#bring loftwings back!!!

[twilight-pixel]

Tears of the Kingdom would have been so much better if it had loftwings honestly. Like it's already 1,000,000x better than BotW but exploring the sky islands is really inconvenient and their content's not really worth the effort most of the time. Also I just want to ride bird again I love bird so much they're so cute.

[marte-14]

"Hello, sleepyhead"

Context:

"Look!"

The last portal brought them in the middle of an unknown forest. They have been exploring for a few days, without seeing traces of civilization, until now.

Hyrule has spotted a stone archway, almost entirely covered by the vegetation:" Maybe it's the entrance to a dungeon."

Without losing time Legend and Wind start to cut through the plants that cover the entrance, getting inside first.

"Uff..." The veteran puts away his sword, disappointment on his face:" It's only one room..."

Time observes the room quickly:" Check for secret passages. If it's just a room, we can at least rest here for the night."

"I think this place is a tomb." Wars adds, noticing the small altar at the other end of the room:" Probably of a sage..." He adds:" That is Hylia's crest. It would make sense."

Four studies the inscription under the crest:" I think that this is Sky's Hylian!"

"We must be in your Hyrule then, or at least close to your time." Wild shrugs:" Or we are in a random time and this place is just well preserved."

They start to theories in which Era they might be, but Sky isn't listening.

He got closer to the tomb, to read the inscription. Since they entered this place, he had a feeling.

Not a bad feeling. When he entered he felt warmth fill his heart, love and adoration. Familiar feelings, that always make Zelda come to mind.

Now he understands why.

Sky is frozen in place, holding his breath in shock, tears burning his eyes.

Twilight soon notices that something is wrong:" Sky?" He calls, without receiving an answer:" Link? Is everything alright?"

The others take notice of the situation, turning in silence to their brother.

Sky gasps, a sob comes out of his throat:" T-this is-" he raises a trembling hand, to touch those words. To feel them. To make sure they are real.

Here lies Zelda the First.

Hylia reincarnated.

Beloved wife, mother, daughter and ruler.

"I-It's-" he can finish the phrase because, as soon as his hand touches the cold stone, a bright warm light explodes in the room. Blinding him.

"Hello, sleepy head."

Sky hears her voice. The one he dreams of every night, as his heart cries alone.

He opens his eyes in shock:" Zelda?!"

Her face right in front of his, a bright smile as she literally is bright as the Sun.

"I was wondering if you would find this place during this journey." Her hand caresses his check, it isn't physical but Sky can feel its warmth.

Tears began to fall like waterfalls:" Don't cry my beloved." Sky takes her and in his, it's just energy but he holds it tightly.

"Zelda-" Sky can only utter out.

He misses her so much. They still haven't been to his Era, he hasn't seen her in months.

Seeing her face now is bringing so much joy in him, but finding her tomb instead of her at home is quite upsetting.

Sky is so overwhelmed, he doesn't know what to say.

"Link, my dear. Don't worry, I am still back home waiting for you and taking care of our loftwings."

Sky chokes one sob out:" You will come back to me soon. We will have our whole life and eternity ahead of us." Sky nods, in his head promising to make Zelda's words true.

"I love you, my sleepyhead."

"I-I love you too, my Sun."

Zelda places her lips on his in a light kiss, before dissolving.

Her warm presence is still in the room, enveloping the heroes with her divine protection.

[bokettochild]

Where First Fits

So, if First were to join the chain, how would he fit in? What would the dynamics be like? Here's my take!

Sky: First is so lost with this kid. Sky knows about him, knows so much- they even share a loftwing, but Sky is everything First is not: healthy, happy, in a committed relationship, successful in his role as the hero. As an emotionally competent adult, First isn't an asshole and hating the kid, but he is uncomfortable with how Sky looks up to him. He just can't see the world or anything in it like Sky does, and while he's glad the kid after him was able to save everything, he prefers to maintain his distance. For both their sakes. He is polite though, and never unkind, just sort of distant. Sky is his replacement after all, because he failed Hylia and left her alone. It's hard connecting with someone shaped just to be everything you couldn't be. Sky meanwhile very much wants to connect with his predecessor, especially after witnessing Time and Twilight's relationship, so he's majorly disappointed to be shut out and held at a distance, especially because First doesn't do that with most of the others.

Four: He is rather confused, but also somewhat amused by the smithy. They have very little in common, but some of Four's quirks remind him of Orville (maybe it's a smithy thing?) and he enjoys the smithy's company as long as he's not needed to talk much (which is great because Four can talk enough for both). Four likes him well enough too, and though they aren't exactly close, he does enjoy the quiet company and having someone who appreciates, respects and somewhat understands his craft.

Time: If anything, First finds Time somewhat amusing, at least on a surface level. Here's this young man whose soul is older than his body, but he's still very much young at heart at the same time. He's an anomaly, and watching him play the "mysterious adult figure" is highly entertaining for First, who's older in all ways and debatably more jaded. Despite being older, he doesn't seek to become leader in the other's stead, and he prefers to sit back and watch Time try and handle the boys, although he'll offer advice if he thinks they're getting too out of hand. Time is confused and a bit peeved at having someone more mysterious/older/experienced than him who sits between condescending and genuine, but maybe that's just his youngest child syndrome talking.

Twilght: First is definitely amused with this one. They aren't close, but he appreciates the genuine nature and honestly the rancher brings to the table. The wolf thing is weird, but considering he had a talking bird tell him to get good, he's just glad the wolf is actually just a sweet farm boy. While he appreciates that Time is Twilight's mentor, he sees nothing wrong with dropping advice and offering help to the young man on occasion, especially if it doesn't seem like Time will/can help. Time is a bit resentful of that too, but holds his tongue because Twilight really appreciates the help/advice. Twilight is confused by First, but he's got a lot of respect for him and what he's got to share with them. He still likes Time better though (First is even more intimidating than the old man somehow).

Wind: Precious. On one hand, the kid saddens him because child heroes are a tragedy, but he really admires and respects that the sailor took up a role that was abandoned and forged his own Hero's Spirit after his world lost it. Wind calls them "soul forger buddies" and First takes no issue with it. He's very fond of his newly acquired soul brother, and delights in indulging Wind's ideas and schemes. The kid's innocence is a breath of fresh air (even if it is slightly tarnished by his adventure) and he's in awe of the sailor's strength in overcoming foes and coming out just as bright as before he started. He both wants to protect that, but also acknowledges the sailor's skill enough to not undermine him in battle. He's struggling to understand, but by Hylia, he loves this kid already!

Legend: He admires Legend's strength and wisdom. The kid's been through a lot, more than most could handle, and as someone who died in his battle, the fact that the vet's made it this far alone has his full respect. That said, Legend worries him; he's dedicated his whole life to being a hero, with no consideration for being a person, and First knows from experience the toll that can take on someone. Legend's still young, but he's given up growing up in order to be a hero, and First fears that will lead to burnout, despair and eventually a miserable ed like he faced himself. He's determined to at least try getting this kid to start being a person again, ad maybe that helps him do the same for himself. they've got a lot in common after all, and in many ways, he sees himself in the vet (which of course scares him more). Legend himself is aware of First's fate, but he admires him, and in many ways, First is similar to his own predecessor. He respects the experience the other has, and it's nice for him to realize he's not the only veteran anymore, and the fact that First let's him drop the responsibilities of being the experienced one is a relief he didn't know he needed.

Hyrule: He's impressed with this kid. A capable fighter isn't strange to find with this group, but Hyrule's dry humor is definitely to First's taste, and while they're both distrustful people, they share a mutual love of bad jokes and snark. They bond by swapping quips, and while it can seem rather tense, they're both fully enjoying themselves even if the others aren't. Hyrule is a bit nervous about being around more knights, but First is pretty down to earth and normal in comparison to the flashy captain, so he warms up quick. First is always willing to share knowledge, and Hyrule is eager to learn, and while the process has more snappy comebacks than necessary, they're both enjoying it.

Warriors: There's a deep mutual respect here. Warriors acknowledges that First is someone who's made the ultimate sacrifice for his people, who's suffered unjustly at the hands of his government, and who was dealt a sour hand all around. First sees a young man who's been dealt a similarly awful hand, and while they don't go into detail, they do find solace in the company of the other. The fact that they're also both knights and leaders means they share a lot of experiences and Warriors frequently consults with him regarding strategy and the like. He's not exactly taking a mentor role to the captain, as he thinks Wars has grown into his hero title well on his own, but he's willing to help where he can and offer knowledge or understanding where needed.

