#ezlo is implied

[blackstarchanx3new]

Dark is confusion. Not only is he confused, he makes others confused as well.

Original character concept wise, he was actually a representation of depression, anxiety and fear. Originally that's all he was in the older drafts of FSR. He got to have a personality AFTER the main story because I liked him.

But Dark has a lot of self discovery to do so he doesn't have to remain that way, similar to the audience he learns he's more beyond his roots as a mindless curse.

There's a reason why IS Vio his favorite haha dude's got issues. XDDD

*This was a scrapped panel that I liked

The confusion mostly stems from the fact Dark has context others don't or will just say what other's are thinking deep down but won't say out loud.

And he has no filter.

Dark currently struggles with empathy and putting himself in other's shoes. Not that anyone has really tried to understand him either.

What's really fun about the guy is his nature is in direct combat with itself a lot of the time.

What he actually wants is to hug and kiss people, pick flowers and has an aversion to hurting people in any substantial way at least physically.

But what he often defaults to his smth I just call "Curse programing" for short.

Basically he defaults to mimicking people's insecurities at them subconsciously (Sometimes tho he does it on purpose)

This makes a game where you ask "Did he MEAN this? Or is this just him talking out of his ass?" X'D

Tho there are for sure times where he's being mean as hell on purpose like here:

Dude was salty and jealous Shadow Link "Has so much".

Dark's use of honorifics to fuck with people is one of my favorite uses of language Dark uses.

Like "Master" for Vaati, drawing to mind "Master Ezlo" and "King" for Shadow Link being the two current examples. He knows it bothers them so just does it.

Vaati and Dark don't have a master apprentice relationship but he still calls him "Master" just to bug the shit out of him and that's funny.

A lot of what he says can be taken 2 ways though.

Like here. Where he asks if Shadow got hurt from falling on his ass.

This could either be him asking genuinely if falling on your ass hurts, or him asking out of concern.

It's highly implied to just be Dark asking genuinely if that hurt. XD

Dark's behavior only makes sense to Dark, so yeah he's confusing but that's not his main point.

[fourswords]

another thing i deeply love in the minish cap is the fact that in the cave of flames ezlo is the one to be like "hey we should hop on those minecarts to get around. what are you looking at it like that for. don't tell me you're SCARED" directly implying that link was eyeing it in a wary sort of manner and then immediately after they get off the minecart ezlo is like "OH THANK GOD WE'RE ALIVE WE'RE NEVER GOING ON ONE OF THOSE AGAIN—STOP SMILING YOU ABSOLUTE LUNATIC I REFUSE" it's literally the greatest thing ever. minish cap is just link being a little shit on purpose over and over specifically to stress ezlo out because he keeps calling link lazy

[vernal-witch]

Have you ever read the fancomic "tale of two rulers"? If you have, what do you think of their version of Vaati?

Oh. Oh, I am very sorry for how long this message is about to be, but I've been waiting for an excuse to talk about this. To be completely honest, I'm sick of fanworks that focus only on Vaati's characterization in two small scenes from Four Swords/Four Swords Adventures when Minish Cap is RIGHT THERE and has infinitely more potential for compelling character work. He actually HAS a character in Minish Cap, whereas Four Swords is a glorified tech demo where the Only story is one scene where he kidnaps Zelda to be his bride. And Four Swords Adventures has a story about him kidnapping maidens to sleep with in its intro cutscene-- but it never comes up again after that-- and is heavily implied to be a legend that is not accurate to what was really happening, because you see for yourself that he's Really kidnapping the maidens because they're sages who give Link the power to defeat him. He doesn't even have any dialogue in that game; he's used no differently than any other boss monster. Aside from using his human design from Minish Cap, a lot of these fanworks choose to completely ignore his characterization from that game/manga, even though they have HOURS of content that is SO much more interesting than "evil wizard wants to fuck Zelda". He's clearly an emotional abuse victim at the hands of Ezlo, and has been so ever since he was the same age as Link. He's out on his own for the first time in a world that's literally stepped on him his whole life-- as a late teenager at the absolute oldest-- with godlike power in his hands after a life of being completely powerless. That's why he's so obsessed with the idea of perfecting himself; Ezlo drilled it into him that he had to become a perfect sorcerer, so that's what he's going to do. But he's a KID; he's angry, he's impulsive, he lashes out when someone crosses him even if it wasn't really their fault, and he has breakdowns when things don't go his way. When his first plan to get the Light Force doesn't work, he straight up does not know what to do, and spends the whole game trying to course-correct his mistake and making it SEEM like he knows what he's doing to keep himself from giving up. He clings so desperately to his goal and to his powers because he doesn't want to be controlled by anyone like Ezlo ever again. He'd rather be a monster than a rat in a cage. Tale of Two Rulers-- and other fanworks like it-- could do SO MUCH with that in conjunction with Vaati having been used as a puppet by Ganondorf in Four Swords Adventures! How violated and furious he would feel that, after he finally broke free of his imprisonment after centuries-- probably still a late teenager since he was frozen in time that whole time-- he's right back where he started with being taken advantage of by an older more powerful wizard! What would drive him to willingly work with someone who did that to him? But no, instead we get "he's horny and tries to sleep with every woman he meets". There's nothing WRONG with writing him like that-- people can do whatever they want so long as it's not hurting anyone-- but it's just ALL I SEE from most Vaati fans, and has been ever since the old days on 2012 deviantart. I wish I had the energy and time to do a fanwork myself, because I want so badly for there to be one that does Vaati justice re: his portrayal in Minish Cap. But I just don't have it in me to commit to a project like that when I've got my own videogame to worry about.

[xbuster]

One of the funny things about Zelda is how Minish Cap tried to establish that Link’s past reincarnation(s) didn’t wear a hat and neither did this Link until Ezlo jumped onto his head, implying that was the origin of Link’s iconic green cap. Then Skyward Sword said “No, Link wore it since the beginning.”

[l-kdx]

Your next destination is Minish woods, but remember that you only have a shield and you have to avoid disturbing monsters. Once you enter Minish woods you'll have to go to the area where in the original game you meet Ezlo, and pick up the item against the right wall which is for some reason a bottle.

Then you have to go to tree stump where Ezlo originally taught you how to shrink to the size of a Minish to trigger a cutsceen where it seems that Cole is sad for some reason. You're then greeted by a text box that reads "There's no use crying over loss, Cole... We need to find that mask."

