#also still learning how to draw gorons

[metamatronic]

meanwhile, in eldin…

i do love daruk, but i think it’s hilarious that this comic is 99% other random gorons.

[thecluelessdoctor]

It's rambling time

*CRAWLS OUTTA WELL WITH A COMEDICALLY LARGE BACKPACK FULL OF NOTES*

I love totk. Don't get me wrong. I love it. But HOLY HELL TO I WANNA STRANGLE WHO EVER THOUGHT 'HEY MAN LETS GET RID OF ALL THE SHEIKAH TECH OTHER THAN LIKE- TWO GUARDIANS' LIKE EXSQUEEZE ME?? MY BABIESSSS/HJ

But on a serious note, I hate the fact how not only Zelda's character development go backwards, it forced a very black and white view on Hyrule. Rauru and kingdom of Hyrule good, Ganondorf bad. Like. What??? EXSQUEEZE ME.

Okz sure, Ganondorf did murder Sonia and steal a secret stone, and attack Hyrule, but like. Let's just- also note this. If the gerudo have a similar story to the sheikah, the kingdom of Hyrule, aka Rauru forced their hand into surrender.

Though I do like the 'keep your loved ones close and your enemies closer' trope (waiting for the ship art/j)

Let me note here, I am rather young, and Botw is what introduced me into LOZ. So. I still have a lot to learn. Anyway! On ward! (Also warning spoilers for TOTK jsndhdbdbdbd)

*sits down on a grassy patch, unpacking bag*

So!! Oh brother where to I start. Let's start with Zelda first because oh my hylia does it hurt.

Ok.

So, Zelda finds out about Zonai and the thing under Hyrule castle, it's understandable that she would be curious! It was established that she was a curious person.

Anyway, she gets yeeted into the past with a TIME power?!? WHAT. I mean it would explain why it took so long for her light power to wake the fuck up, but still?? It feels so random and forced.

Also in BOTW she spends one HUNDRED years keeping a calamity from destroying hyrule, and now suddenly she can't do jack in TOTK?!? EXSQUEEZE ME. WHAT. SHE MAKES A DAGGER GO BACK IN TIME. wOw- link mastered the power in a day- (I'm sorry but I have so many link rambles)

I just MY BRAIN HURTS. also I just- what the fuck happened to the sheikah?!

Yeah we are talking about this now. Like- fuckers are forgotten by EVERYONE- what happened to the shrines?! OR THE GIANT ASS DIVINE BEASTS LIKE WHERE ARE YOU RUDANA- *SOBS* Oh yeah and let's not forget the fact the champions have been forgotten basically. And Sidon moved the statue of his dead sister to make a statue of link riding him. Don't take that out of context. Also how the fuck did they get rid of the lynel up the mountain like?! Even if link killed it for them it would come back every time- endless building there made it so it couldn't come back there-??? Didn't know monsters had manners. I just- UGH.

Ah yes back to the sheikah tech. Everyone, even the sheikah have forgotten it like bruh. Even if it was like- 8 years since BOTW still- they couldn't have suddenly found everything and got rid of the shrines???

Like- the yiga clan (yes fucks I am talking about them) the yiga clan giving up learning about the sheikah for the Zonai makes sense- because the yiga clan has the depth now- and, they didn't have as much *known* access to sheikah tech. But like- PURAH FOR EXAMPLE- WHY WOULD SHE FORGET ABOUT THE TECH SKDNDJHR- IDC HOW HOT YOU ARE IM MAD AT YOU FOR THAT!

Oh and *SIGHS* lemme talk about the sages. No no, not the ones WE know now, I mean the ones of past. I hate them. The only one I like is the one of the gorons because of that one line he says

Me too buddy, me too/j

Anyway.

I wanna fucking murder these sages. Do they all share the same brain cell??? Other than you Mineru I like you.

Wait hold on that's meme potential. SOMEONE DRAW THE SAGES HAVING THE SAME BRAINCELL/HJ

But I just

I hate them.

So much.

Now let me talk about the best characters in TOTK. Besides kogha.

Farosh, Dinraal, and Naydra.

Dear golly I love these dragons. I vibe with them.

Now it's time for my personal favorite topic

THE YIGA CLAN

I love them. And. Yeah

Though I'm very sad about the missed potential for them. Also is it just me or is almost every yiga a dude..

Idk what to say. Just. I love them. And. Kogha better come back or I will cry/J he always comes back-(I'm sorry)

And the last topic of the evening

Link.

I have

Thoughts

Uhm

Ok less about link I love him but like the fact he's so chill about the fact he doesn't have a arm and now has the arm of a furry might say smt.

But at least in BOTW impa is like 'hey you sure your ready to take on what's next and save hyrule' but now it's like 'fucker go do this this and this and go look at the funny ass paintings on the ground' like. Damn ok. ;-;

I can't tell you how much I stalled playing totk. I had such a hard time finishing regional phenomenon. It just- wasn't fun. I knew what to expect, and what was going to happen. So. Yeah.

But I did really like Rito Village. And gorons town. They basically got addicted to drugs and I am ALL FOR IT (not drugs. Don't do drugs) but the Zora's felt... Boring. I mean they felt boring in botw but it got worse. Personally I thought the gerudo were the most boring in botw which is saying something because I got to sneak through the yiga hide out and Rob Kogha. But the zora felt- basic like. Yeah. At least everything else caused you damage or made things harder- the shroud made navigation hard, snow caused damage, the meat roast made conversion harder

But the zora? The sludge just- made you slower??? Idk man.

And omg. Do Sidon and yona make me mad. YEAH, HATE ME FOR IT SIDON FANS!! like people hate yona bc she's engaged to sidon. Personally I dislike them both. Like- Sidon lost the spark that made him- him! And yona- yona is just annoying. Like fuck off mipha copy.

And oh my hylia the MUCKDROCK- I hate it. No. No I loath it. Like what the fuck are you your fucking shrimp.

And it's fight wasn't even that hard. It was just annoying. Like- colagara in my opinion was the easiest, but it was super fun. But the muchdrock? He sucked.

Also btw- before the wrap up, has anyone found the smoldering coliseum and got zants helm??? Just me? Ok :') apparently it's the ice verison of the thunder helm. Now I think there is a fire one.. hmMmmm

Anyway! That wraps up the ramble!

[genshinemblem564]

Zelda x Genshin Headcanons

__________________________________________

• When Zelda and Ayaka first meet, it's as members of royal families. Neither of them would speak of their insecurities in fear of making a bad first impression. However, both Urbosa and Ayato notice their similarities, and after some intervening from those two, the two princesses became quick friends and often confide in each other when in the same area.

• Albedo draws each of the champions (surprise). He is practically enthralled by their elegant blue garbs. They look practically identical, minus the Divine Beasts and Master Sword design, and yet they seem to accentuate each champion's prominent trait, to the point that he can't imagine them wearing anything else.

• Tighnari and the rest of the Amurta darshan are fascinated by the Hyrulian races. While they are curious as to why Hylians have pointed ears, they are infintly more curious about the Gerudo's dominant feminine gene that causes only females to be born, and the Rito, Zora, and Gorons as a whole.(While a Gerudo's height is also an anomaly the feminine gene is what catches their attention.)

• Tartaglia is thrilled to meet Link, believing he found someone equal to him in skill and weapon mastery. While Link's marksmanship far outshines Childe's, the Hylian champion's spearmanship could use some polish. The eleventh Fatui harbinger promises to help Link train his use of a polearm if Link helps him train his archery.

• Faruzan has been on leave to study both the languages of Hyrule and its technology. With how many ruins this land has, she was greeted by many new, eager students from both Hyrule and Teyvat. While most of them were just there to learn how to read the other nations' texts, whether for business or exploration purposes, it still kept her busier than usual.

• Urbosa's trip to Sumeru's desert leads her to Aaru village, where she meets Candace and Dehya. She gains respect for the two vai for different reasons. Candace's sense of duty is admirable, but Urbosa echoes Dehya when she says the spearwoman needs to relax a little. Dehya is respected for her integrity, despite her job's description, her loyalty and justice keep her from taking certain jobs. However, Urbosa believes that Dehya should take the "Eremite" scams a bit more seriously. (I've only listened to Dehya's voicelines, so this might not be accurate.)

• Daruk and Mipha were popular with children back home, and that hasn't changed in Teyvat. Daruk can be seen with kids climbing his back like a cliff side while Mipha tells stories of her and Link, and the other champions as well, of course.

• Revali, stubborn as always, remains in Rito village, that doesn't stop him from getting visitors. He often has to "correct misinformation" spread by the other champions (It's not misinformation, but he wants to keep his cool and dignified appearance). He's just a massive introvert, in the sense that he only shows his true colors around children and those he trusts.

___________________________________________

Note: Sorry for neglecting this series. My adhd both requires and makes it impossible to write a full-length story, as my brain keeps skipping to the good stuff. In case you're wondering why I can't do an intermission like with FEH x Sagau, it's because there isn't a substantial gap in time. I haven't forgotten about this, I'm just still structuring chapter 2.

[axewchao]

Decided to turn a couple of my OCs into Zelda races!

Why? Because I know for a fact that I can't just draw Dal n' Rev all day. One day I'll branch out, and that means I need more practice with everything else Hyrule has to offer =w=

'Specially the Zoras. Those damn fish... head... tail... things =_="

I'll be sticking their mini-bios under a readmore :3

Makani

A Gerudo journeying across Hyrule. Blessed with fire magic, she left Gerudo Town to learn how to properly control said power, mainly via fighting as many monsters as she can. She hopes to one day return to the desert and challenge the legendary Molduking. Has an affinity for baking, and has considered establishing her own bakery somewhere pleasant and pretty.

While Makani has a number of goals on her mind, one she struggles with revolves around her eventually finding a voe. She doesn't want to just... have a kid for the sake of adding to the next generation, then waltz off to continue pursuing her own desires like her mother did. She wants to find a husband and start a loving family, but still has dreams, and only has so much time to do either. Subconsciously, she feels like she's being rushed to pick one thing and stick with it forever, which stresses her out.

Dusty

A Goron traveling with Makani. He considers Makani his sworn sister because of the matching heart-shaped marks (okay Dusty's is a rock) on their necks. Like his name implies, he's known for leaving large trails of dust clouds whenever he rolls around. He uses this to his advantage when fighting monsters; blocking their vision with dust, then striking from behind. He can also use the spikes on his back to scale up various walls.

Dusty is particularly fond of crashing into things. Monsters, large rocks, ore deposits, you name it, he'll crash it. Like most other Gorons, he doesn't like the taste of gems, but still collects them to make easy rupees. After hearing about the powers each gem can hold, he's kept one of each type for himself, as he's now debating over whether he should just attach them to his weapons and call it a day or keep more and have them converted into jewelry later. That "diamond circlet" thing sounds pretty badass, after all...

Tuno

A young Zora that was found washed up on the shores of Hateno Beach by Symin some time prior to the events of BotW. Rather than let the child swim back out to the unknowns of the sea, Tuno was instead brought to the Domain, where he was taken in by Laflat. Much like Link, Tuno never says a word, but can communicate with other Zoras by wiggling his fins.

Tuno has abilities similar to that of a puffer fish, in that he can puff up his tail and raise a set of spines to stab/scare any would-be assailants or threats. However, unlike puffer fish, he isn't poisonous in any way. He rarely puffs up, both because he's difficult to scare, and because it looks embarrassingly silly. The one thing that does scare him, however, is Octoroks. It's possible that some kind of Octorok had terrified Tuno in the past, maybe even drove him away from the sea entirely.

Tuna

A Hylian boy who lives at the Woodland Stable. He's Tuno's best friend, and the two are as close as siblings. Tuna often wonders if it's possible for a person to turn into a Zora, and likes to daydream about what his "Zora form" would look like. Prefers playing with the horses rather than actually tending to them, and is often begging his parents to let him start his riding lessons.

For reasons unknown, Tuna is prone to falling ill on the night of a blood moon, often left bedridden by sunset. He's become a sort of alarm at the stable because of this, where if anyone is wondering when a blood moon will rise, they just check on him. If he's feeling dizzy, that means one's coming. He'll recover the following morning without fail, but this doesn't stop his parents and fish bro from worrying about him.

[skyward-floored]

Do you have particular sages in mind for Lost AU Zelda to meet as she improves her magic? Game favorites? OCs? Or is that all stuff you're still thinking on?

I have a few ideas actually! Most are *ahem* OCs, but they’re all drawing from canon. I basically looked at oot and albw (and botw a little) and decided where to go from there. My only sticking point is that I don’t know if I want kokiri or koroks. Same with Zora and/or Rito. I haven’t decided how I’m doing any of that XD Stay tuned for rambling.

So! One of them is a little Sheikah girl, related to Impa somehow (granddaughter, grandniece, something of that sort). If we’re going by oot standards, she’s the sage of shadows. Nice kid, weirdly unbothered by pretty much anything disturbing, but nice.

If I decide to have Rito, then I’ll use an OC I have for their sage; she’s a sweet motherly bird, and a little featherheaded. She’s based off mourning doves, and is a light pink-grey. And her name is Moureen because I think I’m funny.

The Zora sage is named Tunal (he’s got tuna colors, dark blue with some yellow). He has several older siblings who all do all kinds of great stuff, but he just hasn’t found his niche, and everybody thinks he’s pretty much a screw up. His problem mostly is that nobody really ever believed in him, or told him the stuff he did pursue was stupid, so when Zelda comes and ends up needing his help, he finally gets that push he needed to realize he’s not useless.

The Goron sage I haven’t anything for sure, but I have a couple different ideas for him? The one I like best is this sort of extreme sports guy, who should be learning how to take over the tribe from his dad, but prefers to do stuff like launch himself off ramps and do whatever the goron-equivalent of a sick kickflip is. But we’ll see.

The gerudo one is an older lady, red hair streaked with grey. She seems like a real grouch at first, but there’s some sort of reason for that (haven’t um. Figured it out yet lol), and she warms up to Zelda. And she may look older, but she’s still got some fight in her, knock it off whippersnappers.

And then there’s a kokiri/korok sage, but I haven’t decided pretty much anything about that one. I guess I also need a sage of light like Rauru in oot, but I don’t know about that either, and if I have a Rito one I guess I don’t really need one? Yeah, idk. Still working it out!

[aikoiya]

LoZ: BotW & TotK - Ideas for Future Games in the Wild Series

I've mentioned before how I would've loved to see the Mogma return as people living in the Depths, but I'd also love to see the return of the Twili, Minish, Yeti, Deku Scrubs, & Skullkids.

Maybe expand the number of sages. Mogma of Earth, Minish of Forest, Yeti of Ice, & Twili of Shadow. If not the Twili, then just make Paya the Shiekah Sage of Shadow like in OoT.

Also, put in emeralds & have them related to the wind. Maybe make the gem blade-shaped like Diamonds & Amber to indicate that, when fused to a hilt, it works like the Eightfold Longsword? Also, it adds +15 to attack.

Also, Light Dragon parts & Diamonds provide Light Damage which is more effective against Dark Enemies such as Gloom & Malice enemies. Also undead enemies.

Onyx for Shadow, which would be effective against Light enemies.

And Sandstone for sand, a.k.a. Earth. Which would be very effective against electricity.

Maybe Moonstone for Twilight which is a merging of Light & Shadow. Since it is part Light, it would also be effective against Dark & undead enemies.

---

Maybe even learn that there's a different race of Zora living in the Necluda Sea (maybe ones more like the old versions of the Zora) based off the ones from Termina & the River Zora had no idea. I can see Sidon being eager to make them allies.

And a different race of Goron still living in the Depths of Gorondia. Their look would be inspired by the Luminous Stones in the series.

Like this fanart right here:

Not mine, but it's super cool-looking!

---

I'd also love to see the Keaton make a reappearance. If not as a character with riddles or puzzle or side quests, then as just something mentioned in myth & legend. Possibly relating to the Sheikah.

Speaking of myths, it'd be nice to hear about legends regarding diefied characters such as Jabun/Jabu Jabu, Valoo, the Goddess of the Sand, the 3 Golden Goddesses, ect. Also the Minish because they were part of Hyrule's myths too. And a mention about the Kokiri too! Like, again, it doesn't have to be part of the main story, just mentions.

It'd also be cool to see them in environmental storytelling.

I'd also be up for more Ruins of old temples.

Which, BTW, I wish there was more involving the Kakariko Graveyard. In that, I wish there was actually something there. Like, there's nothing! It's so small & I didn't even know that BotW/TotK Kakariko HAD a graveyard until recently when I just sorta stumbled across it in TotK! Like, was it also there in BotW & I just completely missed it??

---

Also, just bring back the Helm Splitter, Back Slice, Mortal Draw, & especially the Fatal Blow.

---

OOO!! And Darknuts & Iron Knuckles! I think they'd both be great additions to the Wild Series' Beastiary! Especially as enemies with really good ai.

You could even go pretty damn dark with the whole Iron Knuckles possibly being corrupted Gerudo thing.

---

Also a footwear slot & accessory slots. Footwear not having any defense, but effecting mobility. Like, you could use it to reintroduce things like the Pegasus Boots as running shoes of sorts, Flippers for swim speed, & Steel Boots for added weight in water. As well as new things like Climbing Boots for climbing. Things like that.

As for accessories, you'd get a crown, earrings, & necklace slot. That way, you can have an Accessory Set Bonus.

Also accessories that increase things like rupee amount. Like a Satori's Blessing Crown, Blupee Earrings, & a Bubbulfrog Necklace which you can get by completing a questchain in Gerudo Town with the Jewelry Lady. Aisha I think?

Also, the Wild Outfit's Set Bonus should be something like increasing item drops "Wild Bounty" for the initial perks & item drop rarity, "Wild Boon" or something for the actual Set Bonus. Because, as Hero of the Wild, BotW & TotK Link goes item farming A LOT. So, why not lean into that?

---

Also, I know that I've said it before, but I just wanna reiterate. I would LOVE to see underwater exploration & an actual in-game explanation that old Zora Armor were better. Then they go on a main quest to find a way to upgrade the Zora Armor by maybe going to Tanagar Canyon (where I think the Zora lived for a while during TP) where you discover the ruins of the TP Zora Domain. And there you find murals describing the Twilight War & the Zora's place in it. As well as a tablet in a room hidden behind the throne that describes how to make, like, a magical Kakashi-style fukumen face mask made from frog skin.

