other way thinking "good riddance!"

Wild curls in more into himself. He hates how much he's spiraled. It was just the Triforce, just that. He hates what being alone with his own thoughts does to him, but he can't talk to people. He's awkward and shy and what he says is usually always taken the wrong way or it's somehow offensive. He doesn't get it. Why isn't he like them? Why can't he be like them?

You aren't like them; you're a FAILURE.

Wild is trembling now. He can't control it. His face is wet from tears, his nose is running and he is forced to breathe through his mouth, making it possible for sobs to tear through his throat.

He should just give into it, give into his doubts. It would be easier that way. Stop the false hope, stop the broken hearts. He doesn't know how much longer he can continue on anyway.

He nearly jumps out of his skin when suddenly, a body is next to him. He hasn't noticed anyone follow him, let alone get close enough to sit by him.

The first thing he sees is the angry bruise, and then that's the only thing he can see. He did that. He did that to his best friend. He doesn't see the worried eyes, or the questioning lips, just the bruise.

"I'm-" Wild gasps, "I'm so sorry-"

Arms wrap around Wild's shoulders and he's suddenly pulled into a crushing hug. Wild doesn't deserve it. It has to be fake. Alternative motive, anything. Anything to not give Wild the false hope that Twilight actually still cares for him.

"You didn't do anything wrong," Twilight whispers.

Wild shakes his head and pushes himself away. Twilight thankfully lets him go. "No, no you don't get it," he says. "I'm not like you, I don't belong with you-"

"What gave you that idea?" Twilight says, a bit angrily.

Anger towards you.

Anger towards the very idea.

"I-"

"Wild, cub, please talk to me. We're all worried."

A burden.

A friend.

Hates you.

Worried. Love.

He needs to say it, he can't take it anymore. His heart, his head, arguing. Everything hurts so much even though the last battle was more than a week ago.

Useless.

He has to tell them.

Awkward.

Tell him.

Unwanted.

"It's... the Triforce," he finally is able to strangle out. His eyes drift down to Twilight's covered hand, but he remembers the shape, the color, the size.

"What do you mean?"

Stop now. Back out. You'll just embarrass yourself.

"I- I don't have it," he whispers.

Twilight frowns and Wild is ready to run again, but then Twilight looks right into Wild's eyes and Wild is suddenly frozen in place. "Why does that matter?"

Wild opens his mouth and closes it a few times before he sighs and turns his gaze to the ground. "You all have it. Makes you all heroes. I… I'm…"

"Wild, what you're telling me is that you defeated Calamity Ganon all on your own, without any Triforce or heavily powers?" Twilight cuts in. "And you're upset about that?"

Wild shakes his head. "You don't understand."

"You know how amazing that is, right?"

"Twilight-"

"Without the Triforce, I'd be dead. I don't know about the others, but I needed that power. I needed that Courage," Twilight continues, "and you didn't. You were brave all on your own. Wild, you're amazing. The Triforce doesn't make you a hero, you do. You did."

"…"

"And if you think that… that something like that would make me not want you around, you're dead wrong. I want you here, cub. I want you to stay with us, the others do too. Had to almost tie Wind down so he wouldn't run blindly into the forest to find you himself."

Twilight puts his hand on Wild's shoulder and Wild looks up, feeling hope, confusion, fear, love, everything all at once.

"We care about you, Wild, it doesn't matter how different you think you are from us, we still love you. Do you understand?"

You know he's lying, right?

Wild nods and slowly let's Twilight embrace him in another hug. "Yeah..." He says, and he isn't sure which voice he's responding to.

[smashy-headcanons]

I recently got an ask from an anon saying: “If all of the Smasher’s fought in a Battle Royale, who would win?”

I misunderstood their question in the original post, so rather than just answering better in a reblog, I want to answer the question in a separate post, since it’s going to be pretty long.

Before I get into anything....

I am not an expert on every Smash Bros. character. When dealing with characters I am unfamiliar with, it is likely that I’ll get at least one thing wrong. Don’t get mad at me.

First, I want to define a few rules:

1. Each fighter’s moveset is restricted to just their Smash Bros. moveset. Sure, Young Link may have the different transformation masks, and King Dedede may have turned buff and feral once, but to help prevent misinformation, I’m restricting their abilities to those they can perform in Smash to some extent.

2. In the opposite direction, if they can use something in Smash, then they can use it in the same (or similar) way they use it in their games. Link can use his hookshot/claw shot? He can cling to vines or similar objects here. Ness’s PK Flash has a small chance of OHKOing an opponent in Earthbound? Fine, fair game.

