#i SAW dinraal

[chambers003]

this dragon is going to be the death of me actually

[ultimatefangirl-exe]

Family doodle. Will probably finish tomorrow.

[doodlboy]

I feel like Steve Irwin rn, just ran halfway across hyrule [almost beefing it a couple times] following a dragon bc I wanted a really good picture of her for my compendium

"Look at that beauty!" *falls into the depths of hell*

[mrsmess]

[moongothic]

Finished TOTK yesterday, I have a mouth, so I must scream

Be warned, the be spoilies, but TL:DR; Good Game

I don't even know where to start, maybe the boring stuff? The gameplay changes from BOTW?

I dunno, I feel like generally speaking TOTK improved upon BOTW's gameplay mechanics in every way, or simply changed neither for better or worse

Like. The Sage Powers are fine, they're fun. But I did prefer the original Champion Abilities from BOTW. I do understand why they changed the abilities the way they did, the BOTW ones were kind of... basic. Like they were game mechanics any game could have, and some of them (Revali's Gale ESPECIALLY) could have literally broken the game and/or made much of the other new abilities completely pointless. They NEEDED to change for TOTK. And so we get the Sage Powers, which were much more situational. But they also helped add challenge to the game because they weren't these get-out-of-jail cards you could pull out of your pocket to cheese through any situation. Like no Mipha's Prayer means either you make sure you have fairies in your pocket, or you heal yourself every chance you get, or you simply die. Mipha ain't got your back. Nor Daruk. Nor Urbosa. Nor Revali. It's just you and the Sages if/when their powers happen to be useful.

That said. I did miss Revali's Gale the entire time I was playing and would have exchanged literally every single other ability in the game for the Gale. It was just so convenient man

If there's one thing I WISH TOTK hadn't changed and/or kept the same, it would be the Memories. Like. I didn't dislike the system they had going with the memories, but they way they changed it WHILE keeping it the same made TOTK's Dragon Tears a worse experience than BOTW's Memories (for me at least)

You see. Based on all the dialogue through out the game, it's kind of obvious in hindsight that you were arguably meant to do the Geoglyph Quest AFTER finding AT LEAST the first four sages, maybe even after finding Mineru and/or saving the Deku Tree. And that would be fine, but the thing is.

Like. In BOTW the Memories you really had to go out of your way to find, they were sometimes pretty well hidden and hard to find after all, but in BOTW even if you did find the Memories out of order or before doing any other sidequests, they didn't really affect the story at all, right

In TOTK, they attached the Memories to GIGANTIC LANDMARKS YOU CAN SEE FROM MILES AWAY. You don't have to go looking for jack shit, the Geoglyphs will fucking find YOU instead

NOT TO MENTION, in BOTW there was a True Ending you could only unlock if you got all the Memories, right. Knowing that OF COURSE most players would go out of their way to just fucking RUSH to each Geoglyph as fast as they could, because OF COURSE we want to know what happened to Zelda and the Master Sword

And. Like I know My Experience is not universal.

But, being the massive Fi Simp that I am, immidiately after I finished the Wind Temple I headed for the Korok Forest and the Master Sword geoglyph, because I wanted to know where Fi My Beloved is and if she's fucking okay

So The Master Sword Geoglyph was literally the third memory I watched.

The one where Zelda states she's going to become an immortal dragon to reach the future.

The third memory I watched. That fucking one.

Like. I'm not saying getting spoiled on Zelda becoming the Light Dragon so early on RUINED my precious experience, I still enjoyed the game deeply despite that. But I do, really really wish, that I hadn't seen that memory until much later. Not just because it was frustrating to listen to every character be like "oh jeez I wonder where Zelda is" when I know exactly where the fuck she is, but also because it did affect my enjoyment of the rest of the memories. Like, there's a great story TOTK is telling, but I've already seen the most important part, the part I was the most invested in, the end of it. So the rest, the way we get there... kind of doesn't matter.

I feel like had they either NOT given the players advice on how to interact with the Geoglyphs so early in the game (meaning you probably wouldn't know how to see the memories until later unless you figured out how to brute force them yourself), OR had they just kept the Memories more hidden like in BOTW... IDK, I think either method would have worked better than the way TOTK ended up doing it

All that aside, I gotta say. It's not often that a story leaves me feeling as mortified, empty and sad as TOTK did. Nor as inspired and full of hope as TOTK did. Like. Normally I'm very numb and don't get invested in storie, I rarely get emotional over a story. I rarely get invested. And TOTK just managed to wack me over the head, it's genuinely impressive

Like I don't know what to say, that was so fucking good man

Like. Of course, the best parts of the story where when all the sages united together and I just WISH Nintendo would have allowed there to be more moments like that, I could not get enough and simply yearned for more. I don't even mean during gameplay, just give me a few more cutscenes man 😭

I don't even know what to say anymore. It was a good game. I don't know what to do with my life anymore now that I beat it lmao

[powdermelonkeg]

You're big on Zelda, so I'm curious. How would you rewrite TOTK, if given the writer's room?

Fun question! *cracks knuckles* Let's answer it.

I've answered about the disconnect between BotW and TotK before, so I'm going to take some of those ideas and run with them here.

I'm taking the intended route, for the sake of keeping coherence rather than just making up an entirely new Hyrule from scratch. Link and Zelda are the same as they are in BotW.

To start off, I like the Zonai.

I like that they're an entirely new race of people in Hyrule. I love how weird-looking they are. I love that they're not human race #87.

I also love their bastard not-Zonai lovechild thing. If we saw more examples of Zonai, I would love for this funky lil dude to be part of them, kind of like how the Zora have a ton of variation between them.

So why don't we do that? Why don't we give them a kingdom?

And why don't we put some meat on the bones of what was already built?

There are Zonai-esque ruins all over the Depths, mostly in mines for Zonaite.

Their color palette matches. Rauru's braids and Sonia's earrings match brightblooms.

And the three dragons, who have Zonai features (segmented, color-edged hair, long ears, blunt muzzles, scale beard mouths), could have been a catalyst.

A catalyst for what, though?

It starts with the Depths themselves, and the dragons breaking free.

See, in TotK, the three elemental dragons all dive in and out of the Depths chasms. There's no explanation as to why, and the only explanation we have for the chasms forming is that it was like...geysers of Gloom.

However, the dragons in BotW are confirmed to have carved these canyons:

So let's go back in time a little.

The Zonai live in the Depths. They're underground, away from all the chaos that Hyrule has ever had to endure. They worship the bargainer statues as gods, they collect the souls of those above that drip down into the world below.

They have a rich mining industry, and coliseums for their greatest warriors to test their mettle against captured monsters.