Wild: Like Sky, the kid weirds him out. They've both died because of their adventures, both watched everything fall to ruin because of "their failures", but unlike himself, who carries that like a burden, Wild is still a bright thing. It's not like with Wind, where he came out stronger; First can't help but feel like Wild's totally unaltered by his experience (he's wrong of course, but Wild tends to mask really well). He struggles to understand the champion, and while he doesn't hate or resent him, there's a disconnect there that's not helped by Wild's own self doubts convincing him that First is always looking down on him. Like with Warriors, Wild's relationship with First is strained, although civil. First reminds Wild of how he used to be and maybe what he "should be", and it makes him uncomfortable. He acknowledges that First "failed" as well, but that doesn't stop the older hero from seeing like some paragon he can never emulate, which frustrates him immensely.

[luimagines]

You’re Turned into a Kid Part 2

Masterlist

Part 1

Part 2 will include Sky, Four and Legend!

Content under the cut!

Sky

Sky tried his best to keep his smile off of his face when he heard little giggles coming from behind him. He felt his sailcloth move and suddenly there were little hands on his back, still giggling to themselves.

Keeping it cool, he keep whittling away on the tree branch Wild was kind enough to give him.

“Gotcha!” You cried, poking his sides. He jumped enough to make it seem like he hadn’t known you were there the whole time and turned to you with his grin on his face. “Did I scare you?”

“Yes you did.” Sky chuckles, moving his arm up to get a better look at you. “what are you doing back there, huh?”

You laugh some more, throwing the sailcloth over your head to “hide”. Sky snorts and returns to whittle the branch.

“Mr. Sky?” You ask him, poking your head out but wrapping the sailcloth around your arms. “What are you doing?”

Sky moves the knife away from your reach and shows you his work. “I’m try to make a little bird friend.”

You tilt your head. “...That doesn’t look like a bird at all.”

Sky snorts. “Well not at the moment. I’ve just started not too long ago.”

He moves aside his sailcloth, taking it away from you before he pats the spot next to him. “You’re free to watch me if you’d like. It won’t take too long until it starts to look like a bird.”

You sit down with little more invitation, hopping so that your legs are touching, clearing wanting to see as much as you can. the idea of watching the bird show more and more is intriguing. You’re not sure how he’s going to do it.

Sky goes back to work quickly, letting you tug on his arm so that he can bring his work even closer to you. He has to be a little more careful with the stroke of his blade though, less the woods chips go flying into either of you, but he’s happy that you’re showing an interest.

Soon, the familiar shape of a loftwing begins to take shape.

“That doesn’t look like a bird!” You cry out, feeling cheated. “What is it really?”

“It is a bird.” Sky shakes his head with an easy going smile on his face. “It’s a loftwing. Where I’m from-” And wow, isn’t that a weird thing to say? “-everyone has their other half. They say our halves are out loftwings. We use them to fly in the sky and get from island to island.”

You don’t seem to believe him. “There’s no islands in the sky.”

“Yes there is.” Many other Links answer in unison. Sky didn’t know he had this many people listening to your conversations.

“Oh.” You shrink down, embarrassed at being called out. “But we can’t see them.”

“Correct.” They answer again.

Sky bites his lip, trying to not laugh- or maybe he’s trying to not cry. Who knows? He takes a deep breath and works on the bird a little more.

“Alright!” Hyrule calls out. “I think I figured it out! We can turn them back to normal now!”

You’re quickly called to where he is. You don’t seem to realize what he’s talking about, only that something is going to happen.

“Mr. Sky?” You tug on his sleeve. “When I come back, will you show me the islands in the sky?”

Something tugs on his heart. “Of course, sweetheart. Whenever you want.”

Four

“Hey, you’re little!” You shouted, running up to Four. You put your hand over your head and slowly outstretched your arm to see where you matched with his height.

He was still taller by you, but you enthralled by the lack of distance between the two of you. A joyous laugh tumbled out of your mouth. This was apparently very amusing to you.

Four couldn’t even find it in himself to be annoyed or mad. “Yeah. We’re almost the same height, huh?”

“But you’re a big kid, right?” You grin, latching onto his arm without a second thought. Hyrule makes the gesture for Four to keep you there as he slowly lets the magic seep out through his hands towards you. Distract you, he’s saying, don’t let you move too much.

Four nods and grins your way. “I’m older than you’d think I am. Do you want to guess?”

You take it as a challenge and put on your best thinking face. Four doesn’t want to interrupt you as you try to get the closest possible guess. You don’t seem to come to an answer you’re happy with. You try to get hints out of him instead. “Are you my age?”

Four snorts. “How old are you?”

“Seven!”

“Not even close. Higher.” Four laughs. “Try again.”

You huff and put you finger to your chin, thinking very deeply about the matter. “You’re a lot older than me then? Hmmm...”

Four watched you with a curious look. You’re a cute kid. How on earth did you get swept up into this like the rest of them?

“Eleven?” You try again.

Four snort and shakes his head. “Try again.”

You seem shocked that you were wrong. Maybe he was an even bigger kid? You think about it again and Four has to bite his lip to try and keep a straight face. So cute~

“Fifteen?”

“Closer but no.”

You frown and look to the ground, you let him go and put your hands on his hips. “...You’re an old man.”

“Hey!”

Hyrule starts giggling uncontrollably. Four looks at the other hero with a (frankly harmless) glare. You seem to start giggling as well. Four is melted by the sound and he shakes his head. “I’m not even the oldest of the group.”

You look around and spot Time easily but you turn back to Four with a large grin on your face. “But you’re like me! And we’re better than them.” 

Four snorts and wraps his arm around your shoulders. “You know what? Yes, we are.”

Legend

This felt weird.

He knew it was you, and you still looked like you- but his heart squeezed at the sight of you.

You were cute... but he had no idea what to do any more. He’s not the best with kids even if he wanted to befriend them.

To his luck or to his misfortune, you seemed more than willing to latch onto him and stick to his hip.

“Why is your hair pink?” Was what had to be your seventh thousand question of the hour. Legend inwardly winced, not sure how to broach that subject. IT’s not like you were at the age to understand the entire complexities of transfiguration magic and different world and portal.

But he also didn’t have the heart to lie to you.

“A friend of mine wanted my hair pink.” He says through gritted teeth, looking as much of a liar as his voice gives away. Some other members (especially those who know the truth) laugh to themselves, no doubt hold back from outwardly calling him out.

His answers seems to stump you for a second. At first you looked ready to accept it but then you questioned him again. “Why?”

Legend sighed. “I have no idea, buddy. Your guess is as good as mine.”

You pouted and crossed your arms, thinking some more. “But why would they want your hair to be pink? They should make their hair pink instead.”

“Agreed.” He runs his hand down his face, smiling tiredly. “I couldn’t agree more if I tried. I’m just waiting until the color goes away.”

“Why?”

Oh my goodness, Legend bites his cheek. “Uhh.. Because I don’t want my hair to be pink.”

“Oh.” You reach up and grab the hem of his sleeve, moving a little quicker before you could be left behind. Legend slows down for your sake, letting you catch up to him before he starts moving at your pace. 

You look up at him and smile down at you, trying to not show how awkward he is. You nod once to yourself and smile brightly right back to him. “I like the pink. You look nice.”

Legend sighed, feeling the tips of his ears go pink to match the subject of the conversation. “Thank you...”

You giggle and turn to look forward. “Will the big puppy come back again?”

Legend sends a knowing glare when Twilight sends him a knowing smirk. “No, I don’t think he will. It seems he wants you to stay with us for the time being, so he’s playing keep away.”

“What do that mean?” You tilt your head.

Twilight snorts. “Legend would get jealous if you play with Wolfie all the time.”

Legend grits his teeth, a foul mouthed word on the tip of his tongue. He holds himself back. “Very funny. I don’t actually mind at all.”

You don’t seem to catch what either of them are implying. “That’s ok. I like Legend more anyway!”

Twilight starts snickering while Legend fumbles over his own two feet. 

Oh my, you’re so cute.  