3. Also going in the opposite direction of rule 2, Smash Bros. move rules apply to moves that may not do much in their home series. This is in place so that fighters like Villager, R.O.B., Isabelle, and others still have a chance, at least to start.

4. While the physics and mechanics may not be the same, basic Smash Bros. rules still apply. (Also goes for rule 3.) This isn’t a “What if Smash Bros. was closer to canon?” scenario where the Mario reps or Duck Hunt can 1-3 shot everything in their path or Mega Man dies instantly from touching a needle. For the sake of this post, I’d say it’s best to consider the fight a 1-stock stamina match with use of a FS meter instead of having a Smash Ball, with a planet for the stage so off-stage and blast zones are no issue.

5. Due to having infinite power, Kirby is disqualified. I dearly love Kirby, as do a lot of people, but if I were to allow Kirby, then the solution would be far too simple.

6. This isn’t based on any competitive tier list. I don’t want this to be based on any of the meta game stuff or the competitive scene or whatever. This is purely a “what-if” scenario.

With that being said, here’s a tier list of what I think the results would be.

Explanations below the cut!

First 10 Defeated tier

Isabelle: Yes, when pushed to her max capabilities in Smash, she can be a threat. However, this isn’t based on the competitive scene, and we’re pushing ALL the character’s to their limit (within the rules). Even with her expanded capabilities in Smash, she’d barely keep up with the others.

Mii Brawler: Powerful melee attacks and a heavy projectile. Unfortunately, that’s about it.

Dr. Mario: Both knowledgeable and powerful, but with his most powerful attacks being melee hits and pills, that’s not gonna get him super far.

Peach: She definitely has moments when she shines and can hold her own. This is not me saying Peach is incapable of holding her own, don’t get me wrong. I place her this low for a similar reason I put Isabelle at the bottom: sure she’s being pushed to the max, but so is everyone else. She’s higher than Dr. Mario, Mii Brawler, and Isabelle because of her ability to make others sleep with a Final Smash.

Daisy: Interchangeable with Peach. Similar to Peach, she can definitely hold her own when given an opportunity--under normal circumstances. We have tons of uber-powerful character’s here, and with a moveset so close to Peach’s she can only do so much.

Pichu: The weakest of the Pokemon in Smash. It has powerful moves like Thunder, Skull Bash, and Volt Tackle, but having a majority of its attacks damage it in a stamina match, coupled with the 70-ish other opponents it’ll have to deal with, means it’s not gonna last long.

Squirtle: Pokemon, even in their weakest form, are threats to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, even with Hydro Pump (from Triple Finish) and Waterfall, it’s still a fairly weak Pokemon.

Ice Climbers: Sure, they can shoot ice and even freeze opponents, but with how powerful everyone else is they probably wouldn’t last long.

Duck Hunt Duo: Lots of guns and explosives, sure, but they’re still a dog and a duck. In a battle royale on this level that’s not enough to save them.

Villager: A powerful toolkit for sure: a tree, an axe, an exploding Lloyd Rocket, etc. Putting him up against some stronger fighters, he stands out as relatively weak.

Stronger but still not enough to keep up

First, I was up until 1am last night putting together the previous tier, so a lot of the ones here could easily be switched around with the ones in the other tier. These guys have a lot going for them, but everyone else has way WAY more going for them than this tier does.

Characters in this tier: Sheik, Piranha Plant, the Wii Fit Trainers, Fox, Falco, Luigi, Mii Swordfighter, Marth, Lucina, Little Mac, Yoshi, Wario, Diddy Kong, and Bowser Jr.

The Bloodbath Tier

Similar to the previous tier, all the people in this tier are in no way weak. Their downfall comes from the fact that they’re being pitted against much stronger fighters. This tier is completely unsorted, so nothing is being said about anyone in this tier’s ability to compete with one another.

Characters in this tier: Ike, Greninja, Link, Incineroar, Pit, Dark Pit, Snake, Charizard, Samus, King Dedede, Wolf, Chrom, R.O.B., King K. Rool, Ivysaur, Mii Gunner, Pac-Man, Olimar, Alph, Pikachu, Simon, Meta Knight, Mr. Game & Watch, Mega Man, Inkling Girl and Boy, Banjo & Kazooie, Ryu, Roy, Lucas, Ken, Sonic, Toon Link, Ridley, Donkey Kong, the Robins, Richter, Young Link, Ganondorf, Dark Samus, Cloud, Ness, Captain Falcon, Corrin, the DQ Heroes, and Rosalina

Top 10

Also unsorted, this tier of characters is noteworthy for being stronger than most, yet not strong enough to outlive the Top 5 tier. Those in this tier are notable for having defeated a god or having powerful transformations, but the higher tiers still out-compete them.