They have their Secret Stones, and the one who's allowed to hang onto those is their leader.

That'd be young Prince Rauru.

The elemental dragons, Dinraal, Naydra, and Farosh, are testaments to why no one can be allowed to have the Secret Stones. They were consumed by their power, literally.

One day, they break free, as if summoned by an unknown force. They tunnel through the ground and into the sky, connecting the world below to the one above.

The Hylians cautiously venture below, or the Zonai above. Prince Rauru, keeper of the Secret Stones, and Sonia, High Priestess of Hylia, meet.

They fall in love.

They marry.

Their marriage marks a unity between the Surface and the Depths.

(Maybe throw in a lil Skyward Sword continuity, mention that while Hylia sent the humans to the sky, the Zonai fled underground to avoid Demise, to keep the Secret Stones out of his grasp. You don't even have to name drop him, just say they went down to avoid destruction.)

Suddenly, Hyrule (the center part of the map, based around the Great Plateau, not the whole sub-kingdom conglomerate it exists as in BotW) undergoes a technological boom. Ganondorf, neighboring leader of the Gerudo, is interested. He talks trade with now-king Rauru, but there's the sub-plot of trying to get his secrets, which he steadily grows obsessed with.

Meanwhile, the Gerudo make their own expedition into the Depths.

There. The stage is set.

Now Zelda falls into the past.

She's found by Rauru and Sonia. Adopted as their daughter, more or less.

Also, the two of them have a small child. Nintendo, you CAN'T set them up as "they're her ancestors" and then kill them childless, descendants don't work like that. Zelda's immediately endeared to the kid, who reminds her of Link. Lil half-Zonai girl with a wooden sword who swings it at anything that moves. There are memories, it's cute.

In the past, Zelda witnesses, real time, Ganondorf going mad with power. They get along well at first, he's cordial, polite, a model diplomat. But she finds his troops in places they shouldn't be, confronts him about it and gets brushed off.

She tells Rauru, he's unwilling to throw suspicion onto Ganondorf. They're semi-friends and diplomacy is important! He's got to run this kingdom right. He can't fail, this is the biggest thing he's ever done!

(Sprinkle in a parallel to BotW Zel's fear of failure)

Some of the memories fill in gaps about Rauru's power, also. He's got what Link can do, minus Recall. Ultrahand and Fuse mainly, but Rauru's been experimenting with Ascend, excited because it'll make passage between the Depths and the Surface so much easier, and we see where Zel gets her scientific excitement from. Regardless of how different they look, they ARE family.

Ganondorf and Rauru get into a fight one day. A BAD fight. Maybe because Zelda tipped Rauru off, and despite telling her no, Rauru looked into it anyways. Regardless, they march out in opposite directions, and Zelda overheard it in the hallway. As Ganondorf leaves, he gives her the most SCATHING glare.

He then declares war on Hyrule.

Rauru makes a bid for allies, trying to get enough manpower to fight Ganondorf's impressive military. It's a struggle at first, but Zelda steps in, being the leader she's skilled at being and telling the others how crucial it is that they help. Ganondorf, meanwhile, turns to forbidden arts in his rage against Rauru, gets infected by Gloom/Malice, becomes scarily powerful. First Blood Moon. The Gerudo are kind of unnerved by him.

We see Zelda and Sonia helping with the war. Sonia's got light powers, Zelda's are stronger, together they can destroy entire ARMIES of monsters, saving their warriors on the battlefield. A few instances of Little Princess trying to be involved like the grown-ups are, getting huffy when she's told no.

In the aftermath of each fight, Rauru runs around, sealing away the monsters' latent energy with green spirals. That's where the Shrines come from, though in the past, they're Luminous Stones—it's all faded by present day, the light bled out of them.

Sonia is on the battlefield against Ganondorf one fateful night, Little Princess wanders onto the field, both the girls panic about it, and Sonia tries to run away with her while Zelda affords them cover. THAT'S when Ganondorf strikes her—he's fast like a ninja, rushes past Zelda, strikes Sonia.

She falls. Little Princess tumbles.

Zelda races to Little Princess's side, picks her up to run away with her as Ganondorf gets Sonia's stone, and he transforms into the Demon King. He raises his army. Little Princess screams, and we see an uncontrolled blast of Hylia's power, like an erratic attempt at what Zelda did at the end of BotW.

It fritzes, Zelda hugs her tight and ducks down to shield her, and the power cascades across the battlefield, affecting monsters AND people alike. The war is in shambles. Ganondorf stares at the child and her guardian, and retreats in a hurry.

Cue Rauru running to their side.

He grieves his wife. Little Princess is kept safe by Zelda. The Gerudo shun Ganondorf and join Rauru's side, and everyone involved in the war dedicates everything to one final assault against Ganondorf, one trap to finally END him, to force him into the Depths and fight him on the Zonai's own turf. The Secret Stones are distributed. Rauru knows what he has to do, and at the climax of the final battle, he uses his Secret Stone to amplify his sealing magic, knowing it'll kill him in the process and locking Ganondorf away in the Depths.

Except, it's not that simple.

Gloom bursts out of the newly trapped Ganondorf's chest, flooding the Depths, eliminating everyone in its path. That includes the Sages, the assaulting army, and the VAST majority of the Zonai. Its sole purpose is to gather enough strength over time for Ganondorf to break his shackles, because the Gloom wants OUT.

(Subtly implied that the Gloom is the first iteration of Demise's curse of hatred, maybe.)

And Zelda is alone. Trapped in the past, stuck with Little Princess, her Secret Stone, and the last of Mineru's notes.

Gloom continues to fume out of the Depths, so they're sealed off. The Blood Moon keeps spawning new monsters, so Little Princess and the remainders of the construct caretakers are sent up to the sky, for her protection. Zelda's the one that orchestrates it. Her people once hailed from the sky, and it's always been known as a place of safety for them.

Is this self-referential to the history she's building, or a Skyward Sword reference? Who knows.

They go skyward.

Then the Master Sword appears, and Zelda knows what she has to do. It's compounded, of course, by crushing guilt over the fact that Sonia's death happened on her watch. She tells Little Princess to look out for the world ahead, tells her to be strong, and brave, and everything she wishes her dad had told her. Then ends it with a final message.

"I'm leaving you something very important. Take good care of it."

Then she goes off alone to become a dragon.

Present day.

Link's not guided by Rauru, he's guided by a strange, beautiful woman who looks kind of like Zelda (albeit with Zonai hair, eyes, and long claws), who has a deep regret for the world below and who knows the lonely world above like the back of her hand. She teaches him the basics of his powers as he visits the shrines.

