#Rusl is trying to be open

[nancyheart11]

Unmasking a Warrior! (about 2 weeks into Dad Squad)

Abel raised his (much cleaner and sharper due to his new companions) Sword and sliced into another Bokoblin with a huff, where were all these monsters coming from? Though he had been  with these strange new men searching for their sons, a scarce fortnight Abel could admit that having such skilled companions was beginning to grow on him. 

Far to his left he heard the awful sound of the Fierce Deity’s huge blade rend another limb from a guardian with almost disgusting ease, considering how many were mowed down in seconds when . . . No time to think of the past while an arrow flew far to near Abel’s face for comfort. He turned to check on Rusl and was nearly blinded by the flash of light coming from the direction of the Fierce Deity. Abel felt his stomach swoop as he spared a glance in the direction of his friend(?) only to see a conspicuous lack of the 12 foot warrior. He had no time to check on the state of his companion since the monsters swelled around Rusl and him, forcing them on the defensive while they struggled to keep their heads in the tide of battle.

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Link gasped in pain as his knees hit the ground. Looking up he saw smears of color and far too bright sunlight assaulting his vision. He squeezed his eyes shut to block out the pain, as the ringing in his ears faded enough to make out the sounds of . . . monsters squealing?

Oh no, the last thing Link remembers is putting on the near burning mask as he was surrounded by turncoats, which he knew the deity would have no problem getting rid of. The fact that the sounds around him were clearly of monster origin was . . . off.

He tried to stand up and almost tasted dirt as the world spun and smeared in confusing colors around him, the pounding of his head suddenly demanding all of his attention.

He managed to squint at the slowly coming into to focus trees around him as his head quieted to a dull roar. Then a unusual looking lizalfoes crossed his blurry vision, with something wooden clutched in its talons. Squinting harder, he was able to make out bright red and blue on the wood in the monsters grasp. A jolt of panic ran through him at the realization for some reason. But the only piece of wood with markings that vivid he could recall was-

Sprite! His cry came out whisper quiet and raspy from how dry his throat was. When was the last time he'd had water? Didn’t matter right now any way, with the shot of adrenaline to his body, he remembered Putting on the mask, having it sear against his face, and a voice whispering that they would both be safe? That might have just been Link’s imagination since the Deity hadn’t been very emotive when he had interacted with them before.

Link staggered to his feet, using a nearby tree as leverage to keep from falling over once more, feeling weak from however long he had been hosting the Fierce Deity and shaking from the adrenaline that was helping him stay upright at all. 

He was in bad shape and he knew it. Only a small dagger on his person, that he would be lucky to keep hold of with how badly he was shaking, a headache ferocious as though a nail were being driven in with every labored and raspy breath, exhaustion clinging to every corner of his body, only being held back by worry for the smaller Link who he would have seen already if he had been saved.

Looking down showed a shorn branch that was about as tall as he was. He managed to grab it, and started moving after the lizalfoes as fast as he could, uncaring of how the thump of the branch was surely giving away his position.

Luckily for him, the lizalfoes was paying little attention to it's surroundings and went down with one good wack to the back of the head. (Link is going to idnire that he fell onto the monsters still very solid body from the hit) he managed to scramble away from the lizalfoes with the mask clutched to his body and hide in a bush before the monsters angry screeches sounded.

Link looked down on the clearly ancient Wooden mask, pristine looking as always and traced the marks that had begun to cling to Sprites face for short periods after taking it off near the end of the War (and how his heart burned for the child that was so used to fighting a War god could cling to his form at all)

The realization that he had no clue if the long term effects of wearing such an object hit Link and he grimaced. He pulled the knife out of his boot and brought it to his face. His eyes had bags under them that resembled bruises more than anything else, his cheeks which had been compared to apples more than once were now sunken in and drawn tight over prominent check bones. But all the clear signs of malnourishment and no sleep were overshadowed by seeing his hair.

It had gone from a brilliant golden sheen that looked like sunshine had graced his head, to the pale yellow of a wilting dandelion, that had made the mistake of growing in the shade, it's color and life both doomed to fade without intervention. Link was brought out of his musings when he heard a call.

"Fierce! We could really use your help on this one!"

It wasn't desperate, not yet. Link forced his arching and exhausted body up and limped way to the treeline, where he was able to see a fairly large group of monsters surrounding . . . Something. He squinted and was blessed with a brief clear view of the commotion. 2 hylians both fighting with blood soaked swords, sporting various injuries that would need attention soon the way the battle was going.

The sight of them sparked a flurry of fondness? In Links chest. He felt the need to help well up in him, but even he could admit that in his current state he would be more of a liability than an asset. He brought out the mask with trembling hands. This was the only useful weapon he had, but the consequences. . .

He spared a glance at the cursed thing and did a double take because the masks expression seemed to shifted slightly, with one perfectly sculpted brow millimeters higher than the other.

" I can't fight as I am, but I think putting you on might get me killed too." He whispered

The mask in his hands jumped in temperature before cooling rapidly. What was going on??

On the field the shorter man cried as he was stabbed in the thigh and without wasting another second in thought, the warm mask was slammed on his face.

_—--------------------------------

Abel cried out knowing that he might have just ensured Hyrule's total destruction. Just as Hylia had abandoned her people in their time of need, so too had the Fierce Deity left him and Rusl to die, desperately searching for their sons. Rusl crouched closer over head with his shield held to try and cover Abel, but he could tell from the tension in the others back that they both knew how unlikely survival was.

Then Abel was blinded momentarily by a bright Flash of light, by the time he managed to blink the spots away only the rapidly dissipating bodies of the monsters were left, and standing as though the hoard about to overwhelm the two mortals were merely an annoyance, was the Fierce Deity.

" Thanks for the save." was Rusl's mild reply to the sudden appearance of their missing Companion.

Abel felt the ground tilt, and only realized he had been scooped up like a child when his cheek touched soothing cool metal.

“Apologies. . . It appears I have miscalculated, I will be better prepared should my connection to this world be severed again.” Abel could barely feel confused before sweet unconsciousness took hold and he knew no more.

[skyloftian-nutcase]

Rusl awoke abruptly.

He wasn't entirely sure what had woken him, but something was definitely distinctly different.

Was Hana crying? No. But something was rumbling, a rhythmic sound that was loud and vibrated gently against him as it emitted from somewhere in the bed.

Rusl blinked his eyes open, scrunching his nose as fur tickled it.

Snoring. He was woken up by snoring.

Slowly, Rusl raised his head just a little to look at the bundle of fur snuggled between him and Uli. Link had been unable to turn back into a Hylian yesterday due to the sleet, which, based on the pitter patter on the roof, had likely continued into the early morning. Uli and Rusl had warmed him up and let him stay with them, neither parent felt comfortable just leaving him resting on the floor in front of the fire. Somehow, though, Link had taken far more space on the bed as a wolf than he ever had as a Hylian, and Rusl was nearly about to fall off the bed this morning.

Link snored again, a loud, ridiculous sound that might as well have been a bulbin battle cry. Biting the inside of his cheek, he glanced upward a little farther to see Uli already on her side, head propped in her hand, trying her absolute best not to burst out laughing.

"So this is the true curse of the shadows," Rusl surmised quietly.

Uli couldn't help the snort that erupted out of her, and she quickly descended into a fit of giggles.

[bokettochild]

Sorry this is like 600 words instead of 500, but this is one of my favorite interpretations of Twilight's backstory ever, and I would love to hear more (given I've understood the prompt right, which I hope that I have). This is from Rope Burns.  “I grew up on a military base,” Twilight snorts, “trust me, soldiers are as dumb as rocks.” 

  And well, Legend having a family isn’t that crazy in comparison to that. 

  Warriors starts, staring at the rancher, blinking slowly as though still trying to process the words of the other. “I’m sorry- you what?” 

  “I thought you grew up in Ordon?” Wild questions, turning to his mentor, confusion on clear display. 

  Yeah, Wind has a feeling that Wild’s story is well and truly over now, but he supposes it’s worth it. Learning something about their rancher is, he supposes, better than hearing the rest of the story the cook had already spoiled the ending too, especially as the limit of their knowledge about the rancher at this point is that he’s from Ordon, used to work as a ranch hand, and is descended from Time and Malon somehow. The fact that he’s a hero goes without saying, but the ranch hand nearly never shares anything about himself, even though he seems to love talking about his hometown and all the people in it, to the point where some of them feel they know the village and its residents already, despite still not having been there yet. 

  Yet, the rancher is grinning as he leans back, the sprig of hylian rice between his teeth bouncing some as he flashes a wolfish grin at them. “Well, yeah, sort of.” 

  “Sort of?” Time nudges his pup, looking thoroughly unimpressed. Their leader isn’t keen on them being cryptic with him, even though he frequently does so himself. The hypocrite. “Explain.” 

  The rancher chuckles, a nervous little thing, but obediently pulls himself up, resting his weight over his knees as he looks around the fire at all of them, eyes glinting slightly. “Well, y’see, I a’tually grew up in a citadel on the edge of Hyrule.” 

  Warriors jaw drops so fast. “Holy Hylia you’re a military brat.” 

 He can’t help it; he bursts into laughter. Yes, objectively, it’s funny to see Warriors so shocked, but from an outsider's perspective it is so, so much funnier because he’s met Warriors parents and sisters, and he’s seen for himself the proof that the captain is anything but the sissy city boy Twilight likes to accuse him of being. No, the captain was born in Hebra, so far out from cities that he thought Kakariko was huge. Meanwhile, it turns out their “country boy” actually grew up in a military base? Not the country? It turns out Twilight is the military brat and Warriors was the hill-billy? How the turn tables have turned! 

  The rest of the heroes stare at him, confused, but the captain just rolls blue eyes, pinching the tip of his ear to make him shut up. “Ignore him.” 

  Twilight’s dark gaze flicks between them, but apparently, he determines to listen to the captain for once. “Right, so, my dad was a’tually a knight from some family o’ knights or summat, an’ my mom comes from desert folk, so I grew up on the border studyin’ with other knights’ kids to take on our fathers’ duties ’n protect Hyrule one day.” 

 The stares are very, very evident by now, although Legend’s in particular is strangely intense, studying the other with his mouth half open like he’s got a question about the rancher’s words.  

 Broad shoulders shrug, a bit awkward as the rancher grins at them. “My friends growin’ up were dumber’n rocks, an’ every knight I’ve met since is the same, so yeah. Knights ‘re stupid.”

Ooh, this one will be fun!

So, I actually was taught, coming into the LU fandom, that Twilight was basically raised in Ordon, with some people saying he came as a small child, mayb Rusl found him as a baby, all aloe and needing care, or maybe he was brought there by the hero's shade when he was still small, but nearly every source I looked to in the fandom said Twilight was young when he, the only Hylian in the village, cae to Ordon.

But then I read the Twilight Princess Manga! Chapter 6 of the manga, aptly titled "Link's Past" shows us him as a young boy, about nine or ten, living, as Twi says in your selection, in a citadel on the hylian border. Twilight's explanation (telling his story to Rusl) in manga goes thus:

"As it bordered the desert, my old home town was responsible for frontier security. It was ruled by the Rufflio, a family of noble ancestry. Upon becoming adults, we were to protect the frontiers of Hyrule. The young boys, holding onto the pride of that duty, spent their days training in the ways of the sword." (Twilight Princess, Volume One, Chapter 6, by Akira Himekawa)

In the past, I've never had an opportunity to address that. if you follow my works, then you know I draw heavily on the manga in regards to Legend's history and past, but I write Twilight much less than legend (understatement of the year). That said, their manga's definitely give me a better take on their characters, whereas Four Swords and Minish Cap were more fun than informative, and Ocarina of Time just made me think Time was a pain in the ass and a freaking weird kid (I have not finished the manga yet for that reason, despite owning it).

I wasn't really planning on talking about Twilight's past here at all, but it sort of sprung upon me in an inspired fit and I decided, what the heck? Why not!

The references to his mother being of the "desert folk" is in reference to how some people like to headcannon that twilight is part Gerudo, which I thoroughly enjoy and support! So, for fun, his mom is Gerudo.

His dad though? Well, you see, that comes up in the manga too! Not his dad specifically, but actually, Ashei's! The TP manga actually has Ashei tell Twilight that she is one of the last descendants of the Knights of Hylia (also known as the Knights of Hyrule, depending on the translation/game version), and that Snowpeak fortress is actually their ancestral home!

Now, you may be saying "Ketto, I've heard of the Knights of Hylia before, or at least, I think I have?" and if you've been around my blog/fics enough, you sure as sugar have! the Knights of Hylia are, famously, the group of knights who worked beside the sages mentioned in A Link to the Past to seal Ganon away! More importantly though, they're the descendants and carriers of the legacy of the Hero of Time!

So, if Twilight is cannonically Time's descendant, that would mean that one of his parents was likely from the families that made of the Knights of Hylia! Mystery solved!

Additionally, this would make him and Ashei very distant cousins. And for extra kicks, since Legend is also, famously, descended from the same line of knights (albeit in another timeline) he would also be their cousin! I've been tempted to address that for forever, especially with the Snowpeak detail, because honestly, I get a kind of Kaer Morhen vibe from it and SO want to play with that, but I digress!

Twilight's ancestry is part Gerudo, for fun, and descended from Time, which is fun I don't have to create because it's cannon! He grew up on the edges of Hyrule for the most part, and when he talks aout being picked on by the other kids in this fic, it's because they are sort of aggressie to him in the flashbacks he has in the manga. Granted they're a bunch of boys aged 10-13, so they're all a bit aggressive to each other, but I imagine, being probably the only part Gerudo among them, he did get picked on at least a bit, hence the premise of this fic :)

-

Bonus! Legend's staring is, in fact, because he really, really, really wants to ask twilight which Knight Family he hails from. He is making a connection and he's not sure what to think about it LOL

Warriors on the other hand, who I fervently headcanon as Celtic, is, like Wind, realizing that a reverse-uno has been played here. He, a peasant from the far north and abject poverty, is traveling with the descendant of a famed family of well respected knights who was likely living in a major trading town (thus likely rather well off) and yet somehow, he's the one who get's labeled the stuck up city kid, and Twilight is believed to be the home grown honest backwoods farmer fella. I actually posted a few things about that while writing this thing, and I may or may not visit that idea more fully in a fic one day, but yeah, that's what's going on for our vet and captain right here.

Thanks for choosing this one! I actually had a lot I wanted to share about it and hadn't been able to before! And the fact that this is a recent one I can actually remember working on definitely helps LOL

[wild-dagon]

There is one amazing linked universe fanfiction on AO3 that I can’t remember the name of but it’s a Wild join the chain story.

Wild’s slate goes crazy and 8 of his shrines are different colors. He goes to investigate the one closest to Kakariko and finds Wind and a broken shrine. He then goes on a journey to find all the other members of the Chain through Hyrule (with a lot of Wild angst) I just can’t remember the name of it (it haunts me)

However it has birthed my own brain child. What if it’s not the chain that gets scattered across Wild’s Hyrule but their loved ones.

Botw has a lot of locations that call back to old games that could make this very fun.

Let’s say the Chain arrived in BOTW and Wild is so relieved because the step out of the portal just outside of Hateno village and he’s like “what a stock of luck” and takes everyone to his house. They are all able to relate and they think the goddess is giving them a break.

But while they are relaxing Wild’s slate starts beeping. He pulls it out only to see something weird. There is a new glowing symbol on his map. One he recognizes but shouldn’t be on his map. He calls Time over and shows him his slate, he wants to confirm what he’s seeing. Time looks at the slate to see Lon Lon Ranch’s little cow symbol flashing on Wild’s screen.

After a little bit of discussion (no that’s not supposed to be to be there. Yes it just appeared) they decided to go check it out. Wild can only teleport with one passanger and there is no way Time is letting him go alone (these are his kids) and the isn’t letting anyone else go (it has to do with Lon Lon ranch)

The two of them teleport over to the Wetland stables and start making their way over to the Ranch Ruins. Wild tells Time that they have to be cautious because there is a Guardian in the area. But as they approach they can see that the guardian is already on alert and the Bokoblins near by are also agitated.

Wild and Time pause to try and take in the situation when Time spots a flash of red hair. His heart drops because it can’t be. He points it out to Wild and asking him to use his slate to get a better look. As soon as Wild does he can see a terrified Malon hiding in the ruins of the ranch trying to stay as quiet and still as possible.

The two rush in to save her (wild handling the guardian with an ancient arrow and time quickly dispatching the Bokoblins). Malon is shaken but unharmed. She tells them that a portal opened up under her feet and dropped her into the ranch ruins.

They make their way back ti the stable. Time wants Wild to teleport her to Hateno immediately but Wild and Malon are both against leaving him alone in Wild’s Hyrule. They agree to make it back to the safety of the stables and then Wild will take Malon to Hateno before returning for time. (Deportation with passengers is also hard in his body and he doesn’t want to take the risk of passing out in a dangerous location when he’s their only way out).

They call Wind on the way back so the Chain is waiting for them at the Shrine. Wild’s exhausted from the teleporting and Twulight helps him back to the house as the boys lead Malon to Wilds home. They whole way there they are wonder why Malon is here? And more importantly will anyone else come through?

Yes.

I think Ravio will come through for Legend (his little bunny symbol appearing in the map) he appears on Eventude Island because of course he does and Legeand is flipping out because that’s the name of HER island and he can’t lose anyone else (you could also have Marine appear here or just do the angst of Legend worrying about losing someone else to the island)

For Twilight you could do it one of two ways the Oridon symbol appears and they go to find Rusl (and maybe his whole family) if it’s them I would put them in one of four places: by the broken mirror by Lurelin village. Maybe in the Faron woods or the Damel forest as they are both in the Faron province. Or somewhere in Akkala because u want someone to go to Tarry town. But I think the best place to put them would be Arbiter’s ground just because it’s such an iconic place in TP. (You could also do Midna near the mirror)

For Sky it’s obviously Sun (his Zelda) and I would put her in the forgotten temple. It’s to perfect and almost tomb like plus with all the guardians it makes for a stressful place for her to be. Especially if you put the shrine on the fritz. Even if it’s not she probably would have triggered some of the guardians but trying to leave.

Wind would be Tetra or Aryll and I would put them near Lurelin village as it is the most like their game or you could throw them somewhere completely different and put them in the dessert. (I need a good place to put them)

For Hyrule you could put Dawn (the princess from his first game the red head (right I’ve never been sure which was which)) or Aurora (the Zelda from Link’s adventure the one who slept for 100 years, the brunette?) or both in to the Typhlo ruins (the island that is shrouded in darkness) I think they would be really freaked out by that place.

For Four you could do Dot (or maybe Shadow) I’m not sure where to put them. Maybe somewhere cold since Four struggles in cold environments or maybe they are the ones that go to Akkala.

For Warriors it’s either, Artemis, Lana, or Linkle and they are in the castle. Or the Garrison ruins but I think the castle is the worst location for them.

Basically the links are rushing to their loved ones side and Wild is tagging a long as guide and transport. The bigger the group the harder it is on Wild and they have to do some traveling to get to a safe place to teleport the group one at a time. Some will have more travel time than others.

You can also have Flora trying to help out and find loggings for everyone.