Next you need to go straight to the first dungeon and complete it with nothing but your shield and bottle as there are no other items to be obtained in that dungeon, but don't worry, because you can use water on all the bosses in the dungeon. After you beat the first dungeon, instead of getting an element, you receive the "Princess' Blade"

This is how you will kill all the enemies in your path and properly defend yourself, however obtaining the blade will trigger another cutsceen where Cole get upset. This time he buries his face into his hands, implying that he's crying for some reason, another text box appears "I'm sorry, Cole... but she's gone for good... there's no way to bring her back... let's continue on."

The Princess' Blade can instantly kill most enemies and is great for the next area, The Graveyard. Once you enter the Graveyard, you'll be greeted with another cutsceen where a dark figure which speeds past Cole, so you begin to chase it down and eventually catch it. Your reward for catching up with it is the lantern to of course aid you in the Graveyard, you will regret it if you don't pick up the lantern.

[onefey]

@ezlo-x the reason yuga is included as a maybe-dorf is because he's kind of (??) implied to be lorule's ganondorf or agahnim equivalent, what with the red hair and the gerudo design similarities and the fact hes the Evil Royal Advisor. it's kind of up to interpretation whether that's the case at all or even if a lorulean counterpart counts as The Guy but that's why he's the jokey last option anyway

so now that tears of the kingdom has been out for a month, it's time to take this one again! this time i'm SURE i didn't forget anyone or make any minor wording errors. have fun!

anyway,

[bosmermage]

Whumptober Day 6

Touch and Go (Bruises, Touch Starved)  Characters: Green, Blue, Grandpa Smith, Vio  

But they didn't notice. Well. That was a lie. Blue noticed. But Blue noticed everything.

They should have known something was wrong when the bruises started to appear. They littered up and down his arms and legs like freckles, peeking out in the evenings from under his nightgown. But, after all, he had been training harder and a few extra bruises were hardly anything to pay any mind to.

They should have known something was wrong when his tunics seemed to get a little snug and then suddenly too loose again. He was so busy though, always running around. Everyone brushed it off as a natural consequence of being a knight. He'd surely gain it all back on his summer break, right?

They should have known something was wrong when, on quiet nights when everyone else slept soundly, they would find him in the morning curled around his pillow like a life line.

But they didn't notice. Well. That was a lie. Blue noticed. But Blue noticed everything. He noticed how Red would get careless with the cooking fire on rough weeks, always seeming to be nursing some sort of burn. He noticed how Vio's eye bags were slowly creeping across his face, and his hair was becoming unkempt and long from his many study sessions littered through the week.

He noticed how Red had become so close with the princess, and how his hair had begun to shift to match hers and how he spent more and more time at the palace. How excited the king was to have a son. He noticed how Link's father doted on him for things he didn't think were all that impressive, with the air of expectation that he should eventually “come home” from Grandpa's house. He noticed how Vio withdrew from society, preferring the company of the minish, eventually even retreating so far that the only time he saw the others was for weekends.

Not that Grandpa seemed to mind too much. He noticed too.

He noticed how Link's father hardly ever spared a second glance to Green. And he noticed how Green put everything he had into his facade of normality and cheerfulness and left nothing over for himself. And he noticed how Green really didn't seem to spend much time with anyone, always busy, or kept home with studies. Hollow eyed and doll-like when he did move his ass to hang out. Always preforming perfection.

And it frustrated him.

The strain on their friendship was intense, they were constantly snipping at each other. Well, Blue had started it but he sure as hell wasn't going to finish it. Green, patently (stupidly), refused to ask for help. He wouldn't bend his dumb-ass pride for a single second to reach out or even just vocalize that there was anything wrong to begin with. It had been hard for Blue too but you didn't see him moping about it! So if he wanted to be a big baby about whatever the fuck was making him so unhappy than that was fine by Blue. He was too busy dealing with his own shit to play mind reading games with the miserable crew.

Of course, it did all eventually come to a head. It came to a head on a mid-july day when he came home to find Green curled up in bed, clutching at his pillow with his face buried in it like it was his girlfriend or something.

“Hey would you quit that it's gross,” Blue stuck his tongue out at the dozing figure. Green mumbled into the pillow in response and Blue rolled his eyes.

“I said cut it out geeze Green,” Blue snatched the pillow away and Green contracted into himself.

“Hey, give that back, I was trying to take a nap,” Green reached up pitifully and Blue held the pillow away.

“Why do you even do that Green, it's fucking nasty, why not just go get a plushie like a normal person?”

“Shut up Blue it's none of your business.” Green pouted at him “And anyways that's mine so give it back already.” Finally Green got up to his feet.

“What's the big deal anyways? Huh? It's just a stupid pillow, you have two of em.”

“Just leave me alone! What have I ever done to you??” Green swiped for the pillow again and Blue rolled his eyes at the display.

“Stop being such a baby!”

“If it's just a pillow then why not leave it be?” Vio's voice cut in from the doorway, heartless as ever. Blue didn't have to turn around to know that the stupid prick was glaring at him with his little hypocritical holier than thou act plastered all over his face.

“Shut the fuck up Vio like you know so much about precious things.” Blue barely got the words out before Green was stomping on his foot. He let out a yelp and dropped the pillow that was promptly snatched up by the other colour. He noticed the tears threatening to spill down his face, and the way he shook while he clutched the dumb fucking pillow to his chest.

“Okay, what the fuck ever,” Blue threw his hands up and stalked out of the room, determined to go do something, anything, else to get his mind off it.

“Hey, are you okay Greenie?” Vio's voice was soft and even as he came closer, very practiced, and Green nodded through the panic welling up in his chest, winding him like a spring.

“I'm fine, I just, I want to sleep,” Green sighed, and Vio searched him with his gaze. He hated how perceptive their violet counterpart was at times. He knew he shouldn't be standing there lying like a hypocrite, and he knew Vio knew, but if Vio kept standing there the panic was going to bubble out into the world and then he would have to pick up the pieces.

Vio, blessedly, nodded, moving out of the room and Green let out a shaking sigh as the tears began to pour out of his eyes, in pain, and embarrassment at the way Blue had dragged his childishness out of him like that. He curled back into his bed, pulling the cover up over his head and letting the tears flow freely. He hated how pathetic he felt, how poor of a substitute his pillow was for a real hug. But it'd have to do, after all it's not like any of the others wanted to hug him, and why would they? He was the most boring colour after all. The ugliest. The others were like flowers and he was like dirt. Something necessary sure, but plain, only begrudgingly accepted. Never anyone's first choice. He was glad he couldn't hear yelling, he didn't want to have to drag himself out of bed to break up yet another disagreement gone nasty between the two others.  