Part 3

[wayfayrr]

I've had some headcanons for how I see different members of the chain as yanderes sitting in my drafts for a while, so while I get back on track writing other stories here are some headcanons!! Starting off with Sky for this one

✦ Slower to fall than the others, after Zelda's confession of being Hylia and breaking his trust he's cautious of giving his heart to anyone. he had his heart broken by what she told him, and it's taken months to recover to the point he was at when he met reader but it's still a sore point if it's brought up.

✦He's slowly learning how to deal with all of his feelings about everything, from being the hero to Zelda being Hylia so now having these feelings pop up scares him, but when he learns reader can be trusted? They aren't leaving him. even if he has to break everything to keep them by his side, he's done it once for Zelda by going to the surface. Why wouldn't he be able to follow you back to your own world?

✦ has a surprising amount of trust issues but is getting better at handling them, so he can be surprisingly clingy when he does eventually trust reader

✦ he will sleep on you, and you will not be able to move away from him when he's asleep, he's got a bear grip and it's impossible to wake him up.

✦ He's still very romantic though! Although with his yandere side, it can get a little odd at times with how he shows it. It's like how a cat brings dead animals for its owner if you reciprocate his feelings.

✦ Speaking of reciprocating feelings, Sky would be one of the first of the group to bring up the fact that he had feelings when he does trust reader enough to have fallen fast and hard for them.

✦If you accepted he'd be the happiest you'd ever seen him, feeling better than when he first met his Loftwing.

✦If you didn't?  He doesn't handle rejection well for a while; he'd constantly be asking why you don't feel the same way about him, and what he can do so that you will.

✦If it's because you're not from Hyrule he'd offer to drop everything to come with you, comparing it to leaving Skyloft behind for the surface. He's done that so how different could it really be? Plus he'd have you so he'd already be in a better place.

✦If it were something else such as already having a partner or having feelings for someone else he'd get it and try to bury his romantic feelings, your happiness is worth more than his own life.

[undertheopensky]

Catch Your Breath

Whumptober Day 30: “Not much longer…”

Characters: Legend, Sky

Trigger warnings: allergies, breathing difficulty, asthma, falling

Read on Ao3!

---

A lot of people, Sky reflects, thought of allergies as kind of funny. Lots of sneezing, watery eyes, even gastrointestinal misery is just funny. People looking foolish when their bodies betray them.

As he watches Legend struggle to breathe, he thinks those people are stupid.

---

It’s not that they didn’t know Legend has an allergy.

Way back when, when the group as a group was new, and Wind asked what the white stuff Wild was adding to the stew was, they’d realised in short order the differences in their eras had real consequences. Sky and Wind can’t have any kind of dairy. Time has a nut allergy that he says was worse when he was a kid, but no one wants to risk it. Shellfish makes Four violently sick. And Legend?

Legend’s allergic to feathers.

“Okay, I know we promised not to make fun of each other for medical stuff, but feathers?” Warriors says. “That is hilarious. Are you pulling my leg?”

“Nope,” says Legend. He’s unbothered, more interested in arranging the contents of his bag to his liking. “When I visited my grandparent’s farm, I was always banned from the cucco coop and anything to do with the pigeons. Prob’ly not as bad as the Old Man’s nut allergy –” and he points a bizarrely carved little twig in Time’s direction that Sky suddenly desperately needs to see in detail – “but it’s something I’m supposed to tell the healers, so.”

“Yes, and thankyou, Legend, it’s important to know,” says Hyrule. The healer smacks Warriors when he goes to open his mouth again, and that’s pretty much the end of it.

After that, it just… doesn’t come up. The one time they visit the ranch and Legend accidentally ends up on cucco duty, he quietly switches out with Four. Otherwise, there’s just not much cause for the heroes to interact with feathered creatures. Though several of them have had experiences with marauding crows, the mischievous birds don’t really count as monsters. They’ve never come across any infected ones at least. (“Not that those bastards need to get any smarter,” Four grumbles with uncharacteristic acid in his tone.) In fact, none of the infected monster hordes they hunt down includes any feathery fiends, except as very occasional decoration. It never seems to bother him, and Legend never brings it up himself. It falls to the back of everyone’s minds.

---

Sky’s carefully cleaning dark blood from Fi when he hears Wind groan in complaint. “What, already?”

He can’t help but agree. It’s been less than five minutes since the last stalfos fell; they’re still breathing hard, still patching up scrapes and bruises and the one arrow-slice from where Wild had not quite dodged in time. And they’re already being thrown through another portal?

At least it didn’t show up right as they were bedding down this time.

One by one, they head for the portal, Sky following at the tail end of the line. It’s not on purpose. He’s just feeling it, a bit, feeling the poor sleep from the night before (ha) and the heavy weight of the humidity. Actually the thought of leaving the humidity behind is what finally drives him to step through and let the dark nothingness of the portal suck him under.

It’s always an eerie feeling. Ghostly fingers trailing over exposed skin. The cold chill of the void, so dark it doesn’t matter whether your eyes are open or closed. The adrenaline rush of falling. Wind yanking at his hair, his clothes –

No, wait, there’s no wind in the void. He’s really falling.

Sky opens his eyes to a landscape of eye-searing white touched with blue and gold. It’s dizzying, it’s blinding, it’s familiar. For a moment all he can feel is the incandescent joy of coming home.

Then he remembers eight heroes with no loftwings to catch them, and his whistle is more than a little desperate.

Flashes of colour spread out below him, bright against the clouds; Sky starts marking a path in his head, who to catch first. Wars and Time and Hyrule and Twilight, all the people without gliding items. He prays the others can hold out long enough for him to come back for them. None of them are meant for true flight, but with so many already – can Crimson even take the weight? If it came down to it, who would he leave behind –

A loftwing’s cry breaks his train of thought, and the relief would knock him over if he was standing. Crimson’s diving for him, but a pair of Skyloft knights are diving alongside, aiming for his scattered friends. He doesn’t have to catch all of them.

Sky twists on himself to face the clouds; the wind is tearing at his hair, at his sailcloth, at his blurred and watering eyes. It’s freezing, he’s not wearing as many layers after Wild’s muggy jungles, but he doesn’t have time to change. All he really needs right now is his sailcloth, not to catch but to stabilise.

Crimson’s back rises to meet him. Sky hits the saddle with stinging force and scrambles to get into position; to see over Crimson’s head and tip him back down towards his still-falling brothers. Who’s closest, who’s –

There’s a flash of red that isn’t Crimson, as Legend wrestles with his Roc’s Cape and tries to keep it from tearing free. It’s not made for this kind of use, and – he’s close. If he spirals around – Four is lighter and his cape held him longer, and Crimson can snatch him out of the sky with his talons before it gives out, and then they’re dropping through the sky after Legend when the magic in his Cape falters and fails.

Four screams. Sky can’t spare the breath or the focus to reassure him – they’re drawing even with Legend, then easing underneath, then coming out of the dive in a smooth arc that intercepts Legend’s fall at the precise moment he crosses Sky’s saddle.

Before his momentum can drag him back into open air Sky snaps an arm around Legend’s waist, as ungiving as iron. Legend helps by clinging to Crimson’s saddle. Passenger secured, Sky quickly scans the air. The last scrap of colour has just been snatched up by a third Knight, and if he squints he thinks he counts out the six of them, all safely in someone’s charge. Everyone is safe. He didn’t lose any of them.

Adrenaline and panic-sweat cooling on his skin, Sky shivers. They’d gotten almost frighteningly close to the cloud layer – Sky’s a knight, he’s used to seeing it, never mind how often he’s deliberately dropped through it – so it takes a few heavy wingbeats for Crimson to steer their trajectory back upward. It’s slow going. It gives him time to sit back, to steady his breathing, to realise just how fast his heart was beating and let the grey haze at the edges of his vision fade away.

Legend coughs. Then coughs again.

Sky frowns. There’s a thin whistle to the vet’s breathing that the wind had disguised. “Legend, you okay?” he asks, just as the veteran doubles over into a real coughing fit.

He sounds awful. He hadn’t taken any real blows in the fight, he shouldn’t be struggling to breathe like this. Had he been hiding an illness? After the fit Hyrule threw the last time Wind pretended he didn’t have a cold the whole group had wordlessly decided to just let the healer have his way, and he’d thought Legend was on board with that.