[smilesrobotlover]

Whumptober day 5- Secrets Reveal

Alright buckle up folks this one is a wild ride. It’s a bit longer and not suuuuper well written but hey, I hope the action isn’t clunky �� action is HARD

Warnings: blood, control, walking off a cliff, injury, idk it’s a dark one😭

~~~~

The ruins were a maze. There were some open areas with broken walls scattered about, but there were also labyrinths of walls that led into different rooms or to cliff sides that almost killed Leon. He and Linebeck tried desperately to find Rusl and Kass, but no matter how much they called or how much they searched the area, there was no sign of them. Leon was getting more and more worried for them, not knowing if they were being attacked now or if they were dead, but he prayed it wasn’t the latter. When they ran into yet another dead end, Leon groaned, smacking the brick with his hand in frustration.

“This is taking too long!” He turned to Linebeck. “Boost me up the wall, I need a better view.”

Linebeck nodded and put his hands together, kneeling to the ground so Leon could climb on. Leon was boosted up to the top of the broken wall, and he scrambled over it so he could stand on his feet. The walls were thick, so he didn’t have to balance too much, but the snow was slick, so he couldn’t be careless. He kneeled and planted his feet the best he could, reaching for Linebeck’s hand.

“Uh, I think I’ll just stay down here,” he muttered, not taking Leon’s hand.

“I’m not leaving you alone, now get up here!” Leon commanded, and Linebeck sighed, taking his hand and crawling up the wall. The man clearly did not like being on top of the tall walls, and his legs shook as he followed Leon along the wall. It was nice being able to see above the ruins, but he couldn’t catch sight of Rusl’s green scarf or Kass’s blue feathers. He treaded carefully, being sure to make sure the steps in front of him didn’t send him slipping off onto the ground, but he did try to move as quickly as he was able. Linebeck suddenly grabbed onto him, nearly causing him to lose balance.

“Linebeck!” He scolded, pulling away from the man.

“Sorry, I slipped and almost died,” he explained, his voice shaky.

“Well don’t grab onto me or else we’ll both fall!”

“I had to hang onto something!”

Leon rolled his eyes and continued. “You won’t die if you fall, it’s not that high up. Honestly you need to toughen up. It’ll be hard to fall anyw—“

Leon’s foot slipped underneath him, and he gasped as he fell on his back and toppled over onto the snowy ground. The landing wasn’t painful in the snow, but his back ached from where it hit the wall. He sat up, rubbing his spine to alleviate the pain while Linebeck stared at him. Leon looked up, giving him a threatening look.

“Don’t you dare say anything,” he warned, but Linebeck finally snorted, covering his mouth as he laughed at Leon.

“Oh, it’ll be hard to fall, huh?” He taunted, continuing to chuckle while Leon dusted snow out of his hair.

“Quiet before I knock you over!” Leon threatened, but as usual with his threats, they were empty. Leon stood and reached his hand up. “Help me.”

Linebeck sighed and kneeled carefully on the wall, reaching only for him to pull back to readjust his legs.

“Linebeck, what are you doing?” Leon exasperated.

“I’m just trying to make sure I don’t fall over when I help you up!” He defended, continuing to readjust himself. Leon groaned and looked behind him, where he was barely able to see a green scarf disappear behind a wall. He gasped and pulled away just as Linebeck reached out once again.

“Rusl!” He shouted, but the man didn’t respond. Leon turned to Linebeck and gestured for him to get on the ground. “Get down here, hurry!”

“O-ok,” Linebeck muttered, shakily and slowly crawling down the wall. Leon rolled his eyes and grabbed onto his coat, pulling him down so he’d fall onto the soft snow. Linebeck yelped as he fell, and he gave Leon a dirty look when he sat up, but the man ignored it and instead dragged the sailor to where he saw Rusl. He was afraid that Rusl didn’t hear him with his small ears, and that he would lose him in this labyrinth, but to his relief, he found Rusl in a yard area near a cliffside. Rusl was standing, staring at the view in front of him which was odd, but Rusl was an odd man, so Leon ignored the behavior out of his mind and jogged up to him.

“Thank the goddesses I found you,” Leon said, just a few feet behind him. “Where’s Kass?”

Rusl didn’t respond, he just kept staring. Leon squinted his eyes and gave Linebeck a look, stopping him from stepping closer.

“Rusl, what’s going on?” Leon pressed, stepping more cautiously towards him. He reached his hand out to rest on his shoulders, but as soon as he touched him, Rusl spun around, the blade of his sword missing him by a hair as Leon jumped back. A gasp was heard from Linebeck, and Leon drew his own sword, barely able to block Rusl’s attacks.

“Rusl! What the heck man!” Linebeck shouted, and Leon kicked his friend away, jumping in front of the sailor.

“This has to be the puppeteer’s work,” he said, holding his sword against Rusl who stared at him with a hostile look. It gave him chills, but he knew that it couldn’t be the real Rusl. The puppeteer always had puppets that he would use against them. Several times copies of his friends or others would attack him, but the puppets were always weak. One kick or stab and they would melt into the clay they were made out of. It really wasn’t a threat to them, but it didn’t make it any less disturbing seeing his kind-hearted friend look at him with hatred and bloodlust in his eyes. Leon glanced back at Linebeck, pushing him back further behind him.

“I’ll take care of this,” he explained, “stay back and stay safe.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” Linebeck muttered, and rushed back behind a wall. Leon returned his attention to the puppet, who was pacing back and forth. He only hoped the real Rusl was somewhere safe.

As soon as Leon was ready to fight, puppet Rusl charged at him, once again swinging his sword at him. Leon dodged and swung his own sword, which was quickly blocked. The two clashed weapons together, sparks flying and ears ringing from the high pitched sound of metal scraping against each other. It was difficult to get the upper hand; puppet Rusl would swing his sword, Leon would block, and then he would try to land a hit, only for him to block it as well. Leon would try to get an opening large enough for him to throw a punch or kick, since puppets tend to fall apart from that type of force, but puppet Rusl would recover quickly enough to stop him from trying. While trying to land a hit with an opening, puppet Rusl almost lobbed off his head, and Leon growled as he swung his leg to trip puppet Rusl. He landed in the snow and Leon scrambled to his feet to finish him once and for all, but he once again recovered quickly, rolling out of Leon’s reach. Losing his patience, Leon ran up to him, kicking him as quickly as he could, which he was finally successful in doing. Puppet Rusl grunted against the impact, and while he was distracted, Leon swung his sword. The puppet dodged, but the tip of Leon’s sword grazed his cheek, and he toppled back from the hit.

Leon let out a satisfied huff, glancing at his sword. But where he was expecting the strange goop the puppets were made out of, he saw blood, dripping off the tip and landing in the snow, staining it red. Wait…

Dread clenched Leon’s throat as he stared in horror. Puppets weren’t supposed to bleed. He glanced up only to see Rusl grinning at him, blood pouring from the cut on his cheek.

“Why so surprised?” He asked in a mocking tone, stepping up and punching him hard in the face. Leon fell back, staring at his friend who now walked confidently. Confident to know that they weren’t fighting to the death anymore… or… at least Leon wasn’t. This wasn’t a puppet made to look like Rusl, it was Rusl who was the puppet.

“You—“ Leon snarled, anger towards the puppeteer stronger than ever. “How dare you use him like that!”

Rusl grinned, swinging his sword at Leon who dodged. It was like that for a while, with Rusl attacking while Leon dodged, terrified of raising his sword at his friend. He didn’t know what to do. How was he going to break the puppeteer’s grasp on Rusl? How was he going to keep himself from getting killed without hurting Rusl? When Rusl sliced his cheek, Leon ran back, taking cover where Linebeck sat anxiously.

“What the heck is happening?” Linebeck asked, and Leon let out a huff, trying to clear his head.

“The-the puppeteer is controlling him!” He explained, moving Linebeck as they ran from possessed Rusl.

“He can do that?”

“Yes… I… I don’t know what to do.”

A rock was thrown in their direction, and Leon ducked down with Linebeck following.

“We need to go after the puppeteer if he’s the one controlling him,” Linebeck suggested. Leon nodded, pulling the man behind a wall and grabbing both his arms to look him in the eyes.

“It’s the only way, but I want you to stay here out of sight. I’m going to try to lead him away from you and find the puppeteer—“

“You can’t go off on your own! What are you, stupid?” Linebeck protested, stepping away from the wall, but Leon held him back.

“I’m not risking you getting hurt, now stay right here and—“

Linebeck suddenly grabbed Leon and pulled both of them away as Rusl appeared behind him, swinging his sword at them. The metallic shriek of his sword hitting the brick wall rang out, and the two fell onto the snow. Leon scrambled to get on top of Linebeck, just in time to block the attacks raining onto them. As soon as Rusl left an opening, Leon lunged, latching onto the man in an attempt to tackle him to the ground, but Rusl was stubborn and remained on his feet. They wrestled for a moment before Rusl pulled his arm away, stabbing his sword at Leon. There was a slight, sharp pain in his side, but Leon ignored it as he grabbed Rusl’s sword arm and pulled him close. In one motion, he tilted his sword so his hilt was facing Rusl, and he slammed it into his abdomen. It was a trick that he learned that could knock out his opponent for several minutes, and he prayed that it would work on Rusl so he’d stop attacking.

Rusl stumbled back, his eyes blinking furiously and he stared dazed at the ground, but soon his body lurched towards Leon, continuing his attacks. It was clear that Rusl was unconscious from the move, but the puppeteer still had control of his body, with the attacks more vicious than before. Had Rusl been holding back the entire time? Did Leon just make things worse trying to knock out his friend? He gasped and cursed as he nearly had his head lobbed off again, trying to keep up with the flurry of attacks aimed at him. It was difficult to keep up with, and he let out a yell as his foot caught on a rock, sending him to the ground. He couldn’t react in time as he watched Rusl raise his sword, his eyes still dazed, and he flinched as it was swung down.

“Oh no you don’t!”

Leon looked up to see Linebeck grabbing hold of Rusl, stopping his attack and pulling him away. Rusl squirmed violently in his hold, his arms swinging around in an attempt to grab at Linebeck, but he remained firm and kept him off the ground. Leon scrambled to his feet just as Rusl elbowed Linebeck’s face, causing him to finally be dropped. He was about to stab Linebeck before Leon wrapped his arms around him, the two men trying to contain Rusl. Finally, he broke free, staggering back and panting heavily as he glared at Leon and Linebeck. Leon had his sword drawn, protecting himself and Linebeck.

“Get out of my friend’s head,” Leon said in a dark voice, stepping closer to him, which caused Rusl to step back. This time, Rusl ran with Leon following, and they found each other in an open area by a cliffside. Rusl continued to pant, his body clearly pushed past its limits. His eyes were empty, but a hint of defeat and anger rested in his expression as he watched Leon like a cornered animal. In one last attempt of victory, he charged at Leon, swinging his sword down on his head, which Leon blocked easily. He twisted his sword around and sent Rusl’s sword flying out of his hands, and he was finally unarmed. Linebeck ran to the discarded sword and picked it up, standing defensively. Rusl quickly backed up, looking around desperately, until he let out a defeated sigh.

“I can’t kill you with him as my weapon,” he muttered, standing up straight. Leon brought his sword up again, expecting another attack. “But I can kill him.”

He was too far for Leon to reach as he stepped backwards, letting himself fall off the edge of the cliffside.

“NO!” Leon screamed as he sprinted to catch him, but it was too late. He could only watch, his stomach plummeting as Rusl fell out of his view, falling to the snowy ground below.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The hallway Kass was walking through was drastically different from the rest of the ruins. The inside was perfectly intact with it leading to several different rooms, the torches were lit up giving out a soft orange glow, and it was generally clean. Kass looked in every room, but the puppeteer wasn’t anywhere, and he was beginning to question if he actually saw the man walk in here or not. But he heard a voice that spoke a few times that proved to Kass that he wasn’t alone, and he followed to where he heard it. Kass didn’t have the good hearing Hylians had, but the talking was able to lead him to a small closet under the stairs. Kass opened it as softly as he could, spotting the puppeteer who had his back turned to Kass, hunched over a blue light coming from his hands. He was breathing heavily, with a few grunts coming from him, and he didn’t seem to hear Kass walking carefully towards him. Kass picked up a rock, his heart pounding against his chest as he hesitated near the puppeteer. He could kill him here and now…. But….

Kass was always a pacifist. He wanted to play music, not to fight; he wanted to sing for his family, not to shoot a bow. But he couldn’t let the puppeteer go, he couldn’t let him continue torturing the men and the Links. Kass sucked in a breath and raised the rock, looking away as he swung it down on the puppeteer’s head. He let out a grunt as he tumbled to the ground, the light from his hands disappearing. Kass backed up from the puppeteer as he scrambled to his feet, rubbing his head painfully. His one-eyed mask glanced up at Kass, staring almost as if he were in shock from what he did to him.

“Y-you—where did—augh!” The puppeteer held his head where he was hit, pressing himself up against the wall. Kass glared at him and used his height to his advantage, trying to intimidate the man.

“You attacked us first!”

The puppeteer stared at him, clearly shocked, but he scrambled to his feet, standing in a defensive position despite clearly being disoriented.

“And what was your plan?” He asked cooly.

“Where are the Links?”

“Clearly not here.”

Kass glared, stepping closer. “Why did you attack me?”

The puppeteer cocked his head to the side.

“You’re just full of questions, aren’t you?”

Kass frowned, not knowing how to respond to such a strange comment. The puppeteer shook his head, sliding on the wall.

“I wasn’t expecting such a…violent action from you,” he started, before letting out a dark chuckle. “It was a valiant effort, but… you were too late.”

Kass’s eyes widened when the puppeteer suddenly lunged at him, a knife in his hand. He let out a yelp as he fell, and he brought his talons out and scratched at his face. His claws landed a hit on the puppeteer’s face, tearing his mask and chunks of skin off, causing the man to cry out in pain. The puppeteer fell off of him and quickly collected his mask before disappearing in a puff of smoke, leaving Kass alone. He scrambled to his talons and bolted out of the ruins, the puppeteer’s words echoing through his mind.

You were too late.

Too late? Too late for what? He took flight as soon as he went outside, ignoring the pain in his left wing. In the air, he searched the area, trying to find the others as quickly as he could, and to his dismay, he found them.

All of them at the base of a cliff side, with one laying on his back.

No.

Kass landed next to them, his breathing heavy as he stared at Leon hunched over Rusl. No, no no no…

“Wh-what happened?” He asked frantically, his voice already breaking. Leon barely acknowledged him, his face blank as he checked Rusl’s pulse, but Linebeck turned to the Rito, his face pale.

“Th-the puppeteer was controlling him and… he—he threw Rusl off the cliff and—“

Linebeck’s breath hitched, and Kass’s eyes widened. He was too late.

“He’s… is he…?”

“He’s not dead,” Leon said simply, checking over the rest of Rusl’s body. Kass let out a sigh of relief, noticing Rusl’s shallow breathing, though it hurt to hear him struggle to breath. “He’s terribly injured though. The snow cushioned his fall, but not enough.”

Leon rested back on his feet, not taking his eyes off his friend. It grew uncomfortably silent, the only sound being Rusl taking in rattling breaths. His ribs must’ve been broken.

“What do we do?” Linebeck asked, kneeling next to Leon, and he let out a breath.

“We… I…” Leon frowned as he tried to think of something, but he took in a deep breath, then let it out, then sucked in another one, letting it free after a few seconds. He did that for a moment with Kass and Linebeck watching him, and he finally stopped, his eyes on Kass.

“We need to get him down to Talon, but it’s too risky to carry him in such a state,” he began to explain, “his neck could be broken, so… Kass… if I could make a stretcher that you could carry so you could fly him down the mountain—“

“Of course, I can do that,” Kass jumped in, ignoring his aching wing. It wasn’t broken, and he could easily glide down the mountain if it meant saving his friend. Leon nodded and hunched over Rusl again, whose eyes were fluttering open.

“You stay alive, you hear me?” He ordered, and Rusl blinked a few times before closing them, Kass assuming that it was a nod. Leon got up and gestured for Kass to help him, and with Linebeck keeping an eye on Rusl, the two searched the ruins for rope and planks. Fortunately it wasn’t too difficult to find, and Leon built a sturdy stretcher with rope attached to a branch that Kass could hang onto. With enough wiggling to make sure it wouldn’t fall apart, the two returned to Linebeck and Rusl. Linebeck was cradling his neck, the two shivering as the sun dropped behind the mountains.

“Help me put him on there,” Leon muttered, setting the stretcher down and grabbing Rusl’s legs. Kass helped lift him up while Linebeck continued to cradle his neck, but Rusl still hissed in pain. Leon took off his scarf and wrapped it around Rusl’s neck when he was set down, his eyes open again but looking glassy as he stared at the sky. The scarf was packed firmly to keep his neck from moving, and Leon took off his coat as well to tuck around the shivering man.

“Woah woah, Leon, what are you doing?” Linebeck cut in, but Leon ignored him as he began to wrap rope around Rusl to keep him secure to the stretcher. Linebeck put his hand on Leon to get his attention. “You’re gonna get hypothermia without your coat!”

“I’ll be fine,” he muttered, not taking his eyes off of his work. Finally, he tied ropes around the stretcher so that it would be even when lifted off, and he grabbed the end for Kass to hang onto with his talons. “Be careful with him.”

Kass nodded as he grabbed the end, but frowned at the two. “What about you guys? I can't leave you stranded on the mountain.”

“We’ll be fine,” Leon reassured, “but Rusl needs help now. Please just… make sure he’s ok.”

Kass was hesitant, but he knew realistically that he couldn’t carry all of them with Rusl severely injured, even with a wing that didn’t hurt. He stood up, taking to the skies as gently as possible, with Leon and Linebeck helping him keep Rusl steady. Soon, he was high up in the sky, gliding carefully down the mountain, with Leon and Linebeck growing smaller and smaller until they were but little dark spots on the white snow.

[skyward-floored]

Whumptober Day 17: Collar, Touch aversion

I’m not late, I merely ran out of time to upload this last night. I finished it yesterday it’s all good. We’re good. Perfectly fine. (<- girl who hasn’t even started on today’s yet)

Anyway I thought too hard about my theory of Dink getting empowered from Twilight’s injury and uhhhh. Yeah. Here’s this. It’s on the heavier side again.

Read on ao3

Warnings: captivity, implied torture, blood and injury, and discussion of death

———————————————————

Eight heroes stood outside of a large, dark structure, surrounded by trees that blocked out the sunlight.

The limited light cast the area into what felt like perpetual twilight, grim and dark, and Time looked up at the ruins with a tight feeling in his gut.

“I’ll bet you anything our missing hero is in there,” Legend murmured, and Time nodded, trying not to fidget with discomfort.

Something cold and dark was in the very air around them, something that made Hyrule pale, and Sky hold a little more tightly to his sword. It was dark magic, Time knew, but that only helped solidify to him that something was very wrong here.

They’d landed in the unfamiliar Hyrule a few days ago, all surprised when nobody could identify it. It had been months since they’d last gained another hero, and Time had thought for sure that eight was as large as their group was going to get.

But as they’d traveled around and spoken to people, it became clear there was another hero they hadn’t yet seen.

One who’d apparently been missing for as long as they’d been traveling together.

They had begun to search for him, and followed a sparse trail of clues to a place off the map they’d been given, and as Tine looked up at the dark ruins, he felt a heavy sense of dread settle upon him.

Are you in there, Link?

“You really think he’s here?” Hyrule asked quietly, and Time nodded.

“I do. Making it this far was extremely difficult... I would be shocked if he weren’t.”

“But remember what Rusl said?” Wild spoke up quietly. “The Hero here has been missing for months. What are the odds that we’d find him in the space of barely a week? Just like that?”

“What are the odds that any of us would ever meet in the first place?” Four countered with, and before Warriors could say whatever it was he’d opened his mouth to voice, Four plowed on. “There must be a reason. Just like everything else.”

“And I can feel a pull,” Sky said in a quiet voice. “One I’ve only felt with all of you.”

“Enough chatter, let’s go already,” Wind said impatiently, and they went inside the falling-apart structure, steps echoing off dirty floors.

They paused at the first split path and argued for a moment about whether sticking together or splitting up was best, but before Warriors and Legend could start shouting and alert whatever was here to their presence, Time decided splitting in half was the best way to search quickly. There seemed to be two main sections of the ruins anyway, and the two reluctantly agreed.

“Stay on guard,” Warriors murmured before they split, and they all nodded. You don’t have to tell me twice.

Time ended up with Sky, Wild, and Four in his group, and they trooped quietly through the vine-filled hallways, and down stairwells full of cobwebs and dirt.

The feeling of unease grew more and more heavy the deeper they went, and Time caught Sky clenching at his sword more than once. It was oddly oppressive in here, despite the plants that crept through cracks, and spiders in the corners, like a shadow was cast all over the entire structure.

It just felt... wrong.

“Wait, shh,” Wild said suddenly as they entered a particularly long hallway.

Time stopped walking, and Wild crept forward, his ears pricked. He turned towards a small grate in the floor, and crouched beside it, his face creasing as he listened. Wild motioned them over after a moment, and they all kneeled beside the tiny grate, listening intently.

The faint sound of someone talking echoed up through the floor, and Time strained his ears, trying to make out the words. He couldn’t hear anything though, but with the way Wild’s face was paling, he was fairly certain he could.

“It’s the Shadow,” Wild said after a moment, voice grim as he pressed his ear to the grate. “Something about... power, I think? Power and... enemies. Wait—”

He went quiet again, and as the minutes dragged on, his eyes widened.

“Time... I think he’s talking to the hero.”

Wild suddenly jerked back from the grate, and they all heard the agonized scream that came from below, no less horrible because of how far away it was.

Sky paled, and Time scrambled to his feet, the others right beside him.

“Look for stairs,” Time said in a short voice, and they all ran down the hallway, searching for doors.

It took them a long time to find one that led downwards, and by the time they did, the screams had stopped, along with the talking. There was no sound at all, and Time hoped desperately they weren’t too late.

They cautiously stole down the flight of stairs, moving quickly, but wary of going too fast and alerting the enemy to their presence. They were a long, spiraling set, and some stairs had crumbled, leaving gaping holes they had to sidle around.

The time it took them to go down seemed much too long, and Time guessed they were deep underground now, having gone down several floors. It was almost completely silent, and the dread tightened in his chest.

Let us not be too late, please.

The stairs spat them into a pitch black hall, the sound of water dripping somewhere nearby. They listened for any movement, but none was heard, and Four cautiously pulled out a lantern.

