#The Legend of Zelda: Golden Mercy

[skyloftian-nutcase]

Hey guess what it's more Good Ganondorf content!

@silvercaptain24 <3

The party had long since finished. Link had been escorted back to his room and left in peace. With food in his stomach and some water, he felt his strength returning. His body trembled as he stood tentatively, alone in his room, but he managed to stay on his feet nonetheless.

Stepping quietly to the door, Link put an ear to it. There had to be guards outside, but he hadn't seen any when Nabooru had brought him back here.

This entire situation was making less sense, but he wasn't going to stick around long enough to parse it all out. Nabooru had claimed Ganondorf was holding him hostage to keep him safe. Ganondorf himself had tried to make himself look like he wasn't the villain, like the entirety of Hyrule hadn't been ripped apart at the seams because of his corruption and desire for power, like he hadn't torn the Triforce from Link and Zelda in battle while his army slaughtered their men.

It didn't make sense. What game was the monster playing? Link would have to figure it out when he made it back to his own people. Zelda and his army were waiting for him. The queen was no doubt trying to get a rescue operation together, and Link didn't want to risk anyone's lives over himself, not when he could find his own way out. He wasn't some helpless fool, he could handle this, and he would get the Triforce pieces back that the queen so desperately guarded.

He'd seen the crazed look in Zelda's eyes when they'd lost the Triforce the first time. He didn't want to see that again.

There was no other way out of this room than to use the door. It felt stupidly simple and reckless. He had to open it quickly, to catch the guards by surprise, wherever they were stationed. He needed some kind of weapon. He'd managed to sneak a knife in from dinner, slipping it into his boot, but he wasn't sure how useful it would be. He gripped it firmly in his hand and took a steadying breath.

It was now or never.

Link threw the door open, quickly taking in his surroundings, and saw... nothing.

No one... was there.

Well, he couldn't stop to think about it. The noise he'd just made would attract attention.

Trying to remember the path Nabooru had led him through to get outside, Link ran quickly, ignoring the chill that sank into his bones as he moved. When had it gotten so cold? His fingers felt like they were getting numb already as they gripped the knife.

The hallway opened up to a larger room. He remembered that. This was where--

A hand grabbed him by the back of his tunic and yanked harshly, sending him to the floor with a yell. Link kicked blindly, eyes focusing on his target.

It was Ghirahim.

Snarling, Link rolled to get away and swiped with the knife to create distance. Ghirahim caught his arm by the wrist, watching him with a sadistic smile.

"I figured you wouldn't sit still for long, sky child," he purred.

Something in Link roared in response, and he let out a battle cry as gripped the demon's arm with his free hand, bringing all his weight down to drag Ghirahim to the ground. The demon gasped a little at the increased weight he was holding, but he caught the hero by the shirt instead of letting them both fall.

Link spat in his face next, and that worked brilliantly, making the demon hiss and pull away immediately. Free from his grasp, Link began to run, knowing this was not a fight he was going to win with a knife. He heard a snap and Ghirahim appeared in front of him.

"Now, now," Ghirahim said, brushing some white hair out of his face. "I have strict orders to keep you here."

"Over my dead body," Link snarled.

"Oh, I wish," Ghirahim replied. "You see, that has been a point of contention lately. My master wishes you alive and it is so dreadfully taxing on me. But I trust his judgment. He has a way to address the true matter. And then your little vassal can be safe and sound while I deal with you."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Link snapped, eyes searching for another escape route as he spoke. The demon lord certainly loved to talk, so if Link could use that to his advantage, he would.

"It's amazing how dense you can be," Ghirahim grumbled. "Honestly, an entire war fought for you and you don't even understand it. Cia may have fallen in love with you, but she desires your vassal. Nevertheless, this has always been about eliminating you. My master understands that. It will be my highest honor to serve in that capacity for him, to be the one to deliver the killing blow. I cannot wait for that momentous occasion."

"You're out of your mind," Link replied. Another hallway was just to the left, and if he ran fast enough... "I am the Hero. I don't know what you're talking about with vassals. I serve the queen as a--"

"THIS ISN'T ABOUT THE QUEEN!" Ghirahim screamed, face contorted in rage. "This is about you, sky child, about revenge, about eliminating the one threat in my master's way! Her Grace isn't here, and her descendant doesn't have a fraction of that power, the Triforce is all my master needs now, and I will finally be able to kill you!"

The conversation was about to end and Link knew it. He tore off in the direction of the other hallway, managing to round the corner when he heard a snap again. He was prepared this time, grabbing the nearest pot and throwing it just as diamonds materialized in front of him. Ghirahim grunted as it made impact as soon as he appeared, shattering into countless pieces while Link quickly backtracked and went a different way.

By the grace of the goddesses, that had given the captain enough time to at least outmaneuver the demon lord, who wasn't sure which part of the compound Link had ended up by now. He was grateful for it, his heart racing and pounding in his ears as he rushed to find an exit. Fighting Ghirahim in the heat of battle felt far more... controlled than this. Here he felt like prey, and Ghirahim's rage and power over him was...

He wasn't going to say he was scared. He wouldn't.

Link felt a breeze and it gave him hope. That had to mean he was close to the outdoors. But where were all the Gerudo?

A door was up ahead, sand trickling in from beneath it, a promise of freedom and safety. Link threw it open with relief.

And ran right into Ganondorf.

Gasping, Link scrambled backwards, losing his footing and his balance as he fell unceremoniously to the ground. He continued to scoot away, trying to find a way around the towering figure. The man was enormous - it could give Link the advantage of scurrying around him if he was fast enough, but the world was spinning and--

"I figured you might try this," Ganondorf sighed.

Okay. Okay, fine. So they were talking. That would give him time to catch his breath. All these fools and their monologues - and people said Link was arrogant. At least he didn't usually give his enemies time to formulate a plan while they were actively standing in front of him.

"Your strength is returning," Ganondorf noted, walking towards him. "But that doesn't mean you're ready for a fight."

Well, Link might as well try to get some answers while he was here. "Where's the Triforce, you monster?"

"Where it needs to be," Ganondorf answered simply, closing the door behind him, much to Link's dismay. He stared at Link for an uncomfortably long time, making the captain squirm.

"Nabooru said you want me alive. Tell me why," he demanded, trying to make the man talk again.

Ganondorf was silent for a moment longer and then shook his head. "You're not in a state to accept my words."

"Try me," Link goaded. He had to admit, at this point he was curious. And it bought him more time to figure out what the heck his next step would be.

"I know your type, Hero," Ganondorf said, tacking on the title as if it were a curse. "You follow the queen like a puppy that doesn't know any better. Your heart is filled with a sense of duty, a desire to help and do good, and it is fixed on that woman. You'll do whatever Zelda tells you."

Link bristled but bit his tongue. Whatever slander Ganondorf was about to say didn't interest him, but the man hadn't made a point yet.

"You don't see the mess you're in," Ganondorf continued, shaking his head. "You don't understand. I'm trying to protect you, Link."

Link blinked. Then he blinked again. Nabooru had said as much, but hearing it from him... well. She had said keep him safe. He'd interpreted it as keep him alive. "Protect me from what?"

"Everything," Ganondorf muttered in a low time, voice rumbling in his chest. He bent forward, as if to grab Link, and the captain took that as his cue.

Link bolted, rushing to the left to get out of the reach of the man as he tried to run around him, using his small size to his advantage. He reached the door and immediately realized his mistake.

It was locked.

The ground vanished beneath him, and Link felt his stomach lurch as he was held in the air by one of his arms. The strain of having his entire body weight pulled into his shoulder joint made him grit his teeth. Then his world twirled as he was tossed against the man, his back to Ganondorf's chest, held in place by an arm wrapped around his torso.

"Let me go!" he yelled, kicking his legs as much as possible.

"I told you that you were not ready for this conversation," Ganondorf said, almost chidingly. "I'm taking you back to your room so you can rest."

"You think I'll be ready for a conversation that isn't true?" Link snapped. "You're holding me hostage for a reason, stop lying to me!"

Ganondorf said nothing, walking down the hallway with Link his helpless prisoner dangling in his grip. His waist and stomach ached from the hold, though at least pressed against someone else warmed him enough that he wasn't shivering and numb. His body was screaming at him at this point, wounds he hadn't even realized existed suddenly flaring up. He supposed the battle that had gotten him captured had left more marks than he'd realized.

That didn't matter. Escaping mattered.

Link felt so utterly helpless and he hated it. He'd never felt so out of control in his life. When he was plopped back on the bed and left alone to his own musings, he curled into a ball, suddenly shivering again.

He felt so, so alone. And suddenly, with the thought of Ghirahim's twisted, demented, enraged face, with the thought of how easily Ganondorf just manhandled him, he felt...

He wasn't going to say it. He wasn't going to say it.

Damn it all, he was scared. And he hated it.

He was the bearer of the Triforce of Courage and he was scared.

Burying his face into his knees, Link hugged himself and cursed himself at the same time. The tears fell silently at first before little hiccups started to accompany them. He was too tired for this. The only mercy the goddesses provided was that he was alone. He didn't want anyone to see him like this.

His body felt impossibly heavy. The room felt like it was closing in. He was exhausted. His head hurt. His stomach ached from how he'd been held. Something on his back seared like fire. His knees were bothering him. He was freezing. He felt so unbelievably overwhelmed. He felt so unbelievably unsafe.

He'd always been the one to save the day. He'd been invincible with the Master Sword, though he'd learned that having others to help him was equally as important. But he had no Master Sword here. No friends. No hope of anything.

In the darkness and cold of the night, his fears consumed him, and he gave into despair. Link cried, so desperately alone. He just wanted to feel safe.

Warmth enveloped him, and he sank into it willingly, his hiccups turning into sobs. Something ran soothingly along his back, soft cloth was pressed against his face, and he found himself clinging to it desperately like a lifeline.

He needed to get himself together. He didn't care. No one was here anyway.

Then what's... why am I...?

He was too tired to process it anymore. All he knew was he felt safe.

"You'll be okay, child."

The voice was deep and gentle, whispered into his hair. Gentle pressure pressed him against whatever softness was in front of him. He heard a heartbeat.

A heartbeat. Pressure. Words. This was... he wasn't alone.

Hiccupping, Link opened his eyes, hands still clinging for dear life to patterned cloth in front of him, red hair spilling into his face as it slid over the person's shoulders.

A deep voice. A man's voice. A man wearing Gerudo--

What the hell.

Alarms rang in Link's mind as he put the pieces together. This couldn't be right this couldn't be right--

"You're safe," the voice said gently, continuing to run a hand along his back.

Link was so lost and confused and hurt and why the hell didn't anything make sense what was happening--

"I'll fix this," Ganondorf promised, and Link gave up entirely, falling apart.

[milkyplier]

@skyloftian-nutcase here she is!!! I hope she meets all your expectations ✨

[skyloftian-nutcase]

*vibrating* YOOOOOOO

My head is full of cotton and I am not wording right now and I’m sure you could tell from my screaming earlier but I LOVE IT SO MUCH 😭❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

@skyloftian-nutcase 's Imprisoning War trio! :) I had a lot of fun drawing this and revisiting some techniques I used a lot in the past with a new perspective. And looking at Gerudo design. Eheh.

[bestfictionalplant]

Bracket reveal

Text version under cut!