He didn't hear Grandpa enter the room and when the man sat on his bedside he jumped so hard he smacked into the bottom of Blue's bunk, flinging himself back and hissing in pain as he settled into a crouch, ready to pounce. What a sight he must have been, squinting through the pain, tears dripping down his cheeks, hissing like a frightened animal at his own grandfather. He blinked through the remaining tears and settled down on his knees, ears drooping shamefully at his shoulders.

“Hey there sweet-pea, I didn't mean to frighten you,” the words stained Green's cheeks a burning shade of red and he nodded into his lap, mortified, But Grandpa's face settled into a mask of gentle determination. Grandpa snapped his fingers and Green refocused on his hands, brought out of the downward spiral of his mood by the action/

“Vio told me you and Blue had a fight. Do you want to tell me your side of it?” Grandpa's sign was gentle and soothing, but it still sent a spike of fear through Green's stomach. He nodded dutifully, and took a deep breath to steady his shot nerves back into alignment.

“I was trying to take a nap since it's my day off and then Blue came in to pick a fight, and I.. he got me riled up cause he stole my pillow and wouldn't give it back. I know it was childish but I got angry at him and made him give it back. I'll go apologize.” Green's eyes flicked down, sign nearly as frantic as the sound of his own heartbeat in his ears. Grandpa's hands stilled his own and his world narrowed down to the point of contact, he had to bite back the tears again when he pulled away to speak.

“Green, I'm glad you're being mature about this, but I'm not upset with you for being “childish”. You're still a kid, remember? I just want to help you two work it out,” Grandpa scootched closer and Green paused.

“Honestly? I usually forget,” the words slipping between his fingers like a gust of wind before he could stop them, eyes going wide with shock enough to match the sorrow that glinted in Grandpa's eyes. “I mean, it's just. I'm expected to be the Hero and keep everyone working together all the time and be the leader and be mature and just deal with it and not let anyone see weakness. It's just, it's hard to not work like that all the time.” His foot was already in his mouth, might as well get it off his chest. He sighed again, shoulders rising up to his ears.

“I'm sorry, it's just really hard and I don't want to let anyone down,” he was wiping away tears again. All he really wanted was a hug.

Grandpa shifted closer again and Green fought down the urge to collapse into his chest, “Oh sweet pea why would you think that?”

“It's just, everyone else gets to fall down and need help, and drop out and leave the public eye and be themselves. But I have the same favourite colour as Link so everyone expects me to be him and act like him and be the hero and be the leader. I don't want to ask the others for help 'cause I'm the one they all come to when they need help, and, I don't want to ask father 'cause he always looks so sad when he sees me, and I don't want to ask anyone else 'cause I don't want to burden them when they all have so much on their plates already and I don't want to be selfish but I don't know what to do anymore.” Green rambled on as everything he'd been damming back flooded out. Grandpa brushed the bangs out of his tears gently before pulling him into a hug. Green melted into the contact, dripping tears turning into desperate sobs as he clung to his grandfather's forge-warm tunic.

Eventually, after his tears had dried out, Grandpa pressed a kiss to the top of Green's head, making him promise to come and ask for help when he needed it before tucking him back into bed. He was dozing in moments, and he'd nearly drifted off when he heard a quiet knocking at his door.

“Hey Green,” Blue's voice was much quieter than it usually was and Green looked over balefully swallowing the urge to ask if he came to steal his blanket this time too.

“Um, I'm sorry, about earlier. I didn't want to hurt you, I just got really frustrated cause I could see there was something wrong and I didn't know how to get you to talk about it, and I know that's not an excuse for being mean,” Blue was nearly mumbling into his boots, but Green could hear the hurt in his voice.

Green considered him for a moment before scooting back up from bed and launching himself into Blue's unsuspecting arms.

“It's ok, I forgive you,” He mumbled into the hug and Blue's startled laughter, before the air was crushed out of him when Blue returned the favour, lifting him up off his feet with the force. He'd never felt better. Okay maybe he had, he winced with a yelp when Blue caught a particularly nasty bruise on his side, cursing the wooden sword that had given it to him.

“I'm proud of you,” Green's feet hit the floor to the sight of his Grandpa beaming in from the door, “both of you,”

[ezdotjpg]

HI HI HI DO YOU HAVE MINI LORE I LOVE MINISH CAP AND I’M SO VERY VERY INTRIGUED ON THE OFFICIAL CHARACTERIZATION OF MINI (I will end straight up kinning him won’t I)

also if you do end up making the actual story stuff in one of the things I just. dont ask why or how but I’m just hoping there’s a moment somewhere along the way where war just straight up “EUGHRNDW:’(((😭😭😭‼️‼️“ or something because none of the links would expect it and I’m just gonna think abt that for a while

also you along with jojo and the person who I think is mina with the other linkverse au you are all inspiring me so fuckin hard to make my own au I’ve already started on designs istg

HELLO!! THANKS SO MUCH!! lolol knowing my track record there probably will be a scene something like that at some point. and you totally should make your own au, it's super fun!

as for Mini Lore i haven't shared before:

he's essentially his grandfather's apprentice in blacksmithing, but I think he's more interested in inventing little machines and trinkets and stuff than making swords. I like the idea of him having an arsenal of little machines he's made that Could be used as weapons but I haven't designed those yet.

I feel like he also has a strong interest in learning magic now, but there's mistrust related to sorcerers in Hyrule after Vaati and he doesn't have many opportunities to learn. (enter mage lol)

I like the idea that he remains able to see the minish even as he grows up. but he doesn't know that and is scared he'll stop being able to see them one day

he keeps the shrinking ability because uuh. i want him to. let's say ezlo teaches him a few things before he leaves or something. anyway. he spends a lot of time exploring the world minish sized. hanging out in minish village and also just generally Around. it's maybe a bit of an escapist thing

I think iv'e said this before but he's afraid of heights, which is sometimes a problem when he's tiny and being tiny makes small drops Huge.

he frequents the bakery in castle town so much they just start giving him free cake

universally loved in castle town as that odd kid who rifles through ur trash and talks to ur cats instead of talking to u but he's sweet and u want to give him a warm blanket

EXPERT CUCCO WRANGLER

he's good friends with malon. they go scavenging for cool garbage together KJZFHJKF

like many Links, he collects stuff. figurines, random trinkets he finds, kinstones, you name it.

also, farore, nayru, and din are just?? there in minish cap??? he has all their charms and they're collectively like. his cool aunts. idk if it's implied that they're the same oracles from the oracle games or incarnations of the goddesses or what. zelda lore continues to confound me

he is only just now starting to realize that the things he went through where uh. maybe kinda fucked up and no kid should have to experience that. at the time it all felt normal

ok that's a lot im done now

[accessibleloz]

ID copied from alt text:

[ID: A drawing of Link and Ezlo from The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. It is raining and the two of them are outside amongst grass and clovers. Link, who is drawn to be a small child, looks on in the distance with a grumpy expression while holding Ezlo over his head. The Gust Jar is balanced on some small rocks to be positioned to blow air upwards, forcing Ezlo to cover Link from the rain. Ezlo seems to be in distress, with glistening eyes, though it has a humorous tone in this context. There is text with an arrow pointing to Link that reads 'Criminal mastermind (still got wet)', implying his plan to stay dry did not work. End ID.]