The Great Sky Island is otherwise normal.

You go to Hyrule. The Light Dragon's the one that breaks the cloud barrier, and as she does so, she sheds a single tear. By the time you get to the tear's location, it's spread a mural of the memory it contains around it.

Whenever you Recall a tear, the Light Dragon sheds a new one somewhere else, and it's up to you to follow.

You're chasing Zelda, twice over.

Besides that, Hyrule's Surface is...largely unchanged. I'm still upset that the pirates assaulting Lurelin weren't ACTUAL pirates, so guess what, they are now. Splinter faction of Yiga. Also, River Zora take over Lake Hylia, there's a spat between them and the Sea Zora, and Yona is the princess of the Rivers.

Then you've got the Depths.

That's where you find the ruins of the Zonai civilization, and you start piecing together the world it contains on your own. You aren't told, you're SHOWN.

Rauru's ghost finds and guides you here. He has a moment of "hey, isn't that MY arm?", upgrades your abilities or shows you how to use them more efficiently (ups your build limit, shows you how to un-Fuse, teaches you DEscend, gives you Autobuild, things like that), then DIES-dies. You escort his poe soul to a Bargainer statue.

The biggest change to the Depths, though, is that under the Gerudo Desert, you find PEOPLE.

So remember how the Gerudo launched their own expedition into the Depths in the past? How the Gloom killed almost everyone and the world below was sealed off?

There were a sparse few survivors of the Zonai, and some unfortunate Gerudo researchers that also got trapped. The people down there now are descendants of both. They're not Zonai anymore, though.

They're Lomei. They evolved like how the Rito evolved from the Zora in Wind Waker. Their tribe name comes from the Zonai word for "loneliness."

Regardless, they're initially inhospitable to Surfacers, because Surfacers are how they ended up how they did. If you sneak into their city, you're captured, like a few unfortunate Zonai Survey Team members that have wandered in, only YOU can escape via Ascend. OoT Gerudo parallel.

You can earn the Lomei's trust by doing things for them (maybe beating all three labyrinths as a rite of passage?), and then they let you into their cities. They've got their own brand of tech based off of old Zonai designs. One of the Lomei scientists is working on a mechsuit—that'll be the sage that Mineru passes her stone down to. And it fits doubly, both because the Lomei ARE the descendants of the Zonai and because the Lomei technician and Mineru are both scientists.

The Lomei people give you more pieces to the complicated Zonai-Hylian puzzle, and they're the ones that first tell you the legend of the dragons-from-Secret-Stones. So you can either learn it from them OR get it revealed in Zel's later memories.

Besides that, the present plot is pretty much as normal. Still the same bosses. Still the same sages-help-with-everything, though each sage you rescue gives you another piece of what really happened at the final fight (rather than the same cutscene over and over), telling you about how Rauru sacrificed himself and the effect it had on the rest of the Depths.

I will change where the Ganondorf's Army fight takes place, though. It's ACTUALLY very hidden, like the game was trying to imply it to be when you chase around Kohga. You do still have to do that, but he accidentally directs you to a place that's hidden in the tiniest crevice near Hyrule Castle, one that's very easy to miss and sitting in a veritable sea of Gloom. Once you finish the Kohga quest, a poe hovers outside of the crevice, which leads into an even deeper chasm that leads to the Underdepths.

The poe's your help to get through the maze there, and wherever it goes, Sundelions bloom at the corners. If you go early, before getting everything done, you have to navigate that place yourself, and it's a nightmare.

But you do it. You get to where everything started, and you beat the army, then Ganondorf, then he shoves his fist down his throat and goes dragon.

As he breaks through the ground and curls around Hyrule Castle, he SHATTERS it. The building crumbles to smithereens, crashing into the Depths below.

You beat Demon Dragon, Zelda catches you on her nose, it's over. You're in the spirit realm over sleeping Zelda.

The poe appears over your shoulder, drifts away from you, then materializes into Sonia. She says nothing, just activates Recall, turns Zelda back to normal, then cradles her in her arms. She gives her a kiss on the forehead, looks at you, then says the same line Zelda said to Little Princess ages ago, with the single change of one word.

"I'm leaving you something very important. Take good care of her."

She fades, as does the Spirit World.

You're falling.

Zelda's falling.

You catch her.

She wakes up, sees you, then hugs you and sobs into your shoulder.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

Roll credits.

Bonus for the memory completionists, the True Ending has Zelda meeting the grown Little Princess up at the Great Sky Island, reconciling with her, both of them saying how proud they are of each other. Then Little Princess turns into a poe, and Zelda promises to take her to the Depths so she can be with her parents again. As they walk away, Sonia's poe tails after them.

And THAT is a way longer post than I expected to write. Whew.

[thealphabard]

Akos' bio!! Kinda. Aka:

Local ADHD man throws this shit together and hopes for the best. I apologize in advanced.

Species

Koi fish

Personality traits

Stoic, with a rather short fuse to go with. Doesn't really mess around, aside from with Mipha or Sidon. Very foul mouthed, lands him in trouble quite often. (Any time I swore during our sessions you'd hear from izuna's player "laaaanguaaaage" in the nasely voice he uses for him lol) can be pretty cocky about his strength (always landed in low rolls)

Height

7"1 (I think...)

Occupation|class

Ex-soldier. Moved on to become a Dragon Scion (will go into depth below)

Residence

Zora's Domain

Relationships

♡Mipha (same age, best friends that grew up together)

♡Sidon (often a care taker, plays with him quite often when spending time with mipha)

♡Loru (mother)(deceased from the calamity)

♡Noti (father)(deceased from the calamity)

Party: the main part of this campaign, who he traveled with :)

Nithril

Izuna

And Mabo (not my art, and I'm not sure if she has social media. one day. I swear lol)

Birthday

May 3rd

Sexuality

(He's never given it thought...)

Weapons

Dual Scimitars, Whisper and Mist (their item description below the image):

During the first great war with the Hylians after their arrival from the deep ocean, a Zoran champion was outfitted with two weapons. These twin scimitars were forged from the teeth of an ancient water serpent, found only in the depths where light never reached. With these weapons, the Zoran champion was smoke on the water, defending their newfound home and leaving the fallen soldiers to drift downstream back to their king. As the war waged on, rumors spread among the Hylians, and although few ever saw the Zoran who wielded these weapons, one thing was clear - when the fog swept up from the waters, retreat was the only option. After peace was finally reached between the Zora and the Hylians, these two weapons, Mist and Whisper, were laid to rest at the bottom of the Zoran shrine, lying in wait for their next champion.