An old dungeon met their eyes, light glinting off of metal bars, largely rusted and bent. Nobody spoke as they stepped quietly down the hallway, and the oppressive stench of dark magic was even heavier. Time spared a thought towards Hyrule as they walked, glad he had gone with the other group.

If I’m feeling this awful, I can only imagine how bad it would be for him.

They reached a partially collapsed wall then, making it difficult to squeeze by, but they all managed, though Time had to pop off a few pieces of armor. The cell at the end of the hallway was only a bit further along, but Time froze, holding a hand out to stop the others.

Eyes were glinting at them from behind the thick bars.

“Hello?” Sky asked in a cautious voice, and Time carefully approached the cell when they received no answer, squinting through the low light. He reached the bars and peered through, and felt equal relief and horror rise in his chest.

A thin man, boy really, barely into his twenties at Time’s guess, stared at them, his face pale with dark lines etched onto his forehead. It was difficult to tell with the limited light, but Time could make out chains around both his neck and wrists, and blood, both dried and not, all over him.

“...Link?” he breathed, but the boy only closed his eyes.

“Here,” Four said quietly, him and the others having come up to Time’s side. He knelt at the lock on the door, holding some small metal rods, and a few moments later, had the door swinging open.

Time quickly took a step inside, but the boy bared his teeth in a snarl as he moved, something fierce and desperate in his eyes.

Time quickly stilled.

“Link?” he asked again, and the boy merely turned away, as much as he could with the way he was chained up.

“...Tricks are getting old,” he rasped, the same twang they’d encountered in Ordon coming through. “Could at least try somethin’ new.”

Time glanced at the others, and Sky made a helpless gesture.

“I’m not sure what you mean, Link,” Time said carefully, and the chained hero coughed out a laugh.

“That’s what they said last time. Always fake,” he rasped, and glared at Time, half-dried blood shining in the lantern light. “Not tricking me again.”

“We’re not a trick, we’re real,” Wild said sharply, moving to stand next to Time.

“You’re gettin’ way less creative,” Link rasped, eyes staring them dully. “Points for new characters... but that’s it.”

“But we’re really real, we’re here to get you out!” Sky said in disbelief.

The new Link only closed his eyes again. “Sure.”

They all looked at each other again, Time feeling helpless. He didn’t want to approach Link before he knew they were truly here to help him, but he thought they were just a trick. How could they convinced the broken hero they weren’t here to hurt him?

How many times has he extended trust to someone, and had it all been fake to react like this?

“Link, we’re here to help you,” Time tried again, extending a hand towards him. Link only bared his teeth again, and Time could see the slightly longer canines this time.

“Get away Shade,” he snapped, and Time stopped as he let out a wracking cough. “I’m not falling for it. Not again.”

“Link, is there anything we can do to convince you we’re real?” Four spoke up, and the hero stared at him.

He didn’t say anything for a long time, and Time almost wondered if he was purposely ignoring them.

“Kill me.”

Four took a step back. “What?”

“Kill me,” Link repeated, a thread of desperation leaking in to his abused voice. “The Shadow won’t, if you do then... I’ll know you’re not him.”

“But then you’ll be dead!” Sky said in horror, and Link let out a croaking laugh, that finished with a sound like a sob.

“I’m already not living.”

Four didn’t say anything, and Link looked away, his eyes closed against the lantern light.

“Old man? What now?” Wild asked in an unusually subdued voice, and Time took a deep breath, trying to ignore the metallic smell of blood that permeated the cell.

What now indeed?

“We spoke with Rusl before coming here,” Time said quietly, and the boy’s ears twitched in his direction. “And Ilia, and the mayor, and a boy named Talo and all sorts of people. Your whole village misses you, Link, they’ve been looking nonstop. The Queen has sent out countless missions, and the Resistance is working tirelessly to figure out what happened to you.”

“How... do you know all that?” Link whispered.

“Because we’re real,” Wild said as he stepped forward. “We spoke to all those people, not more than a week ago.”

“We’re other heroes like you,” Four continued, and Sky took his glove off, showing Link the triangles marked into his hand. He stared in shock. “This isn’t even all of us. We’re fighting to stop the Shadow who imprisoned you, who’s been ripping holes through time and empowering the monsters. We’re on your side.”

“We’re here to get you out,” Time finished, voice firm.

Link looked around at them all, something almost like hope in his eyes, and he swallowed, looking directly at Time.

“Tell me what Talo said.”

His voice trembled when he spoke.

“He said that if we find you, we should tell you that he expects make up days for all the sword lessons he’s missed,” Time said, and Link breathed out, closing his eyes again.

“Yeah. That’s him,” he whispered.

A weak laugh came from his throat, and Time stepped forward again, Link not stopping him. His eyes stayed closed as Time kneeled next to him, but his ears twitched as he listened to his steps.

“We’re here to get you out,” Time said softly, and placed a hand on Link’s shoulder.

Link jerked at the touch, and Time immediately removed his hand, but then Link looked up at him with tears in his eyes.

“Sorry, s-sorry it’s... it’s been...” he choked out, and Time carefully put his hand back on his shoulder, Link stiffening at the touch, but not pulling away.

Time carefully rubbed it as the others drew near, and Link swallowed, trembling slightly as they crouched beside him.

“You’re really heroes?” he whispered, and Sky nodded, a grieved look on his face.

“Every one of us.”

Four leaned closer then and studied the collar around his neck with a frown, carefully lifting the chain and studying it.

“Where’s the lock on these?” he asked in confusion.

“It’s magic,” Link rasped, seeming twice as exhausted now that he’d been convinced of their intentions. “Won’t come off.”

Sky stepped forward, a firm look on his face as he kneeled beside Link with the Master Sword in his hands.

“May I?” he asked, and Link’s eyes widened at the sword. He hesitated, then gave him a weak nod, and Sky moved into position.

Sky held the sword close to Link’s neck, Four carefully holding the chain steady, and he pulled, the Master Sword glowing and making the blood Link was coated in appear blue.

The collar suddenly lit up with runes, glowing an ugly red, and Link cried out, jerking like he’d been shocked.

“Hold him!” Sky shouted, and Time and Wild moved to hold Link’s head still while the Master Sword slowly cut through the chains. Link jerked at their touch, and let out a raspy scream as Sky cut halfway, blue sparks flying into the air.

“You’re okay, you’re okay,” Wild repeated as he held Link’s head, almost like he was trying to reassure himself, and Link wailed, his voice giving out partway through from the strain.

Time held him still, ignoring the blood and dirt he was doubtlessly getting all over him, and ran a hand through his hair when he let out yet another cry.

Hold on Link, you’re almost out.

The Master Sword let out a brighter glow, and the chain fell with a clank, Link falling limp and trembling in Time’s lap. The runes faded, and Sky quickly moved to his wrists and cut through those as well, though the thinner chains didn’t take nearly as long to fall to the ground.

“It’s done,” Sky panted finally, and Link let out a whimper.

“We should tell the others,” Four said quietly. “And hopefully get out of here before the Shadow comes back.”

Wild nodded and pulled out his slate, and Time and Sky began easing Link up, his face drawn with pain. Time tried not to nudge any of the vast amount of injuries covering him, but it was nearly impossible with how many there were.

Not to mention the countless scars visible through the blood, and the dark marks marring his forehead...

Time breathed out, and then picked him up, his gauntlets giving him enough strength to easily lift Link. Though, he wasn’t entirely convinced he needed them, seeing how thin Link looked.

How long has he been here?

“Let’s get you home,” Sky said quietly, and they left the cell, Wild talking quietly to Wind on his slate.

“Thank you,” Link croaked, in a voice so faint Time barely heard it. Time guided his head to his shoulder in response, feeling a sharp pang as Link flinched, and he sped his steps.

We’re getting you out, Link.

You’re safe now.

[catwrites9]

can you write a happy tara and reader fic where you show them getting together with a little angst and it’s hard because of what tara’s gone through and reader also has something they’re hiding for whatever (good reason) and then we see them get together and be happy in the end 🫶

The Lie I Never Told

Warnings it’s scream so blood and killing, gut like a fish, cussing, use of y/n and she/her pronouns, and I think that’s it.

W/N I know you said a good reason but I put a little twist on that, and I know you said happy for the end but if you want to skip the last few paragraphs, I kinda got a little carried away. Possible part 2?

Masterlist Pt2

���————————————————————————

You and Tara fell in love from the first sight across the campus, later finding out that you both had the same scendue. After one month you guys started dating, keeping it a secret from everyone even though you were in the same friend group you still decided it was the best. That was until ghostface came back, you got attacked by ghostface and while getting attacked that ghostface told Sam about you two.

“Hello Sam,” Ghostface said.

“What the hell do you want”

“You really should be nicer to me considering the fact I have someone you care about in front of me”

Same looks around to everyone in the living room” Clearly your lying because everyone’s with me”

“Oh I’m sorry Sam, I forgot that Tara kept her a secret” Everyone’s heads turned to Sam while Sam’s turned to Tara. Ghostface continued talking” Honestly if I was you I would listen to me or you’ll lose Tara considering the fact that I have her girlfriend in front of my begging for her life as she bleeds out from multiple stab wound, Gutted like a fish”

Those words rerunning through Tara’s head. “Would you like to hear Y/N cry for her life” Ghostface said, not waiting for a anser as they turn off voice isolation from the phone call mic. Hearing you as you choke on the blood feeling like it was filling your lungs.

“Where the hell are you-you mother fucker” Tara yelled while geting up.

“Her apartment, it’s quite funny how much she cares about you and how I’ll gut you like a fish just like her”

“Shut the fuck up” Tara yells while going twards the front door caring a pocket knife.

“Tara, what are you doing?” Sam asked while going in front of her.

“Yeah Tara, are you trying to be gut just like her,” Ghostface joined in.

Your able to get three words out, those words staying in her head forever “please help Tara”

“I’m going to save my girlfriend, move Sam.”

“How do you know this is not just a way to get you over there”

“Because I just know Sam”

“If you're going I’m going” Chad spoke up, he was who introduced you to Tara but never knew you were dating, even though his sister was skeptical from when she first saw you.

They all get up and follow Tara. By this time Sam hung up and lectured Tara about getting a girlfriend as they ran to your apartment.

Once they got to your apartment they heard banging happening, Tara tried opening the door with your spare key but remembered that your deadbolt doesn't work with that key.

Over the course of 8 ish minutes they stayed there as the heard banging and rusling insinuating a fight was happening. After it stopped they heard the door open but what they didn’t expect was you falling as you had multiple stab wounds and blood all over your body, you fell into Tara and Chads arms as Chad picked you up running to the closest hospital.

That attack happened a year ago, the date being the exact day you almost died just because you were dating Tara. Those moments she thought about it as they were the moments she blamed herself for getting the woman she loved hurt.

You didn’t remember the day you got attacked well you remember the attack but not the exact date like Tara did. You noticed Tara not being her normal happy self when she was on campus so you decided to check on her after class but you couldn’t find her even after joining the group for lunch. So you waited till after school and after Sam went to therapy to go to her apartment. You knocked and you waited for her to answer which didn’t happen. So you did it again, and again, and, and again till she answered the door. Tara’s eyes were puffy showing she was just crying.

“Tara” was all you were able to get out as you put your hand on her cheek, following her into the house as she closed the door. “What’s wrong? '' She didn’t answer you and just hugged you as she pushed you back to the couch so that she could sit next to you.

As she sat beside you she had her head down” I was just- I’m sorry for being the reason you got hurt”

“Oh Tara it wasn’t your fault that I got hurt it was Ethan’s and Quinn’s, and Bailey’s I forgot about him”

“No Y/n it’s my fault you got hurt if I wasn’t you girlfriend you wouldn’t have got you hurt”

“But you're my girlfriend and you can’t just take it back because I love you and I would have confessed anyways because of Chad presuring me.”

“Sometimes I wished I never made eye contact that day” Tara mumbled but loud enough for you to hear.

“Wha-“ You tried holding back your tears. “You don’t mean that Tara”

“I do because if it wasn’t for me you wouldn’t have almost died oh wait you did die for 5 minutes”

You let your tears fall but you knew you had to tell her.

“Tara, your not the reason I almost died it’s me”

“How”

“The Secret I Never Told, the one Ethan kept talking about during the whole killers reveal”

“What is it?” she questioned while now looking at you.

“I don’t want you to think of me differently but I’ve seen how you and Sam are and I fear that you’ll stop loving me”

“Just tell me Y/n, I won’t stop loving you”

“You know I’m the same age as you right”

“Yeah”

“My father was Stu Macher”

She stayed there shocked, you feared that she was gonna be mad at you for waiting so long to tell her.

“How is that possible”

“My father basicly stored his semen at a place that then later on was used for when my mom was ready to have kids after his death.

She thought for a moment,”You thought I wouldn’t love you just because of your dad”

“Yeah I mean I’ve seen you’re relationship with Sam and I heard about the moment at the hospital you both had”

She smiled as she grabbed your shoulders pulling you into a hug. “I’ll never stop loving you just because you father is Stu Macher”

“Her fathers who now” The worst moment to walk in on Sam's part.

“Sam,” Tara said.

“How is that possible, isn’t she as old as you?” Sam asked while leaning on the wall..

“Yes he just stored his semen so that later on my no could have kids with him”

That moment felt like an hour of her just going from staring at you to staring at Tara.

You broke the silence with “Which is why I told you me and you were similar Sam”

“Honestly you guys do whatever you want I'm too tired for this, but if you hurt her I’ll make you die a painful death” She said and then walked away to her room.

“Damn she really is tired if she only threatened me with dying a painful death.” You joked while putting your arm around her.

You both laughed and then you then watched a movie while waiting for pizza to get delivered and in the middle all of the movie having Chad, Mindy, and Anika come over. They all invited some new people you all met, Mattew, Anthony, Johnathan, and Liam. You were just happy she loved you for who you were. You walked to the bathroom looking into the mirror seeing him behind you.

“If you tell me to kill someone then I reserect you just to kill you again”

“You did good kiddo, I know I haven’t been the best dad but i want to be you dad, even if I’m a hallucination I won’t tell you to kill people….. as often, but you did good”

“Thank you it means a lot” you walked out sitting back down with Tara watching the random movie Mindy put on while she takes about every detail about the movie. You loved moments like this wishing you could live forever like this.

Tara’s phone starts ringing showing up with no caller id. Of course moments like this could never last forever.

You pick it up showing her, the room being quite, scarily quiet. But that still made you not hear Sam come up behind you as she sees what happened. Sam picked it up and answered it.

“Hello Sam,” Ghostface said.

She didn’t answer.

“Please pass the phone to y/n”

You grabbed it put it to your ear

“Hello y/n you didn’t tell her about your mom did you, the fact she was also ghostface, sad really but the even funnier thing is that I just recreated what the last ones did to you but this time with your adopted mom, Sidney Prescott, and now I’m about to go gut your brother so have Fun” Ghostface then hung up.

You immediately called your mom.

She answered “Hey Y/n what wrong”

“Mom where are you ghostface just called me saying they killed you”

“I’m in nyc I was going to surprise you but ghostface is back”

“Yes and they said there gonna get D”

“Fuck, I’m coming right now”

“No don’t it’s better if your somewhere safe, because if they are telling the truth then they’re is multiple and they’re gonna go after you and him”

“Or they were lying thinking that you would chose me over him and are going after him.”

“Or I lied about both and I’m going to kill you” you heard from the corridor of Sam and Tara’s rooms. Ghostface was there ready to strike at the slightest movement.

“Run” Mindy yells as ghostface started running at everyone.

[ahanarhorse]

Whumptober day 8: Sleep Deprivation

Isolation chamber | Forced to stay awake | "Leave the lights on"

This is a continuation of day 7 but you do not need to read that to understand this one. We're also hurting Twilight >:)

Warnings: none?

AO3 Link

They had come out of the portal quite close to Lon Lon ranch.

Thank the goddess.

Everyone needed a break. Most were still wounded from their last battle and Time was heavily leaning on the shoulder of Warriors.

It shook everyone, seeing their leader so drained. Warriors was putting on his captain mask and leading the group while slinging an arm around Time.

On coming out of the portal, and an extremely rough one at that, Time fell unconscious, and Warriors and Twilight supported him the rest of the way.

Thankfully Twilight knew the land well enough to guide them to the ranch.

Thankfully they weren't too far away.

Malon had seen them coming from afar and ran out to meet the boys. After a quick introduction she ushered them all into the house and laid Time down in his room.

The other Links, like all wielders of courage, threw themselves into work to try and get their minds off of a fallen comrade.

And it worked. Chores on the farm were tough, and most of the heroes almost forgot about their leader, the one unconscious in a bed.

Almost.

It was still in the back of each mind, the quiet working almost leaving them more time to think than they had hoped.

By the end of the day everyone was exhausted, and everyone wanted Time to be okay.

Thankfully, he was better.

But not by much.

He was awake, and answered a few questions as the Links tried to cram themselves into the small room.

He was exhausted though, using the mask had taken a toll on him. Soon Malon and Warriors pushed everyone out of the room and they were led back to where dinner had been forgotten in their rush.

Night came and Time wasn't much better. He had fallen asleep again, and despite Warriors' reassurance that a good night's rest would help him, Twilight was still nervous.

The rancher lay down at night, still thinking about his mentor, still thinking how frail and tired he had been earlier.

The other boys came into the guest room, piling on the bed and spreading sleeping mats on the floor. In the midst of them was Twilight, still staring at the ceiling.

Several of the heroes fell asleep as soon as they closed their eyes. Sky was asleep before he even hit the floor.

Still, the night wore on and one link after the other drifted off, leaving only the rancher awake.

All the other Links had been asleep for a little bit, falling down quickly with the security of a safe place, when Malon came in.

She held a small lamp in her hand as she opened the door and peaked in. She started slightly when she saw grey eyes looking back at her own.

"Oh dear," She said, stepping around heroes to get into the room, "what's kept you up sweet heart?"

Her motherly tone melted Twilight's heart. At that moment he ached for Rusl and Uli back at his village.

"It's nothing Ms. Malon, just worried is all," He said, trying to wave her off before the homesickness set in.

"I know you are dear, but it'll be alright. Lin-er- Time is a tough man, and just as stubborn. He'll be right as rain by morn." She smiled at him, but the smile didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Thank you missus Malon," Twlilight said respectfully.

Malon gave him one last sad smile and stood up, ready to leave the room.

"Er... could you leave the light in here? I mean, if it's no trouble," Twlilight said, stumbling over his words.

"Oh, of course. Now you get a good night's sleep," she said, setting the lamp on the windowsill. "Good night Twilight."

Twilight just started at the flickering lamp. He didn't look away until the light started to come in through the window behind it. It was morning now, Time had better be alright.

Sorry it's been so long! Thank you to everyone who reads or leaves a comment!!

[ask-the-nine-links]

This is another Anon, This is going to be a long one unfortunately, I'm really sorry.

I'm looking at all of your families and trying to figure them out, Four and Wild have blacksmiths for family, Four's Grandfather and Wild's Father.

Legend seems to be either a legitimate prince or a royal bastard (born out of wedlock).

Time's father was a Royal Knight though his mother might have just been a housewife.

Wind's parents were probably fisherfolk.

Sky's might have been Sky Knights or just one of the other jobs on Skyloft.

Hyrule, I'm not sure, maybe just regular civilians.

The final two, Warriors' father might have been a Knight as well or another blacksmith (as that seems to be a common trend) and his mother might be a weaver.

Twilight's on the other hand seem to be a complete unknown unless you count Rusl, who is basically his father, in which case he seems to be a former soldier, maybe even have had training as a Royal Knight despite being Ordonian.

I'm not sure if I got everything correct you may have to look up records in your own times or ask the nearest Zelda

Also Time, did you know Midna or am I just confusing Universes again as I remember seeing Midna hug your Shade's wolf form while crying and saying "You were alive this whole time, weren't you?"

And one last thing, I promise, Legend, I bought this jewellery box off of Ravio for 20 rupees a month ago, as it looked pretty and thought my mother might like it but I can't open it and why does it smell of darkness and dried blood? I think its trying to eat my hand.

Wild: I'm going to be one hundred percent honest, you probably know more about our families then we do.

Hyrule: Which is kinda sad, when you think about it.

Wild: Yeah, which is why we don't.

Time: As of right now, I don't know Midna outside of what Twi has told me, but maybe I'll meet her later on.

Legend: You were seriously dumb enough to buy something off of Ravio for that cheap?! If he's selling like a jewelry box for less than 100 rupees, then something is seriously wrong with it.

[obraveyouth]

want new-and-exciting plots for your character? long to reach out to more of your followers, but don’t know where to start? fear not! fill out this form and give your rp partners both present and future all the of juicy jumping off points they need to help you get your characters acquainted. [ template source , repost don't reblog ]

MUN NAME: rinni, as dotted with hearts. OOC CONTACT: tumblr im is open for everyone and my discord is open to mutuals

▍▍▍     WHO IS LINK ORDONA?

have you ever felt a sudden sadness emerge when the worlds of light and shadow converge. well , these words held such truth for link ordona , marked by farore and destined as a hero , lead a simple life: a ranch hand from the rural farming village of ordon famous for its productions of milk , cheeses , and pumpkins. he spent his days helping fado with herding goats , getting sword lessons from rusl , and providing aid in entertaining the village's next generation. that is , until life wasn't so simple. link's life is changed drastically when , preparing to go on a journey to deliver a blade to the royal family of hyrule , on behalf of ordon that grotesque monsters kidnap his friends and plunge the world into perpetual twilight. it is trying to begin their rescue that he is dragged into the twilight realm and destiny makes her call: for unlike others , within the twilight , link is transfigured into the form of a proud blue eyed beast. as a wolf , link allies with midna , the twilight princess , to obtain pieces of the forbidden fused shadow and restore the realms of light and darkness. through his journey link encounters various allies , including the hero shade ( a man that once bore the mark of farore and the spirit of the hero ): link learns of hyrule's tragic history --- from the banishment of those from the shadow tribe and the gerudo king that sought to plunge the land of the god's into ruin. from this combined might link defeats the false twilight king and ganondorf , undoing the curse put upon midna's form and bringing peace back to both realms once more. 