Because frogs use their skin to filter oxygen from water. A euryhaline frog like the Rana cancrivora specifically because it can survive in both fresh & salt water. I think I'd call it the Aquaskin Frog or something. It'd just be like any of the other frogs running around in BotW & TotK, just very rare. Like Tireless Frogs.

This art actually is mine & I'm very proud of it!

Anyway, this upgrade would make it so just swimming normally doesn't use up stamina, but, like, dash swimming does & even when you run out of stamina in the water, the mask makes it so you don't drown & you just swim normally to recover stamina like when you stop sprinting on land. Also, when dash swimming, instead of it being in short bursts, it works like dashing on land.

Also, it'd have 2 modes. Surface swimming & underwater swimming & they'd function differently. In order to go from surface swimming to underwater swimming, either you dive from above water or you hit the Dive button while swimming on the surface.

Also, being able to use spears & all Zora weapons in water unless Link's wearing something like the Steel Boots. No other weapon types can be freely used in water. But maybe in order to do so, Link has to train with the Zora to learn how first? As such, fighting underwater has very different animations.

I also like the idea of Link getting a sort of Chain of Return attached to a gauntlet device where he hooks a spear weapon to a chain & he can throw the spear in the water then press a button to drag it back to him.

Could be a feature of the Clawshot in fact!

---

Also, bring back special magical equipment & a magic meter like in the old games. Specifically the clawshots & instruments that do special magic songs. And not the magitech "magic through a sciency filter" sort of magic like in the last couple games.

Legit full-on magic with spells. And shut it with this "power" bs & not even bother to tell us what kind of power. If you're gonna do that, just call it flipping magic, dude!

And, if the power wheel were to return, I'd have the equipment as part of the power wheel, but do it like the Ratchet & Clank games do their weapon wheel & make it so while in the wheel, you can switch between powers & special equipment by flipping the right stick back & forth.

As a matter of fact, some of the equipment that I'd personally put in there would be whichever instrument is featured, clawshots, a hamaxe (hammer/axe), a shovel, a bow, & maybe a bug net & fishing rod.

Like, you can still just walk up to a bug & catch it, same with fish, but using the net or rod to do so gives you more at one time.

Oo! And maybe due to being able to use spears underwater, it could allow for spearfishing!!

Also, to keep the whole changing weapons thing, you have to upgrade your equipment like in Skyward Sword, which would require you to collect drops.

I might even put in a consumables wheel, half being for food & the other half reserved for elixirs & potions. Elixers can be made by Link, but Potions can only be made by alchemists, hearth mages, or herbalists. Because I really wanna make bottles special again!

Anyway, the wheels would act as a sort of quick select thing for when you're in mid-battle.

At the same time, I kinda wish you could fuse things to the bows too.

---

I also really liked how Malanya & weapon fusion was done! So, I'd like to keep them both.

But, I guess that I'd like to expand on it! BotW had this mod called Second Wind where Link could learn some basic metallurgy & even some weaponsmithing! Which, holy crud, I wish was canon!

---

I'd also have more recipes. Especially settlement or species or region specific recipes. And more sidequests involving learning said recipes & teaching it to people or just bringing it to them.

Like, I feel like Lurelin & Goponga Village would make Bouillabaisse. But Lurelin uses Porgy while Goponga uses Bass.

Also, sometimes multiple settlements specialize in the same recipe, but use different ingredients.

Like, Tough Pumpkin recipes originated in Kakariko, but Sunny Pumpkin recipes are unique to Hateno.

Maybe have recipe-seeking questchains?

---

Oh my gosh! And do you know what I'd freaking love??? I'd l♡ve to see the Gerudo with agriculture!

Like, did you know that so long as you have reliable access to water, you absolutely can grow food in the desert!

A bunch even!

Tomatoes, sweet potatoes, beans, corn, wheat, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, spinach, cabbage, lettuce, figs, dates, grapes, radishes, carrots, sweet peppers. All these things can be grown in the desert so long as water is available!

There's also a planting method that's supposed to help with this. It's called the straw grid method where you create a sort of fence of straw around a crop & it helps to keep the wind & sand off the base of the plant.

It can even be used to begin a sort of de-desertification process, but it'd take a lot of backbreaking work.

Like, obviously, things can grow there! BotW even had a sidequest where a little Vai named Dalia grew some Wildberries in a lot inside Gerudo Town!

So, it's even possible in-game!

I just... I wanna see the Gerudo thrive! Like, fuck all Ganondoofus' excuses about "the wind bringing death."

Egypt was once the greatest empire on earth & they were situated in the desert! And you know why they were able to thrive there?? Because of the Nile River, which brought them water!

So, wtf aren't the Gerudo at least as powerful as Hyrule in BotW & TotK??? Even in TotK's past, where we don't know if that perpetual hoodoo spring had been there at the time because, if nothing else, I can 100% guarantee that the flipping Gerudo Highlands were there! Like, yes, a lot of things can change in 10,000 years... But not a whole motherhubbing mountainchain! That shit doesn't just show up!

Also, the Highlands' very existence as well as the knowledge of the fact that the desert had once been green until it dried up, suggests that the Gerudo Desert was never just a desert. It's a Rain Shadow. And, if that's the case, then this would mean that, the entire time, the Gerudo could've been using the snow that collects at the top of the Highlands to sustain themselves. It would mean that they could've been using the snow that forms there to help them produce their own food & not have to rely so heavily on Hyrule & other possible countries for sustenance.

Which, don't get me wrong. I, as much as anyone, understand that if the thought doesn't cross your mind, then the information might as well not exist. I understand that, just having 2 pieces of information in your memory is useless unless they collide & they connect to produce a logical conclusion. I get that because that "oh my gosh, why didn't I think of that before, I'm such an idiot" feeling has hit me more times than I can count.

But, at the same time, you'd think that SOMEONE would realize this!

... Which, just as I was typing this, I realized, maybe they did? Maybe that's where the infinite water from the hoodoo actually comes from?

... Is something like that possible? Actually... Is it possible that it comes from that river in the cave on Meadela's Mantle?

Also, bring back the equestrian archery from OoT!! Bring back those Gerudo Horses & maybe bring in War Boars & Sheep.

I mean, the Sand Seals are cute, but I want more!

Like, what kind of pets do you think the Gerudo would have?

Personally, I hc Sand Cats, which are both their companions & deadly hunting/tracking buddies.

Also, why the absolute fuck are the little girls wearing crop tops?!?!

Put them in feminine thoubs or something!

---

Also, Fierce Deity backstory revealing that Zelda is the reincarnation of Hylia, Ganondorf is Demise's hatred, & Link is the Feirce Deity.

And make the Fierce Deity a god of war, protection, heroes, music, the forge, the moon, & death. A fierce, powerful, & vicious god with a heart as pure as gold, but solemn & melancholic due to the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. (Which actually has some canonical evidence suggesting it might be true, as in Japanese, the Fierce Deity is called a Kishin & the lore behind these figures is interesting to say the least. In fact, the Japanese Kishin are evidently inspired by the Buddhist Pāla.) Maybe he was the one who created the Sheikah in the same way that Hylia created the Hylians? This would suggest that his true name might have "Shei" in it.

I remember reading a fic somewhere where this was a thing & Hylia, Fierce, & Demise were all the children of the 3 Golden Goddesses who created Hyrule.

Demise, son of Din was the first given responsibility to care for Hyrule, but he became an evil being. Next came Fierce (not his actual name), who was the son of Farore & had been a kind, sweet, gentle soul, but in order to protect Hyrule from the evil in the hearts of men left behind by Demise, he had to forge himself into an instrument of war & punish those who commited acts of evil.

At his core, he was still the gentle, sweet boy who loved nature & music that he always was, but now much darker, far more traumatized, & more tired than before. Something happened & then Hylia, daughter of Nayru, was made the new patron deity of Hyrule.

Even after that, Fierce continued to dedicate himself to protecting the innocent, Hyrule, & specifically Hylia. In fact, at one point, he & Hylia were married.

Then, Demise returned to conquer Hyrule for himself. Fierce fought & defeated him, placing the seal upon Demise that we remember from Skyward Sword, but Fierce was gravely injured & had given up his godhood in the hopes of using the Triforce to end Demise once & for all before dying & been reborn as Skyward Sword Link as a result.

It was a really good story!

I can't remember who wrote it.

---

Now, while I don't consider Ganondorf being the villain as well as a Gerudo to be racist (as someone has to be the villain), I do think that it would be nice if the games had villains/antagonists from the other races as well. Including Hylian. Like Vaati was a Minish & the original Yiga were Sheikah. Those were both interesting twists!

And I even kinda headcanon that Byrne from Spirit Tracks might've actually been Sheikah.

So, it'd be cool to have some more of that variety so that it's made clear that evil is something that can come from any race.

I mean, we get a good deal of antagonism from a few of the elderly Zora in BotW, though not to the extent of being villains, but it felt a bit too short lived. However, that seems to come back again a bit with Muzu & I'm actually kinda pleased with the fact that he reacted almost instinctively in that way in TotK because that just means that this sort of thinking is probably very ingrained. Which is actually how bigotry tends to work irl.

Which indicates that he has some very ingrained racism despite having admitted that he was wrong last game.

Which, while an awful thing, is realistic! Some people are just gonna be racist assholes & you can't change that! XD

Sure, maybe you were proven wrong, but you've still spent years thinking that way. So, obviously, for a good while, you're first instinct is going to be to think that way again, even if it's a knee-jerk reaction.

---

Also, if not the upgraded Zora Armor, then the reintroduction of the magical transformation masks from Majora's Mask, but specifically with the Zora Mask turning Link into the old Zora design which would spark curiosity from the other Zora.

Then, add a Rito Mask & make the Korok Mask turn Link into a Korok. Also, the Deku Scrub Mask.

---

Also also, water should hurt Fire-Breath Lizalfos just as much as ice does. And Electric Lizalfos should have an elemental weakness.

Maybe the Earthwake Technique is especially effective against electric enemies.

---

Also, why THE EFF can't I pet the dogs or play fetch with them Nintendo?!?!

---

Also, I'd give Hyrule more of an alcohol culture, especially Gerudo & Lurelin who'd be famous for their cocktails. I've even made up a bunch of drinks & stuff for them. That, plus some extra fruits & stuff.

For the ingredients you don't recognize, please go to my LoZ Wild Masterlist at the bottom of the page & go to the New Ingredients post under Lore.

Hyrule At Large Alcohols:

Courser Mead (Energizing) = Courser Bee Honey. - Hyrule's most common & cheapest alcohol. Despite how cheap it is, its actually pretty good. Made in Hyrule Castle Town, Mabe Village, Hateno Village, & Ordon Village.

-

Kakariko Alcohols:

Umeshu (Sneaky 1-2) = Kakariko Plum (Sneaky), Cane Sugar, Hylian Rice, & Silent Shroom. - An alcohol made in Kakariko from plums. Typically drunk during Kakariko's Hanami Festival. The Silent Shroom is meant to act as the koji that the Japanese use to make their alcohols. Koji being a sort of fungal yeast.

Satori Sake (Hasty 1-2 & Hydrating) = Satori Cherry (Hasty & Hydrating), Hylian Rice, & Rushroom. - Made every spring when the Satori Trees bear fruit. The Rushroom is meant to act as the koji that the Japanese use to make their alcohols. Koji being a sort of fungal yeast.

-

Hateno Village Alcohols:

Courser Mead . = Courser Bee Honey. - Hyrule's most common & cheapest alcohol. Despite how cheap it is, its actually pretty good. Made in Hyrule Castle Town, Mabe Village, Hateno Village, & Ordon Village.

Satori Mead (Hasty/Energizing) = Satori Cherry (Hasty & Hydrating) & Courser Bee Honey. - A honey wine made from Satori Cherries to be sold at Hanami.

-

Terry Town Alcohols:

Satori Liqueur = Satori Cherry (Hasty & Hydrating), Zonai Corn (Mighty), Sugar, & Sundelions. - Made for the Hanami Festival.

-

Mabe Village Alcohols:

Courser Mead (Energizing) = Courser Bee Honey. - Hyrule's most common & cheapest alcohol. Despite how cheap it is, its actually pretty good. Made in Hyrule Castle Town, Mabe Village, Hateno Village, & Ordon Village.

Mabe Bourbon (Mighty 1) = Tabantha Wheat & Zonai Corn (Mighty). - A rich, smooth, & citrusy alcohol made with at least 51% Zonai Corn.

Satori Bourbon = Satori Cherry (Hasty & Hydrating), Tabantha Wheat, & Zonai Corn (Mighty). - A bourbon made for the Hanami Festival. Hyrule Castle Town often pairs up with Mabe for it's production.

Mabe Village Cocktails:

Chateau Romani = Lon Lon Milk, Mabe Bourbon (Mighty 1), Akkala Cinnamon (Hasty), Cane Sugar, & Chickaloo Tree Nut. - Named after the eldest daughter of the original owner of Mabe Village's Lon Lon Ranch. A reference to Majora's Mask.

-

Deya Village Alcohols:

Deya Moscato (Energizing & Hydrating 3) = Deya Peach (Energizing & Hydrating), Cane Sugar, Sweetvine Grape (Hydrating), & Shock Fruit. - A sweet, fizzy Rosé wine made of delicious peaches & Deya's most famous product. Wonderful when paired with deserts.

Satori Moscato (Hasty 1) = Satori Cherry (Hasty), Cane Sugar, Sweetvine Grape (Hydrating), & Shock Fruit. - A sweet, fizzy wine made of Satori Cherries for the Hanami Festival.

Deya Village Cocktails:

Karina's Blessing Daiquiri (Hearty & Amorous) = Deya Peach (Energizing & Hydrating), Lovely Rose (Mighty & Amorous), Valiant Gladiolus (Mighty & Amorous)/Sweetheart Orchid (Hearty & Amorous), Rama Lama, Deya Moscato (Energizing & Hydrating 3), Cane Sugar, & Ice Fruit. - Made with ingredients from all around southern Hyrule. Made in tribute to the Goddess of Love & Passion. Often served during the evening on Bondsday.

-

Tabantha Village Alcohols:

Tabanthan Vodka (Hearty/Spicy 1) = Tabantha Wheat & Hearty Radish or Tundra Potato (Spicy). - Can use either Radishes or Potatoes. Either way, it's a very strong alcohol that'll surely warm you up.

Satori Vodka = Satori Cherry (Hasty & Hydrating), Tabantha Wheat & Hearty Radish or Tundra Potato (Spicy). - A type of Vodka made for Hanami. Rito Village often teams up with Tabantha Village for its production. The Gorons & Shadow Hamlet also make their own version of a Satori Vodka & the first time this happened it was like walking into a party where some other chick is wearing the same dress. They were like, "Well, SOMEONE'S gonna have to change," but all parties involved were too stubborn & now it's a full-blown rivalry.

Tabantha Village Cocktails:

Bloody Hilda = Hylian Tomato, Tabanthan Vodka (Hearty/Spicy), Spicy Pepper, Shock Fruit, & Rock Salt. - A reference to Link Between Worlds.

-

Goron City & Shadow Hamlet Alcohols:

Dodongo's Blood (Scorching 1) = Warm Safflina, Hearty Radish, Fire Fruit, & Hylian Rice. - A very, very strong, burning sort of vodka made in the Shadow Hamlet.

Satori Vodka = Satori Cherry (Hasty & Hydrating), Warm Safflina, & Hylian Rice. - Shadow Hamlet's version of cherry vodka. Goron City tends to pair up with Shadow Hamlet for its production. The Ritos & Tabantha Village also make their own version of a Satori Vodka & the first time this happened it was like walking into a party where some other chick is wearing the same dress. They were like, "Well, SOMEONE'S gonna have to change," but all parties involved were too stubborn & now it's a full-blown rivalry.

Goron City & Shadow Hamlet Cocktails:

Cinder Ale (Scorching 2-3) = Fire Fruit, Gleaming Ginger (Sunny), & Dodongo's Blood (Scorching 1). - Favored by Gorons & Shadow Hamletans.

-

Zora's Domain & Goponga Village Alcohols:

Cascade Wine (Rapid 1 & Hydrating) = Splash Fruit & Swift Violet. - Wine brewed from Splash Fruit. The Swift Violet doesn't nullify the effects of the Splash Fruit due to the 2 having Effect Synergy.

Satori Wine (Hasty & Hydrating 2) = Satori Cherry (Hasty & Hydrating), Cane Sugar, & Splash Fruit. - A wine made of Satori Cherries for the Hanami Festival. Zora's Domain typically aids Goponga in its production.

Zora's Domain & Goponga Village Cocktails:

Aqua Vita (Rapid 2-3) = Cascade Wine (Rapid 1 & Hydrating), Swiftsail Lavender (Rapid), Cane Sugar, & Splash Fruit. - A sangría made from Cascade Wine from Goponga. Zora absolutely love it!

Aqua Vita Frogría (Rapid 3 & Hydrating) = Ice Fruit, Cascade Wine (Rapid 1 & Hydrating), Swiftsail Lavender (Rapid), Cane Sugar, & Splash Fruit. - A frozen Aqua Vita. Zora absolutely love it, especially in summer!

-

Ordon Village Alcohols:

Courser Mead (Energizing) = Courser Bee Honey. - Hyrule's most common & cheapest alcohol. Despite how cheap it is, its actually pretty good. Made in Hyrule Castle Town, Mabe Village, Hateno Village, & Ordon Village.

Ordon Moonshine (Mighty 2) = Zonai Corn (Mighty), Mighty Thistle, Valiant Gladiolus (Mighty & Amorous), & Cane Sugar. - Only available in Ordon & only for residents. Has a very complex flavor profile.

Ordon Whiskey (Mighty 1) - Zonai Corn (Mighty) & Tabantha Wheat. - The most common adult beverage in Ordon.

Satori Whiskey = Satori Cherry (Hasty & Hydrating) & Zonai Corn (Mighty). - A whiskey made from Satori Cherries for the Hanami Festival.

