#Same Universe and Still Heroes

[imsociallyanxiousgetoverit]

Working on a Switched-at-Birth AU (not the show) with Danny and Tim but I just wanna make it clear to anyone who’s interested in this (whenever I finish writing what I can i’ll post) that Switched-at-Birth doesn’t mean they experience exactly what the other did in their life.

That’s the TLDR while my anxious overcompensation is below if you want that

Lots of things are blatantly different, especially for Daniel Wayne. Just because you see a lot of what looks the same on Tim’s side doesn’t mean that it isn’t very different just like with Danny. There’s only one-two Canons with Danny Phantom. There’s TOO MANY with DC content containing Timothy Drake. I can’t exactly match their lives even if I wanted to and I don’t.

So just- if you’re a like a purist or something for Tim Drake’s life then please make sure you keep in mind this ISN’T Tim Drake it’s Timonthy Fenton and Daniel Wayne.

Nothing is exactly the same even if lots of it does seem it at certain points. I point this out cuz I know some of Tim’s major life points won’t happen and some of his major character traits may not show up initially or in the same ways as is known typically.

Same goes for Danny but I’ve never seen anyone get really torn up over his character being different in some way so… I’m inexperienced thus less anxious about it, I guess.

[necrotic-nephilim]

there is not enough femslash in batcest circles. the girls deserve to be just as weird about each other as the boys are. if BruDick gets to be weird father/son/brothers/lovers/friends/rivals/soulmates then it is only fair that Babs/Cass get to be mother/daughter/sisters/lovers too. Something about that deep intrinsic but undefinable love that is born out of trauma, especially if you consider Cass not knowing what healthy love looks like in the first place. i think it's fun and deserves just as much fandom content.

besides that, you can get even more niche with rarepairs like Helena/Steph. Huntress/Spoiler: Blunt Trauma is already a fantastic comic and even though it's their only real canon interaction it has so much potential. very comparable to TimJay in how Helena tries to get Steph to understand her morals and the corruption you could play with it.

batman: huntress/spoiler: blunt trauma (1998)

that comic also highlights on how both Steph and Helena are outcasts of the Batfamily and don't have the approval of Bruce to be doing what they do in "his city". I think there's so much Potential in Helena taking Steph under her wing because Bruce won't let her in and it becomes a weird codependent toxic sapphic mess. I think the protectiveness Helena feels over Steph from the get-go is so clear and the way she wants to look out for Steph, wants to make sure Steph understands the real world? I love them. Helena should be allowed to steal Steph, actually. I think it'd be fun.

there are a lot of other possibilities too like Babs/Steph or even getting weird with Helena Bertinelli/Helena Wayne and the existential question of "is it selfcest or not." But these two specifically live in my head rent-free, especially Helena/Steph and one day I'll convince everyone else to ship it too.

[shannonsketches]

He said "Fuck this shit, I'm out" I'm crying. Toriyama's Vegeta was so top shelf 🤌

(From Neko Majin Z Chapter 5!)

[bittersweetresilience]

say hi to me i don't know, i just remembered being so much brighter, i guess

cigarette ash like wildfire burning holes in the nighttime open scars feel like barbed wire white lies flying high like a ceasefire dropping flags on the shoreline this is as far as i can feel right 'cause what you don't know can haunt you

and all we ever wanted was sunlight and honesty highlights to want to repeat let's get away from here and live like the movies do i won't mind when it's over at least i didn't think for a while

don't drag it out living like that doesn't mean a thing

so let's, make a great escape and i'll be waiting outside for the getaway it doesn't matter who we are we'll keep running through the dark and all we'll ever need is another day we can slow down 'cause tomorrow is a mile away and live like shooting stars 'cause happy endings hardest to fake

and i wanna let you know i wanna let you go but i just can't bring myself to speak but this is how it goes the end credits, they roll this bridge was built over kerosene but we can watch it and all i ever wanted was sunlight and honesty highlights to want to repeat let's get away from here and live like the movies do i won't mind when it's over at least i didn't think

so let's run, make a great escape and i'll be waiting outside for the getaway it doesn't matter who we are we'll keep running through the dark and all we'll ever need is another day we can slow down 'cause tomorrow is a mile away and live like shooting stars you can wish away forever but you'll never find a thing like today

[mach1ne-g1rl]

i forgot i can post these here too

[adelinamoteru]

I have truly never seen so much discourse for a hero/anti-hero that kills until I started liking jason todd. I have literally never seen so many people get hate for not condemning a fictional character who kills bad guys until now its shocking! and I mean that literally

maybe I’m the one missing something but there are plenty of heroes (not antiheroes but HEROES) who exist that choose a lethal method and people take that in stride? the only way I can make sense of this is that people are so attached to batman and his mythos; they literally imprint on him and his thinking ?? and now any slight against him or challenge against his righteousness is taken as if its a slight against them.

at the end of the day, to me, you can still support jason being lethal because the fictional characters hes killing aren’t actually dead. in this sense, specifically, I don’t see why real life morals should be applied to a comic world. he’s not killing out of bigotry and if he was, I would get the controversy! but if you can agree with brutally beating and invasions of privacy in the dcu because it’s “morally correct” within the universe, I can’t see an argument against jason’s methods being morally wrong as valid unless those views are applied to every aspect of batman comics. if we did that, then everyone who continued reading these comics would be getting the same treatment jason todd fans do. ​you cannot hold one character accountable to real life moral views and not the other(s)!

[featherymainffins]

"Estrogen could have saved her" but it's "Testosterone could have saved him" and it's me talking about my and @dandelionsheep 's DA:I Inquisitor

[zahri-melitor]

I can't actually get my head around how much 'oh Steph is also on the team...just Steph' has altered my feelings and conception of this potential book.

Because Irey, Jai and Maxine plus PJ Holt and Quiz Kid is...pretty much a line-up that looked possible from what Adams had been setting up. And adding multiverse Damian and Jon (as seen in The Flash #797) is presumably there to sell comics by onloading SuperSons fans who miss them both being little kids.

And look? I lost my heart on the fact that Cerdian and Robert Long were also back, because Irey, Jai, Cerdian and Robbie made for a Titans Generation 2.0 team. But given they don't seem to be pursuing the Cerdian or Robbie resurrections, it's very much not that as a concept.

I knew I was dreaming at the time, but it was the closest I've seen DC get to a concept that I've been reading and fantasising about for almost two decades now.