▍▍▍     KEEP IN MIND FOR INTERACTIONS:

O1. his canon point is ten years post-game ( making him twenty-seven ): link has been trying for a decade to regain connection to the twilight realm to see midna again. it has become an obsession to him and something he is always thinking about , even if not outwardly showing it. while he does carry around the master sword , link is always seen wearing the traditional clothing of ordon ( unless he has business in hyrule / castle town ): to pair with this , unless you are referred to him through a previous connection , he will not speak as to not ruin the image of the hero he bares. O2. my link has gerudo ancestry through his mother and speaks with a heavy southern drawl , all of my dialogue reflects this and sometimes he may work in a word of two of gerudo he learned from his mother , though it is very rare. O3. if your muse wants to be friends ... do not call him hero. do not put him on any kind of pedestal. link has a huge issue with people trying to paint him as something more grandiose than he sees himself to be and by people continuously doing so , it further divides him from the more common people ( except those of you ordon ): exceptions to this are children and animals --- both as a man or in the form of a wolf , link maintains an absolute adoration for animals -- domestic and wild alike. O4. he kept the shadow crystal and can transform into a wolf at anytime! along with this no matter the form , link can communicate with all animals and takes great pride in this fact! paired with this , some years ago link gained the ability to communicate with all the previous incarnations of the hero [see headcanon here]: so there are times when he will seek their guidance , think of how aang from atla communicates with his past lives.

▍▍▍     WHAT HAS HE BEEN UP TO RECENTLY:

default verse ( open ): it is a decade later and while hailed as a hero , link longs for the life he used to have and greatly misses midna , their only connection severed by her shattering of the mirror of twilight. he is tirelessly searching for a way to regain a way into the twilight realm. along with this , he has maintained his duties to the people of ordon and has even taken up gardening. link will attend political meetings , per the request of zelda , but will not speak during them and merely attends as a figurehead as the one who saved hyrule ( he does not care for all the formalities ): and has been known to journey to other kingdom's to provide aid and as an ambassador on behalf of hyrule. sacrilegious godslayer ( plotting preferred ): a link who grew tired of the cycle of incarnation and seeks to destroy it at its source of , what he believes , to be the gods he was preordained to serve [ heavy wip ]

▍▍▍     WHERE TO FIND THEM:

the vast majority of my interactions i imagine will take place in either ordon , hyrule , or something adjacent to the two. though , i have no preference if they meet while link is attending a political meeting in hyrule , while as an ambassador on behalf of hyrule for another kingdom , during the ingame quest , as a wolf , or even in a modern-ish setting. my default verse is perhaps the most versatile in terms of location but i am always down to discuss and bounce ideas off!

▍▍▍     DESIRED INTERACTIONS:

O1. a verse with the hero of time / the hero shade. i view link and shade as having a very loving bond beyond the simple mentor / student dynamic ( it is something a bit more paternal ): if this ain't your dice i understand , but i think the implications and ability to expand upon what was not seen in canon is exciting! O2. look my main verse heavily centers around midna and link missing her , now whether this is something romantic or purely friendship i leave up to the other mundane. while , i do ship midlink ... there are many nuances to their relationship that i want to explore outside of the purely romantic. i crave it honestly because midna is such a fascinating character to me. O3. the other minor cast of twilight or other character's games. i especially love the yiga , zora , other renditions of zelda , link , ganondorf... man honestly fuck me up. i am down for like anything toss me all the plot wolfies!

▍▍▍     ANYTHING ELSE TO KEEP IN MIND?

while extensive canon libraries have been taken with link as a character, primarily revolving around his racial/cultural background and personal feelings outside of his duty as a hero of the gods. he is older , taller , wiser , and fairly sacrilegious. but he is still the link we all know and love from twilight princess and all the more courageous and proud. but , regarding the canonical timeline of the legend of zelda , i am trying to adhere to it as to not uproot it as i am one of those people that is a stickler for canon... until i am not. because look, nintendo is doing fuck all with their timeline so i am mostly ignoring. ocarina of time predates twilight princess more than a couple hundred years though (that map layout is so wrong ): and i like to think that the events between oot and tp are a few thousand years or so apart. when it comes to the twilight princess manga it is not something i adhere too minus very choice things: i. the midlink kiss is so canon to me , ii. link is highly intelligent and an avid reader , iii. link struggling with the duty of being a hero , iv. he has a bit of a mischievous / prankster streak. also he is very funny , and v. his interactions with the hero shade. i have poured a lot of love into developing link over the years and continue to do so. i reference the game a lot. i tweak tidbits here and there to better form a narrative and overarching story and to drive character development above all. i am not really into extensive fight threads, especially not with link ( he has countless ability of past warriors and godslaying ability in his blood ): it wouldn't be fair and i wouldn't see a point personally. i am more aligned with extensive emotion driven interactions, and though i do not mind one off ask memes for those that are not as into plot heavy novella style threads.

[linkedspirit-fanartfunart]

Crossbow Training and Parent Training

Ordon's Backstory for "Link's Crossbow Training" which has a Story :3- in which he meets his adopted son, Aror- a young twili transformed into a twilit beast. Ordon's adventure ended a few years ago, but things still linger. Warnings: unresolved angst (I have to save that for the main story), injury/pain, kid tantrums, forced transformations, child endangerment, overall just a lot of angst in theme with twilight princess stuff. Ao3 - Art of this!! --

The portal hummed with dark power. He hadn't seen it open up under him. He only tumbled out and fell into somewhere bright and green. He fumbled on all fours, scrambling back away from the other creatures. The dark corruptions of twili were immediately pounced on by a massive creature with sharp teeth and bright blue eyes. Atop the creature sat an imp with a stone eye. The imp was clearly in control of the beast, shouting directions. She seemed vicious. He ran into the trees and hid himself, listening to painful cries and screeches. 

It all stilled. There was only the sound of the monstrous wolf's breathing. The beast walked in a short circle when the sound of a portal opened back up. He shifted to try and look, but it vanished before he could. The imp's eye caught him. He froze in fear. She seemed familiar in a way he couldn't place. She snarled, and he thought he heard her growl "Zant" under her breath. He took a step back to hide himself in the trees.

The wolf had stopped, turning to look back at the imp. Her gaze lingered at the trees. She flicked the wolf's ear "There's nothing else here. Giddy up pony boy."

The wolf huffed and rushed off.

He waited a while longer before he came out of hiding, looking around the new world. Everything smelled weird. Half like home, half like nowhere he's known ever before. Like a corruption of them both. The small twili beast huffed and began to wander, searching for somewhere that felt a little closer to home.

2 years later

Link looked carefully at the crossbow, fingers tracing its edges and details. "Ya’ll really didn't have to." He said softly.

Rusl chuckled, "We figured you needed an upgrade in equipment. We all pitched in, it wasn't any trouble, kid."

Shad leaned against his shoulder, "I believe you'll quite enjoy it old boy, I did try to ensure it was durable enough for you."

"It's why he had you carry piles of books around all last week" Ashei said, shaking her head. Shad waved a hand and shushed her.

"Ya’ll could've just asked me about my draw weight?" Link laughed.

"That ruins the point of it being a surprise." Rusl said.

Link's ear twitched. A sound of a distant cry hit the wind, like an echo. He shook his head and smiled at the group. "Thank ya'll. It's a wonderful surprise. I'll cherish it."

"I better see ya practicing," Rusl said, pointing a finger with a playful smile.

"I will!" Link laughed, "When have I ever skipped practice?"

"Fantastic!" Shad announced. His proud, excited posture one Link could only recognize as when a theory had been proven. Link turned to him and raised an eyebrow. Shad grinned, "I had a series of crossbow training targets set up through the village!" 

Link snickered and shook his head as Shad and Ashei tugged him up into town.

--

The Twilit Beast sniffed the air, looking around. He finally caught a faint scent of home again. With an ear-piercing wail, the small beast began walking through the desert. He didn't know why they hadn't even responded to him yet. Surely they could hear him? He cried again. Rumbling deep into the bones of the earth…. He just needed Someone to hear him.

…

Link frowned, looking across the desert sands from the edge of the plateau. "Stalfos?"

"Yep," Auru said, leaning against his post, "The Desert isn't very easily passable regardless, but they've been crossing over to some of the roads nearby. With how they act, ambushing people, you'd think they'd be looking for something."

Link hummed, considering, then nodded. "I'll go."

Link stepped through the sands, looking around carefully. The shifting sands never did well for his ability to track things. The desert winds usually obscured any prints well before he could get to them.

Instead, he let his instincts guide him, wandering, inch by inch, towards Arbiter's Grounds. He fiddled a little with the new crossbow, twirling it in his hand idly. It was a good weight, and it was becoming nicely familiar. Soothing.

A piercing howl.

Link froze.

An ink dark silhouette rose above the sands into view. Eyes wide, he stared at the vision ahead. It couldn't be real. The twilight had been closed to this world. The beast looked up at him. Head tilting.

Link felt his body tense. His finger twitched against the crossbow trigger. The twilit beast sniffed the air. It’s small body tensed in response to Link’s own body language. It howled again, forcing Link to cover his sensitive ears. A stalfos rose from the sands. That explained it. The beast’s cries were summoning stalfos in the absence of other twilit beasts. Link huffed and aimed his crossbow to destroy the stalfos. It shattered into the sands. Another, longer howling cry. More and more began to rise, surrounding him. Link spun, assessing the situation. He needed to deal with the twilight beast. He shot the closest stalfos and turned again to look where the beast had been. It had vanished in the sands. Link let in a deep breath, refocusing. Target practice time, he guessed. 

He aimed and fired bolt after bolt. Soon they had surrounded him, forcing him to twirl in place. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. A massive stalfos emerged and he fumbled back to hit it repeatedly. 

Something sharp hit his back and he shook himself, tearing away from the stalfos. He shot it point blank, sand weathered bone shattering in his face. He winced and rushed to destroy the rest before they entirely overwhelmed him. 

Eventually, the sands stilled. He tracked his surroundings for any remaining stalfos, wary of another round. Nothing.

He put his crossbow away, eyes shifting over the sand. He sighed heavily and began walking. Idly, he wondered who this lingering beast could be. A dark, traitorous, part of his mind wondered if it could be Midna. That she had somehow broken the mirror in such a way that she had been cast back into their world as a beast. It seemed like such a terrible fate… trapped in a world that wasn’t your own, in a body that wasn’t your own. He’d done it once, he wouldn’t want to do it again. 

Link spotted a bulblin skitter across the sands in the distance. A small object was in its grasp, reflective. The light hitting it too bright to make out the item's details. He frowned. Rushing after, the ranger followed the creature to the edge of their hideout. As quietly as possible, he snuck through the opening. He walked alongside the wall, keeping an eye out for places to hide himself. 

A horn blasted into the air. Link startled, eyes wide. A bulblin on a tower had spotted him and sounded the alarm. Link felt a low, animalistic growl rumble in his chest. It startled him, noting the side effect of being a wolf still lingered, even after two years. 

A bulbin swung at him in his peripheral. He leaped to the side. He pulled out his sword and crashed against the bulblin's weapon. He snarled at it as the creature pushed back. 

The bulblin swung wildly and Link barely had time to consider shielding. Instead, he raised his sword to block. The swing held enough force it knocked his weapon out or his hands. His hand stung with the hit and he was forced to retreat further in. He pulled out his crossbow and shot. The bulblin crashed to the ground. 

Link spun and fired at another bulbin rushing toward him. Quickly retrieving his sword and putting it away, he pushed through the hideout with his crossbow. He dodged around the crumbling stone structures. An arrow lodged itself into his shoulder. He growled and trained his crossbow on the archer. The bolt whipped through the air and it fell. Soon enough, the hideout was cleared. The only sound was the howls of the winds.

He huffed, sighing heavily, and fumbled to sit on the ground. He looked over his shoulder. He fumbled through his supplies and grabbed a chu potion and water. He pulled his gloves off and dashed water over his hands to rinse them. He cradled the potion in his lap as he snapped the arrow shaft. He closed his eyes and fumbled with the rest of the arrow to dislodge it. Then he pulled. A cry escaped his throat. He quickly downed the potion. He tossed the arrow to the ground and sighed, feeling around the edges of the wound to ensure the potion had closed it.

He washed his hands again, pulling his gloves back on. He stood, huffing. He walked through the hideout and looked through the bulblin's acquired goods. He grabbed anything that looked like it had been stolen off of Hyrulians. Auru and Shad could help return them. Eventually, he found what he was actually looking for. A small reflective shard. A fractured piece of the mirror. The center, judging by the triangle design in the back. Link tumbled it in his hands, frowning. It was a dangerous thing to consider keeping. But… he had to know what the bulbins were planning to use it for. He pocketed it and began the rest of his journey towards Arbiter’s Grounds.

He stared at the empty space where the mirror once belonged. His mind replayed Midna's Farewell again and again. Trying to determine what it meant. If there was some secret he'd missed these past few years. He was sure he wouldn't be able to figure it out any better now than he could then. 

He shook himself and looked down at the ground. The majority of the mirror’s shattered fragments had been ground into dust. Long since mixed with the sands. Link was only able to find two more tiny fragments worth picking up. He sighed, looking across the horizon to see if the twili beast was still out there. Nothing.  

He turned around to go back down and get back to Auru. Give up for the day. The dark beast stood at the stairway. Link took in a sharp breath.

The twili beast sniffed the air, inching forward. It really was small. Too small, Link thought. Nearly half the size of the beasts he had encountered in the Twilight. The creature’s size made him uneasy. This one was unique. Too unknown.  Link lowered himself, raising his hands slowly. Hopefully, he could keep it calm enough to capture it peacefully. Midna nor Zant were here- If anything harmed it, he was certain the twili trapped within the beastly form would perish. …How he intended to contain the creature, he had no idea.

“Hello,” He said softly as the creature inched closer still. He extended his hand slightly, and it flinched back. Link stilled again. “Sorry. I just want to get ya’ home, ok? It’s a'ight.” 

The beast made a whine of a sound. Link made a soft shushing sound, much like he used with the goats or Epona when they startled. Suddenly, it rushed him, and Link yelped, barreled over by the small beast. A wash of panic made him fumble for the closest weapon in his person. A flash of light hit the steel of his sword.

The beast screeched loudly and pushed off of him, racing away. Link rolled over, groaning. He swallowed, watching the beast rush off into the distance, vanishing from sight once again. Link sighed heavily.

-

Link hit target after target. Malo blew the whistle. He turned to the kids watching. Colin and Luda clapped. Beth meanwhile, was absorbing herself in painting yet another target. Link sighed.

"Hmmmm, I'd give you a silver metal." Malo said finally.

"I'm not done counting the points!" Talo shouted. "...He got silver," he grumbled. He shoved his little brother, "know it all." Malo shrugged, smiling.

Link chuckled and walked over to sit next to them on Renado's porch, "Not too bad."

"If you see that monster again you'll wanna be even better," Malo insisted. 

"I'm not shooting it," Link huffed as he checked over the weapon and put it away.

"I could sell you a net-bolt?"

Link raised an eyebrow.

Malo pouted, "I'll have one in stock soon enough."

Colin leaned over "Are you really going to go look for it again? 

"Of course he will," Beth interjected, "It's like his job to find monsters now."

"Isn't his job still herding?" Talo asked.

"Yeah but he travels to Hyrule allll the time. Like when the Zora needed help defending their river from monsters? Or the thing with the Gorons?"

"Yeah, but-"

Link rolled his eyes as Beth and Talo continued to argue over his job title. Luda scooted over to sit next to Link. She halfway whispered, "Do you think the twilight will come back?"

He straightened up, glancing over the horizon. The sun was low, casting a hazy orange through the dusty town. "No." Link said. "It's never coming back."

"But you saw one of the twilight monsters."

Link's brows furrowed. "It's probably been out there since the portal closed." 

Luda nodded, looking around, "Are you sure you can catch it?"

He glanced at her, "It's not going to come back and hurt ya'll. Any of ya'll. I won't let it."

Luda smiled softly.

"And Colin will protect ya'll too." Link winked. Luda giggled.

Colin looked up, startled, "I'm doing what? What am I doing? Don't sign me up for things-" Link laughed, reaching over to ruffle Colin's hair. He fumbled and squeaked, his voice cracking, "What?! Linnnk!"

Renado opened the door, "Link. We need to talk." Several of the children "ooo"-ed, laughing to themselves as Link stood. He followed Renado in, shutting the door behind him.

"I just got word that some Gorons have spotted a creature just like what you explained."

"What?" Link frowned, "I saw it in the desert- there can't be another, right?"

Renado shook his head, "I have no idea. But, it seems like it was following the paths you took. Is there some reason they would do that?"

He shrugged, bewildered.

Renado frowned, "Well, I want you to be cautious about this. Whatever is controlling this beast is searching for you as much as you are it."

Link closed his eyes and nodded, he glanced back, towards the entry to Death Mountain. "Someone should get the kids back home before dark."

"If you want to follow that creature, the kids will be safe with me. I'll send for Rusl in the morning."

He furrowed his brows, tapping his foot. "Okay. Thank ya'll"

Renado nodded, "Take care."

Link headed out the door and started walking out towards the mountain. The kids jeered for answers to what Renado told him, voices overlapping. "Ya'll're staying overnight, if I ain't back in the morning Rusl will take ya'll home."

The response had the kid's blinking. Beth, Talo and Malo all started talking amongst themselves.

Colin stood up and started following him. "What happened?"

"Some Gorons spotted the Twilit beast."

"Really?" Colin frowned, pausing. He blinked and jogged to catch up to Link’s quick stride. "I can help."

Link frowned "I don't know…"

"You wanna catch it, right? I can make a like… a little corral! So that all ya gotta do is herd it there."

Link's mind flicked back to every time he'd been cornered in a cage with those beasts. Every violent throw and crash. No, he never wanted to be in that situation again. Even if the cage was a fence or rock.

"Not that simple with these." Link said quietly, "Er. Thanks for the offer"

"Well… what can I do?"

"Stay with the others and stay safe." Link said.

Colin kicked a rock, frowning, "I can help you. Let me help."

Link stopped in front of the mountain pathway and sighed. "Look. I know ya wanna follow my footsteps but I want ya'll to make yer own. Ya hear?"

Colin crossed his arms.

Link looked up at the sky, then back to Colin, "Fine. Fine." He considered, then handed Colin his sword. "Be careful."

Colin went wide-eyed and nodded.

"Only use it if it runs at ya." Link looked over the mountain path. "You're gonna help me rope it. It moves faster than a goat, and it's legs are longer so ya gotta be quick. Okay?"

"Roping. Got it!"

Link sighed, taking his rope from his pouch and handing that to Colin. Supplies divided, Link started the climb up the mountain. "If we can, I wanna be gentle about it."

Colin frowned softly, "Why are you so concerned? Haven't you fought these before?"

Link swallowed thickly, frowning. "They're not just monsters" He whispered, "They're people. Transformed. Trapped like that."

"...Oh." Colin said quietly.

They continued their walk in silence for a moment. An uneasy air around them. Link bumped Colin with his elbow, gently. Colin swerved to bump back into him bodily. Link chuckled lightly and threw an arm around his shoulders and squeezed. Colin leaned in.

He looked up, "Do you think you can find a way to help the person go back to normal, Link?"

"I'm gonna try. I gotta. Th- there's no one else in this world I know of who can."

Colin nodded.

The twilit beast stood in front of the mountain pathway. A dark mass looming against the red background of rock. It looked like the same one, small and wary. It was huffing its breaths.

"Ah. Hello." Link muttered. 

The creature wailed. Link doubled over, covering his ears. Colin shook himself, then looked at Link with wide, concerned eyes.

Link growled and nodded to Colin to go ahead. He walked slowly backwards while Colin began walking up. He made soothing sounds, gingerly offering a hand. The creature sniffed the air, then rushed forward.

"Woah-woah-woah!" Link said, fumbling backwards and slipping with the downward slope. He fell on his back.

"Link!" Colin shouted. A rope cracked and the creature fell with a sharp squeal. 

Link sat up, "I'm ok!" He inched closer to the beast. It snarled and bent to chew at the rope Colin had been able to wrap around the hind legs. Colin rushed forward. The creature snarled and thrashed as Colin came closer. 

"Take a step back," Link said, frowning. 

The beast seemed to relax as soon as Colin stepped back. Good… he hushed and soothed the beast. Slowly, he raised a hand to the creature’s shoulder and rested it there. The creature was tense, but allowed it. Link let out a soft sigh. 

Assured he wasn’t going to be mauled, Link took the other end of the rope and swiftly tied it around the creature’s middle and chest, creating a harness of sorts, then released the tie around its legs. 

"Why is it letting you do that?"

"No idea," Link muttered. He stepped back and the creature scrambled to a stand, shaking itself. It walked up to Link and inspected him. Link froze.

It lifted up to its hind legs and Link rushed to grab the forearms before it could do anything. The beast squealed and wriggled. Link let go. He took a step back as it dropped back to all fours. "Okay" Link muttered, looking at the beast.

"Now what?" Colin asked.

Link stared at the creature. The first and only person he knew would have the answers would be inaccessible. He was in over his head already. …Rusl was going to scream if he found out.

"We don't tell Rusl."

Colin snorted. "Okay."

"I..uh… I'll ask the Princess for some leads?" 

"What are you going to do with the beast?"

Link shook his head, eyes wide. "...I don't know. I don't trust it out of my sight."

