#and of course protecting him
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adrift-in-thyme · 1 year ago
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The Ghost in the Lost Woods
While trying to navigate the Lost Woods Link meets a strangely familiar figure
Ao3 | Fic beneath the cut
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When he ends up at the entrance to the Lost Woods for the twentieth time Link is forced to finally admit it. He’s lost, hopelessly so.
With a sigh, he ignites his torch once more. This is the only part of the woods he’s been to so far where he can actually see two feet in front of him. Everything else is bathed in thick fog that he can make neither heads nor tails of.
Supposedly, the wind is meant to guide his steps and bring him to the place where the Master Sword awaits.
Supposedly.
It certainly hasn’t helped him yet.
Maybe he should turn back. He casts a glance over his shoulder to where he knows the path lies, hopelessly obscured by the fog. He could set up camp right outside the forest, cook something warm and hearty, get some sleep. Then, when morning dawned he’d be up bright and early, ready to try again.
But he doesn’t want to give up, not yet, not now when he’s already wasted half of a day trying to navigate these blasted woods.
He takes a deep breath, steels himself, and heads forward once more.
He makes it five steps before the mist closes in, the telltale giggles of Koroks fill his ears, and the forest spits him out…right back at the entrance.
Link lets out a growl of frustration. How’s he supposed to pull the sword when he can’t even find it? He stumbled upon it before, a mere chance encounter when he was a child playing amongst the trees. Why is it so very difficult now?
Does the Goddess not want him to find it? Has she deemed him unworthy after his miserable failure?
It wouldn’t surprise him.
He extinguishes his torch and walks over to the nearest tree. Flopping down, he leans against it and closes his eyes. The sounds of the forest drift to his ears, carried on the wings of the wind that failed him. Usually, they’re calming, a balm on his frayed nerves, grounding him when the weight of everything becomes too much. But today they only serve to remind him that even nature itself rejects him.
He lets out a bitter laugh. He’s unworthy of a forest now. Fancy that.
“You’re lost, aren’t you?”
A voice slices through the quiet, pushing aside his dismal thoughts. Link opens his eyes.
“Huh?”
A tall man dressed in a full plate of armor gazes down at him, his one eye twinkling with something like amusement.
“I asked if you were lost.”
Link blinks once, twice. He has the oddest feeling he’s met this man before, maybe even known him well. But that can’t be. He makes a point of remembering everyone he comes across on his travels and he’s never even seen this man, much less gotten to know him.
Then again, he doesn’t even remember the faces of his parents. If this man is from his past, there is little chance he would recall him now.
“Umm.”
Eyes narrowing, he looks from the man to the woods and back again. He could be a Yiga, of course. That would explain his unexpected appearance. He has never seen Yiga in these parts though. No doubt they’re afraid to venture too close to the mysterious Lost Woods. And, then, there’s also the fact that he isn’t wearing one of their trademark suits, nor offering to sell him overpriced bananas.
Besides, this man has a strange sort of aura about him, almost like the feeling Link gets when he uses one of the Champion’s powers. He must possess strong magic–maybe even dark magic if the odd markings on his face are any indication. Yet, he dresses like a knight.
And to make matters even stranger, he wavers slightly out of focus if Link stares at him for too long, skin turning just the tiniest bit bluish and translucent. With him standing with his back to the woods, Link has the distinct impression of a phantom emerging from the hazy darkness of the trees.
This man is no ordinary traveler, that much is terribly obvious.
Link frowns up at him, hand drifting ever so slowly to his slate. “Who are you?”
The man smiles, kind and a bit sad. “You can call me Time.”
Time.
Link’s frown deepens. There it is again, the feeling of unexplainable familiarity, as though he’s heard that name before.
“And you’re…traveling through these woods too?”
“You could say that.”
Slowly, Link stands, careful to keep his hand by his slate. He hasn’t tested Stasis on magical beings or ghosts, but it’s worth a try. At the very least, he might be able to take advantage of the element of surprise. His efforts to be nonchalant must not be too effective, though, because Time’s gaze flits to his hip.
“You don’t have to worry,” he says, evenly. “I’m not here to hurt you.”
“Then, why are you here?”
He regards him calmly, arms crossed over his chest. “To guide the hero to his birthright. That is what you’re after, isn’t it?”