So, looking at it as an under-15s team...I still don't get Steph. I don't get the value to Steph as a character of putting her in charge of this team. I don't get the value of adding Steph to any of the other characters, either. Not only does it further isolate her (she still basically has no connections her own age outside of Bat characters), but the presumed relationship they're drawing on here (Steph and Damian from Batgirl 2009, given the scheduled reprint):- that's not the same Steph or the same Damian. And look, I presume we are going to get a few panels canonising Steph and Damian's relationship in Batgirl 2009 in this, but at present from my understanding that's still just a possible past they have, not a confirmed one.

And, if they use the Damian and Jon from The Flash, this is a completely random other Damian from elsewhere in the multiverse. Does he have any existing relationship with Steph? Does he have the same relationship with Steph? Are they going to create additional unseen backstory in this alternate universe for Damian and Steph? We don't know! But Steph, if she's the main universe Steph, isn't going to know or remember whatever relationship this other Damian has with her. So even asking her to babysit this team on the basis that she has history with a young Damian doesn't fit, because these are not the same characters as when that happened. They don't have the same pasts.

Also, assuming a character who has no connections to anyone else on the team (aside from Damian), who has basically never been on a team that wasn't composed of Bats, who has very little experience working with kids with power sets...is interested and a good choice to babysit/supervise this team of children with cosmic level powers? It doesn't say a lot about Steph's actual character being considered.

It's just... Cass is currently getting to be an adult on an adult level team on the basis of her skills and background and treated as worthy there. Steph appears to be getting pigeonholed as a babysitter because they can't hang her off Tim anymore (due to the breakup) and they can't hang her off Cass anymore (given Cass is currently appearing in serious books with major league characters), so... someone went 'oh she has an existing relationship with Damian!' (that was last prominent pre-Flashpoint).

[summertimemusician]

*downs coffee like a shot* Before we go back to our regularly scheduled Linktober/Linktober Shadow (because I don't leave things unfinished if I can help it), I gotta get the idea of Revenant First out of my system and y'all get to suffer with me until it eventually ceases being an idea and it turns into an actual story. For some reason we talk a lot about First already being alive or already a ghost by the time the Chain meets him, but I don't think I've ever heard someone talk about him actually coming back to life and so y'all get to suffer with my insane ramblings like I'm an 1800's psychic ward patient who believes themselves to be a witch.

Can be x Reader or not idk just an idea that won't leave my mind.

Might expand on this later so Part out of I/?

Revenant First, who died for his people and in the name of his Goddess. All alone on the surface, fighting, fighting, fighting, always fighting. Just to make the land a little safer before the next hero arrives, just to contain the Imprisoned for a little while longer with likely nothing than a ordinary, common sword to his name and a slowly rusting armor.

Always giving so so so much for his people, always doing his best to protect them, though they scorned him, loathed him, didn't believe or support him, rejected him.

With a spirit so strong and lovely that a Goddess fell for him, hated herself for having to manipulate and put him through such horrid experiences just to save the many, just to turn the diamond of his soul into an unbreakable lonsdaleite blade agaisnt a mad deity.

Someone whose will would be enough to keep him going, just one more fight right? Just one more kill right? Forward, forward, ever onward, it doesn't matter if the flesh decays, if the blood drips drips drips until he is dry of it, if the liver doesn't process nutrients, if the lungs don't draw air, if the nerves feel nothing but the cold cold numbness of the winter of his final years, if the heart doesn't beat. If the armor rusts or the sword breaks. He must keep going, he must keep fighting.

To keep them safe he must have faith, faith that he can keep going, to grasp onto that one.single.thread of purpose until the day that fiery, indomitable, determined will finally burns out. Even if his Goddess may have forsaken him knowingly or unknowingly, even if his people have rejected him to the point he isn't even human anymore, even though they reviled him, even if that rejection should by all intents and purposes chained his spirit to the land or ground the jewel of his unbreakable soul into dust, he still loves them, still adores them, still wants to protect them.

No matter how long he must keep going for it. He wishes to see those he holds dear happy, though they cursed and imprisoned him once.

The Chain getting dropped into a completely empty, desolated and undeniably dead version of Sky's Hyrule, only to find the only living thing besides monster is a single man, with rusted gold armor and an old sword, a faded tunic of green with a long, crimson scarf like a bloody banner. With hair and eyes like theirs, undeniably a Link. But so very frigid, so very silent they almost didn't notice him, that they can't help but wonder just how many years he has spent there, eroding away, ruined but still kind, kind, so very gentle. A shadow of his former self, yes, but still himself, still so so so good, doing all he can until Sky's Era comes and maybe, just maybe, he can finally rest.

Or maybe not, after all, someone has to keep the land safe until the Hero after Sky comes around, no?

Just Revenant First in general.

Or maybe we give him the House in Fata Morgana treatment, the House in Fata Hylia Au if you will- *collapses from sleep deprivation*

[fluffypotatey]

Mk shipped at least one if not multiple of the shadowpeach expys. Doesn't know what do with the info it's macaque and wukong. Oh God he showed wukong his shipping fanart

NOT THE SHIPPING FANART 💀 there would so much, like we saw MK's fanart for swk in s1, he would absolutely do that for ISPP

[un-pearable]

oh yeah saw blue beetle last night and one million thumbs up. going into having heard it’s very tokusatsu and comic booky made it one million times better. goofy and stupid in fun ways. i’m so glad we’ve looped back around to comic book movies being like comic books: confusing chronologically and catered to fans willing to put up with wildly specific nonsense. also heck of a great job making a movie about gentrification and colonization out of the chaos of blue beetle lore and corporate blandification i genuinely had fun

[popkornking-blog]

Nothing post but if you drop Miriko (MHA) into the One Piece world she probably gets insanely strong.

[theheadlessgroom]

@beatingheart-bride

The streets of New Orleans were so quiet and peaceful when Randall and Emily went on their evening walk: The autumn winds were pleasantly chilly, whistling between the branches of the trees and kicking up piles of leaves as they walked along the sidewalk hand-in-hand. Under the light of the moon, under the darkened skies, the world seemed so...quiet. Peaceful. No cars around, the only presence of others being the lights on in the houses they walked past.

It was funny to think about now, admittedly: While most people were winding down at this hour, getting ready to turn in for the night, his and Emily's "day" was only just beginning...!

"Evening!" a man greeted brightly as they walked by, taking Randall out of his thoughts-he smiled and bid the same to the passerby, catching sight of him as he did. A man about his age, with dark hair and bright blue eyes, looking very snappy in his autumn evening wear...