The tourney is split into 4 32 brackets, and the winners of each will go to the semi finals! I'll make a different post about HOW the tourney will run, and this will serve as a pinned post for round 1 :)

Bracket 1, Side 1

Peppino (Vampire Survivors) vs Winged Strawberry (Celeste)

Herb (Monster Hunter) vs Triffids (Day of the Triffids)

Gigi (Xiaolin Showdown) vs Silent Princess (The Legend of Zelda)

Breath of Evil (Wings of Fire) vs Thorn Thallid (Magic the Gathering)

Audrey II (Little Shop of Horrors) vs Farewell Flower (Mistborn)

Togemon (Digimon) vs Silverwood Tree (Witch Hat Atelier)

Golden Apple Tree (Greek Mythology) vs Potbelly (My Singing Monsters)

Sculk (Minecraft) vs MocDonald (One Piece)

Bracket 1, Side 2

Vida (The Promised Neverland) vs Glaze Lily (Genshin Impact)

Dr Brewer's Clone (Goosebumps) vs The Spring (Friends at the Table)

Kite Eating Tree (Peanuts) vs Zotoh Zhaan (Farscape)

Wheel Tree (His Dark Materials) vs Mushtree (I Was a Teenage Exocolonist)

Medusoid Mycelium (A Series of Unfortunate Events) vs Radial (Ooblets)

Chikorita (Pokemon) vs Blast Cone (League of Legends)

Gooloog (AAAHH!!! Real Monsters) vs Venus (Bug Fables)

The Thorian (Mass Effect) vs Yggdrasil (Norse Mythology)

Bracket 2, Side 1

Deku Tree (The Legend of Zelda) vs Blood Blossoms (Danny Phantom)

Hotblonde37159 (Angel: The Series) vs Vash the Stampede (Trigun)

Kinoko (Don't Hurt Me, My Healer) vs Wolfsbane (The Vampire Diaries)

Plant (Monster Rancher) vs Flower of Life (Mesopotamian Mythology)

Truffula Tree (The Lorax) vs Slurperon Enchantress (Internet Scam)

The Brain Tree (Neopets) vs Ginseng Baby (Scarlet Hollow)

Chompy (Bug Fables) vs Whispy Woods (Kirby)

Clavu (Overlord) vs Ivern (League of Legends)

Bracket 2, Side 2

Bulbasaur (Pokemon) vs The Trees of Valinor (Lord of the Rings)

Leslie (The Amazing World of Gumball) vs Hayzee Dayzee (Paper Mario)

Piranha Plant (Mario) vs Specimen 34/The Blessed Eternal (Wolf 359)

Potted Plant (Wander Over Yonder) vs Morbuzakh (Bionicle)

Jabe & the Trees of Cheem (Doctor Who) vs Black Mercy (DC)

Mr Plant (The World of Mr Plant) vs Feculant Gnarlmaw (Warhammer 40k)

Tree Rex (Skylanders) vs Flowey (Undertale)

Sundrop Flower (Tangled) vs Venus McFlytrap (Monster High)

Bracket 3, Side 1

Pinchley (Long Gone Gulch) vs Frank the Plant (Harley Quinn: the Animated Series)

The Venus (Hello From the Hallowoods) vs Nirnroot (The Elder Scrolls)

Food Fight (Skylanders) vs Paopu Fruit (Kingdom Hearts)

Phillogenous esk Piemondum (Rod Albright Alien Adventures) vs Plant (Wall E)

Tannot Root (Farscape) vs The Broccoloids (The Powerpuff Girls)

Rockbud (The Stormlight Archive) vs Sylvan Hound (Guild Wars 2)

Eldridge Johnson-Mayer (The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy) vs Hyacinth/Hyacinthus (Greek Mythology)

Selas Flower (Kingkiller Chronicle) vs Treant (Disgaea)

Bracket 3, Side 2

Dragonflame Cacti (Wings of Fire) vs Sunflower (Plants vs Zombies)

The Bioplant (The Rising of the Shield Hero) vs Turnip Boy (Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion)

Shambling Mound (Dungeons and Dragons) vs Mandrake (Shin Megami Tensei/Persona)

Cowplant (The Sims) vs Ebony Queen's Apple (Limbus Company)

Devil Fruits (One Piece) vs Donkey-Cabbage (Enchanted Forest Chronicles)

Oaktopus (My Singing Monsters) vs Field Dungeon (Rune Factory 4)

Mushroom Tree (Stardew Valley) vs Jumpkin (Cassette Beasts)

Undergrowth (Danny Phantom) vs Karzahni (Bionicle)

Bracket 4, Side 1

Dreamstalk (Kirby) vs Myconid (Balders Gate 3)

Stingbulb (Fablehaven) vs Treebeard (Lord of the Rings)

Stray Cat (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure) vs Peashooter (Plants vs Zombies)

Giant Turnip (Codename: Kids Next Door) vs Treasure Mushroom (Guild Wars 2)

Tree of Wisdom (Sonic the Hedgehog) vs Fire Flower (Mario)

Stump (The Angry Beavers) vs Groot (Marvel)

Maise (Oneshot) vs Konohana Tree (Okami)

Red Weed (War of the Worlds) vs Pod Plant (Fortnite)

Bracket 4, Side 2

Plantera (Terraria) vs The Grass Snake (Friends at the Table)

Breathweed (Warhammer 40k) vs Campestri (Dungeons and Dragons)

Neo Alraune (Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle) vs Kringlefucker (Homestuck)

Slimefoot the Stowaway (Magic: The Gathering) vs Gatfruit Tree (Space Station 13/14)

Sex Pollen Plant (Fanfiction) vs The Rumor Weed (VeggieTales: Larry-Boy and the Rumor Weed)

Dr Madley Radish (Papa Louie) vs Vervain (The Vampire Diaries)

Yatevon (OCTAHEDRON: Transfixed Edition) vs Echo Flower (Undertale)

Wither Rose (Minecraft) vs Hydramon (Digimon)

[justakidicarus]

Dark Link - The Fall of a Hero (1/?) Prologue

So I've been writing the sort of prequel/continuation of my one-shot here and since I've gotten writer's block with it I've decided to start posting the parts I have gotten written. So far I have three finished parts including this one with at least two needed to finish the set.

Assumptions:

Set in the Downfall timeline post A Link Between Worlds. I looked up the timeline on the Legend of Zelda Wiki for this as I thought Link's awakening was after aLBW. Turns out I was wrong. I do not know much about the Downfall Timeline.

I'm trying my best to keep the characterisations of characters from the actual games unique but I'm an LU fan and it's hard. It's not even Link that's giving me problems (you'll see what I mean in part 3).

More notes of for parts of the story mentioned and different pieces of worldbuilding I haven't been able to integrate into the fic are beneath the fic. Spoilers for the trailer of Echoes of Wisdom. This fic should be considered Non-canon to the events of Echoes of Wisdom and is heavily canon-divergent. Fic below the cut. This is the prologue and is quite short, so I'll post the next two parts straight after as well.

---///---

Link slammed into the hard stone with a groan, dazed by his impromptu fall. His groan quickly turned into desperate coughing as the normally clean air of Hyrule was replaced with something cloying and thick, painting his throat and lungs, attempting to choke him to death. He hacked loudly, trying to clear his lungs and breathe in some usable air as he rose to his knees, one hand supporting him while the other clutched at his throat. He could barely see the bricks under his hand and what parts of him weren’t occupied with coughing were occupied with shivering in the sudden cold.

“Oh, how the mighty have fallen.”

Heavy footsteps echoed through the room as a large hand slammed into Link’s side, throwing him aside and away from the sword that had fallen beside him. Stupid! Why did he let his sword out of his hand? He could barely stand under the pressure from the air around him and still, his breathing didn’t ease up, leaving him completely at the demon king’s mercy.

Ganon picked him up effortlessly, all the wounds Link and his blade had left on its hands vanishing before the Hero’s eyes due to the dark energy of the room. The Hylian wheezed as the boar-faced beast squeezed his ribcage, Link’s arms pinned to his sides, regardless of his struggles. The sound of clattering metal echoed in the chamber as the beast moved, placing its blade down as its other hand came out of the shadows to grab his right hand. Link’s breath picked up as the gentle feeling of the triforce of Courage, constantly in the back of his mind, suddenly flared with urgency and pain.

A scream tore itself out of his throat, the pain ripping across his body as if he had been set alight. He thrashed within Ganon’s grip, trying to rip his hand away from the monster to no avail. He was completely trapped.

“Your time as a thorn in my side is over, Hero.”

Link whined low and long, his words not working as the pain began to crescendo, Ganon’s grip tightening on both his body and his hand while his breathing remained laboured and harsh.

“I have won.”

There was a sudden flash of Light in the otherwise pitch-black room as the golden power snapped, twisting out of Link’s hand and into Ganon’s palm. The golden triangle was twisting around, leaning more in favour of returning to the one it was ripped from than remaining with the one who had stolen it. Link was promptly tossed aside, slamming into the opposite wall with a harsh cry of pain, falling to the ground with limbs suddenly sore and weak to a level he had never felt in his life. Still, he couldn’t take his eyes off the simple triangle that had been his to protect. The one he just lost.

“The Triforce of Courage…” Ganon murmured, looking for all the world as if he had forgotten Link’s presence in the room as he marvelled at the prize he had coveted for so long.

“Mine at Last.”

Ganon closed his fist, the triangle's presence extinguished and removed all Light from the room. Darkness rose eagerly to its master’s call and swarmed the room, dousing all within in its shadows. Link’s eyes burned and his lungs screamed in pain

The last thought Link had before his consciousness gave out was a prayer to Zelda. She couldn’t let the triforce fall into Ganon’s hands, not when he had already failed.

---///---

Current (Prologue) -> Next (Part 1: Recruiter's Call)

So yeah! That is the prologue. Very short I know, but I was planning on posting everything as one fic before the writer's block struck. The only reason I'm posting in parts is because I want to get this fic out there in the first place and didn't want my writer's block to stop that.

Notes:

Since turning this into an actual series the Worldbuilding is coming as I write so things might not be consistent with the original one-shot. This is because I start writing and a scene doesn't match with the direction I initially planned and I just go with the flow. This is a common problem of mine even when I plan out the scene.

Darkness is Ganon's magical power. It can only be directly countered by a force of light (essentially Zelda has to use the tri-staff to hurt Ganon. The Master Sword would work too). Darkness exists in all states of matter (Solid, Liquid, Gas).

Ganon now has both the Triforce of Power and the Triforce of Courage!

Link's breathing problems are caused by the Darkness in the air attacking his body. It grows worse without the Triforce of Courage counteracting its effects.

There are not many notes for this part so right into the first full part, Part 1: Recruiter's call.

[luimagines]

(Beach day continue and dark history imagine)

Ethan blink to get splash by wild so he pick wild up out the water and throw him making a loud splash as wild have star in his eyes seeing this a a new game tho Ethan feel danger and may have chose the wrong thing and try to get away only to be stop by hyrule.

Hyrule: hey Ethan, do you mind if you show me on how to swim?

Ethan nod tho see hyrule star at his scars but show hyrule the base of swimming first so hyrule can get to understand and the book stay on dry land tho can feel time and warrior stars.

Book: what are your questions since some of you star at Ethan like a lab rat.

Four: you say that the hero fail to appear how?

Book: the hero link, like I say *fail to appear* is because he wasn't born. And if we all end up in his *ethan* hyrule. I hope you don't attack the bloody king?

Time: why do you think we'll attack the king? Did he?-

Book: the king is the main reason for hyrule self destruction and to destroy many young children childhoods even Ethan.

Warrior: how so?

Book: Ethan was only six when the knights came to take his four year old brothers *three of them* to put them in cruel training. Many kids don't last long so Ethan *volunteered * in order to protect his family even the punishments are worse.

Four: worse as how??.....

Book:......the knights would beat the kids even to the point to unconscious or stave them......Ethan was a big target for those punishments in order to protect-.. but if you all hurt that boy or harm him..I'll make sure you all pray to that damn goddess-

Wind: ethan!Ethan!! Throw me next!!

Ethan throw gently throw wind to the water tho relax but wind and wild tired him out faster every time.

Warrior sigs and shakes his head. "No need to threaten we've all gotten the point long ago. We shall.... remain civil in regard to your king."

Legend scoffs. "Don't speak for all of us."

"It's either that or we die." Warrior points out. "Or Ethan gets the blunt of it."

Legend snaps his jaw shut with a soft click. "Touché."

Time rubs his forehead feeling the beginning of s a headache coming on. "He's not the only one with troublesome kings. It's always that way when Zelda isn't in charge. Maybe the golden three have mercy on his soul."

"Whose?"

"Ethan's. And may they protect him."

"Didn't take you as the religious type." Warrior mutters.

"I'm not. Time flexes his jaw. "But I'm aware there are things beyond my power and control."

[transskywardsword]

Ganondorf’s back was a mass of scars—his back, his stomach, the back of his thighs, the line of his neck. Centuries, millennia of war curved across each patch of skin, raised and raw and explosive. Zelda watched Ganon's shoulders rise and fall as he slept, his chest pressed heavily into the mattress and his bare back open to the cold air. His brow was furrowed even in sleep, and Zelda brushed her thumb in between his eyebrows, softly soothing the crease away. Ganon never had the blessing of peace, of calm, even when his body was quiet. He breathed out a little too sharp and Zelda pulled back her hand, careful not to wake him. When he did not stir, she shifted on the bed and leaned over him, running her fingertips across a slice that ran from shoulder blade to hip.