It doesn’t – it doesn’t sound like he’s trying to bring something up, though it’s deep and in his chest. It sounds like he can’t get any air, almost like Sky when the thick air of the Surface gets overwhelming. Like his throat is closing over, wind whistling through narrower and narrower passages –

Sky realises all at once.

Not an injury, not an illness – Legend’s allergic to feathers, and he just crash-landed on a whole platform of them.

Sky scrambles to prop him up, though he suspects the damage is done. Legend leans back against him. His breathing is maybe a little easier with his chest open, coughs louder and further apart. When he sucks in air, it sounds like it’s screaming through metal pipes, high and thin. But he can breathe.

They level out. There’s an island in the distance that the overloaded knights are headed for, but it’s small and isolated, intended as a jumping point for people with loftwings to catch them. It’ll take time to explain the situation, that they don’t have loftwings and need lifts back to the mainland, and that’s time Legend may not have.

Sky leans forward, holding Legend to his chest, and tries to think.

They need the infirmary, they’ll be able to treat the breath attack – but then they need somewhere feather free for Legend to rest, and there’s nowhere on Skyloft that fits that description. Loftwings are everywhere. The infirmary’s even got special-built troughs for them when their riders are in there and they refuse to leave! Every building has windows Loftwings can open and at least stick their heads in, if not hop straight through, and every floor bears scratches from their talons.

Legend wheezes. His fingers dig painfully into Sky’s supporting arm.

Determination solidifies. That will have to wait.

Sky leans into the turn as Crimson changes headings. Goddess, he loves his loftwing – as soon as Sky realised what they needed Crimson was responding. It’s the loss of this kind of bond that’s so devastating to him, when he considers the disappearance of loftwings over the ages. That the others have never known having a partner who knows your every move.

Legend’s stopped coughing but his breathing’s worse: pained little wheezes as he struggles to breathe, shuddering with every inhale like it’s a fight – his face is red and his eyes are wet and Sky doesn’t know if it’s breathlessness or pain.

“Hang in there Legend, we’re nearly there,” he says.

When they make landfall Crimson hovers long enough to drop Four the short, safe distance to the thickly grassed area meant for such deposits, then they’re off again. Sky hears Four shout behind them. Realises belatedly that between the wind and his own terror Four likely didn’t know what was happening – but he’s safe where he is, and if someone else finds him they can help him regroup if the others don’t land in the same spot, and –

That’s a problem for later. Right now, he needs to save Legend’s life.

No sailcloth dives with a passenger. Crimson lands on the tiles right in front of the infirmary with a soft grunt, and Sky flashes gratitude at him as he throws himself off his back and runs.

“Aren,” he shouts as he shoulders the door open, “Aren, I need help!”

[tw1l1te]

Song of Storms

LU Sky x reader

Warnings: NSFW, 18+ minors please DO NOT INTERACT, some fluff, angst

Fem reader is implied. Not necassarily final promise!au, so intepret it as you will. This one is a bit short, but I like it lol

~

Sky was mentally exhausted. Flying out on night watch was his least favorite part of the day because it meant he had to leave you. It meant that he couldn't feel your warm body against his, inhaling and exhaling slowly as you dreamed of serenity. On top of that, it had started to storm about an hour ago, barely being able to see his gloved hands in front of his face.

He was supposed to be returning to Skyloft now, but he had no sense of direction as the rain pelted against his goggles, fogging up the lenses no matter how many time he'd wiped them off.

A large lightining strike lit up the expanse of the night sky, Skyloft's outline just barely being visible miles away. If he flew straightforward, he should be able to make it before he was struck by lighting.

Petting Crimson, he flew fast, wind whipping his hair around, rain drops pelting his face harder and harder. It felt like tiny needles falling on his face, but he had to come home. He needed to come home to you, or you'd kill him.

His fingertips on the brink of frostbite, he sighs in relief when he sees the Knight's Academy come into view. Despite having the option of living on the surface, he felt nostalgic of his life in the sky, no matter what memories it brought.

Landing on the wooden deck, he yelled out to the Nightguard about getting Crimson somewhere safe, already enthraled with the thought of seeing you. Giving his Loftwing one last pet, he ran off to the entrance of the academy, already in the process of stripping his gloves off of his hands.

He pants as he closes the door behind him, the raging storm echoing off the walls. The hallway was dark, only the faint glow of the sconces on the wall illuminating his path to you. His home.

Turning right, he sighs in happiness seeing his door, knowing you were just on the other side, waiting for him. Your knight.

He unlocks the door, quietly walking in and closing the door behind you. The room was dimly lit with a few candles, you hunched over on the bed, reading a book Sky bought you. You quickly shut the book, running into his arms, ignoring how cold and wet he was.

"Holy goddesses, Sky! I was so fucking worried-"

He shuts you up with a passionate kiss, his entire body tense from the night's treachery. He needed this. He needed you.

"Shh, it's ok my Flower. I'm here, I'm home. I'm not going anywhere, ok?"

You nod, placing your forehead against his, relishing in the domseticity. You knew he's have to leave again tomorrow night, but you wanted him until then. You allowed yourself to be selfish, just this once.

~

"Fu-ah! Sky, fuckfuckfuck!-" you moaned, head tossed back on the pillow. Sky was above you, hips slamming at an astounding pace. You thought tonight was gonna be more slow and intimate, though you weren't complaining. You were in heaven.

"Fuck, baby, you feel so good. Squeezin' around me jus' like that. I'm gonna fill you up so good. So, so good."

You clawed at his chest, needing something to hold on to as the living daylight was being fucked out of you. Instead, Sky grabbed your wrists and pinned them above your head, leaving nothing in between him and you.

"Gonna fill your little pussy up so good. Make you nice and full with my kid. You'd love that, wouldn't you princess?"

You whimper loudly, arching off the bed. Sky brings his mouth to one of your breasts, his tongue circling the swollen bud. You wrap your legs around his waist, stars in front of your eyes as the coil in your stomach tightens.

"Mmh- Link! Link I'm gonna fucking cum- Linklinklinklink-"

And you came, hard. Clamping around his cock, he practically growled into your ear, chasing your orgasm with his own release. He shot thick white ropes inside of your heat, kissing your neck as you both calmed down, him slowing down his thrusts inside of you.

He lays on top of you, kissing your face lightly. He coos in your ear, praising you and how good you felt. His hands never leave your body, pawing at the plush of your thighs and kissing the curve of your breasts.

He suddenly flips you over so your on his lap, cock still nestled deep in your heat. Hands on your hips, he mutters:

"Let's really make sure you get pregnant this time, Princess. I wanna hear you sing for me."

~

[majorproblems77]

Festival of Light - Skyloftian New Year

I had some interest so here it is! Now I cant draw to save my life so this is very much a wall of text. That's why I've got a read more for you :)

What is it?

The Festival of Light, or Skyloftian New Year's, is an event that takes place around the longest day of the year. (summer solstice for us. - So June time But in our case the skyloftian calendar begins here.)

What it's for?

It's the celebration of the year thats past, as well as looking to the year ahead. The skyloftians do this to remember where they've come from and where they are yet to go.

What happens on the main day? (Run down)

Loftwing riders 'bring the sun' from beyond the horizon. Rituals are performed by not only the riders but the townsfolk too. There are skyloftian dances, and a huge feat to celebrate the coming of the sun.

Skyloftians are expected to stay awake for the duration of the entire celebration. (The 24 hours after the riders leave). Families create lanterns to decorate their houses and the town with food for the feast that feeds the whole town.

After the riders have left is a moment of reflection, with gentle music to remember the year that's gone by.

When the riders arrive, the feast is had and as the sun continues to rise toasts and wishes for the new year are had.

Sky's place in the festival

Sky has performed in every part of the festival, his most noteworthy being the flight path the year of demise defeat. (As you can imagine that went down a treat with Zelda, who tried to fight the result of the choosing of Sky right after his journey. But Sky insisted on performing the flight.)

He was granted the green harness and it was decorated with the exploits of his journey, with feathers from Zelda, Groose and the headmaster. (Though almost everyone in Skyloft offered a feather which Sky made into a separate sash which he wore the day of the flight.)

Sky performs in the flight of tomorrow at least once while with the chain, but is exempt from being chosen for the sun flight due to this adventure he is on.

More detail about the stages of the festival are below. Including preparation stages, As the stages begin almost six months before close to the shortest day of the year.

Six months before

Day of Free Spirits (Winter Solstice festival) - I'll happily talk about this one too but the important part is this.

