#I can imagine them screaming at each other in Gerudo.

[bbinkus11]

I had a thought.

I was replaying Botw the other day, and I was running around the map doing stuff. Especially regions like Lanayru, Eldin, Tabantha, and Gerudo. Anyways, I was reading all the signs and stuff. And I noticed they were all in different font, not even different font, but different languages! So this makes me think, can Wild speak and read multiple languages? Can multiple members of the Chain speak and read different languages? I’ve only played BotW, TotK, AoC, SkSw, and some of OoT, so I’m not entirely sure if there are different languages in the different regions there.

I’m aware Legend has been shoved into many headcannons about him knowing various languages, but can others? Would they be able to speak to each other in said languages? Are the languages different in each era? I dunno.

[jinmukangwrites]

Mutual (Mis)Understandings

Summary: Wild and Zelda seem to be engaged... and Twilight like the worried mother hen of the group that he is overreacts and misunderstands greatly. 

Or, Zelda and Wild are best friends, but they’re also both arcace and the only reason they’ll ever get married is for the Hylian equivalent of tax-benefits. 

Note: this was purely self indulgent and was written instead of my actual next LU fic. In the mean time, enjoy this. From now on I only write aroace Wild and Flora and if you don’t like it then don’t talk to me lmao

-o-o-o-o- 

Twilight supposes it was only a matter of time before they ran into Wild's Zelda. Because, despite Wild's Hyrule being so much larger than it's versions before it, Zelda apparently was still a woman who could not be confined to the walls of her castle. If she wanted to explore and meet new people, then she would. According to Wild, that is.

Zelda is, at first glance, the embodiment of grace and beauty. Her hair is golden and her eyes the color of the grass that flourishes on the hills. Her lips are full, and colored not a perfect red but not a perfect pink either. Her hair, while chopped short, is braided and styled perfectly in a way that compliments her beauty even more.

But then, you look at her traveling clothes and the twigs in her hair, and you realize that Wild once told you a story about how she tried to force a frog into his mouth.

She stands in the center of Terry Town, near a beautiful fountain built around a small shrine for the goddess Hylia, and in a strange reincarnation way, a tribute for her as well. As the group walks into the town that's suspended on a circle of land that towers high over a small lake, she turns and smiles, delight sparkling in her eyes when her gaze lands on her knight. It's an unexpected reunion, one that started with Wild wanting to show them something he's proud of, and one that's turning out to be more of a treat than any of them expected. Especially, when besides Twilight, Wild lets out a happy gasp and runs ahead of the group, slamming into his princess with a tight and joy-filled hug. The moment is so touching that even Legend smiles.

The hug lasts a little longer before Zelda and Wild part, splitting to stand next to each other with shoulders brushing. They look perfect together. Like they were made for each other. Wild smiles at the group and Zelda matches his smile but in a more polite and curious way.

"I believe introductions are in order?" She asks, though it's not really a question. More like an invitation.

Twilight looks over at Wild, a matching look of awkwardness passing between them. Hyrule pulls at his collar nervously. It's always… strange to introduce themselves to people. While many people are named Link to honor heroes, it is still strange to have nine boys traveling together all introduce themselves as such. They really need to come up with better names than rancher and traveler and the old man.

Thankfully, Time is ever the wisest and the owner of the group's meager stash of brain cells. He steps forward with a respectable bow. "Princess Zelda," he says, standing up from his bow, "we have traveled with Link for a few months now and have found ourselves caught in… quite a complicated story. Perhaps, if I may be so bold, it would be wise to allow us a more private space for introductions?"

"I see," Zelda says, her polite smile turning into something a little sharper. Not in an offended way, but in a way that she knows something that they don't. Thankfully, she doesn't keep them waiting for long. "Yes, perhaps it would be wise. Though, it seems I must have to introduce myself as well before we begin. It's not princess. It's queen."

-o-o-o-o-

Twilight sometimes keeps himself up at night wondering about how his Zelda might take the news of there being eight more heroes carrying the name "Link" around. It's hard to tell with her, and it's not like they're close. Their relationship is strictly "Princess and Hero", and the most they have in common besides the whole reincarnation thing is Midna.

Which is a topic both of them tend to avoid.

So really, he cannot say for sure how she'd react. Would she believe it? Would she take it in stride? Twilight can really only imagine her taking in the information with a straight face before saying it doesn't concern her so begone.

One thing's for sure, she wouldn't react like Wild's Zelda does.

Because, well, if Twilight thought the kids at his home village were made of skin, bone, and questions, then the Zelda before him is made of questions, questions, and more questions.

"Who is the first among you? What year was it? Strange, it seems you used a different calendar than us. And it's peculiar you two have the same dates but live in completely different worlds- oh you and your Zelda were childhood friends? And you have two Zeldas'? What about you? What is your kingdom like-?

By the end of the afternoon, everyone's mouths had run dry from talking and Warriors was about to jump into the fountain at the center of town yelling about thirst before a tall Gerudo lady stopped him with a level look.

Zelda and Wild have broken off from the group; the town's people and the various guards who must be here for Zelda's protection (even though Twilight's sure she can definitely more than protect herself, it must be for their own peace of mind) have stopped giving them those you nasty foreigners looks and have actually started to seek out conversation in the form of you have money, I have things to sell, wink wink. As the sun crept closer towards the edges of Death Mountain, everyone one-by-one decided the beds promised to them at the inn sounded more interesting than sitting around and doing nothing.

Time being one of the first to retire, not that Twilight blames him. The question "Which one of you is the hero from ten thousand years ago?" weighs heavy on all their minds. The lore of that hero doesn't sound familiar to any of them, and it left the whole group wondering how many lives they have lived, and if they are destined to add more to their group of nine.

Regardless, Twilight finds himself one of the last members to head to bed, and not for the lack of trying. He had accidentally mentioned wrestling around a towering Goron and his little brother and had, in a sting of events he was entirely unwilling in, found himself wrestling Greyson with a whole crowd of townspeople watching with jeers and enthusiasm. Greyson wasn't a full grown Goron, so it was surprisingly easy to knock him out of their makeshift ring carved into the ground with a stick without the aid of his iron boots.

After winning that fight, the Gerudo lady who probably made Warriors wet his pants with her glare decided she wanted in on the action, to which Wind and Hyrule screamed out he was a coward for turning her down by saying he definitely already knows she'll win.

Because she definitely will win. He's seen fully grown pumpkins smaller than her biceps.

But, Twilight is ever the gentleman and absolutely not a coward and caved even though he knows he will walk away from this with a few new bruises.

Turns out, the kind of wrestling the Gerudo lady (who he finds out is named Rhondson judging by the "TEAR HIS ARMS OFF, RHONDSON!" that was yelled out from the crowd as she knocked his feet out from below him) was trying to do was different from goat and Goron wrestling, and he was completely unprepared for her to bring him to the ground and attempt at pinning him down like a madwoman. He's never been so terrified in his entire life.

He should have explained the rules better to more than just Greyson.

He was in the middle of trying to shove her off from him (because apparently a loss is being pinned down for three seconds as refereed by her husband and Twilight is not about to lose so easily with Wind in the sidelines laughing so hard he has tears in his eyes) when he notices Wild and his Zelda leave a building and quietly retreat towards the far cliff edges of town. Rhondson seems to notice this as well, because she pauses in her tortuous wrestling long enough to mutter under her breath "young love..."

To which. Twilight promptly short-circuits.

Young love?

Wild?

And Zelda?

HIS WILD?! AND QUEEN ZELDA?

Yeah sure, he knew Zelda and Wild were close, but Wild was the most… rowdy and dirty piece of work he's ever met. And sure, Zelda isn't exactly the most poise and elegant creature in the world—the twigs still in her hair, the mud running up her boots to her trousers, the ever slowly becoming undone braids in her hair that she doesn't seem to truly care about are all testament of that. Twilight is just… well, he didn't think Wild had it in him. To catch the attention and affection of someone like Zelda… Twilight needs to hand it to him. He guesses Wild can be romantic when he wants to be.

Unfortunately, thanks to his little brain explosion, Rhondson manages to pin him down long enough for Hudson to smack the ground three times. (Seriously, what is up with the son part of everyone's name?)

Rhondson lets him up with a triumphant smirk and Twilight lays on the ground, winded.

"Young love?" He croaks, because his brain is still trying to process. It's like adding two and two together and getting goat.

Rhondson's smirk seems to widen even more as she extends a hand, golden jewelery clinking on her toned wrists. "Don't you know? The Queen and her knight are engaged."

She says it casually like it's nothing truly new or exciting as she lifts him to his feet.

Wind's laughter from the sidelines suddenly turns into choking noises. Twilight can only short-circuit some more.

Because what.

Rhondson doesn't explain anymore as she accepts cheering from the rest of the town. No one explains as the crowd disperses, the sun fully behind Death Mountain and the moonrise breeze moving in with the smell of the ocean. Soon enough, Twilight is still standing where he's been left, Wind sitting on the ground cross-legged with his chin in his hands, and Hyrule standing besides him looking unsure if he should suggest bed or something else.

Engaged.

Wild is seventeen (plus one hundred but that doesn’t count) years old and he's engaged.

He knows the age of adulthood changes every so often, but honestly at least wait until you're twenty before you commit! Or let Twilight be married first!

He slowly manages to crawl out from his churning thoughts back into his body, and the first thing he does is look towards where Zelda and Wild disappeared to and suddenly his brain is thinking of a whole matter of things the two of them might be doing. Alone. With no one to catch them.

He's moving to follow them before he can make himself rethink to maybe respect their choices and boundaries. Hyrule, perhaps thinking the same thing, grabs onto the tail of his wolf's pelt.

"Wait!" Hyrule says, trying to be the voice of reason, which is strange because normally that's Twilight's job, "maybe we should let them be… alone-"

"Traveler, are you a man or a mouse?!" Wind demands, catching up to the two of them, looking way too determined to intrude upon a potential make-out session.

Hyrule squeaks. "M-man!"

Twilight ignores them as he creeps towards the buildings the two love birds disappeared behind.

"Besides, the champion brought this upon himself," Wind continues. "He should have told us he was going to be the future King of Hyrule. He deserves it."

It; being a good sneaking up on. Twilight finds himself agreeing. They've known Wild for how long and he hasn't told them at all that he was engaged?

The topic of love and settling down has come up many times in their group.

"Champion, do you like anyone?" "Nah, the only thing I like is cooking." "Hey champion, after all this and settling down, what are your plans?" "To become a world renowned chef." "Cook! I saw the face you were making when Malon was talking about girls! Who were you thinking of?" "Food. Duh."

The sniveling little weasel. To think Twilight fell for it.

Twilight holds up his hand as they approach the buildings, Wind and Hyrule quiet down their conversations. It seems even though Hyrule took a rare attempt at peacekeeping, he has ultimately decided upon even though I don't like it I still want to come along. They poke their heads around the corner of the building and find…

Nothing.

No one is here.

How interesting.

Wind gives a groan of outrage and Hyrule releases a sigh of relief so powerful the grass waves a little. Twilight continues forward and looks at the soft dirt on the ground that leads to the sheer unforgiving drop of cliff. They should really fence this off, he's seen the children in the town and one of them could easily fall.

"I can't believe the cook, the sly fox," Wind was grumbling and not for the first time Twilight decides to not ask how the kid knows so much about stuff like this. Hyrule says something back about maybe there's a reason Wild's kept it secret but Twilight doesn't listen in too hard as his eyes catch on something in the ground.

There. Footsteps. Fresh. Two different sizes, one small and the other slightly larger. Could easily belong to a queen wearing muddy boots and a knight.

He follows the footsteps and his stomach jumps when he follows them to the edge of the cliff.

Did they… were they so... that they didn't notice the cliff?!

He rushes towards the quite literal edge of Terry Town and frantically looks down into the water below. It's hard to see with the light of the quarter moon creeping up behind them.

He can't see a thing, but thankfully Wind has a knack for looking into the horizon because his voice cuts through his internal panic with the pointing of a hand.

"Look!"

Twilight follows the pointing finger until his eyes land on the distant sight of two people sharing one lantern in the forest past the edge of the lake. One is vaguely femininely shaped and the other about the same height but with less curves. They're walking through the tall grass and wirey trees, past the empty husks of what Wild calls Guardians.

Until Wild points out something and they share a look before running behind one of the husks and staying there.

How… how unseemly! Didn't one of those things kill Wild?!

Twilight grabs at the grapple in his bag, thankful he decided to keep that with him instead of putting everything in the inn, and ties the end of it around one of the nearby fence posts. The shore of the lake doesn't look too far from here. He should be able to swim it. Easy.

Wind and Hyrule follow him down without complaint, as Twilight drops the other end of his grapple down with the fill length of chain extended. It takes a few minutes and a few stomach churning, chain wiggling moments with the wind for Twilight to finally find himself at the end of the line, just a short distance from the water.

He hopes there's no monsters in there.

Well. Here goes nothing.

He lets go of the chain and his stomach flips just a bit before he hits the surprisingly refreshing water. Not too cold but not worryingly warm. It's also shallow, his toes brushing the bottom for just a moment before he swims towards where he thinks the shore is and upwards until he reaches the surface with a gasp. There's two more splashes behind him and soon the three of them find themselves gasping and dripping on the muddy and rocky shore of the lake. Hyrule looks the worst out of all of them, perhaps not as used to swimming, but they at least all made it with no monster battles or near drownings. So a win.

The light of the two love bird's lantern is still a good distance away, and by the time they near most of the water has dripped away from their clothes and hair, leaving them uncomfortably damp.

And as they near closer, the louder they can hear… giggling.

Twilight puts a hand to his lips and stops Hyrule and Wind where they stand. Wind looks about ready to throw a fit with a string of embarrassing things like I know what sex is and 'm not a kid but thinks the wiser of it when Hyrule frantically makes cut throat notion, signalling yelling is not the best idea right now.

Twilight takes it upon himself to approach the husk of the Guardian himself. He feels… icky. Like he shouldn't impose. But there's such a thing as chastity and being too young to accidentally become with child. Twilight knows Wild and Zelda has been away from each other for some time, and the… urge must be strong, but he will not allow his protégé to make a mistake he might regret before he's even married.

"Oh Link, it's beautiful!" Zelda says, breathless.

Twilight takes a deep breath and walks around the Guardian with his hands on his hips. Hopefully Zelda doesn't order his death for this.

"What are you two doing?!"

And then he pauses, eyes wide as Wild jumps up from where he's been crouching, pulling out his sword and looking more angry than what Twilight's ever seen him, before shock and curiosity replaces the anger. Zelda is standing behind him, having jumped to her feet and pulling out a dagger, and behind her a green firebug flies away.

They're both fully clothed and looking at Twilight like he's grown a second head.

"Um." Twilight says smartly, his brain going back into process-mode as Zelda rolls her eyes, puts her dagger away, and looks behind her for the firebug that's flown away.

"Are they decent?" Hyrule's voice asks, which is something Wind doesn't bother to do before he steps around the Guardian to stand by Twilight with a disappointed face. Someone really needs to wash that kid's brain out with soap.

"Decent?" Wild asks, confused. Zelda doesn't say anything, she's crouched further into the forest and creeping up on another firebug.

They were… looking at bugs.

"It's okay, traveler," Twilight says, releasing a breath and thanking Hylia and all the other spirits for everything somehow being a misunderstanding. "We were wrong."

"Wrong about what?" Wild asks, sounding even more confused.

Twilight shakes his head and grabs Wind's head, wrapping his hand around the boy's mouth before he can say anything gross. Hyrule walks over, looking as relieved as he might if he were told the spirit of the demon Ganondorf was forever destroyed. Which is to say, he was looking extremely relieved.

"Oh good," Hyrule says as Wild mutters what's probably explicits behind Twilight's hand. "We thought you were having- mmph?!"

Twilight has successfully grabbed Hyrule's face with his other hand and covers his mouth too. Now, with both boys successfully gagged and pinned to his chest, Twilight gives Wild his best smile and hopes it doesn't look too conspicuous and nervous.

"We saw the light and thought you two saw something dangerous," he lies easily.

Wild gives him a slight suspicious look, his eyes flickering between Twilight's two captives and Twilight himself before shrugging and putting his sword away. Twilight had to fight to keep a straight face as Hyrule elbows his side and Wind licks his hand.

"It's Zelda's first time at Terry Town, and I wanted to show her the creatures that call this place home," Wild explains, not looking all that concerned that Twilight is still holding two of their group members captive by the faces. Hyrule is licking too now, but Twilight can't trust them not to say the sex word yet. Twilight grew up the perpetual older brother of four kids in Ordon, he's been in positions like this before with much more slobbery licking.

"Oh that's good then, no danger!" Twilight says, keeping in a gasp as Hyrule elbows his side harder and Wind makes a mad grasp for his hair.

Thankfully, Zelda speaks up in a whisper-yell from where she's crouching. "Link! There's a wolf!"

Wild gives the other heroes a wide grin before he quietly sprints towards Zelda and couches besides her. The two begin to talk to each other in hushed voices.

Twilight let's a second pass, and then he releases his captives.

Hyrule takes in a deep gasp like Twilight had been strangling him—he wasn't—and Wind spits at the ground furiously like what he licked had been poisonous—Twilight is doubtful the palm of his hand tasted that bad.

Before either of them could recover, Twilight leans down and grabs them both by the points of their ears.

"Do. Not. Say. A. Word."

Wind whacks his hand away, scowling. "Okay okay! Geez-"

Twilight gives them both level glares and eventually they both nod in agreement. Whatever misunderstanding has just happened, Wild and Zelda were to remain unaware of it. Period.

With the unspoken agreement, the three of them walk up to Wild and Zelda, of which Wild is currently in a long ramble in the differences between all the kinds of wolves in Hyrule. Apparently, wolves in Akkala have slightly shorter snouts compared to Hyrule Field Wolves even though they have the same coloring. Interesting. Kind of useless to Twilight, but he'd much rather listen to Wild explain the slight differences of wolves than… other things.

When Zelda requests to see the two kinds of wolves side-by-side, Wild promises he has pictures of both of them on his little magic box thing.

And that's... pretty much how the next few hours go. Wild and Zelda run bush to bush, talking excitedly between each other about black winged butterflies and the abilities gained from eating a golden beetle, and the three other heroes follow along like lost puppies, not able to offer a single shred of new information to the chatty environmentalists. Twilight manages to get in a small comment about the Ordon goats—and ignores the triplet groaning from Wild, Wind, and Hyrule—but after he fails to produce a picture of his favorite animal Zelda loses interest and moves on to poking the leaves of some random flower.

Twilight sighs. Someday someone will worship the Ordon goats like they deserve.

Sigh.

Someday.

Hours pass and Wind gives a huge very bored sounding yawn, which somehow earns the pity of Zelda. "You're right, small pirate Link. It is probably about time we should head back." She turns towards the Wild with a glint in her eyes. "I'm sure the guards are missing us."

Wild snickers and Twilight rolls his eyes before turning to look at where the cliffs surrounding Terry Town. Then, something occurs to him.

"Hey, you came down with your paraglider?" Twilight says and Wild nods slowly, patting the folded up contraption on his back. "How did you two plan on getting back to town?"

Matching looks of we didn't think of that flashes on Zelda and Wild's faces.

Twilight sighs, turning to Zelda. "Think you can climb a chain or do you want to walk up the long way?"

Zelda narrows her eyes and rolls up her sleeves. Her biceps, too, resemble that of a grown pumpkin. Twilight won't ask if she's sure, he bets she can take him down wrestling as well.