She didn’t remember that scar being made. She didn’t remember any of them, didn’t remember their past lives like he did. Ganon could recite conversations to her that they supposedly had seven hundred years ago, or tell her in dripping detail the ending blow from a timeline she hadn’t even heard of in history books, tell her how he looked up at the Hero from the ground, twenty-three and so angry, angry at the Gods, at Hyrule, at every divine thing that had ever harmed him and his family. The Hero towered over him, twelve years older and protecting a Princess who didn’t even come to his hip. Ganon bled and bled and bled from the slice in his stomach; he could see his intestines, and while they were hot in his hand they seemed like ice compared to the raw heat of the desert.

“They don’t love you, you know,” He said to Link, voice strong despite the fluid leaking from him. “The Gods. They don’t know how to. We amuse them, that’s all. That’s all you are, Link. The entertainment for Beings too lazy and too proud to finally end this world and put us all out of our misery.”

Link’s eyes were apathetic. Zelda took a step closer and he held her back with a gentle hand on her shoulder.

“You chose this path, Dargmire,” he said simply. “That is all.”

Ganon had looked at her, had smiled, and had met her eyes.

“May we meet as friends in the next life, your Majesty.”

Zelda thought about that life, that death, often. Ganon had era after era’s worth of death tattooed on his skin and she didn’t remember a day outside of this own time. Her hands were smooth, unblemished, her skin untouched by the elements, her clothes fine and her tongue well taught. She spent thirty years in diplomacy, tossing words at Zora royalty and accepting deals with Goron Chiefs, thirty years proud of the golden Power in her bones, her blood, thirty years waiting for her Hero of Legend to appear, not a problem in the world to crease her brow other than almost missing a meeting with a governor of some sort.

Ganondorf hadn’t ridden in on the black stallion with a blood-drenched sword in one hand and a torch in the other, ready to burn her castle to the ground and bleed the magic from her, not like she had been taught he would. He came, twenty-seven and already carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, and proposed a deal.

“Remove the trade blockade along Gerudo Valley, let my people have the chance to finally live. Do this, and Din have mercy I will walk onto my own sword.”

Ganon made a soft sound in his sleep and Zelda pulled the blanket further on top of him, hiding the violence of his back. She pressed a kiss to his curls. Someday, Link would show himself. It wasn’t a matter of if, but when. Zelda didn’t know what would happen then, if this fragile maybe-love that had grown between her and the Gerudo Prince would shatter, if this perfectly unstable universe they’d made would fracture and burn. Maybe he’d join her and Ganondorf in this peace they created. Maybe he'd add another scar to Ganon’s dark skin, another mark of death. Zelda lay down, snuggling up to the warmth of Ganon’s body.

Maybe. But for tonight, all that mattered was the rise and fall of Ganon’s shoulders, the crease between his eyebrows, and the almost-love that rested in between her body and his.

[yasmeensh]

Zelda 2 - Mystery of Kasuto

Yet again, with more Zelda 2 lore. Since winter break started, I went back to working on my Zelda 2 comic again (it’s been years but I’m still going at it haha). I collected a LOT of information from within the game and from other loz games. I’m at the last stages of getting all the information needed for a fully fledged story (My aim with this comic project is to flesh out the world of Hyrule in the era of decline. Make it feel like the newer Zelda games in terms of lore and plot, but also keep its’ classic essence). HOWEVER! Before I get ahead with outlining a full story, there is one thing that needs to be sorted out. that is, Kasuto Town. Deciding on Kasuto town’s identity will entirely change the aesthetic of the story, how the people will be represented, and even the lore of the Zelda2 pre-story (sleep-cursed Princess Zelda) I’ve spent a while collecting evidence and clues for my theory. I was not sure if I should go ahead with it and solidify it for the comic, so I want to share it and hear what opinions, additions, or contradictions any of you would have. I’m very interested to hear what you have to say on it! Anyways, without further ado, here is the theory:

The basic idea is that Kasuto People are Sheikah. (Disclaimer: This is just a theory and entirely speculative. The aim to try to make sense of Kasuto town with the established canon information we know and fit it to the wider loz world.)

1. Location of Kasuto Town

There are two Kasuto towns. A deserted Kasuto, and a hidden Kasuto.

From what we know of the Sheikah history leading to the downfall timeline, is that The Hyrulean Civil War (Pre-OOT) nearly wiped out all of the Sheikah population. Kakariko was their original settlement, but has since been opened to everyone. So, where did all the Sheikah go? Only Impa is around. WELL, perhaps since the events of the civil war, they decided to take residence far away from Hyrule Castle, and only send their most capable every generation to care for the Princess (Which is always the new Impa). Impa always shows up again as a nursemaid for Princess Zelda in the downfall timeline.

Additionally, as protectors of The Royal Family, it works out how their town is situated next to the entrance to the Great Palace, where the final Triforce is kept (To keep an extra eye on who ventures there?).

Not entirely sure why Kasuto was destroyed. Did Ganon know about the Triforce of Courage being around there? Did he attack them with an army of Moas while they fought to keep him away? This might have led them to go into hiding. They are the only ones who know all the secrets of Hyrule. They need to survive in order to preserve it.

2. Magic

There are two spells taught in the Kasuto towns. One of them makes a small temple (shrine?) come out of the ground. The other spell is the strongest spell in the entire game (thunder).

^ This is the building that emerges from deep underground after using the ‘Spell’. (He finds the magic key there. A key that can open pretty much every door ever. Or at least the palace doors). What IS strange about Kasuto though, is that the palace situated between the towns has an item that acts almost exactly like the Lens of Truth; It’s a cross that allows Link to see ghosts. (In OOT it does the same thing, in addition to looking through false doors and floors. It’s used to track down the Phantom guide in the haunted wasteland). A little suspicious, no? (PS. I’ve been thinking about redesigning the cross item for the comic, and I SWEAR the three parts at the top can easily be made to look like the Sheikah eyelash symbol. Voila) This could all merely be coincidence, but the location next to the Great Palace AND the three-eye-rock palace containing the cross is convenient to make us assume it’s connected to them in some way, especially with the later established lore of the Sheikah.

3. Technology

Ok. bear with me. This is a big one. This will be the game changer. If we can solidify that these Sheikah are just as technologically advanced as the Sheikah in botw, this will completely change how they could be interpreted in the comic.

For starters, only the Sheikah know the details of the legend of Zelda. And here I quote from the Zelda 2 1988 manual:

“There was a door in the North Castle called “The door that does not open.” Only the descendants of the Impa family who served the King knew how to open the door.”

As we could see, access to the chamber and scrolls that provide information on the palaces and Triforce is only accessible to the Sheikah. A private affair between the royal family and Sheikah ONLY? The King that separated the Triforce is the one that was in-charge of building all 7 palaces. Because the Sheikah work closely with the Royal Family, they must be 100% involved (Also, remember how Kasuto town has the magical key that can open all doors in the palaces?) OKAY NOW HERE IS THE TECHNOLOGY PART The elevators. The Elevators.

For the longest time I told myself it must be some kind of pully system. But after I started thinking about Kasuto as being Sheikah, and their heavy involvement with the palaces, I’m starting to think that maybe these are actually electrical (or magical. idk what it is) powered elevators. Sort of like in Breath of the Wild. There is also Rebonack, the Island palace boss with his floating robot horse

Maybe.... Maybe the ironknuckles and doomknockers are also robots? For all we know, they are just heavily armored... things. With no face. We know construction on the palaces must have begun sometime at the end of the Golden Era. That was the time when the Royal Family possessed the full Triforce for countless generations. It was the most prosperous Hyrule has EVER been (in the downfall timeline at least). The Sheikah might have had the time to advance their technology? It’s not too far fetched. After such a long time of prosperity, the King found that there was no one worthy of the full Triforce to continue this golden age (He was scared of his wicked son it seems) so he started this whole project to hide away the Triforce of courage.

(It’s interesting in a way how that King saw that the chaos caused by a separated Triforce is much merciful than the consequences of the full Triforce falling into the wrong hands. It mirrors Princess Zelda’s decision when she broke the Triforce of wisdom into 8 pieces so Ganon can’t have it. She really is wise for a small child. As wise as the ancient king.) Well, what are your thoughts? Would it be plausible that the people at Kasuto are truly the Sheikah? Is it possible that the palaces have technology? This is pretty crucial for the development of this comic project 👀 It will completely change how the palaces will be portrayed, the enemies, and the entire Kasuto settlements (plus if Impa is affiliated with them). WOULD you be fine with such an interpretation? SHARE YOUR THROUGHTS!

[jinmukangwrites]

Doubt

Prompt

Summary: It's funny how one thought can lead to another, and suddenly the whole world feels like it's tilting.

-o-o-o-o-

Sometimes the others would talk about something that Wild didn't recognize. They'll mention it casually in their conversations and everyone would nod along. Everyone knows what it is except Wild. Wild has no clue what it is, but everyone else knew so every time he's about to ask what they're talking about, his cheeks go warm and his voice catches in his throat.

Should he know what it is? Would they be mad at him because he doesn't? Why is he the only one left out when it comes to this mysterious item.

"Yeah, so, Zelda thought that the best way to keep the Triforce safe was to split of the Triforce of Wisdom up into eight separate pieces," Hyrule explains around the campfire. Wild watches as Time nods as if he understands exactly what's being said. Twilight has a thoughtful look on his face, Wind is watching Hyrule talk with wide and interested eyes, even Legend looks like whatever Hyrule is talking about is making complete sense. "So I had to go find all the pieces to save Hyrule."

"I'm glad I didn't have to deal with that," Warrior says with a sigh. "All the Triforce did for me was glow on my hand. I think that's how Zelda and Impa knew I was the chosen hero."

"Well, it glowed on my hand too," Hyrule puts in.

"Mine too, I also had to find eight pieces of the Triforce" Wind speaks up, holding up his hand and Wild stares at it, hoping to see whatever they are talking about.

"Twilight has it tattooed on his," Four suddenly speaks up and Wild spins to stare at Twilight in shock. He's never noticed anything on Twilight's hand, let alone some weird glowing thing.

Twilight is rubbing the back of his neck and looking embarrassed as everyone's attention turns towards him. "It's- ah- not a tattoo. It kind of a... birthmark?"

"That's cool," Wind says as Time smiles and pats Twilights shoulder.

Legend goes on to talk about how he had to deal with two versions of the Triforce and then Sky mentions that he's the one who assembled it and Wild gets more and more confused. Even Time puts in a bit of his story, saying that Ganondorf tried to take the Triforce for himself but it broke and Zelda got a piece and Time himself got a piece. Wild remains silent the entire time as the conversation eventually moves on from the mysterious Triforce to other topics such as what they are going to do the next day and who's going to take first watch.

Soon, everyone moves away from the campfire and snuggles into their beds. Wild is in the middle of sliding under his blanket when he sees Twilight taking off his gloves and arm bracers. He swallows and clears his throat.

"Hey Twi?" He asks quietly. Twilight looks up from the strap on his arm and smiles at him.

"What's up, cub?" He replies.

Wild flicks his eyes down to Twilight's hand before he clears his throat again and looks down at the ground. "Can I see it? The- um- Triforce?"

He looks up hesitantly and Twilight is looking at him in surprise. Wild swallows and instantly regrets asking. He has just hoped that maybe if he can see the Triforce... he'll know what it is.

"Neverm-"

"Sure," Twilight says, cutting out Wild's attempt to back out of the conversation. "Just let me finish taking off the bracers." Twilight turns back to his arm and finishes his task before he's climbing out of his sheets and scooting closer to Wild. Twilight holds out his bare hand, on the back of it is an oddly familiar looking design.

A triangle, four of them, pieced together like a puzzle to make a bigger form of the same shape.

"It's black?" Wild finds himself asking as he grabs Twilight's hand to get a better look.

"Ah, no, it glows gold when… when it's being used I suppose," Twilight replies. Wild realized suddenly that Twilight sounds uncomfortable and he quickly let's go of Twilight's hand. "Well, just the Triforce of Courage glows," he continues. Wild watches as Twilight returns to his blankets and yawns loudly.

Wild has no idea what that means, he supposes each triangle has a different meaning. Triforce of Courage, Wisdom, and Power has all been mentioned earlier that night.