Each blade is an exquisitely crafted +1 magic weapon but, when a wielder attunes to the swords over a long rest, the swords bind to the soul of the person. This binding of both weapons unlocks their true potential, allowing the wielder to attune to them both as a single item. If they are used separately, their effects will not appear.

With the weapons in question, Mipha was the one who helped him in acquiring them from the shrine. He saw it as a great honor.

In depth look on dragon scion (from the site):

Commonly called a dragon knight or dragon warrior, a scion of this subclass draws its power from a draconic origin. This is usually consequence of absorbing the power of a slain dragon, or ritual worship of a draconic benefactor, but there are many other possibilities. In any case, a dragon scion embodies the ferocity and vitality of the beast it embodies. This is most apparent in a dragon scion's capability to temporarily transform parts of its body into those of a dragon, such as growing claws or functional wings. Much as a dragon breathes fire or spits beams of force, so too do a dragon scion's spells embody such visceral destruction. Dragon scions are infamous for their tenacity, as it seems their magical and physical prowess can tear through entire legions of lesser foes with little rest.

Akos, in particular, in his journey to attune with the weapons graciously given to him within the shrine, attacked dinraal like the very smart (he had 10 intelligence...) goldfish he is. Instead of the dragon laying waste to him, saw potential in him and blessed him with the ability to use (primarily) fire magic. The scion class allowed him to have a base resistance to an element permanently (fire in this case) and later in leveling gets dragon resilience. It more or less allows him to resist another element upon changing his form (I went with scale properties any time it was used) or he could be fully immune to fire. When immune to fire, what would be damage taken by the fire instead heals that amount (ie, if the attack roll did 15 fire damage, I would heal 15 hp. Lol)

To go with Akos' short fuse, dragon scions gain access to a dragon rage that more or less works like a barbarian rage.

And the last very important part of dragon scion, is with the ability to use magic in such a Proficient manner, he could use that magic to create functional wings and fly. (There were restrictions technically, but it was mostly the further I flew the more of my MP it took. But I hoarded green potions so it didn't matter)

Now, for the actual story part of this campaign:

The biggest thing to note is I joined this campaign while the rest of the group had already been isekai'd to Termina, on their 2nd or 3rd time reset (yes my dm was cruel enough to keep it). But the setting was originally in hyrule during links slumber. Its around 95 years before the events of BotW. From what I understand Nithril, made a very big fucky wucky, and that's where they ended up. Akos joins them when Aryll hauls ass into the domain, talking about a mysterious portal that showed up nearby. Like the determined little zora he is, investigates it, and ends up in clock town where he meets Nithril Izuna and Mabo. The whole story isn't really that important, we for the most part follow how the game is, going to the 4 regions to wake up the giants and stop the falling moon. Just with some cursed shit in between. My DM was really good at making our skin crawl. We eventually learn that because none of us actually had the ocarina of time, each time reset was more fucked up than the last. Some residents would remember the moon falling, some events would end in very weird ways, and some events would just crack reality. One of the big moments of "shit ain't right" was when we went to see the Zora's. We ended up there during a kind of "battle of the bands" situation, and while Mikau, lulu, ect, get on stage this is what our dm plays for us :) (it's a YT link. I plan to make a full comic out of this scenario, I swear. Our reactions were really fun lol)

Anyway, the other main point of giving us emotional damage was after waking all the giants, we are getting ready to face majora and are more or less sent to like. A zen garden? With a machine dude just called the stranger. He tasked us with burying ancient pieces, that eventually rose as "sentient" beings. we were then, told to keep peace between the civilizations. we failed, really hard. Akos tried to show peace between his and izunas creatures, while mabos and nithrils waged war on each other. It ended with the stranger crushing all of our creatures violently and asking us philosophical questions that none of us could really answer properly about whether or not we should even be saving Termina. It's where this cute little sketch came from though :p

We fight majora, and win (barely. Akos got stomped on, literally.) And are met with goddess hylia who, as a reward, are given the option to go to wherever and whenever we want. Mabo goes on a new adventure, nithril goes back in time to undo the bullshit of the twilight realm, and izuna goes home, just 5 years before the events they are now facing. Akos returns home to the domain (izuna flies over the domain for 5 years. I failed my wisdom saving throws so akos got a headache lmfao) and that's how the campaign ended. We all cried LOL

[ganondoodle]

So your took rewrite. I have a very important question regarding the Zonai. From what I hear they're supposed to be the dragon tribe I think? And that theory with Dinraal,Farosh, and Naydra. People were making theories about them being originally Zonai. Would those 3 have a important role in the rewrite??? I'm curious because I would love to see how you draw them and implement them into the lore. Also I love your demise and hylia! Love your work too so ye that's my question, apologies if I worded this wrong or seemed rude. I am not good with words ^^;;

so, with no intention to sound mean, this is a little awkward for me to answer bc i ... loathe the idea of the three dragons having been of sonau origin

i talked about it in a few rants before but i loved the dragons before bc they were something unexplained and ethereal, spirits older than time that yet still circling the skies unknown if they ever had a purpose, or if they even had to have one, just a part of this world, a mystery i loved bc it was unsolved (personally i liked the idea of them being like the last stage of evolution for the dragons from skyward sword but again thats just me) whenever i saw them i stood there and watched in awe, one of my most favorite things from botw ... or were ..

see it might have to do a little with me not liking the canon sonau at all bc of how they were handled, a big point of that being how they felt artificially shoved into every part of this hyrules history so nothing was there that hadnt been done better or touched by the sonau before already; i get that making that connection between the sonau and the dragons is very obvious and can be interesting for some but i personally hate it bc it just destroys that sense of awe i used to feel when i saw them .. they are a mystery that shouldnt ever been 'solved' or even considered as soemthing TO solve, their mystery being unsolved is what made it GOOD to me

i now have to actually work to still seem them as i once did instead of just some sonau dude eating a god damn stone, again i dont mean this to sound mean about it but i just .... it takes it all away what i once felt about them, oh ... it was just some sonau guy .. its them again .. it wasnt an ethereal ever wandering spirit of never known origins it was just some sonau guys .... oh .... oh ...no ... (good morning i am very brave and when the dragons are revealed to not have been unknown always there spirits ever wandering the world from the beginning of time which was one of my favorite aspects of botw but instead have been just some sonau dudes eating a stone destroying my feeling of awe and respect to them forever i wont cry about it ..)

so .... the dragons (Eldra, Farodra, Naydra for me as im using their german names) do play a role in my rewrite .. but not as people or having anythign revealed about them, im keeping them as i once saw them, as spirits that have always been there (they play a role to repair the mastersword as a reference to how it was forged in skyward sword)