Link’s blood runs cold. Usually, he has no qualms about strangers knowing who and what he is. But usually, they’re random civilians more interested in meeting their crush or seeing a mythical weapon than anything else. And they certainly don’t possess any magical abilities. For this man, however, this strange knight who practically emanates power to know who he is, feels…well it doesn’t feel wrong at all. In fact, it feels as right as following Zelda’s voice or setting the Divine Beasts free. It feels like destiny.
And that is what terrifies him.
“What,” he chokes, “what makes you think I’m the hero?”
Time smirks. “To attempt to pass through these woods you must either be incredibly foolish or incredibly courageous. And you don’t strike me as a fool.”
Link swallows down the fear lodged in his throat. He isn’t entirely sure what to say to that. He’s never been a good liar, that much is for certain, but sometimes he really, really wishes he was.
“Besides,” Time continues, reaching down to pull off one of his gauntlets, “it’s not all that difficult to recognize someone else who possesses the unbreakable spirit.”
He holds up his hand and Link’s eyes go wide. There on his skin is the mark of the Triforce, its far right corner bolded in gold.
Link stares at it, almost not believing what he’s seeing. Slowly, he drags his gaze back up to meet Time’s.
“You—you’re a hero too?”
“I was.” Time replaces his gauntlet, that sorrowful smile lifting his lips once more. “But that was a very long time ago.”
“And now you’re a ghost.”
He chuckles. “Yes, and now I’m a ghost.”
Link runs a hand through his bangs and blows out a breath.
“Okay, wow.”
“Is it really that strange to you?” Time lifts an eyebrow, quizzically. “You’re over a hundred years old, and you often travel with the spirit of your predecessor.”
Link tilts his head questioningly. “Wolfie? How do you know about him?”
“I have my ways.”
Link lets out an exasperated huff. Of course, he’d get the most cryptic ghost in all of Hyrule to guide him. Even Wolfie gives straighter answers than that and he’s incapable of speech.
But Time is gesturing toward the forest now, and Link can tell that particular question isn’t one he’ll get an answer to.
“So, shall we go?”
Link takes one last look at the path and then nods. If he can’t trust the ghost of a past hero, who can he trust?
“Lead on, old man.”
Emotion surges across Time’s face, then is gone faster than Link has time to identify it. He turns away.
“These woods are treacherous,” he says, tone suspiciously level. “Stay close.”
He plunges into the mist, and Link jogs after him.
“Treacherous?”
The only dangers he’s found here are wolves and stalfos. And given that he encounters those practically everywhere he goes, he’s more inclined to label them as incredibly annoying.
Time skewers him with a somber glance. “Those who don’t know how to navigate these woods are swallowed by them. They become stalfos, cursed to wander forever. The forest children have kept you safe from this fate.”
“Oh.”
Well, that certainly brings up more than a few questions and a good bit of discomfort. Suddenly, the fog crowding him on either side seems infinitely more threatening, and Link finds himself gravitating closer to his guide.
“So, how come you know how to get through here when no one else does?” he asks, pivoting on his heel as Time makes an unexpected turn.
The old man’s expression grows nostalgic. “I grew up here. Well, not here exactly, but the Lost Woods in my Hyrule aren’t so different from these.”
Link hums, thoughtfully. He hadn’t thought anyone inhabited this forest save for monsters, animals, and Koroks. But it’s not too hard to imagine that long ago in a different Hyrule this man called the Lost Woods his home. He navigates them with confidence and skill, almost as though the trees themselves are guiding him with silent, invisible hands. And if he were wearing green, Link suspects he would look like he truly belonged here.
“Is this your responsibility, then?” he asks. “To guide people through these woods?”
“No,” Time answers, calmly. “I am only here to guide you.”
Link goes quiet once more, mulling over that in his head. It’s one thing for the Champions, and Zelda, and even Wolfie to guide and protect him. It’s quite another for this man, only connected to him through shared destiny, to show up to aid him, and after all this time too.
It makes so little sense. Then again, he’s found that to be a sort of trend lately.
A blupee darts past them, and he watches it, almost idly wondering if he should take a shot at it. But then it comes an abrupt stop right in front of Time, looking up at him almost expectantly. Time pauses and reaches down to run a gentle hand over it’s head. The animal leans closer, emitting a small, happy sounding noise, and Link shakes his head in disbelief.
“They always run from me.”
As if on cue, the blupee stiffens, bright eyes locking onto him, then disappears in a puff of blue. Time turns to him, something almost accusatory in his gaze.