Something gave Randall pause. And if he were paying any attention, the man had paused two, both of them stopping where they stood on the sidewalk, having been struck by an intense feeling of deja vu. There was just something...awfully familiar about the other...!

"Randall?" the man called, a touch hesitantly, as if he were unsure of what his mind was telling him. Looking back to face him, Randall answered, "Dorian?"

With those confirmations, the two men laughed and embraced each other-it was as if no time at all had passed as they hugged, both of them talking a mile a minute, with Randall quick to introduce Emily to Dorian as his wife, something Dorian was extremely receptive of-in fact, he'd just gotten married too.

"Come to my house, I'll explain everything!" Dorian invited excitedly-he had a feeling both of them had some very long stories to tell...

[mariocki]

The Ape Man (1943)

"Six months ago, we made an astounding discovery. It was so far in advance of anything that's been done to date, but... Jim decided to be the guinea pig for this experiment himself. I tried to talk him out of it, but you know how stubborn he is when he gets an idea in his head. We made the experiment and... unfortunately it was a great success. So great, in fact, that we've been unable to counteract the results."

[skyloftian-nutcase]

Elastic Heart Ch 3 (Linked Universe story)

(@copper-dimes @ludoluck @artisticgamerer)

Summary: When Sky goes missing, the Chain scrambles to figure out where he is and what happened before it's too late.

(Click here to read on AO3)

Chapter 1

<<Previous chapter // Next chapter>>

Chapter 3: Ordon Village

The fire had mostly died down by the time the sun’s dawn light started pushing the darkness of night from the horizon. Time shifted uncomfortably, leaning against a dresser. Warriors watched him quietly, similarly unable to sleep. It was partly due to the fact that their day had been nearly cut in half by the time difference, but the situation itself certainly didn’t help.

The captain’s gaze drifted to his sleeping companions. His mind always did an automatic head count when he’d see them, a habit he had picked up from the war. When he settled on seven, his heart twisted anew.

Warriors had gone over multiple reasons why this had happened. Why Sky might have left. His mind immediately had screamed traitor and he’d quickly squished that old paranoia. Sky was the among the least likely to do something like that. Warriors knew this for certain because he’d made a list of possible threats from the other heroes the day he’d met them.

Old habits die hard, after all.

No, Sky wasn’t a traitor. He was young, though, and that led to foolishness. Warriors had already seen such recklessness play out in the other teenagers, but Sky had never demonstrated such behavior.

So if he wasn’t a fool and he wasn’t a traitor, then why the hell had he gone through a portal alone?! Why had he abandoned his post and left them vulnerable?!

One thing was for sure, Warriors was going to give him a stern talking to when they found him. Because they would find him. Sky was fine. He was fine. Warriors had contingency plans already building in case the young knight wasn’t, but he refused to really deliberate them for now. It was too early for that sort of thinking. This was a search and rescue operation, not a recovery operation.

Goddesses, just the mere thought—Warriors swallowed hard, images of fallen comrades appearing in his mind. He didn’t want to even imagine that for the kindhearted, soft little knight. He shook his head and looked back towards Time.

He found little comfort in the man’s worried expression and furrowed brow.

“Pretty sure I can physically feel your anxiety from over here,” the captain commented quietly.

“And I can already see you calculating the next move,” Time fired back, crossing his arms. “Perhaps we should collaborate instead of stew in our own thoughts.”

“Great, I’ll start: I get to be the first one to lecture Sky when we find him.”

Time blinked, and the seconds that he refused to react to the remark made Warriors squirm. Their leader was not an optimistic man, and it looked like he was already worried that lectures would be the least of their concerns when they stumbled onto their missing brother. But then he smiled, and said, “Very well. But I’ll be next.”

Warriors relaxed as Time took the bait. It was a delicate balance, understanding the reality of the situation while also being flippant about it. Taking heavy matters lightly was something soldiers excelled at, though, and the captain continued, “Perfect. You can build on mine.”

There was a pause, and then Time suddenly asked, “Do you think he was trying to leave us?”

The question was posed as evenly as possible, but there was the slightest hurt, the slightest worry giving it an edge. It held a vulnerability to it that Warriors wasn’t sure he’d seen in Time outside of when Twilight was dying.

The captain sighed. “I don’t know. It doesn’t seem like him to do that.”

“No, it doesn’t,” Time agreed, both in assurance to himself and in confusion.

“What we should focus on is how to find him,” Warriors said. “We’ll have to ask Rancher how long it might take to gather intel in town before we can head out.”

“Depends on who you ask.”

Warriors and Time both jumped, startled at hearing Twilight’s voice over them. He and Wild had curled up at the top of the tree house to sleep for the night, and he was now peeking over the edge of the balcony.

“You didn’t sleep either?” Warriors asked.

Twilight gave him a flat look. “Did you really expect me to when Sky’s missing and my home might have been in danger?”

“I suppose not.”

Twilight carefully climbed down to the main floor, stepping gingerly over his brothers and settling beside Time on the floor.

“We can talk to my guardians and the mayor,” Twilight said. “Rusl has connections across Hyrule, he’ll know what’s been going on in the kingdom. Mayor Bo might have some extra information as well, certainly more official stuff.”

Warriors smiled as Twilight’s accent peeked through when he mentioned his people’s names. “I can practically hear your country drawl trying to escape, farm boy.”

Twilight rolled his eyes. “Well, yah better get used to it because you’re gonna need a translator for the accents here.”

“Oh no, don’t make it thicker—”

“Why? Yah ‘fraid o’ what I might say that you won’t know? I reckon you’re gonna fit in as well as a sore thumb ‘round these parts, oh captain.” Twilight continued, smirking in delight.

Warriors groaned. Bloody miscreant.

An audible growl emitted from the corner as Legend sat up. “Could you not talk so loudly first thing in the morning?”

“You were so eager to get up early and get things moving,” Warriors fired back smoothly, smirking at the veteran.

Legend grumbled, bags evident under his eyes from a very clear lack of sleep. The captain would be surprised if anybody slept well, honestly. The only one who would be able to pass out so easily would be—

Warriors sighed, cheer draining out of him. “We’d better start waking everyone up, anyway. The sooner we can gather intel the sooner we can move out.”

“We’ll need to resupply while we’re here as well,” Time added as he rose to his feet.

Twilight nodded in agreement and moved to wake Wild while Time and Warriors went to the others. Legend, being the absolute morning person that he was, stayed huddled in his corner, face buried in his hands. The captain threw a curious glance in the veteran’s direction but didn’t bother him, knowing Legend was better left alone for the first few hours of the morning.