(and the reason the stones cause someone to transform into a dragon was bc those creatures are the most magical beings to exist and the stones are made of an insane amount of spirit energy and if that all gets released all at once there is no way for it to go other than explode or if consumed to twist whatever organism is trying to take it in into a draconic form)

the sonau in my rewrite are not dragon people, tho they do worship them as they are incredibly spiritual, but an underground dwelling species (loosely based on bats and monkeys, with somethign of a deep sea vibe to them) who only appeared on the surface after their population was already beyond saving (the reason for it being that they mined the stones for their tech to such a degree it killed the land they needed to live and as they dug deeper and more intensely for more stones, now more for pure survival than anything else, they both found more of the engima stones AND the remnant of the past that warned of ganondorf, which then prompted them to breach the surface and establish contact with the ones that dwell there; they never did that before bc its hard to get there and they considered themselves to be above any other species spiritually and didnt want to messed up their structures of society - something that changed as they stood on the brink of extinction and had found the warning which then made rauru break their old rule of not breaching the surface)

(i will say that i can get behind the idea that the big skeletons you find in the underground having been of sonau that ate an enigma stone and that is how they knew it doing that for sure, it otherwise just having been part of their belief system as dragons are the most spiritual of all aside from gods)

(... i dont want to think about the reverse possibility tho .. the orignal dragons being dead and the sonau replacing them.. i dont like that even if it made sense ,,,,, ... yet another thing they replaced ... stop that ..)

im sorry if this sounds mean or dismissive but i just ... dont like the all dragons having been sonau theory at all and im kinda glad they dont seem to plan any DLC bc i was afraid it would outright confirm it, which would suck .. at least like this there is still some denialability about it (like all the clothing and dragon themed stuff being used purely for worship on their own)

thank you for otherwise liking my work tho!! i hope this isnt too disappointing for you to hear, in the end the rewrite is primarily a way for me to cope with what i dont like and implement the ideas i have had to fix it for me :C

[jellyfishvibes]

Yes I did finally finish totk and can finally watch all the theory videos

I've been seeing alot of the idea that, while you completely forget who you are when you become a dragon there's this idea that your last thoughts become like your core

Zelda wanted to help Link, she is the only dragon completely passive to Link and helps you during the final fight

Ganon wanted to kill Link, and well, boss fight ensues

Been thinking many thoughts about Farosh, Dinraal and Naydra and who became them

Do you think their last thoughts were to protect the land? Did Farosh live right by a lake? Living with a nomadic tribe that changed which shores they lived by as food or seasons moved? Did she ever see the Gerudo? Have trade with them in the tougher months that they spent in the highlands? Did Dinraal live on death mountain or around it? In fertile ground perfect for farming, was she an explorer? A pilgrim? Does her flight path to the forgotten temple mean she saw it in her lifetime? Or is something in her she can't remember her drawing her to the ancient temple? Was Nayra a spiritual person? Spending her time at the goddess touched springs and holy pilgrimage routes, was she born in Hateno and look down at the town tucked at the bottom of her mountain as she prayed? Or was she born further north? Close enough to the Zora to be under their royal laws? To know how sacred and important water was? To see first hand what happens when Hyrules main water source freezes over?

Did living under the Thunderhead Isles bring down an endless thunderstorm on Farosh's lakes? Electrifying the water and killing all the fish

Did the lake basin supplying Hyrules rivers freeze? Was Nayra asked to pray desperately to an unhearing goddess at the frozen mountains peak for salvation, answers, anything at all?

Did death mountain erupt endlessly? Scorching the farming lands and causing widespread famine?

Did these three, who had some power, and a sacred stone, did they make the ultimate sacrifice to save their lands? Immortalizing their last thoughts of protection forever in a dragon watching overhead for eternity?

[fioreofthemarch]

kin

Fandom: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Pairing: Link/Zelda Words: 1270 [✨this is a companion piece to repast and yearnings]

When at last Zelda was returned to the present, it was all she could do not to dwell on the past.

The memories of her time as a dragon were gone, but the subconscious remained. She felt unsteady on her feet, disliked being cooped up without a view of the sky, and often dreamt of flying, always waking with a lingering sense of loss. 

It was a guilty feeling. She had gotten everything she’d wanted. The Demon King was gone, Hyrule was saved, and Link - Link! - he was alive and they were finally free to go about their lives in long-awaited peace.  

And yet?

“You look as though you’ve forgotten something,” Purah had said to her when they’d last spoken in Lookout Landing. Zelda agreed, but couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was. 

An answer came to her in Hateno, while she and Link were visiting their house by the river. Link had built them a new home in Akkala, and was sure that Zelda would enjoy rearranging it to her liking, if she didn’t mind moving house. So there in Hateno, while Zelda was sorting through her things and trying to decide what to take, something bright and blue caught her eye – a dragon! A spirit of cool, calm wisdom, passing silently overhead. 

At that moment, what was forgotten became clear. She burst from the house, arms waving, crying – “Sister!”

But the dragon never slowed, only kept on as sure as the wind. Then she was rounding north, slipping down towards the horizon, and then she was gone. 

Zelda sank down onto the grass, hands clasped tight and catching tears she didn’t know were falling. Naydra no longer knew her; they’d shared the skies for millenia, and yet! 

“Maybe she just doesn’t recognise you,” Link said upon finding her like this, his voice a steadying presence, as were his sure hands leading her back inside. “You’ve changed since she saw you last.” 

“For the better, right?”

He grinned, “I loved you just as much either way.”

After this Zelda tried, earnestly, to let life go on. The Akkala house was perfect, and only needed some nicer furnishings, maybe a painting or two, or a bigger garden. When not working on that, Zelda found her thoughts returning to the dragons – she charted Dinraal’s path over Akkala, drawing it on a map she kept in her study. Then, when the need arose to travel to Hateno, she did the same for Naydra, and later Farosh too, when she and Link travelled south to visit the Gerudo. Once the map was complete, it occurred to her that the three dragons formed a distinct triangle, each guarding their own corner of Hyrule. And that’s when knew what to do. 

“I was here for longer than I can even say,” she explained to Link, after convincing him to take her to the Great Sky Island. “The three dragons visited me here every day, at the centre of the Kingdom.” 

They stood on the roof of the Temple of Time, where Link had landed the ballooncraft he had made them. The skies were clear, and all of Hyrule could be seen below. He asked Zelda what exactly she planned to do, and she admitted she didn’t really know. She just had to try something. Link gave her an understanding nod, and stepped back to let her proceed. 