Characters in this tier: Lucario, Shulk, Bowser, Bayonetta, and Joker

Top 5

Okay, now that we’re in the smaller tier, I’ll start giving more detailed explanations.

Palutena: A goddess who makes use of the powers from Kid Icarus: Uprising. She definitely makes it far, but is just barely beaten by the other 4.

Zelda: You’ve heard of being a god, and you’ve heard of getting your powers from a god, now get ready for: getting your powers from three gods. Nayru’s Love is useful for repelling damage for a minute at a time, so she’s basically got an invincibility spell. She has a powerful fire attack with Din’s Fire which, in its best incarnation in Ocarina of Time, covers a wide radius around Zelda with fire instead of being a point-and-explode projectile. With Farore’s Wind, she can teleport short distances, but she can also teleport to a previously determined location anywhere on the planet/stage. To top it off, she makes use of Phantom Zelda, and Phantoms in The Legend of Zelda can only be damaged by the Phantom Sword (which Toon Link does not have in Smash). At this point she suffers the same problem as Palutena: lots of good tools, but the people above her just barely have better ones.

Jigglypuff: At first I placed her in the bottom tier because she’s not only one of the lightest Pokemon, but because she’s a fairly weak one at that. Then I remembered that Rest not only deals massive damage and knockback in Smash, but also fully heals her in Pokemon, and being immobile for a few seconds is the tiniest price to pay for fully healing yourself and doing lots of damage. I then had her at the top for a while. The only thing that really stops her from taking the gold is the top 2 who have very specific counters to her weak points. In addition, she can use Sing to put opponents to sleep for a little while.

Mario: Initially I had him close to Luigi. They both have similar toolkits in Smash, after all. Then I remembered that one of Mario’s taunts shows him using Cappy, which means that Mario could leech off of the other’s moves and other abilities by capturing his opponents. The only problem comes when the battle comes to the final two, in which case he essentially (and quite literally) gets the Thanos Snap.

Winner: Mewtwo

We all know Mewtwo is powerful by Pokemon standards, and that legendary Pokemon are comparable to deities. What makes Mewtwo stand out as the victor is not just it being a powerful legendary Pokemon, though.

To start, it has a good special for attacking purposes (Shadow Ball), its strongest use of Confusion can reflect projectiles, Disable can both stun opponents in Smash as well as completely disabling a move in Pokemon (the perfect counter against Jigglypuff’s Rest), and can teleport away from danger if absolutely necessary.

But aside from Disable, we’re not interested in any of that.

What we’re interested in is Mewtwo’s Final Smash, Psystrike. For its Final Smash, Mewtwo Mega Evolves and uses its signature move, Psystrike, a strong special move that does physical damage instead of special damage.

Similar to Mario, those two things are enough to bump it up from Top 5 or Top 10 to Winner tier, almost unchallenged.

First of all, the less impressive of the two but still fairly impressive, its Psystrike. I explained what it does above, but what I didn’t mention is that in order for it to know this move (prior to USUM, but it still had the move before then), it needs to have reached Level 100. This legendary Pokemon is already at the max level it could possibly reach.

The second reason its Final Smash bumps it up to this level is because of it Mega Evolving. In Pokemon, a Mega Evolution lasts until the Pokemon faints--in other words, the only way to counter Mewtwo’s Mega Evolution is by defeating Mewtwo.

Furthermore, Mega Mewtwo Y. Its base stats are absolutely absurd. Mewtwo’s two Mega Evolutions are tied for the single strongest Pokemon in the game. To put it in more perspective, if we look at Arceus, the god and creator of the Pokemon world, has a base stat total of 720. Mega Mewtwo Y has a base stat total of 780.

Even with Jigglypuff’s Rest being disabled, she could still put Mewtwo to sleep with Sing and do some damage though, right? Wrong. In it’s Mega Mewtwo Y form, Mewtwo has the ability Insomnia, which prevents the user from being put to sleep.

Jeez, this thing is absurd when you actually start breaking it down.

[gamedigger88]

The Intensity of the Majora’s Mask N64 Commercial

I wouldn’t say I am a big fan of the Legend of Zelda series. My first game in the series was Ocarina of Time while most people my age were the NES, SNES or GameBoy games. I didn’t know much about Zelda except it was a fantasy game with swords and magic. By the time I finally got the game, Majora’s Mask was already out.

