#Sheikah trio

[itzurhomiesky]

not sure if someone had already done this before but oh well!

ahahaha this took way too much time and effort for a shitpost 😭 but anyway, HAPPY PRIDE MONTH ZELDA FANDOM 🗣🔥‼️🏳️‍🌈🦅

[karakulialiny]

Phew! It took me two whole days to do this. But I am incredibly proud of the outcome. However, further Linktober entries are unlikely to be as complex.

So, context: last year, the user @bahbahhh posted an entry where she theorized that the events of AoC are nothing more than a dream of Zelda, or her false memories, which she invented so as not to feel guilty for the dead. I found this theory very interesting, especially as it perfectly explained the happy ending of Age of Calamity, despite the fact that from Breath of the Wild, we learned about the completely different fate of the heroes. But at some point, the princess realized she was only lying to herself...

The moments shown outside the fragments I plan to describe in my future fanfic "Hyrule Warriors: The Backstories." That’s why Impa doesn’t have one eye here and has a slightly different design.

{Previous drawing] [Next drawing}

[ginneke]

New entry in @ginneke and @heleentje's Moonlight series

Purah's Diary. Top Secret!!! (Linky do NOT look) (I mean it! No snooping!!!)

Starring Purah, Science, a concerted effort to decipher the Time Loops, and some secrets that maybe Purah shouldn't be trying to dig into...

Read the Moonlight series here

[zimisemo]

RRAAHH SHEIKAH TRIO CHONNY JASH AU

purah is heart

impa is mind

and robbie is soul

I FUCKING DREW SOUL ROBBIE

bonus soul yelling at heart and mind

[occasionallyprosie]

The Look of the Hero

Chapter 1: "Bending the Knee"

After a string of particularly nasty battles, resulting in a deficit of healing items, the heroes end up in Legend's era just outside Kakariko. Only… the supposed relationship Legend has with the town turns out to be just a bit different than what they thought. Warriors especially isn't happy with what he discovers, and he knows Sky and Twilight won't be either.

Next>>

Read On AO3

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Legend had Hyrule slumped against him, his arm looped over his shoulder. The others were staggering behind as he led the way to the closest town and safe settlement despite how much panic it sourced in his head.

His hair was still pink, it hadn't faded since Twilight begged him to change into a bunny while the rancher was sick. He was in his red mail—it was stronger and better protection than his hero's tunic—his hair had grown out significantly—Ravio and Wind like to braid it so he grew it out for them— and he didn't have his contacts in—he lost them in his fight with Yuga.

The panic about his appearance thrummed in his mind as they arrived at Kakariko Village and where it was nestled in the mountainside.

"Is that... Link?"

Legend looked up and spotted the woman who stood at the path, holding a crate of books.

“M—Miss Purah!" He called. "I have wounded, is there—"

"Come!" She said quickly, already rushing further into town. "I'll have the infirmary ready for a dozen."

"There's nine—" he sighed as she disappeared from view. He shook his head.

"Purah?" Wild asked. “I have a Purah too.” His voice was pained, most likely due to the rather deep gash in his side which he couldn’t even rest a bit as he helped Four, who had a broken leg.

"My... An old friend," Legend said. "I grew up in—near Kakariko. Come on. They'll help us."

Please don't let them call the elder.

They filed into the infirmary. Legend made sure everyone got to a bed as the medics quickly began to fuss over them. Just as he got Time into one of the beds, Purah dragged him to the last one and sat him down herself.

She wrapped his bleeding arm in a bandage as they spoke in quiet whispers. She didn't give him a potion—they both knew the elder disapproved of that—but she ran a hand through his hair.

"Link..." she breathed, worry filling her eyes.

"I-I haven't been able to fix it," he whispered. "I became a bunny again and last time it faded to blond but my roots are coming in and—"

"I'll fix it. I'll fix it, Kit," she promised. "Your clothes too, I’m sure I have some spare somewhere. Sahasrahla may be on his way if anyone mentioned your return—"

The door swung open.

Legend knew who it was before he even looked, it was the way the door was opened, the way they stepped into the room with a step, step-thud. Purah shifted to block him, but they both knew it was no use.

"Ah. Link."

Legend forced himself off the medical bed—ignoring both Twilight and Warriors telling him to not to—and dropped down on one knee, propping an arm on it and bowing his head.

"Elder Sahasrahla," he greeted blankly.

He didn't hear a response, but he also wasn't given permission to stand. Pain burned through him, his rib was still injured and his knee in bad condition too, his—Purah hadn't had time to help him bind it, but that wasn't something Sahasrahla would care about.

"So who are our guests?" Sahasrahla asked, moving further into the infirmary. Legend didn't dare move his ears to listen easier, keeping them straight back and hearing the medics continue to work with the other heroes. He begged one of them to speak up, knowing he wasn't granted permission to say a word.

"Kit, please," Purah whispered to him as Warriors spoke up and introduced them. "You’re badly hurt."

He barely glanced at her, meeting her worried eyes and saw her reluctantly give in.

The others spoke up, thank the goddesses, and explained the situation to Sahasrahla. They explained the time travel and the portals they all followed, Legend had hoped they'd mention how sometimes they had no choice but to enter a portal, but nobody did and he knew that dug his grave deeper.

Purah slipped a new bracelet over his wrist, almost silently pleading with him not to lose it in their tongue.

Once Sahasrahla was satisfied by the information he was given, he made that clear.

"I see. I will not bother you all any longer, though I must speak with Link."

"No—"

Purah went silent when Legend hit her leg.

"Was there something else you wished to mention, young Purah?"

Legend needed her to stay quiet, but of course she didn’t. "Elder, Link is still injured. He requires healing—"

"Purah," Legend spoke, daring to break his silence. He didn't raise his head. "I'm fine."

"Link—"

"See, he's fine. Let's go, young one."

Legend rose. He nearly fell back again but managed to play it off as bowing again as Sahasrahla left. He forced himself back to his feet and followed without looking any of his companions in the eye.

The villagers looked sad when they saw him, blood soaking the side of his tunic, the slight limp in his step from rolling his ankle on a rock while fending off a monster.

Sahasrahla led him to the elder's home and Legend promptly dropped to a kneel as soon as they entered, hoping his blood didn't drip to the carpet floor.

Sahasrahla moved around him and he held his breath, preparing for the oncoming scolding and pain.

And like clockwork it came. A hand grabbing his hair and forcing him to raise his head.

"What is this?" Sahasrahla hissed. "And amongst heroes too? I do not know why some wore blue, or red and purple in addition to it, or why one wore full armor, but this is not the look of a hero."

He pulled his hair painfully and suddenly he was ten again, fresh after his first adventure.

"This hair must be fixed," the elder said lowly. "Burn this wretched pink out, and cut it too. This is far too long for a hero. And your eyes—"

Link only barely kept his face impassive and kept the tears from forming as Sahasrahla grabbed his chin now, grip punishing, and further forced his face up so he could see his eyes.

"Red is not the color of the hero. Green or blue are his colors, we were kind enough to allow you to choose blue for your eyes. And that goes for your clothing too."

He practically threw Link's face aside, the kid teenager barely managed not to fall over with the force.

"What was that the woman said? You required medical attention? And that cut in your arm... do not think I didn't see your limp either, Link. Tell me."

"My injuries are shallow and unimportant, they will heal by dawn," he forced out.

"Bah!" The elder's cane smacked his face, breaking open his lip. He barely kept himself from making a sound, or reacting to the hit. "You should not have been injured in the first place! You were trained better than that, boy."

"Yes, Elder."

"You will fix your hair, and your eyes, and your clothes. I best see a real hero next time you enter my village."

"Yes, Elder."

"And remind that woman, Purah, that you are nobody to her. Remember, Link. You are a Hylian, an average nobody, you have no ties to this village other than visiting to sell produce."

"Yes, Elder."

He managed to get back to the infirmary without collapsing, but that meant nothing for the moment he reached the bed.

Legend woke up pained, but to his shock, he didn't see the ceiling of the Kakariko inn. 

He saw the ceiling of a room he hadn't slept in since he was eight. 

It took him a second to realize it, and the moment he did, he shot up.

Any pain that flared through him was promptly ignored as he pushed himself onto his feet and leaned against the tabletop that was once covered in papers and pencils and paints and oils, it still was but far neater and organized.

He knocked over a chair and he knew it, he leaned back against the table, breathing heavily and blinking spots from his eyes.

The door opened and he froze up.

"Schol—Link? Are you alright?" Warriors. The blur of color brought the familiar voice toward him. He shook his head to try and clear the daze of injury and overnight healing.

"Captain?" He had to make sure.

"Yeah—You gave us a bit of a scare there, Scholar," he said and gloved hands guided him to sit on the bed he had near leapt from. "Miss Purah let us stay in her house, she said the old man—the elder, I mean, isn't allowed to enter a home unwelcome no matter his status."

Legend nodded. "It's against tradition, the home is to be protected against all evils, even emotional ones. If someone wished to enter, they can't cause any distress or lead others in the home to feel in danger, and as hosts we had to make sure any guests felt protected."

"The Sheikah are secretive in my time, I didn't know that," Warriors said and finally his vision was fully cleared and he could meet Warriors' eyes. "We need to talk, Link."

Legend grimaced. "Do we?"

"You walked away from the medics while extremely injured. We've had this talk before—"

"I didn't have a choice," Legend snapped, dropping his gaze and avoiding eye contact. "It won't happen again."

"Link," he flinched back from that damned name, Warriors reached out to grasp his arm, "what did that man do to you? You came back with a fresh bruise on your face and a cut on your lip that I know for a fact wasn't there before."

  Because Warriors had been the one to check Legend after the fight, because Warriors was their field medic and knew every single injury shown or mentioned.

Legend refused to look at him but Warriors was moving so he'd meet his eyes. What was worse was he met those bright blue—a soft cobalt color, almost metallic or maybe aquatic in shade—eyes, he felt a surge of fear at the reminder of the absence of contacts in his own.

He brought a hand up to cover them, forcing out a breath and ignoring the small flare of pain when he brushed a sensitive bruise.

"Look, the Elder has certain expectations and I—"

"So he did that to you."

"Captain—"

"No. Did he or did he not hit you?"

Legend didn't respond but Warriors pulled his hand down from blocking his eyes. Piercing metallic blue eyes cut through Legend as Warriors forced him to meet his eyes.

"Link—"

"Stop it," he tried. "It's not—It's not a big deal, I know better—"

"Vet, you’re a kid."

"I'm not!"

"You're underaged in every era that has an age of majority!"

Warriors squeezed Legend's shoulders, trying to get the younger hero to just see what he was talking about. He was one of the few people who Legend actually told his age, which was surprising seeing as they were the least close for a while there.