Zelda clasped her hands at her chest. She focused, felt all the yearning and regret, all the nostalgia for younger days, and let them flow from her like a lighthouse beacon – a single wish that cascaded from her very soul. Her secret stone, still worn around her neck, began to glow hot against her skin, in concert with the ancient royal mark on her right hand. I am here. Come to me!

How long she stood like that she did not know, but eventually she felt the air grow hot and cold all at once. 

The sight when she opened her eyes was all but beyond words; three great and immortal dragons, servants of the very Goddess herself, gathered together before the Temple. Their bodies flowed like rivers, irridescent scales scattering light, long horns shimmering with diffuse elemental power. Summoned here, the dragons hovered in place; Dinraal to the left, Farosh to the right and Naydra in the middle. 

Zelda bowed. She shook from nerves. Did the dragons hear her call? What was their answer? There was silence, except the wind, until at last Zelda heard a voice.

Sister, the dragon Naydra said, you are changed. 

You have become small and fragile, said the dragon Dinraal. 

You have joined the swordsman as a mortal, said the dragon Farosh. 

“You know me?” Zelda said, barely able to breathe. Behind her, Link stood tall and firm, though his body was tense. It was no small thing to treat with the gods. 

You were not easy to spot, Naydra said. Your light however was very familiar.

A great power summoned us here, sister. We are impressed, Dinraal said. 

As are we curious, Farosh added. Speak your command. 

Still Zelda did not know why exactly she had called them. There had to be something that she had wanted to say…

“Zelda… are you okay?” Link said, with a hint of fear in his voice. It was enough to steel her. She couldn’t tarry here. Immortal though her sisters were, she did not want to waste their time. 

“I am okay,” she answered, and she knew why.

Turning to Naydra, Dinraal and Farosh, Zelda bowed again, long and low. Rising, she said, “I was no one, adrift in an open sky, until I awoke in your company. I had done something terrible and forbidden, but you accepted me as one of your own, and stayed with me until my task was complete. And even now that I have left you, you remember me. This kindness…” she brushed tears from her cheeks, composing herself. “I must thank you. I wish there was a way to repay your generosity.” 

The dragons hovered, eyes bright and piercing. Zelda felt foolish; sentimental words probably meant little to them. But then, together, they bowed their heads in return. After a long moment, they broke formation and began to move through the air once more, silently circling the Temple of Time in a spiral of ice, flame and static.  

“Was that ‘offer accepted’?” Link asked with a nervous laugh. 

Dinraal departed first, heading north for Akkala. Then Farosh followed, turning south for Gerudo. Only Naydra remained. She flew down towards the roof of the temple, and landed on its parapets gentler than a feather. Placing her head down so that her and Zelda’s eyes were level, she blinked slow and calm. 

Beloved sister, she said, things done for kin need never be repaid.  

Then, a single tear falling from her eye, the dragon Naydra ascended from the roof, and flew east. Zelda watched until she disappeared from view, her own tears falling free. Not all memories were lost, she realised, but the past would always be the past, and that was its own kind of loss. 

Still, the future was calling. It came in the form of a warm and gentle hand – Link, threading his fingers into hers. “Home?” he said. Zelda nodded, knowing what he meant, but feeling that she was already there as he wrapped his arms around her. 

“Good, I’ve got an apple pie in the oven that you might like.”

With a laugh she returned his radiance, fresh but happy tears falling. “I think I might,” she said. And so they went, leaving the sky behind. 

[newtabfics]

Could we please get redeemed ganny and y/n meeting for the first time?

listen listen...these two are not allowed to be as cute as they are but MY GOD

Y/N blinked as she watched the hulking man behind the princess. The princess was telling Tauro about how he'll be staying in the village for his penance and anything needed, such as hard labor, he attested to doing.

She kept a distance at first but wasn't afraid to study him. He stood, looking off into some far-off distance with a deep frown. It was as though he saw something she couldn't imagine. After a long while, he blinked and his amber eyes locked onto her.

Y/N, being how she was, beamed and smiled, waving happily in greeting at him. Startled, the Gerudo hesitantly waved back, making Link blink beside Zelda before looking to Y/N.

He smiled and approached. "Hey. Glad you made it back safely," He greeted. "Y/N, right?"

"Ah, Link. Hiya. Yeah, nailed it." The princess approached curiously. "Good to see you back, Princess."

"Thank you. Are you going up to visit the Zonai Dispenser?"

"Yeah. Admittedly, I wanted to test the advice Link gave me," She said before pulling out a large charge. "Thank you again for letting me have it."

He nodded and hummed, studying the ladders. "Be careful. The cliffs are steep."

"I know. Besides, I'm a trained Sheikah. At least…mostly."

Ganondorf frowned at that as she made off, hurrying to the scaffolding to climb her way up. "Mostly?" He muttered.

"That's Y/N," Zelda said, nodding. "She's a researcher. She knows enough skill to flee a dangerous situation. She's not one for fighting, is what I was told."

He hummed as he followed the two through the village, wondering about his strange new life. "Princess," He said simply, looking at her. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"You won't have any assassins coming after you," Zelda assured him. "If anyone were to disobey this, they'd be found quickly and punished accordingly."

"That's not what I mean," He sighed. "My memories." She tensed and sighed. "You said it was a seal. A seal on me has broken once before. What's to say it won't break again?"

"That's the entire reason you're here," Link said dryly. "At the very least–" He pointed up to the mountains, making the Gerudo sigh as he looked to see Dinraal glaring at him from the Ring Ruins. "Someone's always got an eye on you."

Ganondorf grimaced then blinked as he looked over. Y/N was darting over the scaffolding. "Oh goddess, she's going to jump," Zelda muttered. "Link–"

"On it," He said, heading towards the ruins.

Ganondorf blinked and balked, watching the small woman leap to make it over the gap to the other side. Her foot barely grazed the wood as she slipped.

Zelda's gasp made Link freeze as he watched Y/N fall down before a large figure bounded over quickly. 

Y/N's body quickly maneuvered in the air, ready to land on her feet when suddenly arms snapped around her waist. She blinked as she met Ganondorf's eyes, hands slamming on his shoulders to stop her from smashing her face against his. He barely staggered when he caught her, only blinking in surprise.

"Be careful!" He finally said after a beat of silence.

"What! I totally had that under control!" She laughed, patting his head. "Nice catch though."

Link balked as he watched the Gerudo set her on her feet. She fixed her shirt and grinned up at the Gerudo. "Zelda," He said, quickly looking at her. "Y/N should be his watcher." He gestured to the Sheikah woman who just smiled as she spoke to Ganondorf, praising him for his quick reflexes.