On the day of free spirits, all suitable Loftwing riders (over the age of 18) are chosen to select a box. Three of The boxes contain a blank night harness while the others contain normal loftwing harnesses.

The three-night harness riders are those chosen three riders for the Festival of Light. And must begin preparations with their loftwing to prepare them for the sun flight.

The harnesses are, Red, Green and Blue. (The green one is recent)

(To allow for fairness, the one's who flew in the year before are not given a box - due to being the ones to prepare the boxes)

Six month time span before festival - night flight training

Over the six months, these three riders are given night-time loftwing flight training, (even experienced riders are given this.) They often take up nightshift above Skyloft to get themselves and their loftwings used to flying for extended periods of time.

During this training, the riders hand off the night harnesses they were given to family and friends. To decorate the harnesses with the stories from the person from the year.

Key items added to the harnesses are loftwing feathers from the flier's closest relatives. They are often embroidered with names of loved ones, key events ect etc.

Harnesses are not given back to the riders until a week before the celebration is set to begin so exploits are added to the harness until this point.

(So, For example, Skyward sword Link, (Sky, because this spanned from an LU fanfic) was handed one of the harness boxes the celebration following his defeat of demise. So his harness was decorated with the tales of his adventure to defeat the demon king.)

During this time they also practice the flight path a few times.

Three months before the festival - Ceremonial outfits

Sun Riders are fitted for their ceremonial outfits. these are knighthood outfits based on the colour of the harness they received.

What's key about these outfits is that they are imbued with golden thread, in skyloftian terms this is an indication of the goddess's blessing over the garments to protect them from the darkness as they bring the light.

I see them as more, refined Knight Academy outfits. Embroidery often includes loftwings and the sun.

Three months before the festival - The secondary flyers

At this time, volunteers are chosen to perform the Dance of Tomorrow, A flight 'performance' performed after the main flight team returns to the skyloftian settlement.

This dance is a set performance that the skyloftians have been performing for generations. It's designed to depict the passage of time from the past ( the flyers grabbing the sun) To the future.

Week before festival - lanterns and feast preperations

Skyloftian families create lanterns, each house has three decorating their doors and then they make several more to string across the town.

Each one is decorated with family memories, loved ones key life events etc. (Normally parents and children will make separately but this differs from family to family)

The Knight Academy creates one per student to decorate the halls with. (Apart from the flight riders, theirs are made for them)

This is also the time to begin preparations for the feast. Each family creates a dish for the collective town to share. Could be food, drinks etc.

These are agreed upon amongst the community. So there's not a bunch of pumpkin pie/ soup.

Day before festival

Tables and lanterns are set up, with the main grounds for celebration, the riders are given time to tack up their loftwings with the ceremonial harnesses to check they fit etc.

Riders are given their favourite foods and packs for the journey. As the trip is a long one, filling water skins and food packs etc.

Departure (24 hour period of wakefulness begins)

The riders are sent in the late hours of the night before. With the whole town sending them off with quiet goodbyes.

The final thing said to the flyers before they depart is

"May you bring Hylia's light on the back of your loftwing's"

Reflection

During the dark of the night while the flyers are away, the skyloftian people undergo a period of reflection. Its a quiet time for the normally bustling town, the light of the lanterns the only light permitted over the few hours the flyers are away.

Quiet conversations occur and set up for the dance of memories. A slow dance with little music used to remember the times in the year that are harder. And how they persevered through it.

Dance of memories -slow

A slow dance, with no music to begin with. Used to reflect. Various members of the town perform this dance, depending on the events over the year.

Arrival

The riders arrive over the horision with the sunrise behind them. And the music then begins again. Begining with the harp more instruments enter as the riders get nearer and nearer before they land back with the town. The sun risen behind them.

Those performing the dance of tomorrow then mount up and begin their flight.

Dance of Tommrow - upbeat

The Dance of Tomorrow is a flight which shows the past changes to the future, it is a dance that has been done in skyloft for generations and requires at least three riders. It is performed to upbeat music by the people on the ground while the riders of the sun flight are allowed time to rest before the feast.

Feast

The feast lasts the remainder of the day, with singing and dancing as the skyloftians celebrate the first day of the year. Before taking the second day to sleep.

I hope you liked it! :D

Please feel free to ask my questions I will happily answer them.

Tagging people who showed interest, @vaathnaos, @fortheloveofhylia

[adrift-in-thyme]

@kikker-oma ask and you shall receive ;) Sharing some more from my First Meets the Chain fic for Wip Wednesday!

“Who taught you that?”

The swordsman frowns. “Who taught me what?”

“That sword technique. The Skyward Strike.”

Sky gasps. “Wait, you know that move? No one else does!”

Link runs a hand over his face, bringing his fingers through his bangs.

“Yes, I know the move. The Goddess taught me.”

Sky’s eyes grow impossibly larger, shining with eagerness. For a moment all Link can see is a wide-eyed boy gazing up at the loftwings that circle the heavens.

“Hylia? You knew Hylia?”

The past tense grates upon his heart like sand in a wound, but Link pushes it aside.

“That’s a long story,” he says, firmly. “And you’ve yet to answer my first question.”

Sky looks equal parts offended and sheepish. “Oh, well…Fi taught me.”

Link’s gaze flits to the sword now resting on the hero’s back.

“Ah,” is all he says.

[breannasfluff]

Legend catalogs the reaction he’s noticed of each person with the newest hero.

Wild scares the ever-loving shit out of Four. The smithy steers far away whenever he can help it and his eyes swirl a riot of colors. Legend’s watched him circle the Champion at a prescribed distance—a good 10 feet away if he can make it. Situations that bring him closer result in a flighty energy that steadily worsens until Four bolts further away.

Hyrule spouts so much flowery language and courtly manners he gives Warriors a run for his money. The veteran didn’t know he even knew that many manners, much less how to use them properly. Yet every greeting to Wild is some drawn-out, overextended mess of words that leaves everyone confused. The champion doesn’t seem to get it, either, so who knows why Hyrule insists on keeping it up.

Warriors…well, Legend’s not sure what happened between him and Wild, but the captain is waging a one-man war against his chainmail. Some days he wears it and others he’s stripping as fast as he can. It’d be funny if he didn’t look so frightened. Or if the chainmail stripping didn’t coincide with Wild’s close attention.

Wind is too easy-going to stay away from the champion, but he doesn’t seek him out, either. When they stop at rivers or lakes to bathe, the sailor goes in the water before or after Wild, but never at the same time.

Sky looks perpetually ill, sometimes tripping over nothing when Wild runs up to him. The champion peppers him with questions about his loftwing, or his Zelda. The last brings a frown to his face and if Legend didn’t know the chosen hero was just that, he’d say Sky was jealous.

Legend? He thinks Wild is fucking awesome . Oh, he’s still scary as any monster—scarier, even. The champion brings with him the ache of cold teeth, like chewing on an icicle or eating cold food too fast. Prolonged conversation with him results in a headache.

There’s something wrong with Wild, but not enough to keep Legend away. After so many adventures, it’s rare to find something that surprises him so thoroughly. As long as he doesn’t start manifesting dream creations, he can stay.

“You want to spar?” Legend plants himself in front of Wild, ignoring Warriors choking behind him.

Wild looks up, eyes reflecting light in a way they shouldn’t. “Spar?” It probably hasn’t escaped his notice that no one will fight him, even in training.

“Sure, I need to loosen up.” Rolling his shoulders, Legend moves towards the open area Four and Hyrule were using earlier. The sharp spike of cold goes straight to his head and he futilely presses his tongue to the roof of his mouth, trying to warm it.

Warriors, stick in the ass that he is, is trying to get them to stop. “I don’t know if that’s a great idea right now.” He casts about for an excuse, then shifts pleading eyes to Time.

The old man looks like he’s not paying attention, but the veteran catches the tightening in his shoulders and sideways glance. “Play nice, stay safe. Run through some drills, first.”

He’s not a child to be told what to do. Legend tosses one of the practice staves at Wild, not willing to consign himself to metal against the other. “Here, this should do.”

Wild runs a hand over the wood and bends it over a knee, checking it won’t snap. Then he nods and waits for Legend, who stares back.

“Drill?”

“What drill?” Wild’s head tips too far to one side.