Colin nodded.

Link shook his head and began walking back down the mountain. The beast trotting circles around him. He nearly tripped on the rope a few times. Colin giggled.

"Maybe this is its new plan for murder" Link muttered as he stepped around the rope again.

They returned to Kakariko quickly, and Colin rushed ahead to tell them the beast was captured. Link stood at the outskirts of town with the beast. 

Renado walked out and towards him, seemingly bewildered. "So you caught it."

"Yeah… any ideas on how to undo dark magic?"

Renado frowned, "Perhaps bathe it in the spirit's spring?"

Link looked over to the pool ahead. "Hm." 

Renado sighed, "I don't work in that type of healing. I- I believe your best chance is to see the Princess if the spring does nothing."

Link nodded.

Renado gave the creature a wary look. "It's strange, how it has accepted you…"

Link shrugged, and started walking with it to the spring. As they hit the edge of the water the creature screamed and pulled. 

"Hey, hey, it's okay- I won't let it hurt ya- it's okay." Link knelt next to the beast. It barreled into him and climbed onto his shoulder. Link yelped and fumbled. He struggled to hold it in a way that secured it and himself.

 Link wrapped a hand around the creature’s lower end and chest. He pulled it from his shoulders and held it against his chest. Seemingly assured that Link wouldn’t toss it to the water, it nearly purred and snuggled into him. He took a moment to focus his breaths and calm himself fully. 

“Okay. Good. I’mma stand, okay?” He looked over the creature. He had no idea how much it understood. Even if it did understand words, there was no guarantee it understood Hylian. But the creature was calm enough. He grunted and slowly inched his way up to a stand, holding the creature against his chest like a rather large cat… or a child. It panicked slightly as he lifted it high enough from the ground. It made a sharp screeching sound. Link winced, “Sh, shh, it’s ok. I’m sorry-” After some soothing, the beast settled back against his chest. Link sighed, relaxing.

He looked back at the light spirit's spring. The twilit beast shuffled and curled its long upper limbs around his neck. Link sighed. There went that idea.

-

The human smelled like home. More overwhelmingly so than anything or anyone else. The twili beast clung to him as he walked away from the waters.

The human was quiet and gentle, soothing. He had a hard time remembering why, but it felt safe. Familiar. Especially now that he knew the human didn't want to hurt him like so many others had. 

Maybe the human would be able to bring him home… He missed home.

-

Link had arranged for everyone to get home with Rusl. He finally walked over to Epona to start their journey to the Castle. Epona reared, unenthusiastic about the twilit beast. The beast hissed at her in response. Link groaned. He pulled a blanket from Epona’s pouch and swaddled the beast. It whined and wrigled. 

"There. Declawed. Better?"

Epona snorted and defiantly turned her body away. Link groaned loudly. "Fine. We'll walk." He huffed to his horse. Epona winnied. Link was sure it was a laugh of victory.

The twili beast was difficult to manage while he walked, twirling and wiggling. He kept a firm grip on it, offering vague reassuring sounds when he could.

Eventually, the light dwindled, and Link stopped in a section of trees in Hyrule Field for the night. He looked at the twili beast. It wriggled and made a squeal of a sound. Link frowned softly at it.

"If I let go, am I gonna have to chase ya back down?" He mumbled to it, eyes narrowing.

The beast made another squealing sound. Link sighed and shuffled through his pack. He took out a drink of water for himself. He glanced at the beast. 

"Do ya'll eat? Never saw one'a ya' do it. Let alone the face." He considered. It might be easier to pass the creature off as a weird cat if it has the right facial structure under that mask. He gingerly reached to the sides of the plate over the face and pulled it up. A maw of sharp, crowded teeth greeted him. Behind white blade-like teeth was pure inky darkness. Link's eyes went wide and he gingerly slid the mask back into place. "Ah" he muttered. 

That certainly couldn't be passed off as a cat.

Link took some time to fashion a carrying harness as the hours dwindled and the beast devoured his supplies of food. He kept careful watch of it. Yet. The creature never wandered far from him regardless. He didn't want to consider its reasoning for that.

He settled on his finishing touch on the harness and strapped the beast in to confirm it fit. With a yawn, he looped the rope around the harness straps and tied its end to a thick tree branch. 

"Stay." He told it. The beast whined. With a gentle shake of his head, he settled next to an adjacent tree and closed his eyes.

Link woke to the sound of snarling and growling. The tree branch was nearly entirely gnawed through. Barely hanging together. Link fumbled to stand, and unhooked the beast, tugging it back before it could break something. Link sighed in relief. The twili beast whined louder and louder. 

"Sh! Sh." Link soothed in a panic. He sighed and picked the creature up. The creature relaxed. Strange.

Link shook his head, bouncing lightly as he looked around. He finally found a thicker tree branch and tied it back up. He slumped next to it and closed his eyes with a light grumble.

He couldn't have been asleep for long when he woke to the sound of crashing. He startled up and stared at the sight of the twili beast happily trotting up to him. The tree limb dragged along. Link stared at it. The creature pushed a clawed hand-paw against his chest. Link blinked his bleary eyes a few more times, then sighed. He dropped to the ground again and allowed the beast to crawl up against him.

-

When he was finally able to get to Castle Town, he firmly decided it was a nightmare. The city was always busy, and he had never learned how to navigate it with any grace. But the usual chatter and crowds was nothing compared to this. People were everywhere. Link could barely take a step without having to apologize for bumping into someone. No one else apologized for bumping into him. Which was often.

Amongst it all, there were games, balloons, booths of various wonders and merchants. Music and noise was everywhere.

The beast had been swaddled up like a baby on his chest, obscured in tons of fabric. It squirmed and whined and Link struggled to hush it in the chaos. Its claws were grinding against his chainmail and likely tearing his shirt.

He bumped into someone going the opposite direction. As he began to mumble another apology he noticed their mask, like a demonic boar. Link couldn't help the scream that erupted from his lips.

"Woah, you okay?"

The beast whined, pitching up into that dangerous tone. Link fumbled and scrambled through the crowd pushing through with reckless abandon. People were complaining and yelling at him now, but he needed to get out out out-

He stumbled into an alleyway and backed himself into the finally empty space. He wheezed his breaths, covering his ears. Despite that, he could still hear the twili beast's increased whines, and the music and the chatter- Why were they always so much more sensitive- he didn't want to hear anything anymore, why why- A cat mewed. 

Link opened his eyes. A white fluffy cat. Telma's cat. He took a deep breath. The cat rubbed against him, and he leaned into it, keeping his ears covered. He took in another breath. Soon enough, he was able to pick the cat up and snuggle her against him. The twilit beast struggled to look around, and Link lowered his head to its, resting gently. 

The cat's purrs seemed to lull them both, and Link sighed. He kissed the cat's head. "Bless ya'll" he mumbled, "Thanks."

The cat mowed.

"Is Telma's just as crowded?"

The cat made a meerurp sound, seemingly in the affirmative. Link sighed. There went his hope Telma's could be a familiar place to stay until the crowd waned. If it waned. "...Can ya show me a way through to the castle?"

The cat purr-chirped, and hopped from his arms, trotting to the edge of his small sanctuary, toward the crowd. Link sighed and glanced at the creature. The twili deserved to be released from its beastal prison. He could brave a crowd for it. He stood up and followed the expectant cat.

They weaved through the crowd a little easier with their white tailed guide. The cat seemed to act as a path maker, the crowd parting more easily for her. Link was a little jealous. He almost lost her twice, but the cat was patient, and seemed to notice every time the crowd had pushed him back.

Eventually, he was at the backside of the castle. Rather than brave any of the gates, the cat, and ultimately Link, leaped over boxes and roofs to climb over the edge of the wall. Once they found a door that led inside, Link knelt down and petted the cat. "Thank you so much. I promise, when I'm done here, I'll come visit Telma's and give you a whole fish."

The cat purred, rubbing her body against his legs. Link stood, checking on the twili beast, which squirmed and grumbled. He sighed and entered the building. 

The castle itself had become slightly easier to navigate over time. Slightly. But the halls were quieter than the streets, and that made a world of difference in his ability to think. He reached the main hall and looked around. The Princess was standing in front of a window, hands clasped behind her back.

Link was about to announce himself, until the twili beast squealed loudly. Zelda startled, eyes wide. Her hand had immediately gone to the rapier hilt on her hip. Link raised his hands.

"Link! Goodness- you can request an audience now, you don't have to sneak around like you had-" She frowned as her gaze settled to his chest and the bundle secured to it, "...Is that a baby?"

"Er…not exactly?" Link muttered. "Uh… don't scream or attack us, please?" 

"Link of Ordania, what did you do?" It did not sound like a question but rather a demand. Link grimaced.

He undid the wraps of fabric and Zelda gasped. "Why did you bring that thing here?! Where did you find it?"

"It followed me from the desert, I think." Link pulled the creature free from the harness and it shook itself. "They were all twili… people. I- I just need to figure out how to turn it back."

Zelda frowned, looking at it. She inched forward and gingerly raised a hand towards the creature, hovering just above. "Do you know how this was created?"

"It's Zant's magic. I'm not sure. Probably similar to when it turned me into a wolf. The Sols in the Twilight healed the ones that were halfway transformed. But… we obviously don't have those."

"The Sols… were light, yes?" Zela hummed, placing her hands behind her back again. "Your triforce should be sufficient."

"Er… What?"

"The triforce. Channel your energy through it and together we should be able to generate a healing light with it. We just must be careful not to generate too much radiant power and harm the twili."

"I- I don't know if I can do that- what if I do it wrong?"

The princess shook her head, "You will succeed. You must."

Link sighed "I'll try."

Zelda nodded firmly and placed her hand on top of Link's. Both of their hands glowed. Link's eyes widened and he glanced nervously up at her. Her eyes were closed, concentrating. Link looked down at the twili beast in his arms. It seemed uneasy. He focused on the creature, trying to mentally search for whatever healing property was hidden in his hand.

"Don't overthink it," Zelda said softly, "just feel the energy flowing through your veins and soul and focus it."

Link nodded once, closing his eyes to get a better sense of what she meant. His hands were warm. And sweaty… Hopefully the Princess didn't notice-

"Your mind is loud for someone who's always so quiet," Zelda muttered. "Quiet your mind and just focus."

"Ya'll're reading my mind?"

"Link."

Link bit his lip and furrowed his eyebrows. He took in a deep breath and refocused. The twili beast was so nervous and confused, he could tell. He just wanted to explain it would all be okay but he knew he would never find the right words. Instead, he lowered his forehead against its. He focused his breaths to calm. His heartbeat became a gentler drum. He almost felt a electric warm tingle course through his body and it shifted, focused through his hand the longer he held it hovered over the twilit beasts back. 

Zelda smiled when a gentle light shone around them. It grew in strength until Link felt the shape of the creature change against him. He let the light linger for a moment, before he opened his eyes.

A twili stared back at him. Red and yellow eyes surrounded by dark purple. The twili was young, he was sure of it. So young. Link felt something in his chest sink like a stone. How could Zant do this to such a young child- How many child soldiers could Link have fought without realizing?

Link didn't even notice Zelda taking a step away, he just scooped the child up against his chest and curled up with him, slipping to the floor.

"Do you speak?" Zelda asked the twili quietly. 

"Speak?" The child repeated, voice odd and just like Midna's. Link struggled to keep himself together. Feeling tears pinprick against his eyes.

The child's hands raised to Link’s cheeks, using some twili language to ask him a question.

Zelda hummed and leaned down, "Do you have a name?" 

The child turned to look at Zelda, keeping his little hands on Link's cheeks. He continued on in that incomprehensible language.

"Ah...probably a hard question to answer with this linguistic barrier," Zelda said, mostly to herself.

Link took in sharp breaths. A child. A child.

"Oh, this might work- how old are you?" Zelda asked, offering her fingers to count, "Five? Six?"

The twili held up three.

Zelda looked stunned, "That can't be possible- that must not be right."

Link stared.

The child frowned, looking back and forth between them. He looked increasingly worried.

Link fumbled to hug the child properly, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry-" He whispered. His voice cracked and disappeared on him. He cried and hugged the child more, hoping it somehow made up for the fact he couldn't fix it all.

The child made a strange hushing sound. Matching the rhythm of his own soothing tone, just slightly off with his twili voice. Link hiccuped and cried harder.

Zelda stood there, hovering awkwardly. Finally, she knelt down and placed a hand on Link's back, polite and calm. 

Eventually, Link found a way to calm down. He placed a small kiss to the child's head and rubbed his eyes. 

"We should start seeking a way to return him to his home…" Zelda said softly. "I will research the archives. Will you look through the rest of Hyrule for anything that might find evidence of twili portals?"

Link nodded.

"We just need someone to take care of him while we investigate… I have a handmaiden who is discreet and polite she might-"

"I'll keep him." Link said, sounding firmer than he intended.

"Are you serious? You'll be wandering Hyrule, it could get dangerous."

"I'm keeping him. I'll keep him safe. I know twili better than anyone." Link lifted his head and looked at Zelda. She frowned.

The child demanded something in that twili language, patting his face. Link smiled sadly.

Zelda huffed lightly, "At least meet with the handmaid. But I will leave the decision to you. I will trust your judgment."

Link nodded, "Thank ya…"

Zelda turned back to look out the window. He sighed and stood, rocking the child. "What is all that commotion outside anyway?"

"The Festival of Light… I extended an invitation to you. I assume it missed you while you were traversing Hyrule with your new companion."

"Oh."

"Perhaps you two would enjoy the fruit balloons." Zelda said, turning and smiling at him, "They will be launching them shortly. I see you have a crossbow. I can lead you to a good shooting position."

"...Shooting balloons?"

Zelda grinned. "Come."

Link looked at the child, then shrugged, rushing to follow Zelda. She led them through the halls and outside, until they reached a quiet, brilliant view. Zelda took up her bow and a small object. She tossed it into the air and hit it with an arrow, causing a shower of light. Link blinked. The child laughed and cheered. Suddenly, more balloons began being tossed into the air all across parts of Castle town. Larger than Zelda's. 

Zelda gently took the child from his arms, "Go, shoot as many as you can"

Link fumbled to take his crossbow out and aimed for a balloon. When it popped it exploded into a brilliant firework. Link laughed lightly, "Who came up with this?"

Zelda hummed, "It's an age old Castle Town tradition… I don't know."

He nodded, aiming and shooting another balloon. Glad that the explosion was quiet and distant. The child laughed and cheered, and Link's smile grew. They spent a short while this way, before Link realized he was almost entirely dominating the scene, catching all the balloons before others could. He ultimately decided to give whoever else in Castle Town that shot the balloons a greater chance, putting down his crossbow and sitting down. 

Zelda sat down next to him. The child tumbled down from her arms and latched onto Link. The lights showered over Castle town and Link took the moment to relax and forget the turmoil brewing in his chest. The child leaned against him, oohing and awing at the showers of light. Link smiled.

-

Link fiddled with the shards of the twilight mirror as he walked back through the sands. He was so tired. The child stared at him, eyes bright. Link really needed to figure out what this kid’s name was somehow, he’s nearly spent half a year with this kid- or… maybe it didn’t matter anymore, with his inevitable departure so soon. Link smiled and ruffled his bright red hair, “We’ll get you home soon enough, yah?” 

Link’s gaze settled to Arbiter’s ground, expression falling tiredly. He paused and looked at the powder blue sands in the hourglass they’d retrieved from the Temple of Time. The Skull Kid had put up a fight to stop him from taking it out. He wasn’t exactly sure if this would even work. What if the mirror was just. Broken forever. What if it sent him to the wrong place-

“Ling” the child said, shoving his face. He blinked and looked at him. “Going home too?”

“What?” Link frowned, “Yeah, eventually. We’ll get you home first, then I’ll go home.”

“No” The kid shook his head repeatedly, “No no, that’s wrong.”

Link hoisted him up on his hip, brushing sand out of his hair. “What do ya mean?”

“Home!” he demanded, grabbing Link’s sleeves and shaking him slightly, “Ling is going home too!” 

Link stared at him, eyes wide, “I- no” he said softly, “I can’t live in the twilight realm with ya’ll- That’s not my home. I-”

“No!” The twili screeched, eyes welling with tears, Link winced, struggling to cover an ear with one hand and hold the source of the noise in the other.  “Ling’s home with me! Ling’s home with ME”

The ground rumbled. Clouds began to darken overhead.

“I’m sorry-” Link croaked, “I’m sorry- If- If this works I can visit but-” The toddler screamed and cried, tiny hands scrunched up in his shirt. “Hey- hey! It’s gonna be ok!” The earth rumbled again and Link fumbled to gain balance. He turned his head just as the massive skeletal form of the Stallord rose from the sands. Lightning flashed.

Link scrambled to place the screaming child in the carrying harness, ignoring the continued screaming and crying. The blue sand hourglass slipped from his hands in his rush. He pulled out his crossbow, fumbling backwards. The Stallord roared in time with his child’s scream and loomed forward at him. Link really wanted to swear repeatedly right now. He bit his tongue and focused instead on dealing with what was in front of him.

The boy continued screaming in twili. The Stallord exhaled molten rock toward him, he shot crossbow bolts at them, shattering them before they could reach him. He struggled to focus with all the noise. It made his heart leap into his throat and his eyes haze. He heaved his breaths, struggling to determine what to shoot and when. The fossil of a creature raised a hand and Link scrambled back, shooting it before it could do whatever it aimed to do. Something crunched under foot. 

The Stallord’s hand shattered. Soon he was working off muscle memory and pattern. Targets found and destroyed. The Stallord crumbled. His child wailed again, and shattered bones reformed. Link swallowed, “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry-” He said, kissing his child’s head as he fumbled backward as far as he could, until the sands under him dared to drag him down to join the rest of the skeletal creatures it created and consumed.

Rinse and repeat. The Stallord roared and dragged itself closer. The child shrieked and curled up against his chest, suddenly going quiet. Skeletal flaming heads flew towards him, and he scrambled to fight them off. One bulled right into him, and he winced, knocking it back away with the edge of the crossbow. 

The child shouted in alarmed twili. It sounded so much like “Papa!” Link nearly choked. He placed a hand on the child’s head in an attempt to shield him, and focused on the monster ahead. Eventually. Finally, it fell. Silence stretched in the air. The fossil bones became one with the sand. Link swallowed thickly. 

“Okay? Okay?” The kid asked, shaking his sleeve. Link took in a deep breath.

“Yeah” He whispered, “Ya’ll a’ight?”

He nodded quietly. The child snuggled in against him and Link sighed, pressing a few kisses to the top of his head, “Okay.”

Link looked around them, and his eyes landed on shattered glass and a patch of scattering blue sands. “Wait-” He gasped and fumbled to grab a bottle, hurriedly pushing sand into it. “No no no no-”

“It’s okay!” the child said, reaching out to Link’s arms, “Sand can be sand!”

“You don’t- you don’t understand-” Link looked around the sands, before corking the bottle, “This is the last idea we have to get you home! This is it! I- I can’t just turn back time on my own, this is it! I can’t go back and stop Midna from destroying our one connection- I- I can’t…”

The twili stared. Link swallowed, rubbing his eyes and dropping his hands to his sides. “I promised I’d get you home.” Link sighed and dropped to sit on the ground propping his head up with his hands. The child reached over and pushed his hands away from his eyes and onto his cheeks. Link opened his eyes, bleary and red. He grabbed his nose. Link smiled just slightly.

“Can we go?” he asked, brows furrowed and serious, “I don’t wanna be here anymore”

Link swallowed and stood up.

“We’re looking wrong.” The twili grumbled, turned to look where Link was facing.

“Huh? Where should we be going?” Link whispered. The child pointed over Link’s shoulder. Toward the forested distance of Hyrule and Ordon beyond it.

Link considered him for a moment, then sighed, turning around. “Got it…” He glanced backward at Arbiter’s Grounds one more time, and started walking home. He put away the bottle of blue sands in his pocket, brows furrowing as he dragged his fingers over the edge of the mirror shard there. …Later. Link determined. When he knew for certain it could work and work well.

4 years later

The twili raced around the goatpen chasing his little auntie around with a laugh. Rusl and Uli’s daughter squealed as she turned a corner and raced behind her big brother.

“Colin! Colin! Protect me! Aror is gonna turn me into a chu!”

Colin giggled as he lifted his broom higher, out of the kid’s reach. He turned back and forth trying to look at her, “Oh? How’s he gonna do that?”

“RAH!” Aror exclaimed, teeth bared and sharp. “Lemme at ‘er!”

“Why would I do that?” Colin asked, tilting his head.

“Becauuuuse,” Aror leaned back, “She stole the last piece of pie!”

The teenager gasped, looking down at the six year old, “Kiri! How could you.” 

“It’s good!” she said, smiling.

“And you didn’t even ask,” Colin shook his head, “Ok Aror, chu time.”

Aror laughed, racing around Colin to grab the girl and tickle her. Colin glanced up and pointed, “Link’s back!”

Aror turned and smiled, “Papa!” He tossed Kiri up at Colin. 

Colin yelped and caught his sister. “Aror, careful!”

Link waved at them all as he walked over. The twili leaped at him and wrapped his arms around him. Link laughed and spun with him, “How’s it been?” 

“Good!” Aror exclaimed with a grin. “Well, mostly. Kiri ate the last piece of pie.”

He shook his head with a light chuckle. Aror snuggled into him and hummed, "What did you find in Hyrule?"

Link hummed, "Not much, some bulblins were harassin' travelers in Hyrule Field." 

"Did'ya stop anywhere?" Aror asked with a grin.

"I ain't bringing presents every time I take a trip to Hyrule" Link laughed, ruffling Aror's bright red hair.

"The goats were good while you were out, only one escaped and I got it before it could run past the Mayor's!" Colin said.

"Oh, nice! Don't go stealing my job under me, Rusl will be sad nobody caught onta smithing."

Colin laughed and shook his head, "No way, Aror's gonna take over yer job."

Link giggled. "Really?"

Aror grinned, "The goats love me."

"He's magic!" Kiri said with a cheer.

Link smiled and hugged him tightly, "Yeah he is. Now…. Who wants to pick some more berries for a new pie?" 

Colin made a subtle x with his hands, shaking his head, while Kiri and Aror whooped and cheered. Link set Aror down and the pair raced off. He winked at Colin "Ya don't gotta eat it."

"No, but I gotta deal with the Sugar Rush!" Colin whined.

Link made a mock helpless shrug and started following after the children.

…