[abizarreyodelingincident]

Our Nightly Confidant 5

Four steps in my shoes

Four feels strongly.

In general, as a rule, but also in this specific situation, where sweat sticks his hair to his forehead and the pegasus boots chaff from constant overuse. From the slight burn of his arm muscles that nonetheless keep swinging the Four Sword.

Amazingly, the emotion at the forefront of his mind cannot be easily and neatly assigned to one facet of him. Annoyance isn't exclusive to any one side of him, quite the contrary. And the 'you can go die!' disdain is a taaaaad too specific as well.

White paws sweep at him and barely miss the top of his head. Would have hit Ezlo, if this had been his first adventure. The pang of nostalgia doesn't help his focus much.

Small bursts of magic and swings of his boomerang sting enough to keep his enemy on the backfoot. Behind him, a few roots twist enough for an opening beneath the trunk. If he can just...

The paw slams inches away from where he was standing a second earlier.

Urgh. It had to happen after they marched all day in search of civilization, didn't it?

Well, nothing to it, Four adjusts his sword and glares back at the slitted eyes trailed on him.

Which is when the loudest, most thunderous bark he ever heard rips the air in half and hammers in his eardrums. The white monster (cat) yowls in fright, fur straight up in horror, back arched, and it sprints right up a tree.

Wolfie is a familiar sight, and a welcome one at that.

But some instinctive part of him that is more Minish than Hylian can't help grip the Four Sword tighter.  From this perspective, Wolfie has more in common with Wild's divine beasts than a regular animal. His claws look about as tall as Four himself. And at the moment, the wolf is displaying a mouth full of fangs that promise a painful death.

He doesn't blame the cat for scampering. He's seen what those fangs can do to a throat. Or a wrist. Or an ankle. Not, really, he thinks the cat shows great wisdom in getting the hell out of Wolfie's range.  

But, because he is a Hero of Courage, he flips the sword in his hands, sheathes it and waves his arms.

“Twilight!”

The shift is instantaneous, and a little amazing to witness. The ears perk up, the posture straightens from its crouch, the teeth all disappear behind the black lips. It's a flip of Pacci's cane, a turn on a rupee, and there's the big beast their group loves.

“You okay there, Smithy?” Twilight asked, sniffing him for signs of injuries.

It's strange, hearing Twilight's voice coming through the sort of mental-bond-language of the Minish. Useful though. He's not certain he currently possesses the patience for some games of charades with a wolf.

“No injuries.” He puts a hand on the damp nose even as a burst of hot air washes over him. “Just a bit out of breath.”

“Right.”

It's not a doubtful tone, but there's some Time-patented exasperation in there.

“I would have been fine, you know?” says the part of Four that is a bit younger. “I dealt with lots of monsters even at this size.”

(Not Wolfie size though, that he thinks might be beyond him when shrunk.)

The flat look he receives makes him want to squirm.

He's too controlled for that.

“Yes, yes, I know.” He waves off the implied question. “I thought the innkeeper's cat was still inside.”

“He was. But after he mewled a bit, his owner let him out. And when I didn't see you... I had a feeling.”

Four wants to hit his head against a tree. Animals always were more aware of the scent of Minish magic. Many eyed him curiously when he walked through town. He should have known the cat would want to stalk after him. Probably thinking he knew where a village was hidden. He's going to have internal arguments about this all night.

“Cats are all bastards.”

To Four's amazement, Twilight's tail curls between his legs, his ears drooping. He rather looks more the guilty dog part than the majestic beast he insists he is.

“... But they're so cuddly.”

“When you're bigger than them, maybe,” Four deadpans. “Sneaky little shits.”

Twilight's whine is absolutely ridiculous and enough to make him snicker.

“Fine, fine. I'm not deaf, I hear what they say. Not as bad as cuccos, though.” Twilight's gaze wanders off to a faraway place. “Nothing is as bad as those psychotic birds.”

They lose a moment reliving their trauma over the feathered fiends.

Twilight shakes it off first. He lies down, his body like a hill of dark fur before Four, and hints at his back. Any protest Four might have had before dies in the face of his aching legs. He can fight off monsters at this size, but it's unreasonably more complicated. And he is not in the mood to stab spiders in the face tonight.

The fur is silky under his fingers, which is comforting but also a bit of a pain. Climbing means parting the coat of dark hairs and finding grip against skin. Sometimes, the body under him flinches or trembles, like Twilight is fighting off the urge to roll over. Four imagines it's quite similar to tickling. So he hurries up and makes his way up to the top of Twilight's head. Between the ears and roughly around the markings on his forehead.

Satisfied, Twilight stands, and the whole world blurs like he's still using his pegasus boots. A few more steps are needed before Four's body adjusts to the speed, and then he can relax. Twilight's safe.

And, he notes, not heading straight for the inn.

“We noticed the looks, you know,” Twilight says, because he's one of those busybodies that can't help mother cucco everyone around him till they are 'right as rain over a spring'.

“So?” he replies, even, practiced.

(Zelda had questions, at first, then orders that were swiftly obeyed, when in her sight. He hasn't told her that yet.)

“... How many of them do that?”

Do what? He wants to ask. The inn's owner had been quite polite, very careful in avoiding certain words around Four. Indeed so careful that Four could feel their syllables get more and more defined by the innkeeper's silence.

“Whisper?” he settles for. “A few. I'm weird, I know. Shorter than some kids, but can lift a hammer to forge. Own my business outside Castle Town, only shows up for groceries, talks to myself sometimes and stares at empty spots on shelves. I don't know, I suppose they expected me to apprentice beforehand, but there was a kingdom to save and what did that matter then?”

He punches the ground next to him before remembering too late it is Twilight's head.

The growl doesn't last. But the first few words he says are a bit more bitten out than the tone implies.

“There's a kid in my village. Younger than you. Couldn't lose the baby fat in his face for the longest time.” Twilight snorts, and his tail wags a bit. “And he's smart, really smart, a lot more mature than his older brother too.”

Four has a feeling that's partially due to the older brother's personality, but holds his tongue.