Ordon Village Cocktails:

Spiked Apple Cider = Apple, Fall Seasoning, Cane Sugar, Acorn/Chickaloo Tree Nut, & Ordon Whiskey (Mighty 1) - Ordon's favorite fall drink. Beloved & deeply nostalgic. Commonly served at Ordon's Harvest Festival in fall & is a very popular drink all over Hyrule around that time.

Spiked Golden Apple Cider (Mighty 3) =  Golden Apple, Fall Seasoning, Cane Sugar, Farore Hazelnut (Lightningproof), Mighty Thistle/Valiant Gladiolus (Mighty & Amorous), & Ordon Whiskey (Mighty 1). - The best version of Ordon's favorite fall drink. Beloved & deeply nostalgic. Comes in short supply due to how rare Golden Apples are. Commonly served at Ordon's Harvest Festival in fall & is a very popular drink all over Hyrule around that time.

-

Gerudo & Ealiyah Town Alcohols:

Ealiyan Spiced Whiskey (Spicy 1) = Tabantha Wheat, Warm Safflina, & Spicy Pepper. -  A warming whiskey made for winter.

Wildberry Wine = Wildberry. - Wine made from the Wildberries of the Gerudo Highlands. A winter drink.

Fudkarràck (Spicy/Chilly/Electric 1) = Any Safflina & Tabantha Wheat. - A Gerudo alcohol brewed from Cool Safflina & Wheat from the Gerudo Highlands.

Màlàkshedeh (Chilly/Icy 1) = Cool Safflina, Desert Queen (Chilly/Icy), & Oasis Honey (Recovery)/Sàbaar Fruit (Recovery). - A very special Gerudo alcohol that is delicious & sweetly spiced. It is inspired by Shedeh, which was the most precious wine in Egypt. Màlàkshedeh was originally only reserved for the Chief's family, but since Riju's decree, other Gerudo are allowed to imbibe it, though only on important holidays. Is very difficult to brew, which was a large contributor to why it was originally so exclusive. While technically any Safflina will work, Cool Safflina is recommended as it doesn't conflict with the Desert Queen.

Sàtrï Shedeh = Satori Cherry (Hasty & Hydrating), Warm/Cool Safflina, Oasis Honey (Recovery)/Sàbaar Fruit (Recovery), & Frostbane Blossom (Spicy)/Desert Queen (Chilly). - A precious, springtime, honey spirit brewed for the Hanami Festival. Gerudo Town typically teams up with Ealiyah Town to produce it. They tend to switch between the 2 recipes they use depending on what's most abundant that year. - Inspired by Shedeh, which was the most precious wine in Egypt.

Ealiyah Town Cocktails: (Ealiyans invented the Daiquiri)

Noble Pursuit (Electro 2-3) = Palm Fruit, Hydromelon, Voltfruit, Rock Salt, & Electro Fudkarràck. - The original recipe. Can technically be made with any Fudkarràck, but Electro Fudkarràck is recommended as it doesn't negate the effects of the Shock Fruit.

Shockonana (Stormy/Charged 2-3) = Shock Fruit, Korok Leaf, Cane Sugar, & Electro Fudkarràck. - A relatively new cocktail only made after the Upheaval. A sweet & sour drink with some serious zing & a nice fizz on the tongue. A favorite among young adults. Can technically be made with any Fudkarrack, but Electro Fudkarrack is recommended as it doesn't negate the effects of the Shock Fruit. (A reference to Limonana which is a Middle Eastern mint lemonade.)

Hot Toddy (Energizing) = Ealiyan Spiced Whiskey, Oasis Honey (Recovery), Shock Fruit, Korok Frond, Fall Seasoning, & Zonai Cofégranos (Energizing). - A good drink to start the day with.

Hydromelon Daiquiri (Chilly 3 & Hydrating) = Ice Fruit, Chilly Fudkarràck, Hydromelon, & Splash Fruit (optional). - Made with Ealiyan Gerudo bartending techniques, who are often hired in Gerudo Town to be bartenders & it's absolutely extremely popular in Gerudo Town, especially in midday when it's hottest. Can technically be made with any Fudkarràck, but Chilly Fudkarràck is recommended. The Splash Fruit is both optional & expensive due to it being an import, but it makes for an even better & more effective drink. Very hydrating which is perfect for desert living. Zora love it too!

Spiced Pineapple Shrug (Spicy 2-3 & Hydrating) = Spicy Pepper, Faron Pineapple (Spicy & Hydrating), Gleam Ginger (Sunny), & Spicy Fudkarràck. - Very popular both in the Highlands & the Desert. However, the fact that they need to import the Feron Pineapples from Lurelin means that the drink tends to be more expensive. Tabanthans & Ritos also tend to greatly enjoy it.

Chieftain's Resolve (Stormy/Charged 2) = Shock Fruit, Desert Queen (Chilly/Icy), Rock Salt, Gleam Ginger (Sunny), & Electro Màlàkshedeh. - A very special occasion sort of cocktail meant only for celebrations. Was made in honor of Chief Riju & Sir Link's success against the Gibdos &, later, the Demon King. Electro Malakshedeh is recommended as it doesn't negate the effects of the Shock Fruit.

Sàtrï Slush (Hasty 1) = Ice Fruit, Sàtrï Shedeh, & Satori Cherry (Hasty & Hydrating). - Not very popular in Ealiyah itself, but Ealiyan Gerudo are often hired in Gerudo Town to be bartenders & it's absolutely extremely popular there, especially in midday when it's hottest. Only available during spring.

-

Lurelin Alcohols:

Rama Lama = Any Milk & Cane Sugar. - A sort of rich cream rum.

Rama Hua Pāma (Hydrating) = Palm Fruit & Cane Sugar. - A rum made with palm fruit.

Rama Alani (Enduring & Hydrating) = Lurelin Orange (Enduring & Hydrating) & Cane Sugar. - A rum made with oranges.

Rama Paina (Spicy & Hydrating) = Faron Pineapple (Spicy & Hydrating) & Cane Sugar. - A rum made with pineapples.

Rama Satori (Hasty & Hydrating) = Satori Cherry (Hasty & Hydrating) & Cane Sugar. - A rum made of Satori Cherries to be drunk at Hanami.

Lurelin Cocktails:

Dirty Banana = Mighty Banana, Rama Lama, & Zonai Chocolate (Spicy & Amorous). - A cocktail made with Mighty Bananas, & Zonai Chocolate powder steeped in a Cream Rum.

Kalima ʻAlani (Enduring - Half○ & Hydrating 2) = Lurelin Orange (Enduring & Hydrating), any Milk, Rama Alani (Enduring & Hydrating), & Rama Lama. - Sort of an orange cream cocktail. Fantastic just before a hard day's work.

Kalima ʻAlani Daiquiri (Enduring - Full○ & Hydrating) = Ice Fruit, Lurelin Orange (Enduring & Hydrating), any Milk, Rama Alani (Enduring & Hydrating), & Rama Lama. - A frozen Kalima ʻAlani. Fantastic just before a hard day's work. The Ice Fruit are imported from the Gerudo Highlands & Tabantha regions.

Lurelin Sunset (Hydrating 3) = Faron Pineapple (Spicy & Hydrating), Lurelin Orange (Enduring & Hydrating), & Rama Hua Pāma (Hydrating). - Named after the most beautiful view in Hyrule & inspired by a Miami Sunset cocktail.

Paina Colada (Spicy 3 & Hydrating 3) = Palm Fruit, Faron Pineapple (Spicy & Hydrating), Shock Fruit, Ice Fruit, & Rama Hua Pāma/Rama Paina (Spicy & Hydrating). - Just a Piña Colada, but Paina instead because Paina is Hawaiian for pineapple.

---

I have the idea that the Shiekah holiday of the Hanami Festival is sort of a Hyrule-wide undertaking. Like, it originated in Kakariko, but it has spread to be a Hyrule-recognized holiday. As such, each village harvests the nearby Satori Tree at the beginning of spring in order to make their own version of a Satori Spirit for the Hanami Festival which takes place over the last 3 days of spring. The best yield is offered up to Satori as thanks for allowing them to use his trees' cherries.

---

Also, I'd make it so when at home, you can cook in bulk & have access to more complicates cooking methods. Such as the making of 2nd Tier Ingredients. Meaning ingredients made from other ingredients.

Quite a few 2nd Tier Ingredients would allow you to condense recipes by replacing multiple ingredients with a single one. Thus allowing you more room to work with.

I'd also make it so that the more you cook, the more experienced you become at cooking, thus the more ingredients you can use. Therefore increasing the number of ingredients from 5 to 6, then 7, & eventually 10.

LoZ Wild Masterlist

[karaloza]

Legend of Zelda Theme Park: Overview and Layout

One of the benefits of the theme park format of location-based entertainment is that the themes provide a guiding logic for grouping and arranging rides and attractions. Unlike a more traditional amusement park, where things get placed wherever there is room for them, a theme park organizes them according to...well, theme. And for The Legend of Zelda, the selection of themes is obvious—since the park represents the kingdom of Hyrule, the themed areas are based on recurring locations and environment types in the game series.

I started with the basics: the Lost Woods, Death Mountain, and Zora’s Domain for the traditional forest/fire/water combo, plus a Castle Town in the middle with Hyrule Castle itself as the backdrop (like I said previously, I learned most of my theme park sensibilities at Disneyland). I also wanted to have a ranch area to bring Epona into the mix (because everyone loves Epona), and I thought there should be a land dedicated to Ganon and the monsters. I sketched out the first iteration of my park map and started developing concepts for attractions, shops, and eateries to go in each area.

But something was missing. The map felt weirdly off-balance to me and I wasn’t sure why. I also felt like there were more themed areas that deserved to be included—the Gerudo Desert and a place for various sky- and flight-related concepts from the LoZ series. I wasn’t able to come up with enough satisfactory attraction ideas for the desert and tabled that idea, but I did pull together material for an area that I decided to call the Skyward Realm and squeezed that into the map. But something was still off…

Finally it hit me: I should be using the Triforce as the basis for my map. No wonder things felt off-balance—I wasn’t using the perfectly symmetrical emblem of the franchise as my design guide! I went back to the drawing board more-or-less literally and came up with what I think is the definitive layout for my park.

At least until I come up with something better...or I finally figure out how to include the Gerudo Desert.

The Welcome Plaza is immediately past the park entrance. Theming here is relatively light so people can orient themselves before getting thrown into the immersive environments. Most of the park’s major amenities are located here—the information counter, storage lockers, stroller and wheelchair rentals, and a first-aid station.

Castle Town is effectively the hub area, with walkways leading to (nearly) all of the adjacent areas. Hyrule Castle itself is the backdrop and contains several points of interest, but the bulk of the land is Market Square, containing numerous shops, food stalls, and carnival games…“minigames,” if you like. The other areas surround it like the petals of a flower:

The Lost Woods is an enchanted fairy forest, well shaded by the sprawling foliage of the Great Deku Tree and inhabited by Koroks, Deku Scrubs, and other woodsy creatures.

Epona Ranch is a cozy country homestead where guests can interact with live animals, including the Best Horse Ever(TM), Epona herself.

Death Mountain is a rugged volcanic area with many gems and crystals, home to the friendly, boisterous Gorons.

The Skyward Realm is built on a significantly higher elevation than the rest of the park to fulfill its theme as a land in the sky, home to the proud Rito.

Zora’s Domain is an area of open waterways and peaceful natural caverns, where aquatic wildlife is plentiful and the graceful Zoras safeguard the pure waters.

Finally, the Dark World wraps across the back of the park, serving as a place where Ganon(dorf) and his monster minions hold sway, along with other famous LoZ villains.

The thinner line enclosing the central areas of the park is the route taken by one of the rides: the Spirit Train, a handy way to travel around (while seeing some unique sights along the way). The thin rectangles along that line are the stations, serving Castle Town, the Lost Woods/Epona Ranch, Dark World, Death Mountain, and Zora’s Domain.

As for all those other unlabeled rectangles and circles and wedges...don’t worry about it. We’ll get to those later. :)

[oolathurman]

so uhh that was the first watch through, let's go over it again

enemies can interact with each other and the environment

still convinced that ganondorf somehow corrupted that arm of link's.

the large chalk drawings on the ground i love them they're SO gonna be puzzles

ok the spotlights seem to be in multiple locations so i'm betting it's for like. wayfinding purposes when you're in the air.

i wonder how long after botw this takes place?

seeing encampments near hyrule castle is so cool tho ahhh ARE WE BUILDING UP AN ARMY????

CUZ CLEARLY WE CAN FIGHT WITH NPCS PROPERLY NOW

giant cloud in the sky five bucks says it's also related to skyward sword shit

i should. probably finish skyward sword huh i never did whoops.

i got close!!!!

the way music is reversed and shit. while ganon's music is cued. mm.

like i know we saw evidence of the zonai last trailer but i'm still seeing traces of twilight princess. such as in this music.

ok so you can't see it very clearly in just a screenshot but

one arm is like. corrupted compared to the right. or the arms different at least.

this continues my theory that ganondorf corrupted link's arm

if he didn't i will eat my shoe

still fucking horny for ganondorf

OK YEAH LINK'S RIGHT ARM IS CORRUPTED IN THE NEXT CLIP, IN THE SCREENSHOT, IN THE SCREENSHOT ABOVE GANON'S ARMS ARE NOT PROPORTIONAL TO EACH OTHER

TELL ME THAT THEY DIDN'T SWITCH ARMS OR SOME SHIT

TELL ME TO MY FUCKING FACE

what is this SPARKLING that zelda's doing as she's falling

it's clearly related to the piece of amber or whatever it is she holds later in the trailer

i love the addition of quicksand in totk it's so 90s to have quicksand everywhere

this underground area where link's wearing the goron armor tho

it's not goron built, the architecture is different and i KNOW nintendo puts careful thought into that shit

but it's underground or otherwise not receiving natural sunlight

is this the temple in the ravine??? the forgotten temple or whatever????

AIRSHIPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

[cues mission impossible music]

heehee poncho boy

yeah you can def fight with villager and npcs now and i like that link's learned how to do the spinning spear trick that the bokoblins used in the previous game! that's such a fun touch

if this dragony npc is a zonai by god we are gonna introduce so much more furry bait into the fandom (i say this with amused positivity)

well we're getting so much more furry bait already with their existence but shhh

the tear shapes that they have under their eyes are the same as zelda's WHAT IS THIS. IT HAS TO DO WITH SHEIKAH RIGHT? SHEIKAH ARE THE ONES WITH THE CRYING EYE MOTIF. WHAT DO ZONAI HAVE TO DO WITH SHEIKAH.

wait a second i'm remembering this like. weird conspiracy theory i had when i played oot where a sect of separate sheikah who defected from hyrule were like. corrupted by magic and shit. i suppose i forgot bc it's been uhhh ten plus years but uh

eyes emoji

wait a second what's the zonai theory anyway

bc if my old conspiracy theory lines up with zonai then that means i came up with the zonai theory separately and--

well anyway

what is this script that's being used on the gears and walls in this next scene. it's a new language/script. it's not sheikah, it's not hylian. what is it. is it zonai as well. idr if the twili had a script.

KOROK BABIES IN THE BACKGROUND, ALWAYS THERE FOR LINK, THE HERO. ;U;

ugh the way this unseen npc dresses reminds me so much of. shit what's his face. the other twili person that isn't midna. him. the weirdo. i guess it's just how the clothes drape but i have so much thread on this spool for the conspiracy theory board ok.

that amber i talked about is around her neck THAT AMBER IS AROUND HER NECK also girl cute earrings!!!!

i will say that seeing link using magic 2 part epoxy to glue a shield to a sword is fucking hilarious.

does anyone recognize this rito from the previous game

was she(?) the (modern) champion's daughter or smth idr

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE PASSED

the corruption has spread to mount doom you KNOW this is gonna be a main quest

obsessed with this look yas girl oh my god i just noticed the additional ear piercings I LOVE IT

new 'hit the eyes' boss revealed in the thunder cloud

oh wait the arms thing was a torn sleeve

i mean we still see ganon corrupting link's arm but also i wanna see more of like how it connects

still horny for ganondorf

can someone give zelda a goddamn break like just fucking let her be with her gnc boyfriend already

[dinrelsanddragons]

magic in Zelda: Lamby's thoughts (very disorganized and not well thought out tbh. suggestions on improvement welcome)

The royal family's magic is a divine boon or blessing, a result of descent from the mortal incarnation of Hylia/being a mortal incarnation of Hylia. It's colloquially called magic when it isn't really. It manifests as control over light and the ability to use it to seal evil. However, this boon also creates a channel in the individual that allows them to more easily learn actual magic, which is manipulation of various elements in the world around them– be these elements things such as water and fire, or life force and bodily health. If it exists, a magic can be applied to manipulate it.

Most commonly magics of elemental forces are seen– wind, lightning, fire, ice, water. Less physical things are often more difficult to manipulate, like life energy. And rarely, extreme power over something that is not so physical can create a manifestation of it– best example is the malice of Calamity Ganon, which is hatred itself (and Ganon's will) transformed into a corrosive essence that will drain the life force of those who touch it.

Innate magic (or sorcery) is also a thing. It is rare and often passed down to a creature's offspring, though myriad examples of innate magic exist in single individuals who spontaneously exhibit the ability despite neither of their parents having such gifts and do not pass it down to any offspring they might have. I would call Princess Mipha's healing magic innate. Sorcery draws upon the user's own stamina, but not the same stamina that one might use to run a marathon or persist through finals week; it draws from a separate well of magical energy that each sorcerer possesses. Once this well is exhausted, however, only rest can refill it; the longer the user rests, the more magical stamina is regained, up until the reservoir is full.

Most magic one sees is learned (wizardry). It is harnessed in different ways in different cultures, but it always requires some form of study and practice to use. I consider Revali's wind magic to be wizardry, as it took much time and practice to perfect. Wizardry draws upon mental stamina largely, given that it is learned through study and practice, but some forms of wizardry draw upon physical stamina if they are performed more physically than mentally– by moving rather than thinking. Revali's magic would use physical stamina, while my character Gateni would use mental stamina.

Different elements are often studied by different cultures, and this is just Lamby loving how AtLA's bending of the elements was set up. Sometimes this is for obvious reasons– of course a skyfaring species like the Rito would need to study wind magic, and the Zora who breathe air and water just the same would appreciate water magic. There are some elements that are common between cultures and species, such as fire, or light, or healing. What, you want a list of elements and what cultures you see them in most? FINE!