Warriors had seen how dynamics played out from the beginning. Wind and Legend were a pair from the start, likewise Sky and Wild seemed to get along well while Twilight and Four were near inseparable. Warriors had been happy to have his baby brother—even if he wasn't a baby anymore—at his side again, and Time didn't seem to mind sticking closer, besides, his Sprite seemed to have gotten a Sprite of his own as Hyrule always seemed to follow after Time.

As time went on, Warriors had noticed the dynamics shift. Wild gravitated more towards Legend, who also attracted Hyrule into their little trio. Wind latched onto Time. Warriors found himself finding a strong feeling of camaraderie in Twilight and Sky. Four flitted around each group with ease.

And things kept shifting, generally reverting back to their very first pairings, but they came to a balanced mix where everyone was mostly comfortable with everyone.

 Yet, it took a long time before Warriors could actually connect with Legend. After he did, it was a night they needed to gather information and they were paired off, that Legend confided his age to Warriors.

The captain never expected their veteran to be seventeen, much less sixteen when they first met and turning seventeen within a couple months of gathering together, but that was the case. It became more obvious with time, but nonetheless, the teenager sitting in front of him was mature beyond his years...

That didn't mean he wasn't still a kid, and people who'd known him since he was little would know that.

Even if he didn't, the elder had no right to strike Legend.

Warriors squeezed Legend's shoulders gently and spoke fast enough that Legend didn't get a chance to argue without interrupting. "I'm not calling you a child, but you’re still a kid and even if you weren't, he has no right to raise a hand to you."

Legend scowled. "It was a cane, first of all—"

Warriors gaped. "A cane?!"

Legend seemed to realized that was not the right thing to say if he wanted Warriors to stop worrying or pushing. "It doesn't matter! It's not a big deal and it was perfectly avoidable if I was just—"

To the captain's surprise, Legend floundered for a moment, scrambling to find words, which was extremely uncharacteristic of their scholar.

"—if I just—I know better than to come to Kakariko like this." He gestured vaguely.

Warriors frowned. "Like what, Link."

He didn't like how Legend recoiled at his own name.

"Like... red and-and... not... not green," he said weakly, trying to hide his head in his hands again but Warriors quickly caught his face in his own hands. He was careful not to touch his injuries, but gently made him look up.

Red. Red like his eyes, dark and deep like rubies, in certain light they looked like fire, lava at the depths of volcanoes, and in other light they glinted like pools of blood.

He brushed his thumb under Legend's eye, gentle and careful. "Red like these?"

Legend grimaced and nodded. "I... I have contacts—I had contacts, blue ones, I lost them when I fought Yuga and Ganon last time but... I-I thought... I hoped I didn't need to replace them."

And if he wasn’t supposed to come here without them, he didn't intend to come back to Kakariko at all.

"Red like your tunic too?" Warriors added, raising an eyebrow and Legend nodded. "Why can't you wear red or let your natural eye color be there?"

He winced. "Because heroes don't look like the shadows they defeat."

"Who told you that?" Warriors asked.

Legend gave him an incredulous look. Warriors sighed.

"Did others than the elder tell you that?"

"Most of the old folk," Legend huffed. "Only Momma and Aunty said I shouldn't need to change to be a hero."

Warriors studied his face, the way his shoulders were drawn in and how he avoided eye contact. The way he spoke, quiet and almost hushed rather than just soft.

"Okay—Listen, your appearance doesn't define how much of a hero you are," Warriors told him firmly, well aware he was being hypocritical. "We can get Sky and everyone else who came before you, whoever they're making you emulate, talk to him and handle this."

"You can't—"

"You've never mentioned a mother before, Link."

Legend flinched again and Warriors wondered if he just shouldn't call him by his name.

"I... I don't have a mother," he corrected himself firmly.

“Then who told you that you didn’t need to change to be a hero?” Warriors needed him to stop holding onto this now-obvious lie he was expected to tell. Someone, the elder, had done something to make Legend deny his own mother. “Kid, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we aren’t exactly the most homogenous group, goddesses, the only ones with blue eyes are the Rancher, Champion, and Sprite. The Sailor has green, Traveler’s and Smithy’s are brown, mine are gray, and the Sky Knight’s, I swear, jump between blue and white.”

Legend snorted. “White? He isn’t the Old Man.”

“There’s a difference there and I stand by my words.” Warriors grinned a bit, he got him to laugh. “My point is, would you expect any of us to change our appearance for the sake of… what? Tradition?”

“No…” He almost smirked at how petulant Legend looked for a moment there. “But that’s—That’s different! You’re all—You…”

“We’re what?”

“You’re hylian,” he near whispered. “I…”

“I’m part Gerudo,” Warriors admitted. “My great grandmother was a Gerudo. Not to mention that the Skyloftian is human, and the Traveler’s half fairy. Kid—“

“But you’re part hylian, both you and the Traveler. Sky founded Hyrule, he’s the Chosen Hero, you think anyone debates whether or not he’s a hero?”

“Why does our blood matter? Why does our heritage matter?” Warriors pressed. “Come on, we both know that you don’t care that much, you’re just trying to justify it. Why are you actually worried about this?”

The long beat of silence that followed proved Warriors was right, the way Legend hunched in on himself.

He whispered something, far too quietly for Warriors to hear much less understand.

“I can’t hear you, kid.”

He glanced at him, then—still quiet, still barely a whisper, but just loud enough that Warriors could hear—repeated himself.

“He said he’d exile them… my mother and my aunt… Aunty could survive, she’s a warrior, we—they’re trained for survival. But Momma…” Legend trailed off. “She’s a scholar, not a warrior, she knows the theory but… Not to mention, Sahasrahla has all of the warriors under his thumb, Sheikah assassins, and if I… if I go too far, he’d send them after them.”

He was being threatened. His kid brother was being threatened, forced into this role by an old guy in power.

Warriors held back his fury to push pink locks back, and guide Legend to stop looking down at his lap to look him in the eyes.

“We won’t let him, you hear me? I’ll take Sky and the Rancher, and we’ll have a talk with him. We won’t hurt him, but we’ll handle it.”

“You’ll handle it?” Legend looked almost scared, eyes going wide and staring at him. "You can't hurt him. He's not--He isn't a bad person, Captain, he's just... set in his ways."

Ignoring that Legend was literally defending his abuser. “We’ll handle it, and I swear, he won't be... physically harmed, I can't vouch he won't take a hit to his ego though." He knew the other two would be absolutely ecstatic to… talk to the elder. “Do you trust me?”

“I do! I do, you’re—Of course, I trust you, all three of you, you’re my—But—you can’t just… Can you?”

He gently squeezed the back of his neck, pulling the younger hero closer and pressing his lips against his forehead. Legend went slack, inhaling sharply.

“We’ll take care of it," he said softly against his forehead, pulling away to look him in the eyes, "just trust me.”

“I… Okay,” Legend nodded slightly, something sad and resigned in his eyes. “Okay. I trust you.”

Next>>

[icomeandg0]

"More than one"

Part 6!!

Linked universe x reader (s)

Warnings: Confusing

A/N: Last chapter of the series, HOORAY!

"Let's get out of here!"

♡･ﾟ:｡.:･ﾟ･ﾟ:｡.:･ﾟ♡♡･ﾟ:｡.:･ﾟ･ﾟ:｡.:･ﾟ♡

With the others…

“Well…! This is new” LOZY/n says as the following of BOTWY/n, Wild and Twilight all followed the guards as they were chained.

“You opened the door too fast, you didn’t wait for discussions to end” BOTWY/n gave her a light scolding which made LOZY/n grin sheepishly, “My bad!”

“You guys didn’t have to jump in for us” BOTWY/n says as she looks back at the two boys, “Eh, Can’t leave you all alone now, can we?” Wild grins as he tilted his head a bit, “I’ll have you know I am capable of doing things on my own, Mister!” BOTWY/n giggled slightly.

“Hm…that’s strange, the other groups were supposed to meet back up here…” One of the guards said, “Dave, stay here with the prisoners until we come back��� another guard informs the one in front.

Without a response, The guards take off, “They always do this!” ‘Dave’ grumbles.

“That’s not very good teamwork! You’re supposed to be a team and stick by one another!” LOZY/n says, “Hey…I don’t think it’s a good idea to talk to the guard” Twilight whispered to the cheerful Y/n.

“Ugh! Thank you! Someone that actually understands me!” ‘Dave’ says with a sigh of relief, this earned a few shocked faces from the trio behind LOZY/n.

“I completely understand! I’m totally on your side, communication is key for both sides! Now what was your name again? Dave?” “It’s actually Daven but no one’s…ever asked me that before…our commander just gives us nicknames—you’d be lucky enough if you get your full name really!—“ as the guard rants on, the trio decide to use it to their advantage.

“Keep talking to him, keep stalling for as long as you can” BOTWY/n whispered earning a subtle nod from LOZY/n. LOZY/n winks as the three snuck away while the guard was turned around and ranting.

“Oh yeah, let it out, Daven!” LOZY/n encouraged.

☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆

The trio roam the halls silently, “It’s very quiet…no guards nearby too” Twilight observes as BOTWY/n and Wild check nearby rooms.

“Completely empty…as if they’ve already been wiped out or something” Wild says, making BOTWY/n think deeply.

“Well…in this time we can get to TP—Erm, D/N…just need to find what room they would’ve put her in” her little mess up didn’t go past Twilight…but it did for Wild.

Soon, Twilight's ear twitches, “Hide, I hear footsteps!” The three of them rushed into a room and hid behind or underneath furniture inside.

“What a rare specimen! Dragons were just legends but now we have one! A real living one!” A voice says with excitement.

“It’s pretty tame..Maybe someone owns it?” “No way! A magnificent beast like that shouldn’t be tamed! Well, run a test on it and figure out what to do with it. To hell with its ‘owner’” the voices were faint but audible.

Twilight growled lowly at this and once the people were far enough he got up, “We have to save her, C’mon” Twilight says determined as he looks outside, once it was clear he exited.

The BOTW duo stand up, “he’s more determined to find that dragon than we are” BOTWY/n comments.

The trio venture forward when they come across a gate, “Great…now how the hell do we get it open?” Twilight grumbled as he looked around for a lever, chest or anything.

“You have your sheikah slate..?” BOTWY/n asked Wild who managed to get the message through his brain and pulled out his slate, selecting the magnet symbol, he grabs the metal bars and pushes his slate upwards making the gate lift up.

“Nice” BOTWY/n comments as the three all walk through , Wild dropping the gate once he made it through.

Now as they were opening another gate, this one being a wooden gate the boys looked around just to make sure no one was there. Once the gate was open…their eyes fell on the big creature in the middle of the room, D/N. She was tied up all around her body but there was someone near her, covered in a cloak that covered the person from head to toe. 

When the person looked back a small gasp was heard, “How did you get in here? Guards are everywhere” The voice was familiar to BOTWY/n but right now she couldn’t put her finger on who it was.