I hardly remembered the commercial from nearly 20 years ago (Holy crap, I’m old!), mostly because they would normally run the shorter thirty second version rather than the one-minute one. So I did some digging up on YouTube and found the original one-minute commercial. I would have to say, its very bleak for a kids game. 

The intensity of the entire world looking up and noticing that something ominous is coming from the sky all while one boy is playing the game is pretty start to start off. The boy is secluded in a white, sterile room with just a TV, a chair, a Nintendo 64 and a copy of the game. All while this is just advertisement for the game when it’s shown gameplay, the intensity is there through the action shown in the gameplay. The room he is in is windowless, located in an elevated building in an empty Area 51-like desert with only two military personel watching him from inside a room through a one way window as guards surround the perimeter outside.

All while this is going on, you are shown different people in a major city, looking up into the sky, seeing not only the very same game the kid is playing, but also a giant red ball that has already come down through the sky and is on a quick impact towards the planet. This would have to be nerve racking as not only has the world literally stopped to watch this kid play a video game that’s suppose to save the entire world, as traffic has literally come to a stand still in a major city with no one blaring their horns begging traffic to move again, they are simultaneously watching the upcoming of their demise if the boy should fail right above them.

As the commercial goes back to the room showing more of the gameplay, it shows the mask system in the game and the support for the Rumble Pak feature as well. During this time, we see two men watching the boy play the game carefully as well as the look of determination of completing the game. We are also shown other people from different parts to the world looking up into the sky in concern, some even seem to hold their hands in hopes that the destruction of their planet does not happen.

As the commercial goes to different parts of the world, it shows different ethnicities, races, cultures, religions, social groups, genders, ages and etc all watching this kid play this game. We are shown that regardless of what the background and differences between everyone in the world, they all stopped and watch in hopes that their world do not come to an end. But as they watch, the sky is getting darker and the red orb in the sky is getting closer. Back at the room, the boy continues to play as he stands up. Anyone who has played an intense video game or match in a game knows what this means: its getting serious.

Overlooking the strange scene of a group of people holding TV screens to show more of the action in the game, everyone who were watching the screens are now watching the sky and the red orb is getting closer. Before you know it, you see a pack of dogs running. Anyone who know about animals know if you see a group of dogs running in one direction, something bad is happening or is about to happen.

Time is running out, the people know this and panic ensues. People have left their cars, running down the streets. Some people are stuck in their cars as they see the red orb coming down more. Some have already even accepted their fates, deciding not to run, but to face their dreaded fates head on, but with the look of despair on their faces. More people running, screaming, panicking, trying to get away from something they know they can not get away from. All hope is lose and everyone knows it at this point, but the boy keeps playing, intensely, with the tagline spoken as a bead of sweat drops from the boy’s eyebrow...

“72 hours, one hope”

If that commercial and that imagery haven’t given you goosebumps, I don’t know what will. Considering the dark overtone of the game, compared to the other games of the series at the time, it made for a very serous turn for the series and some believed that’s probably what the series needed. I personally didn’t play the game at the time, but I did got my hands on the 3DS version of the game. I haven’t beaten it yet, but I do look forward to at least experience the story and maybe try to save the world while I’m stuck in quarantine.

[pocketramblr]

Masterpost- fantasy AUs edition

My BNHA stories in various fantasy AUs are listed here under the cut!

[Masterpost Main Link]

FANTASY AUS

Kraken Tales: Mermaids/Daemons au. In which every human has an ‘otherself’, an animal companion. they can fuse into one being with magic (land and sky otherselves) or natrually (aquatic otherselves). Aquatics typically live their entire lives as ‘wholeself’, aka mermaids. This AU, which i nickname ‘the krakenverse’, started off as a normal little mermaid au. it got bigger.

Poor Unfortunate Souls: the first installment. Reveals how AfO was imprisoned, who his son is, and how he deals with both his father’s imprisonment and his friendships with Toshinori’s, the ruler of the nearest land kingdom’s, sons Mirio and Izuku. (Completed, 2/2)

You’ll Be In My Heart, Always: Soft Toshiinko oneshot with their boys. Inko, Mirio, and Izuku have seal otherselves, Toshi has a big newfoundland dog.