"Alright then," he says.

They walk back towards the lake as a group, and Twilight does his best to comfort Hyrule who's glaring at the water with resentment. It will definitely be harder getting back up than it was getting down. They'll have to swim the lake and climb up the cliffs a bit before jumping to the hanging chain and climbing the rest of the way up there. It'll be a fun workout.

As they walk, Twilight falls back to fall into step with Zelda and Wild. Wind and Hyrule continue onwards in front of them.

"So…" Twilight says under his breath, just loud enough for the two champions of this time to hear them. They both give him curious looks. "Engaged, huh?"

Twilight expected blushing or blubbering or something. What he got was a full on belly laugh from the queen and a rolling-of-the-eyes from her knight and husband-to-be.

"Who told you," Wild demands as Zelda laughs on, earning slightly concerned looks from Hyrule and Wind, "was it Rhondson? I bet it was Rhondson."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Twilight asks, ignoring Wild's (accurate) accusations towards Rhondson.

At this, a flash of guilt passes over Wild's face and Zelda quiets, looking interested. "It… never came up?"

"You forgot, didn't you?" Zelda asks. Wild gives her an apologetic look and she scoffs, looking shockingly more amused than anything.

"I didn't... forget. I was just focused on the quest!"

"It's okay, Link. I forgot too."

"Oh thank Hylia."

The two of them fall into some strange companionable understanding silence and Twilight is left completely and frustratingly out of an apparent inside joke or some sort.

He sighs. "Look, I know this might sound weird, coming from me," Zelda and Wild give him their attention with matching expressions of curiosity, "but I know you're both young and probably haven't been taught very well about… adult matters, so…" oh this is so awkward, they're looking confused, "if you have any questions about… um… urges or desires-"

"Oh!" Zelda says, clapping her hands together in front of her. "You mean sex!"

Twilight chokes on his words and Wild nearly trips into the dirt. Zelda looks like she hasn't said anything strange at all.

"Don't worry, Mr Goat Farmer Link. Link and I know all about sex and we decided we will not being doing it," Zelda says as if she's reassuring a worried soldier or something similar. Indifferent. Straight faced.

"Y-yeah," Wild says after he had refound his footing. "Strictly business. Our marriage."

"I was tired of Impa asking when I'll get married and produce an heir," Zelda explains easily, though she gave a slight disgusted tone at the word produce. "I am much more interested in so many other things, but Impa was getting insistent." Zelda rolls her eyes.

"So Zelda decided to ask me to marry her," Wild puts in quietly, "and I told her that um… I'm not interested in her or in anyone that way, but she said the same thing and then told me that it would benefit us both to marry anyway and so… yeah."

"Impa would stop bugging me about getting married and Link would have unlimited access to the castle kitchens once it's fully repaired. I can continue my journey to study and rebuilt this country in peace and Link can continue his dreams of cooking."

Twilight finds himself nodding, because it makes just as much sense as it doesn't make sense. Which means he doesn't get it but they do so he won't argue on it. "But what about… continuing the royal line?"

"The line will die with me," Zelda says. Like that wasn't a royal bombchu-shell . "Because I will not be bearing any children. We will adopt or I will choose someone I trust to take the throne when the time is right. We will decide when the time comes." She grabs Wild's hand and he squeezes in reply. "Together."

Twilight nods again, deciding against arguing that too.

"Is that what you thought we were doing, rancher?" Wild asks. "Having…"

Twilight's cheeks heat up. "Nope. Not at all."

"Oh, okay…"

Wild definitely doesn't believe it, and he's smirking, but it seems he will save Twilight from embarrassment for the rest of the night. No promises tomorrow though, Twilight's sure.

Turns out, Zelda can absolutely crush them all at swimming and scaling a cliff with a hanging chain. She is hardly even winded when they all reach the top. She bids them all farewell and heads towards the home that has graciously lended her a guest room for her stay. The guards all look extremely relieved to see her, and they disappear into the home with a final wave from Zelda towards their direction.

"I can't believe you're engaged, gremlin," Wind says through a yawn and Wild laughs.

"We're just really good friends," he replies, and Twilight smiles. The trust between the two of them must be so strong regardless of physical desire. He still doesn't understand it, but Wild looks happy and Zelda looks happy and they both clearly love each other.

In their own way.

And Twilight can respect that.

[bae-leth]

FE3H x LoZ

Hey, I saw that you enjoyed my Zelda AU so I decided to expand upon it! This includes eight students for each house, and even strengths based on the Three Houses weapon types. Also for convenience all of the students are Hylian/Gerudo/basically human.

To set the scene, the Gerudo Empire is in the desert to the west, the Kingdom of Hyrule is in the north and east, and the Ordon Alliance is in the forests to the south. The main religion is the Church of Hylia, and the Officer’s Academy is still in the center of the continent because the name sounds generic enough. The curse of Demise exists, but records of it have been lost to time and none of the students are aware of it (cue emotional revelations and plot twists).

CRIMSON BOARS

Since there are so few Gerudo characters of actual plot relevance, I decided to include Ganon’s other allies from across the series, plus a few wild cards.

Ganondorf - house leader. Heir to the Gerudo Empire. Strong and very physically capable, as well as a firm leader. Strengths: Lance, Brawl, Reason, Authority

Ghirahim - Ganondorf’s cunning retainer. Only really ever thinks about himself and his master. Strengths: Sword, Reason

Cia - used to be a warm, angelic girl when she was little, but has become the opposite since then. She idolizes Ganondorf, but also admires Link from afar. Strengths: Faith, Authority, Flying

Lorenz Zant - a foreign exchange student from Twili, a faraway archipelago. Only friends with the people in his class, and hates everyone else. Especially despises Midna. Strengths: Brawl, Reason, Flying

Urbosa - probably the nicest person in the class. Has a motherly attitude. Very strong and protective of her allies. Strengths: Sword, Bow

Astrid - a quiet girl who is almost always studying. Also has an obsession with fortune telling. Strengths: Faith, Reason

Onox - son of an imperial general. Large and built, and loves training. Always agrees with Ganondorf. Strengths: Axe, Brawl, Heavy Armor

Ruto - daughter of a wealthy noble from Hyrule who became close to the emperor, but she does not always approve of the Empire’s methods. Very flirty, and has many admirers. Strengths: Lance, Riding

AZURE OWLS

These characters are all either Sages, Champions, or Resistance members.

Zelda - house leader. Crown princess of the Kingdom of Hyrule. Extremely smart, and though usually kind, can be cold and relentless on the battlefield. Strengths: Bow, Reason, Riding, Authority

Impa - rescued by Zelda during the Tragedy of Sheikah and has become her faithful retainer since then. Often found accompanying Zelda or praying. Strengths: Sword, Lance, Faith

Revali - son of a renowned warrior in the Kingdom. Thinks very highly of himself and looks down on those who are physically weaker than him. Often trains to the point of intense fatigue. Strengths: Bow, Flying

Mipha - a shy, quiet girl who mostly keeps to her room. Dotes on those who are injured despite her introverted nature. Strengths: Lance, Brawl, Faith

Medli - daughter of a famous musician. Incredibly skilled at playing the harp and dreams of becoming a star as well. Kind to everyone she meets, but has a reputation for being clumsy. Strengths: Axe, Flying, Authority

Byrne - A quiet student who often goes unnoticed. However, he is immensely skilled in battle, which tends to surprise people given how often he disappears during training. Strengths: Sword, Brawl, Heavy Armor

Shad - a scholarly student who is extremely interested in history. Will approach any random student to help him with his research. Unlikely friend to Ashei. Strengths: Faith, Reason

Ashei - the daughter of a noble, but she would rather be a knight than an heiress. Blunt and sometimes downright undignified. Unlikely friend to Shad. Strengths: Sword, Axe, Riding

VERDANT WOLVES

These characters are Link’s friends and companions from throughout the series. 

Link - house leader. Future leader of the Ordon Alliance, though born a commoner. Kind and genuine, as well as very charismatic, but hides insecurities. Strengths: Sword, Faith, Riding, Authority

Ravio - son of a merchant family. Very close to Link, almost like a brother. Quite lazy, and would rather scam people than study. Strengths: Axe, Bow, Flying

Midna - the princess of Twili, who came to the Academy as a foreign exchange student. Admired by many for her beauty and charm. Incredibly snarky and mischievous, and often gets into trouble. Strengths: Lance, Reason, Flying

Saria - the youngest student at the Academy. A sweet and charitable girl who loves animals and feels at home around nature. Strengths: Bow, Faith

Daruk - a noble who dreams of becoming an accomplished knight. Very friendly and outgoing, but has a fear of dogs. Strengths: Brawl, Heavy Armor, Authority

Fi - a girl who is very religious and is usually found praying. Very analytical and excels in her studies. Often responds to her peers without emotion, and many have never seen her smile. Strengths: Sword, Flying

Groose - Link’s self-proclaimed rival. Always trying to one-up Link, much to Link’s exasperation. Has a massive crush on Zelda, and is willing to join the Azure Owls for free. Strengths: Axe, Lance, Brawl

Malon - a farmer girl from the Ordonian countryside. Works extremely hard, as it took a lot for her father to send her to the Academy. Known for her distinct singing voice. Strengths: Bow, Reason, Riding

OTHER NOTES

Despite moving some things around, such as their locations on the map and certain events like the Tragedy of Sheikah (Duscur), the nations here are loosely based on those in Three Houses: Hyrule = Adrestia, Gerudo = Faerghus, and Ordon = Leicester. (oh and Twili = Brigid)

Though Hyrule is a KINGDOM and Gerudo is an EMPIRE, Hyrule is larger because Gerudo is still growing and expanding. However by the timeskip Gerudo won’t have grown much because of Hyrule’s declaration of war.

The Tragedy of Sheikah basically went as follows: the people of the Sheikah region were close allies of the royal family, but were then blamed for the mass assassination of several nobles, including the queen. In retaliation, Hyrule massacred the people of Sheikah.

Since elements were pulled from many LoZ games, the three house leaders aren’t based on any specific incarnation. However, if I had to pick, Ganondorf would be from Ocarina of Time, Zelda would be from Breath of the Wild, and Link would be from Twilight Princess.

I haven’t really thought of who would be the leader of the church, or the faculty, or the equivalent of Byleth, but then again it’s not like this has to be an exact copy of Three Houses anyway. However I do think that Telma would make a wonderful stand-in for Manuela.

There are still cats in the Monastery (speaking of the monastery, I don’t have a name for it). Link and Saria give them the most attention.

I hope you enjoyed this!

--------

notes from bae: OK ROUND TWO.... LET’S TRY SUBMITTING THIS AGAIN....

in short: HJHGDSFGFSGJDFSHD??? JDGFSHGFHS??? I LOVE THIS??? I LOVE THIS??

this is so well thought out im going to cry. instead, I am just going to go through everything in order (prob not ) and scream at things i want to point out

'no one knows about the curse of Demise until later' IM BWUBWUWBWUBBWUB NOO.... NOOO..... THIS IS GOING TO TEAR APART FRIENDSHIPS..... i NEED to see the confrontations after this, because.... that's so heartbreaking and I don't want to imagine it... but i Need to see it :((

i AdOre how you incorporate characters from across the games, too. seeing chars like Byrne, Onox and Astrid make my lil Zelda heart happy...

and speaking of the characters, I love the strengths you gavce them!!! and the backstories... because this REALLy makes me want to see their supports. can you imagine.... Midna and Zant, Ravio and Revali, Groose and Zelda, Groose and everyone, Link and Ghirahim trying to hold a friendly conversation (which. oh dear. doesn’t work)... there is SO MUCH POTENTIAL and i can only IMAGINE!!

if you have any story details sketched out, I NEED to know!! i esp liked how you adapted the tragedy of Duscur to the tragedy of Sheikah, since there’s already hints of hostility towards the Sheikah in 10,000yrs ago-BotW, so it’s definitely not remiss that they wouldn’t be blamed ;; and this also makes me intrigued about Zelda’s motives!! Why does Hyrule declare war? because of her own personal reasons pertaining to the tragedy? in response to the Empire? something else entirely??

same with Ganondorf.... WHAT makes him declare war.... because I don’t think it’s just a case of conquer n conquer..... eyes emoji....

(and ofc our boy Lonk. with the best team, imo.... I Love the Verdant Wolves. would join them ASAP. they look like the house with the most Chaos but ALSO a lot of POWER...)

ESSENTIALLY I JUST NEED STORY DETAILS and house leader interactions!!! because, pre-timeskip, the triforce trio are friendly?? Yes??? And then it all falls apart??? Yes???????

TELMA AS MANUELA. PLEASE. PLEEEEEEAAASE..... she’d be absolutely fantastic!!! I also think we could have Kaepora Gaebora in replace of the white owl at the bulletin boards. Just for some friendly little advice...

and of course!! Link and Saria give the cats the most attention!! Saria plays the ocarina for them, and Link canonically picks them and runs around while giving them cuddles.... EXCELLENT....

 I also think Ravio would be a very good replacement for Anna. y’know, just to get the best bargains for the Wolves.... maybe steal for them a house, too.....

LORENZ LOOKING LIKE ZANT I SDJHHDSFH WHY HAVENT I NOTICED THIS BEFORE IM GOING TO CRY. IC ANT LOOK AT LORENZ ANYMORE WITHOUT SEEING ZANT P L E A S E SAVE ME I DIDNT WANT THIIIIS

also? Groose joining the Owls without any recruitment requirements??? I. Groose ily but shUT UP STOP THAT!!! LINK Probably just facepalms mournfully.... who else is going to play around with the Groosenator with him :((

IN SHORT: I LOVE THIS. SO MUCH. IT HAS MADE MY DAY AND I AM GOING TO NEVER STOP THINKING ABOUT IT

[skywardboundzelda]

Ineffable, Chapter Four

Hosted on Archive of Our Own by divinince.

Three times when Link couldn’t speak and the one time he did.

Chapter Four

He shouldn’t sit on the bed of the Queen of Hyrule. He shouldn’t even be in her private chamber, especially when her stomach is heavily swollen with her unborn child, but he knows his privileges extend far beyond those of the other knights and soldiers.

She stands in front of her mirror; she has spent most of her adolescence obsessed with her appearance, an obsession never observed in the previous timeline. Link wants to believe that he simply never noticed; however, one timeline ago, she had no reason to be so occupied with the curvature of her waist, the rise of her breasts, or the daintiness of her legs.

Outside of the castle, the chanting protesters have diminished into a dull chatter. They spend their days grinding the sufferings of the Gerudo women into Zelda’s skull, begging -- no, demanding -- for the end of the war. They frequent phrases such as ‘genocide’ and ‘anarchy,’ and Link can’t help but agree with their words.

But, to no one’s surprise, their words make Zelda ill; she hasn’t made a public appearance since she announced her pregnancy, aware that her words will forever be overshadowed until she declares the end of the war.

The queen observes her profile with a critical eye. Her gaze lingers on her stomach, as does Link’s, and he can’t help but wonder if she should be bigger.

(Her new nursemaid scolded her at dinner for not eating enough; she reasoned that stress had taken her appetite.)

“Link.” Dropping her hands from her stomach, Zelda turns towards her former hero and sighs, slow and deep. “I don’t want to be a mother.”

Of course, Link already knows this. She’s seventeen, still a child in every definition of the word, and when she told him of her pregnancy in the safety of a broom closet, teary-eyed and hyperventilating, Link wanted to be angry. He wanted to storm up to Sergeant Kilian, promoted to a prince in his marriage to Zelda, and knock every last tooth out of his smart mouth.

He was still disoriented from his recent injury, however, and figured throwing a punch would end him up on the ground, not to mention that the queen begged him not to, grabbed onto his sleeve and sobbed until he promised not to storm her husband’s (her dirty, no-good husband’s) study.

The bed sinks underneath Zelda’s weight as she sits beside Link, hands folded in her lap. He knows she’s yearning for the seventeen of timelines prior, when she and Link were too busy saving Hyrule to concern themselves with the happenings of a monarchy. Back then, their war was one against a true evil, one with a common cause.

In the previous timelines, they were allies, united by justice. Now, though he will never tell her, Link isn’t sure where he stands, but he knows it isn’t with her and her war. Physically, though he may be a part of her army, he is mentally far, far away from her cause.

“I don’t want to do any of this anymore,” the queen admits, gnawing on one of her fingernails. Link flashes back to when he first met Sheik, first watched the young man gnaw away at his fingernails as he surveyed the beast in their wake. He was handsome then, and Zelda is beautiful now, though her visage, nails stubby and bloody, hair thin, skin pale, hardly reflects the person she once was.

“Going back,” she tells Link, biting her nail too deep, “was the worst decision I ever made for both of us. I… I wish I had one more chance to fix this.”

Link nods slowly; going back absolutely was terrible for the both of them, but he’ll never tell her that. At the time, she thought she was making the right decision, and Link would forever support Zelda in her pursuit of fixing the brokenness in the world.

When she locks eyes with him, blue eyes desperate and hungry, he knows what she’s going to say. When she grasps his hands tight, he turns his head, refusing to give into her yearning stare.

When she speaks, her voices cracks, and she says everything Link predicted, word for word.

“Link, we should run away together.”

She’s seventeen and desperate. She’s seventeen, desperate, and yearning for the solace of a dream, coping with all the wrong mechanisms. Link understands it. He understands the desperation in her voice when he’s rattled with nightmares and flashbacks, when an arrow pierces the skin of an imagined enemy -- for Din’s sake, he, too, looks in the mirror and wants to exit his body, scarred and eyeless and hardly the hero he once knew.

But he knows. He knows he can’t leave, not yet, not when his battalion and Epona and Malon, his beloved Malon, wait for him on the other side.

Link’s lack of an answer speaks clearly to Zelda, tears welling in her eyes as he slowly looks back towards her. The way she says his name, crack in her voice, breaks his heart, but he doesn’t change his mind.

“I can’t do this,” she pleads, grabbing for his calloused hand. “Link, my life is a lie! I’m fighting a war started by my own idiocy under the guise of protecting my country! It was so selfish of me to…”

To preserve Link’s childhood, or so he thinks she wants to say.

“It’s my own fault that I’m suffering.” A hand retreats to her stomach, the other hand still caressing one of his. “I’m not happy. I’m married to a man I don’t love, fighting a war I don’t want, carrying a child I’m scared I’ll never love… Link?”

He silently begs he won’t ask again, but his luck as of recent has been virtually nonexistent.

“Run away with me, please. I’m in love with you, and we can start over, no queens or heroes or anything. Please, we would be hap--”

“No, Zelda.”

His voice is raspy but sharp, rusty and deadly, and it’s enough to command silence in the queen herself. He immediately retreats into himself, ashamed to have snapped at her, both as a subject and a friend.

Her silence (or was it fear? Does Zelda fear him?) lasts only a minute. “Link, why not? I’m in love with you, and I don’t know…”

“Because, Zelda.” He speaks softly but intently, because he needs her to listen. “I love you, sure, but I’m not in love with you.” The hurt in her eyes reflects sadness, not anger, but he doesn’t care how she looks at him: the guilt will devour him regardless.

“I got a life here, Zelda,” he explains, slowly reaching for her hand. She doesn’t fight him. “I got a job, a good gig…” He glosses over Malon, but Zelda knows. Zelda knows every detail of her, knows how dearly Link loves her.