Rito – Wind, as previously mentioned. Gorons – Stone. Daruk's Protection may have had a fiery color to it, but it was still shaped like a faceted stone, and still rebounded enemy attacks as if they had struck stone. Gorons are also known for some fire magic, as they resist fire very handily (See Twilight Princess: Dangoro may not like lava, but as Midna comments in that fight, "he's lucky he's a Goron," because Link would not be getting out of that lava.) Zora – Water, as previously mentioned. Mipha's healing ability was an example of one-and-done sorcery, where she did not inherit it from either parent, nor did her brother Sidon display any hint of it. Her healing skills making her the object of much adoration suggests to me that her gift was rare, which in turn suggests sorcery. Gerudo – Lightning, but also ice and fire. Many creatures in Gerudo desert use electrical energy or have it in their bodies (see the numerous Lizalfos and Chuchus there) so knowing how to manipulate lightning is damn handy for self-protective purposes. However, they do often go to the Gerudo Highlands, ice magic is highly useful to traverse snow, and fire will definitely keep a Gerudo Highlander from freezing to death. These two magics also come in very handy in the desert itself, where the temperature is known to fluctuate wildly between day and night. Shiekah – Shadow. Shadow magic is something of a misnomer; the gift is more about concealing one's movements, but simultaneously hastening them. It's really more like... sound and time, or movement on a molecular level. Either way, it's very difficult to learn, much less perfect, and the main reason it stays in the Shiekah culture is because they don't trust anyone else with it, least of all Hylians or those allied with them. Sometimes it isn't even called magic, but this is incorrect. Koroks – Forest. Can also be called earth or fey magic, either way, they have skill with the manipulation and growth of plant life. They're also good with transmutation, specifically, turning themselves into little lights that cats (or an errant Link) like to chase, and little things that could be called sleight of hand if not for the bit of magic that makes them inexplicable. However, Korok forest magic is innate to them, as fey creatures, so it's considered a form of sorcery.

Hylians are not listed because they tend to live in a variety of settings and have a variety of vocations, so a mason in the Castle Town might employ stone magic, a baker could use fire to control their oven. Adventuring Hylians who use magic, or those who travel and deal with monsters often, will use whatever magic they know best, regardless of the element. Light magic is considered a holy person's domain for its myriad associations with the gods and monsters' general dislike of it. Healing is also used by many priests, though anyone who works in medicine might use it, be they apothecaries or battle medics.

For Lambda, who is a scion of the Hyrulean royal family, her light/sealing ability is Hylia's blessing, but there is a previously mentioned channel that enhances her ability with actual magic. Therefore she also has skill with healing, and this is a sorcery (her descendants have it), so it uses magical stamina as she wills an injured body to mend itself. Unlike Zelda, she has no skill with time magic (Sonia's sorcery); the innate ability may be there, but Lambda has never used it, consciously or otherwise.

Important note: Hylia's power does not draw on stamina, be it magical like sorcery, or mental or physical like wizardry. Where this power is sourced from is a mystery (read: Lamby has no fucking clue what it costs to cast).

edit: more note on Lambda's sorcery. Unlike many sorcerous gifts, her healing skill was not one she was born with; it was born of her love for her family, her desire to heal their myriad wounds. Innate magic is not always present from birth, though it often is.

[shadria-anarchy]

I'm slowly working on my jacket and patches (I just got a sewing machine that I'm learning to set up and use for additional adjustments to my jacket and future projects), but don't have enough for a post just yet. So have something I've been working on, on the side.

With ToTK out, I've been reminded of my old LoZ AU and slowly started redrawing the characters. I'm still not done with them all so I'll eventually post the last of them.

Link's shirt is def gonna change color. I've had 4 people (including myself) going 'that's fucking Shaggy' lol. This Link is about 16 and his little sister Aryll is 13.

Ganondorf is closer to 17 while Zelda is 16 like Link. They're dating lol.

Koume is Ganondorf's mother, a widowed boss lady who brought her sister Kotake in to assist in raising Ganon and monetary issues.

Rito and Zora exist, these two don't have names as I struggle with naming characters. They're both young 20s and goes with how Zora in BoTW don't age the same as other species.

A Goron also lacking a name. I like the idea of non-Goron meeting him for the first time take a while to take in how Goron all look the same regardless of gender, and all take he/him pronouns.

Impa, a young Shieka lady at 17

As this AU is set in a 2000s era suburban city, the spirits of the swords have taken other forms to protect and watch over their masters. Ghirahim the great dane and Fi the shorthair.

I'm not used to drawing horses so with my first sketch of Epona I heavily checked out a drawing of OoT Epona to figure out how to draw the body and the colors. I did a different version later on that is more from memory + new coloration, which I'll add in my later LoZ AU post. Epona is Zelda's beloved mare.

Last one I have for now is Zelda and her immediate family. Her father is the mayor of the town (instead of king of a kingdom) and her mother is head relator. They care for her a lot, but also have very important (and well paying) jobs so she often feels alone when at home.

[bokettochild]

request: sometimes time likes to be alone underwater. with his iron boots and zora helmet, it's easy to just take a stroll at the bottom of a deep enough lake, away from the rest of the world. he did not expect, however, to find legend relaxing inside a small hole in the stone. Mer Legend.

Oh boy! I was vibing with this one for a while, I just wanted to make it perfect!

I'm pretty happy with what I made too, but man is it long!

(I hope this makes you happy, anon!)

When he and Malon have kids, he hopes they don't have this many.

Nayru knows he loves his boys, but they can get a bit much sometimes. They can get loud and overwhelming, and as a man who’s used to traveling primarily alone, with maybe a fairy trailing behind him or his trusted mount, it’s a bit overwhelming. He’s not used to being around people so much, Malon and Talon are his only consistent company and even then, the work they share means that often times it’s only him and his thoughts as he mucks, mends and tends things around the ranch.

Sometimes, when the boys get especially rowdy and playful, it’s just nice to get a moment of quiet to himself. Between Sky and Twilight he knows that nothing overly chaotic will go down, and he trusts the boys to keep each other in check.

So, when they come to the Pup’s Hyrule, their battle in this world over and most of their number restless as they wait for the next portal to arrive and whisk them away, Time allows his boys their space, and with a quick exchange with the only two he can trust to not burn something down (at least while the younger ones can still see them) he heads off into the forest to get a little space to himself.

Of course, he can’t really go far, not if he needs to hurry back, but he doesn’t really need to. His destination is Lake Hylia, which is only a short distance from their camp, maybe ten or fifteen minutes, and, when he gets there, he allows himself to actually breathe for once.

Wild, Warriors and Wind had been locked in a game of cards when last he left, the champion soundly beating the other two both at cribbage while Wars bemoans his poor luck, and Twilight and Sky were discussing wood carving with Hyrule, with the occasional comment from the smithy, who is only too happy to throw in something related every so often as he looks up from his book. That leaves himself and Legend, and he’s long since learned that the vet was one to disappear for his own space when possible.

He’s not overly worried. Legend has items and experience that far outmatch most of their group, and if he runs into trouble Time has little doubt that he’ll be able to get himself out of it to at least gather reinforcements, if not handle the issue by himself.

A deep breath of relief escapes him as the eldest of the heroes pulls a few items from his own bag. The boots are a familiar if not welcome weight as he slips out of his armor and dons the tunic and cap of the Zora, his breath bubbling softly as he steps into the lake before him with a contented sigh.

The cool water floods over the top of him, tugging at his hair and bubbling in his lungs, but it’s doesn’t burn the way that it should. He breathes easily beneath the rippling surface of Lake Hylia, the Zora tunic granting him freedom beneath the waves.

There is little sound beneath, only the muffled noise from above the surface, the flow of the water and-

Time’s ears prick forwards as a single blue eye turns to search the space around him.

Someone is singing.

It’s a haunting sort of melody, one that draws you in and makes you dazed, and Time finds himself stumbling over his own feet as he searches for the source. It is not a Cursed song, nor anything powerful from what he can recall, in fact, it’s almost familiar. It sounds similar to something he hears hummed about their camp at night while the boys take watch. He’d never been able to place which of the young heroes hummed the lilting melody, but he’s let it carry him off to sleep many a time before. Only this song, the one that twines about his head and whispers in his ears and makes his feet trek closer and closer to its source, this song is different, it’s haunted and Broken, and it is sung in a Voice.

Not a voice like most of those above the surface have, but a Voice like a fairy or spirit might have. One that pulls at your very soul and sings in your mind, un-hampered by wind or waves, able to carry across miles to be heard by those that it Sings too.

Heavy feet trod faster.

He’s under no spell, but he is a Link, and by now he has learned that all of their kind are blessed or cursed with courage and curiosity both, and to be without the latter is simply unthinkable for the young-at-heart hero. Something –the forest imp in him maybe- tells him to find the Voice, find the Singer.

He’s only made it part of the way across the lake, hasn’t even left the shoreline properly, when the song stops. Unease creeps over him as he looks around, alert and ready for trouble, only to see nothing but the peaceful stillness of the lake bottom around him.

There! His mind supplies as something pink flits in the corner of his vision, and he’s whipping around to come face to face with-

Long tangled hair drifts in the waves as glistening scales reflect the light pouring down through the waves. Too deep, too dark eyes stare at him in shock for a brief moment, and then-

The creature, the thing, is gone in an instant. Whipping away as it’s glimmer fades into the waves around him, speed no doubt granted by the brilliant tail of the thing sending it rocketing out of his grasp before he even has a chance to speak.

He tried to follow it. He does! But quite soon the adult part of his mind is reminding him how dangerous the thing could be, and that he still has his boys to return to back on the surface. It’s been exactly thirty-two minutes and thirteen seconds since he left them at their camp, and by now they usually would have sent someone to check and make sure that whatever member of their party had strayed off was alright.

Removing his boots is all it takes to float to the surface, despite the fact that he still holds the things in his hands, and it’s with no small amount of relief that he realizes that the bank of the lake is free of other heroes.

Time gathers his things together, wringing out his hair and clothes before returning to his normal gear and heading back to the camp.

Smiles and chuckles greet him as the young heroes tease.

“Go for a swim, Old Man?” Legend quirks a brow, staring up from his place by the fire.

Time doesn’t answer him, but he does shake his head violently enough to spray the younger heroes with water, earning shouts and shrieks from them as they try and shield themselves from the wet. “Seriously, Time?” Warriors moans, wiping lake water from his face. “What are you, a dog?”

Time smirks at the captain and, to everyone's surprise (which produces no small amount of delight for him), he barks.

“What sorts of people have you met in your adventures?” Sky asks a couple of days later, head cocked to the side as he watches his brothers. “You all talk about so many races, but I don’t think I've heard of most of them.”

“Well,” Wild smiles, there’s a glint in his gaze that isn’t quite mischief, but it’s a warning to be wary anyway, because they all know what a crack-pot their cook can be at times. “There’s Hylians, of course, and Sheikah, Yiga, Gerudo, Rito, Gorons, Zora and koroks! You’ve probably already met the Sheikah, since you mentioned knowing an Impa during your journey, and the Yiga are an offshoot of that group.”

Twilight blinks and stares, Warriors furrowing his brow as he two older heroes stare at the younger, but Wild seem entirely unaffected.

“Gerudo are a desert people. They’re really tall, and extremely strong! Most of their race have long red hair and slightly darker skin than the people around Hyrule. They are a society of all woman, with only one man being born to them every hundred years. They worship the goddess Din for the most part, and live out of an opulent city set in the desert where they specialize in the crafting of weapons and jewelry, and the farming of exotic plants.” The champion then proceeds to run down traits and knowledge about the other races, matter-of-factly, as if the details he is sharing are things that everyone from the surface knows.

“Wow.” Sky laughs as Wild finishes. “I had no idea.”

“There’s also the minish.” Four adds. “And the Wind Tribe, who are sky people, of course.”

Sky looks curious, but Four says nothing more, instead gesturing to the other heroes to share their thoughts, which they do.

“Terminans.” Time offers. “Very similar to Hylians.”

“Ordonians.” Twilight adds with a fond smile. No explanation is needed.

The others all nod along, but Legend rolls his eyes. “Humans, like, non-Hylian humans, Shifters,” The vet stares upwards with a light scowl as he ticks the races off of his fingers. “Technically they’re humans too, but Wild counted the Sheikah and Gerudo, so there’s also the Lorulians, Labrynninians, Holodrumese folks, Hytopians, Drablanders, Subrosians, Catalians-” Legend frowns. “I could swear there are more but I can’t really recall.”

Time, for whatever reason, he can’t really say why, cocks his head. “Any water people other than Zora?”

The vet snaps his fingers. “Mer-folk! Thank you, Time. I guess fae and animal folk count on that note.”

There’s a scoff and Warriors is leaning forwards with a smirk. “Fairies and animals, sure, but mer? Seriously, Legend? Have you even met a mer before?”

“Many times.” The veteran drawls, cocking a brow in the captain’s direction. “On multiple adventures. What about you, cap? Jealous you couldn’t snag one for your guild of brides?”

Warriors blusters about indignantly, earning laughter from the others as Legend smirks, but the man recovers quickly enough. “I do not have a guild of brides! That is- that is utterly disgusting!”

“Could have fooled me.” Legend teases, sipping some water from a flask.

“Give him a break.” Twilight snickers, shoving the vet playfully.

The unfortunate thing about Twilight’s shoves though is that the ranch hand doesn’t seem to know his own strength, and Legend is small enough that the light push is enough to send him scrabbling to not hit the ground. More laughter rings about their camp, but this time at the vet's expense, as Legend topples over into the dirt, spilling his drink and failing his arms as he goes.

“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up.” Legend huffs, pulling himself back up and dusts off his clothes, scowling at the water spilled on him. “Great.”

“Oh, come on, you came back soaked to the skin earlier, what’s a bit of water going to hurt you, huh, vet?” Warriors ribs, smirking.

Legend shoots him a half-hearted glare.

“Legend,” Time starts slowly. “How would you describe the mer?”

The vet pauses, gaze resting maybe a moment too long as his hands as he brushes off the hem of his tunic. He’s already done so and there’s really no reason for him to do it again, but he does anyway. “What you’d expect.” He shrugs haltingly. “Hylian on top, fish beneath. Tail, long hair, that sort of thing.”

The old man hums. Legends ears twitch, nose shivering slightly as violet eyes flit over their group. “Care to expand on your sky people story, Four?”

“I’m good.” The smithy replies lazily.

Time would pass it off as a strange one-time thing, he would, but there are... other factors at play.

They’ve traveled to Four’s time, fighting off monsters and solving puzzles the same as they’ve always done. The boys are taking some downtime, playing hide and seek, and just like the last time, Time takes himself down to the river they’ve made camp ear and dons his Zora gear.

He isn’t expecting to see the creature, the mer, again, much less hear them singing -after all, this is a Hyrule far before his Pup’s- but there the creature is. It- or they- frolic in the water, chasing fish and singing softly. The tune is lighter than the last one he heard, a different song entirely, but there is no denying that it is the same mer.

Gold flecked, petal pink scales shimmer beneath the twisted lights that invade the water, hair of the same colors flowing in the current as long fingers, tipped with pointed claws, reach out to swipe at the fish swimming wildly away. They don’t catch anything, but Time hears it giggle anyways, the tune of its voice bubbling in merriment as it rolls like and otter and turns to explore some other part of the river bed.

The cursed curiosity of a hero niggles in Time’s mind. How is the same mer from before in this timeline, ages before Twilight would even be born? And why do they play and explore as if they’ve never seen this river bed before in their life?

Long claws pull through sand, and although their hair blocks their face from his view, he can still hear the warble of delight as the creature removes something sparkling and bright from the river bed. The mer floats in place, turning the item over in their hands curiously before whisking it out of sight and returning to their search.

A mer that likes treasure, huh? Why is he unsurprised?

His own soft laugh startles them, and for a half of a moment, golden ringed, violet eyes, wide and bright and full of shock, meet his own.

The mer is gone before he can make a move.

He asks Legend about it the next day. As they travel along the path towards the nearest town, Time falls back to ask the vet more about mer.

“Do mer like treasure?”

Legend starts, eyes wide as they meet his own, and something in the back of his mind is nagging him that the look in the vet’s eyes is somehow familiar. “What?”

“Do mer like treasure?” He repeats himself.

Legend stares at him, blinking slowly as they continue along the path, but eventually the vet shakes his head and answers. “Depends on the mer. They’re people too, Time, they can have varying interests and hobbies. There is no standard for mer. None.”

“Don’t they all swim at least?”

Legend’s gaze is flat. “There are disabled Hylians aren’t there? Not all Hylians can walk, and not Mer can swim. Some just choose not to because they don’t like it!”

Time frowns. How does the vet know so much about mer culture? “How do you know this?”

The vet shrugs, eyes darting away. “I’ve been a lot of places and met a lot of people. Mer are no exception.”

“I thought you hated swimming and the water?” Wind breaks in, falling back to join the two of them with an odd look on his face. He looks like a puppy and it’s killing Time not to ruffle the kid’s hair.

“Didn’t always.” Legend returns, smiling wryly down at the sailor. “But enough of that. The real question here is if you’ve ever met one, sailor.”

“A mer?” Wind furrows his brow, looking away with a soft sigh. “The water in my world isn’t safe for the people who lived in it. There’s hardly even any fish in most places. The Zora in my time had to adapt to the air instead in order to survive.”

Awkward silence falls over them, the vet looking guilty for a half a moment before he settles a hand on the kid’s shoulder. “The goddesses aren’t always fair, Maliit, it’s not your fault.

Time hums his agreement, heart aching for yet another young hero and a world that suffered for Time’s failure to have properly saved it.

He sees the mer again. Not just when he’s in the water himself, but when he’s keeping watch during the night or on occasion when he goes fishing with Twilight. The Pup says nothing about seeing gold and pink beneath the water, but Time finds himself watching it all the same.

It darts beneath the dock they’re fishing on one time, and when Twilight’s line gets a tug, the rancher pulls it up only to find the one of his boots dangling from the other end.

Time can’t help it, he laughs.

So, this mer is a prankster, huh?

He takes to seeking them out, trying to catch their attention or try to talk to them, but nothing works. The minute that gold and violet eyes meet his own, petal pink scales flick deftly in the waves and the mer is swimming away.