“People whispered behind his back. 'That boy is so creepy.'”

“Fey-touched,” Four says before he can hold back the red in him.

That one hurt. He's picked up habits from the Minish, he's aware. Little things like leaving keystones lying around for other kids or tiptoeing minish rings in the grass. But for those differences to matter so much, he hadn't expected until the first time the words had been floating around him.

“Ah,” Twilight says, followed by a whole lot of nothing.

Crickets around them sing. He can almost see some Minish putting a collar on the bugs to bring them home for a concert. Moving from behind stalks of grass, praying to the moon and the goddesses.

Then, Twilight says: “That takes me back.”

Four stumbles through the fur, his hands grasping on some new strands, but he can't tell if his unbalance is due a jolt in their steps or to the enormity of the idea. Twilight, the stereotypical rancher, seen as an outsider?

He tries, but all his brain conjures up is a much shorter version of Twilight dragging goats by the horns. That and dancing (badly) to the melody of a grass whistle.

Even from his spot atop Twilight's head, the eye roll is obvious despite being out of sight. “The only Hylian in a village of Humans?” he drawls. “Found as a toddler lost in the woods? Hardly able to speak for a while?”

Oh, Four thinks, that'd do it.

“They don't have the right to say that to you,” Twilight growls. “You're their hero.”

He could bask in the warmth. Lets himself lie down on Twilight and forget all about the events of tonight.

Curiosity wins, or well, violet does. “What did you do?”

“Nothing special? Just stayed the same and let them talk.”

Four's eyes bug out. “That's it? Nothing? How does that change anything?”

“When you're you, Four... When you're a good person regardless of rumors and whispers... Idiots don't stop talking, but the ones that are worth it stop listening.” A wolfish grin breaks out on Twilight's face. “Besides, you should have seen their black eyes after Rusl heard them say it to my face. After that... well, they could have called me the King of Evil and it wouldn't have mattered. Knowing you got someone in your corner's better than hollow praise from idiots.”

Four blushes.

He forgot for a bit, and he'll apologize to Zelda when he sees her, but it's true. Whenever he recalls that moment, the guard's words aren't ever the same. The phrasing lost all its power, outshone by the impassioned defense and the sheer anger wielded by his friend.

His back straightens. And he allows himself some childish pride in having the Princess of Hyrule in his corner. What do they have to beat that?

Twilight rumbles a laugh. “So... yeah, ignore them. Put them in their place if you want, the goddesses know you have the strength to do it, but that won't change their minds about anything. If you want some peace of mind, discard the idiots.”

Companionable silence falls between them. Four doesn't feel the need to speak after that bit of reassurance. They circle the woods, avoiding Hylians late on the road and monsters alike. Twilight's seemingly content just taking him on a ride, and Four's loath to admit he wants the moment to last a little longer.

They're not too far back from their starting point when he decides to ask: “About that kid?”

“Malo?”

“Yeah, him, how does he deal with it?”

Twilight does not answer right away. He first jumps over some large, gnarled roots and growls at a fox that seemed a bit too curious about the smell of Minish magic. Four's grateful for the time to calm his pounding heart.

“Well, Malo just stares at them until they get uncomfortable. Then he asks them what they're looking for. It never seems to affect him too much.” – discomfort hits at that, and Four can't tell why – “But, well, it also happened in front of me, you know? And I take after my Pa. So I might have knocked a couple of heads together in Casle Town. Followed by a strong talking to. Not that Malo appreciated that I ran off some of his customers.” A sigh. “That kid, I swear.”

Four grimaces. That type of 'customers'. Will think they bless his forge with their presence, praise him to all ends, then turn around and whisper. “I'm sure he's grateful inside.”

“Eh, I hope so, but it's his call in the end. Can't live his life for him.” Some muscles roll, and Four gets the impression of a shrug. “Speaking of, what do you want to do, Smithy?”

The question takes him by surprise, and it's silly that he didn't expect it.

He knows that Twilight would spend the night outside with him if he asks. They're no strangers to outdoor camping and the woods of his era are less dangerous than most. Wolfie would intimidate most if not all the creatures that live inside it.

But it would be illogical to sleep in the woods when they have more than enough rupees to pay for some rooms in a local inn.

Four is reasonable. It's one of his trademarks as a Hero. Mature for his age. Calm. Collected. It's how he's taken seriously as an adventurer. Why would he shatter an illusion that useful? Over some mild ostracization?

'Serve it cold,' says one quarter of him.

Another sides with Twilight. Their big brother made a good point. They couldn't be bothered by every single ungrateful person out there. They'd always exist, so let them stew in jealousy and paranoia and fear. He has the favor of the Princess, his best friend. What does he need anger for against a countryside shop owner?

But, the blue in him counters with an hammer-like argument: 'No, the best revenge is both.'

The others would be a little mad, he thinks. A little.

He's usually mature enough not to get in trouble. He's due for some insanity and explosions. Wild would back him up here. And it might be his voice in his head that pushes the words out of his mouth.

“So, not that I haven't listened to a word you said, but, hypothetically, if I needed help knocking heads together...”

“How many heads? Wars mentioned an interesting technique he learned from his sparring with some Sheikah general the other night. Though, if you'd rather, I can say, without boasting, that a lot of grown men weep at this form. It's embarrassing for everyone, I tell you.”

Four snorts, struck by mischief. “We're going to need to find a stump. I might have a plan.”

Yes, Four contemplates, the glint of wolf fangs under the moonlight is just as terrifying as he figured it would be. He can't wait.

                                                        ***

Legend is silently debating with Sky over the right to punch the innkeeper in the face. It's a fierce debate communicated entirely through raised eyebrows, scrunched up nose, muted snarls and meaningful looks.

The others' patience is steadily fraying at the edges. It's especially noticeable with their youngest. There are fireworks going off on Wind's face. The knife cutting his slab of meat to pieces steadily stabs into it every time the innkeeper's mouth opens.

“And where are you fine young men traveling to?” he says with a customer pleaser smile.

'Fine young men'. Ah! There's a thing he didn't say about Four. The fucking nerves of this man.

“Far,” Time replies, his tone even, but his expression thoroughly unimpressed.

“Ah, yes, of course...” the innkeeper says agreeably. “You, huh, you'll be going with the, ahem, with the boy, I imagine?”

How dare he sound hopeful? And 'boy'?! This man's livelihood is owed to the smithy! And he doesn't even have the excuse of mind control!

A hint of shame tickles the back of his mind, when he had first heard the innkeeper talking. He had sounded nothing like the ones from his era, who sometimes refused him entry outright on the basis of old and false accusations.