“Who are you and what are you doing with D/N?” Twilight asked, a bit on edge. The person lowers their head “I’m trying to set her free” “Oh yeah? How do we know you aren’t lying huh?” Wild raised a brow at the stranger, The person slowly takes off their hood and smiles sheepishly, “Well, I’m an ally of BOTWY/n so I don’t plan on deceiving either her or her friends” BOTWY/n makes a ‘o’ with her mouth and soon smiles. “Hey! SSY/n! Been a while huh? Have you been with her this whole time?” 

“Only recently, I’ve been waiting a while for the people to leave so I could free her as fast as I could but you guys came in and I froze up” SSY/n says softly, looking away shyly. 

“Well…No time to stall, let's get her out and find the others” They all crowd around the dragon, Twilight at the front, holding the dragon's snout as the dragon huffed tiredly. “Don’t worry girl, we’ll get you out” he pats her snout making her lean into the touch a bit.

“Does he know her?” SSY/n asked curiously as they cut at the thick ropes, “No clue honestly, he’s been on edge about her this whole time.” “He must know her secret…Who is he anyway?” SSY/n asked curiously, “A Link” “A Link?” SSY/n repeated just to clarify. “Yup, Like that one over there–” She points to Wild who was distracted with cutting the ropes.

“He’s a Link, There's a whole heap of them, 9 to be exact” “similar to us.I take it that means each of them is from the same timeline as each of us individually?” BOTWY/n was impressed “Just exactly that, great guess!” SSY/n grew bashful but she knew one thing…she didn’t want to see her Link.

“There, ropes are done” Wild says as all the ropes that were holding the dragon down are off but the dragon still wouldn’t move, “She’s tired, she won’t move” Twilight says, the dragon made weak attempts to get up, “Does anyone have anything in their bag…a herb or..potion?” Wild pulls out a green potion and is immediately snatched from his hands. “Hey!”

She walked up to the dragon with the potion, popping off the cork of the bottle she held it near, “Is that safe for her to drink in this form?” Twilight asked cautiously, BOTWY/n gave him a look when he said ‘form’ “We have to try either way, if it can get her to move then so be it” BOTWY/n says as she bends down, Twilight takes one last look at D/N before helping by opening the mouth of D/N. BOTWY/n pours the green substance down D/N’s throat before moving away with an empty bottle.

It didn’t take too long for the effect to happen, D/N stood up letting out a low hum as she moved around in the room, everyone let out a sigh of relief. “Had us worried there” Twilight smiles at the dragon who walked over to him and leaned down into his arms, Twilight hugs against her snout “I missed you, girl.” Twilight whispered–

“Okay…I don’t know if this is concerning or not” Wild grimaced a bit as they were awkwardly standing behind the…two.

“Well, since you’re standing on your 4 feet…I’m sure you can lend a ride?” BOTWY/n grins as the dragon huffs but she bends down enough for everyone to get on.

☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆

Back with the others…

Where have you been all this time? Why couldn't you reach out? Did you regret leaving after that day? Did you miss me?

Questions filled Warriors mind as he stares at his Y/n with too many emotions surging within him. He feels like he can burst right now, he needed answers.

"I know that look, You have questions and that's understandable but that will have to wait until after. I'll answer any questions you have, it's the least I can do" HWY/n says softly soon she scans the area of the fallen guards. "They won't stay down for long, I put a stun spell on them for a temporary moment" HWY/n explains.

"Huh? She can do magic?" Hyrule muttered in slight awe, "The only one out of us all that can, she's a one of a kind gal" OOTY/n winks playfully at HWY/n making her chuckle "Oh you flatter me"

"I'm really not keen on watching you two compliment each other but can we hurry this up?" FSY/n grumbled, "Oh don't be like that, firecracker. Someone will compliment you one day" HWY/n teased the short tempered girl making her irk and Legend cackle. "She's my favourite one so far, she's got spunk" Legend whispered to Warriors who chuckled a bit, "Yup...She's full of it"

The group walks along the hallways, Warriors walking beside HWY/n and he was being stiff which everyone could notice. "Why so stiff, knight?" HWY/n teases as she looks over to him and he subtly blushes, "Just...making sure there are no threats so I need to be firm" "Mhm" she hummed, not believing him at all but turns away.

"And you'd think the pretty boy has charms, he sucks at flirting" FSY/n says, "This isn't like him, he can make a woman fall to his feet with a few words but...he's so awkward and shy around her" Four whispered as the two watch the two in front of them.

Soon the ground started to rumble under their feet, "What the hell?" LTTPY/n muttered as she looked towards the ground, "AHHH!! Hold me!" WWY/n jumped into Winds arm making him yelp and stumble even more.

Warriors reaches out and grabs HWY/n by the waist to secure her, "Hm, learnt manners I see" She chuckled, Warrior felt his confidence ride up and he smirks, "Only for someone worth impressing"

"Why are they choosing now to flirt?!" FSY/n irks as she tries to keep her balance.

The rumbling kept getting louder until a big (F/C) dragon stops just in front of them.

"Hey! Welcome to dragoness express! Jump on board for a bumpy ride!" BOTWY/n grins before she turns serious "No but seriously, get on so we can get out" "Ha, Don't need to tell me twice" LTTPY/n says as she moves to the side of the dragon and hoisted herself up, one by one everyone managed to get on.

SSY/n made sure not to make any contact with the boys but- "Y/n?" Sky called out making her internally sigh, she turns around and smiles shyly, "Hi, Link" She says softly. "Aw how cute, we're all reunited and happy as a whole" OOTY/n says as Time was seated next to her stiffly, "Loosen up, Link. It's only a dragon ride" OOTY/n teases earning a slight glare from Time.

"There they are!"

"Bring me back my specimen!"

"These people are crazy!" FSY/n looked between the two groups coming towards them, "Yup but we're crazier! Hee-Yah!" D/N roared before charging towards a dead end and a small ass window. "Are you trying to get us killed?!" FSY/n yelled as she hung on for dear life.

With no further explanation, D/N lowers its head so it's horns were going to come in contact with the wall first, D/N broke through the wall and jumped out...expanding her wings as she flew upwards making everyone hold onto each other as BOTWY/n was the only one with a secure grip around D/N's horns-

"OKAY WE'RE HIGH ENOUGH GO DOWN!"

☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆

"I'm not doing that ever again!" FSY/n collapsed on the solid ground as soon as they had landed, they were in the forest far from where the castle is anyway. Once everyone hopped off the dragon, Twilight had a little pep talk with her before she flew off.

"Wha- We just saved the damn reptile now it's going?!" Legend grumbled.

"Are you okay? hurt anywhere..?" Hyrule asked as he approached LOZY/n who smiled brightly, "No! I'm fine, really...Thanks for worrying though" She said softly, Hyrule scratched the back of his head bashfully.

"You aren't hurt, right?" Sky asked SSY/n who gave a small smile, "I'm fine, You don't have to worry about me"

Soon from the bushes they heard the bushes rustling and out revealed the last of the Y/n's "Finally! I found you all...Oh! and a few extras..?" TPY/n tilts her head as she looks between each Link. Twilight just went forward and hugged his Y/n with glee "Oh! It's nice to see you again too, Link!" She chuckled a bit as she hugged him back gently. "Words can't describe how much i've missed you" "Oh Link" TPY/n melted at his words.

Bewilderment and disgust was everywhere on FSY/n's face, "I'm not being a part of this, why is there so much romance going on?!" She had a mild meltdown, she was sick and tired of this all. Four sat down next to her and patted her back, chuckling a bit at her being a drama queen.

"Yay! Groups back together! I have an idea...we should all travel together!" BOTWY/n suggested which a few agreed to, some not too keen but their opinions didn't matter to BOTWY/n. "Well that was the plan after all, these boys need us...or well he does, I need to keep him in check" OOTY/n teases as she points over to Time.

"Sounds good to me"

"I guess so..." WWY/n rolls her eyes as Wind shoves her playfully.

"Now then, that's sorted so what should we do now?" Warriors asked "We continue on, once we find a suitable place, we'll rest for the night" Time states. Once everyone was on their feet and ready to head off, a big portal forms from under their feet and they all fall in a few yelps and screams before the portal closes and it's quiet again...

THE END.

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Finally finished this series, thank you for everyone supporting and I love reading every comment that's on any post of mine. Ask box is going to be put up soon so get those request ready!

Yes I did get a bit lazy and kinda teleported LOZY/n on the dragon when she was talking to Daven, I just ran out of ideas...

[red-gekkouga]

Happy 4th anniversary Age of Calamity! Simple little render of the Sheikah trio.

Please don't reupload, edit or use without my permission!

[lemonlurkrr]

lemon i hope you know (if you didn't already from your notification boom solely from me) that your prev hero au designs did something to me. fundamentally altered my brain somehow. im literally stuffing them in my mouth how did you do that

HHEELLLOOOO THIS WAS A LOVELY NOTIFICATION BOMB TO WAKE UP TO, HOLDING ALL THESE TAGS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART

as for how (i'm seizing this as an opportunity to share a bunch of process work):

there was a butt load of trial and error

From what I can remember (this all started 3 years ago holy shit,,,) I worked on Kevin's design first. The only 2 ref images I've found are included in the screenshot, but I'm pretty sure I was looking at those in addition to all of the other Impa+Sheik designs from the games, OG Hyrule Warriors concept art for Impa+Sheik, and the Sheikah pages from BOTW's Creating A Champion.

here's Link's stuff and YIPPEE I HAVE HIS REFERENCE IMAGES 🙌🙌

(BIG BIGG shoutout to @/historyofhyrule btw for archiving so much concept art and everything from all of the zelda games. None of this brainrot would've been possible without them.)

butt load of trial and error cont. especially for the colour of his scarf omg (I was looking at some of the hero's garb colour variants from OG Hyrule Warriors, and was conscious of the two other scarf wearing Links in Zelda Not Canon)

I can't find Zelda's inspo/ref images either but I remember referencing Griffith and Casca from Berserk, Kushana from Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Ashei from TP, some of the OG Hyrule Warriors concept art for Princess Zelda, and of course some of the other canon Zelda designs (ALttP, TP, HW, OoT, BOTW).

I'd say Kushana was and still is the biggest inspo for Prev!Zelda, even personality wise I find myself looking back to her and how she was in the Nausicaa manga and movie.

final design thoughts: I really REALLY wanted the three of them to look cohesive with each other SO,

I always carried over screenshots of the other members of the trio onto their individual canvases to make sure that any changes I made to one design didn't stand out too much from the others,

I'm also pretty sure I worked on Link and Zelda's design simultaneously, or at least flipped back and forth between them a LOT when doing their armour (I wanted it to be evident that they were produced by the same smiths of the royal family yknowww),

and finally I made sure there were a couple of shared colours between their colour palettes

Thankee Thankee for reading this far and I hope y'all enjoyed my process stuff :))!!!