Legend doesn’t answer, just starts running through some basic moves. Wild watches but doesn’t join in. Finally, he stops. “Forget it. Fighting or not?”

“Boys,” comes Time’s voice.

“Whatever.” Legend ignores him and raises his stick. “Ready? Go!”

Wild’s not ready, but Legend makes a wide swing to give him time to settle. The kid made it through his journey with whatever weirdness he’s got going on; he can handle one spar without chopping someone’s head off.

His follow-up swing is met with the crack of wood; Wild’s focus is fully on the fight, now. He stays on defense, then switches to offense, and then back again.

Wild’s style is…unique, in that it seems to be a mash of moves with little flowing grace, but he’s a proficient fighter. He’s focused and in control. He doesn’t turn into evil incarnate because he’s crossing blades—or staves, with someone. Warriors worries over nothing.

Legend keeps up, periodically landing faster hits to see how he’ll react. Through it all, the sharp ache in his teeth grows. It’s distracting and the adrenaline of movement isn’t enough to block it out. The tightening band around his head is an indication enough of the growing headache.

Finally, Legend steps back and raises his stave to signal an end. Wild stays poised for one, sharp moment, then steps back as well with a grin.

“Thanks, this was fun.”

Nodding back, Legend tosses the stave to the side and meanders across the camp. Time’s gaze burns, but he ignores it to settle next to Four, far away from Wild and his tooth-aching chill.

The champion may be awesome, but curse the Goddesses, Legend could do without the headache.

Read the rest here!

[skyloftian-nutcase]

Okay, well replaying Skyward Sword reminded me that I wrote this like a year ago buried in a reblog so I'm just gonna air it out and plop it here.

The first time Link had disappeared, it had caused alarm. Zelda had just gone missing, ripped from her loftwing by a treacherous tornado, and suddenly Link was a haggard mess, dressed in a knight’s uniform, and then gone. People feared that he had been hurt too, a search shouldn’t last after sunset; he wasn’t a full knight, after all. However, Headmaster Gaepora had managed to calm the academy students, and the news spread throughout Skyloft.

It took almost a week for Link to return to Skyloft. When people saw his crimson loftwing circling around the town, a collective sigh of relief fell over the sky island. If he’d been gone consistently for so long, then he’d only return when he’d found Zelda, after all. Not to mention it meant they were both safe.

However, that had not been the case. Link had been alone, tired, and filthy. His clothes had tears in them in certain places, he had strange silky threads wrapped around parts of his legs, dry blood stains were disturbingly evident on his tunic, and he practically had bags under the already constantly present bags under his eyes. He had landed just by the goddess statue and had not been seen since. However, another bright light had appeared in the cloud barrier, unnerving the Skyloftians, who chattered about it amongst each other.

The bazaar had been exceptionally busy that day, and the new red light in the sky caused people to gather there to discuss the matter. It meant there were long lines just to get inside, and Link had not seemed keen to stand among the crowds to get the supplies he so desperately needed. Instead, he’d sat on the bench outside, waiting for the townspeople to eventually spread throughout the island once more and give him the space he needed to prepare for his next trip.

The crowds did indeed start to thin, but as people trickled out of the bazaar with hot drinks and hot gossip on their tongues, they paused, finding the boy passed out on the bench. At first it was amusing; Link often fell asleep all over town. But then it was worrisome. He looked haggard. Everyone in town was invested in this boy’s well-being; they’d all welcomed him into their homes at one point or another, the adults all remembered the little orphan wandering the island aimlessly in the days after his father’s unfortunate death, they all remembered bringing him into their homes with promises of warm food and a pillow to lay his head on.

So it had been collectively decided that someone would fetch a pillow from their home and get Link a bit more settled. Wryna brought a blanket as well, but Greba had pointed out worriedly that Link was still a mess (with an emphatic “He stinks!” from Kukiel). Mallara had gotten Commander Eagus, who had promptly swaddled Link in the blanket and carried him to the academy to tend to him.

After that encounter, everyone on Skyloft had decided that they’d keep an extra careful eye out for the boy.

This new pact ended up saving the young knight-in-training’s life. The next time he came back, he had fallen off his loftwing entirely, caught only by Pipit, who had been notified that something was wrong when Orielle noticed the loftwing’s panicked screeches. He’d been unconscious before he fell into his classmate’s strong arms, and even Groose and his stooges had watched in concern as Pipit had rushed Link to the infirmary.

But today was not quite so dire. Link had been missing from Skyloft for two weeks after he’d recovered (his periods of absence continued to grow, much to everyone’s concern), but this morning Jakamar, his wife Wryna, and their daughter Kukiel woke up to a surprise green bundle curled up in their bed. He was on the edge, barely taking any space, but he hogged a majority of that side of the bed’s blanket. At first Jakamar nearly jumped out of his skin until he realized who it had to be, and he pulled the blanket back just enough to see the curved little ears and fluffy dirty blonde hair that everyone on Skyloft knew so well.

Blowing out a sigh, he turned away and held his wife as she peered over his shoulder. “Well, at least we know where he is.”

“He’ll be hungry,” Wryna commented. “I’ll get started on breakfast.”

Jakamar grunted in acknowledgement as his wife crawled to the bottom of the bed to climb over the wooden frame so as to avoid waking Link. Kukiel shot up and started to bounce on the bed in excitement, and Jakamar scooped her into his arms and also climbed out of bed in a similar manner. The house was silent as the family cleaned their faces and prepped for the day (though only because the parents constantly had to remind Kukiel to keep quiet with gentle shushes and fingers over their lips), and then Jakamar took his daughter out for a morning stroll while Wryna busied herself in the kitchen area.

When he got back to the smell of a delicious breakfast, he stretched and smiled, glancing at the bed to find it empty. He looked back to see Wryna’s disappointed face.

“He’s gone!” Kukiel exclaimed in her high voice.

“I didn’t see him step out,” Wryna said guiltily.

Jakamar put a hand on his wife and smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry about it, hon. At least he got some sleep. Pack it up in a bottle, if we see him we’ll give it to him.”

Jakamar had the luck to find Link later that day as the boy was meandering around the windmills. Although Jakamar was getting ready to offer the now lukewarm food, Link instead started asking him about the windmill’s missing propeller. Jakamar helped him as best he could, and just as Link rushed off to find Gondo at Jakamar’s suggestion (he figured the robot, though broken, might be able to help), the man called out to him, waving the large bottle with food carefully packed inside.

Link stared at him, confused. Jakamar held out the bottle. “Take it, kid. You look like you’re starving.”

It was a bit of a slip up to admit it to his face. Link often would recoil at such remarks, would cover it up with an embarrassed laugh and then actively avoid whoever said it for a while, which then made it even harder to help him. But it was the truth - he did look gaunt and worn thin. Jakamar was usually a pretty easygoing guy, but this seemed like it was starting to get serious. He wished the headmaster would reel the kid in.

Link’s expression shifted, so easily readable on his face, and his confusion clearly became shame. He looked down at the ground, biting his lip. When Jakamar pushed the bottle into his sight again, he took it wordlessly, but as he locked eyes with the man he gave a grateful smile. Before Jakamar could get a word in, Link turned on his heel and headed for the bazaar.

Jakamar blew out a sigh as he watched the boy run. Hylia look out for him.

[tenderleavesbob]

Demise's war tore her people apart. The numbers dwindled. Some refused to join the war. Others mingled with the Hylians. Some were convinced to join Demise's forces, believing that he was the only chance they had for survival. From what Cia gathered, what emerged was no longer recognizable, but some of her people still joined them with the hope that their fate would be different.

For the most part, her people watched the White Goddess, She who was deigned by the Sacred Three to protect the land. They swore to aid Her however they could to protect the land and bring back peace. Cia was among them, although she had no idea what the White Goddess wanted from her.

It was hard to think about when she watched the warrior chosen by the White Goddess.

"He's not yours," Impa told her, watching the White Goddess and her chosen warrior. The Goddess's Loftwing allowed the Hylian to pet him, which was unexpected and a point in his favor. The crimson Loftwing was unhappy with the lack of courage of the Hylians. This one, though, had only shown strength of heart so far.

He was handsome, too. It stung a little to see how well he stood beside the White Goddess.

"I never said he was," Cia said stiffly. One would think the Hylian would belong to no one, but the White Goddess seemed to have made a strange claim on him. She offered him Her blade and watched the Hylian mold it for his mortal hand.