But Time isn’t dumb.

He knows that the same mer cannot reasonably exist across all of time, not with all the changes that come to the world with each hero. He knows that this being is somehow following them, and h’s got a rather good idea exactly how it’s happening.

It’s a long shot, but he knows for a fact that Legend is always gone from camp before he sees the creature, and enough times startling the vet when asking about mer has taught him that the expressions between the two are the same. All he knows on the mer’s face is shock, but the vet’s eyes glimmer the same shade of violet, even if they are different in size and shape, and the petal pink hair that the vet comes out of the forest with one evening after their group was separated is uncannily similar to the shade of the mer.

They’ve made camp again, and rather than climbing into the water when he catches a moment alone, Time settles on the shore, not in the mood to be in the water but in need of its calming song. The air has been tense the past few days, and Time welcomes a brief moment to relax, forcing himself not to think of the gaping wound in his Pup’s side or the ragged breath that wheezes between the rancher’s lips.

Twilight will be fine, he reminds himself. Hyrule and Warriors had worked together to tend the wound and while it would definitely leave a scar, the danger of losing their beloved friend and brother (and maybe son?) is not so high anymore.

He welcomes a free breath, away from the hurt gazes of his boys as they try and process that their beloved canine friend and the rancher are one and the same. A chance to think without having to stop those who were out of the know from bombarding those who were in it with questions.

He’s glad to be free of the questions himself.

Legend seems to be too, if the glint of pink beneath the waves is to be believed.

He doesn’t approach this time, doesn’t try entering the water to speak. He’s tired and he wants his spae, and he imagines Legend would like his own too. So, instead, he sits on the bank, feet trailing in the water and ocarina on his lips as he plays softly.

The tune is a sweet one, one he’d written himself that lilts and dips softly, very nearly perfect for a dance, but far more suited to a night by a fire or watching the sunset. And sunset it is, fading light stretching out across the water, glinting of the surface and reflecting off of gold and pink-

He stops, eye wide as he turns towards the flash in his vision.

Gold and violet stare back at him, framed in curling pink as Legend freeze half-way through pulling on his tunic again.

Gold fades just as the scales dissapear and leave the vet siting on the shore, tunic still bunched around his shoudlers and violet eyes wide with fear as he regards his leader.

“I won’t tell.” Time forces, turning away his gaze and returning his focus to the instrument in his hand. He doesn’t play, but he doesn’t look up either.

“It’s an item.” Legend forces, strained. His voice is still tainted with whatever power had shifted him between forms, and it’s sweeter and more melodious than normal. “I found it on my third adventure. Got cursed.”

“Like the rancher?” Time hums softly, not having to look up to know that Legend is shifting nervously, foot tapping madly at the ground beneath him.

“Yeah.” Legend huffs.

“Okay.” And he does look up them, calm and as open as he can make himself seem as he meets the vet’s gaze.

“Just okay?” One brow cocks as Legend crosses his arms.

“Just okay. It’s your secret, Legend. I can’t change what I’ve seen, but I won’t tell the others either.”

Legend nods, wary bit willing to accept the words, if only for now. “If you say so.”

They’re on their way back to camp, Legend carrying an armload of fish and Time carrying both of their bags when the vet stops and glares at him. “I don’t want to hear any jokes, alright? I get enough of those from Twilight and Sky.”

“They know?” The old man tilts his head in question.

Legend flushes, ducking his head and setting off again at a speed some might label a scurry. “No. Hurry up, these fish are gonna rot!”

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Waves lap around his head and it’s all Time can do to break the surface, coughing and hacking as he struggles to remain above the water.

The portal had come at the worst time ever, and no one had been ready to be dropped into the center of the ocean.

Lightning crackles overhead as waves swirl and crash about him. The ocean rages and Time is again reminded how small Hylian’s are in the face of Mother Earth herself.

“Boys!” The shout rasps from his throat as he spins to look about, praying to every deity he knows that he’ll find the rest of them safe and sound, or at the very least together. Never mind that Twilight still can’t walk, much less swim. Never mind the smithy’s shattered arm and Wild’s fear of the water. He can’t panic about those right now, he has to find them!

“Over here!” Sky’s voice answers him. The Chosen Hero clings to the shivering form of the smithy, both are soaked and trembling, but they’re managing to stay above the waves.

“My Hyrule!” Wind calls out as Time strikes out towards them, and the sailor continues once he’s close enough to see that at least five of his boys are safe. “We’re near land,” Wind nods in a random direction and Time wonders briefly how the sailor even knows that. “It could be a challenge in these waves, but we can make it. Have you seen the others?”

Hyrule looks up at him hopefully, the water-logged traveler fighting madly to stay above the water but succeeding despite the waves. Time reminds himself to help the boy learn to swim more effectively later, and more importantly how to properly tread water, but for now he focuses on answering Wind. “You're the firsts. We’ll have to hope the others are alright, getting y’all to safety is my first concern.

“But Wild!” Hyrule splutters, choking on some water as Time swims over to give the traveler someone to cling to. Freezing fingers latch ahold of his armor as teeth chatter, the waves are neither kind nor warm and with their health as it is he’s certain someone is going to end up with a cold when this is all over. “And Twilight! A-and Legend and Wars! They’re out there somewhere!”

“We have to hope Legend and Warriors can elp the other two. We can’t do them any good if we’re fighting to stay above ourselves.” He tries to same calm, but his own mind and heart scream with the same message that Hyrule’s voice does, and its all he can do to push it down.

Thunder rolls overhead and waves beneath as they push off towards the shore, each of the older heroes aiding a younger one as Wind guides them all towrads the supposed island.

Time hs never been so relieved to see sand in his life, and as Hyrule pulls himself up the bach and Wind helps Sky to settle Four, Time can only pray that he’ll find his way back again. “I’m going to look for the otehrs. Wind, stay and help Sky.” The sailor looks as if he wants to hesitate, but he knows better than anyone how a small body can be lost to the waves much easier than an adult. “Make a fire, warm up as best you can. Keep an eyes out. I’ll come back if- when I find the others.”

He stops only to shed his armor and don his Zora gear, but a single dive beneath the water is enough to tell him that it’s for naught. Wind wasn’t joking about his water being toxic, and a single breath of the stuff leaves Time heaving as soon as he breaks the surface.

His chances of finding the boys have lowered considerably.

Nayru above, don’t let anyone have sunk beneath!

Time swims for all he is worth, pushing past weariness as he battles each and every wave. And he’s just beginning to lose hope when he catches sight of something silver reflecting in the water as lighting flashes above.

“Time!”

Blue whips around to meet its twins as Warriors comes to swim beside him. “Have you found any of the others?”

“Wind, Sky, Hyrule and Four.” he breathes back. “You?”

The captian looks rueful but nods to his side. “Legend.”

Time can’t help but start as Legend’s eyes peek above the surface. Golden and violet are glassy in the pale ace of the vet, but they’re there and that means that Legend is alive.

“I’ve officially met my first mer.” Warriors sighs, but there’s worry in the captains voice and face both.

“Split up.” Legend’s voice rasps, and there none of the melodic song that Time is used to hearing from this form of the vet.

Legend is pale, far too pale.

“What’s-”

“Wind’s world.” Warriors tells him. “Water here is toxic.”

The water is toxic. The water, which mer have to breath to stay alive, is toxic.

Time’s gaze shoots to the vet but there’s only a flick of gold and pink as he disappears beneath the waves. Warriors groans.  “He keeps doing that! I swear, I have no way of knowing if he’s even still there, but he still insists on disappearing like the little shit he is.”

Usually, Time would scold his brother for such a tone, but he knows that Warriors is just sacred. He’s terrified, and it leaks into his voice and his actions, and the only way that the soldier knows how to hide the fear is by biting back with venom, not dissimilar to the vet’s own actions.

They swim together, searching and calling out for the two missing heroes. Hope is beginning to fade and Time can feel a gnawing fear eating away at his heart as he thinks of the gaping wound in his Pup’s side and the likelihood that Twilight would even be able to swim with it.

His pup’s chances aren’t high.

“Look!” Warriors shouts over the storm, jerking him from his thoughts as his eyes follow the captain’s pointing hand.

Pink bobs on the surface, backed by bedraggled and soaked black fur as Legend hauls Twilight’s limp form through the water.

“Pup!”

He’s taking the lad from Legend as soon as they’re in reach, and Legend seems to sag in relief as the weight is removed from his shoulder. “Was with Wild. Bring him to-” The vet wheezes and ducks beneath the water for a moment, coming up with a pained expression on his face. “Bring to shore. I’ll get Wild.” He gives them no time to respond, tail flicking as he disappears beneath the waves again.

Time and Warriors exchange a glance and head back to shore, supporting the weight of the rancher between them.

Wind and Sky have managed to get a virtual bonfire going on the shore, and the sailor has laid what blankets and bed-rolls he’s found of their equipment in front of it, allowing their dampened things to ry as he and the other three heroes bundle together for warmth.

It’s with a cheer that they al; greet Time and Warriors as the two emerge from the ocean, and Time can’t help but smile a bit in relief at seeing them all safe again. Only a little longer and Legend will be back with Wild, and then he can rest easy knowing they’re all out of the storm.

Rain still patters against already soaked skin and cloth, but with the fire flickering before them Time can’t bring himself to care over much.

Hyrule’s fingers shiver as they slide over the wound in Twilight’s side, cleansing it from the poisonous water that has soaked into the bandages, and while Twilight grits his teeth and winces, he’s at least conscious enough to do so, and that alone brings some peace to the others.

Warriors informs the others of the whereabouts of their two missing brothers, and Time helps to settle Twilight on one of the warming bedrolls. It made still be wet, but it’s better than getting sand in the pup’s wound.

They wait in tense silence, bundled together to share heat as nervous gazes watch the shore. Wind hasn’t stopped muttering under his breath and Four isn’t doing much better with his half formed sentences and steady murmurs.

It’s only when Wild’s golden hair can be seen on the shore that they all release a breath of air.

Cornflower blue is wide and glazed, likely from shock, but it doesn’t stop the champion from reaching back into the waves to pull out his companion.

Legend is a mess.

The veteran gasps and splutters for breath once he’s free, skin a sickly shade of white and eyes just as glazes as Wild's own as the two clings to each other, and when the two stand together Legend is leaning heavily against the shaking champion, and it’s only through sheer luck that Time and Sky get there in time to catch them before the duo collapses back into the waves.

Wild curls against Time’s chest, fingers shaking and eyes blank as the man carries him back to the fire. Legend doesn’t even stir, lying limp in Sky’s hold as the Skyloftian bustles back to join the other heroes.

Nothing is said about the glistening tail that fades into legs once Legend is warmed and dried, and even if anyone had dared the stern gaze of the first of their number would have been enough to silence them.

Violet blinks hazy and distant beneath the warmed fabric of Sky’s sailcloth, but they are all safe. They are all safe and they are alive.

“Thanks to Legend.” Wild whispers when he comes back, head resting against Times collar bone. “Without him I would have never got Twi back to shore.”

“Three cheers for the vet.” Wars forces a smile, and while the cheers are heartfelt and thankful, they do nothing to lighten the mood.

Legend doesn’t even seem to hear them.

[so-i-dont-forget-again]

So I Don’t Forget Again: A Breath of The Wild fanfiction

Entry 101: Toruma Dunes

 Before going to bed, Chief Riju and I took a trip to the spa. It was absolutely amazing. I was so relaxed my mind just kind of faded? My right arm was a little sensitive, and was very tense according to the… Spa ladies? Masseuses? I’m not sure what they’re called. The spa is attached to an inn so right after the massage I was given a room to stay in for the night. With my body so relaxed I actually fell asleep.

While I was sleeping, I had a dream. I think it may had been a memory. We were watching the courtyard from high above. A Sheikah was demonstrating some of the guardian’s functions to some knights. My heart leapt in my throat despite it not doing anything. Just walking around. The princess eagerly watched. She spoke of how it was incredible how we could now control them and added that it shouldn’t be long till we know everything about them. When she spoke, she was interrupted by the King. He asked in a demanding voice what she was doing here. His face was stern unlike now that he’s a spirit. The princess spoke of how useful learning about the ancient technology would be for driving back the Calamity. Once again, she was interrupted by the King. He said he already knew that and elaborated on how as princess there was a duty she had yet to fulfill, gaining her spiritual powers. He told her to stop treating that as some game to which she retorted back saying that she was already trying her best. She spoke of how she prayed tirelessly at the spring of courage. Once more she was interrupted. He said she was wasting her time. She needed to unlock her power and dedicate her time to nothing else. She said she was, there was nothing more she could do. She wanted to now focus on the technology since it was something she could do, but the king said that she is the only one with the power that can seal the calamity away, it was paramount that she finally unlock it. He then decreed that she have nothing to do with the technology anymore and commanded that she focus on her training. He then spoke of rumors that were being spread about. About how she is the heir to nothing but failure. She had to prove them wrong or else there would be nothing at all. I believe having read so much about her trying and failing caused this to resurface.

When I woke up Bossa Nova had his head resting on my chest. I wanted to get up, but he was just too cute, I couldn’t wake him! Once he did, I went looking around the bazaar for something he could eat. There wasn’t that much vegetation for him to just graze on whenever he wanted. I got him a Hyromelon since they also have lots of water in them so in a way, I’d be making sure he got something to drink as well. Even with it’s hard outer shell he scarfed down the whole thing right away. He must have been very hungry. I apologized by getting him another one. I tried hugging him, but he knocked me over, laid on top on me and kept rubbing the top of his muzzle on my face.

I went to The Noble Canteen for a Noble Pursuit but the woman behind the counter said that I looked much too young for that drink. Then the person behind me said that I’m much older than I look. It was Calisa! After getting our drinks and some mushroom risotto we sat in the lounge area and ate. I thanked her for vouching for me, but she said that the least the Gerudo could do for the person who saved them was let them have a good meal.

It was really nice chatting with her. We talked about traveling for a bit before we started talking about the town. Since it had been so long since she was last here, it felt brand new to her. I asked her if she had ever taken the cooking or wooing classes. She told me that every Gerudo takes those classes. A saying around here is that the best way to get to a person’s heart is through their stomach. It’s but one way of wooing a person. She regaled me with her early days where she first set off out of the town searching to get caught up in a whirlwind of a romance and passion. That she did find, not in a voe, but exploration. Before then she had never even set foot out of the town. Then suddenly she was thrust out into the world only armed with what she had learned back home. She spoke of her many failed romances. The wooing classes did help, but she felt that if anything it was more so of a class about how to interact with someone even with the culture shock of them not being raised Gerudo. Though she did add that the classes may have changed over time.

She then told me of a communal kitchen area where anyone one could cook anything they wanted and said that she could teach me recipes which are good to know for travelers. After getting a stone pot and ingredients we made many dishes, like chilly simmered fruit, mushroom risottos, curry rice, omelets, and some clam chowders. It was so fun learning from her. I told her about my time in the Sheikah Village and how I wound up learning from Koko. I should go back so I can teach her what Calisa taught me. It’ll be so much fun!

Calisa wondered what we were going to do with so much food. In the end I ate all of it. She commented on my appetite. I told her how I never get hungry or full. I just eat when I need to heal and not much else happens, though… now that I’ve eaten more dishes, I forgot how delicious food can be. And cooking in of itself is so fun! I think I’ll eat something at night when Bossa Nova is asleep. Though the smell of the food may wake him. I guess I’ll just have to figure it out when we leave here.

As I was dinning, we overheard a conversation between a woman with a guard. She had found the man of her dreams and soon after getting married he fell terribly ill. The only thing that could cure him is a certain medicine, the medicine is made from the innards of a molduga a giant and mighty fish/worm like creature which burrows through the sand. She wanted help killing one but none of the guards are to leave the town. The Yiga had been acting extremely aggressive since their leader was killed and they didn’t want to risk any of them getting in.

Sidon better make it home safely. And the Gerudo women with him hopefully are safe too.

I didn’t notice myself until Calisa placed a hand on my shoulder. She told me that before I go running off into the desert, I should protect my skin. She found an alovera plant and snapped a piece off and told me to rub the goopy inside on my exposed skin to protect it from the sun.

Bossa nova and I ran around for a while searching. When we noticed the wind picking up, we started heading back to town but before we knew it, we were surrounded by a sandstorm! I would have used the Sheikah Slate’s map, but it wouldn’t do anything. The side that showed the map and the frozen time images was just blank and no matter what I did it wouldn’t do anything. Bossa Nova buried his paws into the ground, and I held on to him. This way we at least weren’t being tossed around by the wind as much.

When the wind died down we were finally able to see. The Sheikah Slate was working again, so we made our way back to town, but as we did so the ground began to quake. The sand next to us began to pick up. It then leaped out and when it came crashing back down it almost swallowed us whole! Thankfully I was quick to draw my bow and shot it in that maw with a bomb arrow. I had Bossa Nova keep running as I shot at the thing. I decided to try shooting it when it was in the sand. It didn’t get hit but I think I discovered something. I think it senses vibrations on the ground. When I shot a bomb arrow into the distance moments after it exploded on the ground the creature leaped up there. After using up most of my bomb arrows the creature was finally felled. Using the Sheikah Slate I found it was the molduga we’d been searching for!

After taking out it’s innards I found it hard to leave. Unlike the moblins and bokoblins who’s bodies turn to smoke upon death this creature’s corps just laid atop the sand. It felt like such a waste to just leave it there.

I gave the items to the woman and she was so thankful. She was instant on giving me three hundred rupees. Calisa approached me asking why I looked odd. I told her about the molduga. She then stared at me for a moment before saying I certainly hadn’t traveled for long, but I had the soul of a traveler. She had us take her to the body.

She had me make a fire and taught me how to figure out what meat on an animal is salvageable and how to turn the meat into jerky. As for the scales and fins we could use them to make cloaks to protect Bossa Nova and myself from sandstorms and other elements. She told me that I could bring the bones to Death Mountain and have the Gorons reforge my weapons with the bone to make them more durable and stronger. If I couldn’t do that then the bone still could be used to make arrowheads. As we were making the jerky some Yiga attacked. Working together we were able to fend them off. She said I was more of a warrior than a traveler, then asked why I’m traveling. I told her everything about saving the champion’s spirits including the princess’, finally defeating the Calamity… about fulfilling my duty as her guard. I hadn’t realized it till talking with her, but I don’t think of this as my duty anymore. I just want too. I want to learn more about my past, who I used to be, who I knew, and I want to learn about this present, it’s future, the people here now, and who I can be.