"Shut up… you're both so loud," Legend grumbles from his own nest of blankets and Twilight chuckles as Wild mutters an apology. Legend scoffs and snuggles deeper into his blankets.

"He's right," Time speaks up from where he's leaning against the tree, claiming first watch, "you all need your sleep. It's time to quiet down."

Twilight rolls his eyes in response and winks at Wild before he lays down. Wild does the same, slower, thoughts occupied by what he has seen.

"Thanks, Twilight." Wild whispers and Twilight hums sleepily in response. Legend growls and Wild shuts his jaw, knowing if he made another sound Legend would show no mercy.

He stares at the sky for a few seconds. Something about the symbol was so familiar to him, and imagining that mark glowing gold struck something in him. He thinks… that maybe… Link from one hundred years ago knows what the Triforce is, but then again that feels wrong too. He's seen the Triforce before… he knows he has, he just has to remember…

His eyes slip shut with that not so encouraging thought.

-o-o-o-o-

He knows where he's seen the symbol before, and it does nothing but raise more questions. It took him a few days, but eventually, imagining the black symbol on Twilight's hand glowing gold triggered a half formed memory. He thinks it's understandable that it took him a few seconds to remember it, he was dying at the time after all.

He remembers standing there in the wreckage, about to meet his end to a deadly beam, but Zelda pushes him out of the way and lifts up her hand. His vision is so blurry and he feels actual fear course through his veins that they have failed, that Zelda is going to die before him. He needs to protect her, but he can hardly breathe let alone move.

Something tells him suddenly that she can protect herself and with golden light erupting across the land, he feels safe for the first time in a very long time. His muscles relax and his eyes flutter as he lets himself fall. He meets the ground in what feels like slow motion, and then he sees it. The back of her hand is glowing.

He saw it through blurry vision, but the more he thinks about it, the more it becomes clear to him. She has the Triforce glowing on the back of her hand, all three sections of it.

He wonders what that means. Twilight, Warrior, Wind, Time, all of them who has had it appear on the back of their hands say that only the Triforce of Courage had been filled in. Zelda has the Triforce of Wisdom. Ganon has the Triforce of Power.

But his Zelda has all three. Calamity Ganon has never shown any sign of having it. Wild himself knows that he's never had it either.

What does that mean?

It wracks at his brain as they travel. No one mentions their conversation from the past few nights, they've all moved on, but Wild can't stop thinking about it. He thinks of it as he cooks. He thinks of it as he's sparring with Warrior, he can't keep his eyes focused on anything other than Warrior's hand that has held a power that Wild cannot even imagine. He thinks of it as he keeps watch during the night, each of their stories bounce in his head like those giant metal balls in the shrines.

What does it mean. Zelda has all three. Wild has… none?

Warrior says he knew he was the chosen hero when he saw the glowing symbol.

What does it mean.

Time says that the Triforce is the most important and powerful artifact in the world. Why does Wild not have it?

What does it mean.

Wind says that he felt like he was just a normal kid until he put together the Triforce, then he was a hero.

What does it mean? What could it mean?

Does it mean… he's not like them? It wouldn't be the first piece of evidence. There's so many things about Wild that just isn't like the others. The Triforce isn't even close to the beginning.

He does his best to shake these thoughts away but they keep coming back, hitting him constantly, persistently clawing at the back of his mind during every step, every conversation, every meal, every single goddess damned blink of the eye.

Shaking the thoughts away are a lot easier said than done…

-o-o-o-o-

They don't want you.

That's not true. All of them talk with me and are so nice.

They don't think you're a hero.

But I am a hero. I saved Zelda, I defeated Calamity Ganon.

After you let everything get destroyed, of course.

It's… not my fault.

Hyrule didn't let Ganon destroy the world. Wind didn't. Twilight, neither Warrior, nor Sky. None of them failed like you did.

But… but I fixed it.

Barely. And if you think that's the only reason they don't want you around, you're dead wrong. The Triforce? You don't have it, what's a Hero of Courage without the Triforce of Courage?

I-

Nothing. You're nothing. Let see, what was it, you break everything you touch? Ah yes. Even the Master Sword I believe.

But it came back-

Sky yelled at you after that, didn't he? He never yells at anyone. Not even Legend after hours of relentless teasing. He doesn't trust you with the sword, you're more of a child than Wind.

Stop it.

//Speaking about Legend, he was the one to say it, right? You break everything you touch? Harsh, but you and I both know that's true.

Shut up!

How about when you broke one of the swords Warrior lent you? Or that time you caught Hyrule's sleeping bag on fire-

It was an accident-

Or the time you broke your promise to protect Zelda, to defeat Calamity Ganon? You did a botched job on that, you died and left her to endure torture for a hundred years.

… Stop.

The reason the goddesses didn't give you the Triforce is because they feared you'd break that too! The only reason you're here is because you just happened to be there when the Sword needed someone quickly, there's hundred of more people more qualified to be a hero than you. Or were. They're all dead now, after all.

…

Going silent? What a surprise, it's what you do best after all. Though, the others all prefer it that way anyway.

…

-o-o-o-o-

His eyes slowly open and he groans. Another nightmare, and one he can remember too. He kind of regrets wanting to remember his dreams, it's easier when he forgets. Though, he doesn't think that the nightmares he's having are the same as the ones where he'd have to be woken up, ones from the past, ones that his subconscious knew existed but the rest of his brain just couldn't hold a grasp on.

These are nightmares of the present, and it's been going on for a week. Every time he closes his eyes, words from a strange but somehow familiar voice are hissed into his ear, telling him about how useless and unwanted he is.

The worst part is? He's starting to believe it.

He knows he shouldn't. He knows that each member of the group actually enjoy his company and genuinely care about him, but the thoughts are still there. He hates it.

He slowly sits up, careful not to wake anyone else up, and leans forward so his head is buried in his hands. He breathes. Just breathes, because he doesn't know how much longer he can take this. It's eating him up, slamming at his skull constantly. He can't believe how far he's spiraled from a simple conversation about one thing. It was just the Triforce, now it's the way Sky slightly turns his back where the sword rests away from Wild, or how Time is constantly giving him pitying looks, or how Warrior seems to want to talk to anyone other than Wild, or-

He rubs at his eyes and brings his knees up. Something needs to snap, he thinks. Something needs to break and prove whether or not he's worthy of being there with the others. He doesn't know how much longer he can keep this up.

"Uh, Wild?"

Wild freezes, he forgot someone would be on watch. Slowly, he lifts his face and meets Twilight. Goddess, of course it's Twilight.

"You okay there?" Twilight asks from across the camp. He's leaning against the tree; he's looking sleepy but worried.

The song birds start to lazily chirp, their songs cut through the light blue sky and Wild tries to remember how to speak.

"Yeah," he says, finally. He hopes Twilight takes the choke in his voice as morning grogginess. "Just a nightmare."

Twilight's eyebrows come together and he stands up. Wild wants to yell at him to stay there and not bother himself, but he can't, he just sits there and watches as Twilight settles down next to him and offers a bit of dried meat. "Do you want to talk about it?" He asks slowly, like Wild is a ticking bomb.

No, because he's a friend and he's worried about Wild.

"I don't remember it," he lies. Twilight huffs and gives him a disbelieving look.

"I'm worried about you, cub," Twilight says and before Wild can protest he continues, "you've been quiet, I don't remember the last time you smiled."

"I smile," Wild insists.

Twilight gives him that disbelieving look again and Wild wants to scream. "A real smile, cub."

"I'm okay," Wild says shortly. He makes to get up and away from this confrontation because he's suddenly not ready. He's not ready to spill the beans and let his feelings come into the open. He's not ready for his fears to be right, he's not ready for them to hate him, he's not ready to find out that none of them actually want him around, he's not ready and he wants to pause it. Maybe tomorrow, or the next day, or the next, just not today.

He's not ready, so he says he's okay and he forces on a smile. He's not ready, so he makes up lies when confronted.

He's not ready.

"Wild-" Twilight says, starting to stand up too.

Something snaps in Wild in that moment. It was like that one word went through his ears and spread around his whole body like a poison, flicking every switch he has been desperately trying to keep off. Why don't they understand, he thinks, why can't they see that he doesn't want to talk about it, that he'd rather sit and figure it out even though his own thoughts are toxic. Why do they always hound him and scold him and baby him an why why why-

"You don't have to mother me!" Wild snarls, and Twilight stumbles back in shock, "I don't need your pity, or your sympathy, I don't need you breathing down my back every single goddess damned minute of the day!"

Twilight's eyes are wide and some of the others are starting to wake up, but Wild can't stop, he can't stop his hands trembling or the tears stinging his eyes despite how he's chanting in his head that he's okay over and over again. He knows he's made a mistake, but instead of staying and apologizing he turns and tries to run. His body is reacting on it's own, listening to how hurt and bruised his heart is and not his brain that's trying to rationalize.

"Wild, no-"

A hand wraps around Wild's wrist and something snaps again, he spins and punches Twilight straight in the jaw. Wild feels his heart shatter into a million pieces as Twilight falls backwards with a red bruise already beginning to form on his face. Time, who sounds groggy but awake, makes a surprised noise and Wind calls out in surprise.

You're always making mistakes. Look at you making another one, and they all saw. They're not going to want you back after this.

Wild brings his hands up to his ears, turns, and runs.

-o-o-o-o-

He's fine. He's thinking clearly. He can rationalize, he is in total awareness of himself and what he's doing. He just can't control it. He can't control the way he slumps against a tree or the way his fingers are digging into his scalp or how tears keep forming and falling. He tries to stop it. He's fine. He's okay. But it isn't working. He puts his hands down and they shake, they end up back in his hair. He shifts to stand up, but his legs feel like chu chu jelly. He stops his tears, but they start again a second later.

"You're fine," he whispers as he gives up and curls up with his knees touching his chest. "You're fine. Calm down."

He doesn't know how far from camp he ran. It seems like forever but he doesn't remember any of it. All he knows is that the bottoms of his bare feet are bleeding and he's panting.

They're not going to come for you.

He shakes his head and clutches his ears. How dare that voice creep into his mind during the day. How dare it escape his nightmares. Doesn't he hear it enough?

You're selfish, you want them to find you and comfort you and tell you you're worth it.

He doesn't want to answer but he whimpers one anyway. "I don't want them to come," he says, "I want to be alone."

Liar. You're constantly craving attention and validation. You want them to come and tell you everything is okay, that you're not broken, that you're part of their team.

"Stop it, stop it…"

Well, it doesn't matter anyway. They're not going to come. They're probably already traveling the other way thinking "good riddance!"

Wild curls in more into himself. He hates how much he's spiraled. It was just the Triforce, just that. He hates what being alone with his own thoughts does to him, but he can't talk to people. He's awkward and shy and what he says is usually always taken the wrong way or it's somehow offensive. He doesn't get it. Why isn't he like them? Why can't he be like them?

You aren't like them; you're a FAILURE.

Wild is trembling now. He can't control it. His face is wet from tears, his nose is running and he is forced to breathe through his mouth, making it possible for sobs to tear through his throat.

He should just give into it, give into his doubts. It would be easier that way. Stop the false hope, stop the broken hearts. He doesn't know how much longer he can continue on anyway.

He nearly jumps out of his skin when suddenly, a body is next to him. He hasn't noticed anyone follow him, let alone get close enough to sit by him.

The first thing he sees is the angry bruise, and then that's the only thing he can see. He did that. He did that to his best friend. He doesn't see the worried eyes, or the questioning lips, just the bruise.

"I'm-" Wild gasps, "I'm so sorry-"

Arms wrap around Wild's shoulders and he's suddenly pulled into a crushing hug. Wild doesn't deserve it. It has to be fake. Alternative motive, anything. Anything to not give Wild the false hope that Twilight actually still cares for him.

"You didn't do anything wrong," Twilight whispers.

Wild shakes his head and pushes himself away. Twilight thankfully lets him go. "No, no you don't get it," he says. "I'm not like you, I don't belong with you-"

"What gave you that idea?" Twilight says, a bit angrily.

Anger towards you.

Anger towards the very idea.

"I-"

"Wild, cub, please talk to me. We're all worried."

A burden.

A friend.

Hates you.

Worried. Love.

He needs to say it, he can't take it anymore. His heart, his head, arguing. Everything hurts so much even though the last battle was more than a week ago.

Useless.

He has to tell them.

Awkward.

Tell him.

Unwanted.