Link's brows furrowed as he looked over the bottle of sand. It had long since been carefully sifted, finally pure blue. He moved the mirror fragment over onto the hand mirror frame he'd gotten. He poured the blue powder over the empty space and drew lines through it. He glanced back and forth between an old book and the lines.

Zelda had told him this was the best record of the symbols in the mirror that her library had. 

"Hey Papa did'ya want any-" Aror's voice cut off. "What are you doing?"

Link closed the book abruptly and turned around in his seat "Nothing much. Pie sounds good, though. Do ya want help getting a slice?"

"No, what is this?" Aror stepped forward and looked over the blue dust and the handheld mirror. He tilted his head, “I know this, where is this from?"

Link frowned softly, "Aror… I-"

His golden and red eyes flickered over Link’s face. His ears pinned back. "You're still trying to get rid of me."

"What? No never!" Link stood up, hands reaching to brush a hair out of the twili's face. Aror grabbed the mirror off the desk and backed away. Link pulled his hand back, "Aror, I promise that's not it."

He shook his head "I thought ya'll stopped trying to-" He blinked and rubbed his eyes. "Why else wouldn't ya'll tell me you were still looking for a way there?" He made a pitched whine.

"Bud, I'm just trying to find a way to get you home-"

"I thought I was home!" Aror screeched, he tossed the mirror frame. "But you apparently don't want me here!" 

It all shattered. A dark pool flooded around the floor. Link's gaze was focused on Aror. "No, no- I love you! I want you to ha-" Link stepped forward and slipped over the edge of darkness. Blue eyes went wide. 

Aror gasped. The boy scrambled to grab his hand but fingers slipped and transformed into a paw. He let go, fear rippling through him.

The beast with blue eyes tumbled into darkness and the portal closed with a hum of dark power. Aror stilled. The beast was gone. …His dad had turned into that. His papa was gone.

"Papa?" He slammed his hands against the floor. "PAPA!" The earth rumbled around him as he screamed.

"Aror?! Aror are you alright?!" Colin shouted into the house. Footsteps thundering across wood.

-

Link thudded against a grassy plain. He groaned and rolled over. Link huffed and looked around frantically. He rushed up a hill, chain clinking with each bound. He sniffed the air. It was weird- wrong. Where was he? Link’s gaze settled onto a castle in the distance. Seemingly imprisoned with spires of darkness. Link bowed his head, heaving his breaths. He needed to get back to his son- he couldn't do this again, not now. He had to explain- he had to let him know how much he loved him… that he'd give up his world for him. Link howled into the endless world. 

[nancyheart11]

Dad in a dungeon pt1

They were following fast on the trail of a group of Yiga, almost where they could touch them, Abel was sure. If they could capture just one, then he felt sure they could finally get some straight answers about where to find Abel’s son, along with the others. They moved down on a slope lined with colored rocks and a dip in the middle of the path from the many feet that had trodden it in times past. The Yiga scum slipped in a small opening of great wooden doors that had seen much better days, but peeling paint and chipped carvings aside, the doors were magnificent in scale and in lovingly rendered carvings of something Abel didn’t pay attention to as the Fierce Deity nearly threw the doors off their hinges in his haste to enter the space.

They finally cornered the Yiga against a wall only to hear dreaded giggles of the sort that were part of Abel’s nightmares. He could have sworn he saw one of the blasted traitors wink at him through the mask before the air was filled with dark, sickly sweet smoke and mocking laughter. He felt air move on his back and Abel whirled around squinting through the thick smoke and try and get a hit on one of them.

The air finally cleared enough to see more than the sword in front of his body and Abel felt as though he had been doused in ice water as the great wooden doors slammed shut with finality. He had a feeling that there would be no getting out that way, even with the Fierce Deity’s absurd Strength. 

“Well that didn't work out.” Rusl said with a scowl on his face.

Fierce simply turned away from the door, sheathing his huge blade as he did so. He inhaled very loudly and held it for what would have been a concerningly long time for a mortal, then let it all out in one annoyed exhale through his nose making Abel’s heart jump even as he had kept an eye on the Deity.

“I sense a great darkness further in this building and it grows, even now… My little one would feel obligated to clear the place, to protect the land from whatever may emerge from the depths. I suggest we do the same in their places.” Abel could’ve sworn he saw the shadow of a smirk on the deity's face, but a blink later and it was as impassive as ever. “Besides, the items sealed in such places are often very helpful.”

Abel raised one exasperated eyebrow. They didn’t have time to clear some forgotten ruin of monsters! They already dealt with far too many just trying to get to the next town, the next clue to where Link (and the other Links) could be. He turned to Rusl for help and found him lighting a torch, already moving to follow the deity further into the foreboding dark. Abel felt a headache start behind his eyes as he went to follow, hating that Fierce was right and knowing that the kind of man he’d been before the calamity wouldn’t have thought twice about trying to help.

The group started down crisp sharp stairs which after a small time turned a perfect 90 degrees to the right. Then again and again and–

Abel was right back in front of the giant wooden doors. 

He groaned in frustration because he had heard tales of people getting lost in seemingly simple dungeons and dying. He didn't have time for that!

He finally took his hands from his face only to see Rusl standing uncomfortably close to the edge, stone held in hand. Before Abel could ask how it would help Rusl dropped the stone straight down.

Abel felt something hit his arm. He turned to the threat drawing his sword as he did so only to see–

The stone?

Rusl grinned at him and Fierce, then confidently walked off the side.

When no sounds of Rusl’s body hitting the stone far beneath them sounded Abel began frantically looking for his brave but far too reckless– 

A whistle broke his thoughts and pulled his attention to a wall on the side of the stairs beneath him, where Rusl stood casually, like he wasn’t defying the laws of physics and oh look Fierce was joining him.

Abel brought a hand to his nose and tried not to scream, no wonder dungeons were so deadly if this was the kind of thing required to even get to the next door. Abel let all the air inside him out in a huge, disapproving sigh before following his companions, since he wasn’t going to let common sense of all things get him killed.

—-

It quickly became apparent that nothing in this dungeon was as it seemed at first glance. Normal doors when approached turned out to simply be startlingly realistic paintings, the actual doors being cleverly hidden until you were at just the right angle or needing to do things like leap across a series of poles to reach the ledge containing them.

 Upon reaching the first such door, Abel leaned his head against the smooth wood to catch his breath and wait for his heartbeat to slow, after all Tilieth was the one with the paraglider and he did not want to end up as a hylian pancake on the floor. He looked back just in time to see Fierce take a couple steps back, run at the wall and scramble up it smoothly in his armor, grabbing the ledge in one hand and pulling himself up with ease. Abel swallowed the hot envy in his mouth and went to open the door–

Locked

Why was it locked? Fierce seemed unsurprised, as did Rusl from where he perched a pillar way, since there wasn’t room for all three of them in the doorway at once.

“The Key must be elsewhere” Fierce nodded as though this was expected

He simply lowered himself and dropped the remaining 15 feet with no problem. And Abel’s knees groaned at the thought of having to cross those stupid pillars even once more, much less twice more just to make it back to this door which was most certainly not the end of the dungeon from the few bits of conversation Rusl and Fierce had shared on the subject.

“Hey Fierce, could you catch me?”

“Of course, little Farmer. It would be more efficient than crossing the pillars in fact.”

So of course Rusl jumped down, Fierce jumped up and, . . . huh that actually looked way more comfortable than Abel had imagined.

Fierce turned in his direction and raised one perfectly sculpted brow in silent question. Abel was grateful he didn’t have to answer out loud as he closed his eyes and took one small step over the ledge. Despite the armor the deity wore, his arms were gentle and he cushioned Abel’s fall and within minutes he found himself set back on solid ground.

With that done Fierce turned and began walking a direction they hadn’t gone yet. They found some red bokoblins camped around a fire soon enough and Abel almost relished something simple to do. Once they were defeated the group moved on, coming to a strange smooth curved wall.

Rusl’s touch flickered and in the corner of his eye Abel spotted scratches. He approached and based on the regularity and uniformity he felt sure it was writing! 

Writing he couldn’t read.

“Can either of you read this? Since we all apparently have different writing maybe it’s one of ours?”

Abel couldn’t help the hopeful note that crept into the end of his voice. He may not be a soldier anymore, but he still craved the easily understood nature of it. Stand here, fight these monsters, try not to claw your eyes out over this paperwork. He was starting to be more impressed with the other son’s if they had had to deal with things like this on a regular basis.

The others shook their heads and Abel felt his heart sink a little, but then Fierce tilted his head, then walked up to the wall and raised his arms, the tops of which easily cleared the top of the wall. Rusl came over quickly and Fierce lifted him to the top of the wall, then turned to Abel, grabbing him in an embrace with hands that nearly wrapped around his entire torso and lifting him up to join Rusl on the top of the wall.

Abel looked around and from this angle was able to see that the wall was entirely flat, save for a few areas that bulged out. He looked to Rusl who grinned at them.

“Looks like we just avoided a whole puzzle with Fierce’s height. Guess they didn’t expect anyone eight feet tall to come here.”

Fierce jumped the wall and helped them down from the other side without a word. Abel was starting to feel as though he wasn’t pulling his own weight with this whole dungeon exploring thing. Rusl had figured out that the whole dungeon didn’t follow the rules of physics as he knew them, while Fierce had been making what were surely meant to be dangerous and difficult obstacles seem like child’s play. Before he could back down Abel mumbled out a thanks, and felt his heart sink a little bit at the way Fierce’s eyes widened minutely at the words.

Finally looking forward Abel wanted to throw his hands over his eyes at the sight, in front of them was a stairway stretching as far as the eyes could see in stark black and white, somehow seeming to go both up and down at the same time, almost looking at thought someone had taken a chessboard, broken it into the individual squares and then put back together in the most confusing manner possible.

They moved until they were almost to the staircase and objects dropped from the ceiling! One black, one white and one half and half. Abel ignored them and went to put a foot on the stairs? If that’s what they were, but felt as though he had been doused in ice when he foot went through the square. He pulled it out quickly as though it had been burned and fell from the sudden change in momentum.

Rusl looked at him, looked at the stones? Boulders? Things that were round and large enough Abel would have to use 2 hands to hold them properly. Then his eyes lit up, he grabbed the white one, and stepped confidently onto the white square next to Abel. When he didn’t fall through Abel realized that colors weren’t just there to mock his eyes, but to make even moving on this strange staircase a puzzle of it’s own. He picked up the black stone and felt it’s weight, heavy, but not so much that he would tire quickly. Fierce of course picked up the swirled stone in one hand while holding his sword in the other and they all began to move on their designated squares. Rusl’s took him up, Abel’s took him down, and Fierce’s went sideways . . . for some reason.

Abel felt nervous separating from the others for any reason inside something as dangerous as a dungeon. Abel got to the bottom of the long walk and saw white on his left, so he held his head high and walked straight through what looked solid to find himself in a room with water running down open archways on all sides, with bright starlike lights wavering in the water with beautiful cerulean fishlike creatures swirling and occasionally blocking out the light. 

On the ledge of the archway he was standing on without falling in the four corners were four statues, one a bird with open wings, one a Lizard sunning itself on a rock, one a horse like creature with lumps on its back, and the last statue was so intimately familiar Abel’s heart hurt looking at it, for it looked Miphas divine beast, which he believed the girl had once said was based off something called an elephant.

He walked around the room trying to take in every detail and figure out what the trick was, trying not to think about how he was able to feel the cool trickling water under his boots and what appeared to be open space should he fall through.

His neck hurt from looking down so much, and Abel stretched it back as far as he could comfortably go, relishing in the relief it brought him before opening his eyes and immediately feeling stupid.

There was a bright shiny chest on the ‘ceiling’ in plain sight, and it probably held something that he very much needed to get out of here. Abel walked over to one corner made of good solid stone and put his foot on the wall wanting to see if he could walk up the side. He lifted his other foot–

And his back hit the ground, a long low groan being drawn out of him at the pain. He was never a thinker, it had never been his strong suit, but he was going to have to figure it out if he wanted to get his son and wife back, or ever leave the dungeon for that matter. Rubbing his likely bruised backside he got up and shook out his arms, now that they weren’t holding the weight of the stone–

Wait, where had it gone?

He looked and saw it had rolled just out of reach on the water he’d been standing on moments before. Moving a boot off the stone and into the water it went through, and Abel breathed out an annoyed sigh.

 Great, now he was confined to the stone ledge on the edges of the room since he didn’t want to find out just how endless the space below was and he didn’t have a way to reach the stone yet. He got up and seeing as his hand was able to pass through the water of the arch he was next to very easily, Abel decided to lean on the stone and stick his head out, to see just how distorted the space beyond had been by the water.

They outside looked like piles and piles of velvet layered on something, soft and luxurious almost calling to be touched, though he knew that it was too far away if it was even something that could be touched. Studded along the background where dots of pure white light, shaped like tears individually with what Abel had first thought to be fish now appearing to be whale’s in a deep blue at their center, lightning as they went out and delicate porcelain white patterns scattered along their surface as they swam peacefully in the area. The one he was watching moved  enough to unobscure the area and Abel sucked in a breath.

He knew that symbol in the not sky, everyone did, it was the one that had been stitched into the champion blue cloth for Revali. Abel quickly pulled his head back through the water headless of how much splashed everywhere. And he looked–

There

In the farther left corner from where he currently stood was the bird statue. Abel looked out the arch to his right and squinted, seeing the lizard of Daruk studded in the sky. He moved to the nearest statue, which was the lizard curled on the rock and started pushing with his whole body, gritting his teeth against the awful grinding noise made by the statue's movement. After continuing for some time and turning the corner he felt the statue click into place, and for a moment he wanted to jump in the air! He’d figured out some strange part of this all on his own, but then he remembered the other three statues and winced.

He cracked his knuckles and got to work. Eventually when the last statue (Mipha’s) was pushed into place after the light click there was a loud thonck as the Chest fell to the ‘floor’. Abel sighed wondering just how he was going to get out there before realizing that now the archways appear to have been filled in with translucent glass, no longer having water run in the space. He almost lamented the beauty lost before testing the sturdiness and went to open the Chest. Inside was a silver key along with a purple rupee and he was glad to see that because now that he was visiting towns more often money was something he had more need of.

Abel stuffed the key in his pocket, grabbed the stone, and found the area of the wall not as solid as it appeared to go back and hopefully meet with his companions. When he got back to the place the stones had first dropped he blinked at the pedestals that were definitely not there before they appeared as though they had simply grown out of the stone Abel stood on, with no joints or lines to separate them at all. As he watched a third pedestal bloomed in front of him to make three, and Abel got a feeling that the stones they had just used were meant to be returned here.

Rusl called out to him and Abel turned to greet him, only to begin laughing when he saw that Rusl’s clothes and hair were covered in splashes of various colors, all bright, none matching, and with his headband hanging askew on his head, nearly covering one eye. Coming from the opposite direction of where he had disappeared earlier was Fierce whose boots were once more bloodstained, though it was such a usual sight it took Abel a minute to realize most was fresh. 

They showed the things they had gathered in their individual rooms. Rusl had gotten quite a few rupees, Abel had his key and Fierce had both a key and compass for the dungeon. They put their stones into the pillars and watched as they receded smoothly into the floor. Behind them the strange stairway was disappearing, step by step, until a rather small door was left revealed. 

Abel frowned at it. So far everything in the dungeon had been spacious, to the point Fierce didn't have to duck his head to enter doorways, but this door was so short that even Abel, shortest of the group, would need to crouch to enter.. He grimaced at how much his back would hurt from just this room and moved forward. He went to put his key in the lock and Rusl put his hand on the door. Abel looked over and raised an eyebrow in question, far too tired for words already.

“We’ve been in here a while now, I think before we head in there some food might be a good idea.”

Abel wanted to get this over with and leave, but he saw the sense in Rusl’s suggestion and was also the only one of the group who could cook anything decent. Fierce made sense but how Rusl managed to char a sandwich? Abel didn’t want to know.

They sat on the smooth cold floor and Abel took some of the leftover rice from the night before and began shaping it adding salt, pepper and some hyrule herb as he went to make rice balls. He made sure to make ones too large for one hand so that Fierce would have an easier time holding them. He grumbled about others who were no good at cooking for themselves while Rusl sliced a few apples but felt his chest warm when both Rusl and Fierce hummed appreciatively at the rice balls along with the apple slices.

When that was finished Abel took several long drinks from his skin, swishing the water around inside to dislodge any random food bits and trying to decide how much to ration should they be stuck in this dungeon for days.

Then he got up, popped his knuckles and marched forward. Immediately upon entering the small room he saw a river rushing along inside a built stone bed, with pillars holding up the impossibly zig zagging structure. Abel mourned his briefly dry self before stepping into the cool water, since the ledges on the edge of the bed were quite thin and he didn’t want to test his balance. Then he realized the bed sloped downward, like an artificial hill in all the zigging and zagging, yet the water ran up? He turned to investigate and followed the flow of the water, feeling like that was the closest thing to a clue he’d encountered thus far.

Eventually he got to the top where the water arched beautifully off the stone as it was released to a water wheel? A water wheel that somehow held the water as it went upside down and deposited the water back at the bottom to move up again.

Looking closer at the water wheel Abel could see that it was guarded by a group of fish with extremely sharp teeth and that something was glinting at him from in between slats in the wheel.

It was times like these that Abel really missed the infinite bomb capacity of the sheikah slate. Instead he looked inside his bag, rooting through to see what useful items he–

Aha! He pulled out a spear triumphantly, then thought better of it and pulled out some rope as well.

After securing the spear with rope he threw it towards the bottom, it did not reach. So Abel trudged down a few levels ignoring how his head hurt when he looked too closely at the nonsensical architecture. He threw his spear once more and hit a couple of the fish head on, confirming they were monsters with puffs of smoke they emitted upon death.

With that out of the way it was simply a matter of getting more accurate in his throws the less fish there were to hit. When the area was cleared the water changed direction and Abel was swept off his feet unprepared for the change as he slid down the slope.

His arm jolted uncomfortably in its socket as the spear clenched in his hands caught on what felt like every corner and his legs hit walls before he could turn. Eventually he was deposited into a body of water, and once he gets his head above water he sees the water wheel.

Alright then.

He swims over to it and sees that there is now a solid stone platform he can climb on next to it. It puts him at just the right height to grab the strange object in the middle. There was a delicate sphere that looked like it was made from metal Spidersilk surrounding a triangle that didn't make sense. The triangle was made of a thin square piece of metal twisted upon itself in a way that just didn't work, yet here it was in front of Abel.

He twisted the sphere to get a better look at the triangle, where the blue side had been down, and once the red side was down there was the door in front of him.

Abel blinked and looked behind him,the room he'd just been in still there, but now he didn't have to go all the way back up the stone banks, so he shrugged and moved on.

He exited back to the now smooth room. Rusl was busy organizing arrows while Fierce watched on with interest. Rusl jumped a little when he noticed Abel. 

“That was quick, thought you’d be in there longer!”

Abel didn’t take offense to the statement, though he felt like he’d spent some time spearing the fish, guess he lost track of time doing so.

After Rusl had put all the good arrows back in his quiver they continued on, going back to the door by the pillars, though having Fierce lift them up and hand them the key being far easier of Abel’s joints than the alternative.

Rusl turned the key this time and they both pushed open the door, waiting inside for Fierce to lift himself and join them. Once he crossed the threshold the door slammed closed behind them and Iron bars slammed down over both the set behind them and the one in front, trapping them inside. 

Then the room rumbled and a paper crane fell on the floor? Abel furrowed his brow and went to pick it up, but at that moment a wave of paper cranes swooped down, seemingly of their own accord, all moving in one great rush to form some sort of giant creature. The thing roars at them and Abel can’t help wondering a little hysterically if this is one of the fabled dungeon monsters, something so dangerous it’s been confined to this place for who knows how long.

Abel readies his sword, feeling like the steel in his hand is woefully inadequate for the task before him, but prepared to fight with all his might–

Then Fierce almost lazily unsheathes his giant sword, slices it across the air nowhere near the monster shifting towards them, and Abel watches with something like disbelief as a beam of light is emitted, moving unerringly towards the monster and burning the cranes it comes into contact with. They were packed so closely together to make the creature that they are all ashes in moments.

Wait, something is still moving! Abel turns and almost feels pity at the sight of a lone crane, charred on one wing, pathetically shuffling along the floor trying to get away from them, Fierce walks over and sets one large boot on the thing, slowly grinding it underfoot with an expression of boredom, like this was beneath him. Abel feels ice in his veins at the reminder of the terrible power the deity wields so casually.