“Perhaps, if you stopped shooting at them they would be more inclined to stay.” He straightens and makes a beckoning motion with his hand. “Now, come, we’re almost there.”
Link follows him, feeling strangely chastised and a bit annoyed.
It isn’t enough to just be cryptic, apparently, Time has to be judgmental too.
“I don’t wanna hurt them,” he says after a few moments drift by and the need to defend himself still hasn’t gone away. “I’m just always light on rupees.”
“There are other ways of earning rupees, you know,” Time says, tone still infuriatingly level.
With a petulant scowl, Link goes back to plodding along in silence.
It’s not long, though, before the fog begins to dissipate, and Link can see the beginnings of a tunnel looming up ahead. Time comes to a halt a short distance before it and gestures toward it.
“We’re here.”
Link steps forward, almost hesitantly. After trying so hard to get here, he isn’t sure what to do now. The Master Sword awaits him just past these trees – “his birthright,” as Time put it.
But after his miserable failure, can he possibly pull it? Or will it deem him unworthy of another chance to save his kingdom?
He doesn’t even realize that he’s standing frozen, rooted to the spot, until a hand comes to rest on his shoulder. Jumping slightly in surprise, he raises his head to meet Time’s gaze. All judgment is gone now, replaced by something kind and understanding. He might, Link realizes with a jolt of surprise, even call it fatherly.
“You are equipped to rise to this challenge,” he says, firmly. “You have worked diligently to prepare for this moment. Now, it is time to claim what is rightfully yours.”
He gives Link the slightest nudge and he steps forward, heart in his throat.
He’s right, it’s time. But…
“And if I’m not–if I’m not ready for this…”
“The sword holds a strict standard, I know. But I have no doubt you will measure up to it.”
His hands are trembling, his stomach churning, but Link takes another step and another. The tunnel is like a gaping maw, ready to devour him, and spit him out bruised and battered by the expectations he can never meet. There is a pull too though, an indescribable feeling that draws him forth, as though he belongs here, as though taking these very steps was written in his history from the start.
As though his failure and all the consequences of it has all led to this, pivotal moment.
His feet carry him, his body moves for him, and it feels right.
“Go, my son,” Time says, voice fading into the mist, “and do not falter.”
Link steps into the sun.
It’s only when it’s all said and done, when the sword is in his hands, and the Deku Tree’s words are ringing in his ears, and the forest children are crowding around him, eager to meet his every need that he sees them. A gray wolf and a golden one sit a short distance away, cloaked by the mist, unnoticed by anyone save for him. And when his eyes meet theirs, there is pride in their gazes.
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poorly-drawn-mdzs · 10 months ago
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Happy Thistle Debut Day!
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demaparbat-hp · 6 months ago
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Oh, Aang, you're really in it now...
This is Zu—I mean, Jian Li and Katara's second meeting in the Kyoshi Warriors AU. The first proper one, anyway.
Once they get through a minor difference of opinion or two (“I can carry my own basket!” “Never said you—” “I'm not weak!” “I didn't—” “Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean—” “Would you listen for once, woman?!” ) they'll become nearly inseparable.
For now Jian Li will carry Katara's basket all the way to the Kyoshi Warriors' dojo and, once there, they'll mercilessly tease Sokka when they see him in uniform.
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aestariiwilderness · 2 months ago
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nelkcats · 1 year ago
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The Crime Lord does not stop flirting with me!
When Danny ran away from home and ended up in Gotham he wasn't quite sure what to do, adrenaline was coursing through his veins and all he wanted was a place to be safe.
That's when Crime Alley lit up like a Christmas tree and Danny knew it could be his new home, something about Crime Alley was drawing him in. It wasn't long before he decided to get a job to lay low. Of course, the latter was a bust because Red Hood noticed him almost instantly.
Contrary to his expectations, the Crime Lord took an interest in him but said nothing. He simply asked him to repair his motorcycle like a normal customer in his new job. Danny did and well, he couldn't help but repair some damaged systems and add some modifications. He hoped he wasn't stepping out of line, he just couldn't help himself, it was second nature to repair damaged things.
He thought Red Hood would be angry about it but the man seemed delighted (or as delighted as he could look with the mask), he looked at Danny and asked him what else he could do. Nervously, he told him that he was somewhat good with technology and before he knew it he had been hired by a gang (more or less, they were just asking for some custom orders).