"It's... the Triforce," he finally is able to strangle out. His eyes drift down to Twilight's covered hand, but he remembers the shape, the color, the size.

"What do you mean?"

Stop now. Back out. You'll just embarrass yourself.

"I- I don't have it," he whispers.

Twilight frowns and Wild is ready to run again, but then Twilight looks right into Wild's eyes and Wild is suddenly frozen in place. "Why does that matter?"

Wild opens his mouth and closes it a few times before he sighs and turns his gaze to the ground. "You all have it. Makes you all heroes. I… I'm…"

"Wild, what you're telling me is that you defeated Calamity Ganon all on your own, without any Triforce or heavily powers?" Twilight cuts in. "And you're upset about that?"

Wild shakes his head. "You don't understand."

"You know how amazing that is, right?"

"Twilight-"

"Without the Triforce, I'd be dead. I don't know about the others, but I needed that power. I needed that Courage," Twilight continues, "and you didn't. You were brave all on your own. Wild, you're amazing. The Triforce doesn't make you a hero, you do. You did."

"…"

"And if you think that… that something like that would make me not want you around, you're dead wrong. I want you here, cub. I want you to stay with us, the others do too. Had to almost tie Wind down so he wouldn't run blindly into the forest to find you himself."

Twilight puts his hand on Wild's shoulder and Wild looks up, feeling hope, confusion, fear, love, everything all at once.

"We care about you, Wild, it doesn't matter how different you think you are from us, we still love you. Do you understand?"

You know he's lying, right?

Wild nods and slowly let's Twilight embrace him in another hug. "Yeah..." He says, and he isn't sure which voice he's responding to.

[skyloftian-nutcase]

My brain is buzzed and buzzing.

HW Zelda spent a good portion of her time with Link disguised as Sheik. She decided to keep her identity a secret from even Impa, which means she probably had to change her personality a little to make it convincing. So this entire time, Sheik and Link work together and fight together, and Link got to know this different persona. So when she revealed herself as Zelda, I wonder how that changed their relationship and dynamic?

Imagine Zelda is falling for Link but Link is falling for someone who doesn’t exist. Imagine Link’s agency and consent are so ambiguous because destiny determines that Link and Zelda are always together, that they have to be together, at least according to Lana and Cia.

I don’t know, I just have a lot of thoughts about HW Zelink. Not all of them are great. But I suppose if people write it well I can like it.

[valasania-the-pale]

A Healer’s Dilemma Chapter 3

Author: Valasania the Pale

Rating: K

Words: 1289~

Pairing: Mipha/Zelda/Link

Notes: Originally, this was only supposed to be three chapters long. Then this chapter happened, and extended everything a bit. Please enjoy!

That night, Mipha dreamed.

Senses she seldom relied upon – smell, taste, touch – became spheres through which she strode on four legs.

Perhaps, were she to take the time to sit and feel, she might have come to know some part of what she knew now. She’d certainly spent her fair share of time in deep meditation, honing her perceptions, the better to tighten her connection to the world and the flow of magic. But…

The forest she trod was alive in a way she could never have comprehended while limited to her body of scale and flesh, dominated by sight and sound.

Not that sight and sound had no place in this new body, she had just never felt so… more.

Her nose twitched on her smoky muzzle, showing her the pathways taken by a multitude of quarries, so clear their trail could have been a bright line through the undergrowth.

Squirrels chattered to each other above her, insolent voices ignorant of the apex predator that stalked their woods. On the air she could scent their stashes, hidden beneath the earth, within the hollows of the trees. Were they to notice her, Mipha doubted she would receive naught but a litany of taunts… from the safety of the boughs.

Her ears twitched, catching the breeze.

Birdsong. Wind’s whisper. Wood’s gentle creak, labored groan. Rustling leaves, falling seed.

She breathed deep.

The scent of mulch filled the air, new with the decay and growth of spring. Game, big and small, their paths intercrossing, diverging; the sounds of their passing evident in the rustle of leaves, branches, and bark. Prey, hunter. Territories vast, intersecting, some irrelevant, some intriguing, tantalizing the beast in her soul.

These things did Mipha sense.

They were a curtain of sensation. Calming. Serene. Wild, yet one with her spirit, as the rapids too were part of the flowing river.

Her eyes shut, and her mind drifted upon these waves.

Mipha wished Zelda could feel this.

That castle was her prison. That crown was a chain stronger than iron… Her bloodline – her damned sense of duty – entombed her within a life she didn’t want…

Mipha wished…

But she should not wish. It was not her place.

Yet…

Mipha wished – in her secret heart where none could see but herself and whatever gods might exist out there – that she could gift her queen the serenity she felt out here in nature…

She wished she could teach her queen feel, if only for a day, the freedom she felt with naught but the wind on her fur and the ambiance of the wild the only song threading through her mind.

She wished…

…

Three years was a long time. Longer still, to spend in the body of a beast, where before she had walked clad in the flesh of a man.

Long enough, even, for her to forget what it was to walk astride two legs and to speak. Language to her, now, was a tilt of the head or a crinkling of the brow. A whine to cajole, a rumble to comfort.

A snarl, with just that perfect, vicious edge, to threaten.

She had never been good with words. Abandoning them was no great sacrifice. She did not miss them. What use had she for words now, when bared teeth and flashing eyes could turn away the noisome press of petitioners and nobles so easily?

There were so many of them…

Three years was a lot of time to learn. Of them. Of life. Of politics. Of her.

Three years, she had stood by her Queen’s side as her guardian.

Three years…

Nameless, her legend had swept through the castle, and the kingdom beyond. Further and wider than the stories of the man ever had. Those were whispers now – fond recollections of a phantom who’d vanished into the twilight.

The stories now were closer, more tangible than those of a strange, righteous adventurer.

A beast made docile by her Grace’s benevolence.

A savage wolf tamed by her touch.

A spirit of the wild summoned to guard the Queen after the great Incursion which plunged their kingdom into twilight.

Perhaps, even, a prize wrested from the invaders, brought to heel as reparations.

These things were said, spoken in hushed whispers on the lips of peasant and noble alike as the weeks passed into months, and months became years.

Rumors. More empty words, for which she had no need. Their only virtue was in spreading her reputation far and wide, the better to humble her Queen’s foes great and small when they came to prostrate themselves before her.

In that time, the edifice that was her queen’s home – their home, now – rose slowly from the rubble it had been reduced to.

People came to them, and the shattered throne was recreated.

The ramparts were renewed, and men came to patrol them.

The countryside was scoured of enemies, and slowly the plow was taken to the earth once again, and the natural order re-established itself.

Time could pass quickly. Three years could become a blink of the eye.

It was three years ago to the day that Mipha and Zelda last saw her – since the mirror that divided their worlds was shattered, and they were left alone to pick up the pieces and wonder, and wish.

Their Twilight Princess…

Three years and a blink of the eye, and the castle that was ruined was made whole. The country laid low now stood tall. The faces of its people were now proud again, and contented.

All of it set aright, as they’d promised.

All… was a powerful word. It was so easy to lie, using it.

Mipha wished, futilely.

Midna…

The pain was an arrow between her ribcage. It was a barbed, metal head vanishing inside her. A cold seeping away from the wound, stretching, stretching, becoming a yawning void. A chasm. A rift.

The divide between them – them, they three, they three bound by destiny through some farce of fate, they three souls marked by the gods – that divide was—

It was—

Mipha snarled, eyes held shut against the cacophony. It hurt.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way!

She wasn’t supposed to leave!

I should have said something! I should have stopped her!

The whine, long, and drawn from her throat like razorwire, became a howl before Mipha registered what she was doing. There was no hesitation, no more thought.

Hurt.

Loss.

Longing.

Midna.

Zelda.

They three, together.

These things were not words, not just. Words would only diminish their keenness, could not suffice to capture that which he felt in that moment.

Silence and stillness befell the woods.

Squirrels ceased to chitter, their scuffling upon the boughs ceased for a moment as the long, resonant notes from deep within his chest filled the air, echoing through the trees. Mipha imagined through a haze that they might travel up into the sky, past the boundaries of the world itself.

That—

Mipha wished—

That perhaps Midna might hear her.

She howled until her throat ached and the tension in her chest began to ease – until she felt content that her song was complete.

I l—

I—

Mipha stopped. Lowered her head. Listened to the silent forest slowly came alive again.

To the steady beat of her heart.

To the chitter of squirrels, and their angry accusations.

To the footsteps, the faint rustle of woolen cloth, and the creak of sinew and lacquered wood.

Her eyes sprung wide, and she was on her feet before her heart could beat again, just in time to meet the steel arrowhead with her spine.

Mipha dropped with a pained yelp, and lay still.

“I got him! Master! Master, come look!”

She could not move.

Far away – or close – Mipha could hear the youth as he celebrated and his master slowly – silently, with the practiced stride of a master woodsman – approaching from downwind.

She could not move.

There was no pain.

“Master, come look at this! You said I’d never make a shot like that!”

“Give me a moment, give me a moment, if the shot was clean it’s not like your prize’ll be going anywhere anyways.”

Mipha thought the voice was pleasant. Deep. Calming. A teacher proud of their student.

The master’s gait was true – that he’d fallen behind the student was no accident.

A test. One that had been passed, most like.

Mipha could not see the boy. Her mind supplied the image. Blond hair, blue, rounded eyes. An energy – a will – to learn. Such a student would need such a teacher willing to give them the space to learn.

“It was clean, master. Right through the spine! Dropped like a sack of stones.”

“The spine?” the voice took on a disapproving tint, but was not harsh. “Goddesses boy, what are you standing around for!”

Two sets of footsteps approached Mipha where she lay.

“Wow, he’s big…”

“Aye… Not seen a bigg’un like this near the city since…”

A large hand, calloused by a lifetime handling a bow, hovered over her. Her eyes could not see him, so her mind supplied the image.

Blonde hair. Round, compassionate blue eyes under a dark brow. A square jaw, and a large, angular nose.

A fitting teacher.

Everything was greying at the edges.

“…”

“Master?”

“Ravi…” The specter of shock lingered in the master’s voice. His dread bled off of him. Mipha resented that.

Zelda was understanding.

Greying…

Zelda…

“Is something wrong?”

An inhalation. Steadying. Fortifying.

“I… know this one. The markings, here. He’s the Queen’s – her wolf. I didn’t think – I didn’t know he’d be out here today. I didn’t know he left the castle at all!”

“Oh… oh… oh goddesses, oh no…”

Her heart. Her heart was beating against a numb chest. It was a world away.

Her eyes were closed. They were closed. They would not open. It was so dark, darkening.

The panicked breathing – the reassurances of the master to his apprentice; he would stand for him, the queen was merciful, he wasn’t going to the hangman’s noose for an accident – it was so far away.

So far away.

Far.

She was sundered from them. From the voices. From the sounds of the forest. From her very heartbeat.

Sundered.

…Oh golden goddesses, what am I doin’…? Poor thing…

A hand on her head, rubbing gently.

…Be over soon boy…

Zelda. Midna.

No.

She whined.

no no no no no

The blade paused, poised above him.

No no no no no nonononononononoNO

The hand was on her head again.

…sorry, boy…

In the moment before the blade cleanly severed her from life, Mipha found her words again.

NO wait please I have to tell her at least her oh goddesses I did what you wanted why why WHY Midna Zelda I love—

X_0_X

Mipha jolted, was plunged back into darkness with an image of the softly glowing Master Sword burned into her retinas.

X_0_X

Mipha dreamed, this time floating high above a sea of heads.

No senses greeted her, no sound, no scent, no taste, no touch. Those were for the living, for mortal bodies. That world.

She could only watch and suffer on in silence from across the rift between worlds, as her Queen held court.

The smallfolk approached her, as drab and dull in their garb as she was resplendent and regal.

On a simple throne beneath the re-sculpted sigil of the goddess’ grace – the divine benison by which her bloodline derived its right to rule – Zelda listened to the words of her people great and small.

In her world of silence, Mipha could not hear those words, but she knew the lay of this particular field. Boons, requests, and from the most insolent, demands veiled and overt. Some few paid tribute. Others simply paid respect to the reigning queen.

It was a more tolerable thing, experiencing this without their voices grating on her ears, but in that moment Mipha wished—

She howled, but her voice could not reach between worlds.

The sun was beginning its descent beneath the hills by the time the throng began to clear. It was at that time that the huntsman and his apprentice delivered her body to the queen.