“And I know it’s awful Zel… shucks, you and I are the only ones who know how awful it is. But, Zel, listen, look at me, please.” A squeeze of her hand sends electricity up his spine, more supernatural than romantic, a union of holy essences as opposed to a union of lovers. “It’ll get better.”

Images of dying fathers, of dark beasts, of skull kids and hurling moons and Gerudo chiefs swarm his mind. He knows the both of them have suffered greatly, but somehow, they’ve landed on the right timeline, the timeline where they survive into adulthood.

“It sucks, don’t it?” he asks her, the faintest of laughs escaping his throat. He takes the sleeve of his tunic and wipes away one of the queen’s tears. “We got a second chance and still weren’t allowed to have a childhood.”

“Cruel trick of the Goddesses,” she scorns, but the slightest smile graces her lips as she buries her head in Link’s shoulder.

“Yeah, it is.” Wrapping an arm around the queen, Link sighs. If they had landed on any other timeline, perhaps he would’ve fallen in love with her. Perhaps they would’ve married on the dawn of her eighteenth birthday, silver crown and silken veil hiding her beauty. Perhaps the ring hugging her finger would have been a product of the best Goron jewellers, forged of lava and the best gemstones rupees could buy.

Somehow, Link is grateful that the timeline that they stumbled upon wasn’t that one.

“Life is strange, ain’t it?”

Zelda giggles into his shoulder; she’s always eaten his accent up.

“Strange,” she echoes, “and terrible.”

“I know,” admits Link, giving Zelda a gentle squeeze.

He allows her to fall asleep on her shoulder, very aware of the safety his presence grants her (in fact, it’s the same safety he feels when wrapped in Malon’s arms). When her husband returns from the stately duties Link couldn’t possibly care less about, he almost screams. He almost makes a heinous accusation against Link, but Link silences him with half a glare, though twice as powerful.

Two years ago, Link bested Kilian at swords. Link almost didn’t feel guilty that he bested him in winning Zelda’s affection, too.

When he returns home the next evening, Malon is preparing for bed, singing to herself as she waltzes across the room, a goddess in a nightgown. She giggles when Link sweeps her into his arms, kissing her face and curling her hair around his fingers. He falls into bed with her and listens as she talks about the happenings of the ranch, the happy little horses and chirpy little cuccos more interesting than any journey Link had experienced.

He loves her, loves the mundane and beautiful life which she lives. He loves when she sings to the horses and when she scolds a freeloading cucco, and he loves how she sways with each step, a product of the Goddesses themselves.

Whilst snuggled up in bed, Malon asks him if he’d ever marry her. He chuckles, honey in his voice, and says he’ll consider it. When he falls asleep with his face buried in her burning red curls, he does not have a nightmare.

Link marries her on the dawn of her eighteenth birthday, flower crown adorning the red curls that frame her beautiful face. The ring he slides on her finger is the product of the finest Goron jeweller, forged from scalding lava and glittering emerald reminiscent of his youth.

The queen attends the ceremony, and she and Link tease one another endlessly, a memory of youth almost abandoned. Link loves her, loves her smile and her laugh, loves the fleeting moment when she isn’t haunted by the war at her feet, but he knows there is no romance in his feelings for her.

Planting a chaste kiss on Malon’s lips after swearing on Hylia’s name to love her forever, Link knows he has landed on the right timeline, the most dreadful and insufferable yet beautiful timeline.

[rottenappleheart]

“if you’re going to liveblog something at least put it under a cut,” i say to myself

majora’s mask, unfiltered notes from opening screens to entering termina

the opening flybys of MM just... show you the world, and the people in it, living their lives, and Link unobtrusively in the middle of it all

various locations (my favorite is the graveyard with link sitting playing games with the skeleton children) but it always ends with the music souring, growing faint, the darkening sky, the lowering moon

the message is clear: this is a good place, it is in danger

(hidden message: it is not your good place, but that shouldn't make a difference, your heart instinctively goes out to these people who look so familiar)

contrast to the openings of the other games

oot: link is very solitary, a hero riding alone, interspersed with very dramatic scenes of his exciting adventures, it is a story of Destiny and Prophecy and Good Versus Evil

which matches as well with the actual first scene and the mood being set in each

oot: the lonely child, dreaming of horrible things and quaking in fear at his own powerlessness, and the friend who comes to him, navi the fairy, the literal Call To Action on his hero's journey

ww: your peaceful life, your idyll, your complete detachment from and indifference to history and destiny, until your idyll is violated by schemes older than you can imagine

tp: cold open on a soft and melancholy mood, a mature conversation between adults and the responsibilities they bear, emphasizing the humble beauty of life and hard work

mm: an even more intensely somber mood than tp - link riding alone, as he does in the dramatic openings of several different games, but slowly and with head down, plodding along through featureless woods... a heaviness and sadness to the scene, into which the ambush and robbery is jarring not only for the violation of your personal belongings but also for a violation of your quiet and inward mood

i just love that deeply unsettlign opening - the sound of a laugh over a dark screen, the mask rushing over your view, alternating between the heart and the horror, the horror and the heart

(the dark heart, the empty heart)

a game that really grips to the power of ungrounded images against the darkness - the mask salesman, some of the stories being told, Link undergoing his transformations where the whole world falls away and there is only darkness and solitude in this moment of pain

unrelated: i really love how they designed the clocks in mm, not just the big one obviously but the little copies scattered throughout the world! my sister and i once sat and stared at one until we could understand how it is tracking time. i love the colors and all the spinning parts.

actually i love all the textures and colors in mm, it's so much more detailed than oot, and one of the many reasons i haven't replayed it in forever is because i wanted to wait until i could play it via hypatia's high-res mod

okay that's enough sitting on the floor watching the loading screens time to go

at the mere feel of an n64 controller i am rushed back to my gentle youth

aw yeah hold R for shield, that's the stuff

the legend was held "dearly" by the royal familk=y

he crept away

a private journey

a beloved friend

link forsaking his own legends

and then the so-familiar sound  of navi's wings

i'm crying

the mask appearing before skull kid himself, a clue to what is going on and who is wearing whom

and that little glimmer of actual eye underneath (because at this point he can still take it off)

i wonder if the "huh? this guy? ... well, that shouldn't be a problem" was a reference to skull kid recognizing link (from their own youth, playing music together in the forest) or if one of the fairies pointed out the Sword, Shield, Steed heroic combo he's got going on

... okay so the thought of "what happens if the ocarina breaks" has played into MULTIPLE vast epics of loz fanfiction that never saw the light of day off my own personal hard drive

but it's a chilling thought! you are so helpless without it, even more than you are without a sword (because your adventures are based in doing the impossible)

for being a voiceless game it actually has a lot of voices, more than i recall in most other zelda games - everyone emotes a little bit, everyone is recorded

i still remember the first time i played this and realized that you do FLIPS when you jump now AND I HAD NEVER BEEN SO EXCITED

oh hang on gotta run through all the long streamery fairies so that they scatter

it's tradition

SWORD OUT

BUSHES TRIMMED

HYA!

and the ability to press Z to rapidly center the camera behind yourself, something a lot of games should continue to implement

looking at you, enslaved

and... acually everything, yeah, let me put the camera behind myself in a single button

omg skull kid's terrifying head-bobble

and the sound of the deku scrubs ecjoing

the blurred camera

i take it back this is terrifying

... for a zelda game

ON THE OTHER HAND, BECAUSE IT IS A ZELDA GAME, IT IS ONLY -SO- TERRIFYING

BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN TURNED INTO THE CUTEST CREATURE ON EARTH

A LITTLE SHRUBBERY GIJINKA WITH A FUNNY HAT AND A KILT

WHO PIROUETTES ACROSS STILL WATER AND BLOWS BUBBLES AT HIS ENEMIES

my heart!!!

i agree skull kid it is a good look for him

i disagree that he will be here forever

have you met him

he's the hero of time

even as tatl's dialogue is rude and aggressive she sounds (literally) just like navi, her little excited and sad and exploratory noises

(have i ever decided for myself what is inside a fairy's light sphere? no)

(do i think about what must be going on in link's head when tatl says "why are you looking at me like that," the shock and hope and longing)

i really want to know what... place they are in, during this transition, where worlds have been/are being crossed but also someone has taken the time to paint the walls with murals of flowers blooming, and the ceiling with yellow diamonds, and the doors erupting with scarlet flames

UGH I LOVE BEING DEKU LINK WHAT A CUTIE

THE CUTEST MCCUTERSON TO EVER CUTE

(pulling on my tp-link-is-oot-link theory, i can easily read tatl as practice for midna, and how link just... rolls with the punches of the latest selfish bossy violent girl to fall into his life)

n64 zelda sounds ;____;

OH NO THE PETRIFIED STUMP ;___________________;

the worst ;________________________________________;

THE FIRST RESOUNDING SLOW MUSIC OF THE SONG OF HEALING AND THE CLOCKWORKS

FUCK I'M SO GLAD I'M PLAYING THIS AGAIN

remind me to tell y'all about the "song of endings" please

a move they tried again, with greater success, in TP - beginning with your vision very narrow, literally climbing up from the depths of confusion and decay until you are finally high and out and able to see where you are

i like the moss growing on everything too, it's such a nice touch

this is what i'm saying, every square inch of termina is carved and painted, they stacked layers and layers of patterns onto the same polygon shapes they used for oot and it's so neat, i love heavily-textured and decorated worlds

i've spent a few minutes now looking at the symbol painted on the inside of the clock tower door, and i can't parse it - three green shapes in the midst of red curlicues? maybe it's nothing, but if it has a meaning i want to know what it is

(by the way it has become wine o'clock as i type all this up so be warned)

THERE IT IS

YOU'VE MET WITH A TERRIBLE FATE

HAVEN'T YOU

okay yeah it's overplayed now but that line is just. so good.

and tatl immediately hides from him

SO THE THING IS (yeah you can tell i have wine the capslock is staying on) HE SAYS RIGHT OUT THAT HE OWNS THE HAPPY MASK SHOP, AS IN, THE HAPPY MASK SHOP IN HYYRULE CASTLETOWN

DOES HE KNOW YOU??? IS THE HAPPY MASK SHOP TRANSCENDING TIME AND SPACE???

WHAT DO YOU KNOW HAPPY MASK SALESMAN??????

one of the weirdest possible options for them to have picked as a Recurring NPC for these games, what was going on here

(in my head this is... basically garfield the deals warlock as well)

aaaaaaaugh the abrupt jump cuts in this scene are so effectively unsettling

"I can help you," he says, while immediately behind his head, on his pack hands a mask of a screaming human face lest you get too comfortable

i missed everyone having pointy ears in the N64 zelda games! in ww and even tp it's a lot less common, no longer a given. but an integral part of the zelda world to me was always the hylians with their long ears and the gerudo with their round ones, and that transcendentally racist bit of lore that hylians were better able to hear the gods because of their ears.

my heart racing as i stand before the doors

about to enter termina

about to start that clock running

here we go

[sdd-blogs]

Warm

@the-delta-42 wanted a Gerudo!Link AU where Link’s parents are the Gerudo chief and a Hylian knight and I figured since I’m doing BOTW fics it would make sense for Urbosa to be his mother, considering the prompt I was given (also i LIVE for Gerudo!Link and i desperately hope they put him in the next game)

—-

She won’t tell her father the knight he’s appointed to her is somewhat pleasurable company.

He’s quiet, though she does not yet know why, and he seems to be in great reverence of not only her but other women, which is respectable. It makes sense considering he’s half Gerudo.

It is odd, though. He’s Urbosa’s son and she’s so proud of him and so uncharacteristically soft around him and being in the same room with both of them makes Zelda feel like an intruder. Alone with Urbosa, she lets herself relax and finds comfort in her strength.

Alone with Link, she dares herself to let her mind wander over his striking blue eyes and dark warm skin and angry red hair. He’d arrived in the common garb, as if expecting Central Hyrule to be just as hot as Gerudo. Or maybe he had not any clothes for cooler weather at all. Whatever the case, Urbosa presented him to the king, her breast puffed with pride, and he stood, looking a little uncomfortable, a little cold, wearing nothing more than the sword on his back and the shoes on his feet and the pants on his legs.

Zelda won’t tell anyone she admires the evidence of Link’s strength. She’s still mad at him, she reminds herself. But his arms are so strong and he’s got muscles just like his mother’s (she’s worked him, no doubt) and when she lets the naive mind of a teenage girl take over she gets lost in want.

He is like what she imagines a dragon to be. Stoic and infallible and constant, watching and waiting for what Zelda cannot try to guess at. He reminds her of fire and life and wind combined into something powerful and indescribable. He makes her feverish because he’s so warm and the air around her is so cool and she doesn’t know whether she wants to burn alive or let the night bring colder air to freeze her.

Every now and then he speaks. It’s low and soft and accented in the way of the Gerudo and humid on her neck and close, dangerously close, to her ear. To warn her of danger–“Get behind me”–or perhaps to tell her to watch her words carefully. Sometimes it ghosts her ears from three paces behind and she thinks she imagines it but then he speaks again and he asks her how she’s doing. He asks her about her day. He does not always expect a reply and often that is all he says, preferring to listen rather than converse.

There is one morning, long after Zelda is done being mad at him, where he digs hungrily and shamelessly into a hydromelon, juice shining on his cheeks and nose. His hair sticks to his face and every now and then he reaches for a piece of meat for protein. Zelda watches, amused. This is a common ritual.

She eats her food in silence, daintily. He inhales his noisily. Like a barbarian. Even her father eats like this without an audience. But Link just seems to be perpetually starving and in need of food.

To keep him from choking, she touches his arm. “Why don’t you speak?”

He stops, and sets his food down, and looks her in the eyes. Then he shakes his head: I do not want to say.

“Please? I’ve never once conversed with you.” She gives him a hopeful look, knowing deep down he’ll relent to her.

He stays still another moment, then shifts and sighs. When he does speak it’s stronger than she would have imagined under the circumstances, and even so he moves his hands as he speaks like he’s signing along with his words, and she realizes he is, and suddenly now she wonders why.

“Being the only boy in the town made me displaced,” he reveals. “It’s not that I was outcast, I just didn’t fit in with the rest of the tribe. I stayed mute till I was eight, and then spoke very little, and at that point everyone was used to me signing my words as opposed to speaking them, so I began to combine the two. I’ve recently taken on that silence again as…with so many eyes on me and so much at stake, I feel it is best to bear my burdens quietly and discreetly.”

Something about that pulls at Zelda’s heart. It’s a sentiment she shares quietly, a conflict she and him hold onto tightly and internally and resolutely despite what could be done to help. Despite what  assistance they could ask for.

It’s a stubborn thing, and Zelda is not surprised to realize it in herself. But to realize it in Link, to have him actually open up and tell her something she was too busy dealing with on her own to see it in him, is another thing entirely. After knowing him the better part of a year it makes sense, considering Link’s unshakeable will, but to know someone else understands what Zelda herself is going through gives her a swift reality check.

She touches his arm again. “Then you and I are more alike than I initially believed,” she says gently.

He doesn’t say anything for a moment, looking down at her hand on his skin. Then he raises those wild, hard blue eyes to hers and they soften upon landing on her face and they’re bright and warm and he’s smiling, he’s smiling, albeit lightly, but he’s smiling, a real, genuine smile that sends Zelda’s heart fluttering in her chest. He absently puts his other hand over hers, just for a moment, and then he laughs like a dog laughs: his smile wide and only the slightest of sounds escaping his lips and his eyes closed happily, crinkled upwards by his smile.

“I guess we are,” he agrees, picking up another hydromelon slice and raising it in her direction as if toasting to her.

He does not speak to her after that, but he doesn’t need to. The silence this time is friendly and content and Zelda does not feel burdened to mend any old wounds she may have inflicted.

When the Calamity arrives and Vah Naboris falls, Link does not show his pain. Zelda knows it’s there–it’s thick and heavy in the air and every move he makes is sharper than normal–but he does not cry, he does not scream out in anguish and curse the gods for letting this happen.

He’s not even angry with Zelda, and he has every right to be. It is her fault, after all.

When she relays the death of Urbosa, of the Gerudo chief and Champion and mother, to Link and tells him fervently that she is sorry, he only swallows and looks up at her with eyes hard as obsidian and just as glassy, and he murmurs, “It is my duty to keep the princess safe,” and he doesn’t speak another word as he takes her hand and pulls her along through the woods to safety.

Zelda can feel their pain and hears their spirits crying out as each one falls. She’s covered in mud and scrapes and with every step her legs feel heavier and then her hand slips from Link’s and she falls to her knees, letting the rain freeze her to her bones.

Link returns to her silently, kneeling in front of her, waiting for her to talk. She chokes back a sob and tells him it’s her fault and throws herself into his arms, bawling, and after a moment she can feel him shaking against her chest.

He’s crying. Oh, goddesses, he’s crying, and he’s whispering that it’s not her fault, that she tried and she did her best and that it’s going to be okay, but his voice is trembling and he’s hurting so bad inside and for once Zelda cannot bring herself to heed his words.

He dies in her arms. There’s too much blood but there’s enough time to save him if she gives him to the Sheikah warriors who find her in the woods. She’d finally awakened her powers, but the others were already dead.

She’d failed Urbosa, and in doing so failed Link, and he’d bled out in her arms as a result.

Zelda hates herself. She hates the world. She’s a failure, she messed up, she’s flawed and–

Zelda watches the Sheikah carry Link away and the Master Sword gleams at her and suddenly she realizes she can’t keep doing this anymore. She makes up her mind in an instant.

She has to bring the sword to the Great Deku Tree. She has to kill her feelings and hold Ganon back till Link wakes up. Till his fierce Gerudo heart brings him back to her.

When she lays eyes on him again he’s clad in blue and he looks a little older, a little tougher, a little more worn than before. His emotions show more clearly now, ire and determination as plain on his face as the sun in the sky. He’s riding an equally battle-ready dun horse, encouraging it gently to keep running circles around the pig-demon Ganon, and he’s wielding the Bow of Light like he’d been born with it in his hands.

That Gerudo fire is blazing in his heart. He is unstoppable now, and Zelda calls out to him, urging him on.

He hears it and he smiles and he lands the final blow and Zelda lands in the grass, calm and collected and powerful.

And then Ganon is gone.

Everything is suddenly quiet, peaceful. After a hundred years, Zelda’s dress is still stained with mud. After a hundred years, Link still looks at her like she’s the most important thing in the world to him.

He remembers her.

He tells Zelda later that not remembering his own mother did a number on his psyche. He recounts his journey to Gerudo Town and how as soon as he entered the village, clad in feminine clothing (that he happens to enjoy, mind you), everyone stopped and saw and knew. Maybe they didn’t know who exactly he was but they knew he was important and he himself did not know why.

Seeing Urbosa’s spirit in her Divine Beast broke him, he tells her. He’d remembered her by that point and she’d told him she loved him and granted him her power and he’d cried right then and there because it was her.

Zelda hurts for him and sympathizes, her own father lost to something she could not control. She and Link only find consolation in knowing their parents’ souls are at peace.

He also tells of his father, a knight, whom he never really knew till Urbosa brought him, at around ten years of age, to the castle to train. He says that his father was a good man, if a bit distracted and a little too proud of his son for being the princess’ personal guard and her chosen Champion.

Link remembers other, more vague details as time goes on after the battle. He presents them to Zelda as they appear, and he appears excited about such occurrences. It is to be expected.

He takes her to Gerudo Town more than once. He’s the only man Zelda’s seen waltz straight through the city gates without being attacked by the guards, and it’s almost humorous.