Impa grunted, unimpressed. Cia didn't look at her. She watched the White Goddess and Her Chosen.

He was very handsome. Brave. Good with his hands. Cia could see how he had attracted the attention of the White Goddess and Her Loftwing. It was a shame Hylians lived such short lives.

"Has the Goddess spoken to you about Her plans yet?" Cia murmured. Cia knew there was a plan, but Demise and his assaults left everything unstable.

"Not yet." Impa crossed her arms over her chest. "I know She has a plan, though. She will reveal it to us when She is ready."

Of course. Cia couldn't help but hope it would be soon. She knew Demise was planning a major assault, and it made her nervous. She was a sorceress, not a warriors like Impa, and her magic wasn't as strong as Demise's. She wasn't sure how she could help.

It was also shameful but she hoped she could have some time with the Goddess's Chosen. She thought it was only polite to introduce herself to the one who would wield the Goddess's Blade. Surely it would be all right to wish him luck in battle.

Cia never got the opportunity.

She never talked with him before his sacrifice. She never saw him fall.

"Link," the White Goddess called him, grieving, before She gave Cia her task. It was a heavy burden, but one Cia was glad to do, even as her own heart was pained. She wished she had the chance to at least speak with Link, if only once.

Cia never expected to see that shining spirit again.

And again.

And again.

Time dragged on slowly, but Cia told herself it was all right. She was doing her duty to the White Goddess. She knew that one day she would see Link's bright spirit again.

She was so distracted by Link's spirit returning to her that she didn't notice a familiar dark spirit creep toward her.

Even after all of these centuries, Link's spirit was so beautiful.

[arecaceae175]

Gratitude Part 3: Hyrule

Summary: Sky takes Hyrule to the Lumpy Pumpkin. 1.2k, fluff.

Thank you to @rastro-writes for the idea for this chapter!!!

"Hold on!" Sky yelled over his shoulder.

Hyrule's already tight grip around his torso tightened to a nearly crushing level. The position of Hyrule's arms under his was making his undershirt fabric rub against and irritate his scars, but it wasn't enough to be more than mildly distracting. Especially since the alternative was Hyrule potentially falling off his loftwing, Sky happily accepted his fate.

Sky whistled a low tune, signaling for Crimson to loop and land. Crimson squawked his agreement and flapped his wings to soar upwards. After gaining enough height, Crimson screeched enthusiastically and twisted into a loop. Sky whooped in laughter and Hyrule screamed as the loftwing twisted, dove, then leveled off right above Pumpkin Landing.

Sky whistled again so Crimson would land on the island. He did so begrudgingly, shaking and fluffing his feathers as soon as he touched the ground.

"Thanks, buddy." Sky gave Crimson a hearty pat on the neck as he slid off the side of the saddle. He turned to offer Hyrule a hand and couldn't help but giggle at his windswept hair and awestruck expression.

"That," Hyrule accepted Sky's hand and slid off Crimson onto shaking legs. "Was awesome!"

Hyrule had a spark of gratitude floating above his head almost constantly. It was one of the things Sky found most endearing- and most heartbreaking- about Hyrule. The sparks wiggled in Crimson’s direction, today.

Sky's grin widened and he laughed gleefully. "Right? Crimson's pretty great."

Crimson squawked his agreement and pecked at Sky's hair.

"Between you and me," Sky said, leaning towards Hyrule with a hand between his mouth and Crimson, "I think he was showing off."

Crimson pecked at his hair in annoyance and Sky laughed as he pushed him away.

"It worked," Hyrule said. He gave Crimson a few strokes on the feathers on his chest, and Crimson fluffed them out happily.

"Alright, you can go now. I'll call you back soon." Sky whistled the tune for Crimson to leave, as well. Sky was never sure how much of their communication was verbal, through the whistles, or through the intentions of their soul bond. No matter how it worked, it worked very well. Crimson understood the message and squawked a greeting before he shook out his feathers and darted into the sky.

"Bye!" Hyrule waved.

"Welcome to the Lumpy Pumpkin!" Sky turned and raised his arms to show off the large, pumpkin-shaped building.

"Wow. That sure is a big pumpkin," Hyrule said. "Is this the surprise?"

"Well, yes, I wanted to bring you here so you can try the soup ‘cause I need more people on my pumpkin soup superiority team. But that’s not the surprise.” 

With carefully projected movements, giving Hyrule plenty of time to choose to move away, Sky looped his arm around Hyrule’s and led them around the building towards the back. Hyrule gleefully let himself be pulled along, humming to himself as they walked. When they reached the stairs and the pumpkin patch came into view, Hyrule gasped. 

“There’s so many!” Hyrule’s wide eyes roamed from edge to edge of the island. “This has to be the surprise, right?”

Sky giggled. “Sort of? Over here!”

Sky pulled Hyrule to the workstation set against the ledge beside the stairs. The pumpkin farmers were hard at work with the second season harvest. The climate on Skyloft was stable enough that they could get two harvests a year of the hardy plants like pumpkins, which was why it was such a staple of their diet. Sky dearly missed pumpkin dishes while traveling and always made a point to take as much as he was allowed when he had the opportunity. 

“Kina!” Sky called, waving with his free hand. 

Kina turned and smiled at Sky. Her hands were buried in a pumpkin. “Link! It’s been a while.”

“I’ve been traveling,” Sky shrugged noncommittally. He gently tugged Hyrule a little closer to his side. “This is my friend Hyrule. Hyrule, this is Kina.”

“Hello,” Hyrule said with a small wave.

“I haven’t seen you around before.” Kina narrowed her eyes suspiciously. 

“Uh…” Hyrule glanced nervously at Sky. Sky patted his arm and smiled.

“He doesn’t get out much. Anyway, Kina, I was wondering if you had any extra pumpkin seeds?” Sky asked.

“Hm, we should have some. Big harvest this season. You can take some from that basket.” Kina inclined her head to point.

“Amazing. Thank you so much, Kina,” Sky said. He pulled Hyrule towards the basket and scooped out a handful of seeds. He carefully poured the seeds into an empty bottle, letting the ones that missed fall back into the basket. The bottle wasn’t quite full. Sky glanced at Kina to make sure she wasn’t looking, then poured a second handful into the bottle.

One handful of seeds wouldn’t mean the difference between starving or not, Sky reasoned to himself, but they very well could determine the success of a new pumpkin patch. 

Sky corked the bottle and looped his arm through Hyrule’s again. “Thanks Kina!”

“Bye, now!” She called in return. 

Sky pulled Hyrule back up the stairs and around the side of the Lumpy Pumpkin. He turned and held the bottle out to Hyrule. Hyrule looked at the bottle, then back at Sky with a blank expression. 

“These are for you,” Sky said. Hyrule gasped and whipped up to meet Sky’s gaze. Sky held the eye contact for as long as he could, then wiggled uncomfortably and looked back down at the bottle. He pushed it into Hyrule’s hands. 

“For… me? Sky, are you sure? This is a lot of seeds, I can’t accept this-”

“You can and you will,” Sky interrupted. “You heard Kina, we had a big harvest. Skyloft will be fine.”

“Okay, if you’re sure…” Hyrule gently took the bottle and held it up to inspect the seeds. “Uh, what do I do with them?”

“Well, I’ve noticed how much you enjoy the pumpkin meals me, Wild, and Twilight have made. Pumpkins are one of our hardiest crops, so they should be able to grow in any environment.”

Hyrule glanced between Sky and the seeds, connecting the dots in his head.

“You can start your own garden. I can show you how to plant them next time we’re in your era. There are a few other plants I think will be good, so we have a few more stops to make. After we get soup.” 

As Sky spoke, Hyrule’s smile widened. By the time he was finished, Hyrule had a huge grin on his face and was looking at the seeds with clear excitement in his expression. Sky’s grin matched Hyrule’s and he bounced on his toes in excitement. 

“Sky, that’s… I don’t know what to say.” 

“Do you like it?” Sky asked. 

Hyrule barrelled into Sky, wrapping his arms around Sky’s chest and hugging him as tight as he could. Sky laughed happily and had to resist the urge to spin in glee as he hugged Hyrule back. 

“I love it,” Hyrule said. His voice sounded thick with unshed tears. Sky chose not to draw attention to it.