Breakfast was a rather somber affair. Wild cooked a quick meal, boiling enough eggs to last both breakfast and lunch, as well as frying some vegetables. Legend, Hyrule, and Four were all silent, Wind only spoke to ask what their next move would be, and Twilight spoke briefly about the village. Time looked to Warriors, who coordinated with Twilight to figure out how to best utilize their resources in an efficient manner.

After maybe ten minutes of scarfing down food, Twilight directed everyone to the spring outside of town to clean up. Then they broke into groups. The captain was going to talk to the mayor after Twilight introduced him briefly, and while he did so Twilight and Time would speak with the rancher’s guardians. Wild and Hyrule were tasked with gathering supplies, leaving Legend, Four, and Wind to assist or pack up supplies in anticipation.

Or, in Wind’s case, to explore the village. The sailor insisted on helping one of the other groups, but Warriors put his foot down. Too many people in any one group would only end up in stepping on each other’s feet, and given stress levels, he didn’t need tempers flaring up or money and time being wasted.

It didn’t take long for their group to attract attention. Most of the village as awake as the sun hugged the horizon, and the children rubbed sleepiness from their eyes as they gasped in wonder at the group of heroes.

“Link!” most of them shouted, making all the heroes turn to face the incoming horde. They were led by a blonde who was close to adolescence in age.

Twilight immediately crouched down to hug the blonde as the other children stopped short upon noticing scrutiny from his companions. “Hey, Colin.”

Colin held the ranch hand tightly. “I missed you. Are you okay? What’s happening? Do you know why the monsters are attacking more? Who are the people with you?”

Twilight laughed. “Slow down, Colin, I can’t answer everythin’ all at once.”

Warriors covered a laugh for a cough. It was endearing hearing his accent slip out in his hometown. And mildly terrifying at the prospect of trying to understand the mayor.

“Look, I need to talk to Mayor Bo,” Twilight explained, ruffling the kid’s hair reassuringly with a smile. “But then I’m gonna go to the house, okay? These are my friends—”

“Is that a training sword you got there?” Wind interrupted, peeking around Twilight. “Because I can teach you some pretty cool moves if you want! I go by Sailor because I’m from the seas, but I’m one of the best fighters in my area, so if you want to learn some cool moves, we should go train together!”

Warriors smiled proudly at the youngest member of their group. On the surface it looked like Wind was just easily distracted and immediately interrupted the conversation, but the captain knew that the sailor had read into the same nervous energy that he himself had. This Colin fellow was not likely to let go of Twilight anytime soon, which would slow their progress with his questions. Understandable from someone his age, but not a delay they needed or wanted. Wind was finding a purpose for the morning and helping the group.

Colin glanced nervously between Wind and Twilight, who gave him an encouraging pat on the back, saying, “He’s one of the best swordsmen I’ve ever met, and he’s a very good friend of mine. You can learn a lot from him, Colin! I promise I’ll come by to talk later.”

Colin hesitantly nodded. Wind eagerly grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him off towards the tree house, where Warriors knew there was a training mannequin already set up. The sailor was already babbling, attracting the curiosity of at least one of the other children, but the rest remained in place, shy and anxious.

“It’s okay, guys,” Twilight said gently as some of the adults of the village started to gather and murmur amongst themselves. “Like I said, they’re my friends. I’m gonna go talk to the mayor, okay?”

The kids shifted, stepping aside for the rancher to head towards the largest abode. Warriors followed him and choked back a laugh as some of them immediately started to interrogate the group. As he followed Twilight, he examined the village itself, looking at the adults in particular for any sign of threat. There weren’t many of them out, but they had a wariness to them, though the sight of Twilight seemed to set some of it at ease.

Twilight knocked on the door, which was quickly opened by a young woman who looked to be around his age. She gasped in delight. “Link! Oh, you’re okay, I’m so glad!”

Warriors took a subtle step away to give them a moment as she rammed into him with an excited hug, making him stumble a bit in place and laugh. He smiled knowingly when Twilight happened to catch his eye, and the captain wiggled his eyebrows. The rancher shot him a sour look in return and Warriors finally had to laugh.

So this was Ilia.

He couldn’t wait to tease his brother about her.

In the meantime, though, Twilight quickly made some introductions to the mayor, who was apparently Ilia’s father. The enormous man welcomed Warriors into his home, and Twilight quickly excused himself to go see his family.

XXX

In the interim while Twilight was gone, their party had split into different groups. Legend had finally decided to distract the children, trying to cheer them up with a joke. Of course, the joke seemed to fall flat, making Legend try again, waving his arms to emphasize his points, and though the children grew steadily more bemused by the spectacle, Time found himself chuckling at it.

Meanwhile, Hyrule was already exploring to find any shops, and Wild… well…

“For pity’s sake, don’t climb near the beehive!” Four shouted from the ground as the amnesiac knight was nearly hanging off a branch in an attempt to reach a beehive because apparently they needed more honey for cooking. Time eyed him nervously, but he knew this probably wasn’t Wild’s first time antagonizing a nest of bees and likely wouldn’t be his last.

He heard a heavy sigh behind him. “That didn’t take long for him.”

Turning, he saw Twilight watching Wild with exasperation. He put a hand on his descendant’s shoulder. “He’ll be alright. He’s just gathering supplies like he was asked to do.”

Twilight gave him a flat look.

“Come on,” Time prompted. “Let’s talk to this Rusl fellow.”

The ranch hand nodded, heading towards a different house, when he froze just before they reached the door.

“Hey, before we go in there,” Twilight suddenly said, making Time pause. “Uh, please don’t mention the whole me-almost-dying thing. They… they’re a bit… they worry. Stuff has happened in the past and they worry. So I’d rather they didn’t know.”

Time nodded. Far be it from him to decide what his descendant’s family should and shouldn’t know. He himself wouldn’t want to worry Malon if he’d almost died. “Very well.”

Goddesses. Malon. She was going to kill him if she found out about Twilight’s injury.

Twilight knocked on the door, interrupting Time’s train of thought. The door opened a moment later, revealing a man probably in his early forties with thick, tan skin, dark hair, a broad stubbled face, and a strong build. His fingers were calloused, Time immediately noticed, and also had a small speckling of little burns.

Just like Four.

A blacksmith and a swordsman, Time figured.