This current attitude was, technically speaking, a strict improvement over that.

But does the man have to come alive and become so at ease serving them food whilst the Hero of this land take a walk outside? Alone, at night?

Legend grunts into his mug. The rancher left after the smithy, so that ought to solve the 'feelings' question. A bit of a stick-in-the-mud he might be, but Twilight's one of the few he would trust to help navigate difficult feelings. He's got the patience for it, unlike a lot of them who tackle everything the way they do a dungeon, with reckless abandon.

Yet, in the cozy warmth of the fire in the hearth, over the hesitant plucking of the minstrel's chords, a howl suddenly calls to the moon.

They, alone, do not tense.

The howl echoes a second time, much louder. Closer.

The innkeeper shoots them a desperate look, but Legend suddenly realizes that he is blind, and possibly deaf. He has no reason to stand up, much less draw his sword. And, would Farore look at that, his condition is contagious!

The hinges creak as they inch open.

If Legend were not so experienced, he might have been nervous. But he's better than that. He leans back in his seat, places a hand on Hyrule's shoulder, and sips his ale.

There in the doorway, cut in shadows with the moon as backdrop, riding on a large grey wolf, Four raises both arms high in the air.

“Fear my unnatural power,” he says with as ominous a voice he can produce.

Warriors snorts, cheeks reddened by alcohol, and he gives a thumbs-up to their smith, despite the owner's pale complexion.

The mugs left on the table begin to shake. Oh, this is gonna be good.

It starts with a pair of squirrels and a owl, neither obeying their instincts in favor of swooping inside the inn. Followed by a handful of moles, fireflies and stray dogs.

In a flash of white, the inn's cat bolts inside the inn, meowing, till it reaches its owner's legs and climbs onto him. It perches itself on his bald head, seconds before the first deer bounces inside the building.

Epona breaks the first table.

But the three raccoons lunging after his cat are what make the owner scream.

Legend guffaws in his ale.

[gufuu]

it’s not a blog ran by me until i start talking about gender theory

assuming that hylians have a gender schema and terms similar to our own, vaati could be considered nonbinary — however, they wouldn’t call themselves such, because even that would imply them following the hylian ideas of gender for them.  the minish do not have a gender schema and in fact, any major sexual dimorphism isn’t visible until later in age, and even then it goes as far as, like, facial hair. this is me having fun with the fact the minish in mc (excluding ezlo, vaati, and the elders) are all copy - paste and have an androgynous appearance, but who’s gonna tell me i’m wrong? capcom? nintendo? lol.

even after being sealed / reawakened and losing their memories of ever being a minish, they still feel a disconnect with hylian ideas of gender. they often get called a man because of their masculine appearance and body (they’re amab but not technically because the minish don’t assign gender at birth because i say so), and they don’t particularly mind that. if someone were to ask them, however, if they were cis or transgender, they would scoff at the idea of either. they would more or less adopt nonbinary as a label, but something still wouldn’t feel entirely right about it in the back of their mind, for reasons they cannot recall.

[4dorks-1windmage-1shadow]

Vaati as a D&D Character, Part 6: Vaati

Inspired by a question I saw on @hauntinghyrule ‘s blog. My character analysis and thoughts on what character class the boys would be if they were D&D characters, and why. Also! @atinybitweird has been drawing the boys D&D designs, and she’s doing really great! I’ll link to her posts on the individual analysis as well as reblog them here so look out for those : D

Green / Red / Blue / Vio / Shadow / FS Zelda

As a preface, there won’t be any doubles on classes except in the case of dual-classing, and in those cases the first class I talk about my justifications for will be the primary class (i.e. the class they would have chosen at level one). My choices will be based on the character theming and personalities, even though at a base level it would be easy to say “they’re all paladins, duh” because of the implied “holy knight chosen by the gods to eradicate evil” concept.  HA I TRICKED YOU We’re talking about Vaati now. I’m gonna blow your mind. Here’s a revolutionary concept I bet nobody’s thought of before (I’m being sarcastic do NOT message me): Vaati’s not a sorcerer, he’s a wizard. Or rather he was a wizard before he abandoned his studies to cheat his way to becoming a powerful Sorcerer. But Athena, he’s the Sorcerer of Winds, not the Wizard of Winds? Why is he a wizard then? BECAUSE CHILDHOOD THAT’S WHY. Vaati’s origin story is that he was the apprentice of a renowned and legendary Minish sage, Ezlo. Wizards are the only magic users who become magic users through study- both personal study and through apprenticeships and formal schooling. Until Vaati used Ezlo’s Wishing Cap to turn himself into a Sorcerer (thereby dual-classing from an intelligence based spellcaster to a charisma based spellcaster), he was probably learning to harness the arcane arts through good old fashioned book learning (and of course, Ezlo’s tutelage). He may have even chosen an Arcane Tradition to study under Ezlo before realizing that the Wishing Cap was a quicker shortcut to the power and change that he wanted to enact. You only need 2 levels in Wizard to choose an Arcane Tradition, and at that point the only abilities Vaati really has is some low-level Wizard spellcasting, Arcane Recovery, and the 2nd level Arcane Tradition ability which is pretty fitting and just shows how lazy Vaati ended up being.  Every Arcane Tradition has a little section telling you what the school of magic is about, and the one that made me think “oh yeah, that’s what Vaati would be into” was the School of Transmutation description. It reads thus:

 “You are a student of spells that modify energy and matter. To you, the world is not a fixed thing, but eminently mutable, and you delight in being an agent  of change. You wield the raw stuff of creation and learn to alter both physical forms and mental qualities. Your magic gives you the tools to become a smith on reality’s forge.

Some transmuters are tinkerers and pranksters, turning people into toads and transforming copper into silver for fun and occasional profit. Others pursue their magical studies with deadly seriousness, seeking the power of the gods to make and destroy worlds.” - Player’s Handbook, Page 119