Softly Tread The Sand Below Your Feet Now: Aizawa and Eri’s story. They come from a desert kingdom to the east of Midoriya, fleeing Eri’s uncle and would-be-murderer, Prince Regent Kai. Kai keeps sending people after them. Expect lots of Dadzawa and worldbuilding. (Incomplete, 1/2)

Certain As The Sun: an upcoming oneshot that was supposed to be for valentines day, whoops. Mirio and Tamaki growing closer.

Unnamed, Upcoming installments: Will include a How-Toshiinko-met oneshot, a Fuyumi oneshot, and an “Princes Izuku and Shoto take down a murderer together” oneshot.

Defying Expectations: A Legend of Zelda AU, collaboration with  ProclaimerSOfHeroes. Izuku is the prince of the Geurdo, Mirio is the Hylian prince, and no one can find either the Hero of The Mastersword or the Princess With The Goddess’s Power.

Trapped: (PoH) Izuku is kidnapped by the Yiga Clan, who want to raise him to host their master (AfO)- who’s possesed and led to the death of nearly every male-born gerudo since anyone can remember.

Safe-Hold: (Me) Izuku escapes after the events of Trapped. We meet Toshinori, a Hylian who works to protect travelers and caravans, and reunite with Queen Inko of the Gerudo.

Home: (PoH) Izuku dealing with being home after his kidnapping, trying to banish the traces of the Shade Of Power from his mind.

Plans: (Me) Mirio and his shiekah guard, Tamaki, discuss plans for how to deal with the Yiga and AfO, who can’t be putting off their attack forever.

Wrath: (PoH) The fall of Tenko Shimura

Upcoming: Shame (Me), the reaction to this host’s reveal... and more, of course

Marks of Light: Possibly my most ambitious fantasy AU, taking place in the land Illumnais. Three kingdoms, Sun, Moon, and Stars, make up this continent, and on their fourth year, all children go to the temples to receive a Blessing from their patron Light. Izuku is Bereft, having recived no Blessing. But, the Might of The Sun, The Eyes of The Moon, and the Crest of The Stars are special, and one of them can be passed between people- if the Dawn, champion of illumnais, and the Sun deem you worthy. (Incomplete, 6/?)

The Fisher King: Another fantasy AU, in which kingdoms are full of magic, and the heir to the throne can summon a Spirit Protector for them. Prince Izuku summoned the Guardian Spirit All Might when he was a little child, an omen of war in the near future. Inspired by the ‘official’ fantasy au story in the light novel- All Might, when not summoned, is a little wooden doll, and AfO (another heir’s Summoned Spirit)  is going around turning people into demons. (Incomplete, 1/10 chapters)

The Deltora AU: An au explored on my tumblr here and also in this oneshot: Pride, and this oneshot: Shoulder to Cry On. Izuku’s the heir to Deltora, unfortunately the Shadowlord (afo) has been occupying for many years, since he shattered the belt and cursed his father. There are two snippets of Kurogiri’s death and Oboro’s death in the tag linked as well.

Glyphpairs: Oneshot, set in the Stormlight Archive Universe (Roshar). Shoto Todoroki tells Izuku, who’s officially a former slave of a royal guard and rather unofficially a Knight Radiant, about his family’s history.

The Labyrinth: Based on the movie- in which Fuyumi’s brothers are wished-away to the land of the goblin king, and she’s got to get them back. But Touya’s been there so long he has another name, Shoto has no memories of the human land, and is there any reason for Natsuo to want to come back from Hawks’ realm? (Incomplete, 8/?)

Prophecy’s Puppet: Belgariad AU. Sometimes i’m listening to the audiobook of Pawn Of The Prophecy and i am compelled to make this au. Follows the belgariad’s normal storyline for a while, so not a lot of changes but it’s so fun. (Incomplete.)

[katedoesfics]

Shadows of the Yiga | Chapter 35

Rusl looked desperately back at the shrine, shouting angrily. “No!” His voice bounced off the trees in the eerily silent forest. He fell silent, his eyes searching for some sign of his son, but there was none.

“Relax,” Revali said. He forced an arrogant grin in an attempt to calm Rusl and the rest of his friends. “He kinda has a knack for somehow escaping inevitable death.”

Rusl sneered at Revali over his shoulder, but said nothing. He felt oddly comforted by Revali’s words. There seemed to be some truth to them, anyway. Still. It didn’t change the fact that, once again, his son threw himself right into the face of certain death. If he found him alive, he would kill him himself.