The man took in the sight before him and Time watched the emotions in his eyes, reading him fairly easily. Initially the man looked immensely surprised, excited, and relieved to see Twilight, but catching sight of Time made him stifle his reaction. Instead, he smiled warmly but cautiously. “Link, it’s so good to see you again. Who’s your friend?”

“It’s okay, Pa,” Twilight immediately said, and just like that Time watched the man in front of him, Rusl, unwind. “He’s family too.”

Time swallowed thickly, feeling unable to speak all of a sudden.

Rusl looked Time over for a moment and nodded. “My name is Rusl. It’s a pleasure to meet you. What relation are you to Link?”

“He’s uh…” Twilight trailed off. “You know what, I’ll explain how we’re related later. But he’s safe.”

Rusl eyed Twilight, raising an eyebrow and then brushing it aside, dragging the young man into a hug. “I’m just glad you’re alright, son.”

Twilight settled into the embrace, smiling and holding his guardian tightly, when the moment was interrupted by another voice. “Link? Link, is that you? Rusl, is Link home?”

Rusl laughed, releasing Twilight. “Yes, he’s here.”

A woman appeared next, face flushed with delight and a toddler perched on her hip. Twilight immediately dipped his head to get a kiss on the forehead from her.

He supposed this had to be Uli.

“Honey, I’m so glad you’re here!” Uli said happily, cupping Twilight’s face with her free hand. “Oh, we only have—I’ll get some more food ready for you—”

“It’s okay, Ma, I already ate,” Twilight interrupted her. “I wish we could catch up, but—we’re in a bit of a hurry. I need to talk to you guys about some threats in the area.”

“You mean the new monster attacks?” Rusl asked, growing serious. He held up an arm, which was bandaged. “I’ve met a few of them. They’re far more powerful than any bulbin I’ve ever encountered.”

“They came to Ordon Village?” Twilight asked breathlessly, growing pale.

Uli put a hand on his shoulder. “No, sweetheart. They were in Faron Woods, though, and out in Hyrule Field. Rusl just went to investigate and had a run-in. He’s okay.”

“Everyone’s okay now,” Rusl amended. “The monsters left yesterday.”

Time and Twilight exchanged a grim look.

“We can discuss this inside, though, come in!” Uli insisted. “The morning air has a chill to it, you’ll catch a cold.”

Twilight moaned at the woman’s fussing as Time smiled and accompanied him indoors.

The interior was small but homely. Time was offered a chair at the table while Uli finally released her tiny charge, who had started wiggling and reaching for Twilight the instant she’d laid eyes on him.

“Link! Link!” the toddler squealed in delight. Twilight quickly picked her up once she hit the ground running, twirling her around as she laughed.

“Hi Hana,” he greeted, kissing her nose and making her giggle. He carried her to the table to sit beside Time as Rusl and Uli took places across from them.

“Where you go?” Hana asked.

“I went on an adventure,” Twilight answered.

“Who he?”

“He’s… he’s the Hero of Time.”

Rusl and Uli snapped their attention to the rancher, eyes wide. “What?”

Time sighed. “He’s right. We’re all heroes of Hyrule, thrown together to fight a powerful foe.”

Though Uli watched Time, wide eyed, Rusl’s gaze immediately returned to Twilight, eyes questioning. Some silent dialogue occurred between the pair, Twilight shaking his head. Time didn’t comment on it.

“We’ve been dealing with monsters that are enhanced by dark magic,” Twilight explained. “The same kind that you probably ran into in the forest… are you sure you’re okay, Pa?”

Rusl waved a dismissive hand with a gentle smile. “I’m fine, Link, I promise. But… are you okay? Those monsters are like nothing I’ve seen before.”

Twilight shifted uncomfortably. “Yeah, I’m fine. Everyone in my group is an excellent fighter. We’ve been handling it.”

“That brings us to the issue at hand,” Time inserted quickly. He knew Twilight’s guardians needed time to process and he was sure his descendant wanted time to spend with family and friends, but one of their own was still missing. “We’ve been traveling between different lands, different time periods of Hyrule’s history, through magical gates. One just brought us here to your Hyrule, which means there are far more beasts to track than the ones you found in Faron Woods. One of our group went ahead and we’ve lost track of him. We’ve been searching for him for a day now.”

Twilight nodded, looking at Rusl. “Have you heard anything about someone fighting the monsters? Or if the beasts have taken someone prisoner? Maybe other monster attacks?”

Rusl took a deep breath, thinking about it for a moment. “To be honest, Link, I was about to write to you about the matter. It all did start suddenly, within the last couple days. I never saw what happened with the beasts near Faron Woods – I only knew that the next time I went on patrol they were all gone. I’ve gotten word from other members of the Resistance, though, and from Kakariko – Renado was saying there were attacks near the Goron mines. Auru mentioned movements to the west, possibly in or near Gerudo Desert.”

“How did they spread out so fast?” Twilight muttered, shaking his head. “But no mention of a Hylian swordsman?”

Rusl sighed. “I’m afraid not. I’ll write to the others so they can keep an eye out for him. What does he look like?”

“He carries the Master Sword,” Time immediately said. “And wears a white cape embroidered with the symbol of the royal family.”

“The Master Sword…?” Uli whispered. “The legendary blade that you used, Link?”

Twilight shrugged sheepishly. “Well, I did say we were all Heroes of Hyrule.”

There was a pause in the conversation, and then Hana started pulling Twilight’s tunic, interrogating him further. As he answered the child, Uli ushered the pair to the couch, leaving Rusl and Time at the table.

Rusl watched the Hero of Time carefully, a guarded sort of contemplativeness to his features. Time wondered if he knew Twilight was his successor and descendant. There was certainly something glinting in the Ordonian’s eyes.

“Are you the leader, then?” Rusl asked as Twilight and Uli played with Hana.

“Not officially,” Time answered, wondering where this conversation was going. They had a little time for Twilight to be with his family since the others likely were still obtaining supplies. “But yes.”

“I ask you to be honest, then,” Rusl said quietly. “Is Link okay?”

Time raised an eyebrow. “Is there something that would indicate he isn’t?”

Rusl huffed out a laugh, looking away. “He has a tendency to… well, never mind. I’m glad he’s able to help Hyrule in such a manner again. And I’m honored to have you in my home.” Looking back at Time, he said firmly, “And the Resistance will assist you in any way we can.”

Time nodded. He wasn’t sure what this ‘resistance’ was, but he trusted it was an organization that could be of some help to them. They’d already managed to obtain some sort of leads. The Goron mines and Gerudo desert.