[incaseofart]

Week 2: backstory for @capybonara's OC challenge!

My little trio here form a triforce of their own. Naturally, Vaati is power, while Crystalline is Courage and Wendy is Wisdom. I might be stretching the prompt a little but the three of them are linked in this way and that is part of their destiny!

Their poses reflect pieces of their backstory. Crystalline ignores their fate and their role the most out of the three siblings, closing their eyes to it and wandering off to do their own thing, thus we can't see their eyes at all as they gaze down at the ground here, arms crossed. Wendy continues to learn about Sheikah tech even as they run away from Kakariko, still preparing for their destiny a bit more openly than Crystalline.

Vaati looks directly at the viewer. Vaati pursues power relentlessly. He is forced to directly acknowledge his role and the situation because he is ostracized until he leaves. He seeks power knowingly, so he can never be treated like that again. For this reason too Crystalline and Wendy do not look at the viewer. They failed to speak up for their brother, and take a long time to acknowledge their own role in his situation. They pretended not to see it (Crystalline most of all).

[cloudninetonine]

Could I make a soft request of simple domestic moments with the chain? 👀

It could honestly be anything honest to god. This was all triggered by me finding a POV Video of your comfort character taking the last slice of bread from you bc they had the butter HAHAHA

I think the boys need some major TLC and what better way to give it to them other than domestic moments, right?

I hope you liked this <3 I wasn't entirely sure what to do but I was listening to some oldies but goldies and it came to me

You liked Lon Lon Ranch, a break from the hiking life and a time to relax without a care in the world.

Well, you got the luxury of relaxing. The others weren’t so lucky, not that you weren’t willing to help around the ranch or barn, but Malon had decided it was the best chance to get to know you, know of your world and just learn about you as the other heroes worked their arses off outside.

Some much discussed, such little time, you made sure to tell your favourite farmer everything as simple as you could when the topic changed to your phone, glinting in your pocket and catching her attention.

“It’s a phone! It’s kind of like Wild’s Sheikah slate? I can use it to communicate, play games, take photos, listen to music-”

“Music?” Her tone sounded interested and she leaned in. “Please, do tell me more.”

And that’s what lead to the scene the boys walked into. Your phone blasting music, the red head and you, hand and hand, dancing happily around the kitchen as you sung your lungs out. Malon didn’t know the words sticking to giggles and laughter as you span her and dipped her.

The two of you only noticed the nine when she made an attempt to spin you, your eyes looking upon them in a shock and the words on your lips dying in the second as you fell quiet. Malon looked confused at first before she turned, blinking then smiling towards the boys in greeting.

“Join the party!” The men hesitated, sharing unsure stares amongst themselves. “Hm! Aren’t you a boring lot! Don’t stop now, (Name), we can’t let them ruin our fun!” 

Malon spun you away, your voice a squeak in surprise when you landed in the arms of Sky, looking down at you curiously while you flushed.

What an embarrassing thing to be caught in. It wasn’t too bad with an audience of one, Malon’s extroverted personality taking over your natural bashful nature until you were a barrel of laughs all over the place. You’d do this back home, with your mama, with your friends- this felt like normalcy after so long of oddity.

But these men were highly respect heroes. You couldn’t just goof about and sing in front of them, what if they made fun of you? You already lacked enough in the fighting department, Hyrule’s tiny dagger the only thing to your name that you couldn’t even yield. You didn’t deserve to goof off, to have fun, you were supposed to be quiet and stay in line, stay out of their way, to-

Then your song came on.

And everything was thrown out the window.

Tugging Sky towards you, ignoring his surprised yelp you sang, not a care in the world, not holding back. The dirty blonde looked shocked at first, letting you tug him about like a ragdoll and take control before a similar goofy smile crossed his face and then you were both dancing together.

Malon clapped happily, yanking at Time’s shirt to tug him into a dance while the others stood about unsure.

You couldn’t have that, could you?

Spinning you, Sky let you twirl away before you grabbed the hands of Hyrule whose ears flapped happily at your attention. Your smile was beaming, his was almost blinding as you began to dance with him too, Wild joining quickly after and soon enough your little trio was a mess of limbs and giggling away.

They sung too, something you realised after a moment but it only brought more joy. “You guys know the song!?”

“Of course we do!” Wild started, dipping you then letting Hyrule pick you up to twirl you, your squeal heavenly to their ears.

“You would sing it all the time!” Hyrule finished, finally placing you down and you tugged them into a hug.

You managed to move to each of the boys. Wind was happy; Four was bashful; Warriors held your enthusiasm; Twilight looked flustered with his fanged smile and Legend someone managed not to curse your entire bloodline as you twirled him around the dinner table. Time was your final partner, your head against his shoulder while he gently swayed you opposite to the toe tapping beat, the others in their own world around you.

A happy night, a deserving one as you partied. The laughter and mirth shared amongst the kitchen a lovely sight amongst these heroes forged from tragedy. You hoped it would bring good memories, this night, you hoped that in moments of darkness they would think back to the time you shared laughter and dance moves.

You hoped you did good.

Your phone finally died and a shared groan ehcoed around the room before finally you moved to eat.

[skyloftian-nutcase]

Febuwhump Day 10 - Killing in Self Defense

Well... I did warn y'all that I wouldn't be able to shut up about the Hyrule Warriors Imprisoning War blorbos... and uh, I liked this prompt so much that I wrote it four times >.&lt;

(Head's up, this one gets dark. Lots of blood and some body horror kind of dark. Surprise, surprise given the prompt lol)

There was a difference between sparring and true war. There was a difference between the honor of defending one's own and the horror of meeting someone equally determined.

Hemisi... didn't like war.

She supposed it was a stupid sentiment to have. Given all the bloodshed she'd seen so far, it seemed reasonable to assume no one would like war.

But she couldn't tell if her father held the same idea.

She didn't know how he did it, how either of her parents did it. The original plan had been a quick snatch and run, to steal the Trio Force or whatever it was called and run back to the desert. She figured it was naïve to assume Hyrule wouldn't go after them, but if it had gone correctly no one would've been the wiser, right? Once the dust had settled, she might have even been able to reach out to Link again.

Instead, the Sheikah warriors had noticed the bodies. Instead, the sacred relic had shattered as soon as her father had touched it. Instead, their mother had screamed that they should retreat when things fell apart. Instead, she'd had to run around her boyfriend's unconscious body and was unable to help him. Instead, Hyrule had a face and a name to call culpable and brought its full wrath down on the Gerudo.

Instead, they were fighting a war.

Hemisi had fought before, but never to such an extreme, and never to the death. Yet here she was, covered in the blood of her enemies, staring at the bodies she'd just cut down.

She felt sick. She was sick. This was sick.

Is it really worth all this?

Did it even matter anymore? What was done was done. If she didn't fight, her people would suffer the consequences.

The scimitars fell out of her trembling hands as she stared at blood dripping off her fingers, down her torso, as she felt it on her face.

Hemisi started to hyperventilate, backing away from the carnage, her world spinning.

She wanted nothing more than to turn back time, to go to the days where she and Link were stargazing on the castle walls, where she was training with her father, laughing with her mother, annoying her brother.

But there was no going back. The empty, accusing Hylian eyes that watched her screamed it, cemented in her mind by the life-giving fluid that slid off her skin.

XXX

There was a difference between monsters and people. There was a difference between fighting mindless creatures of darkness and living, breathing women with loved ones and histories and feelings.

Link hated the difference, hated that he wasn't just dealing with Ganondorf's hordes of bokoblins and moblins anymore, hated that the Gerudo stood before him ready to die for a monster.

He parried another blow with his shield just at the right moment, leaving the Gerudo warrior open to a counterattack, but he couldn't bear to take it. So far in the war all he'd ever fought were beasts - there was no way he was going to take away a life like this. He couldn't.

The Gerudo roared, pushing forward with more intensity. Although Link was trying to just disarm her, it was very clear she was going for the kill. He knew he should be too.

But all he could see was the Gerudo settlement. All he could hear was the laughter, the music. All he could smell was the food and incense.

All he could see was her.

He knew. He knew as soon as this happened, he'd be forever changed. He'd been dreading it, selfishly enjoying the time the king had spent--wasted--leaving him in the castle to defend the princess. Because he knew that he could fight monsters a hundred times over, but the instant he had to face a Gerudo herself...

The warrior's blade slid just by his abdomen, cutting at his side, and he hissed.

You're going to die if you don't end this.

Link froze. I can't!

He shouldn't have frozen like that. He shouldn't have.

The Gerudo's sword swiped through the air at the level of his neck. His world slowed. She was wide open, the move a sweeping, large, long, slow one, and she was wide open.

Link dropped to his knees, his blade rushing forward. It hit true, requiring more force than before to cut through what was no longer air, to sink into what wasn't just monster flesh. He pushed harder, the blade jaggedly making its way through as he heard the sickening sound fill his ears.

The scimitar clattered to the ground. The weight on his sword grew heavier as the body sagged, lifeless.

Link twisted so the Gerudo fell to the side, his blade coming out of her quickly.

All around him, chaos erupted. The monsters no longer had a commander to guide them, and the remaining Hyrulian forces cut through their numbers quickly.

Link hardly noticed.

The Gerudo stayed motionless on the earth. He watched blood leak out of her abdomen where he'd stabbed her.

He'd killed her. He'd killed her.

And he... felt... nothing.

XXX

There was a difference between enemies and loved ones. It was strange to note it as, well, he'd never really had loved ones he cared about before.

"This war is getting out of control. There has to be some kind of terms we can come to."

Ganondorf turned sharply to look at his wife. "Surrender? You're suggesting we surrender?!"

"We've lost nearly half our warriors!" Nabooru argued. "If we continue this, there won't be Gerudo left to prosper from the Triforce. Not to mention we don't even have the entire relic, and our spies have discovered nothing about the whereabouts of the other two pieces!"

"The Triforce of Power is more than enough to win this war," Ganondorf snapped. "My power is unmatched. And then we will get the Triforce, and--"

"And what?" Nabooru interrupted sharply. "What will we do when we win, Gan? A war was never the plan, your obsession over that relic has nearly destroyed our people!"

"Our people?!" Ganondorf repeated, glaring at her. "Our people, who live out in the desert like rats? Our people, who suffer in the elements while Hyrule prospers?"

"Our people, who have adapted and survived, who persevere despite the odds, who value life and love and integrity and honor!" Nabooru fired back. "Our people, who are losing their way to this bloodshed! You said the Triforce would help us grow, but all I've seen is our people fall one by one!"

"You want the Gerudo to stay as they were." Ganondorf accused. "To forever nip at the heels of greatness--"

"Greatness," Nabooru scoffed. "As if you even know that word. You don't aspire for greatness, you aspire for control. This has never been about the Gerudo, has it? This has always been about you!"