As if in answer to their growing doubts, the ground began to tremble once more. The Champions hurried through the darkness as best as they could to the source of the trembling. They ran for nearly a quarter of a mile before they reached a small, sharp valley in between the hills of the forest, in a clearing just behind the destroyed shrine. The only indication that they were, in fact, behind the shrine, was the collapse of the raised ground and rubble. It seemed likely that the collapse had also caused the sudden valley, as trees lay uprooted and scattered around them. In the valley, several bodies of Yiga soldiers lay motionless. Link stood on the ledge on the other side, wiping a bloodied dagger across his jeans. He looked up at his friends as they neared, bathed in the light of the full moon. Their gazes moved from the lifeless Yiga soldiers, over to Link, stunned expressions on their faces.

“I got lost,” he said as he met their shocked gazes. Link pocketed his dagger and made his way around the valley, back towards the group.

“You turned,” Daruk said simply. He met Link’s gaze, noticing then the darkness that sill clouded his eyes. “You let yourself turn.”

“I don’t let it happen,” Link sneered.

“You didn’t stop it.”

“I can’t stop it!”

“You’re not back,” Revali hissed.

Link hesitated. He pulled his gaze away.

“What’s wrong with you?” Revali’s gaze narrowed on him.

Link pushed passed them. “Nothing.”

“That’s not nothing,” Revali barked, following after him. “You’re not back to normal yet.”

“Maybe this is as normal as I’ll get,” Link muttered. He looked around quickly, noticing then that his father was not with them. “Where is he?”

The others looked around, too. They hurriedly made their way back into the dense forest until they reached what had been the entrance to the shrine. There, two figures stood face to face, but Link immediately recognized them both; Rusl and Dorian.

Link quickly raised his weapon, his lips pulling into a sneer. “What is this?” he hissed. “What’s going on?”

“You survived,” Dorian said in a disinterested tone. He turned back to Rusl, but Rusl held his gaze on Link.

“I know you’re not an idiot,” Dorian said calmly. He turned to face them. “You know that won’t do you any good here.”

Link’s gaze hardened as he looked between the two men. His heart raced as his mind went through every possible scenario in that moment. The one he kept coming back to, however, stung the most. Was it possible that his father, too, was a traitor? That he and Dorian were in cahoots the whole time? That his whole life was a damn lie, and he was just their tool in this war? The color visibly drained from his face as this realization came to him, and his father’s brows furrowed in concern as he watched these emotions fly across his son’s face.

“What is this?” Link growled, forcing himself to remain steady. He turned to glance over his shoulder when he heard Paya’s voice speaking his name in warning. He turned his gaze to his father. Rusl’s expression was hard, but he made no attempt to clear up any of Link’s confusion.

“I’ll make it simple for you,” Dorian said simply. “The lies will do you no good, now. I’m working with the Yiga Clan.”

Except from a small gasp from Paya, they were quiet.

Dorian's voice dropped and he averted his gaze. “I have been for a very long time. Before the lot of you were even thought of.”

“Why?” Paya asked softly. “How... how could you?”

Dorian shook his head. “It wasn't by choice,” he said. “Knowing the legends, they needed someone on the inside to give them an edge in the war. My connection with the Royal Family was just what they needed, and to get me to cooperate, they killed my wife and threatened to take my daughters.” Link turned his gaze to his father once more. His expression had softened at this point, as if reliving the painful memory Dorian shared with them. He met his son’s gaze, and Link allowed himself to lower his weapon.

“I was to be a spy for the Yiga Clan. But it was because of Impa and your father that my girls were safe. So, I fed them intel on you and Zelda. Most of it false.”

“Most of it?” Urbosa sneered.

“I needed to gain Kohga’s trust,” Dorian said. “And in doing so, I needed to seem like they were getting the edge they needed. But nothing I gave him put any of you in any grave danger. Certainly nothing that you couldn’t handle. I owed that to your father, at least. I had no doubt he would kill me himself if I broke the promise I made to him twenty-six years ago.”

“You didn’t exactly do a good job,” Rusl muttered.

Dorian snarled over his shoulder and gestured to Link with his hand. “He’s still alive, isn’t he?”

Rusl grinned at his friend.

Revali made a disapproving sound. “Uh-uh.  Nope. Don’t buy it. The two of you had murder in your eyes ten years ago.”

“Being a double agent,” Dorian started, “I had to keep a lot of things from a lot of people. Your father included.” Dorian shrugged. “Can’t say I blame him for not trusting me.”

“There’s a lot of distrust between us,” Rusl confirmed with a nod.

“Sounds like a solid friendship,” Daruk muttered.

“I’ve kept true to my word,” Dorian said.

“So far,” Rusl added.