The bars slide up from where they came and a loud Click is heard as the doors unlock. Rusl runs up to Fierce and claps him on the back, grinning at him and Fierce seems happy? Pleased? Less bored at least with Rusl asking about the sword beam and thanking Fierce for taking care of the thing.

Abel shakes his head to try and clear it of such gloomy thoughts, sheathing his sword for the moment and following the others out of the doorway. They came out on what appeared to be giant hands, where they stepped out on the cupped palms of the hands, with the fingers coming up to act as a guard from falling. On the wall opposite them were notes? And under each note was an illustration of the hands with a finger raised, to make a total of 8 different images. But why!

Fierce made a little noise, one that sounded almost delighted? And pulled out a lump, with holes. He blew into the spout? And a note came out, smooth and windy sounding, though the grind of stone behind him quickly distracted Abel. The index finger on the right hand had lowered with the note, but when Fierce went to play a different one the first snapped back into place with a loud crack that made both Abel and Rusl jump. Fierce hummed and and played some more notes in varying orders, managing to find 2 that when played sequentially, kept both fingers down.

“This method is inefficient, there must be a clue elsewhere in this room that we can access to get the correct order of notes.” 

 Abel and Rusl both did their best to see what else may be in the room. It was Rusl who leaned around the hands and noticed the nails were painted in different shades. This made the fact that the illustrations on the other wall were colored more significant, though it didn’t help them know what order to play in. Abel, tired of staring down a seemingly endless abyss turned back to maybe see if they had missed something previously and noticed the door they came through was outlined in a rainbow of color. The rainbow was off, because it wasn’t in the right order! 

“Fierce! The colors around the door must be what order to play in!”

Fierce nodded, and immediately began playing from the innermost to outermost color. When he did, an object appeared in the middle of the room, another chest, joy.

Fierce then played from outer colors in, and once the simple melody was finished the hands now flat underneath them jolted, and began moving towards the far side. They stopped at the platform (held by nothing as far as Abel could tell) opened the chest and pulled out a map and compass? Fierce gasped and seemed happy to hold onto the items, Abel didn’t understand why you would need to solve a puzzle in the middle of a dungeon to get the map.

@skyloftian-nutcase here's the first part as promised! now to continue onward! hopefully soon i'll have this up so that the parts of Dad squad written to be post-dungeon can start going up as well!

[skyloftian-nutcase]

DAD SQUAD DAD SQUAD

(for the prompt event)

Abel swore as he ran.

That soldier, that Hero, that idiot child had wandered off, distrusting as he was, or scared or petulant or arrogant, he didn’t even know - all he knew was the Fierce Deity’s other Hero had sauntered off and the Yiga had him.

But it had just happened. Abel was not letting them get away with this.

The Yiga were too far to reach quickly, but close enough to still be seen as they hauled their prize away. The blonde Hero of Hyrule, wrapped in his green and armor and blue scarf, was bleeding from the head, carried easily on the shoulders of one of the Yiga’s massive commanders.

Rusl was hot in his trail, already trying to prepare a weapon of his, but there was no way they were in range for anything. Abel tore across the open field as quickly as he could, adrenaline and rage bringing heat to his body, fueling his legs to move at breakneck speed.

As Abel ran, he caught sight of a traveler atop a horse, and an idea immediately came to his mind. Nocking an arrow, he let it loose, aiming low. When the arrow sank into the unsuspecting traveler’s leg, he let out a yell of pain, falling off his horse.

Abel immediately took advantage of the situation, making a beeline for the steed and leaping atop its saddle, ignoring the animals’ anxious protest, and directed it to run straight for his quarry.

“Abel, what the hell are you doing!” Rusl shouted from a short distance away.

“Get him a potion!” Abel ordered sharply, not wasting another moment, tearing after the Yiga.

Rusl stumbled, breathless, kneeling down beside the poor traveler and searching hastily through his bag. “I’m so sorry, he’s—my friend’s insane.”

As the Ordonian watched his Hylian companion make chase, he pulled out a little whistle, blowing into it while the traveler choked down the potion he’d offered. A hawk cried out in reply, swooping down to land on Rusl’s arm. With a brief, whispered command, the hawk took flight once more, soaring overhead and tearing after Abel.

The Yiga were growing ever closer as Abel urged the horse to move faster. As he rode, he heard a cry from overhead, glancing up to see a brown hawk, talons hovering a short distance above his head, gliding effortlessly before it flapped its wings to speed ahead. Abel’s eyes followed it until he saw that the Yiga were getting close to the wooded area at the edge of the clearing. If they got in there, he’d lose them.

He was close enough. This would do.

With a grunt, Abel moved one of his feet out of the stirrups, planting it on the saddle so he could rise above to get a better shot and more distance. He readied an ice arrow, gritting his teeth and glaring as he let it loose.

They were not getting away this time. He would make sure of it.

The arrow didn’t hit any particular target, but the magic that it spread from the impact managed to reach the majority of the Yiga, including the one carrying this newer Link. The hawk swooped down, pecking at the Yiga as Abel finally caught up to them, leaping off the horse with his sword at the ready. He sank the blade into an unsuspected enemy as he landed, digging his foot into the Yiga’s chest to pull the blade out and swinging it across another foe. He pulled out his shield just as another Yiga tired to fire some arrows at him, protecting him while the commander rose and readied his enormous blade.

Abel managed to move just in time as the Yiga commander’s blade crashed downward, sending a powerful strike his way. The hawk swooped down once more, distracting the archer behind Abel as he charged forward, sliding to one knee as he held his shield overhead, the impact from the massive blademaster’s attack making his shoulder scream in protest. He braced with his other arm, letting out a yell and pushing himself to stand, throwing the Yiga off balance.

It gave him just enough time, and he directed his sword diagonally upward, cutting across the man’s chest. When the Yiga fell to his knees, making him and Abel nearly at eye level, it gave the former knight all the time he needed to finish the job.

The Yiga archer yelled as the hawk pecked at him again, and then he realized the fight was over as his commander’s head rolled to his feet. He vanished in a puff of magic and light, and Abel stood over the bodies a moment, catching his breath.

Link watched him, eyes wide, leaning against a tree, his arm partly frozen from the blast of the arrow, hands bound, face gagged with a cloth.

“I told you,” Abel finally said as he approached him, pulling the gag off first. “Don’t wander off.”

Link seemed like he was trying to maintain some semblance of dignity, or he was just being defensive. He let out a breath through his nose in what was probably supposed to be a huff of defiance. “The last thing I remember was being attacked by people, and then I wake up weak and ill and you’re there talking about traitors to the crown trying to kidnap the Hero. You can’t possibly expect me to trust you instantly.”

“No,” Abel supposed mildly as he cut through the boy’s bonds. “But you currently can’t defend yourself, either. You should know better. Now on your feet, soldier, and this time, listen to orders.”

Link watched him a moment longer and then obeyed, seeming to give in, looking almost ashamed. When he stumbled a bit, Abel caught him easily, pulling him a little closer, finally letting some sympathy bleed through his exhaustion and worry. The boy couldn’t be much older than his own son, and he was going through a lot.

Sighing, Abel let him sink to the ground once more, sitting beside him and letting the boy lean against him. “Link… you have to trust me, okay? I feel it’s fairly obvious who the actual threat is now. I’ll keep you safe. I promise.”

As he spoke, his hands worked gently away at the ice melting off the boy’s arm. He felt a slight twinge of guilt that he’d hurt him a little, but if he hadn’t he would’ve lost him, which was far worse.

Link swallowed, saying nothing, but he relaxed a little in his hold. When Abel had picked off as much of the ice as he could, he tried to help the boy stand once more. Link was more stable on his feet, clearly trying hard to pull his own weight. Abel directed him towards the horse, helping him mount, and he took the reins away from the Hero so he could direct the mount from the ground.

The pair made their way back across the field, and Rusl finally caught up to them. “Are you two alright?”

“Link will need some looking after,” Abel noted. “I’m fine.”

Link ran a hand through his hair, the streak of white glistening in the sunlight, and then he sighed. “I take it those Yiga have been attacking you two?”

“They’ve been attacking Heroes,” Rusl answered as he walked alongside the horse. “We’ve been trying to get our sons back.”

Link blinked. “Your—you—”

Abel was somewhat exasperated that Rusl just admitted that, but he supposed there was little point in hiding it. It was a natural habit, though, so he didn’t comment, letting Rusl be he personable man that he was. It eased what little tension was left in the young soldier’s posture, and when they returned to camp, the boy was listening to the Ordonian tell stories about his boy. A realization of some sort was slowly dawning across the teenager’s face, though he kept whatever epiphany he had to himself.

He still didn’t entirely trust them, perhaps. Abel wasn’t too bothered by it. He knew the boy would at least listen to him now.

As the sun set, Abel cleaned the blood of his blade, satisfied that he’d managed to eliminate some Yiga and relieved that he’d at least fulfilled his duty in protecting one Hero. With another victory against the Yiga under his belt, he was almost starting to feel…

Well. He wouldn’t say it. He hadn’t been one to hold on to such sentiment since the Calamity.

But perhaps things were finally starting to look up for them. And… perhaps… his son…

Abel sighed, putting his sword down as Rusl and Link laughed over some story or another.

[bokettochild]

Opera house AU

Telma's has a group of old regulars that have been coming to her bar since it opened 27 years ago. Theyre pretty much the cast of Cheers with how familiar they are with her and each other;

Rusl: ex-army, current Ordon rancher. Started visiting when he was in the Reserves, always comes by whenever he's in town. Introduced Twilight to the place and delivers Telma Ordon Cider

Renado: a general practice doctor, currently lives in Kakariko. Usually hitches a ride with Rusl to the city

Auru: university professor and Dusk's old high school teacher. Visits the most and has an endless well of amusing anecdotes about his students. Also an amazing piano player, Telma's has one that he loves playing

Shad: aspiring historian, currently works at the museum. Helped Twilight settle in due to being about his age

Ashei: wildlife ranger that works in Hebra (Wild has seen her a few times). Dresses like she's a 1760s pioneer with all the animal furs for keeping warm, has wrestled bears and tamed Tundra Rhinos

Grandpa: One of the oldest regulars and recommended Telma's to his gang. Has such a strong liver that out-drinking him has become a popular wager (his winning streak spans 15+ years)

When all of them get together, they belt out this:

Absolutally!

I love the idea of Rusl being an ex-military man, even if it was the reserves and not active duty. I feel like the moment he learned Twi intended to head up Crown City side once he outgrew the foster system, he totally decided to help him by introducing him to some folks up there, and what better place than at his favorite bar/diner?

I see Renado being a GP from Kakariko, sure! I can see him being a quieter presence at the bar, but plays along when someone inevitably makes a joke about "is there a doctor in the house" whenever someone insults another person. he get's a kick out of that, but mostly just enjoys hanging out with people closer to his own age.

Auru being Dusk's highschool teacher though means he probably knew about all the drama going on there. He knows about Midna (when she and Twi started dating i think he probably would have been trying so hard to hold his tongue and mind his own business) but finding out that Rusl's "grandson" is actually the kid of two of his old students would blow this man's mind LOL

Shad is totally a museum worker, and trying to get a research grant. I'm seeing him like Milo from Disney's Atlantis though, and no one wants to support his research into a lost and forgotten civilization (actually, check that, why is Shad literally just Milo?!?!?!?!?!) Shad has shared his research with Twi (and thus lil Ledge) for years. I'm injecting my history nerd Legend agenda in here to say they get along like a house on fire, and Shad drags both of them (and anyone else he can) on "research missions" around Crown City. He wants to explore around the old opera house, but Lullaby won't let him LOL.

Asheii and Twilight are hiking buddies I think. For fun. I want them to be hiking buddies. Sometimes they go with Shad when he wants to look at old ruins, but most of the time they go alone because he's kinda slow/has horrid stamina. They don't do much talking, but she totally takes him along to work sometimes and they go on camping adventures every summer.

Grandpa is a new member of their group, but has been coming to the bar since before Telma acquired it. It just so happens that his biker group comes in on the same days that the others do, so they intermingle quite a bit. He and Telma joke and bicker at each other like an old married couple (they have no interest in each other) and it humors the rest of the regular crowd to no end.

[silvrash-797]

Chapter 2 of The Truth Comes to Light is up! Link is NOT having a good time 😥

Read on ao3

The rest of the night passed in a haze of discomfort. Morning must have arrived, for Link heard his sister's cries and his parent's voices. He stirred slightly at the sounds and whimpered any time he was jostled unannounced, but remained mostly asleep as his parents discussed what had happened, exhaustion like lead in his veins. A few times, the voices got louder and the movements more harsh, and he moaned, curling up against the pain as the motions aggravated his tender stomach.

After one particularly sharp movement Link hissed, grimacing as he temporarily floated closer to consciousness. His parent's conversation swirled around him as he felt himself pulled once again into his father's lap, tearful voices and shaking hands drawing him ever closer.

“Are you sure?” his mother whispered, crying.

Rusl shifted guiltily under him. “I saw him… transform. From wolf to Hylian. He… I…”

Link squirmed uncomfortably as he was caught up in a hug between the tearful couple, trembling fingers being run through his hair. He heard his mother's quiet voice, full of sympathy and sorrow, before exhaustion fought to pull him under once again, “You didn’t know.”

Link tried to let the exhaustion take him, but he couldn’t get comfortable as his father stood, shifting his weight to one arm as he leaned over something. Link groaned as the awkward position sent shudders of pain through his body, and his father quickly shifted him back into both arms, swaying slightly.

The movement worked just the same as his mother’s lullaby the night before, and Link began to drift back towards the welcome unconsciousness of sleep.

The soft comfort of the bed met Link's back as his father gently set him down, and he distantly felt his shirt lift as his father checked on the wrappings surrounding his abdomen. Sleep had almost claimed him when he felt a tapping on his cheek.

“Link. Wake up, son.”

Link squeezed his eyes shut more tightly, turning his head away from the touch. Goddesses, he just wanted to sleep. He couldn’t recall the last time he was this tired. Midna would probably be able to tell him.

Midna…

----------

Link's eyes opened slowly, mind following several steps behind. He’d been dreaming about…something. Something important. Something painful. He couldn’t remember what, now. He gazed around the room, looking for…someone. Someone small?

A voice from the door pulled at his attention. “Link?” Footsteps rushed closer to where he was laying. Laying? Why?

Link looked at the worried face before him, eyebrows furrowed. But that wasn’t the face he was looking for, so he let his gaze move on. It stuck somewhere opposite the worried face. Maybe if he looked at just one spot, they’d just appear. He vaguely remembered they could do that.

Rough fingers brushed across his forehead and cheeks. More footsteps approached. A weight settled on the bed next to him, then a softer hand and warm kiss brushed his cheek and temple.

Link let his eyes wander towards the new presence. The face that entered his gaze still wasn’t what he was looking for, but it was closer. More importantly, it felt safe, it felt like home. She whispered words of comfort as she ran her hands gently through his hair, smile soft and gentle the whole while.

The first set of footsteps returned, and strong arms began to lift him from the bed. Link kept his eyes on the comforting figure until something pulled horribly in his middle and he shut them with a wince, exhaling sharply against the pain.

Link felt movement, then cold, then soft warmth wrapped tightly around him before sleep claimed him again.

----------

Link knew time had passed when he woke again, judging by the bright light diffusing through the canvas above him. He was also very warm, swaddled as he was in what appeared to be every blanket in Ordon village. He began to try and wiggle out of the blankets, needing to cool down a bit. He broke out in a light sweat at the effort – whoever had wrapped him here wanted to make sure he wouldn’t be moving. He couldn’t quite remember why he’d been tucked into so many blankets, or even where he was, but he intended to find out.

A shadow passed around the corner of the wagon, then a face appeared in the opening. Time seemed to slow as Link locked eyes with the man, breathing speeding up as memories began to crash through his mind. Feelings came first: hurt, terror, pain, comfort, agony, confusion. Images next: a bloody sword, a beloved face twisted without recognition, blood-swirled water, concerned faces shining with worry. Time snapped back to focus as Rusl approached and Link squirmed away, trying to reconcile the concerned face before him with the image of the man holding a sword above him for the second time.

Rusl stopped just short of touching him, and Link was grateful, though guilt wormed through his mind and he tried to hide deeper into the blankets. He didn’t want to face his father, but he knew he needed help. Now that he was awake and moving, the pain of his wound was fiercely making itself known.

“Rusl?” A deep voice called from outside the wagon, “Do you need help getting him inside? I can have someone bring a stretcher.” Link watched cautiously as his father thought and a decision was made.

“I’ve got him,” came Rusl’s soft response. Link flinched and carefully kept his eyes trained in his lap as his father lifted him into his arms. As they exited the wagon and made their way to Renado's home, his father whispered into his hair. “It’s okay, Link. We’re in Kakariko. You’re going to get help here.”

Link remained still and silent as he was carried to a bed and laid down, head pillowed in his father's lap. As Renado brought his supplies, Link's father pulled up his shirt, exposing the bandages. “It’s bad, Renado. I did what I could, but he needs more than what I can provide.”

Renado nodded. “I’ll have to see what I’m working with, but a potion should be able to help. What happened?”

Link watched as his father's face twisted like he was going to be sick. “Sword got him.”

Link caught a small glimpse of the wound in his stomach as Renado removed the outer bandages, but with the packed gauze there wasn’t a lot about it he could discern.

Link trusted Renado to be gentle and precise as he worked on his wound. Goddesses know how many times Midna warped him to the village to be healed during his adventure. That trust was immediately tested as Renado tenderly picked at the tip of the gauze and started to pull.

Burning waves of pain started trembling through his body, and Link hissed sharply, nearly propelling himself off the bed with the intensity of his desire to escape as he used his feet to push desperately against the mattress. The movement around the wound ceased momentarily, and his father caught his hands, holding them close.

“It’s okay, Link,” came the whispered assurances, “he’s going to take it out so we can give you a potion. Just hold my hands, you can squeeze as tight as you want, okay? Don’t move. It’s going to be over soon, you’re going to be okay.”

Link let the words distract him as he obediently, gratefully, took his father’s hands more solidly in his own, staring at the ceiling and steeling himself for the coming onslaught. He felt his eyebrows wrinkle in fear, but that was the only movement he allowed himself as Renado started up again. Knowing a bit better what to expect, he managed to keep his reactions to winces and twitches as the gauze was agonizingly removed. Soon though, they became gasps and whimpers as severed nerve endings burned, and he clung desperately to his father’s hands, eyes squeezed closed against the fire in his stomach.

Link heard his father curse, and felt more than saw Renado's inquiring glance. “It’s fine. My boy’s got a strong grip.” His voice was pinched, and Link felt a moment of guiltiness at causing his father more pain, but the feeling was washed away in another searing wave of agony.

Renado's voice came as if from a great distance, “That's a good sign.”

Involuntary tears started leaking from Link’s eyes, and he whimpered as he felt some of the gauze stick and pull. The tortuous pain crested, but he remained still, grounding himself in his father’s gentle words and strong grip, fingers moving in comforting circles on the backs of his hands. “Deep breaths, Link. You’re doing great. He’s almost done.”

The movement around his stomach ceased as the last of the gauze was finally removed, and Link went limp in the moment's reprieve. He heard the clink of a glass bottle and a deep breath behind him before Rusl began to pull him up into his lap.

Link cried out, convulsing against his father’s chest as one last wave of twisting, burning, screaming agony made a bid for his consciousness. The wave receded, and he slumped weakly against his father, gasping for air and opening bleary eyes.

Something wavered in front of Link's unfocused gaze, and he felt his father nudge him gently in the ribs. “Link. Link, son, take the potion.”

Panting in exhaustion, Link forced himself to focus on the bottle of red liquid before him. He lifted a shaky hand to grab the potion, but leftover agony spun through him, making his hand and concentration slip before he’d made it halfway.

His father leaned forward, and Link followed limply. “Here, I’ve got it.” They leaned back again, and cold glass touched his bottom lip. “Drink up, Link.”

The potion was slowly tipped into his mouth, and Link swallowed cautiously. Exhaustion tugged at his limbs as the adrenaline from the ordeal left him, and Rusl began to pour faster. Link kept up for a bit, but eventually coughed as he mistimed a swallow.

The bottle was pulled back a bit. “Easy, Rusl,” Renado advised, a patient smile in his voice. “I know you want him to feel better, but he has to be able to drink it.”

“Sorry,” the man apologized softly, and Link felt him take a few deep breaths to calm down. “We’ll go slowly, Link.”

The potion had begun to take effect, and Link managed to lift a trembling hand to the bottle, helping his father guide the remaining potion as he drank. As the last drop was swallowed and the bottle was removed, Link leaned heavily against his father, sighing as the harsh waves of pain dulled, turning to ripples before stilling entirely.

Link turned his head to the right, where he’d last heard Renado's voice, and managed a weak smile and a mumbled thanks. He tipped his head up to his father’s face and met his gaze. He watched the dread and worry fill his father's eyes, and put as much warmth and sincerity as he could muster into his voice. “Thanks, Pa.”

His father's lip wobbled and tears welled in his eyes, dread replaced with penitence and worry replaced with relief. Link found himself crushed in a desperate hug as his father kissed his forehead and buried his face into his hair.

Safely enfolded in his father's embrace, Link drifted off to sleep. We’re going to be okay.

[smilesrobotlover]

Whumptober day 10-Slurred words

I’m getting lazier and lazier with the art here 😭 but RUSL’S ALIVE dw