So, technically he established as the mechanic and supplier to the Hood gang, and more specifically to the Crime Lord himself. He gave Hood some upgrades and became his supplier of (mostly harmless) weapons and upgrades. This attracted the attention of most of the gangs that were against the Crime Lord and Batman himself.
Jason, noticing how nervous the guy was assured him that he would protect him and no one was going to hurt him as long as he was around, it was obvious he wasn't from Gotham. For some reason, his new employee blushed every time he said those words.
Danny didn't know if Red Hood understood what he was doing (That was totally a flirt for protection spirits!), every day it was getting harder and harder not to respond to him. His ghost side kept screaming that he got a good match!
Which was technically true, considering that Red Hood had promised him protection and let him stay in his haunt (it became obvious that Crime Alley was his haunt after a few days in Gotham but strangely it accepted him)
Jason continued to promise Danny that he would be safe (poor boy always looked nervous) and Danny wondered how many days he could take the blatant flirting.
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cfserkgk · 8 months ago
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Young Maomao and Lahan siblings AU where there was no misunderstandings between Fengxian and Lakan in the beginning. They are very similar but they would never admit that themselves.
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valc0 · 1 year ago
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"Jealous?" "Not one bit..."
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itspileofgoodthings · 4 months ago
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one of the things that continues to strike me on reread is how much the character of Darcy, and Austen through him, finds Mr. Bennet dead. And how much Elizabeth, in growing and changing and discarding her past blindness, has to move past her way of seeing her father and thus of seeing reality, because the two are connected! Darcy’s letter exposes her father’s flaws to Elizabeth in a way she’d never been able to see before. Most especially the way his laziness and neglect of his own gifts have hurt his family and that ultimately he doesn’t. care. Not enough to change. It literally says that she comes home from Hunsford and tries to laugh at her sisters’ and mother’s folly (the way she used to; the way her father has taught her to by example for her whole life) and she can’t anymore! It sticks in her throat. She is grieved by the failures that she sees in him, all the more so because she IS his favorite and she loves him! And the thing about Mr. Bennet is he never changes. The Lydia/wickham situation exposes to him sharply his own conduct and the consequences and he feels it! Because he is neither stupid nor unfeeling. But he, like everyone, has free will. And he chooses not to change when the opportunity presents itself. He even jokes about how quickly his feeling bad will pass and how soon everything will go back to normal, to his laziness and his selfishness. He is set in his ways and he serves as a contrast to Elizabeth’s personal journey because he embodies a version of a person she could have become and was in danger of becoming if her only goal at all times was to laugh at and judge people from the sidelines.
#pride and prejudice#I’ve always loved his character because he IS funny and he is iconic!!! and his love for Lizzy is touching!#he’s not faking it.#but he is so flawed. a man of taste a man of ability a man of judgment.#a man who could and SHOULD have set a different tone for his children and chose not to!#and they SUFFER FOR IT#their house is a divided one. and every child feels the pain of living in a house where the parents neither respect each other#nor are on the same team#there is a crack running through their house for this reason and it’s how Lydia (and Kitty) came to be so neglected!#who is going to discipline them or guide them? certainly not Mr. Bennet!#he’s so important to teach too. because the boys LOVE HIM. of course!#and are always very struck by his failures and laziness once I point it out#and yeah Darcy one of the only people who can expose him. because Darcy is putting in the work a man should be doing#Darcy’s house IS in order. his love is active and protective. he is fulfilling his role!#Mr. Bennet’s gifts are so extraordinary—the wit. the insight into human nature. honestly the capacity for wisdom#but he likes his library. he likes enjoying himself more than he likes doing his duty#as either a father or a husband#he does fail Mrs. Bennet! I have compassion for her there#anyway I love to think about this: something no version I have ever seen has ever fully explored#but man is it on the page#yeah yeah sorry for all the words. teacher off duty etc.
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dio-niisio · 3 months ago
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I'm a bit obsessed with the idea that Batman can't find anything on Captain Marvel. Like the guy tries but is quite literally impossible!
Sure he CAN find some of Captain "old selfs" (just other people that where the champions of magic at some point), he's in vases, murals and even cave paintings! But new Marvel nothing. All Batman knows is that the face of Captain Marvel change over time.
And it doesn't help that his Dad instinct™ is going on overdrive!!