Zelda blinked and nodded, clearing her throat. "That's not a bad idea. She's always been rather open-minded. Er–Y/N!" She scolded before hurrying up. "You need to quit that! You don't have enough strength to make those types of bounds."

"C'mon. You can just say it's cuz I'm shorter than you," She huffed. "Besides, Link can make those jumps and we're the same height."

"Barely," The hero scoffed. "I've got an entire inch on you."

"Oh-ho-ho," Y/N cooed. "So the Hero of Hyrule likes to compare inches, eh?"

Link's face went beet red as Zelda groaned, forehead falling into her palm. "How are you alive?"

"Luck, and because I'm amazing," Y/N joked. "Well, I'll–"

"Wait," Zelda stammered, making her blink. She sighed and smiled. "Would you be alright being Ganondorf's watcher? By which–"

"You can say it," Y/N said, shrugging. "Everyone else in the village would insta-kill him the moment they see the chance and you don't trust anyone to do it, but that whole thing sparked the idea because honestly? I'm not scared of the big guy. He's just tall. Like Tauro."

Zelda blinked as the three stared at her. "You're a strange vai," Ganondorf finally said.

"Thanks. Lady Paya says the same. Doctor Purah on the other hand gets it," She said, shrugging. "To answer your question though, yeah. I'm cool with it. But it'll cost ya."

Zelda balked at the statement, unsure of what to say. Link smirked, tilting his head. "What is it? What do you want me to cook?"

"Uh?" Zelda muttered, looking at Link.

"Honestly, anything. Your cooking rocks, Link! Plus, I think I might end up getting distracted and forget to cook if I get wrapped up in the study."

"I can ensure that doesn't happen," Ganondorf said to Link. The hero nodded as the Gerudo looked at her again. "What is it you study?" He figured he might as well ask, given he'd be spending more time with her since she agreed to the princess's request.

"Devices mostly. I'm basically working to be able to engineer something from these devices. Link's theft of the Yiga schematics has really helped give better ideas. However, we are lacking the material to completely build them the way he had with this strange adhesive the other arm provided. We're hoping a few remaining servant constructs could help with that information…maybe."

Ganondorf nodded as she pulled a journal from the pack strapped to her thigh, opening up the sketch made. "I need some materials that might be in this dispenser, but not all of them are."

"I can go search the other dispensers," Link offered. "Or…actually, I might have some stored in my house in Tarrey Town."

Y/N smiled. "Thank you. I'll get a more concise list after I check what I can get with the charge. Well, since I'm technically watching you, come with me, Ganny! You can help me carry the devices back."

Link snorted a laugh as Zelda bit her lip at the nickname, watching the woman go ahead to the scaffolding again with the huge Gerudo in tow. Zelda sighed in relief as she watched them.

"Did we do the right thing?" Zelda wondered worriedly.

"It's Y/N," Link assured her. "She's a good influence on people. Besides, he seems less tense around her." He patted her shoulder as Ganondorf stopped Y/N from jumping over again, making her take the ladder to the higher-up bridge. He saw her tongue dart out in response as she begrudgingly did as he said.

"You're right," She muttered, rubbing her arm. "At least they seem to get along."

After a beat of silence, she asked, "How long do you think until she starts excitedly telling him everything about the devices?"

"You seem to think she hasn't already."

[radiance1]

Eastern Dragon Danny, but he ends up in BotW/TotK timeline and chills there thinking Aragon would never look for Danny in a medieval fantasy setting

I know naught much of Botw/Totk lore since all I have read are fanfics but I shall try my best I guess?

Botw-

Danny just, doesn't involve himself with anything regarding this new land, like, at all. He mostly keeps to himself and just tries to enjoy life now,

Mostly just discreetly (as much as a dragon can) flying around and doing whatever he wants.

Perhaps he also meets Dinraal, Farosh and Naydra pre-calamity and become somewhat friends? Like, he visits them a bit from time to time and maybe they act a bit parental because Danny just, gives off the feel of a baby dragon.

Probably because he is a baby dragon, but I digress.

When the calamity happens, he's just blindsided because, holy shit what in the ever-loving FUCK just happened? When he went to where he thinks it came from, he saw the castle that he usually pass by whenever he wanders around (out of sight of course) and found it in ruins.

He didn't even have time to properly look at it, because soon enough he was dodging multiple goddamn laser beams, like, he didn't even know they had these here!

Oh, hey there's a pretty light :D

And then there was some Misty black, purple whatever colored dragonlike(?) being appeared and- hoLY SHIT.

The damn thing gunned for him, like, he dodged it but still what in the ever-loving fuck. He was just mining his own business, doing dragon stuff and checking out what was happening over here, what, did he like kill this guy's family in a past life or something.

Gosh he hopes not.

So, he dodges and weaves, accidentally distracting it from the people down below while also sending off some blasts of ectoplasm and ice.

Which didn't do much.

Great.

He was considering just, leaving, because this honestly was not as much as it was worth. Then some girl who looked literally like, 2 years older than him came running up to the castle and then the thing attacking him just straight ignored him and gunned for the girl.

.

Goddamn it.

He flew forward to intercept the thing, chomping down on it and hoping the girl would get the hint to just run. Only for his teeth to just, not catch on anything and instead for him to get overrun.

Pure, unbridled hatred flooded his mind and malice pumped through his veins.

And then he just, didn't remember what happened next all that clearly.

He remembers a light, then the girl disappearing, then him flying away with basically no destination in mind, only knowing that he tried to keep a hatred and malice not his own and finding some secluded place to keep himself away and everyone else away.

Then he literally froze himself and whatever area was around him, and fell into a struggle.

(Idk how to include Totk so uh, just have this I guess.)