“Like you’re one to talk,” Dorian hissed again over his shoulder.

Rusl raised his hands in the air defensively.

“The shrine is warded,” Dorian said. “And I cannot lift it without raising suspicions. Kohga doesn’t know I am here. You’re on your own. But know that you cannot simply walk into the Yiga Clan’s hideout.” His gaze hardened. “You and Zelda are to stand down.”

“No way,” Link started, but Dorian interrupted him.

“That is not a request,” he snarled. “That is an order.”

Link narrowed his gaze on the Sheikah. “I don’t take orders from you,” he said. “You can’t make me do shit.”

Dorian made the simple motion of raising his arm, and Link immediately felt paralyzed, unable to move. All he could do was sneer at Dorian.

“Let me go,” he barked.

“You and your father have a bad habit of disobeying orders,” he snarled. “As if my job wasn’t difficult enough. I don’t need you useless sacks of flesh running into your deaths. What you did in there was stupid. You’re as stupid as your damn father.”

Link grinned. “Thank you.”

“That is not a compliment,” he sneered. He turned his gaze to Rusl. “I’m gettin’ real tired of you damn Hylians,” he muttered.

Rusl smiled.

“Oh, you’re real proud, aren’t you?” Dorian snapped. “I should have killed you all when I had the chance. You’ve given me more problems then I needed. And I’m not busting you out of Kohga’s hold again. You and Link will be useless against the Yiga. If I allow anyone to help in this war, it will be restricted to the Champions. They’ll at least have a damn fighting chance.”

“It’s about time someone recognizes our competence,” Revali said.

“And what are you going to do to stop me?” Link hissed.

Dorian grinned. “I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.” He turned to Rusl. “Please don’t make this difficult for me. We never saw each other.” With a snap of his fingers, he was gone.

They fell silent. Rusl turned to Link, his gaze hard. “What the fuck were you thinking?”

“I told you he’d be fine,” Revali said, rolling his eyes.

“How did you get yourself out of that?” Rusl said, his voice hard.

Link hesitated. “I’m stronger than I look.”

“He turned,” Revali hissed. “He turned and used his stupid dark voodoo magic get him out and kill everything in his path.”

Rusl’s face softened as he studied his son, and Link pulled his gaze away. Once more, they fell silent, until Daruk finally spoke.

“Okay, I’ll say it,” Daruk said. “Can we really trust Dorian?”

Link hesitated. He turned his gaze to his father. His brows furrowed, but Rusl said nothing. He cursed under his breath and pulled his gaze away. “I’ll kill you both if I have to,” he muttered.

Rusl grinned. “I’d like to see you try.”

Link glanced at him, still feeling uneasy, but his gaze narrowed. “Don’t test me,” he hissed.

Rusl took the weapon out of his holster and held it out toward Link. His brows knit together. “Make your choice.”

Link’s gaze moved between his father and the weapon. He desperately wanted to trust his father. “I already have,” he said simply. He turned his gaze to the sky at the distant sound of an engine. It moved quickly overhead where two helicopters moved low over the trees.

“Those are Roham’s,” Rusl said.

At that moment, Revali’s phone rang, and he answered it quickly. “What?” he snapped. His eyes narrowed on Link as he listened. “Now you tell us? It’s a little too late for your warning… What do you mean you didn’t know?... Zelda doesn’t know? Oh, for fuck’s sake.” He ended the call angrily and pointed a finger at Link.

“Dorian tipped Roham off. Told him we’d be here. He’s sending his fucking guys over here to arrest your stupid ass.”

Link’s lips pulled at the corners into a sneer. “Bastard,” he hissed.

“Now what?” Urbosa asked. “Run from the law?”

“You don’t have a choice,” Rusl said. “Move.”

The Champions ran through the forest once more. The helicopters continued to circle overhead, their engines fading in and out as they moved closer and further away, searching for Link. When the Champions neared the edge of the forest, however, they were greeted by Roham’s soldiers, armed and ready. They shouted to the Champions, their weapons raised threateningly as they closed in, stopping them in their tracks.

But the darkness was still pulsing through him, and their ambush only triggered Link to turn once more. No longer self-aware, his body moved automatically, swiftly taking out several of the powerless soldiers with a single pass of his arm. Those that remained standing lunged at him. They fired their weapons, but Link was quicker. He pulled his daggers out and thrust them into the soldiers as they neared, quickly ending their lives.