You’ll notice I bolded some stuff in those paragraphs- that’s because they can directly relate to events in Vaati’s timeline as a character. He has five forms which, as far as I know, makes him the villain with the most forms out of all the Zelda villains. His most plot relevant moments involve him transmuting someone into a different form including himself, the Gleerok in the Cave of Flames, the Great Mayfly Fairy (in the manga), Ezlo, and Princess Zelda. His element is Wind, which is most commonly associated with change, adaptation and flexibility, and Transmutation is about mastering magic that does these exact things. Vaati’s ultimate goal was to become a “perfect” version of himself by finding the Light Force and using it to turn himself into a god, which worked for the entire Vaati Reborn battle. If he had just applied himself to his studies under Ezlo, he wouldn’t have needed to cheat and use the Wishing Cap to make himself a powerful sorcerer. Just for fun, lets talk about what he would have gained by only being a wizard. First, he would have access to certain spells that he could cast without using spell slots, including Polymorph. School of Transmutation lets him create a Transmuter’s Stone, which he can use to grant himself darkvision, increase his speed, grant himself proficiency in Constitution saving throws, or resistance to acid, cold, fire, lightning or thunder damage. This Transmuter’s Stone could later be used to emit a burst of power that would allow him to transform objects no bigger than a 5 ft cube into other objects of similar sizes, masses and value, as well as remove all curses, diseases and poisons from an afflicted person while healing them to their maximum HP; he would be able to cast Raise the Dead without using a spell slot and even if he didn’t have it written in his spell book, and even use it to reverse the effects of aging on a person to a minimum of 13 years. He could have had a fucking Philosopher’s Stone but he CHEATED!!! Wizards by far have the most diverse amount of spells that they can learn, and by only taking 2 levels in wizard he locks himself into only having access to level 1 wizard spells and cantrips.  By taking Sorcerer, he still gets access to 9th level sorcerer spells, but the amount of 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th level sorcerer spells is half the amount of wizard spells of those same levels. His spells have a wider range of versatility with the Metamagic options supplied by the Sorcerer class, and although he wouldn’t get the cool perks of Transmutation Wizard, Storm Sorcery is nothing to joke about. This is where the Sorcerer of the Winds part comes in- Vaati altered reality using the Wishing Cap and imbued himself with the power of elemental air. He finally gets to use those sweet sweet Evocation, Conjuration and Necromancy spells that I theorize Ezlo wouldn’t have let him dabble into much because the Minish are a peaceful race- why would their sages need to know Meteor Swarm (Evocation) or Flaming Sphere (Conjuration) or Soul Cage (Necromancy)? And Storm Sorcery perks are pretty awesome. Vaati learns to speak, read and write the language of elementals, and whenever he casts a spell of 1st level or higher he can fly up to 10 feet without provoking opportunity attacks. He gains resistance to lightning and thunder damage, and when casting spells of 1st level or higher that deal lightning or thunder damage he can cause anyone within 10 feet of him to take lightning/thunder damage equal to half his sorcerer level automatically. Eventually, when he’s hit with melee attacks he can deal lightning damage to the attacker equal to his sorcerer level and push them away with a burst of wind, up to 20 feet. And his two levels in wizard mean that he still gets the highest Storm Sorcery ability at 18th level: immunity to lightning and thunder damage, and a magical flying speed of 60 feet. Vaati’s transformation really just gives him all of his wishes on a platter, no pun intended- the freedom to fly and power to wield the elements and change himself on the fly- and his high Intelligence stat means he knows how to use those abilities to gain the advantage, making him a formidable opponent and party member. In conclusion, Vaati is a level 2 Transmutation Wizard, who dual-classed to Storm Sorcery Sorcerer through the power of a wish.

[nowhere-to-go-but-down]

For the ask game =)

V A A T I

(Diminished and moonrise for the A's)

V: A secondary (or underrated) character you want to see more of in fic?

Oh, you have no idea the floodgates you've opened. Shall I go by game? The Rito of Wind Waker are some of my favorite characters in the entire game with Medli taking first place by a landslide, followed shortly by Prince Komali. I love their arcs so much, getting to ride with Medli across the Great Sea was one of my favorite moments in the entire game. (Also Tetra's mom but there's a whole one (1) portrait that's implied to be her in the entire game that's entirely missable so that's really to be expected). Phantom Hourglass pretty obscure compared to the other games and I have so much brainrot for it. Linebeck is good and all, but Ciela, Leaf, and Neri all deserve love and I think I've only seen Ciela in fics once or twice. For Skyward Sword I latched onto Peatrice the moment I remembered how much her questline gives her the shaft and started brainstorming little tweaks that could make for a more interesting story. Minish Cap is my favorite LoZ game in no small part because of its plethora of charming (if admittedly one-note) characters. I've already adopted MC Malon as my own for Diminished, and Ezlo is such an important part of Four's first adventure it's an absolute shame that never gets capitalized on. And you've already spelled it out, but yes I would like to see Vaati more often as well. I got brainrot for him the instant I saw his Minish sprite, and he's the whole initial premise of Diminished, after all. But if I had to absolutely choose only one of them? Medli. I love her so much <3. A: How did you come up with the title to [insert fic]?

Honestly, all of my titles are either brainwaves of stupid that I latched onto because it was funny or vaguely fitting phrases that I happened to think of. Diminished and moonrise both neatly fall into these respective categories.

T: Any fandom tropes you can’t stand?

Hmmm... I'd have to say villain!Hylia. The very short version is that to paint Hylia the villain often means that the chain blames her for their adventures and leads to much more depressing and angry readings of the games' themes (and the chain's characters') than I care for. I: Do you have a guilty pleasure in fic (reading or writing)?

I already answered this one, so in short: Shadow.

[gore-maballer]

Yeh in Minish Cap anytime after Ezlo joins you, take him to the very bottom left of Link's room and talk to him and the dialog heavily implies that's where Link stashes his special magazines lol

Lmaaaao yo i feel like playing thru minish cap again just to see that

[magic-with-no-past]

Vio looks curious but accepts it. " Oh that makes sense"

Vaa peeks up looking embarrassed and annoyed. " And you... Thought it would be okay with....by three I've never even met a minish my own age. Nevermind the fact ezlo always kept me busy ..."

Clearly it was going to take a bit for his embarrassment to go.

But from what he was implying it was the first time anyone had tried picori style courting with him rather than Hylian

Ask-dark-Shadow-vi))

Vi has been observing the strange hylian who looks remarkable like the violet hero of his world though has a child like personality/outlook on life kind like the red one, shifting on the branch his perched himself on the shade contemplates if he should interact with them or not.

“Could be a trick....or not? Maybe a new dopple to kill me?” He mutters to himself

After awhile this Vio had grabbed a frog ran over excitedly to someone. His voice was distinctly that of the violet hero. However it sounded childish and not the typical monotone.

"Vaa! Look look! A kitty!!" Definitely more childish. Though whoever he was beside said something and Vio seemed confused. "No.... It's a kitty... Fur? What's fur"

[bosmermage]

Whumptober Day 2 - Alt Prompt

Head Injury Characters: Link, Ezlo, Vaati  

Link burst into the room, carpet bunching under his sprinting, head still buzzing off the rush of wind magic soaking into his blade, the four sword now. The stained glass dyed the room a vivid particulate rainbow and Link soaked in it.