Though he could feel rage steadily boiling his blood, Ganondorf remained silent for a moment. Of course this was about him - he coveted the prosperity of Hyrule, but that didn't mean that--he could share it with his family! What sort of accusations was Nabooru levying against him?

"When I first met you, you tried to steal my birthright, my leadership of my people," Nabooru continued, slowly walking towards him. "I showed you why I had earned that seat as chief. And as time passed, I thought you had learned, that you had realized that your selfishness and lust for power were not strengths but weaknesses."

"Watch your words, Nabooru," Ganondorf growled dangerously.

"Do not speak to me as if I am child!" Nabooru balked, rage pulling at her face. "You are the one being childish, the one who will never learn, who thinks the world should revolve around you and you alone. Don't you understand what you're doing?!"

"I am doing what I was born to do!" Ganondorf roared. "I was born to lead the Gerudo, born to rule the desert, and born for greatness! Hyrule's power will be mine! Have you not looked upon their land and seen more than the harshness of the desert? Have you never once coveted the winds that bless their lands?"

"Not at the price you're willing to pay," Nabooru answered, her voice suddenly growing quiet. "Never at the price you're willing to pay."

"I will sacrifice everything to achieve that goal," Ganondorf hissed. "Your weakness is your unwillingness to do the same."

"You're wrong," Nabooru said even more quietly, though there was no tremble to her tone. It was stone cold, and had more strength to it than Ganondorf had ever heard, like the low rumble of a dragon just before it attacked. "I am willing to sacrifice everything to do what is right."

Electricity shot through Ganondorf's veins as his wife drew her sword on him. The shock that cascaded through him quickly broiled into rage and overwhelming hatred, and he let it consume him. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm ending your war," Nabooru snarled, immediately striking.

Ganondorf drew his claymore and swatted her sword easily, his strength surpassing her own. However, Nabooru was nimble, and though her strikes couldn't hold the same force as his own, she was still more than capable of cutting him to pieces. Ganondorf took several steps back as he was hit with her fast assault, multiple blows in succession, some landing a hit on his legs, one on his side. Roaring, he swung harder, watching her duck under his blade and angle her sword upward to carve into his stomach. He kicked her directly in the face, and she went flying into a nearby table, dazed momentarily.

"You think you can defeat me?" he hissed. "You think you even stand a chance?"

Nabooru groaned, slowly trying to sit up.

"You dare defy me?!" he continued, his hatred ever growing. "Me, the rightful ruler of all things!"

His wife let out a mirthless laugh. "You are a ruler of nothing Ganondorf. You're letting that demon control you. I didn't marry a demon king, I married a man who sought to better himself, who wished to see prosperity spread across the land! You, demon, will die!"

With that his wife rose against him once more, attacking even faster despite how she shook her head and blinked blood out of her eyes, despite how her nose was misshapen and blood was pouring freely out of it. Ganondorf deflected, parried, counterattacked at every measure, but the Gerudo chief was too fast. He grew angrier by the second, outraged that she would actually attempt this, after everything--had their love meant nothing?! How could she betray him like this?!

Nabooru leapt off a table to come down on him overhead, blade ahead of her, aimed at his head. Ganondorf fel this heart stop a moment, fear gripping him, and he dodged just in time, bringing his blade up to carve through her back from her hips to her skull.

Nabooru fell to the ground, and the room grew still.

Ganondorf stood there, motionless, until he became dizzy because he'd forgotten to breathe.

I... I just... what did I just...

Nabooru was dead. Nabooru was dead.

My wife... my wife...

She betrayed you, the voice in his head purred, and Din's fire if he couldn't find an argument against it. She'd been trying to kill him!

This was her fault! He should've known she wouldn't listen! A fool would get a fool's reward!

My children will listen to me. They will undertand. They will obey me.

Ganondorf wiped the blood from his blade, ignoring how his hands shook, and stormed out of the tent.

XXX

There was a difference between fairytales and the terrifying reality of facing evil.

Zelda took a trembling breath as she watched what was once a man morph into a horrific monster. Darkness choked the air, swirling around like the winds of a hurricane. Link's blade glowed blue against it as he stood guard over the fallen Gerudo warrior, Hemisi. The air was sucked out of her lungs, and Zelda trembled at the overwhelming malice that dripped off the beast's tusks, at the heart stopping terror such evil magic brought, at how her entire body was paralyzed in the moment.

The stories told of a demon king who sought to destroy Hyrule again and again. Her father had never believed such stories, had grossly underestimated the man who brought such destruction back to their land. Zelda had known Ganondorf housed this evil, and yet...

Witnessing it was more overwhelming than she could have ever imagined.

The dark beast roared, stomping its feet, ready to devour its prey.

"Link!" Zelda called, feeling utterly helpless.

But she couldn't be helpless! She refused to be! She'd been helpless her entire life, and only recently had she started taking charge of her own destiny. But she knew this destiny was written in the stars, woven with a golden thread of the goddesses themselves. They wouldn't fail - they couldn't. And she had a part to play in it.

Inexperienced of the world as she was, Zelda was not a fool. And she refused to be a coward.

Hemisi slowly rose to her feet behind Link, looking at what her father had turned into, face pale with horror.

Link roared back at the beast, ready to fight.

Zelda channeled her Light within her, pushing the darkness at bay, sending diamond-like shards of magic towards her Hero. "Link, use these!"

Link leapt into the air to catch the shards, which turned into Light-infused kunai. After a moment to register what had just happened, a feral grin pulled at his face, and he bared his teeth against the enemy.

As Link charged ahead to face down the enormous beast, Hemisi looked back at the princess. "Hey! Lend me some of that magic, will you?"

Zelda watched her hesitantly, but she grimaced when Link narrows missed getting impaled by the dark beast's enormous tusks. Swallowing, she nodded, channeling her power and sending Light to the Gerudo, who caught it and watched it materialize into a glowing bow and arrows.

Nodding in thanks, Hemisi turned and stared down the beast, slowly taking aim.

Zelda brought her hands to her chest in prayer, begging the goddeses to aid them, allowing her power to create a barrier between them and the rest of the world, and the true battle for Hyrule began.

[karakulialiny]

After drawing enough next gen OCs by @red-gekkouga, I thought, "Yeah, Red has some great headcanons about next gen, but mine is just as good and worthy of being illustrated and published as well." So let's get started.

Link and Zelda's family. 16 years after TotK events

Link and Zelda decided to have a child almost immediately after they got married. Gabriel turned out to be an almost identical copy of his father, except for the eyecolor. His upbringing was extremely difficult for the newlyweds because the baby turned out to be terribly restless and naughty. It all started with simple whims, like not wanting to sleep, bathe, and change a diaper. When the boy grew up, he started to make fun of his parents by throwing food in their faces, splashing in the bathroom, and jumping on their bed. But despite all this, Link did not dare to punish Gabriel in any way, as he was afraid of traumatize him. But over time, he and Zelda learned to explain to their son how to behave and how not.

Mark was born as a result of the naive hope that the second child would be a girl. Fortunately for Link and Zelda, the youngest son turned out to be the exact opposite of the older one: more calm and obedient. The spouses had already begun to think that parenthood would no longer cause them serious trouble, but that was not the case: Gabriel began to mock Mark, taking advantage of his weakness and modest nature, taking away his toys and making faces at the table. When the brothers grew up, the older one began to scare the younger one with all sorts of stories, like "Children are the result of a terrible disease that you can catch somewhere on the beach" (this is how Gabriel answered Mark's question "Where do children come from?"). Over the years, it became clear that it was Mark who was suitable for the role of heir to the throne (because out of all Zelda's children he was the most responsible), so after the restoration of the castle, the boy was taught the basics of government.

Aryll became the most successful attempt to have a child, as Link and Zelda wanted a girl from the very beginning. Link decided to name his daughter after his sister since he missed her very much. Zelda did not mind, as she had already dreamed of breaking the cycle of naming girls in royal family "Zelda" (just like many fans, as I noticed). By nature, the girl turned out to be more like Gabriel: restless, but not naughty. Link showed a special love for his daughter, which at first made Gabriel and Mark jealous. Fortunately, over time, the brothers and sister found a common language with each other: Mark became Aryll's "guardian angel", and Gabriel spent time with his sister, arranging crazy entertainment, like rolling down a hill in a barrel or pranks on Mark. Aryll's favorite animals are pigs and frogs.

Sheikah trio next gen. 16 years after AoC events

Rei and Tenn are Robbie and Purah's twins. They should not have been born at all, as Purah believed that the children would distract her important scientific work. However, anything can be planned, but a woman in love with a good-natured nerd, despite everything that happens around, remains a woman in love. Fortunately, Impa agreed to babysit her niblings from time to time, and Purah was ready for the fact that, at least in the future, she could raise a faithful assistant from her child. But she never expected that there would be two of these children at once. Well, at least Robbie and Impa were very good as father and aunt, and Purah didn't lose her mind at this stage of her life. Rei at first did not want to devote herself to science at all and wanted to study martial arts more. But having learned the terrible backstory of her aunt, the girl nevertheless changed her mind and decided to study botany. Tenn, on the other hand, always admired the work of his father and even helped him in assembling mechanisms.

Haya is a little daughter of Impa and my OC, who already has ToyHouse profile. As mentioned on the picture, the girl was named after a dragon fruit. Alas, I have not yet come up with some interesting backstory for her, but you can already see her in one of the Hyrule Park specials.

I'm not yet giving any guarantee that Gabriel, Mark and Aryll will become canon in my AU lore, since I can do something extremely unpredictable with Link and Zelda (I write this so as not to ruin the intrigue of potential readers from reading the comic). But Rei, Tenn and Haya are 100% canon characters in Hyrule Park. They will appear in a fanfiction related to its lore called Afterlife. So, stay tuned😉

[bokettochild]

I headcanon that BOTW and TOTK came far FAR away after Hyrule's Era. Because Wind killed Ganondorf for good, and it would be too easy if it was after Twlight. An so Downfall Trio =)

Agreed!

Also it would make sense from the standpoint of the technology available in the games! Legend's era has a phone and I think a radio? And if you (like me) assign Cadence of Hyrule to the Downfall Timeline, then we can throw in the technology and electric power from the Gerudo!

This would lead to the robot horses that levitate off the ground in LoZ 2

And then of course comes the Sheikah technology!

[cheshire-writer]

Did anyone ever think about this: botw/totk x Legend of Arceus? It goes maybe like this:

Arceus: Oh no, I've got this slightly disillusionised, scheming, angsty drama queen teaming up with this slightly more minor diety than me and they may or may not end up tearing holes into my creation.

Arceus: Hylia, my bestie, whatever shall I do?

Arceus: I'm thinking of borrowing a protagonist somewhere and giving them amnesia so that they'll do my bidding...

Hylia: ...

Hylia:... you know what, I've got just the guy for you.