She can’t tell if he’s happier in the desert or Central Hyrule. She works up the nerve to ask, and he tells her that the desert will always be where he feels the most comfortable. She doesn’t blame him, he grew up there.

But then he looks her in the eye and smiles, and he tells her softly, “I am, however, happiest with you.”

It’s an intimate thing, a gentle confession found on his breath and in her ears but lost to the world around them and she smiles back at him and it’s at this time that she realizes he reminds her of the sun.

[mikebigby-blog]

Netflix Legend of Zelda full season 1 outline

I am pants-shittingly excited about the possibility of a live-action Legend of Zelda series on Netflix.  You’ve heard the rumours.  I’ve heard the rumours.  And I have shitted all of my pants.  I only have pants with shit in them now.  I know what you’re saying out-loud to your computer like a weirdo as you read this blog alone; you’re saying “Mike, just wash your pants” but then I wouldn’t be wearing the pants and the shit would go on the floor.  Think before you speak.

Anyway, this is a serious blog.  Please don’t be put off by my shitty pants, I won’t mention them again from here on out.  

Just imagine.  An actually good live-action Legend of Zelda TV show.

 I have dreamed of this since I was a 11 year old kid when I “wrote” and “directed” an Ocarina of Time movie using my dad’s 20kg VHS cam-corder.  I never finished that movie, so this is literally unfinished business for me.

As the title of this blog suggests, for fun, I’ve put together a treatment for what I think a Legend of Zelda series could be.

If you don’t like it, no worries.  It’s not much more than fan-fiction.  If you DO like it, I dunno, share it with your friends or something.

Format, tone and general thoughts

I think the tone of the show should be light-hearted, weird, occasionally funny, and ultimately epic.  That’s what Zelda is.  I see it as Game of Thrones meets Dirk Gently, kinda.  

I personally think this should be live-action, but it doesn’t have to be, a cartoon would be cool.

I’m suggesting ten eps per season and as many seasons as possible.  In my opinion we should stay with the same Link, Zelda and Ganondorf, but there’s no real reason why the show couldn’t jump multiple generations with each season like the games do.

This treatment consists of a scene-by-scene of the pilot, and outline of episodes two and three, and basically extended log-lines for episodes four to ten.  Sorry they’re not all scene-by-scenes, it was already a lot of (fun) work to draft this and besides, I don’t think you’d want to read that much anyway.

Please bear in mind that it’s all about the execution.  These are still just ideas.  If the show was developed, things would get more complex, ledes would be excavated and everything would be amped up to make every episode as compelling as possible.  So imagine everything I say is better than it is lol.

Finally, I’ve tried to draw from / reference as many of the games as possible.  I think the show, and even this blog post, should absolutely reward fans of the franchise.

Context

We need to start off with some Hyrule Historia to set this pitch in context.  One of the things that most grounds Game of Thrones is its world’s rich history and that’s something the Zelda franchise shares.  So I want to set up some legends and lore upfront.

NB In the actual show this should not be revealed in narration or an opening scroll.  It’s primary purpose is to inform the world of Hyrule and its characters’ motivations.  It will be revealed to the audience slowly and sparingly through reference and allusion over the season.

Here we go:

Two thousand years before the events of our story, the last person to wield the power of the Triforce unified the warring tribes of the land into one principality; Hyrule.  This is not your average divide-and-conquer legend, this is something far more incredible; a conquer and unification.  The legend of an absolute badass.  The legend of Boudicca and King Arthur and Alexander the Great and William the Conqueror all rolled into one.  This is the in-world Legend of Zelda.  

That’s right, the first monarch of Hyrule was a Queen named Zelda (Breath of Wild fans: I consciously chose not to make this character the Goddess Hylia for the sake of simplicity).  Zelda brought decisive peace to the land by being unquestionably awesome, ending an ancient war between the country’s great races.  Together, the leaders of these once-warring tribes - the Gorons, the Zorras, the Ritos, Sheikah, Gerudo and the Hylians - worked with Zelda to capture the titanic, elemental monstrosities and demons they each summoned to fight on their behalf and contain them in purpose-built stone enclosures.  That’s right.  Temples.  Dungeons.  You get the idea. 

Flash forward two thousand years and this awesome history is relegated to the status of myth.  Yes, the temples still stand, but they are decrepit and overrun with flora and fauna.

These days the ancient Zelda’s direct descendent, Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule, sits upon the throne.  A wise and just ruler who, in his youth, fought bravely to quash an uprising from the worshippers of Din the Destroyer, and successfully restored his subjects rights to religious freedoms without threat of persecution.  The three major religions worship alongside each other in peace once again.  

But, in recent years, the king has grown old and feeble.

OK that’s all the history stuff out of the way so we can get on with the episodes!  It’s exciting isn’t it? I’m excited!  Are you excited?  IT’S EXCITING!

Episode 1: The Phantom Menace I’m Just Kidding That’s Not The Title Of The Episode

FADE IN on a beautiful white ship (10 history points if you get this reference) as it sails the night-time waters of the Great Bay of Hyrule Channel.  There’s no moon so it’s particularly dark, and the wind is so calm the sailors have taken to the oars.

The ship is like an island of light and life in the vast, dark nothingness - think of those wide night-time shots in James Cameron’s Titanic.  But this is more jovial.  The hundred or so passengers and crew sing and whoop and holler by the light of the ship’s candles.  Everyone’s clearly having a good, wine-fuelled time. We catch a glimpse of a young / strong / handsome / regal looking dude, singled out by his unusual pensiveness in the face of all this merriment. This is Daltus, son of King Daphnes and heir to the throne of Hyrule.

CREEEAAAKKKKK what the hell was that?  For a moment, the party is silenced…..

Nothing. Phew. The singing soon continues…  But for us the soundtrack subtly clues us into a feeling of unease.  

We zoom out to a wide-shot far enough away that the ship looks like a toy and the noise of the passengers is reduced to nothing.  From here we can just about make out the coast, more than a few miles away - too far to swim - and a great stone temple, half submerged, wholly forgotten.

SUDDENLY - punching out from the black depths without warning, a great tentacle looms up over the ship. The party is thrown into silence for a beat before screams and panic erupt like an explosion.

It’s absolute pandemonium on board as a second tentacle rips into the sky on the other side of the ship.  Daltus, cool as a cucumber, pulls out his sword.  But what can he do?  Nothing.  We all know what’s coming.  

The tentacles crash down onto the deck, each with the weight of a London bus, cleaving the splintered ship in half.

We get a glimpse of the great leviathan as it pulls the crumpling ship down under the newly formed waves.  For you die-hard fans, this is GYORG.  

CUT TO a young princess holding court in her father’s throne room, hearing the plights of the townsfolk she has granted an audience to.  

Yea you guessed it, this is Zelda, and she’s clearly a smart cookie and is fair and respectful to the townsfolk she speaks with.  At her right hand is her guardian and teacher, the Aristotle to her Alexander the Great, Impa.  A middle-aged Sheikah woman.  

By the sunlight streaming through the stained glass windows (which, by the way, tell the story of the ancient Zelda (an Easter egg, not obvious)) we know it’s the following day.

In comes this dishevelled old dude who urgently recounts the story of a sunken ship… Our sunken ship! But wait, no, his account is wrong.  He says Daltus supplied the crew with drink, that doesn’t sound right.  Woah woah, what’s he saying now?  The ship’s port-side hit a submerged rock because the crew was drunk?  That’s not at all what happened!  He is the only survivor he says, well… that part could be true.

An emotional Zelda beseeches the man “What happened to Lord this and that? did he survive?”  The old man shakes his head.  “What of lady blah blah?”  he shakes his head.  She’s building up the courage to ask the question.  It’s clear from her foggy eyes, she knows the answer.  “…My brother?” HE SHAKE HE DAMN HEAD.

Devastation.  Stoic, suppressed, sure, but devastation nonetheless.  She takes a moment to swallow her grief.

“What of Lord Ganondorf?”  WELL, says the man, some disembarked before the ship set sail, not confident of the drunken crew’s ability to sail.  Ganondorf among them.

Oh SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!!!!

Boom.  Next scene.  We’re getting rural now.  We are nowhere near the regal Hyrule castle, this is a luscious woodland on the other side of the kingdom.

We’re looking at a badass silhouette of a heroic figure, mounted on horseback, with a sword in one (LEFT) hand and a shield in the other.  The horse takes a few steps forward into the daylight streaming in through the canopy… not so badass.  Wooden sword, toy shield.  This is not much more than a kid.  Maybe 16 or 17.

BUT SUDDENLY the horse bolts, the kid hollas a very Link-like battle cry as he jumps off the horse and descends upon what can only be described as scarecrows, crudely mocked up to look like Moblins.  

He batters them in a fun-to-watch but technically unskilled brawl, slipping over here and there.  This is not a hero.  This is a kid.  This is a dreamer.  This is, you guessed it, Link.

He’s interrupted / embarrassed by his uncle, Alfon, and reprimanded for not getting on with his chores.  We see a glimpse of farm-life and, although Link clearly loves and respects his uncle, we know for a fact Link would rather be out there adventuring.  This is Luke Skywalker in the Act I of A New Hope.   

We also meet Malon, a milkmaid with whom Link has an adorkable relationship.  She fires seeds at him from a homemade slingshot in the same way kids pull pigtails on playgrounds.  It’s cute.

Back in Hyrule town Impa is sleuthing.  She doesn’t buy the old man’s tale because she’s SMART as HELL and follows him using her Sheikah skills as he goes about his business through our Flea-Bottom-equivalent.  He goes to a dive-bar inn, a dingy brothel… gross but, as of yet, nothing out of the ordinary for a creepy old dude.  

But then, strangely, he slips into an abandoned house, looking over his shoulder more times than an honest man would.  Impa follows.  We witness him in conversation with a shadowy figure with a woman’s voice, he asks for payment - presumably in return for lying about Daltus’ ship - and holds out his hand in expectation.  Schwing.  He drops to the floor.  We’ve just witnessed this guy’s sudden and brutal execution at the hands of the shadowy figure, who is revealed to be… a Gerudo assassin (!!!) ostensibly tying up some loose ends.  I promise I won’t use the word ‘ostensibly’ again.

Now we get some real action.  The Gerudo bails and Impa launches into full-on chase mode.  They duck and dive across rooftops.  They fight in the streets.  It’s clear that Gerudos aren’t as skilled as the Sheikah in this kind of ninja acrobatics.  In her prime, Impa would own this fight, but the Gerudo assassin is younger and fitter, evening up the odds.  

Before you ask, no this is not a no-stakes CGI extravaganza like a Daniel Craig Bondtage (just invented this word, it means Bond montage) or the Assassin’s Creed movie. This is real.  It feels real.  When they jump down off even 6 foot walls, it hurts.  Remember, Impa is a middle-aged woman.

What I’m saying is: it’s a thrilling, evenly matched fight which ends when Impa seizes an opportunity to dump tackle the sucker.  The race is over.  The interrogation is ON!

Meanwhile, in the castle the aging King is sitting top-table, with Zelda at his right hand in a privy council meeting.  All of the major races are represented around the table.  

Daphnes is looking frail.  He’s clearly too weak to be out of bed, but he’s found the strength from the loss of his son and the urgency of the situation.  

In light of recent events, he’s attempting to secure Zelda as successor to the throne.  The Gerudo representative vehemently protests the idea of a woman on the throne, demanding that “your cousin, Ganondorf, is next in line.”  Plot. Thickened.

As you might expect, this goes down about as well as a piss flavoured milkshake, especially with Darunia, the Goron representative.  Zelda makes an incredible, impassioned speech, invoking the story of her ancestor and damn she’s good.  She’s an orator on Henry V’s level. She wins over passionate Darunia and the cold, logical, but ultimately nice old Rito dude.

But despite having the loyalists round the table convinced, ultimately, the consensus is an unmarried woman, even a woman descended from the great Zelda of old, cannot inherit the throne.  Out-fucking-rageous.

Just as we’re feeling that all is lost and Ganondorf will inherit the throne, Impa BURSTS into the room - thank GOD!  She’s badly beaten and bloody, but it doesn’t slow her down.  She has proof of a plot against the crown, Daltus was murdered… by Ganondorf!  Dun dun DUN!

Voices are raised around the table, shit is hitting the fan and emotions are running high.  Impa tells the story of Daltus’ voyage as we saw it only with one added detail - forces under the command of Ganondorf intentionally released a great beast of old into the bay.  Everyone is stunned.   It’s hard to believe.  The beasts… from the stories? They’re real?  They’re still alive after two thousand years? WHAT?!  

When the question of cross examining the assassin inevitably arises, however, Impa sheepishly admits that she’s dead. Oops.  The Gerudo rep feigns offense and bones the fuck outta there.  No one really knows whether to believe this or not, but Darunia is convinced.

Back at the farm we catch up with Link after his chores are all done.  He’s back in his makeshift training area, this time under the supervision of Uncle Alfon who’s equipped with a real sword and Hylian shield.  OK so maybe he isn’t the helpless Uncle Owen Skywalker of this story (is that his last name? Is Uncle Owen Anakin’s brother or Padme’s?  Don’t look that up, it’s not important.  Keep reading.)

It’s apparent that, after witnessing the woeful display of swordsmanship earlier in the day, Alfon has finally acquiesced to Link’s repeated requests for training.  And guess what?  He is skilled.  And we get to watch him FLEX in an exciting training sequence.  

Malon, just like us, is spending her free time watching this, firing the occasional seed at our hero to distract him from the spar at inopportune moments.

This really is worlds away from the capital.

In Hyrule, ya boy Ganondorf and his followers make a play for the throne, big style.  He’s obviously caught wind of the talk at the privy council, a la the Gerudo rep who left in a huff, so he’s making a move less subtle than he would have liked but he’s still keeping it within the confines of the castle. He doesn’t yet have the forces to fight an all-out war.

This is the first time we see Ganondorf on screen and let me tell you, it’s frightening.  He’s a mountain of a man / Gerudo - the absolute personification of intimidating.  And his coup is bloody.  Everyone either dies or submits.  The king is slain. It doesn’t seem like anyone has made it out the castle alive, as is Ganondorf’s plan. 

We find out Ganondorf’s motivations and the source of his followers undying devotion to him; religion.  The worshippers of Din the Destroyer were apparently unhappy with the outcome of the recent civil war, which, as we know, granted all three major religions - worshippers of Din, Nayru and Farore - the freedom to do so. The Gerudo’s, led by Ganondorf, have been drawing plans against the crown for a generation.  But we get the sense this is just a vehicle for him, his true motivation is pure, unbridled lust for power.

Ganondorf makes it clear that he intends to force Zelda to marry him to consolidate his rule. Impa defends her with all her might but is bested by him and tossed aside, presumed dead. The mere fact that Zelda wasn’t immediately down to clown is enough to send Ganondorf into brutal rage and he slaughters the kindly Rito man from the privy council.  Zelda is imprisoned as the new regime takes hold.

Daaaaaamn son.

Back on the farm.  Rumour of the coup has already got around, but no one much cares except for those who remember the civil war, and yea that includes captain badass Uncle Alfon.

A traveller arrives, an old war buddy of Alfon’s.  He speaks of a rebellion led by the Goron, Darunia.  He must’ve made it out of the castle alive!  Alfon is totally up for knocking some heads and packs up his shit, takes the sword and shield and the horse Link was riding when we were first introduced to him.  This is an emotional moment.  Link is desperate to join but Alfon shoots him down, he is, after all, only a kid.  A kid who sucks at fighting.  Gotta commend him for his bravery though.

Alfon goes to war once again, entrusting the farm to Link and Malon.

Some time later, at the castle, Ganondorf is out quashing the uprising.  We follow a mysterious figure as he, or she, makes her way through the castle ninja-Sheikah-style, dragging a limp body along for the ride.  Fans of the series will recognise this character from their clothing.  This is Sheik.  And Sheik is rad.  

Sheik fucks up some guards and escapes the castle in a stealthy-cool sequence leading all the way out to Hyrule field, where he witnesses Ganondorf return victorious with prisoners in tow - including Darunia and Uncle Alfon.

Ganondorf orders the prisoners be taken to a concentration camp at Kakariko Village, and Darunia be sealed “in the mountain”.  As the prisoner convoy leaves, Sheik and her limp friend surreptitiously hitch a ride.

Meanwhile, at the farm, there are clearly wide-ranging consequences as a result of the coup.  Taxes have been raised.  Goods are seized by Ganondorf’s marauding forces.  Shit’s bad son.

Link is doing his chores half heartedly, head clearly stuck on the fact he’s not heard anything of his uncle’s rebellion.  He thinks about setting out to find Alfon but Malon talks him down.

All of a sudden, a ripple of shock / horror rips through the little rural community they’re within.  The traveller - Alfon’s war buddy - has returned, on Alfon’s horse.  Everyone who looks upon him is stunned.  He looks like shit.  

He shares the fate of the rebellion with Link, including that they have been taken to the concentration camp at Kakariko Village, and abruptly dies of his wounds. 

That’s it.  Link’s mind is made up. He packs a bag with food, grabs his wooden sword a shield and gets ready to set off on an epic quest.  

Just before he leaves, Malon, tears in her eyes, tries one last time to beg him to stay.  But she sees there’s no use in it.  She tosses him her slingshot.

“It’s dangerous to go alone.  Take this.”

FADE OUT 

DAAAAAMN son.

If you’ve stuck it out this far, good work.  Thank you.  I appreciate your attention.  

Honestly, I’m amazed you made it past the first paragraph, you know, the one about the shit that’s in my pants.  

Let’s keep going.  And sorry for bringing up my shitty pants again.

Episode 2: Attack of the Clones ok I guess we’re sticking with this Star Wars thing, sorry, I hate it too

Link travels through the dangerous open land of Hyrule in the direction of Kakariko village but is pretty much immediately discovered by Ganondorf’s (human) marauding forces.  He draws his wooden shield and they are immediately destroyed by the biggest, meanest marauder in the gang.  They erupt in laughter.  He draws his slingshot.  The marauders absolutely crack up, they can’t breathe, who is this kid?  Link fires, straight up blinding the grizzly one.  

Not so funny anymore.

Link is overpowered and bundled into a mobile-cell with a young Goron, Darbus, and a sheikah child named Granté.  Crucial allies going forward obviously.  

Anyway, as prisoners, guess where they’re going?  That’s right, the concentration camp at Kakariko village – exactly where we wanted to go.  Lucky…. Kind of.  

We arrive at Kakariko, a village on the foot of Death Mountain, and it’s like nothing we’ve seen yet.  It’s a totally ransacked settlement, entirely overtaken by Ganondorf’s forces a la Tywin Lannister’s occupation of Harrenhal.  But it’s not just a prison, it’s clearly the base of operations for some kind of mining / weapon smelting operation with armed workers travelling up and down Death Mountain trail.

Link learns the hard way that there’s consequences to blinding people that are bigger than you and is beaten, bloodied and bruised.  He’s about to give up hope as he is thrown into a squalid little cell, overfull with other prisoners.   One of whom is ALFON!  WE LOVE THAT GUY!  HELL YEAH!

But Alfon has been badly injured and in such disgusting conditions, without any form of medical treatment, his wound has become infected.  It’s pretty clear this dude is gonna die, and boy is it emotional.  Link’s crying, you’re crying, I’m crying.  There’s not a dry eye in the house.  Or even outside the house.   