In life, she was too large for them to carry unaided, so they’d gathered her up on a litter. The arrowshaft had been removed, but the trickle of dried blood upon her fur remained.

The silence preceded her, and them. Expressions turning curious, then briefly colored with shock, horror, fear – and in some; anger, outrage.

There was little sadness. What emotions there were, were for the queen, and her loss. Mipha had not been loved. A beast was not loved.

This did not move her.

Indeed, it did not move the Queen, either. Not that.

Mipha’s body was lowered to the tiled floor. Master and apprentice knelt in obeisance to their queen and their lips moved silently, telling their story. They were held in true silence – the silence of a judging monarch – and released. They fled, figurative tails between their legs, horribly guilty but relieved beyond measure that their mistake would not be their end.

Mere minutes.

Those minutes were longer than the countless hours Mipha’d spent in court combined.

Zelda never looked at them. Never looked away from Mipha’s body. Her face was stone.

Mipha howled, futilely.

The queen rose and dismissed her court with a wave of her hand. Her guards followed. The great wooden doors defending the sanctuary were pulled shut. Life abandoned the throne room, until all that remained was Zelda, her face shadowed by the rays of fading twilight cast through the windows.

She was stone.

She was steel.

A fool would call her fragile.

A fool would compare her expression to glass, beginning to crack.

Her mettle was stronger.

Her grief was frightening.

Mipha howled, louder, willing her words to cross the divide.

Even stone could crack. Even steel could bend, under sufficient force.

Mipha could feel the arrow, burrowing deeper, ever deeper.

The force squeezing Zelda’s heart could have shaken the foundations of Hyrule Castle.

She showed none of it on her face.

Zelda approached her, knelt beside her. Removed her silken gloves and slowly, hesitantly, painfully ran her fingers through Mipha’s fur.

Slowly, Zelda’s head bowed beneath the weight bearing down upon her and she buried her face into Mipha’s neck, and through the silence between worlds Mipha felt the quaking of her tears.

Three years… was not a long time. Not now.

This moment was an eternity.

Mipha’s howl rose in pitch, sharply, ever higher, until – abruptly – her awareness was roughly pulled away.

X_0_X

Mipha—

Mipha.

Not Link – not That Link.

Mipha. The Zora. Princess of the Zora. Daughter of King Dorephan, and Champion of the Divine Beast Vah Ruta – Mipha came back to herself shaking, quivering, even amidst the indistinct confines of her dreaming mind.

She—

She—

“Do not die with regrets.”

She twisted around to face the voice. Icy eyes stared back at her; the wolf’s face. That Link’s face, which she had worn.

She had seen through those eyes. She had felt this man. Understood this man, for a short time.

But why?

His mouth did not move, but the voice he spoke with was a razor.

“Do not die with regrets.”

In that moment, her question was answered. Connections formed like a lightning strike. The story had been told. The teller’s purpose…

She blinked against tears. Swallowed, and found that she could do so even within a dream. “I… I understand. I understand what you’re trying to tell me.”

“Good.” The icy eyes turned up at the corners, and some of the pain dropped away. “Life is short. It will not wait. It seldom grants second chances. Do not make our mistakes…”

Mipha bowed her head. “I’ll do my best.”

“Good. Go, child of water. Go forth. Live.”

The words of the dead man washed over her like soothing rain.

Mipha woke.

[isolaradiale]

Lost in Space 15

Hello, Isolans! We have conducted an activity check for the month of November!

If your character isn’t on this list, make sure to check this page to see how many stars that character has earned this month! Stars can be used for purchases at the marketplace.

The blogs that were removed from the Isola Radiale masterlist are under the cut. Note that both blogs with broken links and deactivated accounts will be included both at the top of this list and in their proper categories.

If you were removed in error, please simply send a re-application message. Several different people work on the activity checks, so it’s possible there are mistakes! If this happens to you, you will be able to keep everything you previously had, you just may be placed in a different residence.

Our general activity rules regarding checks are as follows:

Make at least three in-character posts during a calendar month (for instance, if the activity check is for January, have three in-character posts between the 1st and 31st of January).

Only one drabble and/or meme response of 300+ words counts as activity.

One-liners or minis not tagged #isola mini also do not count.

Please Note: If you are removed during two consecutive activity checks, you will not be allowed to re-apply as that character for two calendar months. 

Additionally, anyone removed during the activity check will have a 12-hour window from the time of posting to re-claim their character. Any character not reclaimed during that period will be open to the community at large.

Please send in your reapplications from the account of the character that was removed.

Broken URLs:

Madeleine Valois (CONFINES OF THE CROWN)

Vega (DOOM)

Gharet (ORIGINAL CHARACTERS) *DASH ONLY

Ranger (QUAKE)

Momiji Inubashiri (TOUHOU)

Rinnosuke Morichika (TOUHOU)

ACE ATTORNEY

Yumihiko Ichiyanagi (TOWNHOUSE 243)

 THE ADVENTURE ZONE

Indrid Cold (APARTMENT 325)

 AI THE SOMNIUM FILES

Kaname Date (CONDO 462)

 AKASHIC RECORD OF BASTARD MAGIC INSTRUCTOR

Glenn (APARTMENT 328)

 AKUMA NO RIDDLE

Haru Ichinose (TOWNHOUSE 211)

 AR TONELICO

Aurica Nestmile (TOWNHOUSE 251)

Misha (TOWNHOUSE 252)

 B THE BEGINNING

Koku (HOUSE 104)

 BANG DREAM

Aya Maruyama (APARTMENT 334)

 BEETLEJUICE

Betelgeuse (TOWNHOUSE 220)

 BIOSHOCK

Jack (APARTMENT 360)

 BLUE EXORCIST

Amaimon (TOWNHOUSE 244)

Rin Okumura (CONDO 405)

 BUNGOU STRAY DOGS

Sakunosuke Odasaku (TOWNHOUSE 215)

 CARCIPHONA

Veloce (TOWNHOUSE 212)

 A CERTAIN MAGICAL INDEX

Touma Kamijou (CONDO 410)

 CODE VEIN

Jack Rutherford (HOUSE 107)

 CONFINES OF THE CROWN

Madeleine Valois (APARTMENT 324) *BROKEN URL

 CRASH BANDICOOT

Nina Cortex (CONDO 401)

 D. GRAY MAN

Kanda Yuu (CONDO 434)

Lavi (CONDO 465)

Lenalee Lee (TOWNHOUSE 262)

Road Kamelot (TOWNHOUSE 240)

Tyki Mikk (TOWNHOUSE 236)

 DANGANRONPA

Junko Enoshima (HOUSE 110)

 DC COMICS

Jason Todd (Red Hood) (APARTMENT 366)

Selina Kyle (Catwoman) (CONDO 443)

The Joker (APARTMENT 329)

 DEAD BY DAYLIGHT

Kate Denson (CONDO 442)

 DISNEY

Adira (CONDO 427)

Hector (TOWNHOUSE 222)

 DOOM

Vega (CONDO 425) *BROKEN URL

 DRAGON AGE

Kaitlyn Hawke (APARTMENT 372)

Morrigan (HOUSE 120)

 THE DRAGON PRINCE

Callum (CONDO 471)

 FATE

Hakuno Kishinami (APARTMENT 312)

Lancer (Nagao Kagetora) (APARTMENT 326)

 FINAL FANTASY

Elidibus (HOUSE 124)

Estinien Wyrmblood (Aymeric's House [Archimedes])

Omega Weapon (APARTMENT 316)

Warrior of Light (Dark Knight - Lycelle Astarinn) (TOWNHOUSE 232)

Warrior of Light (Dragoon - Selenie Armour) (APARTMENT 354)

Y'shtola Rhul (TOWNHOUSE 206)

 FIRE EMBLEM

Ike (HOUSE 102)

Reyson (CONDO 427)

 FRANKENSTEIN (FRANK3N5T31N)

Monster (HOUSE 175)

 FRUITS BASKET

Mutsuki Sohma (TOWNHOUSE 242)

 GUILTY GEAR

Ky Kiske (CONDO 436)

 HELLSING ULTIMATE

Alucard (TOWNHOUSE 253)

 HOMESTUCK

Damara Megido (TOWNHOUSE 248)

Jade Harley (HOUSE 102)

Karkat Vantas (APARTMENT 344)

Marvus Xoloto (APARTMENT 363)

Xefros Tritoh (HOUSE 116)

 HUNTER X HUNTER

Feitan Portor (CONDO 464)

 INTO THE DARK

Maggie (TOWNHOUSE 219)

 JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE

Mariah (CONDO 441)

 KAMEN RIDER

Kaizo Jingu (TOWNHOUSE 256)

 KATEKYO HITMAN REBORN

Squalo Superbia (CONDO 437)

 KID ICARUS

Pit (HOUSE 127)

 KILL LA KILL

Mako Mankanshoku (APARTMENT 347)

 KIMETSU NO YAIBA (DEMON SLAYER)

Gyuutarou (HOUSE 105)

Kokushibou (TOWNHOUSE 236)

Sanemi Shinazugawa (HOUSE 172)

 LEAGUE OF LEGENDS

Evelynn (CONDO 434)

 LEGEND OF ZELDA

Zelda (Breath of the Wild) (TOWNHOUSE 203)

 MAGIC THE GATHERING

Liliana Vess (TOWNHOUSE 235)

 MARVEL

Laura Kinney (X-23) (CONDO 423)

Remy LeBeau (Gambit) (Miriam's House [Fibonacci])

 METAL GEAR

Dr. Strangelove (TOWNHOUSE 261)

 MOBILE LEGENDS BANG BANG

Guinevere Baroque (TOWNHOUSE 204)

 MORTAL KOMBAT

Liu Kang (HOUSE 173)

 MURDERBOT DIARIES

SecUnit (Murderbot) (TOWNHOUSE 213)

 MY HERO ACADEMIA (BOKU NO HERO ACADEMIA)

Fatgum (HOUSE 125)

 MYSTIC MESSENGER

Rika (TOWNHOUSE 219)

 NARUTO

Kakashi Hatake (HOUSE 130)

Neji Hyuuga (CONDO 422)

 NINJAGO

Lloyd Garmadon (CONDO 428)

 OK K.O.!

Darrell (TOWNHOUSE 237)

 ONE PIECE

Shanks (TOWNHOUSE 255)

  ORIGINAL CHARACTERS

Asher Otero (TOWNHOUSE 251)

Gharet (CONDO 411) *BROKEN URL

Goldie (HOUSE 119)

Katsuo Sunohara (HOUSE 174)

 OSOMATSU-SAN

Ichimatsu Matsuno (HOUSE 139)

 OVERLORD

Narberal Gamma (CONDO 458)

 OVERWATCH

Angela Ziegler (Mercy) (APARTMENT 342)

 PARKS & RECREATION

Ron Swanson (CONDO 415)

 PERSONA

Yukari Takeba (TOWNHOUSE 250)

 PORTAL

Wheatley (Wheatley’s Lair [Golden])

 PROFESSOR LAYTON

Luke Triton (HOUSE 129)

 QUAKE

Ranger (HOUSE 122) *BROKEN URL

 RESIDENT EVIL

Ada Wong (HOUSE 153)

 RWBY

Ilia Amitola (TOWNHOUSE 253)

Winter Schnee (Winter's Mansion [Fibonacci])

 SAINTS ROW

Shaundi (APARTMENT 331)

 SENNEN MEIKYUU NO NANA OUJI

Lawrence Ackroyd (CONDO 420)

 SERVAMP

Hyde/Lawless (Greed) (CONDO 451)

Licht Todoroki (CONDO 452)

Sleepy Ash (Kuro) (TOWNHOUSE 259)

 SHE-RA AND THE PRINCESSES OF POWER

Adora (She-Ra) (TOWNHOUSE 259)

 SKULLGIRLS

Nadia Fortune (APARTMENT 368)

 STAR VS. THE FORCES OF EVIL

Star Butterfly (APARTMENT 330)

 STEVEN UNIVERSE

Garnet (TOWNHOUSE 248)

Greg Universe (CONDO 407)

Sapphire (HOUSE 119)

 TOUHOU

Momiji Inubashiri (APARTMENT 335) *BROKEN URL

Rinnosuke Morichika (HOUSE 108) *BROKEN URL

Sekibanki (HOUSE 111)

 TRANSFORMERS

IDW Megatron (TOWNHOUSE 242)

Skids (OUTSIDE)

 TRAUMA CENTER

Angela Thompson (APARTMENT 339)

Erhard Muller (HOUSE 127)

 TSURUNE

Masaki Takigawa (CONDO 435)

 UMINEKO NO NAKU KORO NI

Eva Ushiromiya (HOUSE 103)

 VOCALOID

Gumi (HOUSE 131)

 VOLTRON

Lance Mcclain (TOWNHOUSE 234)

 XENOBLADE CHRONICLES

Lord Zanza (HOUSE 171)

 YAKUZA

Majima (APARTMENT 307)

 YOUR TURN TO DIE (KIMI GA SHINE)

Kai Satou (TOWNHOUSE 258)

Sara Chidouin (HOUSE 158)

 YUGIOH

Seto Kaiba (APARTMENT 365)

[thebleedingeffect]

SPEAKING OF LOZ AU THOUGHTS- anyway im elaborating on how the final showdown between Nocturne, Zelda, and Ganondorf goes down cause it's genuinely tragic to me. Ganondorf being haunted by the knowledge of his fate and the knowledge that the ones before him and after will lead the world into ruin. That the ones he's nurtured and loved all of their lives have always been the ones destined to end him, the knowledge that he knew and festered inside him for years upon years. The truth that he refused to tell anyone, nonetheless Nocturne or Zelda, the agony of them wanting to help him so badly but he never trusted or wanted to burden them with the truth. That they're parts of some bizarre, cursed mix of a divine comedy and tragedy, that he has no part in their stories besides being the villain.