Hylia, mind vibing with Zelda: Descendant, my mortal self, Zelda, my dear, there's this friend of mine who's somewhat in a pinch -

Zelda: You're not borrowing Link.

Hylia: He can keep a version of the purah pad/sheikah slate and the data he records goes to one of your labs.

Zelda: You're still not getting him.

Hylia: That friend of mine lives in an entire different time-space.

Zelda: ...

Hylia: Different plants and creatures and people and magic/technology -

Zelda: Deal!

Zelda, slightly embarrassed: But I've got conditions.

...

Hylia, to Arceus, offering Link: Here, take this, it's dangerous to go alone deal with time-space issue on your own.

Link, in Hisui: ...I'm supposed to let these fluff / cute / weak thingies fight for me?

Link, stick in hand, bunch of wild pokemon defeated at his feet: Why in the name of Hylia would I do that?

(Later, when the pokemon get bigger and stronger and his weapons stay sticks and maybe the occasional Traveler's Sword Weapon/hunting knife/what have you, warms up to using pokemon the way he fights with the Champions)

Link, seeing a Ponyta for the first time, five minutes before burning himself trying to ride it: I'm naming her Spicy.

Meanwhile, back in Hyrule, the science trio having access to Link's inventory: What is this and this AND THIS???

The science trio, serving as the farm area: WHAT ARE THESE THINGS???*delighted* (No, Link is never getting a single pokemon back from them)

Meanwhile, back in Hisui.

Link, seeing flaming horses and sea dragons and walking plants: If Zelda wants some of these for herself/science/to rebuild Hyrule, they better be trained well. *proceeds to teach them come, stay, and let-me-deal-with-this, and, showing them a picture of Zelda, be-good-for-this-person*

Link, watching an Alpha terrorize its surroundings, thinking of the Yiga: These are going to be her new royal bodyguards until I get back.

Hisui gets a culture shock. In the future, it shall be known as the only region where trainers literally fight side by side with their pokemon.

Link gets new recipes, new ingredients, a new region to explore, gets to get Zelda like 100/10-30k+ years worth of birthday presents, gets to help rebuild Hyrule (indirectly), gets to play with new toys, NEW CLOTHES, and doesn't even have a murder cult after his blood. Almost a vacation if the apocalypse wasn't looming, but hey, can't have everything.

(Henceforth, Pokemon inhabit Hyrule, making life significantly easier for the next Hero.)

[occasionallyprosie]

The Look of the Hero

Chapter 2: "Restraint"

Sky didn't expect Warriors to be the one who emerged after Time went to check on him and their still-injured veteran, he expected what the captain informed him and Twilight of next... Why, exactly, was he expected to not make an example of this man who hurt his little brother?

<<Previous

Read On AO3

----

“How is he?” Sky demanded as soon as Warriors came downstairs.

“He woke up,” the war hero reported, looking over them. “I got him to go back to sleep, and had the Old Man sit in with him.”

That was surprising. Normally, Warriors didn’t relinquish his place in vigil of their injured young heroes until forced, especially not during the night. It’d taken Sky and Twilight hours to convince Wind, Wild, Hyrule, and Four to go onto bed. Lady Purah had given them housing for the evening, she had a rather large house, Sky would wager she was from an old, known family.

“What’s wrong?” Twilight asked, eyes narrowing. “You’d never give up watch like that.”

He wasn’t the only one who found Legend’s actions in that infirmary extremely out of character, and extremely dangerous. He had, first of all, knelt at the feet of a man while severely injured, and more than that, he left the infirmary without taking so much as a potion.

Sky had never seen Legend act… subordinate, but the way he treated the elder was more like a soldier than anything he’d ever seen from Warriors. It rubbed him the wrong way. He hoped Warriors had good news.

“Elder’s a piece of shit,” Warriors spat venomously. He grabbed his sword from the table. “He hit him.”

Sky froze, he heard Twilight snarl.

“S’cuse me?” Twilight growled.

Warriors met his eyes, both of them looked absolutely murderous. “That’s not even the worst of it, Rancher. He said he trusts us, so I’ll tell you what he told me.”

Sky stood from the seating mat and walked over, waiting expectantly.

“It’s been going on since the kid was on his first adventure, I don’t know how old he was exactly, but I know it’s the majority of his life. Did you know he’s Sheikah by blood?”

He frowned. No, he hadn’t. Other than his eyes, red as blood and flame, Sky would have never guessed.

Warriors nodded. “Yeah, and turns out the elder didn’t like that. He’s worn contacts most his life, apparently red isn’t the color of a hero.” Warriors was glaring at the door, a silver fire burning in his eyes.

“Kit’s not the type to take orders like that,” Twilight pointed out.

“No, he isn’t,” Sky agreed. “What’s the elder got? Power?”

“In a way. He has authority and control.”

They all jumped, their host stood in the doorway to the next room over, beside her was a slightly shorter woman who definitely seemed older too.

“Lady Purah, did we wake you?” Warriors asked, his fury tempered.

Sky glanced at the woman behind Purah.

“No, we’ve been up,” Purah said. “Sahasrahla is the elder, and therefore he has control of the entire tribe. Every Sheikah, from warrior to infant, fall under his leadership and would do almost anything at his command. My… Link is no exception, neither are the shadow warriors.”

“Link isn’t—it ain’t like him to just fall in line,” Twilight insisted.

Purah’s expression softened. “It isn’t, is it? Or is the Link you know just holding onto what control of his life he does have, because he knows that here, he loses it all? There’s a reason I was surprised to see Link arrive with all of you, and it wasn’t because of your conditions.”

“Almost ten years ago, Link was commanded by the elder to hide his heritage and his true self,” the other woman informed them. “Almost ten years ago, my sister lost her only child. One blessed to her by the goddess of life herself.”

“What?” Sky stared at them. “You’re—You’re his family?”

Purah looked away. “Some years ago, there was a little boy I could claim as my own, but in recent years, it was explicitly forbidden unto me to do such a thing.” Her gaze hardened as she looked back at them. “The only soul who can rescind such a thing is the elder, and it need not be the same elder who established such a thing… On a separate note, my older sister here is Impa,” she gestured to the woman at her side, “and is who is set to succeed Sahasrala as the elder, should he… retire."

Sky couldn't believe it. If he understood it correctly, this was Legend's mother. A mother who had been forced to disown her son, who Legend had been forced to no longer acknowledge as family--who even could he see as family? Did he have one? Or did he just become an orphan with nobody to look after him?

Sky looked over at Twilight and Warriors. He wondered if they caught the implications that Purah had set before them. Based on the burning in their eyes, the fire in Warriors and the ice in Twilight, they knew exactly what had been told to them, and what solution was set before them.

"Other than being forbidden from it, did the elder threaten you?" Warriors asked.

Impa answered that. "He threatened Link. Should we step out of line, he would send the warriors after him. Link has become strong, but when this began, he wouldn't have survived the entire force hunting him. He barely survived the hyrulean army hunting him."

"He threatened us with exile as well," Purah added. "But that was more to keep Link in line than us."

"He... He didn't respond very well when I said his name," Warriors added. Sky looked over in surprise. He what? "Is... Is that another thing forced onto him?"

Oh that elder was so dead.

Neither Sheikah answered.

"No," Purah said eventually, "But children are not usually called by their names by those older than them, a cultural thing, they're known as their parent's child until they become adults.”

"So him being called his name..."

"Would be a damnation," Impa confirmed. "I wouldn't be surprised if it is a point of pain for him, especially considering all he has been through."

Sky took a careful breath. "Captain," he turned to Warriors, "you came down here for a reason."

Warriors nodded. "It may be a bit late for a man of his age, but we need to... talk with the elder."

"Thank Ordona you's was plannin' on it," Twilight said, "ain't no one gonna get away with hurtin' my Kit."

On their way over, Warriors told them exactly what Legend said the Elder had done. Sky was left to try and keep a hold on his temper as they arrived.

Warriors knocked on the front door to the elder's home, the guards had let them through when they insisted on 'important hero business' and stuff.

Luckily--stupidly, Sky corrected--they were let inside and the elder was there to speak with them.

Sky eyed the old man. Sahasrahla, he was pretty sure. First of all, who named their child that? Normally he didn't judge people's names on principle, considering how often he'd had his own name insulted, but Sahasrahla? Really? Secondly... Sky wanted to know if something more physical was preventing Legend from just killing the guy for hurting him and his mother and aunt.

"How can I help you, heroes?" Sahasrahla asked.

"We had a few questions about Link, actually," Warriors said. Sky let him take the lead on talking, and it seemed Twilight was of the same mind. If he tried to control the conversation, the conversation wouldn't last long. "How long have you known him?"

"Ah, most his life, but he is a young man. Hard not to."

A vague answer.

"Do you know anything about his family?"

"I believe he has an uncle and grandparents on the farm east of here, why do you ask?"

A lie. Clearly a lie if the fact that Purah was Legend's mother was true.

Warriors frowned. "Sir, I am going to need you to be completely honest with me. I have three questions for you."

"Of course. Ask away, hero."

"Why did you make Link follow you out of the infirmary while he was clearly injured?"

"Ah, you see, I have been needing to speak with Link about matters of the utmost importance. It was prudent that we spoke immediately, before he took off again. You have been traveling with him, he is quite the fast-paced young man, always running off somewhere new. It was only a few minutes."

Sky tried to restrain his scowl. That gave no excuse to take an injured man from the infirmary prior to treatment, especially not considering, if Sky remembered right, Legend had multiple broken ribs and a sprained ankle, and a deep cut in his arm.

"Mhm, right," Warriors mused. "And why, pray tell, couldn't it wait until he was at least treated for his injuries? Those few minutes could've been the difference between life and death, Elder Sahasrahla."

"Clearly he is fine, and like I said, it was of the utmost importance--"

"You’re kidding," Sky snarled, his patience shattering. "He had two--"

"Three."

"--three broken ribs, that alone requires bed rest for multiple days, even with potions, no conversation is worth risking someone's life to have it."

Twilight spoke up. "Las' question. What made ya think you had the right ta not only strip him of his identity and heritage, forbid his family from claimin' him, threaten them all with each other to force them ta never acknowledge each other... but also raise a hand to him?"

"You think we wouldn't notice the split lip?" Warriors asked lowly, blocking the elder's way of escape. "You think we didn't notice the brand new bruise on his face? How many times have you hurt him like that?"

"You have no right to interfere," the elder snapped, a harsh look in his eyes. "That boy is doing his duty as the hero. The goddess has set certain expectations and as her servants, we must ensure they are met."

"The goddess?" Warriors lunged and stopped Sky from attacking the old man. "You dare--"

Sahasrahla scoffed, as if Sky wasn't being physically restrained from killing him. "I am a servant of the golden goddess, and her will is mine to enforce. Link is a disgrace unto her legacy, and the legacy of heroes--"

"Rancher no!"