Though if Time really thought about the geography, that led in two opposite directions. There was no way Sky could cover that much ground that quickly. Hopefully Twilight could track his scent, then, and narrow down the possibilities.

But that was only possible if there was still a scent to follow. The longer they waited here, the more it dissipated.

“I appreciate the help,” Time said, standing to end the conversation. Twilight started to shoot to his feet as well, but Time waved him off. “Stay with your family. I’ll check on the others. When we’re ready, I’ll come get you.”

XXX

Rusl watched the armored Hero leave his home, his mind buzzing with thoughts.

There were multiple Heroes of Hyrule converging to fight this new enemy? Just how strong was this person if it required legendary heroes across history? Would Link be alright? Was this Hero of Time the same one who mentored Link, and did the Hero know that? It seemed Link certainly did.

Rusl supposed there was no way of the Hero knowing consider he’d been dead when he’d taught his charge.

Sighing, Rusl looked to his left to see Link being coaxed into eating some biscuits and gravy that Uli had left over from breakfast. Hana was babbling excitedly while showing Link all her latest projects and toys. She then introduced him to her new baby doll, whose name varied depending on the day (today it was just Baby).

Link played along, asking what she liked to do with Baby, but his eyes were quickly starting to droop. He’d clearly not slept well, and the warm biscuits were settling him into an unscheduled nap. Uli and Rusl exchanged glances, and his wife guided Hana outside to play as Rusl walked over to Link, kneeling on the ground beside him.

“Link,” he said softly, nudging the young man.

Link jumped, startled. “Sorry. Guess I’m just a little tired. I’m okay, Pa.”

Rusl watched him carefully, but he didn’t comment. He’d let Uli do the fussing. He could respect Link’s efforts and his mission, even if it did still make him worry.

“I'm sorry that I can’t stay. We have to find Sky."

���Sky? Is that his name?”

Link laughed a little. “Well, his name is Link. All of them are named Link. We just go by nicknames so it doesn’t get confusing.”

“And his is Sky.”

“Yeah.”

“What’s yours?”

Link shrugged. “Rancher, mostly.”

“I suppose Wolf is a bit too on the nose?” Rusl questioned with a smile, ruffling the boy’s hair.

Link chuckled, leaning into Rusl a little and letting the older man wrap an arm around him. “Well, to be honest, they didn’t really know at first. At least not all of them.”

Rusl squeezed his ward a little. “I trust the way they found out was less traumatic than us.”

Link grimaced, which made Rusl worry. That couldn’t be a good sign. The young man leaned away, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah, it—it was.”

“Link—”

“Don’t worry, Pa, I’m okay,” Link immediately said with a strained smile. “Just tired and worried. Sky’s been missing for over a day now, and… well, you know how dangerous those monsters are.”

“I’ll send word to the others,” Rusl assured him. “Your mentor will be back when your party is ready to leave, so try to rest in the meantime, Link.”

Sighing, Link relented, pulling himself to the couch. “All right, if that means you’ll stop fussin’ over me.”

“Now, now, that’s your mother, not me,” Rusl chided as he tossed a blanket over his boy. Link huffed, unconvinced, but closed his eyes to settle nonetheless.

Rusl watched him for a while longer, waiting for his breathing to relax, and then he grabbed pen and paper and ink. He wrote quickly, explaining the situation, and started making arrangements to explore the area himself so he could gather more information. He’d have to pack for the trip and plan accordingly with the family – he likely would be a little behind Link and the other heroes. But he’d help as best he could.

Uli reentered alongside the Hero of Time about an hour later. His wife went straight to Link, rearranging the blanket a little and kissing him on the temple. The Hero looked at Rusl, who held his analytical gaze.

“Have you gathered all your supplies, then?” Rusl asked.

“Almost,” the Hero of Time answered. “It looks like a storm is coming into the area, so we might have to expedite or delay depending on the situation.”

Rusl hummed, feeling it in his old wounds as well. “A storm out in Hyrule Field is not a safe situation. It’s too exposed. I’d recommend keeping your party either to the village or Faron Woods.

The Hero sighed. “We really can’t afford any more delays. We’ll watch the storm and see what can be avoided. Our plan is to leave by midday.”

That would hopefully give the storm time to clear, but it didn’t give them much sunlight in this autumn period. “You’ll barely make it to Kakariko in that time.”

“On foot, yes,” the Hero answered. “We’ll make do. Thank you for your assistance, Rusl. If you could relay the message to Link, we’ll meet him at his house when we’re ready to leave.”

Rusl nodded in acknowledgement, and the Hero departed.

Uli sighed, her hands carding through Link’s hair. “He’s been gone for months and we get him for a few hours, just to find out the situation is far worse than we could have thought.”

“A Hero’s work is never done,” Rusl noted, though not without a little sadness to it. “We’ll help as best we can, dear.”

There was a pause, and then, “Where’s Hana?”

“Oh, she’s with Colin, they’re on their way back now.”

The door opened and Rusl turned expectantly, only to find Ilia in the doorway instead.

“Oh, Ilia dear,” Uli acknowledged with a smile. “I’m afraid Link’s asleep. But he’s going to be leaving soon, so it’s okay if you want to wake him up and talk.”

Ilia’s brow furrowed in worry, but her face softened at the sight of Link snoozing on the couch. She tiptoed towards him and poked his chest sharply. Link scrunched his nose in disapproval, his brow furrowing as he shifted and started to wake up. When he saw Ilia in front of him, he blinked blearily and smiled. “Hey.”

“Hey,” she said softly in reply before poking him again, her expression growing serious. “Where’s Epona? Is she alright? Have you been taking good care of her?”

Link groaned, whining, “Is that seriously the first thing you have to ask? I swear, you must think I abuse her.”

“You work her so hard, Link!”

“She’s fine, Ilia, I take good care of her!”

Rusl and Uli chuckled and headed for the front door to retrieve Colin and Hana, giving the young pair some space.

XXX

Legend grumbled, rubbing his knees as his joints ached. The group was steadily making its way back to Twilight’s house to plan their next move, and it was clear a storm was coming in. Legend didn’t fancy being in a tree while a thunderstorm rolled into the area, but they still weren’t the highest point. Nevertheless, he didn’t feel all that comfortable.

Glancing at the door leading into the cellar like it was his only hope of escape, Legend started to rise and head that way when he saw Wind sitting at the top, staring out the window. The sailor had a tightness in his shoulders, and it drew the veteran to the ladder.