The force the two of them stand up against in the end, good verses evil, a tale as old as time and Ganondorf feels so very old staring down at the two he loves most, the ones he's supposed to hate. Ganondorf can almost feel his ancestors hatred for them bubbling underneath his skin in the late night as he stares down at Nocturne's peaceful form, sleeping quietly underneath the desert moon. Zelda is the more proactive one between the three of them and the first crack widens and splinters during the first genuine fight between her and Ganondorf. She's seen that he's torturing himself but she doesn't know why and he refuses to tell or even let them help or comfort him in the slightest. It's maddening knowing that the truth is just beyond her fingertips but yet even as she's dissolves into begging and declarations that she loves him, please, what's weighing your shoulders down so heavily, my brother?

The legends say that he's the holder of power, the dark king, the evil king, the demon king, that his control over power is unmatched no matter the time or place. But yet, staring down at Zelda, and ignoring how Nocturne flinches from the both of them for hours afterwards- he feels no stronger than the sand against the desert wind. All of this love, this mistrust, the misplaced care for one another with their destinies laid out before them, all of it and more flashes behind Ganondorf's eyes as he plunges pure malice into Nocturne and let's the glow of the triforce spill over Zelda's screams of despair.

Why wouldn't she scream for mercy of her younger brother, the one she's let clutch the tails of her sash since he could barely walk? That she's watched over as a baby and throughout all the winds of hyrule, the boy she's watched cling onto Ganondorf's back and grow into a brilliant prince, a warrior, the best little brother she could ever ask the goddesses for. Ganondorf knows that the both of them never quite stopped seeing Nocturne as the child following the both of them no matter the distance or situation, that they see him and see the sunshine that reflects off his golden hair. Sunshine isn't reflecting off his hair now, instead blood is matted into sickening clumps where his head crashed into the hard floor.

He never was the biggest fan of wearing red, blue was always his color

The worse thing is that Ganondorf knows Nocturne isn't dead, can still feel him shakily breathing as the power of the triforce flickers erratically between them. The glow on his own hand is glowing brighter and brighter but Ganondorf feels no satisfaction, no taste of victory, all he feels as Nocturne's blood spills onto the polished floor is that he promised Nocturne that he would've never be hurt again on that day so long ago. Zelda's screaming abruptly stops and when he finally turns to see her- he sees nothing but rage, the kind of rage that makes the triforce of power pause. The fight afterwards is brutal but tragically short, even as Ganondorf watches the anger, grief filled tears stream down her face as she ignores her own critical injuries to stare down at him and ask why? Was it all to satisfy some goddesses? Did you not trust us enough to simply try? Ganondorf doesn't have an answer for her as he sees death flicker over his vision, granting neither of them any closure as their blood mixes together, Nocturne's untouched as both refused to disturb him even as the world tore itself apart.

Zelda's final moments are empty as she stares down at the sheer unending darkness spilling from Nocturne's body. Knows that whatever emerges from him will not be her brother, her Nocturne, and so with her last remaining thread of strength- plunges the master sword into his stomach and seals him underneath the stone and rubble of the temple of time. She dies believing that she's the last to pass on, that they'll be waiting for her.

Nocturne's moments are of watching the two he loves more than anything tear each other apart, no energy or strength to even move his eyes from the images beginning to burn themselves into his eyes. Watches the way Zelda refuses to meet his eyes and feels the pain of the darkness splitting him apart and of the oddly warm metal jutting into his stomach. He doesn't die, just feels golden chains dragging him into an endless slumber that he hopes he doesn't wake up from.

Untold years later, the temple of time eroded to time and unspoken memories- Nocturne wakes to a face oddly similar to the one he remembers, one slightly aged but undeniably a version of his own.

[heartofhryule]

Breath of the Wild: Captured Memories - Chapter 1

First and foremost; SPOILER WARNINGS. If you have not played The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, or completed the Captured Memories Quest and want to stay unspoilered for it, DO NOT READ. Keep Reading link provided for that reason. 

So I am writing these as I play through BotW for the first time - which means they probably won’t be ‘one-a-day’ consistent as its taking me forEVER to get to all of them. I will post them as I can though! Promise! I also plan to include links to the cutscene for you to watch at the bottom, if so desired - at least for the ones I can find. Any other warnings that become necessary, I will add for content as I go. For now, enjoy!

Chapter 1 - The Sacred Grounds

He’d been walking for days. His legs ached, he was chilled to the bone against the rain and wind despite his warm doublet, and if he didn’t stop to make camp soon it felt like he might fall over. Still, Link pressed on.

Mind spinning with the events of the past month, sleep was not an easy thing won anymore. As far as he could remember, it never had been. Awakening in the Shrine of resurrection, lost, confused, grasping at the tendrils of memory as if threads in the wind, he’d not known true rest since. The King’s spirit explained he’d failed. Explained his daughter, the Princess, was a prisoner of the Ultimate Evil and that it was Link’s duty, calling, purpose, to save her. Still, even after having failed. What kind of life was that?

Then Impa confirmed… in her backwards way, that all this was so. Sending him to the little girl… immortal… thing, Purah and sending him all over creation to “prove himself” to them. He’d done it - he’d had to. What other purpose did he have? He remembered nothing, had no home, no friends other than strange people who claimed to remember him… claimed to have saved his life… At the end of the day amid the tempest of blank memory and identity he seemed to have, what other choice did he have? He literally had nothing better to do than try and learn who he was.

Looking to the strange, glowing tablet at his side, the Sheikah Slate stared back at him, cold and unassuming. The pictures, still, magical paintings of places the Princess had once created on the magical slate, were to lead him to his memories. A few he recognized, having travelled some, a few stirred nothing within him yet.

And yet he travelled, walked, despite the exhaustion, battling demons that rose from the ground, learning to stealth under the Blood Moon, all the while hearing a voice that turned his stomach, created a sense of urgency and longing, and drove him to find the truth of his past. It was a voice, her voice, that lit a fire inside of him. He had no idea who she was, but he needed to find out. It was her voice that made the not-remembering chafe… sometimes unbearably. Whoever it was, she was his reason for fighting, the fire in his gut and thunder in his heart. He had no face to recall, no scent or recalled touch, but it was no less his one truth - This voice was his reason for not giving up… for not dying.

Now if only he could remember her.

Looking up through the rain, ahead of him appeared through the silver wash of the storm, ruins. The same ruins he was mostly certain were present in the first of the Princess’s pictures. A thrill went through him. He knew this place. He’d not recalled it before, but neither had he been so close. A memory of mossy stones and taking a knee in the sunrise washed through him, and he retrieved the Sheikah slate from his belt, pulling up the picture for comparison. This was it!

The ruins were different, more worn and battle-torn, but it was undeniably the location he’d thought it to be. One remarkable different stood out even in the grey sheets of rain that fell around him… the fuschia and blue glow of a Guardian on the other side.

Link barely had time to dodge, leaping behind a pillar as the devastating laser singed the edge of his soaked cloak. Back pressed to the pillar providing him cover, he drew his bow. These magi-tech, mechanical relics were deadly, and far too prolific in Hyrule. He wasn’t certain he currently had the tools to defeat it. Normally when he spotted one, he made a hasty retreat - but today, that was no longer an option. Not here, where his memory was sparking as if perhaps it might return to life, no longer keeping him in the dark.

Peering carefully around the edge of the pillar, Link was relieved to find that this guardian was without its legs. Hylia could still find it in her heart to be merciful it seemed. As good as that was, thanks to the rain, he was not able to aim confidently before the machine levied another blast, vaporizing the rain and briefly setting aflame the flora in its path. Closing his eyes, Link slowed his heart with a deep breath, and let the sound of the rain fade away around him. Focus, he thought, and recalled Her voice, drawing from the fire it engendered to sharpen his mind.

Coming again around the pillar, it was as if time slowed and he could see between the raindrops. Bringing up his bow in the same, fluid movement, he aimed, and let loose an electric arrow. The machine twitched and shuddered as the electricity overloaded its circuits, albeit briefly, but it was long enough to loose a second arrow before again returning behind the pillar’s cover. He repeated this many more times, until despite the downpour, the machine exploded into an orange fireball, and moved no more.

Hesitating an extra few heartbeats to make certain, Link leaned back against the stone pillar in exhaustion. This land was tiring, browbeating… it wearied the soul.

But, this was not the time to rest. Hylia knew there was probably another ambulatory mechanical monster just around the corner, and he had to know. Had to remember… and then leave. Quickly. Darting forward, as he stepped foot onto the flagstones, the rain seemed to lessen a bit. With each careful step, the memory began to wash over him.

***

It was a cool, sunlit day. His was wearing blue, as were all 5 other people gathered. A dark skinned woman, a man apparently made of rock, a bird person, and a woman that he knew was a ‘Zora’, though he wasn’t sure how he remembered that. Perhaps it was her voice he heard? These four were all strangers to him, as was the woman in front of him, until he saw her face. Long golden hair lit by the sunlight, bright green eyes clear with intelligence and poise but somehow sad despite wearing the trappings of someone well to do. She sighed and her lips parted, beginning what sounded like a very dry, rote speech. Something twisted inside of him when she spoke - it was Her voice.

And yet, it wasn’t. The voice he’d heard since awakening was gentle, longing, edged with desperation and worry. The young woman who stood before him looked sad, patronizing a little, and defeated. It was an entirely different bearing than what he… knew? That seemed a little presumptuous all things considered, but something deep in his bones felt it to be true.

The others whispered behind him, but he couldn’t hear what they said. It was very clear that not all were convinced he should be where he was. Least of all, the Princess. Wait, the Princess?! That was to whom Her voice belonged? Surely not. She was trapped in a castle surrounded by destruction and evil, how could she talk to his mind? Why would she talk to his mind? That last question answered itself with the “you’re the last hope” thing everyone kept telling him, but something didn’t sit right. No, no he must be making this princess sound like Her in his mind. Her voice was so much more dear, more personal. Had he been married? Was he hearing the spirit of a long dead wife, or beloved and supplanting her voice into that of this Princess? It had to be.

In the memory, she looked at him with such cold distaste, Link felt there was no way Her voice could be that of this princess.

***

He snapped back to reality as lightning struck the ground nearby, thunder and its deafening crash heralding to him that it was time to move on. He needed an inn, dry clothing and something to eat. Looking at the Sheikah Slate, his heart sank. Something wasn’t right. There were still so many missing pieces that he didn’t want to accept some of the little truths his mind was trying to provide him. Bringing up the map, he tapped the spot for the Shrine nearest to Kakriko Village. Impa had said to return to her once he’d found the site of one of The Princess’s pictures. He could cook something and sleep there for the evening. As the strange magic carried him away, Link’s mind added to his thoughts; Let’s go sleep and ignore the truth a little bit longer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIm4sjv3yBg

[rileyskys]

Must Have Video Games Tag Meme

Alright, so, I don’t post a lot of personal stuff on here, but I guess I can’t fight being tagged by the great @pi3pr0xy​. ;p

So, I got into videogames when I was really young because I had a hip disease, the name is lost on me, but it was something that caused my hip bone cartilage to deteriorate and my bones would start rubbing against each other. I was basically out of commission for playing outside for a few months and my mom had just bought my older brother (who is a big ‘ol redneck) a SNES, which ended up being mine, and the rest is history.