With his dying words, Alfon manages to instill in Link a powerful need to avenge him and an immense sense of duty to ‘save Princess Zelda’.  Alfon urges Link to escape and raise another rebellion. To do so, he is told, he will need Darunia’s support.

With renewed enthusiasm, Link makes an attempt at escape.  And, you know what?  He’s actually successful, making it all the way to the armoury, where he grabs his slingshot and leaves his wooden sword and shield in favour of his uncle’s steel equivalent.  Oh shit, my boy EQUIPPED.

Covert as hell, he saves Darbus and Granté and together they make a break for the gates leading to the Death Mountain trail.  Meanwhile, in the darkness and unnoticed by our heroes, shadowy figures silently take out guards here and there.

The gang is on the home straight now, they’re about to make a break for it when suddenly they spot guards up ahead.  Slowly and quietly they try to pass them without being noticed when a chicken trots up and pecks Link’s boot.  He tries to wordlessly shoo it away, but it keeps pecking.  In a moment of frustration, he boots it one.  

Bad idea.  

Scores of chickens swoop in and go nuts attacking Link, drawing the attention of the guards.  The chickens flutter off and the real fight is on.  This time, equipped with a real sword and shield, Link is actually pretty effective, as are Granté and Darbus (who is literally a walking rock).  You’d have thought they just might win if it weren’t for the 15 extra guards joining the fray.  OH SHIT!

Just as it seems all is lost, the guards drop dead.  What the hell?  The shadowy figures emerge and are revealed to be… a Sheikah clan led by SHEIK and IMPA!  

The prisoners are liberated and everyone rejoices.  Big Act III party and debrief.  You get the idea.

FADE OUT 

Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith I guess

Some days later, the Sheikah have set up something of a honey trap at Kakariko village, where marauders bring their prisoners only to be ambushed by the liberated milita.  They are running a pretty tight ship and have blocked passage to Death Mountain.  

It’s immediately apparent that the Sheikah in charge - i.e. Impa and Sheik - do not think much of Link.

Fortunately, Granté is able to convince them to grant him and Darbus passage through to Death Mountain trail.  Granté elects to stay behind for the time being to help this little resistance movement and be with his people.  Goodbye Granté, it’s been nice.

Our B story in this ep splits off here.  After Link and Darbus leave, we follow Sheik, who is revealed to be Zelda in disguise.  As she deftly interrogates Ganondorf’s forces, she uncovers some stake-raising info about a prophecy Ganondorf is trying to fulfil that sees her head off in the direction of Dragon Roost, homeland of the Rito.  But while she’s gone, the Sheikah lose control of the village and there’s a big ol’ brawl on.  This is weaved in throughout the episode; I’ve just summarised here for time.   

Back to the A story.  The Death Mountain trail is testing.  It’s increasingly steep.  The paths are old and treacherous.  They pass a lot of huge boulders.  They encounter some of Ganondorf’s forces who have been trapped up the mountain since the Sheikah revolt.   

They eventually make it to the entrance of one of the ancient temples but It’s blocked by a big – and I mean big rock – that is just impossible to move.  I know what you’re thinking, If only Link had some magic gauntlets… well HE DOESN’T FOLKS.  This is insurmountable.  He’s not going to surmount this one.  Because it’s insurmountable.   

As night falls, the two dejected friends set up camp and we get to know our characters a little better as they share stories around a campfire.  Time for a LIGHT touch of exposition which will be worked in really well:

Darbus explains that Gorons, like the Gerudo, worship the fire-god, Din, but they were happy to live in peace with the worshippers of Nayru and Farore.  This is why Darunia took Ganondorf’s seizing-of-the-throne-on-religious-grounds so personally.  

We also find out that Goron’s are really hard to kill, they are rocks after all, and this is why Ganondorf has elected to lock Darunia away instead of doing the obvious thing.   But this fact is weird because, there’s almost no Gorons left, they’re kind of an endangered species.

While Darbus is telling a particularly demonstrative story, dramatised by the long shadows cast by the torch he hold in his hand, he accidentally holds the fire too close to the big rock.  Not normally an issue, but this time…

THE BIG ROCK WAKES UP YO.  IT’S A GIANT GORON!  HELL YEAH!  OH WAIT, shit, he’s a bit grumpy about being woken up / burnt on the ass cheek.  Cue a massive, awesome stomp and dodge sequence - well Link dodges, Dalbus gets stomped right into the ground.  It’s cool and funny and we’ve never seen anything like it on TV before.

Anyway, once the giant goron has properly woken up, we find out his name is Daruk and he’s actually a nice guy.  He’s been asleep since not much after the first age (near the time of the original Zelda) and he’s pretty mad to hear about Ganondorf and Darunia etc. and the thought that he might have been picked up and moved to block the entrance is particularly offensive to him.  

He let’s them pass and goes on his own quest to wake up his brothers - all the boulders lying around the place.

FADE OUT

OK folks we’re moving onto much shorter outlines from here on out, should be quicker to get through.  Hope you can stick with me!

Episode 4: A New Hope

A Story - the fire temple:  Link and Darbus face a road of trials in the fire temple as they try to find and recover Darunia.  They discover a large boulder and Link does everything he can to wake it up, including whispering sweet things to it.  But it turns out to be just a boulder.  Darbus calls him a racist.  They eventually find Darunia, who is crushed by his recent defeat and doesn’t believe he can raise the forces to take on Ganondorf.  Together they fight a giant Dodongo, one of the titanic beasts of old.  It’s extremely cool and difficult but they somehow pull it off.  They emerge victorious to find Daruk has raised something of an army of Gorons.  Game on.

B Story - Her name was Rito and she dances in the sand:  Zelda makes her way to Dragon Roost which, by the way, is like, another mountain, slightly smaller and different in shape to Death Mountain, and with a giant egg on top of it.   She’s there to parley with the Rito Queen, Medli - who is only about 10 years old - about being granted access to their records (Rito are like, natural librarians) to learn more about this whole prophecy thing.  But Medli is a capricious little brat who’s pretty annoyed about her father, the kindly old Rito dude, being killed in Zelda’s presence and blames her for it.

C Story - Ganondorf’s diary:  Some political-intrigue here as the new administration makes plans to unify the land under Ganondorf.  We get an insight into Ganondorf’s plan.  Something about the Triforce, a shadow realm, and something about him being a vessel for something something, I think he said… Ganon.

Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back yep we’re still doing this star wars thing

A Story - off to see the sea: Link and the Goron army head down to Kakariko and CRUSH the revolt of Ganondorf’s forces, saving Impa and the rest of the Sheikah.  They hatch a plan to raise armies all over the land to rebell against Ganondorf.  The Gorons stay behind to build their numbers and strength in that area of the map.  Link visits Alfon in the slightly-over-flowing Kakariko graveyard before setting off in the direction of the Great Bay with Impa where they find all Zorra-hands are on deck trying to deal with the GYORG situation.

B Story - Des-pa-Rito: Zelda is charged with the murder of the Rito king and fights extremely effectively in a trial-by-combat.  By winning, she gains the respect of Medli and is granted access to their records.  Zelda discovers a prophecy about GANON, an other-worldy beast of great power and the enemy of the Zelda of old.  She suspects Ganondorf plans to summon him into our realm and she’s dead set on stopping him.  She also learns of the Master Sword, the only worldly sword that can damage the beast and which once belonged to her ancestor.  It was last left in a sacred temple what is now an overgrown ancient woodland.  

C Story - Going Ganon: In a sick, bloody ritual, like the dead body parts of wildlings in ep 1 of GoT, Ganondorf unseals Ganon’s ethereal prison, and is possessed by it, granting him absolute knowledge of the Triforce and how to attain it.

Episode 6: Return of the Jedi

A Story - water temple: Impa intuitively believes there’s something in the temple that can be used to restrain GYORG and sends Link in after it.  The whole place is booby-trapped to hell because, you know, you’re not supposed to go in there.   

B Story - More like burRito: Zelda presents her findings to Medli but, although she has forgiven Zelda, she refuses to aid in the upcoming war against Ganondorf.  Zelda sends a messenger bird back to where she thinks Impa is - Kakariko - and heads off in the direction of the ancient woodland.  Before she can get there, she is accosted by a band of Gerudos.  They don’t recognise her in her Sheik gear so she pretends to join them and it works for a while, but, right at the end of the ep, her secret is discovered.  Cliffhanger. 

C Story - a mission from a god: Ganondorf / Ganon now knows he needs to unite with Zelda and Link to seal the deal and take control of the Triforce.

Episode 7: The (Tri)Force Awakens see what I did there

A Story - gone fishing: Impa’s hunch was right and Link is successful in retrieving an ancient, gigantic trawling net.  Together they engage GYORG and ultimately recapture it.

B Story - Getting Gerdoed: Zelda makes a break for the ancient woodlands.  She fights, runs, fights s’more and is ultimately captured by the Gerudos before she can find the sword.  She is marched to Hyrule castle.

C Story - an army and a leggy: Ganon’s machinations get interrupted when he gets wind of a large Goron army at Kakariko.  His own forces have grown in strength and number by now so he’s not too worried.  They march. 

Episode 8: The Last Jedi (we’re running low on ep titles)

A Story - team building:  With GYORG back in his play pen, Impa and Link attempt to secure the Zorra’s support in the upcoming war with Ganondorf.   

B Story - home sweet home: Zelda is returned to Hyrule castle and locked up a bit tighter than last time.

C Story - war boys: Ganon’s forces march to Kakariko en masse, ready to break necks and cash cheques, when Ganon receives a message that Zelda is captured.  He leaves the army and heads back to the castle.

Episode 9: Episode IX yea I know but this is genuinely the working title of it though

A Story - the master sword: Link and Impa set off to Kakariko, arriving as Ganondorf’s forces get there.  The war is about to begin when Impa receives Zelda’s message which has been waiting for her there since two episodes ago.  She learns about the prophecy and sends Link to the ancient woodlands to find the Master Sword.  In the woodlands, Link is accosted by a Yoda-on-Degoba-level-annoying Skullkid.  The SkullKid is mischievous and annoying but ultimately leads Link to the Master Sword.

B Story - the smell of napalm in the morning: The war kicks off.  Filmed like the Battle of the Bastards but following Link’s various allies from throughout the season.  Even with their rock-hard bods, the Gorons are being overpowered.  But then the Zorras arrive and it evens out the odds.

C Story - creepy cousin: Ganon and Zelda have an intense chat.  He reveals his plans, but not in a traditional James Bond villain way.  In a cool and also sensical way.  LIGHT exposition.

Episode 10: The Force Shits its Pants I made this title up but it’s what the tenth star wars film should be called imo

A Story - Tri forced: Link arrives.  This is the first time he gets to be face-to-face with Ganondorf and even Zelda out of her Sheik costume.  Zelda is like “YOU? You’re the hero Ganondorf’s been going on about?  The dumbass from Kakariko?”  Link is like “Well… excuse me, princess.”  The fight starts and Link is battered.  He immediately loses.  Of course he does.  He’s not even that good at fighting.  Ganondorf takes possession of the Triforce and his physical form takes that of Ganon’s.  A shockwave explodes out from the castle, terraforming the world into the Dark Realm (think: the Upside Down from Stranger Things)…

B Story - the big fight: The Goron, Zorra, Sheikah alliance is winning when a wave of darkness envelopes them.  Marauders turn into moblins like a werewolf in the full moon, Gerudo transform into flying beasts.  The air support in particular gives the forces of evil an edge and the balance sways yet again… fuck.

A Story: Link refuses to stop fighting, even though Ganondorf has become the great beast that is Ganon.  But he’s still getting his ass handed to him.  

B Story:  The Rito arrive and even up the odds again.

A Story: Zelda distracts Ganon and Link is able to drive the sword into his mouth and win. Ganondorf dies, the Dark Realm recedes back into itself taking Ganon with it.

Epilogue:  Order is restored.  Zelda becomes queen.  Race relations are at an all time high.  Link returns home to Malon.  Big party.

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Post credit sequence: In the woodland, the Skullkid accosts another traveller in the same way he accosted Link.  But this traveller is… a creepy mask salesman.

FADE OUT!

Phew, wow.  That’s a wrap folks. Well done.  If you got this far, seriously, thank you.  Now follow me on twitter.

Mike xxx

[zeldahijinks]

Headstrong

Part 1 

Characters: Skali/Bala, other characters: King Rhoam, Zelda, Urbosa, more to be added Summary: Respect is a hard thing to come by and especially difficult to earn when always underestimated. Zelda and Skali only wanted a simple trip without an escorts and they ended up with a smug Gerudo for a guide. Now the three must learn to get along and trust each other while the threat of the Yiga Clan possibly threatens their journey. 

[A/N: Here’s something I’ve been working on and off. It was time Bala got her time to shine. lol Enjoy!]

There was not a lot of things that Zelda nor Skali were allowed to do without the permission of their fathers. Zelda, of course, must be protected under all cost and Skali, although she has been training majority of her life trying to be Zelda’s knight, Revali often found it hard to allow his daughter out in the dangerous world. However how strict their fathers were, the two always found away around them and ran off together to create their adventure and further expand their small worlds ever since they were children.

Their attempts usually met with failure and were only able to get so far before the King sent a horde of guards to collect them, whether they came willingly or kicking and screaming. Zelda was often held over the shoulder of a guard and while Skali was able to make her escape. 

It became more of a irritation for the King and the Rito Champion when Skali became older and more proficient in her skills, and would take the defensive and ambush the guards. She wasn’t able to defeat them all, but with handy smoke bombs, Skali and Zelda were able to make their getaways.

But as the Yiga clan was on the rise in the recent years it became increasingly difficult for the two friends to run off. It didn’t matter if their life would be put in jeopardy, the young women were determined to experience their world, but if Revali ever caught wind of this… Oh boy, Skali’s Renren wouldn’t even be able to keep Revali from shooting his feathers off his skin in retaliation.

Zelda had to bribe most of her servants and the King’s trusted General to keep their mouths shut about the two leaving for Gerudo Town. The two believed that they finally had freedom and would be able to make their journey without their overbearing parents.

Now here they are adorned in long flowing gown and veils to protect themselves as they make their way to the royal stables. The outfits themselves were not of the best quality, it was to keep them from being easy to picked out, but it did not stop Zelda from mildly complaining about it.

Skali was far too focus in being aware of their surroundings, and constantly aware her knives patting against her thigh. The sensation was the only thing that tethered her to reality, constantly reminding her Zelda was first and utmost priority in this supposed “relaxed” adventure.

Zelda was in the middle of her sentence when she abruptly paused, and sighed noticing how tune-in Skali was. “If you were any more focused you could feel the compressions of a fault slipping.” But her statement whizzed by Skali’s ear and out the other causing Zelda to lightly shoved Skali’s shoulder.

It was enough to shake her out of her zone and Skali looked at Zelda in a questioning manner, “Why did you do that?”

The poor Princess could only sigh and look upon her friend as if she was a hopeless case. “I very well thought this trip would be different like the others, but you are exactly like your father sometimes.”

“Excuse me?” Skali rose her brow, feeling slightly insulted she was compared to her over zealous father.

Zelda peered at her with scrutinizing eyes. “This is our first trip without any guards breathing down the nape of our necks, and yet, you have taken the role of them! If I had known you would be a replacement I would not have suggested this trip.”

Skali stopped in her pace, watching the Princess carrying on before she turned around to look at the half-breed. “Zelda…” She began to speak, but took a moment to collect her thoughts and spoke in a hush tone,  “The Yiga clan’s sighting has been increasing in the last few weeks alone. I apologize if I am taking the initiative to be aware of your safety.”

Zelda huffed slightly and crossed her arms. “I suppose you are right, but…” She walked back over to Skali and held both of her hands. The Princess gave a small smile, “Just imagine though, we have no one supervising us, we can say and do whatever we please!” The light in the Princess’ eyes glimmered like stars as she pressed Skali’s hands to her chest. “Allow yourself to be at ease, Skali! I know you are capable, but I miss your smile. Besides-” Zelda looked at the looming castle with a cheeky grin. “We have not even left yet, we are safe for the time being.”

Skali bristled for a split moment as her eyes cast to the castle as well. She huffed turning her head away and Zelda had to suppress her laugh as Skali’s cheeks turned red. Zelda began to tug Skali in an excited state afterwards making Skali roll her eyes and laugh while Zelda pulled her along.

The Princess was yacking the poor knight-in-training’s ear off as they finally made their way to the stable. But they both got a shock seeing King Rhoam and a Gerudo standing next to the door’s entrance. The two girls’ blood ran cold as their fast pace calmed to a halt. The color drained from Zelda’s face as she stared upon her father who adorned an eerily calm expression. Instinctively, the Princess grasped Skali’s hand. The knight-trainee gripped it tightly back in return and lowered her veil with her other hand.

King Rhoam looked down on both of the girls with an heavy disappointed grimace. Zelda tried her best to keep eye contact with him, but she feared for the repercussions knowing someone must have ratted her out and she only could assumed what he might say. “Father, I can explain.” She began, but was stopped when her father’s hand rose.

“I have heard quite enough from the maids. The General you so kindly donated to also  informed me you were heading this way. I only wanted to see you off.” His words were not comforting in the least, they dripped heavy with scorn and Zelda could only inwardly shudder.

The Gerudo standing next to him took a step forward with an amused mirth. The two girls had to crane their necks to meet eye contact with the heavily muscular woman while Zelda’s father gestured a hand towards her, “Since you are so adamantly on heading for Gerudo Town I thought you might like company.”

Skali tried her best not to let her frown be seen as she eyed the smirking redhead. There were times where Skali’s respect for the King waned. He had an awful way of belittling Zelda and whenever the trainee witnessed these moments it made her blood slightly boil. It did not help that the tripped the two equally desired to going alone was ruined and they both felt underappreciated in their capability of taking care of themselves.

But he was the King and what he said was law. Neither of the two would ever agree to this willingly, but it seemed he had thought ahead and provided a “guide” that would follow regardless what the two would rebuttal. Zelda took in the Gerudo and felt a slight resentment towards the redhead’s smile. Was she enjoying this, Zelda thought, and glanced toward Skali.

The woman took another step forward making the two more aware of the height difference and the redheaded Gerudo slightly bowed. “I am Bala, Urbosa has spoken much of you two. I look forward to traveling with you, Princess and….” Her eyes peered off the side at the young trainee and Skali tensed seeing the woman look her over.  

Quietly, Skali refused to make eye contact and she replied with her name. The Gerudo, with her hand cupping around her ear,  leaned toward Skali, and said in a teasing tone, “Speak up, Little Vai.” Bala teased, and Skali shoulders tensed. “Your voice should roar like a Lynel!” The trainee felt slightly embarrassed, and refused to repeat herself. Bala’s smile slightly faltered. “Hm? What is wrong?”

“Her name is Skali.” Zelda cut in squeezing Skali’s hand reassuringly.

Bala glanced between the girls before humming amused and stood straight. She turned towards the King as she crossed her thick arms. “It should be no trouble escorting these littles ones.” She glanced back at the girls and Skali couldn’t help feel slightly annoyed at Bala’s easy going smile. To her it felt like Bala was underestimating her just by her appearance alone. Bala seemed more observant than she looked and rose a brow at Skali’s furrowed brows. “What’s wrong, Little Bird? You do not need to worry yourself, you’re in good hands.”

Skali could only give her an incredulous look and kept what she thought of this smug woman to herself. King Rhoam cleared his throat to bring the attention back to him and with a stern stare looked upon the women in front of him.