With so much meat it took a while to make it all into jerky. There was still more meat even late into the night. Calisa left to sleep in the town while Bossa Nova and I are still out here. Bossa Nova doesn’t care for the heat, but he seems to resist the cold well. Perhaps it’s because he’s lived in Zora’s Domain. The water can be freezing there at night.

Maybe Sidon is there now? Deep in those waters, those little spots and his fins so gently glowing. Maybe he’s writing me another letter saying he’s alright, of battles he and the Gerudo had against the Yiga and were victorious.

I miss him. And with Bossa Nova nearby I miss Friend.

The day was alright, fun even, so why do I feel so alone now? I hate this.

First Page , Previous Page , Next Page 

[yourcreepyneighborhoodelftwink]

As the Hero fell upwards through the sands of time, the days rewinding like the gears of a clock, he landed calmly on the cobblestones of Clock Town Square, at the dawn of the first day. He had been through this many times before, and had grown accustomed to reliving the same 3 days, helping the same people with the same schedules, slowly making more and more progress each time. At least he didn't feel an enormous time crunch, even with the threat of the moon hanging above him, he was always able to rewind the days, and could take days to rest, to sleep or ride Epona or play with the inhabitants.

He rarely did, but it was nice that the option was there.

He was pulled from his thoughts by Tatl getting his attention with a soft tinkling sound, looking over at the stand near the Deku flower, and the note pinned to it.

"That's certainly new…" she said cautiously as they approached, Tatl reading aloud to Link.

The pair exchanged a confused and frightened look. It wasn't signed, but they knew exactly who left the note for them.

BEN sat on the edge of the field, their boots hanging over the barrier where the grass turned into sand, looking out at the canyon leading to the beach. It had been so long since they had entered their game, only playing it from the outside. Perhaps they had been showing too much love to Breath of the Wild lately and not enough to the dark masterpiece of their former prison, or perhaps it was the only world they could enter that felt truly real, where the sun was warm and the wind blew. They HAD become a bit spoiled, learning that adding weather effects and random wind blowing did wonders to immersion when they entered a game.

They closed their eyes, speaking up before looking behind them.

"You didn't have to rush over here. "as possible" doesn't mean "instantly", you know…" BEN said gently, lowering their ears with a guilty smile.

Link frowned softly, keeping his distance from the elf. He couldn't draw his sword AND sign, after all, so he would have to make due. "You didn't specify. I've learned better than to provoke you."

BEN couldn't exactly blame his caution. It's why they were here, after all. "My bad. I'll be more specific next time. But I suppose it's neither here nor there now…"

"...is there something you want, BEN? " Link asked, clearly a bit anxious by being asked to meet.

"...a few things. I won't lie and say there isn't a favor I'd like to ask the both of you-"

"Like you have any right to ask Link for anything, at this point!" Tatl quickly interjected, turning red in anger. "You've terrorized us for no good reason, revealed truths we didn't need to know, and then just left us alone one day!"

"-BUT," BEN continued, "that isn't my main reason for being here. First and foremost... You're long overdue for an apology from me."

Link and Tatl looked at each other in confusion. "...pardon? " Link questioned.

"...I've been doing a lot of thinking and self reflecting lately. Especially because I finally have reason to want to improve myself. And I think I've gotten pretty far in trying to right the wrongs of my past, and try to change as a person. But I still never gave the both of you a proper apology, or even an explanation for how I treated you…" BEN sheepishly said.

Link looked down at the seated person, absolutely dumbfounded. All the times he had been attacked by BEN came instantly into his mind, only to not even be able to so much as scratch them in return, even the might of a Goron doing nothing to them. All the times he had been followed and told he was insignificant, worthless, a joke of a hero, told he was nothing more than a bland, boring conduit for the player of a game in a world far grander than his own. Only for BEN to just... Disappear one day. Gone. Vanish into thin air, and only return occasionally, seemingly at their leisure. Something... Didn't add up to him, and he wasn't sure what on Earth made them suddenly stop tormenting him, and now want to make things right.

"...I'll hear you out, at least," Link finally said, stepping forward to sit next to him. If nothing else, were he going to harm Link, BEN would have done it by now.

"Not that it makes us all hunky-dory yet," Tatl offered, settling on Link's shoulder.

BEN smiled softly, letting out a relieved breath. They stayed quiet for a moment, deciding their words carefully. "I'm not... Sure where to start. So much has happened to me. I guess I should start when we first met. When I first entered this game. It was my favorite game, and with me when I died," they started.

Tatl interrupted, jingling softly. "...when you died?"

BEN nodded softly. "When I died. I was just about your age, Link, about 12. More specifically, when I was murdered. Father simply... Got tired of me, I suppose. He tricked my religion's leader- we refer to him as The Father- into thinking it was my time to Ascend when it wasn't. The whole explanation of my belief system isn't important in this, just that I was robbed of something very important and sacred to me because of it."

"That sounds horrible," Link signed.

"It was... And I was only 12, and not the greatest at understanding or expressing my emotions... I was so angry, absolutely furious at losing that chance, as what had been done to me. I've always had a strong sense of justice, if you can believe it. I don't easily stand for people wronging me. But when I died, my spirit was trapped in this game. All that rage bottled up, with nowhere to release it... Until I started releasing it on you. Very unfairly."

"I'll say," Tatl said, though there wasn't much bite behind her words.

"Eventually, someone played the game, and I was able to break free, find someone else to torment. And after that, start lashing out at everyone who had hurt me, making them

PĄŸ,"

BEN continued, their voice glitching out just a bit at the final word.

"...i moved on to more innocent people after that. I was out of control. To the point where my goddess, Luna, intervened. She stopped me herself, gave me a new body, made me into a young adult so I wouldn't be trapped as a child forever, and I carry the souls of everyone I hurt in my blind sadism, until I join her again one day. And I've worked hard to be a better person now. I've found so much to make my life wonderful, and to make the most of my second chance…" BEN trailed off.

"...but you still want to make amends to everyone you've hurt," Link finished for them.

"...I don't expect you to forgive me. I don't think I can be forgiven. But I really AM sorry for how I treated you. Both of you. Of everyone I've lashed out at, you're the least deserving of it. No matter WHAT'S happened to me, it's NO excuse for how much I've hurt you. And even if you never forgive me, I would love the opportunity to make it up to you…" they finished softly.

"...would you excuse us for a moment?" Tatl asked, flying a slight distance away. Link glanced over at BEN before rising to his feet to follow, and speak with the fairy alone. BEN politely stayed looking forward, allowing them the privacy.

"...do you believe them?" Tatl asked.

"...yeah. They seem genuine," Link admitted.

Tatl nodded softly. "I do, too. There's much simpler ways to trick us or convince us if that was their intention. Even if they said they wanted a favor, this is a lot of lengths to go to for just that…"

"I wonder what they want," the hero mused, glancing over at BEN.

"...maybe ask? Perhaps you can also ask a favor of him, test his sincerity," she said.

"What would that be? " he asked.

"Well, you've said you're curious about his world, whatever it is that our entire world is only a game in, a small part of. Maybe you can ask to explore his world. It'd give you the opportunity to spend more time with him and let him earn your trust, anyway," she offered.

Link nodded softly, then whistled to get BEN's attention. "Alright, BEN, we've talked it over. First, I want to know what favor it is you want…"

"Actually, it's a favor specifically from Tatl," they explained.

"Wait, me?" she questioned.

"...my daughter has watched me play this game a lot. And she's absolutely fallen in LOVE with you, she ADORES seeing you on screen. Her first birthday is in a few months, and there's... Circumstances about my life, and now hers, that will make her very different from other children, with so many secrets to keep. She could really use having a companion by her side, a friend to offer wisdom and company and help when she needs it. A copy of you, like how I copied Epona, to watch over her and make her feel less alone…" BEN said.

"...you have a daughter?" Link asked.

"And a boyfriend. Soon to be husband," BEN explained, holding up their hand to show off their ring.

Tatl let out a soft chime at this. "Well... I'm certainly flattered you think I'd make a good companion to her…"

BEN smiled softly. "I don't expect an answer today, don't worry. There's still a few months before her birthday. And I understand if it's not something you're comfortable with…"

"...we have a proposal for you, in that case," Link began. "You want to make amends to us. We're admittedly curious about this world outside of our own. So, let us explore. Show us your life, and what lies outside this "game", and earn our trust. Then we'll consider it."

BEN thought this over. They'd have to be careful, but this wasn't impossible… "...I can't completely remove you from the game. I'd have to copy you, then merge the copy and your true self after. It's basically the same thing, though, you'd keep the memories and everything. And you'd have to do EXACTLY as I say, I... REALLY can't have attention drawn to myself or the people I live with. If there's something that catches your attention, you can't gawk, just stay calm and ask me. And there's going to be a LOT, the real world is nothing like this one. Hylian sign doesn't match up with any sign language in my world, so you'll at least be able to speak freely. But if you can do that, and trust that I'm keeping us both safe when I tell you to do something... I'll happily show you around."

Link considers this, then nods. He holds out his hand to BEN, who shakes it.

"Then we have a deal."

[underthedekutree]

Young Link might have PTSD - Part 2: Termina is NOT a Parallel World, Technically

This is a continuation of my last post so if you’re seeing this and haven’t read it, go here.

This is the part where I somewhat smoothly segue into Majora’s Mask. Link, lonely and filled with unprocessed trauma, leaves Hyrule in search of Navi. According to most sources (which take from Hyrule Historia probably? don’t quote me on it), Link falls down a hole into Termina, a parallel world to Hyrule, that contains many familiar looking denizens of Hyrule, but playing different roles. And well, if you probably guessed by the title, I have a rather different interpretation.

Okay, so in a nutshell my theory is that Termina is in fact all a dream, kind of like Koholint Island. Except the one dreaming up this world isn’t some deity like the Giants or Skull Kid or the Moon. It’s Link.

(big explainey hoo hah below)

Evidence 1: Link begins the game sleeping. Yes, I know literally every Zelda game begins this way and it’s a whole tradition thing. I am beginning with the weakest points first and working my way up to the strong ones. We’ll get there.

Evidence 2: The reuse of character and environment models from Ocarina of Time. The literal IRL reason for this is of course the game famously being given only one year of production time, which meant that the most practical method was to reuse as much material from MM’s predecessor as possible (eg. Romani Ranch sign is the Kakariko Village sign, and still says Kakariko Village on it). It seems like a rather offhand afterthought for Nintendo to chalk it all up to “oh its just a parallel world like Link to the Past or something. But think of it like this; when we dream, we often see familiar people from throughout our lives put in strange and unexpected situations, like that irritable old farmhand you hated so much is now a depressed circus master for some reason. Dreams don’t make sense. Things you know will mix with other strange inexplicable things, fleeting thoughts in your mind, all roughly tied together by whatever emotions you had been feeling when you went to bed. Malon is split into two people, Romani and Cremia, her older and younger self. This might reflect how Link feels about Malon, that she changed so much in those 7 years that she’s like a different person entirely, that it’s hard for him to process that they are the same, because the change was so shockingly sudden for him.

Evidence 3: Gorons in the snow, Gerudo by the sea. Yes, I know that sounds a lot like good evidence for a parallel world (that’s why the idea is widely accepted in the first place, it has merit), but it also works in as dream world evidence too. As a child, my family was obsessed with skiing. We would go to the same mountain every winter, and we would stay at the same lodge. It almost became like a second home for me. So much so, that one night I dreamed that my house had been replaced by the lodge, so it wasn’t on a snow-capped mountain, but in a bushy Australian suburb. Okay that kinda got off subject but I’m bad at conclusions so in summary Dreams Just Be Like That (tm). You get what I’m saying right? No? Sorry, let’s just move on.

Evidence 4: The Milk Bar. AKA my favourite location in the game! It’s often overlooked as the “haha funny they couldn’t put alcohol in kids game so its kiddy milk hee hee”, but it is actually a strong thematic pillar of Majora’s Mask. As I mentioned in Part 1, if you put a 9 year old in a 16 year old’s body and call him an adult before ripping that all away is probably going to leave the kid with an identity crisis. What is a mature place open at late hours when children are sleeping? A bar. What is a drink associated with the young, being produced for the purpose of helping children grow? Milk. No please don’t go I swear there’s more to this, stay with me. In order to gain access to the bar, Link must prove he is mature enough by wearing a mask, a disguise, like Adult Link is to Young Link. Being adult isn’t earned through years of natural living experience and mental development, it’s a thing you are given by adults to just BE when they deem you worthy, at least from how Link sees it. So that is the amalgamation of dream thoughts that is the Milk Bar. Is it mature? Is it childish? What is the line between the two? Is there one? It’s the culmination of his anxieties and confusions that he doesn’t know how to express. Another, smaller expression of this anxiety is the Clock Town Guards. When Link is a Deku, the guards say they don’t allow children outside the gates. When Link turns back however, the guard goes to stop him because he looks too young, but sees that he has a sword, and lets him pass. Why the sword? Well, in one way this is a callback to Kokiri Forest, where Mido doesn’t let Link see the Deku Tree until he has a sword. But also, what is the item that lets Link travel through time and become an adult in OOT? The Master Sword. Link seems to believe that adulthood is measured by the things you have, physical markers of maturity, which is how lots of children see adulthood. You’re an adult if you can drink, if you’re tall, if you’re married, if you have a house, a car etc. But in reality this isn’t how it works. Heck, I’m technically an adult but I sure as hell don’t feel like one, because I know I still have things to learn about responsibility, patience and all the other things, that can only come with time, which is the moral conclusion of OOT, but clearly Link missed the memo. Don’t get me wrong, there are some indicators to show he’s grown a bit. He can ride Epona, use the bow, do flips like some kind of acrobat etc. But those strange and confused feelings linger, and manifest in the young boy’s dreams.

Evidence 5: The four transformation masks. The four masks represent different aspects of Link’s self, and the way he grew and changed in OOT. Deku Scrub the Innocent, Goron the Confident, Zora the Mature and Fierce Deity the Hero. Link began only knowing the Kokiri Forest, and nothing of the world outside. As he set out on his journey, he grew more confident in his skills and defeated greater foes. When evil took over, he learned from his fatal mistake and worked to right it. And when it was finally time to face the greatest threat, he was ready, with all the heart pieces, bottles full of fairies, Biggoron Sword in hand. At that moment he struck the final blow he probably felt like the strong and unstoppable hero everyone in Hyrule told him he needed to be. And that feeling of pure uncompromising strength, with the whole world behind him, manifested in the Fierce Deity. Fierce Deity is much taller than Adult Link, and packs so much of a punch that he can beat Majora without batting an eye, like some overpowered Super Saiyan. It reminds me a lot of Undertale, with young Asriel becoming what he imagines to be an all-powerful godlike being, like something you’d see as a children’s drawing. Fierce Deity gives off those vibes, like “he has a HUGE SWORD that SHOOTS BEAMS OF LIGHT and he’s 8 FOOT TALL and CAN KILL ENEMIES IN A SINGLE BLOW!!” Before the final battle on the moon, when Majora gives you the mask, he childishly asks if you want to play a game of good guys and bad guys. And the good guy always wins, no matter what. Fierce Deity makes the final boss a cakewalk, but its supposed to.

Evidence 6: Anju and Kafei. Short one, because it falls a lot into everything else I’ve said regarding childhood vs adulthood. Kafei is effectively a switcheroo of what happened to Link in OOT. An adult shrunk back to childhood, uncomfortable in his new body and looking for a way to fix everything. He’s a reflection of how Link now kinda feels like an adult in a child’s body, because he had started to be used to being called an adult.

Evidence 7: The Moon. I haven’t super touched on the main meat of the game yet, so here it is. The moon and the 3 day mechanic is an allegory for constant mounting pressure, that builds and builds, never ceasing, because the world is in danger, and there’s only one person who has been chosen to save it. I’ve always been interested in the Chosen One narrative, and how different media explore the idea of the world’s very existence being pushed onto one person. How at the end of it all, they can never be the same again after all they’ve gone through. When you’re somehow expected to hold up the Moon itself single-handed, and your life and everything you care about suffers because you’re putting everyone else before yourself. That feeling of complete loneliness under a crushing weight, and although other characters may come to help you, in the end its still all down to you, and you never had a choice in any of it, as all the decisions were made by someone else. You must do what they tell you. Believe in yourself, believe...

Evidence 8: Skull Kid. The story goes that long ago in Termina, the Skull Kid and the Giants played together, until one day, the Giants left, leaving the Skull Kid alone and heartbroken, with nobody to turn to. As life moves on, things may change, and people always come and go from your life. Your friend might move overseas, or stop texting you, or you might fall out of friendship after an awkward event from which you could never recover (no, these have totally not all happened to me, shut up i’m fine), or your fairy companion might just disappear without so much as a goodbye after their task is complete. And it feels like you didn’t matter at all. That they never really cared about you, and you’re as easy to drop and move on from as a child’s toy. You might get angry, and want to shut them out, and give them a taste of their own medicine. Majora’s Mask teaches you that this isn’t the case. Life is ever changing, but you will always have the memories of times with your friends, and a chance to make more with new friends, like a sassy talkative fairy sprite and her shy brother or a child made of wood who wants to destroy the world. Friends come from unlikely places, so accept that change will happen and hope that wherever the people you knew are, they’re okay. You’re thinking about them, so they might be thinking about you too. And who knows? Life is unpredictable. They might just come back one day, and it’ll be like they were never gone.