Megaman X - SNES

This was the first game I can remember playing as a kid. This game was the absolute bomb. It had amazing controls, beautiful jraphics, and a compelling story line that pulled me in immediately. This is also the only game I remember playing with my dad who passed away when I was still young. I highly recommend this game to anyone who loves old school platformers.

Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past - SNES

I can already sense people who are fans of Game Grumps that there’s a pattern of me picking some of Arin’s all time favorite games as my favorites, but long before I had the internet, I had a 12″ CRT TV at my grandma’s house. A TV on which I would first discover Link, a small boy tasked with saving all of Hyrule. This game was what jumped me into the LOZ series and I’ve fallen in love ever since. The feeling of adventure I felt in this game was immense. I spent hours finding new things, discovering secrets, and just enjoying being in the world.

Final Fantasy VII - Playstation

Call me a fanboy all you want, but this game revolutionized what I thought games could do. with very limited 3D graphics and pre-rendered backgrounds, this game might not look like much, but it’s storyline was amazing. I was engrossed the moment I turned on the game. The Chocobo, the size of Cloud’s sword, the Highwind, and for the love of God; Materia. The Materia mechanic is what really drove this game home for me. I would grind for hours to get the right Materia for the right fight and I loved it even nowadays when people hate the notion of grinding. I had the dopest selection of Materia for all situations and I couldn’t have been prouder.

Conker’s Bad Fur Day - N64

This is the game that gave me a potty mouth. This fucking squirrel was nuts. From helping a bee fuck a flower with boobs, to fighting a opera singing pile of shit, a creepy zombie level, and even a D-Day re-enactment between squirrels and Nazi teddy bears, Conker’s was Bonkers. Through all the horrible language and imagery, this game was an excellent platformer, and really got me into the N64. I guess the normal game to say you have to play on the N64 is Super Mario 64, but nope, this game all the way.

Left 4 Dead 1 & 2 - Xbox 360

This series was the absolute best at getting you to invite 1-3 friends over and just having a blast slashing and shooting your way through zombies. Seriously, this is the zombie equivalent of Mario Party. I honestly sunk hours and even days into this game trying to get all the achievements. The characters are lovable, the areas are interesting, and the Finales are kickass!

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Xbox 360

Here she is. Big Momma Fantasy. The game that made me feel like a God killing demon. Skyrim, for anyone who doesn’t know, is the fifth game in the Elder Scrolls series, and holy shit, I jumped into this series too late, but this is the one I started with. I’ve never spent so much hours in one day on a game then Skyrim. Playing it on a CRT TV with my iHome blasting Scary Monsters and nice sprites will stick with me until I die.

Borderlands 2 - Xbox 360

Handsome Fucking Jack is the best fucking villain of any game ever.

Nier:Automata - PC

Nier:Automata is a game about anime tiddies, androids, and huge swords, so it hits all my weak points. This game started out super intense and I wasn’t sure how I would enjoy it, but then the world opened up to me and suddenly I felt amazing being in control of 2B, the main character. Her fluid attacking animations and spacious areas to traverse and learn are intoxicating. I got lost in this game so fast. Everything in this game is polished (Besides the optimization issues) and being an android fighting machines controlled by robots is just sick as fuck. I liked the game so much I played it 3 times to get the final ending (Plus the 26 other endings. Yeah, 26 fucking endings), which holy shit, I didn't think there was a game I would enjoy playing 3 times in a row. Oh, but wait-

Bloodborne - PS4

You like Victorian architecture? You like horrible, malformed beasts? You like games that are HARD AS FUCK!? I introduce Bloodborne! I love everything about this game. From the art style to the combat, it's all golden. If you think you have what it takes, and it'll probably take a couple of times, you're gonna absolutely love this game. Oh, did I mention that you can just keep playing it into infinity or you can try your hand at PVP, or not. I sincerely hope you don't. I'm already on New Game +10

Stardew Valley - PC

So. You all know Harvest Moon, right? One of the pioneers of farming games. Want to know something cool? Stardew Valley takes everything that made Harvest Moon great and amplifies it by ten. With beautifully detailed 2D graphics, a lovable town filled with unique friends and potential partners, I played this game far more than any of the others. I've gotten quite bored of it after many, many hours now that I have oodles of money to buy anything, but just when I was about to hang up this game as done but fuck-

They introduced a multiplayer function which you can edit how much money you make from selling things, so you know I played that boy with one other person and made everything 1/4 the price so I can feel like a real farmer, struggling to make ends meet. Honestly though, if you love having a good time, this is the game to play.

Honorable Mentions:

Any Pokemon game, including Pokemon GO.

Fire Emblem: Birthright/Conquest/Revelations - In that order.

God Eater Ressurection - Giant beasts, and giant swords, truck yeah!

Overwatch - Please stop nerfing Mercy, Papa Kaplan.

No Man’s Sky - Everyone hated it, but I loved and still love it. SPACE SHOULD FEEL EMPTY

I guess I got to tag some people too... Hmm...

@point-and-click-adventure @sharkmittens @lilfoxcat Your turn!

[autumnstwilight]

Tags: Link, Fi, backstory, abusive parenting

Summary: What does it mean to be chosen? Do the gods handpick their favored from birth, endowing them with the skill and courage to face their destiny? Or is courage something that can only be shown in the pits of darkness and terror, when the heavens are most silent?

Morning sun, white and blinding, reflected off the waters and carved stone of Zora’s Domain. He had been awake since the first hint of pink from behind the mountains, yet another day of training. His only consolation was in the beauty of his surroundings.

The punishment he had expected had not come, but perhaps the stiff terror he had existed in for the entire week had been the punishment in itself. The Captain had not been kind to him, but neither had he been particularly cruel. He had been distant and formal with Link in a way that made the latter terrified of when the boot was going to come down on him.

It became clearer when they arrived at the Zora’s Domain. As harsh as the training the Royal Guard cadets were subjected to was, Talin and the other tutors had been holding back. A privilege Link no longer received. Cutting the Captain’s overcoat had been a pyrrhic victory indeed. He had shown talent, and it had awakened a fierce ambition in his teacher. The man was no longer content to let him rest at the level of the other students.

He was pressing his grazed and blistered hands into the stone, heaving himself up onto his knees again, when there was the soft pad of feet landing nimbly on the stone. He looked up at the vivid red and white legs before him.

"Stop it."

"Your highness, Princess Mipha. I must ask you to lower your weapon."

The tip of the trident she held dipped toward the ground, but otherwise she did not move.

"I answer to the Hyrulean Royal Family. This is not yours to interfere in."

Mipha remained silent.

"Does your father know where you are? What you’re doing with that weapon?"

"My father is the ruler of this Domain, not the Hyruleans. Those who displease us are no longer welcome on our territory."

"That is not an answer to my question, young princess."

Link rose to his feet, muscles aching. The two glanced back at him, Mipha with a hesitant air about her.

"What are you hoping for, Princess Mipha? I do not intend to stop training my student, nor can you stop me. Your father knows who I am and what I do."

Her voice was quiet, but there was steel in it.

"Teach me to fight too."

The Captain shot her a look that was both frustrated and amused.

"I wish to be your personal student, to train with Link. I am sure my father would think it a fine idea."

"A fine idea... until you get hurt. But that’s your game, isn’t it? If I refuse to give you the same training as Link, I will anger your father. If the training is too harsh, I will anger your father. So that leaves me with one option…"

"Yes." She gave a slight tilt of her head, her silver tiara glinting in the sun.

Captain Talin shook his head. “You children would never understand what we are dealing with, the disaster we hope to avert. The suffering of a few matters not, if it saves us all. And on the contrary, mercy given is a despicable weakness, jeopardizing everything just so that we can feel our hands are clean in the here and now. I refuse to tell myself such lies.”

Behind Mipha, Link stood, waiting.

The Zora princess turned to face him, and their eyes met. Her golden eyes were gentle as she looked down at him.

“Princess Mipha,” he mumbled, “You don’t have to do this.”

“I want to,” she said, giving him a bright smile. She reached for his hands, and a pulse of warmth passed between them. New skin welled up within the shredded remains of blisters, leaving only the faintest of pink spots. The weight of fatigue lifted from his shoulders.

“Very well, princess. I will allow you to stay… if you can hold your own against Link…” The captain’s face showed just a hint of a smirk.

“I accept,” said Mipha firmly.

Link stepped backward and assumed a fighting stance, blunt training sword at the ready. Opposite him, Mipha raised her trident.

“And fight!”

There was a hesitancy between the two of them, an awkward moment as they tried to read each other’s intentions. Neither of them wanted to strike, and yet they must. Link privately thought it better for Mipha if she was sent away, but her determination had put him in an uncomfortable position. He wondered if he would be able to hurt her, even for her own sake.

That was, assuming he could win in the first place. She was older and taller than him, and though he had been introduced to the Zora royalty when they arrived, he had never seen her fight. He was confident he could win against any of the boys his age in the Royal Guard, and even those a few years older. But even in her hesitancy, the way Mipha moved was practiced. She was no amateur. He prepared himself, watching her closely.

And so he struck, a slow, telegraphed overhead swing that she blocked effortlessly. She gave him a somewhat withering look as she spun her trident and shoved him backwards with the blunt end. Yet he could tell that her own strike carried only a fraction of the power she was capable of.

“Do not bore me,” warned Captain Talin.

Mipha glanced in the direction of his voice, and Link took that moment to strike again. Her eyes widened, but she deflected his blow. Knocking his sword aside, she feinted a thrust to the head, then made a sweep for his legs when he moved to guard his face. He jumped backward, and as she fully extended, charged in to close range. It was a good opportunity for a stab, but as she wore no armor, he felt it too dangerous even with a training weapon. Instead, he grabbed her right wrist, the one that held the trident, and pulled her further forward, trying to unbalance her. But her extra size and weight proved an advantage. Not only was he unable to pull her off balance, she moved with him, and with a sudden twist, threw him to the ground. He rolled to the side just as the tip of her trident came down next to him, and scrambled to his feet. He swung again, a little too hastily, and she caught the blade between the tines of her trident, wrenching it out of his grip. He watched his sword fall to the ground behind her, and in that instant, her trident was at his throat.

There was slow, deliberate applause from where the captain sat watching.

“Well done. I suppose I have a new student, at least temporarily. Let’s all have fun, shall we?”

He shot a glare at Link.

“That last attack was horseshit. We’re going to start by doing it one hundred times, properly. I’ll decide if each one counts or not. Princess, I’ll show you the spear technique I want you to work on.”

He looked at the position of the sun in the sky.

“We still have a long day ahead of us.”

---

It was yet another weary evening in the Domain, as he supped on fish and seaweed soup. Mipha was near silent, she had said nothing since healing him after their training that day. Seeing her so worn down, he wished he had been able to win back when they had first dueled, but he knew better than to breathe a word of that in front of her.

The summer was almost over, and the evening brought a strong breeze with it. He glanced up at the clear skies and crystal stars, their dim light giving the Domain an otherworldy glow. On the cliffs around them, he could see patches of luminous stone, like fireflies perched on the rock. There was the everpresent sound of flowing water.

Across the plaza, through the open columns of the throne room, they could hear the murmurings of the Captain and the Zora king. Mipha stared down into her cooling bowl of soup.

“Captain Talin wants me to return with you to the Royal Guard academy in Castle Town…”

“What? Why would he ask that?”

She took a breath and raised her eyes.

“He thinks I have the skill to be a great warrior. The Calamity is coming. My father has also spoken of it. Many skilled fighters will be needed in the days to come…”

“But you’re the princess… Surely that’s… Surely your father will oppose it?”

He stared at her.

“I won’t oppose it. Princess or not, if I am able to protect my people, then I wish to do so. My life is not worth more than that of others, just because of my lineage.”

Her eyes met his, with that immovable quiet stubbornness.

“And I will be with you,” she finished.

There was nothing to be said after that. It perplexed and frustrated him, the way this girl put herself through hardship for his sake, the fact that he could never do anything to dissuade her. He knew there was something in her mind yet beyond his understanding.