“See to it they arrive in a timely manner.” He ordered before he passed the two girls. Skali and his eyes briefly caught, “Your Father has been informed of your absence courtesy of myself. He wanted to me to tell you ‘once you’re done playing around come straight home’.” And he stomped away bleeding obnoxious dignity.

Skali’s pride simmered staring straight through the Gerudo. Bala pursed her lips and rubbed the back of her head. “Might as well prep the horses and leave before night.” She shrugged before turning around and leaving the two girls alone.

Zelda’s sigh brought Skali out of her tunnel vision and looked at her best friend. Zelda gave a small lopsided smile. “It’s best to play along.” She glanced back, making sure Bala wasn’t in hearing range, and leaned toward Skali with a mischievous mirth. “When we have the opportunity we can ditch her.”

A laugh burst from Skali making Zelda shush her friend while attempting to quell her own snickers.

[mrneighbourlove]

Snake who Smiles: Ch 5. Small Seeds

Malik held his new baby born closely. Revan was a handsome baby, black hair like his mother. It took a while but he had finally fallen asleep. Moments with just being with his family he cherished dearly.

"I thought for sure the little one would have your red hair since all of Zarazu's do so far." Asakonigei laughed softly as Malik placed Revan into his basinet. She was resting in the bed while Malik attended to their boy. Her husband was absolutely smitten with his son, counting his fingers and toes. The Kovina thought it was adorable. "Well, Zahirog has the closest to her locks of dark brown, like a burnt amber sort of color. Though I'm delighted to see he's strong, healthy, and most importantly, safe."

"Yes. Safe. Even more when I find Zahirog's attacker." Malik gave a mighty sigh. "I worry too much for the two of you, and the rest of this family on my back. Every corner, every drink. Just....dangers."

Love, you're not alone here. We protect our own, yes?" Asakonigei tried to soothe his news as she patted the spot on the bed beside of her. "Whoever did this will be found soon enough. We have more security now, people testing the food, and besides... have you ever seen my uncles and cousins when they're stark raving mad when it concerns me? Make you look like a mouse." She kissed his cheek as he sat. "You may be Gerudo, but Lorleidians take family of every tribe."

"Yes, yes. Your the fine pussy who caught me." He kisses her back. "Won't stop me from worrying."

"Excuse me? I'm a freaking goddess, thank you very much. Without my divine strength, I doubt I could have pushed that one out of me." Asakonigei motioned to Revan. "Big, like his father you know... and will probably worry and fret just like him too." As she settled underneath the warm covers, the Kovina sighed as she held Malik's cheek. "I understand why you worry, love. Just remember, we're here to help you if you need us."

Malik carefully positioned Revan between them. "I know, I know. Now that I'm a father, I worry even more. If not now for his present, then Revan's future. I had a disturbing conversation with Zizi not to long ago, after she had a man devoured, how everyone in our world has to kill at some point. To take a life. And to think our children will do that....I've lived death. I don't want them to experience it if I can't."

"Unfortunately, that is the world everyone lives in nowadays." Asakonigei had her fair share of bloodlust on the battlefield. She only killed to keep from being killed herself. "Even when I lived on Lorleidi, I had to fight. There were pirates, harpies, serpents and we faced Vul'kar too, Malik. Perhaps one day, our children will be able to rest and not fight."

"This isn't the world I want to bring them in. I don't want them to worry about their people suffering a genocide, or have demons rise from the ocean to take them. I just...I disagree with you and Zizi. It can be different." Malik took what he said in. Never in his wildest imagination would he denounce the belief of kill or be killed. He was stuck living by it, but he'd do his damnedest to make sure Reven didn't have to.

"I'm glad you disagree, I want to be wrong." Asakonigei sincerely hoped there would be a day in Hyrule's future where there was no violence. "Wouldn't it be nice if Revan could simply just work in the castle one day? Perhaps be an advisor or maybe run the forge if he liked?" She thought about her boy one day warping metals like she did. It would be a treat if he turned out to be a Kovina or perhaps a Vatra like her mother. "He could make horseshoes, carts, saddles... maybe one day there will be no need for weapons."

"That'll be the day." Malik leaned closer to his wife rubbed his nose with hers. She really was a goddess.

"I wish you could have seen Lorleidi when we were there and barely scraping by." Asakonigei told Malik as he snuggled closer, keeping Revan in-between the two of them. "We had very little, but we had each other. You know there were no thieves in Lorleidi because we shared what we had?" She held his huge hand, looking at the callouses there. "No need for locks, for money, for poverty, anything. I miss it sometimes... but now, I'm so utterly grateful to have you and to have our little Revan."

Malik gives a chuckle. "That sounds so much like my desert home. For a race of 'desert rats and thieves' we always looked out for each other. We made sure no Gerudo would go hungry or without care. I hope I can take you and Revan out there one day."

"I want to see where you used to live one day. I've never seen a desert." Asakonigei kissed Revan's forehead as he yawned. "Maybe one day, Lorleidi will have healed and you can see how beautiful it was. For now though... I think our first big step will be getting a place of our own one day, don't you?"

"Agreed. The noise complaints we get from your screams alone is enough of an excuse."

Blushing dark red in the cheeks, Asakonigei swatted his shoulder. "And just who is responsible for those screams?"

"I believe your ragged words were, 'big monster Gerudo cock'." He smiles like the devil back to her.

Oh!" Asakonigei blushed even darker and scoffed at her husband. "You! I swear, we're going to have a barn full of your younglings if you have any say."

"That'd be nice." He leans over and gives her deep kiss. "I'll be sure to look into it."

"... how many children do you want, Malik?" Asakonigei asked him as Revan dozed lightly. "I know Gerudos like big families. I don't think I'd object to many daughters or sons. I just hope one of them gets your red hair."

"Until we're satisfied. Night my dear."

~

Zahirog's health improved within time. He still had trouble breathing every now and then, so he had to be closely supervised. Zarazu refused to be parted with her little son for too long. Covarog tried to talk to her about it, saying she needed to rest as well, yet the queen acted as if anyone else caring for her newborn was the plague. The king attributed it to the fear and paranoia of almost losing him. The queen was having a hard time with the separation right now thanks to assassins.

"Luimaya, Turagor, do be careful playing around the fountain." Zarazu told her twins as the pair fed the koi fish. "And don't feed the fishes too much, they'll get fat."

Alexander Zemalocke peered around the corner to the garden. He was given lecture after lecture to spy on the Dragmire family. His father had been very persistent on it. He raved on and on how Zarazu really was death to have survived it for so long. He had to know if she had a special magic protecting her or medicine, and to take it away if Alex could. In fact his father had only grown far angrier and angrier as time passed. Sometimes it scared Alex more then usual. Right now it looked as though they were just having fun, nothing more.

"But Mama, this one is really fat!" Turagor pointed to the biggest female fish in the water.

"She's probably peg... no, pignit... what's the word, Mama?" Luimaya asked her mother.

"Pregnant, Luimaya. She might be pregnant." Zarazu told her daughter as she kept Zahirog in a sling around her body. The boy was watching everything around him with wide eyes and had a smile on his face. As long as her children were safe, the queen felt at peace. Noticing a figure out of the corner of her eye, the Zarazu spotted Zemalocke's son at the archway to the garden. The boy was painfully shy still it seemed and still had not realized how keen her senses were. "Young Alexander, if you think you can hide from a queen, even though she might be sickly, you're dreadfully wrong, dear."

Alexander had shock on his face before hiding away behind the pillar. How did she see him?! Maybe she'd think she was seeing things if he kept really quiet, closed his eyes, and thought really hard he was invisible.

"Alex?" Luimaya, curious as ever, was the first to investigate. Covarog swore up and down she received that touch of nature from Ralnor, always wanting to know more. She waved her hand at him, urging him to come over to the fountain. "Come on over here! You can feed the fishes!"

"We got sandwiches, scones and tea too!" Turagor hopped off the side of the fountain ledge to get a bite of lunch. "Mama wanted us to have some fresh air."

Alexander peered around, still unsure. His father might discipline him again if he even talked to them. "N-no thank you..."

"Mister Alexander, are you refusing an invitation from your future queen?" Zarazu jested lightly. "Come now, we don't bite. There's an extra sandwich in the picnic basket if you haven't had lunch."

Alexander slowly inched his way forward, taking the sandwich, but not biting into it. What was he doing? He could get into so much trouble for this.

"Sit, Alex!" Turagor flopped down onto the picnic blanket alongside his sister. "Whacha doing around here? Another lesson?"

"Lessons are boring, I like sparing best!" Luimaya said as she nibbled on her peanut butter and jelly sandwich. "Though, fairy tales aren't too bad..."

"Alexander, have you been well?" Zarazu asked, having to stay in her wheelchair due to the uneven nature of the stoned floor in the garden. "I haven't seen much of you lately."

"Father has been very busy. He wanted me out of class for private lessons. Said there are too many distractions."

"I must agree, there has been a lot going on in the castle lately unfortunately." Zarazu shifted a little in her wheelchair to move Zahirog onto the other shoulder. "And is your family well?"

"Father is very stressed." Alex tried to keep it to a minimal.

Zarazu got the feeling the boy did not want to talk about his family. He hardly mentioned his mother. The queen wondered if the poor thing ever received any attention from her. Alex was well aware of the tensions between his father and the crown.

"Alex... you can be yourself here, dear." Zarazu told him gently. "I know things aren't the best right now but you're safe here. Nothing will happen to you under our watch, all right? No matter who does or does not like the other."

Alexander looked down at the ground for the longest time. "Why does my father hate you? You make life so hard for him."

"... Luimaya, Turagor, why don't you go check on Zizi's roses, yes?" Zarazu distracted her twins for a moment at the look of confusion on their faces. "Your mama needs to talk to Alex for a moment alone."

"But... okay." Luimaya figured it was best not to argue and walked with her brother to check on the flowers.

The queen took a slow breath before choosing her words carefully. She could not hold anything against the young boy. He was not his father.

"Your father hates me because I'm not Hylian, dear. He believes a pureblood should be on the throne, not a Lorleidian, not a Gerudo." Zarazu explained to Alexander as softly as she could. "I'm not like him or a lot of the people that live in Hyrule neither is my husband. Your father sticks to tradition, which has respect in some ways yet... sometimes it can hurt others." She looked at her newborn, the overwhelming feeling of dread creeping back when she thought she might lose him. "I come from a different world than your father does. I come from a place where everyone, no matter who you are, is equal. Noble, commoner, king or queen, no one is better than the other. I think that's why your father deems I make life hard for him, young one." Zarazu offered him a quiet smile. "Because I don't believe any one person can be better than the other simply because of this silly notion called 'royal blood'."

"Father tells me stories how I could be on the throne if I tried hard enough. I don't understand why I'm not allowed to play with Luiyama and Turagor. He calls your food filth, your husband a rat, and your family witches. I'm told not to trust your 'kind'. I don't know what that means.”

"I suppose what your father means is he thinks he is superior to us and we are below him, dear Alex." Zarazu tried to put the whole matter as delicately as she could. "I think that's why he doesn't want you to trust us or be around us. We're just a bit too odd for his likings. What Alexander, I must tell you this," The queen leaned a little closer. "Despite what your father says, and whether you decide to trust us completely or not, we will never ever harm you. Even though your sire views us differently, you are not him."

Alexander didn't know what to say, only nodding.

"And I believe I must ask you this, Alexander... do you think me wicked?" Zarazu asked the boy. "You, yourself. Not your father. You must think for yourself one day."

"N-no mamm."

"Then that's all that matters." Zarazu gestured for him to sit in front of her. "Now, love, I believe your hair is a tad unkempt due to this wind. Let me fix it for you, yes?"

Alexander finally sits down, sitting away from her.

"... will you at least have a scone, dear?" Zarazu asked the boy, thinking at least she tried to make a connection. Sometimes, the trust did not come easily. Still, she would not hold it against him for his wariness. Who knew what Zemalocke told him. It was probably something along the lines of her touch was death. "I promise they're fresh and full of the tasty blueberries."

Slowly he inches closer to her. "You can do my hair now..."

Zarazu smiled brightly as he finally was close enough for her to fix his tail of hair. The wind was a bit breezy today, but the garden shield them from the lot of it. Using her fingers, the queen carefully removed the navy ribbon in place and combed through his locks with her nails.

"You want a normal tail again or a braid?"

"Normal Tail please. Don't want Father to notice."

"Of course, dear." Zarazu used the utmost care when fixing his hair. She made sure to reinforce the sides by adding a twist to the end. The ribbon would cover it and both would hold his hair into place. "You are always welcome here, Alex. If you ever need anything at all, you come find me and ask. Promise?"

"Promise."

"That's a good boy, Alex." Zarazu kissed the top of his head. "Now, you hurry home before your mother worries. If you need a ride, fetch one of the guards or ask."

"I don't have a mother mamm."

"... no mother?" Zarazu had been under the notion that Zemalocke was married and his wife was well. Then again, she never saw her anywhere or even heard her name uttered. Was this some sort of taboo forbidden to speak of?

"She's dead mamm."

"I apologize, Alex, I did not know." Zarazu finished off the tail with the ribbon tied in place. The queen never knew her own mother, seeing Odetti died in childbirth. There was just too much blood lost. "I never had a mother myself, yet I had others to look in and care for me. My people, they're my family and since I married Covarog, I seem to find my family growing."

"And it will continue to grow." Covarog walked up behind his wife, leaning down to peck her on the cheek. The twins were giggling, sitting on his shoulders. "A certain pair of twins found the strawberry bushes and promptly had a feast."

"There's still plenty more!" Luimaya wiped at her mouth.

"We only ate a few." Turagor's lips were covered in the same sticky mess as his sister's. "I brought some for Zahirog."

"Zahi can't eat strawberries yet."

"I thought I could mush 'em up for him."

"We have company, love." Zarazu told Covarog as she patted Alexander's shoulders.

Alexander looked up at Covarog and still couldn't help but feel fear from him. "Hello sir."

"Good afternoon, Alexander." Covarog set the twins down beside of their mother. "You two need to go and wash up for your writing lesson."

"But Papa, I don't wanna!" Luimaya protested. "I wanna spar instead!"

"Yeah, can't we do the lesson another day?" Turagor asked. "I'd rather be outside."

"No, you two will go to your lesson and then after that, we will consider sparring." Covarog told his children as he urged them off with one of the guards. "And for goddess' sake, don't prank anyone else with Skull Kid with glitter bombs."

"At least its not stink bombs anymore." Zarazu remarked as the guards took the twins to their lesson. "Don't be anxious, dear. Covarog won't hold anything against you either."

"He still scares me..."

"... you know we actually fought each other when we first met, Alex?" Zarazu tried to change the tone. "At first, I was a bit intimidated by him too. We fought because at first, we deemed each other enemies due to some grievances in the past. Yet, now, look at what happened... sort of ironic, isn't it?"

"A king is supposed to intimidate others... yet, he can hold a soft heart." Covarog took Zahirog from Zarazu so she could have a small break. The baby cooed and babbled loudly as his father held him. Grinning from ear to ear, Covarog felt his heart feel tenderness at how Zahirog held onto his huge finger so tightly. "Especially for his family, his friends, and for innocents. You need not fear me, Alex."

"Thank you. What category is my father lie under?"

"That depends on how your father views me, young Alexander." Covarog answered honestly. "A friend is a friend... yet an enemy is an enemy."

Alexander looked down again. "And how do you treat your enemies?"

"I try to find a way to make peace with them first. Look at how much joy it has brought me to view the Lorleidians as a friend instead of enemy." Covarog held his wife's hand. "Yet, if the enemy refuses to find common ground for the sake of others... then I have to think of how said enemy would treat those I love. I cannot let an enemy hurt someone I care about. Do you understand?"

Alexander looked at him with a neutral expression, maybe even dark. "Father says you shouldn't be on the throne...what do you do to enemies who don't agree with you?"

That actually caused Covarog to snicker a bit.

"Alexander, a lot of nobility besides your father does not want me on the throne." The king told the young boy. "That is simply an opinion of those who do not like the way my queen and I are trying to rule, or, in your father's case, because I am half Gerudo. They're just a pain in the ass---side, I mean side."

Zarazu gave Covarog a look for cursing in front of the children.

"What my husband is trying to say, dear one, is sometimes people do not have faith in anyone that is different."

Alexander dropped his jaw at Covarog swearing. How could someone of such high nobility sweat?! "You swore! Mamm, he swore!!! Kings aren't aloud to swear!!! He should have his mouth cleansed!!!"

"I'm king, I can swear if I damn want to swear." Covarog muttered under her breath until Zarazu nudged his arm hard from her wheelchair. "Ouch! Stop that!"

"Stop cursing in front of the children!"

"Yeah, why can't we say 'damn it' or 'hell'?" Turagor asked with a huff.

"Uncle Malik says it all the time when he's sparring and someone gets the best of him." Luimaya chimed in her two cents.

"And how would you two know that?" Covarog asked them with narrowed eyes.

Turagor and Luimaya just grinned widely.

"We got done early studying and went to spy on him?"

"Oh good spirits..." Zarazu shook her head. "Alexander, we're people too. Even royalty loses their cool sometimes. I have plenty of times."

"In the bedroom." Covarog whispered in her ear to tease her.

Blushing slightly, Zarazu scoffed at him.

"Hush you!"

Alexander couldn't believe what he was hearing. He rushed to Luiyama and Turagor worried. "You can't swear in front of your parents. They'll burn your tongues!"

"We'd never do such a thing." Covarog laughed at Alexander's horror. "Maybe take away their deserts or ground them, but never hurt them."

"Hell yeah!"

"Luimaya, don't push it."

"Aw..."

Alexander was beyond shocked a lady would say 'hell'. "Father says only delinquents find delight in swearing."

"And where is this grand rule book on what royalty is and is not supposed to do?" Covarog questioned the young man. "There are many kind of delinquents... those who start food fights in the kitchen."

"That was fun!" Turagor snickered. "Grandpa and Grandma even played! The whole family was there."

"Stay up late playing hide-and-go-spook." Zarazu laughed. "Everyone jumping and stumbling over things in the dark."

"Uncle Ralnor won that game! He wins a lot!" Luimaya giggled. "I almost won once by hiding in an ale barrel."

"Slide down the hallway in socks and see who can go the furthest and not break any vases."

"Pillow fights."

"Dress-up!"

"Tea parties."

"The list goes on."

Alexander was at a loss for words. "I've never done any of that."

"Alex, just because we're king and queen doesn't mean we can't do things that other people do." Zarazu patted his shoulder. "Before anything else, we're a family."

Alexander was about to ask something but pulled back. His father's demands echoed in his mind. "Queen Zarazu? How is your health?"

"Asking for your father, are you?" Covarog realized now that Zemalocke was using his son. It made him feel sick but angry. "He's often sending others to inquire to see if you've gotten worse or are finally six feet under."

"Covarog, be nice." Zarazu chided her husband lightly. She could give the boy enough details so he would not get in trouble. "I'm still here, dear one. A little stronger every day. Yet, it's a long road to recovery."

Alexander did not like the way Covarog was looking at him. He was monstrously big and scary. "I should be going back to my father."

"I should be fine on my own." Alexander stood up and gave a bow only to Zarazu.

"Are you sure?" Zarazu asked him once more. "It's no bother if you want one of our guards to take you home. I just want you to be safe."