Sky heard the melodious pop of a gratitude crystal bursting into existence. Sky hugged Hyrule even more tightly as he felt the crystal travel to his chest and its warmth filled his body. He started swaying lightly from side to side, content to let Hyrule hug as long as he wanted to. There was nowhere else Sky would rather be.

[luimagines]

What if the reader is a chimera? They orginal died because they took a deadly hit for their sibling, which is the hero of their hyrule link, but their silbing is the hero of hyrule. He couldn't accept the fact that he failed to save his silbing reader, so he used dark magic to bring back reader and manged to split his Triforce of courage to give to reader to prevent their soul from breaking and not allow Ganondorf to use them as a tool . He hides what he's done even so far as he keeps the reader with him during his whole journey as the hero, even when he and reader met the chain. At first, reader's link is not trusting of the heroes and super protective of reader since he doesn't want to lose his silbing again and took some time for him to trust the chain near or alone with his silbing. Eventually, he accepted, but when asked about the split Triforce of theirs, he'll cleverly lie to them, but he knows deep down, one day, the true will be reviewed to the chain of reader is a chimera, link will defend his silbing reader even if he have to draw the master sword to protect his silbing.

They have a human appearance with strong magic flowing through them, yet if all options when faced with a difficult enemy(ies) and there's no other or little choices reader turn to their chimera body a giant body of a lynnx, a tail of a lizafo, loftwing wings and claws but waist and upper body of a human as the head. Reader chimera is physically powerful and stronger and can still use magic as well. Reader doesn't remember how they died or why their brother link is suddenly protective til he eventually tells them the truth. Reader is brave, kind, and a skilled knight. When they first met the chain, their curious yet weary, but they treated the chain like normal people rather than heroes, and they clam their brother link down when he and warrior are at each other throats.

What an interesting concept.

I would imagine that Reader's Link would be dealing with the dilemma of "I wanted you back. I couldn't let you rest and you're not the same. And I'm no longer the same. But after all this time I can't let you go and you're non the wiser-"

Or however that string of words goes. ^.^*

I think the Master Sword would still react to Reader to a degree. Not necessarily burning t the point of stuff, but necromancy is technically a dark magic, which Fi doesn't take kindly to.

I think it wouldn't necessarily bode well for Reader of their Link when the Chain get the gist that something isn't quite right there.

I don't know how Link is going to be able to keep it as a secret when they have so many magic sniffing people around. (Looks at Legend)

[sparrowsworkshop]

"Alighting the Darkness" by OneWingedSparrow for @dubiiousfood

This is my Loftwing Letter for @dubiiousfood, for the event hosted by @zelinkcommunity ! I hope you like this TP Zelink fluff! <3 Main Tags: Twilight Princess, Post-Canon, Married Zelink, Fluff without Plot Summary: Following the events of the Twilight, Zelda comes to realize how Link places light wherever she needs it. Read on AO3 Reblogs are appreciated! ~ The populace of Hyrule could perhaps say that they knew a “time before Twilight, and the two times thereafter.” Though most Hyruleans had been unknowingly turned to spirits during the curse over the kingdom, and, were therefore oblivious to the atrocities committed by the Usurper King Zant, they were nevertheless aware enough that, in the past, there had first been a time of grim foreboding; then, a time of great fear; and at last, a grand time where the great fear was graciously extinguished.

Queen Zelda, however, dwelt upon a different timeline. The time before Twilight, and the two times thereafter, mattered not nearly so much as these:

The time before Link, and all time thereafter.

~

She saw her Hero first in his accursed form of a blue-eyed beast; and, even in the darkness cast over the castle, everything about the wolf before her seemed to gleam. The iron shackle clinging to his leg, the grinning fangs escorting his growl, even the artful patterns streaking his dark fur with a lighter shade. A snarling predator stalking into her chamber should not have been a source of encouragement, but Zelda could sense the spirit within the flesh, and her weary eyes smiled faintly under her hood as she watched him stride towards her.

You are the light, she told him within her mind, as she removed her hood and his growling instantly ceased. The foretold, sacred light Hyrule desperately needs.

She beheld in him the Hero chosen by the gods. She foresaw in him the Hero destined to bring Hyrule back into the light, as a careful goatherd would direct his flock out of the storm and safely into shelter. In spite of her gifted Wisdom, however, she did not perceive in him the Hero chosen to guideherback into light as well. Such an epiphany revealed itself only during their future marriage.

~

Rebuilding the castle was a lengthy endeavor. While the structure was not demolished entirely, the brutal clash between Midna’s Fused Shadows and the demon beast Ganon left several stones unthroned. While the construction crews travailed the necessary renovations, the queen and her fiancé spent much time outdoors, in the quiet courtyards where pink and yellow flowers still dared to bloom, ever defiant towards the evil that once shadowed them.

Verily, Zelda might have found superior productivity in her study, where her paperwork was not at risk of being spied on by scouting ants or swept away by the teasing breeze. Even so, she chose to eschew her old habits. Her productivity might have lessened outdoors, but her motivation only increased. After all, how could she not be delighted by the golden-bodied beetles Link presented to her with a flourish, or the merry tunes he played for her on whistlegrass when no one else remained in earshot?

In the courtyard, with his subordinates standing vigil, Link never needed to be on constant guard, to uphold his duty as her appointed protector first and foremost. When they would travel Hyrule, of course, checking in on each province, he shouldered his responsibility with grave focus, standing tall as both the Hero of Twilight and the Captain of the Hylian Knights. But here, under the oak trees and the dappled sunlight, where the windchimes laughed and the stepstones wandered—here, as the beetles spread their wings and buzzed away from his open palms, and the blithe melody of the grass summoned a hawk to cheer a chorus—here, with her, he could be simply Link, grinning and teasing to make her smile even while she worked. It felt quite like a forgotten childhood come back to greet them, Zelda thought, or perhaps a bright tomorrow welcoming them anew.

~

A castle is a fortress first, a sanctuary second, and a home last of all. The larger a window, the more accessible an invader’s point of entry. Thus, many long corridors were illuminated only by braziers, their warmth spaced apart by the ghostly fingers of drafts ever haunting the stone walls. Over her lifetime, Zelda’s eyes grew accustomed to the enclosed dim; Link, however, had a newcomer’s keen eye for all improvements that could be made.

“It’s dark in here,” he said once of their bedchamber, as he scrutinized the curtains and ran his hand over the thick, embroidered fabric. “Does the brown color please you?” “It keeps out the sun,” Zelda replied, but her words suddenly sounded strange. She wrinkled her brow, and, stepping next to Link, reached out, tugging the two curtains away from each other. The day was overcast, but a grayish glow whispered into the room, gracing their boots with a shy, soft brightness.

She glanced at her husband. “How do you feel about ivory?”

~

From that moment onward, Link’s transformations of Zelda’s once dark world became all the more apparent. For the first time, she noticed the multiplication of candles around their dining table—most of them scented cheerfully with pumpkin, transported all the way from Beth’s Sundry. She counted the vases of bright-colored flowers strategically positioned around the Great Hall, like devoted soldiers standing at attention, and knew only one person who would trek so far into the forest to collect such particular, elusive species.

Her favorite of his transformations, however, was when Link commissioned the court artists to paint not a portrait of himself, as most royals would, but rather, a mural of the pastures of Ordona. The grass in the painting practically dripped with morning dew, and the circular horns of the goats glittered like fairy wings; a brilliant dawn broke through the dark woods beyond the flock, and spilling sunshine over the tranquil field.

That vision alone would have rendered the painting wonderful; but Link’s directions went further, and the artists happily delivered.

In the foreground stood a figure, facing the dawning sun—black cloak slipping from her shoulders, while the wind swept through her hair.

“Do you like it?” Link whispered in her ear, the day his surprise was revealed.

Only one thing would I change, she thought at first. Where are you in this lovely story?

Yet, when she turned towards him to ask, fierce, bright blue eyes caught hers, and she saw for a moment in him the wolf who once brought Courage to her gloom.

Enlightened, Zelda smiled.

“Of course,” she said, and cupped his face in her hands, to lose herself in his gaze just as the woman in the painting lost herself in the powerful sun.

You are the light...my light...as always.

~

[kazooie]

I hope they bring loftwings back in some future Zelda game, take the flying from Skyward Sword, the exploration of Wind Waker, and add the giant open world vibe of BotW/TotK and you'll have me hooked