~~~~~~

It was quiet, save for muffled voices outside the window and the creaking of the floors near him. The bed he was in was soft, but there was no comfort due to every inch of his body aching terribly, making him involuntarily wince. His eyes opened, and he was staring at a dimly lit room, with a candle on a dresser next to him along with Ammon resting in a chair. He went to lift his head, but pain shot through his neck, and he quickly gave up, groaning in pain.

“Rusl!”

He looked over with his eyes to see Ammon standing over him, a soft smile on his face.

“W-Where ‘re we?” Rusl asked, his words slurring and his voice raspy. Ammon put his hand on his head, keeping him from moving.

“We’re in an inn. Don’t move, you’re still recovering.”

Rusl tried to look around, but his neck felt weak, and Ammon’s hand kept it from moving further. He closed his eyes, trying to remember what happened, which didn’t take long. The memory of him falling backwards off the cliff flowed through his mind. He somehow gained control before he hit the ground, and he was able to position himself so he’d land on his legs instead of his back. Though his legs hurt like the dickens from it. The other memories disturbed him more though; the memory of Kass falling after being hit, the memory of the dead wolves before his very eyes, the memory of swinging his sword and hitting his friend…

“Wh’re is ‘ver’one?” He struggled to ask, looking over at Ammon the best he could.

“Kass and Benji are out in the main room, while Talon went downstairs to get something to eat.” Ammon picked at his bottom lip, staring at the floor. “I… we don’t know where Linebeck and Leon are though. They didn’t come down with you and Kass.”

Rusl felt sick. They weren’t ok, he hurt them. He hit Linebeck and his sword hit Leon!

“We need to find them,” he started, attempting to get up, but the pain in his neck and ribs stopped him.

“Rusl! Stay down, ok?�� Ammon scolded, holding him down. “You’re injured!”

“But we need to find them—“

“Rusl!” Ammon sighed and shook his head. “Please, you almost died, just rest and recover, alright?”

“Le’n and L’nebeck could be ‘n danger, I can’t jus’ sit here!”

“I know, but Talon has been neglecting himself to take care of you!”

Rusl stopped resisting and stared at Ammon. “What?”

“He’s been doing everything in his power to make sure that you recover. But he barely knows what he’s doing and he’s been overwhelmed. I don’t think he’s slept once these past couple of days looking after you and…” Ammon sighed again, letting go of Rusl. “Please. Just…. Rest. For his sake.”

Rusl frowned, feeling guilty suddenly. Talon was going through all that for him? Spirits, that man.

“Alright,” he sighed, attempting to get comfortable. It pained him, knowing that his own injury was somehow hurting the people that he cared about. Goddesses, it didn’t matter what he did, he was always hurting the people he loved.

Ammon patted his shoulder and gave him a small smile. “Don’t worry, I’ll be watching over you for now. Hopefully news of you being awake will help Talon feel better.”

“Th’nk you, ‘mmon,” he said with a smile. The man began to rummage through his pack, and he pulled out a bottle with a red liquid.

“You should drink this while you’re awake. It’ll speed up your recovery.”

Rusl smiled as if to nod, his neck hurting too much to move it, and Ammon pulled out a spoon to make taking the potion easier for him. It was humiliating being spoon fed when he could barely move, but Rusl quickly felt the pain alleviate in his body as he drank the potion. Soon, his neck felt good enough for him to be able to move it, and he was able to finish the potion.

“Great. You already had two thanks to Lonni, so hopefully recovery will be easy going from here on out,” Ammon commented, wiping down the spoon and bottle. Rusl let out a sigh, looking around him.

“You said we’re in an inn?” He asked, speaking feeling much easier for him now that he was healed up a bit.

“Yeah… Um… Lonni and Agus couldn’t let us stay any longer,” Ammon quickly said, looking around nervously. Rusl sighed, knowing the real reason. Whatever, he didn’t want to think about them anymore. At least he was finally in a bed again.

“Well, I appreciate y’all lookin’ out for me,” he mumbled, suddenly feeling tired. Ammon smiled and rested his hand on his shoulder.

“Of course, I know you’d do the same for us. Now get some rest, you’re going to be here for a while.”