“Ah! Link! Look at this stained glass,” Ezlo pecked at the boy who responded with a dismissive flap of his hands. “See? There is the Minish Blade, and the sealing of the great evils, and there is the light force. The princess kept it safe-”

“Ohh! So that's what it means?” Vaati's voice rung out through the cavernous room, airy and mocking in it's faux curiosity. “Oh Ezlo, really, you're too kind! You've given me this wonderful hat, and now you've led me here! It's a shame then, that I don't have any more use for you”

Link drew his sword and faced down the disguised mage, rocoiling when the face of the king he was wearing began bubbling up and distorting in horror before melting away and revealing a sickening grin stretching across the wind mage's features.

“How brave of you hero”

Before Link could so much as move a pale hand extended and flicked towards him. The pillar of air crushed into Link's chest flinging him back, and he was sent skidding across the stone floor, and he knew no more.

“LINK, LINK. Come on then, please wake up Link,”

“Ezloo? Wha, wha 'appened?” Link slurred, grabbing weakly at his companion's flapping beak, not even bothering to fight it when Ezlo shook his hand off, more gently than usual.

“Link, come on, open up your eyes, you gotta get up kiddo,” Ezlo nudged at Link's head, very gently. It was too much. White hot pain errupted from the back of his head and he writhed against it, scream high and piercing.

“ Link I know it hurts, but you have to listen to me, come on kiddo please open your eyes for me,” Ezlo's voice was wet, and over the throbbing pain, distantly, he found it very funny because after all: hats cant cry and yet Ezlo was.

“Link breathe okay? Deep breath in for me,” was he not breathing? He wasn't breathing, his lungs hurt too. His voice hurt but the pain was all consuming anyways. He forced his lungs to take in air screaming turning into sobbing when another wave of pain shot through him.

“hurrts Ezlo hurts so bad make it stop please make it stop,” he begged. Link couldn't move, could barely twitch his fingers “PlEaseee it hurrrts”

“Link I know, I know it hurts I know, I need you to breathe for me okay? Come on, thats it. Just keep breathing for me, I need to get your potion. I need you to move me okay?”

Link nodded, wiping the tears off his cheeks roughly. He immediately regretted that decision. He couldn't think over the pain flowing down his spine, out of his eyes, over his cheeks, almost cold it was so hot. The world dissolved into sparks and an overwhelming nausea. He matched his breathing to Ezlo's desperate struggle to escape his head. Oh right, he was moving. He lifted his head for Ezlo to wiggle away choking back bile when he layed it back down.

Ezlo was saying something, moving his head with his beak, the world went white again.

“can't see Ezlo cant see, hurts i can't see Grandpa, Zelly I can't see, it hurts” Link was screaming again he couldn't breathe over the pain, over the blur of light and colours overwhelming his eyes. He felt something brush against his lips and he really did puke this time, convulsing back from the sensation. The sound of shattering glass brought relief, a cool feeling washing away the pain like the sun breaking through the clouds. He lay in it, letting it seep into him like a hot bath.

Slowly the world begain to sharpen back into focus, drawing over Link's consciousness like a file.

“Link come on Link, wake up sleepyhead.”

Link's eyes snapped open to the sound of a distant bell, fighting through the swimming colours. Ezlo was curled into his side making an awful wheezing noise he was half sure was meant to be crying. His head felt sticky and stained his hand red.

“'M ok. Gotta save Zel, gotta, mm” Link clutched onto Ezlo like a lifeline. That's right, he's a hero, he's gotta save Zelly from Vaati, he's gotta get up. Get up Link. Be the light that banishes the darkness Link.

The sacred sword is sticky. A broken bottle. A pool of liquid. Potion. A potion spilled. The ground is swimming, Link stumbled over to the wall, collapsing against it roughly, wincing at the pain.

“Link, take a potion,” Ezlo is wrapped around his neck uncomfortably, link digs through his pockets blindly,

“nuh uh, last one's broken” he slurred, patting Ezlo's head clumsily. “gotta wait, save, gotta save the fairy's help jus in case”

He stumbled into the hallway, realizing very suddenly that he was hopelessly lost.

“Where?” He asked, poking at Ezlo who was still insisting on playing at being a scarf.

“Oh Link.” He sighed, rubbing his cheek into the mess of blood and potion. “Take it slow okay? You can't save the world if you work yourself to death”

“Nuh uh, gotta save Zelly she's in trouble, we gotta go.” and go he went.

The castle came in flashes, patches of unbearable brightness and patches of blessed darkness, prismatic worry. Hard fights that left Link sprawling against the wall and crying into his knees. The dark-nuts were the worst of them all. Two of them, he could barely tell if he was seeing double. The hit came from his blind spot, sending him sprawling out over the floor. He could hear chiming. Bells chiming, laughter chiming, the sound of fairy magic chiming. He was up on his feet, focus restored.

“Hurry Link, it might not be too late” How long had Ezlo been talking? Link shot out of the room, not even waiting for the clouds to dissipate. The stairs seemed endless, like they were stretching up beyond him, looping as he ran in place. He crested the stairs to the tolling of a bell.

“Nice of you to finally join us,” Vaati was lounging over an altar, distinctly Hylian looking. “No..”

“Oh yes old man, oh yes indeed! How was it by the way? Drowning in the sick of your useless hero?”

Link did not wait to hear Vaati's taunts. He vaulted forward driving his sword into the closest bit of flesh available. Vaati screamed, backing up over the rubble scattered on the ground. Link was relentless, a strength not his own driving him into the battered mage, over and over and again and again. He ignored the burns beginning to litter his arms as he drove into the battle, his only thoughts on ripping the breath from Vaati's lungs.

For all his pomp and grandeur Vaati's death was an anticlimactic affair. He lurched forwards, sprawled out in the dirty chamber, scrabbling as Link pried the light force from his writhing form with his sword. And then he expired, slumped on the ground, still as stone. And Link clutched the light force and he wept. He wept for the pain and the sorrow and for all the shards of his beloved friend scattered on the ground. And he wished for the impossible, and Ezlo held him. When had he become himself again? Link was not minish sized. He didn't care. He sobbed, letting the dizziness pull him down into the waiting arms of his green clad companion.

And when he woke up, Zelda would tell him about how bravely he fought, and how he rescued her in the nick of time, and how he had such terrible nightmares while he was asleep. And she would tell him of how he'd brought back Ezlo. And conveniently she would forget how she woke up on the cold floor feeling hollow but for the buzzing aftermath of honey sweet light magic to the sound of his broken wailing. And conveniently she would forget the feeling of helping Ezlo wash sick and blood and potion from his tangled hair.