Warriors couldn't move from restraining Sky fast enough to stop Twilight from slugging the elder in the face, sending him to the ground.

"The kid said not to hurt him!" Warriors reminded them, pushing Twilight back, and that was the only reason Sky didn't immediately follow Twilight's punch with his own. "He said not to hurt them--Sky."

Sky stood above the elder, whose face was becoming covered in blood from his broken nose. He was beginning to push himself up, clearly stronger than his age would suggest.

"Sky, don’t--"

Sahasrahla froze as the Master Sword was embedded into the wood beside his face. Sky crouched down to look him in the eyes.

"You are so lucky that Link asked us not to hurt you," he said lowly. "But don’t take this act of mercy and respect for Link as grace and allowance to continue what you've done. Because this? This isn't the will of the goddess."

Sahasrahla laughed, strained and a bit panicked. "Really? You’re not even hylian. How can you claim to know the will of the goddess better than the Elder of the Sheikah?"

"I am the Chosen Hero of the Goddess, I forged the Master Sword, traveled through time, defeated the demon lord in combat--I killed the god of hatred. You want to talk about knowing Hylia and her will? If my wife was here right now, I would not be the one daring you to try my patience here, she would. And she would be far less merciful than I."

Sky saw the blood drain from Sahasrahla's face.

Good.

"I am human, yes. But you know? Hylia still chose me, she chose my spirit to be her hero. And," he nodded over at Warriors and Twilight, "she chose my spirit again, and again, and again. These men are my descendants, not in blood but in spirit, and so is Link."

Twilight, no longer held back by Warriors, came closer and crouched down. He snarled, teeth bared almost feral-like.

"And if ya can't tell, we happen ta be just a bit protective of the younger ones. Ya hurt him, Sahasrahla. We don’t take kindly to child abusers."

Sky felt his lips tug into a sort of vicious grin.

"No we don’t," Warriors agreed. "So consider yourself lucky that Link--"

The door slammed open.

"Stop! Don’t--"

"Link wait!"

Sky looked back, Legend--in just his black tunic, no shoes, arm wrapped in bandages, leg wrapped too--stood in the doorway, wide eyes flicking from Warriors, to Sahasrahla, to the Master Sword, to Sky, and then to Twilight, and back again. They stopped on Warriors.

"You said you wouldn't hurt him," he said.

Sky never heard Legend sound so... small, so young.

Purah ran up beside Legend, grabbing his hand. "Link, please. They wouldn't kill him--"

Time also came up the steps, stopping at the top a few feet behind Purah and Legend.

"Captain, you said--"

Warriors crossed the entryway and reached for Legend, Sahasrahla tried to move but Sky shot him a sharp glare and Twilight snarled, silencing the man.

"I know," Warriors soothed. "I did. We won't kill him, we won't hurt him badly either--The Rancher's temper got the best of him, and the Chosen's a bit... threatening. It's okay though. We won't kill him."

"There's worse fates than death," Legend said quietly, Sky barely heard him.

He felt a bit bad, and looking over at Twilight they shared that little guilt. But from what Warriors had said, what Purah and Impa said, and how Sahasrahla spoke...

"I know, I know, kid. You said you trust me, right?"

"I-I do, but--"

"Then trust me. It'll be alright. We have it handled... We won't kill him this time--No, listen to me."

Legend shut his mouth.

"Listen. You do understand that what he's done, what has happened, to you and your family, is wrong, right?" Warriors asked gently. "We can't just let it slide, kid. We won't kill him, not this time, but we'll make sure he understands that we can and will do so if he doesn't fix his act."

"Captain..."

Warriors gestured behind Legend's shoulder, Sky saw it and saw Time quickly move forward, pulling Legend back.

"Just trust us, go back to your home, get some rest... it'll be handled by morning."

"You... You swear you won't kill him?"

"Not this time, only if he refuses to learn," Warriors promised.

Sky watched Time try to pull Legend back, but the younger hero didn't budge, still staring past Warriors at them.

Purah was the one who got him to move. She pulled him by the hand and he startled, looking at her. He didn't hear what she said, or understand what shapes her mouth made, but what he did know was that Legend looked close to tears as he gave them one last glance and let her pull him away.

Warriors had gone rigid though, he closed the door again with a nod to Time, and turned slowly.

"Sky."

Sky nodded, he pulled the Master Sword from the wooden floor, Sahasrahla looked terrified.

"Wait! Wait you can't--"

"We can." Sky corrected coldly. "We will. The only reason we haven't is because Link asked us not to."

"But even that ain't gonna protect you forever," Twilight added. "Ya hear him? This time. So listen up."

"You'll resign," Warriors said, walking back over to them, "you'll retire from being the elder. Them, you won't bother Link again, you won't bother him or Lady Purah. If they speak to you, you will respond kindly, otherwise you do not bother them."

"Understand us?" Sky demanded, sword still hovering over his face. "We have our ways of time travel, don't think we won't come back to make sure you're staying in line."

Legend had paced the entry hall, waiting for them to come back. He knew he shouldn’t have said anything, but he thought—He said they wouldn’t hurt him! They had no right, no reason to injure Sahasrahla like that. Especially looking like they did, the way Sky had been glaring at the elder, the way Twilight snarled at him, he knew first hand that Twilight’s ire was not fun to be on the other side of.

“Link—“ Purah tried to make him stop, make him rest, but how could he?

They were trying to fix his problems, in his era, and likely making things worse. They were heroes, revered and respected, especially by the Sheikah who were ecstatic to learn they were in the company of the Anointed, Chosen Hero of the Goddess. But would that prevent those same people from attacking them and defending their elder? Not to mention…

The door slid open, and the three older heroes returned. Legend forced his emotions down to level a glare at them.

"He gave his word," Warriors said. "If he doesn't adhere to it..."

"Then I'd be more than happy to force his hand," Sky offered, a dark look in his eyes.

"You're all idiots," Legend snapped. “Why would you--What even--Why?"

Twilight snorted, he moved over and squeezed his shoulder as he passed by him. “'Cause you're our kid brother, kit. It's s'our job to protect ya, t'do what we can to make your life better. 'Course we ain't able to do much, but what we can do, we will do."

“You—" He floundered. How did one respond to that?! “What does threatening him even help?!”

"Either he resigns or..." Twilight shrugged. "Like the Captain said, we'll handle it. Ya Ian’t gotta worry about it."

"I'll worry about what I want! You can't just-just—You can’t…”

“Why not?” Sky asked, unclipping his sailcloth.

“Because! Y-You’re—“ he was getting flustered.

Twilight was still behind him but he could see how Purah and Impa looked concerned, the former more obvious than the latter. Sky and Warriors were in front of him, Warriors taking off his armor—why had he gone wearing armor if he wasn’t going to fight—while Sky gave him a rather sad look.

“You’re not supposed to be…”

“You’re not supposed to need help?” Warriors said, far too much understanding in his eyes. That same look that had Legend agreeing to trust him. “Everyone needs help sometimes, kid. It’s harder for us heroes, everyone expects us to be perfect and fit into whatever they think the hero should be, so we think we can’t accept help, but that’s exactly why we should help each other while we can. Nobody is ever going to understand the struggles of being a hero like another hero can."

Legend clicked his jaw shut, clenching his hand into a fist. He heard footsteps retreat, but he honestly didn’t know who left the room.

“Like the Rancher said,” Sky hummed, “we’re brothers. Brothers of bloodshed, by arms raised, through hardships… no matter what, that means we got your back, and that anyone who hurts you will have to face the consequences of their actions.”

Warriors added, “Especially when you refuse to administer them yourself, and they show no remorse for what they did to you.”

He stared at them. Sky stepped toward him and to his surprise, wrapped his sailcloth around Legend.

“Zelda would have killed him.”

His jaw dropped, but a piercing, electric look stopped him from saying anything.

“He hit you, he threatened you and your family to control you, had my Zelda been here and seen how he didn’t even feel regret for his actions, not even a little bit… Idiotic men in power hurting the good-hearted kids just trying to do what was right…” 

There was a slight glaze in Sky’s eyes, something that was a little offsetting. He didn’t look all himself, his eyes—normally a soft blue—were far paler, nearly an icy frosted blue. In the same moment, they returned to normal… Those eyes though… that was the look of a hero, he realized. The soft kindness, the flickering, undenied righteous anger, the power and assurance…

Sky had the look of a hero.

“Zelda would have killed him on the spot, and the only reason I didn’t do the same is because you asked us not to kill him… I’ll only extend that mercy once.”

Legend bit his tongue, looking down briefly before dragging his eyes back up and just nodding. He didn’t trust his voice, he wasn’t sure he trusted that their actions would bring any positive results and not just horrible consequences, but he trusted them… and that would need to be good enough.

“Come on, you need to get some rest,” Warriors said softly, he couldn’t find it in him to fight against them.

[fioreofthemarch]

Vicious Sickles

Fandom: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Relationship: Link & Original Yiga Clan characters Words: 2596 | AO3 link [cw blood and combat violence]

Chest heaving, hands shaking, vision fading. This was meant to be practice.

Link steadies himself on the marshy sand beneath his feet, and winces from the pain. Every muscle cries out, every breath is ragged. A solitary thought keeps him standing: this would be a lousy place to die.

He blinks slowly as he focuses on the problem ahead; a trio of screeching lizalfos, hip-hopping from foot to foot, lizal-blades in hand, their beady eyes rolling. One of the rascals wields a Royal Broadsword that Link went to great lengths to salvage from Hyrule Castle, having used its disgusting tongue to snatch it from his hand.

His only weapon left is the Sheikah Slate. He holds it weakly in his left hand while his right hand is clasped tightly around his shoulder, covering a smiling red gash. It drips blood down to the shallow waters that lap his feet. Some green-eared traveller in Hateno told him that the lizalfos in Faron are sluggish in comparison to their river land brethren and would make for good fighting practice. He’ll kill whoever that was, if he survives.

He’s almost out of grit, so his next action is swift: he thrusts the Sheikah Slate forward and the Royal Broadsword freezes, held in place by a rune of bright yellow radiance. The lizalfos that stole it whips about in confusion, talon clasping the air where the weapon once was. It’s cheating, Link knows, but honest fighters never did live long.

Stumbling forward, Link grabs hold of the Royal Broadsword and wrenches it free. In a single movement he skewers one of the lizalfos through the chest and withdraws his blade to decapitate a second. The third, seeing this sudden flash of violence, turns to flee.

Spent, but alive, Link falls to his knees on the sand. He’ll take a cheap victory over a gruesome death any day. But he can’t stay here. His consciousness is going out from him like the tide. He selects Kakariko Village on the Sheikah Slate map and lets the tendrils of blue and silver energy carry him to safety.