When he reached the top, he hesitated on the last rung. Wind was curled in a ball, his knees to his chest and tucked under his chin as he gazed out into the distance. The rain started to fall outside, a gentle pitter patter on the roof, and thunder rumbled in the distance, making Legend’s skin crawl.

“You okay?” Legend asked, raising an eyebrow. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a dreary look on your face.”

The boy was just as expressive as—

Legend’s heart clenched, and he sighed, climbing all the way to the top.

Wind turned scared eyes to the veteran. “Do you think he’s okay? What if he’s out in the storm?”

Crawling over to sit beside the sailor, Legend rested his arms over his knees, gazing out the window. The sky had darkened considerably, and the rain was growing heavier. His heart grew heavier with it. It was midday – they were supposed to be leaving now, but Time wanted to see if they could wait out the storm. If an hour had passed and it was still going, they’d head into the woods and make camp at the edge of Hyrule Field until it cleared up. It was the best they could do with the circumstances, but he still didn’t like it.

“I don’t know,” he answered truthfully. “Sky’s a strong fighter, and despite his dopey face, he’s no fool. He’ll be okay, Sailor. And we will find him.”

If it weren’t for the storm, Legend would leave now to find his friend, his brother. He suddenly felt annoyed that they had spent the entire morning in Ordon. He knew they were gathering information and supplies, but that didn’t make the thought that Sky was out there alone while they acted normal any more bearable.

Images came unbidden to his mind. Sky bleeding and broken. Sky bound and in a cell. Sky scared and alone.

Legend bit his tongue and reached out to squeeze the sailor’s shoulder, and he glared out into the rain. “We’ll find him, Sailor. I promise.”

XXX

The rain was freezing on his skin as thunder roared directly over him. Lightning streaked across the sky, temporarily bringing near broad daylight to the vast field. He crouched down a bit more, staying hidden from the pack of monsters ahead. Wild had taught him that the rain often would mask movement and allow for stealth, and he was taking advantage of it.

His right knee throbbed a little as he crouched, but he tried to ignore it. He had to win this fight.

Link was no fool. He knew he couldn’t take entire armies of black blooded monsters by himself. He knew it was pointless to try. He’d caught the tail end of the Shadow’s forces when he’d entered this Hyrule, wherever and whenever it was, and though he’d been quick to act, he still had burned through three of his five potions in just one fight. He’d had better luck in that one village because there were Gorons there to fight the few monsters that lingered.

His knee was still bothering him.

He had to be tactical about this. Learn from Warriors, learn from his time at the academy, learn from his observations.

He had to wait and listen.

Well, waiting and listening was certainly something he could do, and so wait he did. He figured if he eliminated the Shadow the rest would fall, but he’d yet to find the monster.

The hordes had spread across this Hyrule the instant they’d crossed through the gate. He had to do what he could to mitigate the damage, though his priority was still hunting down Demise.

Eliminating a pack of black blooded beasts was something he could handle. There were only six of them, and he’d come up with a plan.

Stashing his mogma mitts into his adventure pouch, Link pulled out a familiar little friend that had gotten him through a fair amount of situations in his journey. He equipped the beetle and fired it into the sky, letting the pouring rain and roaring thunder cover the little whirring of its wings.

He wasn’t sure how potent bombs would be in this weather, but he still had to try. The bomb flowers had never not been functional, even once when it had been drizzling back on the Surface.

Six monsters. Three bokoblins of strange features (likely from this Hyrule), a moblin, a staldra, and a white wolfos. He could handle this.

His faithful little beetle flew overhead, and as Link opened his palm in a command, the beetle reciprocated, dropping a bomb flower in the middle of the group. The explosion was milder than it should have been, but it still was enough to make the beasts scatter in varying directions. The moblin stumbled backwards the farthest, and Link took his opportunity to eliminate the largest opponent.

Scurrying out from behind the tree where he’d been hiding, he grabbed his whip and wrapped its tip around the moblin’s neck. With an enormous tug that nearly sent him flying backwards himself, he pulled the beast down, where it stumbled into a small trench he’d dug out earlier while laying his trap. The change in footing made the beast finally fall, exposing its neck to Link’s blade, and he pierced it quickly.

The moblin gurgled and snarled, its long arms trying to reach for him, making the Skyloftian jump back. Damn it, just die already!

Taking a leaf from Wild’s book, Link pulled out his bow and arrows and let loose two of them in succession into the beast’s throat and head. The moblin finally stilled, but Link had no time to register it as the wolfos charged, making him yelp and grab for his shield barely bashing the beast off in time.

The others were getting their footing too. Great.

Pulling out another bomb flower, he rolled it into the fray and the explosion was even more diminished by the massive streak of lightning that tore across the sky. It managed to push the staldra and one of the bokoblins away, though, so that was something.

Now if only this damn wolfos would stop—

Link pulled out his whip, but the blasted beast was too fast. He barely batted it away again, and then a bokoblin got within striking distance.

Despite the black blood, bokoblins still fell easier than other foes, and though it took far longer than it should have, Link gutted the monster, just in time to roll out of the way of another charge from the wolfos.

The staldra was within snapping distance too.

Gritting his teeth, Link reached for his last bomb flower. A smarter creature with more dexterity, like a lizalfos, would likely parry this attack, but a direct blow from a bomb should be able to at least stun the staldra until he could cut off its three heads in one fell swoop.

He just wished he didn’t have to burn through his supplies like this.

That regret was as much thought as he could spare as he rolled the last bomb flower. The white wolfos was back, and this time, it managed to knock him flat on his back. Link yelped, kicking with his feet and making contact with the beast’s stomach, sending it flying into the trench he’d dug out. He rolled and crawled to the edge, jabbing his sword into its head, hearing bone crunch beneath it.

Fire erupted up his back.

Yelling out, Link rolled, feeling mud and moisture seep into a wound just inflicted from one of the bokoblin’s blades. For one split second he was grateful he’d put his sailcloth away, and then he felt himself shudder as warm liquid dripped down his back.

He supposed some of the chainmail had been damaged, then.

Ignoring the bokoblin that had injured him, Link had the wherewithal to follow through with his earlier attack, rushing to the staldra as it tried to right itself and cutting off its three heads quickly. Then he turned and glared at his two remaining opponents.

And then felt his heart skip a beat when rustling and hissing emitted from somewhere to his right.

Link whirled and saw at least three more silhouettes in the darkness of the field, lightning illuminating them to be two lizalfos and another bokoblin.

Well, this meant two things.