"Better to be safe than sorry. I'll see to him, love." Covarog told Zarazu as he picked up Alexander and settled him on a shoulder just like he did with one of his twins. "We'll find you a guard to take you home safe and sound."

Alexander was spooked to be picked up at first, and it showed on his face. "Is this necessary?"

"What? Don't like piggyback rides? And yes, you can laugh at the pun." Covarog knew anything that had to do with pigs was a touchy subject for his father. Yet, something like this was a bit innocent. "My wife wishes that I see to it that you are home safely with an escort so that is what I'm going to do."

"Father never gives me piggy back rides. Even when I ask."

"... well... that's his loss, then." Covarog headed to the stables and spoke to one of the guards. He was to take Alexander home on horseback and then come straight back to his post. While the guard readied the steed's saddle, the king fetched a sugar cube for Alexander to feed the horse.

"What's this?"

"Sugar cubes. The horses love them." Covarog walked closer to the huge horse. "Hold out your hand flat as can be with the cube in the middle of your palm. The horse will eat it; like a treat for them."

Alexander hesitated. "It won't eat my hand?"

"No, horses are herbivores." Covarog chuckled. "Here, watch me." He took half of the cube and put it in his hand. The mighty steed snuffled and licked the king's hand to take the cube, munching with a flick of his ear. "See?"

"O-ok. Alexander stepped forward to feed the horse. He squinted his eyes as it ate the cube. Surprisingly his fingers weren't taken off.

The horse licked Alexander's palm for the sweetness and snorted.

"Not too bad, was it?" Covarog used his handkerchief to wipe off Alexander's hand of the slobber. After that, he grasped the boy under his arms and set him on the saddle with the guard. "You make sure you send word after you get home. I don't want my wife to worry that you're not safe."

"Ok. Thank you for the ride sir."

"It's no problem." Covarog led the horse out of the stables. "Come back and play with Luimaya and Turagor anytime you wish."

Alexander nodded and left with the guard.

~

Alexander Zemalocke had returned to his father's castle. Peering through the door he saw his father was around a bored room of some nobles. Victor Zemalocke tapped impatiently on his chair. "How many as of now?"

"Ninty-Four my lord."

"Ninety-Four to attack Hyrule Castle at my beckon call. Damn. There should have been more."

When he see's his son the Baron makes a sharp gesture for him to come in. It was like a dog being yanked on its leash for Alexander. "Boy, tell me, what is Zarazu's condition?"

"W-well Father, the Queen says she's in good spirits and health, recovering everyday."

The nobles talk amongst themselves and Zemalocke throws his wine glass against the wall. The red wine leaked down staining the carpet. Alexander jumps back, afraid he was going to be punished. "GOD DAMN IT!!!"

The nobles are cautious. They expected Zarazu to have started losing health by now. The Baron was persistent in telling them she was fading. "Baron Zemalocke, do you have any plans?"

"Quiet worm, I'm thinking!"

Zemalocke stomped back and forth in a spot scheming. Everything he used to try and kill that witch had failed. He was running low on options. Major risks would have to be taken now. He knew he'd have to play all his cards now.

"I have one idea left."

"Will it work Baron? We've already put a good amount of stock into your previous efforts."

" It will ."

The nobles looked at each other and nodded in agreement. They wanted a Hylian on the throne. They already risked much by following the Baron. "Very well. What shall we do?"

"Get those that will follow us ready to strike the castle at my notice. If plan A fails, then I shall deal with the whole royal family myself."

The nobles muttered in agreement and left. Victor Zemalocke turned to his butler. "Put my son to bed. I need to travel."

"Of course sir."

Alexander wanted to object to his father, but the words hung in his mouth. He went upstairs having a silent pray Zarazu wouldn't have to die, or anyone for that matter. The Baron meanwhile hopped on his horse and traveled far into the Lost Woods in secret.

Once at the Woods and positive he was not followed, the Baron knocked on a particular tree. "Hello? Are you there?"

For a moment, no answer. As Zemalocke turned a figure jumped down from the trees. "And who pray tell are you?"

Zemalocke studied him. He wore a thick trench coat, and a bird like mask, something akin to a plague doctor, but made of solid gold. "I am Baron Zemalocke. Are you the Garo Master?"

"I am."

"Then you are the world's greatest assassin? You have never failed?"

"No Garo fails and lives to tell of it."

Zemalocke felt some relief. It felt as though this was the final piece he needed. "I'd like to hire you."

"I am quite costly."

"Money is no problem."

"Very well." The Garo Master brought out a contract and a knife. Zemalocke took a step back.

"What's this?"

"A most sacred of binding contracts. You will sign in blood."

Zemalocke took the knife. He hated the thought of even dropping a single bit of his blood, but if it meant the end of his enemies, so be it. He cut open his finger and dripped the blood onto the contract. Carefully he signed his name.

The Garo took the contract and put it his purple pockets. "It is done. Now what is your mark?"

"I want you to wipe out the Royal Family of Hyrule, specifically the King and Queen. I'll pay bonuses to any others."

"Then it will be done."

Zemalocke was a little surprised. "Just like that?"

"Just like that. We will only see each other once more."

Before Zemalocke said anything the Garo Master jumped into the air in a flash, not picked up by the Baron's eyes. For once the Baron felt hope, but he had tasted defeat enough to know he needed to be prepared. One more ritual would fix that.

[mrneighbourlove]

A Gerudo Story: Tebanem and Klinge.

Klinge toured the castle halls. He enjoyed the small walks he could have on his own around the castle interior, taking in the grandness of it all. So much history over the generations, personal included as well, in every inch. His concentration, however, was broken by two young men running around the corner, one of them smashing into him and falling into the floor.

Keeping his balance from the crash and looking down Klinge saw Prince Tebanam on the floor, and a son of a court member if Klinge recalled, panicking from the collision.

“Ow, that really hurt.”

“Tebanam, are you alright?!”

Klinge screamed internally from potentially harming the prince but kept steady. Tebanam was such a care free lad, and Klinge enjoyed how the prince took great interest in Gerudo history. If he unintentionally hurt him he would never forgive himself.

“Prince Tebanam, you are not hurt are you sir?”

“I’m fine Commander. Sorry for running into you.”

“You can address me as just Klinge Prince Tebanam. No need for ‘Commander’.”

“Then in return how about we just leave it at Tebanam if you don’t want formalities.”

Tebanam gave the commander a smile. Klinge reached down and yanked Tebanam up to his feet.

“I’d recommend getting checked out for head wounds. Running straight into a heavy suit of armour can’t be good for you.”

“Coming from the guy whose personal training gets me and my brothers and sisters rocked around like ragdolls. I think we’ll be fine.”

The boy with the prince dusted him off with deep concern in his eyes.

“You sure you’re alright?”

“Yeah, he’s intentionally given me worse. I’ll be fine.”

“Alright, good. I need you in peak condition.”

Tebanam gave him a smile beaming with joy.

“Let’s go. And sorry for once again running into you Klinge.”

“Think nothing of it.”

Klinge watched as the two boys ran off. They had a sparkle in their eyes that brought Klinge back to a younger time in his life. Ah, the joys of youth. Klinge continued his stroll down the castle, noticing the rainbow shining through the window. Looked like the storm outside had just finished.

- 

“Lazy oaf, sending me to do something he could get in an instant.”

Klinge made his way down to the basement of the ninth tower. Ghirahim wanted him to collect a scroll of some sort from storage, insisting it was important, but not important enough to grab himself. And since the demon still outranked him, Klinge had little say in the matter on being a dog going to play fetch.  

Klinge yanked open the door to the basement and descended down the steps. He looked around some of the shelves but didn’t see any scroll. Must have been in the closet door. Opening it he came to a sudden stop. Before his eyes he saw Tebanam and the younger man from before, naked and on top of each other in passionate love making. Tebanam was thrusting up and down.

When Tebanam eyes took notice of the armoured warrior, he locked onto him with a burning primal fear exploding.

“OH MY GOD! Get out!!!”

Klinge quickly stepped outside and shut the door. He heard the panicked rushed voices coming from the two men. Klinge took a moment to process what he just saw, and, with a deep breath, knocked on the door. This would take the most careful planning of words and intention. A prince and the son of a council member engaging in sexual intercourse. The scandal would be worse than any in Hyrule’s history. Klinge tried to soften his words with his tone.

“I’m coming in about ten seconds. Get changed.”

Klinge waited a moment, and opened the door. The two young men had at least their pants on, and fumbled their way on getting their shirts on.

“Boys, calm-“

“No, you weren’t supposed to be here!”

“Lord Jazoh please-“

“No he’s right, what the hell are you doing down here!?”

“I came to get a scroll Prince Tebanam.”

Tebanam looked to his right and threw the closest piece of paper at Klinge. Tears were streaming down his face.

“There you go. Now get out!”

“Prince Tebanam I-“

“JUST GO!”

Klinge firmly shut the door and blocked the only exit out, using his large frame to keep them in.

“No.”

“Why, so I can feel more embarrassed?!”

Klinge took a softer stance. He had to let Tebanam know that there was no danger.

“Boys, there is nothing to be embarrassed about. I want you to trust me. However, I’m going to have you both just take a deep breath and calm down.”

Tebanam and Jazoh looked at each other, and did as they were told, but still had worry in their eyes. Jazoh looked at Klinge, the black knight’s presence unnerving him.

“If my father finds out about this-“

“He won’t.”

“You sure?”

“Nothing leaves this room. Tebanam, how long has this been going on for?”

“Almost a month now.”

“Why keep this a secret?”

Jazoh shuddered, barely able to stop shaking from the thought of what would happen if this got out.

“Because my father would never allow this. As a member of the court he despises the very thought.”

“I see. Rinku’s first girlfriend made Zelda have a panic attack; can imagine how those stooges in the court would burst in comparison.”

“That’s why this has been a secret. No one can find out. Not Moma, Papa, or anyone else.”

“I understand. But you both should know that the King and Queen would support you in the end. And you have my support. Love, no matter what shape, shouldn’t be something that is ridiculed and snuffed out.”

“But-“

“Follow your hearts and do what’s right. And I promise, as ex. Head of the Royal Guard, and your protector, you are safe with me.”

Klinge crossed his heart and smiled under his helmet.

“It’s our little secret.”

Tebanam gave a huge sigh of relief and hugged the Darknut, catching Klinge off guard with the sign of affection, and tears of joy starting to fall down even harder.

“Thank you. Thank you so much.”

Klinge patted him awkwardly on the back. He barely received this kind of contact anymore. It was nice though. Never having a child himself, Klinge couldn’t help but see himself as father figure sometimes. Hell, the kids even sometimes called him “Uncle Klinge” as little children. It filled him with pride to help Tebanam.

“Anytime Tebanam.”

Klinge let go, grabbed the scroll, and started to leave.

“I’ll go now. So sorry for interrupting you. And this wasn’t a bad spot to hide all things considered.”

Klinge gave small one handed salute.

“Have a fine rest of your evening gentlemen, and know you aren’t alone.”

-

Klinge exited the board room of Captains, council members and other military leaders. It had been a long meeting over the petty charade of how to integrate Lorleidian guards into noble protection units. The snotty men and woman argued and debated why they wanted pure Hylian units watching them. He turned to Captain’s Kelly and Tulilad with an angry gruff.  The insults were unbearable today. Against the Lorleidians sure, but also oddly enough a resurgence against the Gerudo.

“God damn nobles. How they are still able to come up with new insults infuriates me to no end. I am close to boiling the next fool uses his tongue in such a way. Don’t they understand that sacrifice to their pleasure must be taken to achieve success? It took so many goddamn years for them to get used to the Goblins and Undead, now we have to restart the whole damn thing over again!”

Both Captains rolled their eyes. Tulilad picked up his stride to keep up with the Commander.

“Sir, maybe you and the nobles would get along more if you didn’t undermine them every given chance.”

“Or threaten them.”

“By and I quote, “Crushing their greedy fat eyes into their skulls” if they couldn’t see change.”

Klinge shrugged his shoulders. He had never gotten along well with the nobles of Hyrule. They represented everything wrong with the country. He was fine with a relationship of fear between them, because they knew who would come out on top in the end. Klinge even had a few secretly assassinated over the years against the ones who would dare plot to end the lives of the royal family. He understood why they were necessary to the country, but by god did he wish Ganondorf had just done away with them all when he became King. Maybe when Zarazu ascended the throne she could be convinced to make some changes to the hierarchy.

“Speaking of that, I appreciate the gesture, but perhaps in the future we should watch our words.”

Klinge turned to see Queen Zarazu exit behind them. The Lorleidian had bags under eyes from the stress of keeping her composure in. She was glad her friend was there to be the first to put the council in its place and back her up. Her people had done so much for Hyrule over the years, yet those damn nobles still fought tooth and nail to stop change from occurring.

Klinge smiled to the Queen, a mischievous smirk forming on his lips. How odd, over the years he had grown more human and expressive with his emotions.

“Aw come now, I’m sure it would be fun. Besides, there is so much you can do to those vultures. You ever seen a rich man run around with his wig cut to pieces, or better yet, on fire? Damn hilarious.”

Zarazu gave a laugh. The man’s dark sense of humor amused her, at least when directed towards the right people.

“I’m sure it would.”

“Seriously though, on your command. Poof.” Klinge made a motion with his fingers and a small amount of dark fire flickered in his hand.

The two shared another jolly laugh. Tulilad and Kelly looked at the Knight and the Queen in amusement. It was nice to see their Commander have opened up to more people over the years. Especially after his first encounter with Queen Zarazu. She had brought a new and, dare they say, caring side to the Commander that before could only be rarely seen.

After the warrior had said his goodbyes, Klinge went around the corner to go into his private courters when he found Ganondorf waiting for him at his door. Oddly enough the king and a few others had been missing from the meeting. Klinge knew immediately by the look of rage that something was wrong.

“Yes, my liege?”

Ganondorf trotted up to him and yelled right in his face.

“My office. Now!”

Klinge did as he was commanded. He tried to quickly recall if he had done anything out of line. Entering the office he found Zelda sitting at the end of the desk with a bottle of gin next to her. Her glare was ice cold and pointed straight at him. Klinge’s muscles tightened, he was not in the mood to have a snapping argument with the queen.

“Take a seat Commander.”

Klinge did as he was told, but only because Ganondorf was in the room with her, taking a seat beside his wife. If Zelda wanted to be on point, so would he.

“What is this about?”

“This is about our son, Tebanam.”

Klinge’s mind cracked like a piece of glass. There could only be one reason for him being called here. They knew, and if they knew then others must have known. Yet he put on a poker face in his voice hoping for a different outcome.

“What about the Prince?”

Ganondorf’s fingers cracked.

“Don’t be coy Klinge. You know exactly what.”

Damn it. So they did know. Klinge still tried to keep up the façade in his voice though.

“I don’t know what you are-“

Ganondorf slammed his fist into the desk, dark energies rippling.

“You know exactly what we are talking about here you bastard!”

Fine, no point in hiding it now.

“I do not see what this has to do with me. The prince’s sexual preference matters not to me!”

“So you did know, why did you not come forward to us right away? We are his parents. If you told us what happened between him and  Jazoh, the situation may have not grown out of control.”

Klinge’s hands tightened, a pit in his stomach growing.

“What situation?

Zelda gave a sigh and squeezed tightly around her glass.

“Uro Spegeil, Jazoh’s father, somehow found out about the relationship between his son and Tebanam. Rumors are already going through out the court. When we asked our son who knew of his “activities” with Jazoh, he told us you were the only one who knew.”

Klinge stood up from the chair. He had to see Tebanam and see if he was ok.

“I can fix this.”

“Sit down Klinge! Because you didn’t tell us right away, the situation has spiralled out of control. We could have done something to help him!”

Klinge snapped at Zelda, he knew exactly what the damn Hylian meant by “help”.

“Really, what would you have done Zelda? Placed guards around Tebanam, given him a scolding to “fix” the way he loves people? Because it worked so well the first time around after you discovered Rinku’s first relationship! God forbid you love a child who can explore their sexuality!”

The small bottle almost broke under Zelda’s rage from the commanders comments.

“How dare you. I love my children for who they are.”

“Please, being gay isn’t a high Hylian standard and you know it! If you had it your way, your perfect flowery Hylian way, you would have-”

“Be silent Klinge!”

Klinge looked over to see Ganondorf slam his fist once again into the desk, shattering it in two. Klinge, however, was still angry himself, and would not be dismayed by Ganondorf’s power.

“King Ganondorf, Queen Zelda. If you brought me here to scold me you are wasting your time. I didn’t tell you because I felt it was in the best interest of Tebanam. I wanted his privacy to come first!”

Zelda breathed deeply. She had tried so long to keep her children safe, both physically and mentally, but now a terrible omen laid in her stomach. The courts, who had despised her husband and children for years, finally had something to tear their teeth into. The only minimal bit of comfort she felt was that Klinge did what he though was right and legitimately cared for her son.

“If you don’t mind your majesty, I wish to see the young prince.”

Ganondorf was hesitant, but Zelda gave a tired nod, with one final fiery glare at Klinge.

“I doubt your looking for permission but you may proceed. Just know this, if anything like this happens again with our children, and you keep the knowledge to yourself, I will have your undead head removed from your body.”

Klinge growled from her threat. Even now they still couldn’t be fully at peace with each other. If Zelda wanted to take her stress out on him from the situation, that was fine with him.

“I’ll remember that comment the next time an assassin sneaks his way into your room Zelda.”

Klinge stormed out of the office before either the King or Queen could have a reaction from his comment and made his way as quickly as he could to Tebanem’s room. Just as he made it and was about to open the door, he heard someone behind him. Turning around, he then had to look down to see Rinku, her short stature easily recognizable.

“Oh, Commander Klinge, long time no see. What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to see Tebanem.”

A small look of grief and pity graced Rinku’s face. She knew exactly what her brother was going through.

“Yeah, me too. Say, why don’t we go in together.”

Klinge nodded his head. It would be nice to have some support on this. Opening the door he let Rinku in first. Tebenam was by his window, curled up and watching the night sky. From this distance he was looking out to the lands beyond Hyrule.

“Hey bro.”

Tebanem turned his head, surprised to see his elder sister. His eyes looked devoid of colour and life, as if something had been ripped from his very soul.

“Hey sis.”

Rinku walked over to him and sat beside him. “You doing alright?”

“No.”

“You want to talk about it?”

Rinku put an arm around her baby brother for support. Thankfully Tebanem didn’t object. However when the prince saw Klinge a bitter anger started to grow in him.

“Klinge.”

“Yes, Tebanem?”

“You said that everything was going to be alright.”

Klinge did not like where this was going.

“I did. I told you it was our secret, and I didn’t make that public.”

“Yet the information got out anyways.”

“Tebanem, your family and I can help you. I told you you’d be safe, you and Jazoh can still have a happy life together. I won’t let your mother or even the nobles get in the way of that. That’s a promise on my part.”

Klinge reached a hand out for Tebanem. God he just wanted him to be happy. The smile Klinge wore slowly disappeared as he released Tebanem had no intention of reaching out.

“Jazoh’s gone.”

Both Klinge and Rinku had surprise slapped across their faces. Rinku held her grip on her brother a little tighter.

“What do you mean?”

“As I walked through the castle today I picked up on the new remarks whispered behind my back by the staff and nobles. I quickly knew what this could only mean so I hurried to find Jazoh. Instead I found his father. He told me he had sent Jazoh away to be cleaned in spirit. He called me a disgusting desert pig swine who stole Jazoh’s heart and corrupted him and that he would do everything in his power to make sure my name was damaged beyond repair.” Tebanem started to have tears come down his face, yet he retained his low tone, never breaking into a sob. These were the tears of a broken man. “I never even got to say goodbye. So what the hell can you possibly keep safe Commander.”