It was then that Revali sprang into action, darting to Link and shoving his own blade into Link’s side at the same moment. Link staggered and thrust his arm to the side, but Revali was quick to dodge the attack. He appeared at Link’s other side in an instant and threw a punch toward Link. But Link caught Revali’s wrist and twisted, throwing him forcefully into the ground.

He looked up and around at the people he did not recognize. They stood around him, keeping their distance, regarding him warily.

But instead of attacking, the darkness seemed to extinguish suddenly, and Link dropped to his knees as he started to come to. When the darkness passed completely, he was staring down at the ground. He felt something cool against his temple, and he closed his eyes, his heart racing. When he dared to open them again, he looked up to the sight that awaited him. Revali was getting back to his feet, his angry eyes bearing into Link. He wiped blood off his face with the back of one hand, while the other dangled broken at his side. Hyrulean soldiers lay scattered around him, most of whom were motionless, dead or unconscious, all at his own hands. His stomach twisted sickeningly and he had to pull his gaze away from the sight. He bit his lower lip as his eyes squeezed shut. He heard his name whispered softly, and he followed the voice to the man that held a gun to his temple.

“Fucking do it!” he shouted to his father, his voice shaking. When his father did not respond, he moved his gaze to meet his teary eyes and he had to pull his gaze away again. His chest ached painfully for the destruction he had caused. Innocent lives lost because of him.

Rusl removed the weapon from his son’s head and pocketed it without a word. He dropped to his knees and pulled his son to him, wrapping his arms around him, but Link pulled away. The darkness still clouded his eyes, but for a moment, he was very much aware of the world around him.

He looked up as the helicopters approached and landed not more than twenty yards away from them. Heavily armored soldiers and Sheikah alike jumped out before it even landed on the ground. They shouted at the Champions, their weapons drawn as they hurried toward Link.

“Go,” Rusl hissed at him. He grabbed his son’s arm, pulling him back. “Get out of here. We’ll take care of this.”

But Link pulled away from his father. He stepped forward, raising his arms slightly to show he would not fight. But as he moved and the rest of the darkness faded away, the pain from his stab wound seared through him, and he nearly doubled over, gasping. He watched, sneering as they circled in around him, then closed in. One of the soldiers pulled his arms behind his back while the others took his weapons from him. He felt the cold metal of the cuffs clasp around his wrist and they pushed him forward to the awaiting helicopter. He glanced at his friends over his shoulder one last time before he was pushed inside, and the helicopter took flight once more.

The Champions watched in silence as the helicopter disappeared over the horizon. Revali was the first to speak.

“Can we just let him rot in jail?” he muttered as Mipha moved to his side to heal him. “I’m sick of saving his ass. All I get in return is a damn broken wrist.”

“You did stab him first,” Mipha muttered.

“He deserved it,” Revali muttered. He turned his wrist over when Mipha finished. “Don’t worry, the Sheikah won’t let him bleed out. Not yet, anyway.”

But Mipha was not amused.

“The fuck do we do now?” Daruk grunted.

“We should have gone to the spring first,” Urbosa said regretfully.

“He’ll turn again,” Paya warned. “And if he doesn’t turn back… they’ll kill him.”

“Dorian won’t let them,” Mipha said slowly. She checked Rusl’s expression, but could not read him. He was staring toward the horizon where the helicopter disappeared. “Right?”

“So, we’re trusting the double agent?” Revali sneered.

“I think he’s a triple agent,” Daruk pointed out.

“Come on, Rusl,” Revali barked, growing irritated. “What’s the damn plan?”

“I thought you wanted to let him rot,” he said dryly. He turned his attention back to the group. “Breaking laws isn’t exactly your forte, anyway.”

Urbosa snorted and put a hand on her hip. “You don’t know what he does for a living.”

Revali rolled his eyes, but otherwise ignored her. “And it’s yours?”

“Let’s just say Roham won’t waste his resources on trying to throw my ass in jail.”

“We need to get him out of there before he turns again,” Urbosa said.

“Breaking him out won’t be so easy,” Daruk said. “We don’t even know where they’re taking him.”

Revali promptly pulled his phone out and dialed. He brought it to his ear and waited. “Teba. Small problem. Roham’s got Link.”

They fell silent as Revali nodded, then after a few more short words, he ended the call.

“They’re taking him to maximum security,” he said. “In the middle of nowhere in Tabantha.”

Urbosa turned to Paya. “Can you get us there?”

“I’m out,” Rusl said. “That place will be crawling with Sheikah. I’ll just get in the way.”

“Good,” Revali said smugly. “Leave the rescuing to the competent heroes.”