The good news was that it meant the Shadow had to be nearby. Reinforcements wouldn’t appear out of nowhere, these monsters were organized for a reason.

The bad news was that Link was about to get his butt kicked if he didn’t think of something fast.

Saying a prayer, he raised his blade to the sky, feeling her hum with power. He swept out horizontally and watched in satisfaction as the skyward strike cut the original pair of bokoblins cleanly in half.

Unfortunately, it gave the lizalfos time to scurry into fighting range.

Link swore as he dodged a slash that would have taken his arm off. Swore again when his back screamed in protest.

One enhanced lizalfos was bad enough, but two—

Link took step after step in a near retreat as the two lizalfos pounded his defenses with their swords. He managed to shield bash one away, leaving it stumbling for a moment, but he was far too late to dodge the other one.

Its blade sank into his abdomen with a decisive lurch, impaling him to the tree he had been hiding behind earlier.

Link gasped, his body screaming, his mind ready to white out entirely. The lizalfos snarled, stepping forward slowly, its maw wide open as if it meant to bite off his head entirely, its breath hot and revolting.

With a scream, Link raised his sword in defiance, beheading the beast with all the energy he could muster.

The other lizalfos was getting ready to charge as the first one fell. The bokoblin was just as close. He had to act, he had to move.

With trembling hands, he gripped the sword that skewered him, nearly throwing up as he jerked it out, tears streaming down his face. The display caught the two monsters off guard for a moment, and Link felt his entire body scream and tremble and—

And tingle.

Looking up, he saw the darkness of the clouds around him. He felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. His heart was ringing in his ears, he was sick to his stomach, and he was about to pass out.

But he knew that sensation.

Raising the Master Sword heavenward, he braced as lightning came crashing down.

His body felt like it was being shaken by Koloktos, his right knee at the brink of collapse, his mind too numb to register that he’d lost too much blood. Power emanated from his blade, glowing with such intensity that it almost blinded him. His arm stiffened as the familiar sensation of fire and energy tore through it, the majority of the lightning contained to the blade. The longer he held it, the more unstable it became, and he thrust his sword in a diagonal slash, watching it make contact with the two foes still standing.

Link didn’t even bother to see if they’d survived or not. The Master Sword fell out of his numb fingers, and he fell with it.

When nothing immediately killed him after that, he figured it had done the trick.

Gasping, he reached into his adventure pouch with trembling fingers. He ached for someone to call out to him, for Warriors to turn him over and start applying pressure to the wounds and barking orders, for Hyrule to arrive with his hands aglow, for Wild to offer one of his dozens of bottles full of potion, for Legend to nag and panic, for Twilight to fuss and reassure him and say everything would be fine, for Four to reassure Wind in the background as he fretted, for Time’s steady voice to ask for a status update and check in on him.

But no one was here. As they shouldn’t be. Because this was his fault.

And he’d be damned if he was going to die like this.

Fingers numbly curling around one of his two remaining bottles, Link popped the lid off and heard a familiar chime. A fairy flew into his line of sight, seeming to examine him, and he tried his best to prop himself up for it to see the damage.

Goddess his abdomen hurt. Link nearly begged the fairy to just hurry up when it started to twirl around him, and he felt the blessed relief of magic ease the unbearable pain into a dull ache. Drained, he collapsed as the fairy flew away.

Well… that could have gone better.

Link laid in a daze, his arm twitching, his belly aching, his back sore. He swore he blacked out at one point. He had no idea how long it had been. He was so damn tired.

But he was close. He had to be. The Shadow was starting to send reinforcements after him. That meant he had to be close.

Groaning, he slowly rolled onto his belly and pushed himself up to his knees. The rain, which had been ceaseless for what felt like hours by now, soaked him to the bone, making him shiver incessantly.

Don’t be late. Don’t screw this up.

Grabbing the Master Sword and digging her into the ground to help him stand, he muttered a quick apology to the blade for the disrespectful use and began to walk across the field.

Don’t be late. They’re counting on you. You have to fix this.

Anxiety filled him at the thought of falling behind, at the thought of anyone else getting hurt because of his mistakes, and he eventually started to increase his speed as he ran through the mud, his feet sinking into the ground as it fought his every step.

His muscles burned despite the cold. His lungs were screaming as he wheezed against the wind. He doubled over at one point, coughing and trying to catch his breath. The ground rumbled around him, the loose wet soil shifting, and he jumped, pulling out his blade as a stalfos appeared beside him, dragging itself out of the earth.

Link cut it down quickly, watching the bones tremble with cursed magic, though it seemed to be the usual sort rather than the Shadow. He shuddered for a moment, wondering who those bones belonged to, as he often had on his adventure. Was it just a magical creation entirely? Was it a fallen soldier who was cursed to fight and kill?

He froze all the way to his core. A fallen soldier who was cursed to fight and kill. Just like the others, the ones he used to call friends and brothers. Cursed to fight and kill, cursed to be hurt and dragged into wars because of his own mistake.

Cursed, cursed, cursed.

Shivering, Link sheathed his sword, took another two steps, and gasped as another stalfos came at him from behind. Though the first fell with a swing of his Master Sword, this one took several more slashes, and Link nearly collapsed from the effort. He was exhausted.

Thunder roared overhead, and the area was illuminated once more. In the brief flash of visibility, Link could make out a gate off in the distance at the edge of the field, and the silhouette of a monumental structure – a castle.

That had to be the capital, right? The others always spoke of Castle Town, and that was a castle. So that had to be it. They would no doubt have supplies that he could buy to prepare for his next hunt – he’d moved too quickly in the other village to really stop for anything.

He would find the Shadow. He would end this. And he would do so without letting anyone else get hurt. This was his fault, his responsibility. If this Shadow was an agent of Ganon, then Link would cut his way to the source and get it right this time.

Link doubled over, coughing and spitting out some phlegm. His body was so racked with tremors from the cold and exhaustion that he could barely walk. Holding his sword tightly in his hand, he stumbled in the direction of the castle.

Not much farther, he told himself, coughing again after a few steps. His chest felt like it was on fire. His right knee gave out and he stumbled, catching himself at the last second. Gritting his teeth, he continued ahead, however haltingly, and let his determination drive him.

He would succeed. He would defeat the Shadow and he would kill Demise once and for all.

[violetregrets1837]

CRYING NOW. WHAT GAVE YOU AUTHORS THE RIGHT TO MAKE ME CRY TEARS SO RAW. UGH. FEELINGS. YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING. AAAAAAAAAAAAAA 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