Evidence 9 (the final one, I promise): The Song of Healing. At the end of all things, after losing ones you love, connections to family and friends, memories of things long past... you need time to heal. Link’s journey through Termina is a constant gauntlet of running into his own past traumas, forced to relive them again, and again, and again. But sometimes you should take a deep breath, gather your thoughts, and take time to heal. Although it can be important to confront your fears and learn to surpass them, it is exhausting, and you can end up more emotionally broken than when you started. The three masks all had regrets of powerlessness; unable to protect your community, your loved ones, or even yourself. Troubles you’ve gone through that keep plaguing your mind, and you’re wondering if you’ve done enough, seeking answers where none can be found. And the best thing you can do... is accept and move on. Be kind to yourself, and give yourself time to heal. Link’s way of processing his grief and trauma is to create an entire hellscape world in his own head, but not everyone processes it the same way. Sometimes you feel like you need to busy yourself, or listen to soothing music, or talk to people you trust, or spend copious amounts of money, or make some angst art, or cuddle your plush toys until their stuffing squeezes out. Sometimes life hits you in the face and you want to blame yourself for standing in the firing line, but it’s not your fault. It’s okay to feel however you feel, whether you’re drenched in a pool of tears or you just feel numb, it’s okay and natural. You’re okay. You’re here.

Okay so it got kinda personal at the end there but I hope it was informative, and made you think a little bit differently about Majora’s Mask and Ocarina of Time. You probably want to go back and play them now. Me too.

So was this all just an excuse for me to gush about how cool Majora’s Mask is? Hell fucking yes it was. Congratulations for making it through my monstrous ramblings, you get the secret prize of looking at my weird art on my DA. Here you go. Have a nice day, Zelda Nerds.

[sibyl-of-space]

Do you ever set out to write a blog post about why you like OoT3D so much and accidentally write a stupidly long think piece about your feelings on growing up? well i did. Behold,

A word of warning: this piece starts off on a heck of a tangent getting into my personal history with the game, as I don't think it's possible to talk about how I feel about it without that context. This isn't a review so much as an essay, and it's as far from impartial as one can get. I don't think I would be very good at writing an impartial review if I tried. So I didn't try.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is one of the first video games I recall finishing on my own as a child. I grew up with two older siblings and would often play multiplayer games with them, or start (and not actually finish) other single-player games; generally if anyone actually BEAT a game it was one of the older siblings, and I would be either spectator or 2nd player. Which I thoroughly enjoyed, but taking the agency of gaming into my own hands was an experience of its own, and for that reason Ocarina of Time was very special to me.

As a child with undiagnosed ADHD I relied on familiarity for comfort. I only played this game in the first place because I'd seen my sibling do it first, and after I did beat it once, I kept coming back to it because I recognized it. I played it over, and over, and over. I talked to the same NPC's each time until I had most of their dialogue memorized. I put off the same dungeons I didn't like by doing the same sidequests. I jumped off random cliffs and tried to get the camera to look through walls when I got bored of the game, because it was familiar and I liked it, but I was tired of playing it properly. My brain became its own personalized wiki around the pieces of this game I knew... not that "game wikis" existed at the time.

Playing it in this particular way, I had a very specific opinion of it.

It was my first Zelda, so to me, it defined what "Zelda" was. Zelda was a set of goalposts provided that I was free to follow or ignore as I saw fit. Zelda was being Blank Slate McProtag with a grand, magical destiny to claim, not a grounded character with a personal story to tell. Zelda was using the power of music and a Big F*cking Sword to smite evil and save the world. Zelda was growing from fairy boy to Hero of Time and riding around a big field on a horse. Zelda had a lot of NPC's telling me what to do, and Zelda let me just completely ignore all of them until I felt like following directions.

And I spent a lot of my time completely ignoring directions. I didn't actually like any of the dungeons. I just hated some more than others. I hated the water temple because it was confusing to me and it was very punishing if you make a misstep (whoops, shouldn't have raised the water level? time to re-change it 2 more times to fix that). I hated the shadow temple because it was scary (DISEMBODIED HANDS FALLING FROM THE CEILING THIS IS THE MOST TERRIFYING THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED IN THE HISTORY OF VIDEO GAMES). I could easily list dozens of things that I hated about every dungeon. So I never went straight to them when I was supposed to.

Dungeons--you know, the bulk of the gameplay in an action-adventure game--were these annoying things I had to trudge through to play the game, and it was the game that I liked. Which sounds counter-intuitive as an adult, but it was absolutely how I felt as a child.

But, begrudgingly, I did them anyway... sooner or later. I did the water temple because I felt sad for the Zoras frozen in ice and wanted to save them. I did the fire temple because I felt sad for the imprisoned Gorons and wanted to save them. I did the shadow temple because I missed the music in Kakariko Village and the rain felt depressing. The game told me what was wrong, and what I had to do to fix it, so I eventually did the dungeons I hated because there were fictional people counting on me.

(I also did a lot of NOT fixing things, and instead picking up random rocks on the overworld looking for grottos, and throwing bombs at random walls, and harassing cuccos from my invincible horse. Don't get me wrong, the people could wait, it's not like the game punishes you for taking your sweet time. But... well, at some point I would get bored of my procrastination, and do what I had to do to save the world or whatever.)

It's entirely possible that this game was my Favorite Zelda for a very long time simply because it was the first one I played. My inclination toward the familiar was an ENORMOUS bias in its favor, so other Zeldas that were different in... virtually any respect, were obviously worse and un-Zelda-like.

But there were definitely things I loved about it, things that made it my favorite, other than its familiarity. Maybe this game shaped my tastes to suit it; maybe I was drawn to it because of these preferences. Maybe the truth is somewhere in the middle. Whatever the case, I played the game repeatedly for years despite hating its dungeons because there was so much else about it I was wholly obsessed with.

I loved the way it brought attention to its music. I was already taking music lessons from a young age so I was developing an ear for it, and being able to hear the link (lololol) between "Saria's Song" and the background music you hear in the Lost Woods... it gave that music a very special identity, a context and meaning. These melodies were simple for my young ear to reproduce on cello or piano if I wanted to, and I could even play them in the game on its own digital instrument. (Don't tell my cello teacher this, but I probably spent significantly longer learning how to tilt the control stick to play songs on the virtual ocarina than I spent practicing cello scales.)

A decade or so later, I gained the vocabulary to describe what I loved so much about the music in Ocarina of Time. The term is "diegetic music," music that is audible and perceivable as music within the context of a work. This game gave me a magical musical instrument and let me use the power of music to do magical things. I was a magical musician in this game! AND I had a sword!!! Literally the perfect video game.

It was more than just the music, of course. I loved the visuals as well. I would sit in the middle of Lon Lon Ranch in first-person view staring at Malon for hours so I could draw her and her stupid hairline on binder paper leftover from school. (I would sing along to her awful voice, too, but only when no one was around to overhear.) I liked the interesting patterns at the hem of her dress, the design on the panel hanging from her belt as an adult. After obtaining a spiritual stone or a temple medallion I would leave it on screen, with Link standing there holding it up long enough for his arms to get quite tired, so I could trace down its design. I took personal offense when people drew the Kokiri Emerald backwards. I felt like a genius when I realized the pattern on the back of the Deku Shield matched the golden part of the emerald. The game had an entire language of images that I was completely enamored with, and it was all so bright and colorful.

I guess I liked the story, too? It's hard to say definitively because I don't have any specific memories about that. I definitely enjoyed the writing, though. I liked the unique dialogue telling me about the relationship between the bald guy, the carpenter, the potion grandma, and the cucco lady ("her name is NOT Anju, she's DIFFERENT from the character in Majora's Mask, YOU WOULDN'T CALL MALON "CREMIA" - me). I liked talking to people and learning about the world. It gave me the chance to feel like I was really experiencing a whole, more fantastic world than the real one, where magic is real and a horse teleports to you if you play a song on your magic wind instrument. Among other things.

I was engaging with this game more as a multimedia artwork than as a game, but I was having a very good time, so what does it matter if maybe that wasn't supposed to be the point? I loved the music and the visuals and the worldbuilding, and I learned how to play it so I could experience these. That is what I meant, as a kid, when I would say that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was my favorite Zelda game. I didn't give too much of a hoot about Ganondorf's characterization or the temple design of the Bottom of the Well, I just thought Hyrule seemed pretty dang neat and I wanted to live in it for a while.

Unfortunately, at some point or another, I started to do this very hard thing called Growing Up. I resisted this thing for as long as I could, and to an extent I am still resisting it, but over time it did start winning the battle. As it did so, my perspective on gaming and other media began to evolve.

I won't do a disservice to my younger self by pretending to remember all of my different opinions and the various justifications for them over the course of my life so far. Ocarina of Time fluctuated between my favorite, to my second-favorite just under Majora's Mask, to my favorite, to "I love it but it's not the best", to favorite again, etc. I think it spent most of its time just under Majora's Mask, because there reached a point where I'd played Ocarina of Time so much that no amount of love for its visuals and sound and world could make up for the fact that it was getting stale. Majora's Mask felt much more rewarding for me when I would replay it over and over again and people moved and said different things and time really passed. I wanted a world that felt alive, and there was no question to me that Majora's Mask felt more alive.

So I gradually fell away from Ocarina of Time. I had it basically memorized anyway, and the NPC's never moved like they do in Majora's Mask, so what was the point? When Ocarina of Time 3D came out I was briefly very excited for it, but I wanted it to feel new again so I did a 3-hearts no-lens-of-truth "challenge run" off and on over the course of a few years, and that was as much as I played it again for a long time. Sure, the visuals were nice by comparison, but I still knew the game by heart.

That was in 2015. The next time I picked up Ocarina of Time 3D was last year, in 2020, over 5 years later, and probably double that many since the last time I'd played it all the way through in one go. So at age 27, I played a video game that had been everything to me as a kid, a game that I once knew better than the back of my hand, but now with only a vague recollection of its contents and an entirely different perspective.

It was the freshest eyes I've had on it since the first time I ever played it. It is probably the freshest eyes I'll ever have on it again.

Currently, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (3D) is without a doubt my favorite Legend of Zelda game, and one of my favorite video games I've ever played. This playthrough convinced me. I know that opinion may fluctuate again in the future, but that matters a lot less to me than expressing how much I love it right now, in this moment.

A side-effect of my Growing Up is that I don't get immersed in video game worlds like I used to. I'm unable to pass hours at a time just walking around a fictional town and pretending I live there. I place a lot more weight on gameplay, because if a game isn't fun, I am not going to spend much time playing it. I'm not scared of polygonal hands falling from the ceiling, especially given that they're extremely easy to dodge and easier to kill. Lastly, I've developed a habit of over-analyzing media in a way that prooobably hinges on "total bullsh*t" to others, but is significant to me.

So I was playing Ocarina of Time decidedly differently. I was actually following the directions given to me in the game, taking note of dungeon design elements that impressed or interested me, and deriving my own interpretation of the narrative as conveyed by story, gameplay, music, and visuals. One could probably say I was playing it "as intended" for the first time, but honestly, who even cares about intention.

I found myself really invested in the story. I like how there is a narrative implied for Link, not necessarily through the game telling me about his backstory with X and Y characters (the game tries that with Saria, but it falls a bit flat), but through his growth in terms of capability over the course of the game. Starting out as a kid who can only roll, getting a dinky sword and a shield that burns away, turning into an adult and using a bow with better control than the slingshot, etc until you are obtaining gauntlets that let you suplex massive boulders 20 times your size. I felt like I, as the player, experienced the transition from "I'm playing Adult Link the same as Young Link but taller," to "my moveset is completely different and I'm basically a god now," and it gave me a different kind of immersion from what I experienced when I was a kid. I was immersed in Link's growth because I felt like I transformed from being a kid to a total f*cking badass by the end of the game. I was projecting my own thoughts of whether he is a "child" or "adult" based on my own experiences and thoughts while playing.

And that narrative, that commentary on what it means to be a "child" and grow into an "adult", hits entirely differently when playing a game that I saw one way as a kid and now see another way as an adult. The game was commenting on how different the world looks to a child versus to an adult, and at the same time I'm noticing how different the game itself looks to me now, as an adult, versus when I was a child.

I currently interpret it as one of the most well-told coming of age stories I've ever experienced.

I also have a newfound appreciation for Ocarina of Time's iteration of Zelda, the character. When I was a kid, even though I knew Zelda and Sheik were the same person (sorry for spoilers but it's true), I still didn't really perceive them that way. I didn't even really perceive the adult and young versions of characters as the same person, because they look different and act different. I was a kid, I didn't have life experience and context to think of them in those terms yet.

I do now, and I'd like to go on the record stating Ocarina of Time Zelda is cool as f*ck. She spends 7 years in hiding undergoing secret ninja training, can somehow make an entire orchestra accompany her when she plays harp, has extremely dramatic entrances and exits for literally no reason except for the production of it... by the time the Nocturne of Shadow cutscene comes along there's an interesting and compelling camaraderie between Link and Sheik-Zelda, even though they've only had like 5 cutscenes together where all Sheik does is recite heavily pointed poetry. When Zelda reveals her identity at the end, it's a really powerful moment that sells the same "fate brought us together" feeling you get from the very first meeting with her in the courtyard, and again at the final reunion at the very end.

I'm repeating myself here, but I really have to emphasize: this game is most successful in what it conveys narratively without saying it. Sure, it tries to explain to me that Link is Saria's long time BFF or whatever, but that's mostly offscreen, and when you have Sheik show up and teach you magical songs at key plot beats and then reveal herself to be the princess who has dictated your journey from the start, that relationship starts coming off as a lot more meaningful. No offense Saria. Sorry about your ocarina.

This narrative-via-gameplay that I am probably heavily exaggerating from the text wouldn't be very successful if the gameplay weren't good. Fortunately, I'm quite pleased to announce that the dungeon design in Ocarina of Time (3D) is largely really solid. The Shadow Temple and Ice Cavern are the only real drags, the former because Bottom of the Well already did what it tries to do but better, and the latter because it's just boring bottle management when blue fire could have been so much cooler. Other than that? I had a BLAST. Puzzles are fun and interesting, enemies are diverse to suit their environments, I was totally RPing as mr. hero guy going on an adventure and exploring interesting places with distinct designs and great vibes. Turns out I actually love the water temple! Who knew? (Color-coded doors signaling water level changes helped a LOT.) And collecting magical artifacts along the way was just... fun. No better word for it. The game is fun!

There are, however, two things I completely agree with my younger self on.

The visuals and music in this game. Are awesome.

Ocarina of Time 3D looks, visually, the way I always wanted Ocarina of Time to look on the Nintendo 64. It's the same but more vibrant, rounded, colorful, detailed; but, the same. It's just brought to life. Even as a kid playing the 64 version with nothing to compare it to I wished the models were less pointy and ugly, and now I have a version where it looks the way I always dreamed it could, and I'm never going back. I have visual nitpicks with the 3DS version I can count on one hand and a mountain of things I love about it. The trade-off is nowhere near equal.

As for music? I stand firmly with child-me. Wielding a magic ocarina that you can play whatever you want on is unmatched, and weaving melodies for gameplay purposes that also match iconic BGM pieces is brilliant. I don't spend hours on end playing Rick Astley on it anymore (...but maybe I did spend fifteen minutes or so, for old times' sake), but I am ever a sucker for media in which music is a vessel for magic, especially when I'm allowed to play that music myself.

Everything I now love about this game, all of my take-aways from it, are perfectly encapsulated by the last scene as an adult, after defeating Ganon, when Link and Zelda have a conversation floating in the sky because Magic. (I don't need an explanation for why they're in the sky, they're in the sky because Magic, and because it's a gorgeous setting that fits the mood.) And after an entire game in which the Song of Time is emphasized as an important piece associated with traveling 7 years through time from the Temple of Time, Zelda tells you that she is going to send you back, and brings the ocarina to her lips. Zelda, who taught you the Song of Time in the first place.

And she plays Zelda's Lullaby.

Her performance hesitates, just slightly, before the last couple notes, and she opens her eyes to see you disappear, never to meet again in this future, but perhaps to meet again in another one.

It's absolutely perfect. That musical decision is one I never even noticed as a kid, but it is absolutely everything to me now. I don't necessarily know that I have the words to explain what about it is so perfect to me, other than "literally everything." Ocarina of Time's dynamic between Link and Zelda is simply poetic. It's a dynamic that is less about them feeling like real people and more about this sense that they are part of a greater destiny, two of the most important figures in the universe, souls whose combined story transcends time.

Maybe those kinds of stories aren't as impactful to some. But to me, there is nothing more deserving of a title like "The Legend of Zelda" than a game where, at the end of it, I truly feel as though I've been a part of something legendary.

[rational-mastermind]

I’ve been meaning to make a review about Breath of the Wild for a while, but at least wanted to wait until after I finished the shrines.

SCREW. THAT.

I’m gonna just say it up front; it’s not one of my favorite Zelda games. I mean, yeah, I have a personal history with Majora’s Mask, but that’s not the only thing. I’ll start at the beginning, under the cut. Cause this is gonna be long-winded.

I’m not gonna make a lot of complaints about how it sucks in comparison to Ocarina of Time or make too many mentions about the timeline issue, cause we all know that it was bullshit since the moment they said anything. But there are just...so many things that bother me.

I will say that Breath of the Wild has a lot of great thing going for it and it’s easy to be impressed when you first sit down to play it. The graphics are gorgeous and the voice acting was done very well. There are so many wonderful little bits of lore, call-backs, and even general mechanics of the game that just made everything amazing. (I was so fucking excited to jump without running off a ledge.)

However...there was a lot of the story itself that bothered me. Not to mention a few other things. One of which, was the music. Or....serious lack thereof.

One of the things I loved the most about Zelda, was the music in nearly every game. Background music is very essential in making up the environment of any level. From your typical fire temple, to underwater, to creepy ghost town. And for Zelda, it wasn’t even just that, but that song itself had a large to-do with a lot of the lore and story. Song tells others you have something to do with the Royal Family. It changes the universe around you. It soothes the dead. Not just in Ocarina of Time either. So it was really weird to...not have any of that in Breath of the Wild.

Yeah, we have some soundtrack but..it felt so..threadbare. When you go into a shrine/town/battle, I barely register the music. Walking through the open field...nothing. When I’m galloping on the Lord of the Mountain, the fast-paced piano feels more high-tech than race-horse and makes me feel uneasy about a guardian lurking nearby. Then when you DO face a guardian, or any mini-boss of a monster, it gets so fucking intense, so damn fast, I was worried about challenging a Hinox for the longest damn time. (Geez, I felt stupid for that after I realized how easy they were to beat.) Everything just felt...off. And it was weird that you didn’t have to repeat any song 10 fucking times. I mean, yeah, I was really sick of Elegy of Emptiness after going through the Stone Tower in Majora’s Mask, but I’ll listen to the 50th remix of Song of Storms. It was like...one of the few things that kept the whole timeline thing connected. It was that there was always a harp, there was always a song, there was just...something that connected us to the higher powers. And it’s kinda cool for a game to give something like music, so much power.