Like Marvel accidentally said that his name is Billy and now Batman is only calling him William (cuz that is the only information that he has on him...) and is starting to upset Marvel cuz that is uncle used to call him before he stole all his money and put him in the system , and he only uses when he's mad at him (just like a parent will use their kid full name when they are mad at them…). So one day he asks - in private - that he can quit doing that. And that his name is Billy not Willian "I choose it myself. Please respect that."
And now the newest theory is that Captain is a shapeshifter, that not only change the way they look over time but that comes with a name change that should be respected.
It only gets funnier when he figures out that Billy is actually a child, an 12 year old child, that has been his colleague for almost 5 years. That man is not well.
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somerandomcockroach · 5 months ago
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puppetmaster13u · 10 months ago
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Prompt 199
“Where the fuck are my legs?” 
Danny wasn’t happy. It wasn’t funny! Usually he just had a ghost tail when flying really fast, like super speed, not all the time! It’s not funny Clockwork, you’re used to having a tail, he isn’t! 
What do you mean it’s permanent?! He needs his legs! Clockwork!! He wouldn’t have agreed to the adoption if he knew he’d lose his legs! 
…Okay, that was a lie, Clockwork was a great parent who encouraged his chaos and enjoyed screwing over assholes like the Observants. But still! He looks like some sort of snake person now! No he doesn’t want a nap, he’s not a baby! 
Clockwork, why are you being quiet? He’s not a baby! He’s not a baby, right? What do you mean all ghosts are babies until they’re a hundred years dead!? But he’s a halfa- what do you mean it takes longer for Ancients?! 
No he doesn’t want that nap, he’s having a midlife crisis here several years too early! 
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weregonnabecoolbeans · 1 month ago
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Lilia reading freshly thirteen year old, completely innocent and oblivious William Kaplan’s future and being like:
Okayyyyy lemme just un-know that real quick so it doesn’t haunt me forever🥲
I can’t properly express how much I love her
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littlecrittereli · 9 months ago
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I’m gonna need to come up with a name for this AU eventually
But consider: The Creature Power Belt
Aka the precursor to the power suit and original prototype of the vest. It only provides the most prominent creature powers and is wayyy more prone to malfunctions.
Of course Aviva would never give Chris her old unstable technology…. Which is why he took it without asking
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raikirikiri · 5 months ago
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love the idea of obito living after the war and he’s assigned to kakashi’s guard as a type of “community service” and people will pass them in a store and obito is grumbling about how he should’ve killed kakashi, the hokage, when he had a chance and kakashi blithely points out that obito’s has had SEVERAL opportunities to kill him over the last several years. but all the villagers hear is the crazy mass murderer war criminal telling their hokage he wants to kill him and kakashi just :3 *shrugs* because if obito wanted to kill him, he would have.
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spielzeugkaiser · 1 year ago
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Ciri feels a bit like she's been in the way, once Geralt and Milek become closer - like she held him back somehow.
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The thing I think is crucial about this - things went wrong and Geralt missed out on seeing Milek growing up - but Geralt is a dad. The parallels are there.
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nelkcats · 1 year ago
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The Cat Statue
In the center of Gotham stood a cat statue, its eyes were emeralds and glowed toxic green. It always seemed to be looking at you.
No one in the city dared to do anything against the statue. There were rumors that the last time people tried to demolish it, all the construction equipment was damaged, and the workers were sick for weeks. There were people who tried to steal it eyes, but their skin burned without explanation after touching it.
Unlike most inhabitants in Gotham, Selina was not afraid of the statue. She adored it. She asked it questions from time to time, and though no one believed her, the statue always answered; a whisper in her ears, snowflakes in summer, the touch of a hand on her shoulder.
Selina knew the statue wasn't normal, she'd known it since she was a child. But instead of fearing it, it made her feel safe. That's why she used to keep the bats and other rogues out of the place, it was her place, no one else's.
Danny was trapped in the Infinite Realms so he'd been looking for ways to entertain himself. One of them: Statues. Statues hidden in every dimension, statues that brought comfort to those who leaned on them. Though the connection was tenuous, Danny could interfere with their lives if they asked.
Selina had become one of his favorite persons. It was for that reason that when he saw her injured and she asked him for shelter, a great dome of ice formed around her, the statue's eyes glowing brighter than ever.
The Joker backed up a few steps, frowning as he noticed the dome, he had chased Catwoman to the spot and thought he had her cornered. He was about to make another move when spikes of ice began to form on the dome as a warning. Honestly, Danny wouldn't mind killing the clown.
For his part, Batman watched the scene from the roof. An indescribable look on his face.
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