Klinge’s hand shaked. Guilt stabbed him in his gut. He should have watched more carefully over the boys. “Tebanem, I only wanted…”

“Get the hell out.”

Rinku watched as Klinge took a physical step back. She had never seen the Commander so rattled by words before.

“Tebanem, that’s not fair to Klinge.”

“I want him gone Rinku.”

Klinge’s hand slowly balled into a fist. With a small bow, he reluctantly followed the prince’s command. “As you wish, your highness. I suppose you’d like to be with actual family now.”

“I would. Now leave.”

Klinge left the room and slowly shut the door behind him. The balled fist he had squeezed tighter and tighter, until blood started to leak from it. The prince was angry at him because he couldn’t protect him. Klinge had failed him, had completely shattered his promise. Klinge’s eyes then flared from sadness to wrath, a hatred kindling inside him. If he couldn’t protect Tebanem from the ridicule of the court, he would avenge him. Starting with the bastard who dare hurt him so.

-

Uro Spegeil entered his living courters and sat at his desk. Sending his son away out of Hyrule was taxing, as well as arguing with boy’s mother on doing so. But seeing the look of fear as the young Gerudo prince squirmed when he told him that he’d never see Jazoh filled Uro with content. How dare that ingrate, that desert rat confuse Jazoh so, and worse, defile him before wedlock.

Uro took out his secret stash of wine from his draw and poured himself a glass. Taking a sip he nearly dropped his bottle when he finally noticed the figure standing in the corner of his room, illuminated by the moonlight peering through the room.

“Who’s there?! Identify yourself before I call the guards!”

“I am the Guard.”

Klinge walked forward more into view, his presence towering over the noble. Uro wasn’t sure what the High Commander wanted.

“Why have you broken into my room?”

“I told you, I am the Guard. I protect the royalty, and you have made the terrible mistake of targeting Prince Tebanem.”

“Are you here to threaten me? Because if you are, just leave now. I won’t be dismayed in my actions, that little rat deserves everything coming to him. Besides, you can’t do anything, I haven’t broken any laws.”

Klinge took another step closer to Uro, his hands crackling.

“You hurt my boy. And for that, I am going to kill you.”

Uro dropped his wine glass in terror and took as much distance as he could between himself and Klinge as he could.

“Are you insane? I’m a council member! You can’t touch me!”

Uro desperately tried to find something to defend himself, grabbing a small dirty butter knife.

“That’s right! If you do touch me, people will know it was you. How many times have you threatened to tear a nobles head off or stab him to death?”

“That’s why I’m not going to lay a finger on you.”

“What in god’s name are you talking about?”

Klinge merely pointed down to the broken bottle on the floor. Uro didn’t quite get it until a feeling in his gut started to stab him. Falling to his knee’s his eyes started to bulge and the air turned hot. He looked up through the red haze and the pain to see Klinge stand over him.

“Not the first time I’ve done this. Your right though, a more hands on approach would give myself away, so that’s why I only use poisons for situations like these. You can thank the Deku for coming up with such a dangerous toxin. Burns up your organs, causes you to exert any fluids and feces you have from your body, cuts off the air supply, as well as put you in the most unimaginable pain after a minute of taking it. Well, if you aren’t a Deku that is. Don’t worry though, there’s always able body nobles just itching to have your position, and nobody will miss you.”

Uro started tearing at his throat, desperate for any kind of clean air.

“I do hope you savoured that wine. Maybe in the next life you’ll think twice about hurting a Gerudo you Hylian mutt.”

Klinge watched the last bit of life be torn from Uro as he twitched on the ground, foam and blood leaking from him. Feeling content with what he did, he left the room as fast as he could. Best nobody witness him at the scene of the crime.

-

A little more than a month had passed since Klinge slew Uro. People were shocked, but assassinations against nobles were nothing new. Hell, this actually helped Klinge’s case on convincing the nobles to not be picky with having Lorleidians be there bodyguards. Yet, Tebenam had still refused to talk to him. Klinge thought that he out of most would be thrilled for Uro’s death.

Klinge decided that maybe he should confront Tebanem directly. Maybe it would be best for Klinge to tell him he was actually sorry in his failure to protect the boy. At least then he could feel less guilty. Over the last month Klinge had threatened more and more nobles daring to speak out against Tebanem, and those were against just the rumor’s he heard himself. He hoped the stress wasn’t too much for Tebanem. It had been a week since he had been at the castle, just coming back from an inspection, he worried about the boy immensely every day he was gone.

Klinge knocked at the prince’s door.  “Prince Tebanem? Are you there? It’s Klinge.” There came no reply from the other side. “I just wanted to say that I am sorry.” Once again came no answer. After a minute of waiting and the occasional knock, Klinge decided Tebanem wasn’t in his room. Maybe one of his siblings would know.

Klinge made his way through the castle, until he found Kanisa practicing her dancing. My how she moved like the wind. When she took notice of the commander, she didn’t stop her practicing until she was finished. With her last stride she took a bow towards Klinge, who gave her a clap of congratulations.

“Nicely done Kanisa. I can see why so many have fallen for you. No one can make a heart sing for joy like you can.”

Kanisa blushed from the commander’s compliments.

“What can I do for you Klinge?”

“Actually I was hoping to find your brother, Tebanem. I haven’t spoken to him for a while and I just wanted to check in on him. He wasn’t in the library or at his room. I thought you or one of your siblings would know.”

The smile on Kanisa’s face died off and was replaced with that of a burden.

“Oh, you didn’t know.”

Klinge was curious, but a little worried at the same time. Did something happen to her brother while she was away?

“Know what? Kanisa, please, if there is anything you need to tell me, do so.”

Kanisa walked off the stage and took one of Klinge’s hands and held on gently.

“Klinge, Tebanem is gone. He left the castle four days ago. I… I don’t think he’s coming back.”

Terror went through Klinge. He should have been there to stop Tebanem, or to at least talk to him.

“Why. Why would he leave?”

“He couldn’t handle it anymore. The people of the court kept ridiculing him, despite everyone’s best interests to protect him. So he just left it all behind.”

“No.” Klinge looked towards the exit. His mind was racing. He had done everything he could to protect Tebanem. Given him extra protection detail, threatened nobles, even bribed people to stop antagonizing him. He started to move towards the exit, if he hurried, maybe he could pick up a trail. Kanisa still held on, stopping him from going forward.

“Klinge please, he’s gone. There is nothing you can do now.”

Klinge’s hand shook in Kanisa’s. He started to tremble throughout his body.

“No, you don’t understand. I was supposed to protect him; I was supposed to protect you all. Yet, even after I promised him safety…I failed. I failed to protect him. I…” Klinge’s guilt caused him to collapse into Kanisa’s arms in a supporting embrace. “Oh goddesses, I wasn’t there for him. I told him he’d be safe, yet I failed. I failed Kanisa.”

Kanisa soothed the commander as much as she could. She was glad that someone had tried so hard to look after her brother and cared for all of her siblings so much.

“This isn’t your fault. Things will work out in the end, trust me.”

Despite her kind words, Klinge felt nothing but misery in his heart. Since his reincarnation, he had barely felt human emotion besides rage and wrath, or the pleasure of others pain. But now he felt true sadness. After failing to save Cipher and his child, he considered this his second biggest failure in life.

-

“ ‘And so Ralco carried his beloved Cleo down the steps to his horse carriage, ready to whisk her off to a far off country. This was his last chance for escape.  Suddenly, Baron Von Issia stepped into view and drew his blade. He was hell bent on making Cleo his. Taking his blade, the baron stabbed the thief through the heart, saving Cleo from the scum!’ God damn it Issia, Cleo isn’t yours to take!”

Klinge continued to read his light novel, becoming more furious as he discovered Issia was the one to end up with Cleo. A whole three hours and this was how the book ended?! He slammed the book close and threw it in the garbage heap where it belonged. His private office was filled with unfinished crafted weapons, scrolls, books, and documents stacked upon each other. He had a special shelf for historic books and novels Kanisa had recommended. His walls were always filled with weapon racks containing old swords and armour, mostly Gerudo, but now also on the walls were drawings and small paintings he had done.

Klinge turned to the painting of the Gerudo Desert he still had to complete. It was odd how much free time he had on his hands now a days. True, he always had the freedom to do tasks at his own pace, but when he first moved into the castle, there was always someone that needed drilling, inspections to sort out, criminals to hunt down, look out for threats against the royalty, etc. Even after he promoted Tulilad to the head of the Royal Guard, he still trained knights, help raise and teach the children, stop more than one war against Hyrule, as well as put an end to other disasters. There was just no time in the early years to focus on something more than just combat, bloodshed, and hatred. Now he could just…do things. He found himself getting bored, and like any enemy, he’d do anything to kill it.

Klinge took the brush and carefully continued his work. The brush was his dagger, making clean strokes. Even when he was living he never did this, but he had learned so much culture even in just the last twenty-nine years that it inspired him. And after some practice, he was getting very good at his craft. If mastering weapon and martial art techniques could be done, then so could this.

After another hour he was done. Klinge looked the bright orange and the curves of the sand, and was especially proud how he got the shadow right with the sun. Looking at the painting alone he started to miss home. The blazing heat, the warm feeling you get when you stood barefoot on the sand, the cool breeze at night. It had almost been five-hundred years since his birth, how he longed to feel the desert as a living being again. A loud bang at his door shattered his concentration. He could hear the muffled voice of Tulilad from the other side.

Klinge walked over and unlocked his door, starting from the bolt at the top, the chain in the middle, then finally bar. As High Commander he couldn’t be too careful of assassins in his rest. Klinge stood perfectly with the door open just enough so Tulilad couldn’t see inside his room.

“Yes, Captain, what is it?”

“Sir, I’ve been at your door for five minutes trying to get your attention.”

Klinge was surprised. He concluded the painting must have captured him more immensely then he previously thought.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. How can I help you Tulilad?”

“Commander, it’s Prince Tebanem, he’s back from one of his expeditions.”

Klinge’s heart skipped a beat from hearing that. It had been so long since he had seen the prince. Unlike Orana, whenever the prince came back from home, he barely stayed long. Also, because of these short windows, Klinge had missed the first two times Tebanem returned, as he was out on assignments outside of the castle for days at a time. First Kanisa and her new lover Vidar had come back from the North for a visit, now Tebanem had arrived here at the same time? The gods had favoured his hand this day.

“Thank you for alerting me of this Captain. I will be down to see him immediately. Just give me a moment first.”

Klinge shut the door and went over to the painting he had just finished. He had planned this being displayed above his bedroom, but now he had a new idea. What better gift to give to Tebanam then this? Rolling it up carefully, Klinge sealed up with scroll wrapping and hurried his way done the palace. As he walked through, he heard the buzzing of the staff, all them excited for the prince’s return. To be perfectly honest, Klinge was worried. The last time he saw the boy, although it had been many years, Tebanam was in a hurt state. He hoped he fared better now.  

He heard the excitement come from the family room behind the door. At least it seemed like they were in good spirits. Klinge crossed his heart for luck and entered.

“So Faris and I were double crossed. The Baron’s guard were moving to box us in and steal back his treasure. With all the artifacts in hand, we stuffed ourselves into the mine cart and rocketed ourselves down the shaft. At the end, was an opening to outside the mountain, and we flew out to the lake below, having the water save our skins. By the gods it was a hell of a ride.”

The whole family laughed from Tebanem story. Klinge saw how the boy grew, and how the spirit he had before the scandal was back in him. And by Din, the facial hair on him.

Klinge took notice of the new comer in the corner of the room. A strange man with a dark skin tone, purple hair braided into dreadlocks, and tattoo markings on his face and what was visible on his arms. The man also took notice of him, and when he spoke his voice was calm and low.

“Hey Tebanem, you’ve got another visitor.”

Everyone turned to look towards to who Faris was referring. When Tebanem saw Klinge, he gave him a small smile. Damn, did he have some explaining to do. The rest of his siblings and their spouses gave him room to walk towards the commander.

“Hey Klinge.”

“Hello Tebanem. You’ve been gone a very long time.”

“I know.”

“I haven’t seen you in years, and all you can say is “I know”? You didn’t even stick around long enough on your last two returns to say hello.”

“Um, yeah. I’m sorry about that.” Tebanem took a deep breath. “And I’m also sorry for the way I treated you the last time we talked. I was just anger and hurt.”

“That’s ok.”

Klinge and stared at Tebanem for a while in silence after words. It made his siblings unsure of what Klinge was going to say next, and it unnerved Tebanem to no end. Klinge then relaxed his shoulders and squeezed hard around Tebanem in a hug, surprising everyone in the room.

“I missed you. You’ve been gone for so long.”

Tebanem hugged him back, patting the back of his armour, while trying to not suffocate.

“Me too. Can you put me down now?”                                                    

Klinge was the first to let go, but still held his hands on Tebanem’s shoulders, really examining him.

“Look at you, all grown up. Even have a fine beard growing here. I’m impressed. So according to your siblings you’re a treasure hunter eh?”

“Yeah, I’ve been trying to find knowledge and artifacts around the world of different civilizations. Especially on the Gerudo.”

Klinge’s eyes shot out in amazement.

“You’re serious, our people?!”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ve even got a haul of stolen artifacts from our tribe here at the castle.”

“That’s amazing boy! What’s your research like?!”

Tebanem smiled from ear to ear, taking out a research book. Ganondorf and Covarog grinned from both men’s excitement.

“You ever see Klinge this excited before Papa?”

“Maybe when you were first born, but other than that, no.”

The two Gerudo’s chuckled as Klinge and Tebanem carried on. Klinge took a moment’s pause to look back to the new man in the corner.

“So, Tebanem, who is this burley gentlemen?”

“Oh of course, where are my manners, Klinge this is Faris.”

“Faris huh? Is he a friend, bodyguard, lover?”

Klinge took note of the body language Tebanem gave him, revealing the answers. How he started to nod at bodyguard, but the moment Klinge so causally dropped lovers, the prince was blushing redder then peaches.

Tebanem tried to have something to reply when Klinge tilted his head at his flushness. Damn him for catching off guard. He watched as Klinge made his way over to Faris.

Faris on the other hand, wasn’t fully quite sure what to make of the black knight, except that he was huge. He stood slightly taller than Tebanem’s brother, Covarog, and his presence was unnerving. His aura quickly went from a possible friend to a danger just from walking from Tebanem over to him.

“So Faris, I just need to ask, how does Tebanem make you feel?”

“I care for his wellbeing if that’s what you are asking.”

“Very, good, straight to the point, I like that. Because I just want you to know that terrible things can happen to those who treat Tebanem poorly.”

“Like what?”

Faris’s wasn’t sure where Klinge was going with this, but it felt very much like an interrogation. Immediately everyone in the room stepped forward, because they knew exactly where Klinge’s first impressions could go. Tebanem stepped between himself and Klinge.

“You are not allowed to scare my boyfriend.”

“Come now, I just wanted to get to know him better, give him my special charm. Maybe a little sparring session?”

Cass, Corsaire, Vidar and Zarazu shook their heads.

“Don’t you dare.”

“You should stay away from the lad.”

“Let’s not.”

“Please for the love of Voda, do not.”

Klinge rolled his eyes and gave a huff. “Fine, perhaps another time.” Klinge looked deep into Faris’s eyes and spoke in soft cold whisper.  “Like if you break his heart I will tear your spine from your body with my bare hands.”

Tebanem smacked his hand down his face. So this is what his siblings had gone on about Klinge being terrible with meeting new people. He honestly hoped he didn’t scare Faris away from wanting to visit Hyrule again. “What did I just say?”

Faris gave a gulp but didn’t break his gaze, though the warrior in front of him had a killing intent behind him. He was as cold and black as the void just staring him down. “I’d never do anything to hurt him, you have my word on that.”

Klinge leaned off him, content with the answer. “Good. Now boys and girls, there is something I’ve been meaning to give you all.”

Klinge took out the painting he had, and rolled it out flat for all to see. Everyone was blown away by what they saw. Ganondorf especially stunned.

“Klinge, is that-“

“Our old home, the Gerudo Desert.”

Covarog and Ralnor loved how the shadows were cast down, Orana and Kanisa overjoyed by the waves of orange, and Tebanam the shining sun and bright blue sky in contrast with the sand. Zolori came behind Klinge and gave him a pat on the back.

“You’ve been practicing.”

Klinge gave a nod.

“Yeah, thanks for the inspiration.”

Tebanem scooped it up, in love with the art.

“And this is for all of us?”

“Yes, I hope you enjoy it.”

“Thank you Klinge.”

After the kids finished fawning over the art everyone mingled for a while. A small party had been prepared for Tebanem’s and Kanisa’s arrival. Grand amounts of food and drink had been prepared. Klinge talked with Kanisa before excusing himself to see Tebanem. The Prince was just with Faris’s, avoiding the nobles from the castle. Klinge’s presence was a nice distraction.

“Klinge, what can I do for you?”

“Tebanem, I was wondering if I could talk to you privately.”

“Sure.” Tebanem looked to Faris’s and gave him a peck on the check. “Be back in a moment.”

Klinge and Tebanem walked around the corner of the party, away from all the noise and people.

“So Klinge, what is it?”

Klinge looked at Tebanem and gave a heavy sigh.

“I wanted to tell you that I am sorry I failed you.”

Tebanam took a double back.

“What are you taking about?”

“All those years ago. I told you I’d keep you safe. My sole purpose was to keep you, and your brothers and sisters protected from harm. Yet I couldn’t. I broke my promise to you. I tried so hard to keep your dignity intact. You left because I failed in helping you Tebanem. I’m….I’m a failure.”

Tebanem couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Did Klinge feel this guilt the entire time he was gone? He had no idea how to respond at first.

“Klinge…”

“I’m sorry Prince Tebanem.”

“Hey”, Klinge looked up from the cheerful change in attitude from Tebanem’s voice. “What did I say about you calling me a Prince?”

“But I-“

“I left for my own reasons. And you can’t carry this unimaginable, unfair burden on yourself. There was nothing you could do on your own to protect me and when I was angry at you, I was at my lowest point. I was cold. If anyone should be apologizing it should be me. I’m sorry that you felt this guilt all this time Klinge.”

Klinge took a deep breath, these words helping him expel the feelings of worry he had carried over the years.

“I just, care about you boy. I care about all of you.”

“I know Uncle Klinge.”

Klinge gave a mighty cheerful laugh, but his voice was soft and warm.

“You haven’t called me that since you were a tiny child.”

“I wouldn’t if you didn’t care so damn much. Kind of overwhelming.”

“You know, it has been a while since you’ve had a combat lesson. How’s your sword arm?”

“No, we are not going there.”

“Nonsense, it will be fun. Tell you what, if you tell me about all the culture of our people you’ve found, I’ll go easy on you.”

“How about I show you the culture itself, think my last catch will intrigue you and the rest of the family immensely.”

Klinge was blooming under his helmet. The resurgence of Gerudo culture, and all because of Tebanem.

“That sounds delightful. Tell me, if you remember your history so well, who was the only Gerudo sage in our history?”

“Pfff, that’s an easy one. Nabooru.”

Klinge gave Tebanem a light pat over the back, almost knocking the prince over.

“Very good. Glad to have you back boy.”