But I’ll stop bitching about that and get to my real problem. The story.

Now the basic crux of it, I’m fine with. They attempted to beat Ganon, failed, and had to pay the price 100 years later. Cool. That’s interesting. A nice premise. But gosh DAMN if the details don’t fucking trip me up! Let’s run through this chronologically.

Okay so Zelda, being the nerdy princess that she is in this life, discovers that yeah, they reincarnate every several hundred years and beat an evil known as Ganon. There’s supposed to be her, the physical embodiment of the goddess Hylia, and Link, a young knight sworn to protect her. Hooray, self-awareness.

Apparently, she also discovers that, what was it? 1,000 years ago, the Sheikah... the shadow people who are skilled ninjas that protect the family...built 120 shrines, robots, and massive weapons of terrible destruction...just to help beat this one guy that two kids and a magic sword handles on a regular basis. Actually no, I shouldn’t just say it’s two kids and a magic sword.

It’s a knight with a magic sword, three pendants, six sages, and the final seventh sage (aka the fucking goddess-child) that defeat the Evil.

It’s already upsetting enough that the Sheikah are stupidly advanced in technology (cause ancient magic tech from the gods is always the way to go...), and that the 1,000 year span makes the whole timeline thing confusing as FUCK (even if it is in the broken world timeline), but that they just...do that. They just fucking dissed the fucking premise for like, so many of the games. You find three pendants/orbs/stones/things, the master sword, six sages, and then help Zelda. Thanks for reducing everything else to nothing. Thanks for making 6 sages fucking nobodies. And yeah, I’m gonna harp on that.

One of the things that was nice about Ocarina of Time is that the 6 Sages became one from each race. In Link to the Past, it was the descendants of 6 powerful wizards. In Wind Waker, it was at least the last 2 other species left alive after the whole flooding incident (cause those three gorons are gonna fucking die and I wanna cry thinking about it). It just...it made sense.

So why. The fuck. ARE WE RELYING ON ONLY THESE FOUR????

We still have the Sheikah and the Koroks. What, just cause Impa’s old now? Cause the Korok’s are tiny as fuck? That never stopped anything before. We could’ve had Purah, or Paya take up the mantle. If size was an issue, how about Hetsu? Koroks can choose their shapes and try to put on brave faces. Saria was willing to help with the fight. Makar was willing to go through a whole temple to help. I don’t see what makes this generation a bunch of pussies! What the great and all-knowing fucking Sheikah just..FORGOT about the other sages???

Like, don’t get me wrong. Again, there’s a lot of good. I wouldn’t say gorons would be my favorite race but dammit I love Daruk and I love his grandson. They’re just sweet and adorable as fuck. (and I have a weakness for soft-hearted big-guys. ^//^) I’m glad they fixed the Rito’s appearance (though I hate Rivali’s fucking attitude). I liked their stories and their powers. But you could’ve at least rounded it out to be EVERYBODY. And further more, as great as it was to see their spirits put to rest, it doesn’t make a lot of sense for ghosts to pilot giant robots. It could’ve made a bit more sense for maybe the later generations to take up the mantle and help out. (Since that’s what a lot of them seem to imply.) It would’ve been kinda cool to go through the Divine Beasts with the Next Gen and let them help us fight the blights and let them take control.

Also on a fashion note: WHY THE FUCK IS EVERYTHING BLUE?? Thanks for dissing Farore. I guess she wasn’t a very important Goddess! Certainly not the one that LINK correlates to. Yeah, I get it, he’s supposed to get his signature outfit later, but I’m gonna get back to that problem in a bit. You could’ve at least kept the design and made it fucking GREEN.

Cause yeah, I get it, it was supposed to signify their unity and shit and that’s great and all, but BLUE had a purpose and that was WISDOM. Link isn’t WISDOM. He’s COURAGE. That was the whole rite of passage thing in Wind Waker!

Also, Zelda. Zelda, babe. Hon.

Zelda... What the FUCK ARE YOU WEARING???

Like, DAMN girl’s got hips for DAYS but do we really need the thicc shown in fucking leggings?? I mean, okay, her normal princess outfit is fine. Would’ve liked it to be a liiiiitle more traditional, but whatever. You look the part. And her normal adventure outfit is...okay?? It doesn’t look very practical nor comfortable for travels so it seems a little weird?? It just looks really uncomfortably tight and really draws attention to the thighs. But see, it’s the fucking Goddess getup that I have the most problems with.

Like, I’m just gonna start with saying that she looks fucking pregnant.

The empire waist wasn’t a good choice, especially cause she’s already just so damn thicc. And then you mix it with a sleeveless top and you have these fucking layers that just exaggerate the hips in the most unflattering way possible. I’m not saying she needs to look sexy but for a goddess, she could’ve looked more elegant? I’m sure with some kinda alterations, this would’ve looked great, or maybe on a different body, but like! I don’t like the dress for Skyward Sword either but at least she looks more goddess-like than this! (and that was a VERY boring dress...) She looks like Ariel putting on that sail cloth when she turned human. I mean, she could’ve had like, three-quarter sleeves with a v-neck or sweetheart neckline and then let the skirt flare out with the Hylian buckle around the waist. But this looks.. it just looks uncomfortable. I wouldn’t wanna practice goddess magic in this either.

So aside from forgetting about important races and a lack in fashion design, then you move on with the story. So since Zelda’s such a nerd and cause she lost her mother when she was younger, I guess that means I should feel sorry for her long-ass struggle with her goddess powers but um... I’m not. I don’t feel sorry for this woman. I just feel annoyed. I feel very annoyed every time I run all over Hyrule, trying to find these fucking memories, only to get five minutes of her bitching at US for her own failure.

Link is a soldier. And on top of that, he’s burdened with the heavy duty of carrying the Master Sword. HE is the one who has to fight Ganon. And instead he just runs around escorting Princess Twilight Sparkle while she geeks out over learning and frogs and then insults him, yells at him, and pushes him away from doing HIS FUCKING JOB. Unlike her, LINK IS DOING HIS JOB. I don’t blame him for shutting the hell up while she bitches and cries. I’m gonna side with Zelda’s father on this one, she found out about the prophecy, but SHE NEEDS TO DO HER JOB. Not for the sake of reputation (which seemed unusually dickish for him to say....) but because that’s her damn job. Everyone else knew what it meant to be a soldier. They knew when to dig in their heels and get ready to fight. WHY. DIDN’T. SHE?? Or at least why didn’t we see her trying like she kept talking about?? Yeah we saw her pray to ONE FUCKING FOUNTAIN. And it wasn’t even supposed to be her damn goddess! The whole mess wouldn’t have happened if she had just SHUT THE HELL UP and thought about someone else besides her own problems.

Also, if you were gonna show the tender moment where she finally does unleash her powers, maybe you SHOULDN’T make that a “secret ending” after you run around and try to guess where the rest of the memories were based on poor-quality pictures. And yeah, Zelda. you took a lot of shoddy pictures with that damn tablet. HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DIFFERENTIATE ONE FOREST FROM A THOUSAND OTHERS??

Maybe I would’ve felt more sorry if I didn’t have to climb through a fucking castle full of guardians, avoid tripping the cut scene, and THEN read in a long-ass diary about her mother dying, but you know, that just didn’t happen. I don’t feel sorry for her. I don’t feel excited for her to unleash her powers. Actually, I’m rather sad that despite the games being called “Legend of Zelda”, I REALLY didn’t wanna focus on THIS incarnation of her. The idea of it would’ve been fucking fantastic, but did Nintendo really have to make her such a whiny bitch?

Okay okay okay. Now before you send me hate mail, I will point out some things I like about her. She had a nice voice. She was cute (in a good outfit). And she wasn’t a total bitch. It was a good idea for Nintendo to try to focus on the titular character for once. I just don’t see this excusing all the other problems though.

Moving on, I mentioned earlier how I hated Rivali. That was the understatement. I am so glad he fucking died at the hands of one of the easiest damn bosses. I know some people may have liked him but I can’t stand ego. It’s an immediate turn-off and the sad part is that he had a sexy design and voice. He could’ve been redeemable if he showed some kinda humility after being dead for 100 years, but no. They just...didn’t give him that. Not willingly at least. Again, this is where I would’ve LOVED the next generation to take up the mantle instead, but... Yeah. No. We didn’t get that. (And I swear he was jealous that Link had Mipha and Zelda’s affections. Especially Zelda’s.)

Urbosa was good, but I felt like we didn’t get to know her personality too much? And the same goes for her grandchild. Also even though the Gerudo are known for hating men, they HAVE accepted men into their clans before. What happens if these women marry?? They have to leave town? Link was genuinely accepted as one of the Gerudo in OoT and was free to walk around! And that was just for debunking their strongest warriors. BotW!Link saved the whole fucking town, saved one from dehydration and another’s husband, and is a renowned champion! You think that would give him a get-out-of-jail free card!

I already talked about how I liked Daruk cause he’s definitely a strong leader and a gentle-soul. I do like the Goron City but it feels a little weird how....corporate they became. I mean, it makes sense. They can make a good profit from the gems they harvest but it’s still a little weird considering how tribal and relaxed the gorons were before. Still, they were a cute bunch and I really liked going to Goron City again.

And Mipha was sweet and I really loved her one-sided relationship with Link. I felt really sad thinking about Sidon growing up without his sister and I see why everyone shipped him with Link. Sidon himself was pretty good but....personal preference dictates that a super excited, extroverted, supportive type...doesn’t suite me. Don’t get me wrong. He’s very sweet and cute and I can see why a lot of fangirls were into him. It’s just the over-exuberant extrovertedness that gets to me. Also I was really surprised that this game made the ZORAS racist, out of all of them. I mean like, fucking damn... I know your princess died but fuck! Finally, last note, I...really didn’t care for their designs. I know the Zoras have been through a hell of a lot of redesigns over the years and they’ve certainly improved, but I think Ocarina of Time’s era was just enough of Fish and Human to make it a good hybrid? Rather than making...a shark..humanoid...with another shark...on his head?? And somehow related to a whale??? With a...manta ray...for an advisor.. I mean, I get it, he was suppose to look old, but it’s literally just a stingray on his head.

I liked Hetsu too, though collecting korok seeds is kinda annoying. I hate it when games make you have to gather more for just one thing, it’s just..not a fun mechanic to have? And the koroks themselves are still cute, though it’s taken me a while to accept that they replaced my beloved Kokiri and Dekus. (I only had OoT/MM growing up, so when I finally played Wind Waker as an adult, yeah I was pretty upset about the change in the species.) I still wish they had a bigger role to play in all of this.

Lastly, Ganon had a pretty great design, though it was a little weird he was like...semi-solid for this game. Like.. What? What was with all the...”malice”? (Which is an actual word, guys. You could’ve called it something besides that...) I really liked how he merged himself with the technology and it was interesting that he was controlling the guardians, but honestly when she said “Given up incarnation” I was a little disappointed he still went by Ganon cause you know... His original form wasn’t called Ganon. It was called Demise. Also for having a giant smoke-pig with a huge gaping mouth hovering around the castle, it would’ve been a little more interesting for him to...still retain that when you walked in? But design aside, fighting Ganon wasn’t actually all that hard after you freed the Divine Beasts and it’s...a little disappointing. I mean, I’m running around, fighting lynels and dragons and guardians and really, I had more trouble with THOSE than I did with HIM. And that’s REALLY disappointing when Ganon is the long-standing Ultimate Bad Guy (tm) and I was REALLY looking forward to feeling more accomplished beating him than I did when I beat a silver-maned lynel.

Finally some last complaints:

I wish the Sheikahs didn’t have their hands in everything. Who said that THEY should determine who Goddess Hylia’s chosen hero should be? Why were THEY the advanced race when you have one that harvests iron on a regular basis? And I hate that they don’t have any actual temples cause one of the things I liked about the whole thing is that there was a running religion and the Sages and Temples actually had some significance? Even though it’s pointless, I like history and archeological search in a game, even if I’m the only one doing it for my own amusement, cause it just helps me to connect more to the world that I’m playing in but I don’t get that when I walk into a weird-ass abyssal room with small puzzles or fights.

Also there are seriously WAY too many fucking shrines. None of them make any sort of callback to old games. The spirit orb system is confusing cause if that’s a callback to Skyward Sword, then at least say it was by Link’s own doing and not these dead monks that have been preserved in suspended animation for 100 years. Why didn’t Link do the shrines to start with 100 years ago? Also I HATE that you have to collect 4 spirit orbs for hearts or stamina. I mean, we all know stamina sucks, but this just making it REALLY obvious? And seriously it was so fucking easy to die early on into the game, especially if you ran out of stamina or were still fumbling with the new controls.

Why didn’t he ask more questions in this game? If you have voice acting, why didn’t you actually give Link any dialogue? I think that would’ve made a stronger impact for Zelda to get her powers or something.

Seriously the three dragons bug the shit out of me. I know they were supposed to represent the goddesses and it was really cool to first come across them and shit but 1) it’s really hard to keep up with any of them. 2) they don’t really add anything to the plot. 3) was Zelda supposed to pray to a dragon?? 4) Did the dragons from Skyward Sword just like...de-evolve? (devolve?) Cause they spoke and wore clothes??? Why didn’t these??? 5) (and this goes to Skyward Sword too) why is the one who represents the fucking forests, you know, FARORE, have lightning powers? I think Pokemon already took the cake with mythical creatures representing Fire, Ice, and Lightning. This would’ve been better with Fire, Water, and Grass, y’know?

I fucking cringe looking at the map cause it feels like so much it just out of place... Like, how do you move a whole Forest from the south to the north? Why is the volcano moved like, way far to the back? The WHOLE Lake Hylia was moved like, so far from the original spot. Really the only things that stayed in place was Hyrule Castle and Gerudo Desert.

Also don’t give us giant skeletons and then NOT ACTUALLY EXPLAIN WHAT THEY REALLY ARE. Leviathan is not just a blanket term for Giant-Ass-Monster. Was that the Dodongo King at the volcano? The Sky Dragon from Skyward Sword?? What the fuck froze to death? Why was that and the one in the desert more similar the one at the fucking volcano??

Seriously your mini bosses shouldn’t be harder than the Ultimate Bad Guy. The blights were harder and I especially had trouble with the lynels and guardians. And seriously WHY was there a fucking guardian on the fucking Plateau?? I was fucking terrified of these killer robots and it’s seriously unfair that I barely ever get any proper armor or shields to deal with them! Also seriously, why did there have to be a whole graveyard of them right underneath a stupidly challenging maze??

Also I don’t mind teleporting everywhere in a game, but when there’s literally secrets over every last inch of this game (from shrines to korok seeds to weapons, food, and needed pictures) it gets REALLY boring to travel on foot. Especially when climbing mountains in freezing conditions. I mean, I love that it’s so open-world and I love that we get to go exploring whatever we want, but there are a few problems with that. The other being that it’s hard to follow the plot of a game when you hardly have any reason to go do it or to follow any intended order. I did Rivali last, not because I wanted to, but because I didn’t bother to explore that side of the map until it was all that was left. I WISHED SOMEONE SAID SOMETHING EARLIER IN THE GAME CAUSE THE GALE WOULD’VE HELPED TREMENDOUSLY.

Finally I swear someone on the staff has a giant fetish, and not that there’s a problem with that? But can we have ONE game where the Great Fairies aren’t horrifying to look at?? Like, if some people like it, fine, I guess? But gosh damn these bitches just look so GAUDY. There’s too much glittering, there’s too much...just too much everything. Also you should be able to up all your armor, not just a few things? It would’ve been awesome to walk around as Shadow Link and have it upped to be at least decently protective.

Okay.. I think I’m done complaining. Now I’ll stop my own bitching and actually give the game its proper praise.

The game does have some amazingly gorgeous graphics and it blows me away every fucking time. When it does want to intimidate you, it does so very well. And so many things were designed so well. Despite earlier complaints, I love how the dragons were designed to vary from one to another. I love how all the baddies were designed. I love the large array of wardrobe that you get for Link and it’s so much fun to change his looks and dye them different colors. (though, again, you should be able to dye the Champions tunic to GREEN.)

Some of the characters were fun and had some great personalities. I liked the bits of lore this game generated. I also loved whatever small callbacks it did make (like mentioning Naboru, and Makar’s island). I liked that you could catch and ride so many things and it’s fun that there’s a motorcycle (I haven’t unlocked that yet, but I’m sure it’ll be fun ^^). It was fun exploring different worlds within this game and just really see some of these beloved races expand and grow and see how the world is affected by such an apocalypse.

I like hunting for your food and surviving that way rather than random hearts coming out of the grass. The whole sense of survival is pretty awesome and thrilling. It’s fun to discover things in this world and it’s fun to just go around, explore, and make up your own adventure. (I just wish there was a bit  more guiding for the story...)

Some of the reactions in this game are so much fun. Like walking up to people naked, or riding the Lord of the Mountain to any stable. Actually that entire story about the Lord of the Mountain is really sweet and heartwarming. But the actually dialogue that’s written into this game is really fun and pretty spot-on.

I really liked the side mission of buying your own(old?) house and creating an entire village from the ground up. It was such a sweet side-story to the whole thing and was a lot of fun to to. The other side mission of helping the korok through the woods was super cute. ^^ It was little moments like these that really did make me enjoy the game. And I did like being able to stumble into Zelda’s room or study and read about her life in the past, seeing her figure out Link and such.

And the challenges of conquering the Divine Beast was actually fun, but again, would’ve liked a bit more direction. Actually getting through this game was kinda fun, but it was easy for the magic to get sapped out of everything with stupid shit.

Overall, I wouldn’t say this was the worst Zelda game. Heaven know Skyward Sword did much worse. It could’ve been better though and that’s what really makes me sad. I was really looking forward to playing something new and amazing, especially having just finished Wind Waker for the first time before it and was honestly, disappointed after the magic of the new features wore off. It wasn’t the best. But it wasn’t the worst. It just really needed some work on in a few areas. Over all I would rate it 7/10.