—

Hyah, hyuck, phwor! Dorian of Kakariko Village steps through a well-practised routine of shadow swings, wielding a slender, bone-straight blade.

In a light rain that falls as little more than a mist, Link watches Dorian dance, as he sits on the steps of Impa’s house. Cado has joined him, and they pass a bowl of pickled swift carrots back and forth. Cado occasionally pipes up with criticism of Dorian’s form or posture, but Link says that he admires his discipline.

“I was Yiga!” cries Dorian mid-swing, “Hyurk! Discipline was survival!”

Link wants to apologise, feeling bad for bringing up Dorian’s past, even unintentionally. But when he casts a sideways glance to Cado, he sees the other Sheikah rolling his eyes. Here we go again, Cado mouths, and Link can’t help chuckle.

“Laugh all you want!” Dorian says, never pausing his routine. “There is no humour when you are fighting to the death.”

“Is that what we’re watching now?” Cado teases, and gets no answer.

Link hugs his knees to his chest, embarrassed at what he is about to admit. “I… I was nearly killed by some lizalfos, the other day.”

“Cheeky bastards,” Cado says, clicking his tongue. “Don’t beat yourself up.”

“Yes, Link, any fight you walk away from is a good one,” Dorian adds.

“I teleported away, actually.”

Cado laughs, carrot nearly spilling from his mouth. “You fled? Is this really our Princess’ own appointed Knight speaking?”

“What happened to not beating himself up?” Dorian cuts in. Offended, Cado takes the bowl of carrots and marches up the stairs to Impa’s house, giving Link a short, parting nod.

“I need to be quicker,” Link continues. “I need better weapons.”

With a sigh, Dorian brings his blade in front of his face, pausing there for a moment, and ends his routine. He sheathes the sword, and then sits down beside Link on the stairs. The rain falls heavier now, so they shift higher up to be sheltered by the pagoda roof. Dorian’s hair and beard are wet from the rain, which to Link makes him seem older, his dark eyes dropping and weary.

“A blade cannot change its wielder,” Dorian says. “You fought bravely, do not doubt that.”

Link feels little comfort in the words, not when his body still aches. He changes the subject, nodding to the blade on Dorian’s back: “Where did you get that one?”

Dorian draws the blade again, laying it across his lap. “Our eightfold blades were originally created by the Sheikah and Yiga’s shared ancestors and were passed down by both tribes. Few remain.”

“Did this one… belong to the Yiga?”

“No. Impa gave it to me as her way of welcoming me to this tribe.”

For a moment Link thinks of asking if he can borrow it - a blade like that would solve a lot of his problems. But he senses Dorian’s connection to it - he could no more ask to borrow the man’s arm, and he knows he has a sword of his own waiting for him in the Korok Forest. If only I was stronger…

Then the Sheikah guard is sheathing the sword again and standing to leave. Before he departs however, he turns back to Link a final time: “You will find the blade of your soul Link, I am sure of it.”

Suddenly anxious, to get moving or to prove some unspoken promise to himself, Link resolves to leave Kakariko as soon as the weather clears. Then, as if the Goddess herself is listening to his thoughts, the rain begins to ease.

—

Link is barely out of Necluda when the first opportunity to test his strength arises. On the riverine path between the Duelling Peaks, a cowering Hylian seems to materialise out of thin air, their hunched stature in stark contrast to the bold and brash travellers he has met on the road.

“I’ll never make it home now!” the traveller whimpers as he approaches.

“Are you alright?” Link asks. “D’you need any help?”

The traveller whips their head around, their whole body shaking. “Help me!?” they shriek, and then suddenly – they arc upwards, standing to attention. “You can help me by dying!”

There is a puff of red smoke, and the traveller is gone. In their place is nothing but the sound of laughter and–

Hyuk! A Yiga bursts into being above Link, a shining blade in hand. Link jerks away just in time and sees that the Yiga wields a strange, curved weapon that Link has never seen before — it’s like a scythe, but smaller and angrier – and quick! The Yiga dashes forward in a slipstream; steel rings as Link barely draws his own blade in time, a run-of-the-mill soldier's broadsword. But the scythe-weapon seems to hook around the hilt of his sword, tearing it from his grip. Link roars as his broadsword is flung across the river and out of sight.

The Yiga flips and spins to face him. They bring their scythe to bear — a deadly challenge. Link has nothing to counter with; no weapons in storage and barely more than a dagger on his belt. He raises his fists.

Across the shore they trade swipes and blows, shuffling one step, two, pebbles crunching underfoot. They are two vipers: red and blue, striking with deadly precision. Although only one of them actually has a weapon.

The Yiga’s curved blade has barely any reach and looks too unbalanced to provide good defence. As the dance continues, Link wonders if he can use this to his advantage. He begins to withdraw, one inch at a time, stepping away from the Yiga with each dodge until they are thrusting wildly forward to keep their blade in range.

This is the moment that he strikes. The Yiga lurches too far forward and skids uncomfortably across the stones. Thwack! Link brings a balled fist across the Yiga’s side, and feels the crack of a rib, and then he strikes their wrist, catching the blade that they drop before it hits the ground. Plan complete, Link juts away, out of the Yiga’s reach, the scythe held close and ready. But the Yiga does not advance; they spring backwards, flipping and hopping as though they don’t have two, maybe three broken bones, and then in a final puff of smoke they are gone.

So ends the dance, and Link revels in the rush it has brought him. He survived. No, he triumphed! Blade or no blade, he can still fight.

Later, he photographs the curved blade with the Sheikah Slate to find out what it truly is: a Yiga Vicious Sickle. The half-moon shape of the blade allows for the rapid delivery of fatal wounds and serves as a symbol of their terror.

In the sickle, Link catches his reflection – an open eye and a determined brow. He takes it in hand, testing it. It’s light, lighter than any blade he’s held. And it feels… powerful. Like an extension of his arm; a single, grasping claw. His soul feels stronger just holding it. Yes – this is a good blade, a true blade, just the one he had sought. He straps the Vicious Sickle to his back and continues on the road.

—

To the monsters of Hyrule, a reign of terror is unfolding.

There is a Hylian, a smaller one of their kind, draped in blue and white cloth, and wielding a weapon that none can defeat. Most of the humans wield simple, blunt blades. Most are weak, whimpering things. This Hylian wields a blade that slices even the toughest of scales and thickest of skin, and he fights with an endless rage and vigour. Once he closes in, there is no chance of survival.

The rampage begins in Necluda, where the waters flow to the Lake Hylia. Chu-chus, bokoblins, even moblins and a handful of Guardians fall to this terrible, curved blade. Eventually, it makes its way down to Faron, a trail of blood and guts in its wake, until it arrives on Aris Beach, on a marshy shore, where the sea dwelling lizalfos make their hovels and nests.

—

Link is sitting on the sand, feasting on whatever fish the lizalfos that lived here had been roasting, when the girl with the Windcleaver arrives. He does not hear her, and so does not turn, but she recognises him regardless.

“Are you Link?” She asks. Link drops his fish, and leaps to his feet with the Vicious Sickle already drawn. He has, by now, a keen ear for the untrustworthy.

The girl has black hair, worn loose, and wears red and black travelling clothes. On her back is a long, thin blade in a burlap sheath.

“I know what you are,” Link says.

“I do not deny it. I am Yiga. But that is not why I am here.”

The girl reaches over her shoulder for the hilt of her blade. Link could strike at her now, end this before it begins, but a curiosity holds him in place. The girl smiles at him, and the expression puts Link strangely off-balance – there is no fear in her eyes, only hunger.

“I know what you want to ask,” she says. “You hurt my friend. You took his blade, which you now clumsily wave in my direction.”

“Your friend attacked me.”

“That makes no difference where I am from. Anyway, outsiders cannot be permitted to wield our sickles.”

The girl draws her blade - a longsword that Link recognises as a bigger sibling to the eightfold blade Dorian wields, and he can’t help but shiver. It has thrice the reach of his sickle and looks just as deadly.

“But I’m not here on official business,” the Yiga girl says as they begin to circle on the sand, weighing each other up. “Our Master would not permit me to kill you just for stealing a sickle. But then my Johta decided to exile himself, for the humiliation of returning to us unarmed. So, I am bound to no one but my own vengeance, Hero. And I will die if it means killing you.”

With that she strikes, heaving the longsword forward, but Link dodges left. He spins, blade raised, leaving a cut on her shoulder. The girl smiles. First blood.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” Link says.

The girl is unphased. “Yes, you do.”

Then she raises her fist and plants it firmly on the sand. A stream of air and dirt erupts in front of her, one that homes in on Link and chases him backwards along the shore, until it explodes in a huge pillar of rock. Link cries out as he is thrown to the ground, a blinding pain tearing through his shin. Second blood.

“C’mon then, Hero. You can do better than that!” the Yiga girl laughs.

She is on the offence now; she swings at Link’s head, his ankles, his side, each one barely dodged. One swing catches the curve of his sickle, and the superior weight of the longsword wrenches it from his grip. No time — Link has only one advantage; he grabs the Sheikah Slate and spins around, thrusting his hand forward. A purple beam of light arcs upwards and catches the wayward sickle mid-air. Link pulls the Slate to his chest, and the sickle shoots backwards towards him. He catches it cleanly with his free, left hand, and brings it to bear, ready to continue.

“That’s cheating,” the girl says.

“I know.”

The next time he swipes with the sickle, he catches the longsword across the hilt and with his free hand punches the girl across the face. She reels, dazed, and tries to strike again but Link is quicker; the sickle is quicker. Her blow never lands. All that there is between them is a soft squelch, and a gasp. The Yiga girl drops her longsword. Her hands go to her stomach. They turn red, just like the sand at her feet.

She staggers backwards and, in that moment, Link finally looks down at his sickle. It is slicked with shining red liquid from hilt to tip.

“Well fought, Hero of Hyrule,” the girl murmurs. With muted shock Link realises she is smiling. Then her face drops, pale and bloodless, and she collapses onto the sand.

Link is frozen in place for what feels like hours, faintly aware of a dripping sound until he notices with an anguished cry that it is the blood dripping from his sickle onto his boot. He drops the blade like its hilt is made from hot coals.

Then he finds himself shaking the Yiga girl, whose lips are now white. Get up! You’re bleeding, idiot, get up! But she never stirs. It isn’t until the tide starts coming in and the carrion birds arrive that Link understands fully what he has done. The girl is dead. He all but cut her in two.

And then, his attention turns to the Vicious Sickle, which is still skewered in the sand.

In that moment, he remembers Dorian’s advice, and knows it is wrong. A blade can change its wielder. For the better, or for much, much worse.

Link takes the sickle by its red, wrapped hilt, disgusted by how light it feels. It’s nothing more than a vessel, and held within it is his recklessness and the mark this will forever make on his soul. In the blade’s reflection he catches his eye, round and dark.

Link raises the sickle over his shoulder, and throws it into the sea.