[ethereal-ineffability]

Hi tumblr, this is a complete list of every ingredient you need (minus rupees) to upgrade all armor pieces in Tears of the Kingdom to full. I saw them in lists per set/item, but that didn't scratch my "run around collecting all the things efficiently then upgrade everything all at once" AuDHD gamer itch so I did it myself. I spent 2 hours of my life organizing this list so I'm back from the dead to save hopefully at least a single person the trouble. :'D

-Special Plants-

Shock Fruit x9

Fire Fruit x9

Ice Fruit x9

Puffshroom x9

Dazzlefruit x60

Brightbloom Seeds x90

Giant Brightbloom Seeds x105

-Normal Plants-

Voltfruit x15

Mighty Banana x30

Swift Carrot x10

Acorn x30

-Mushrooms-

Sunshroom x15

Chillshroom x15

Zapshroom x15

Rushroom x39

Razorshroom x15

Silent Shroom x24

Bright Caps x15

-Flowers-

Warm Safflina x9

Cool Safflina x9

Electric Safflina x24

Mighty Thistle x9

Swift Violet x90

Blue Nightshade x24

Silent Princess x72

Sundelion x75

-Seafood-

Hyrule Bass x15

Hearty Bass x9

Voltfin Trout x30

Sizzlefin Trout x30

Chillfin Trout x30

Stealthfin Trout x30

Glowing Cave Fish x15

Sneaky River Snail x15

Razorclaw Crab x9

-Insects-

Energetic Rhino Beetle x9

Bladed Rhino Beetle x9

Thunderwing Butterfly x9

Summerwing Butterfly x15

Winterwing Butterfly x15

Smotherwing Butterfly x24

Electric Darner x15

Cold Darner x15

Warm Darner x21

Sunset Firefly x15

Deep Firefly x39

-Lizards/Frogs-

Hearty Lizard x5

Hightail Lizard x21

Fireproof Lizard x15

Sticky Lizard x24

Sticky Frog x30

Hot-Footed Frog x30

-Stones-

Opal x276

Ruby x121

Sapphire x121

Topaz x121

Diamond x27

Flint x367

Amber x565

Luminous Stone x450

Star Fragment x100

Fire Like Stone x15

Ice Like Stone x15

Shock Like Stone x15

-Zonai/Constructs-

Zonaite x150

Large Zonaite x180

Large Zonai Charge x114

Soldier Construct Horn x15

Soldier Construct II Horn x15

Soldier Construct III Horn x15

Soldier Construct IV Horn x15

Captain Construct I Horn x15

Captain Construct II Horn x15

Captain Construct III Horn x15

-Misc mobs-

Courser Bee Honey x15

Dark Clump x15

Chuchu Jelly x15

Red Chuchu Jelly x24

White Chuchu Jelly x24

Yellow Chuchu Jelly x33

Gibdo Wing x24

Gibdo Bone x50

Gibdo Guts x5

Molduga Jaw x9

Molduga Fin x5

Molduga Guts x23

Octorok Eyeball x6

Octorok Tentacle x5

Octo Balloon x5

-Keese/Aerocuda-

Aerocuda Eyes x42

Aerocuda Wings x48

Keese Eyeball x30

Keese Wings x33

Electric Keese Wing x15

Ice Keese Wing x39

Fire Keese Wing x45

-Bokoblins-

Bokoblin Horn x15

Blue Bokoblin Horn x15

Black Bokoblin Horn x15

Silver Bokoblin Horn x24

Bokoblin Guts x42

Bokoblin Fang x9

Boss Bokoblin Guts x9

Boss Bokoblin Horn x9

Blue Boss Bokoblin Horn x9

Black Boss Bokoblin Horn x9

Silver Boss Bokoblin Horn x9

-Moblins-

Moblin Guts x18

Moblin Horn x9

Moblin Fang x15

Blue Moblin Horn x15

Black Moblin Horn x15

Silver Moblin Horn x9

-Horriblins-

Horriblin Horn x15

Blue Horriblin Horn x15

Black Horriblin Horn x15

Horriblin Guts x39

-Lizalfos-

Lizalfos Horn x9

Lizalfos Tail x18

Lizalfos Talon x15

Black Lizalfos Horn x15

Silver Lizalfos Horn x9

Blue Lizalfos Horn x15

Blue Lizalfos Tail x15

Fire-Breath Lizalfos Horn x30

Fire-Breath Lizalfos Tail x48

Ice-Breath Lizalfos Horn x30

Ice-Breath Lizalfos Tail x54

Electric Lizalfos Horn x33

Electric Lizalfos Tail x54

-Hinox-

Hinox Toenail x15

Hinox Tooth x15

Hinox Guts x33

Black Hinox Horn x9

-Frox-

Frox Fang x9

Frox Fingernail x9

Obsidian Frox Fang x9

Blue-White Frox Fang x15

Frox Guts x18

-Lynels-

Lynel Guts x30

Lynel Hoof x15

Lynel Saber Horn x6

Lynel Mace Horn x6

Blue-Maned Lynel Saber Horn x9

Blue-Maned Lynel Mace Horn x9

White-Maned Lynel Saber Horn x18

White-Maned Lynel Mace Horn x18

-Gleeok-

Gleeok Electric Horn x15

Gleeok Flame Horn x15

Gleeok Frost Horn x15

Gleeok Wing x36

Gleeok Guts x18

-Dragon Parts-

Naydra's Scale x5

Naydra's Claw x3

Naydra's Fang x3

Naydra's Horn x5

Naydra's Spike x15

-

Farosh's Scale x3

Farosh's Claw x3

Farosh's Fang x3

Farosh's Horn x5

Farosh's Spike x15

-

Dinraal's Scale x3

Dinraal's Claw x3

Dinraal's Fang x3

Dinraal's Horn x5

Dinraal's Spike x15

-

Light Dragon's Scale x3

Light Dragon Claw x2

Light Dragon Fang x3

Light Dragon Horn x3

Light Dragon's Talon x1

[haste-waste]

Zelink Week 2024: The Baker and the Seamstress (Chapter 7)

Day 7's prompt is "Reunion." Happy Zelink Week! Hope you enjoy! @zelinkcommunity

Read on AO3 or below the cut.

← Previous Chapter

The storefront was deathly silent, enough to hear the pulls of breath from everyone in the room: three guards, Lord Yuga, and Zelda. Link hadn't moved for an hour or so, tied up and hanging on his side, dangling from his rafters, but he was alert. The woven whip thing, whatever it was called, was awful. It pooled all the blood in his head and feet. It hurt to take a full breath.

The sun threatened to rise. Zelda embroidered below him, a repeating pattern of scales and dragon talons, the fabric rustling as she worked, adding texture to the rhythmic sounds of breathing.

The despicable man waltzed around his shop, his pride and joy, like he owned the place. "Why do you dawdle?" He commented. "Do you wish to further torment this poor village?" The lord tugged on the whip, and the bindings constricted his forearms and ribs even tighter. He almost wheezed. "To torment this man more than you have already?"

"Does my lord not require perfection?" The seamstress spoke stiffly. Even from this angle, he saw how she masked her fear. It went straight to her hands. He could see her every shift and movement, and she nearly unthreaded her needle in the process.

Her reply seemed to please him. "Finally, you are learning." Yuga leaned his hip against his prized wooden counter and drummed his fingers upon it. "How shameful that it took you this long to understand. Regardless, I am not leaving without that garment," he barked petulantly.

Her hands and thread glowed like liquid sunlight, competing with the upcoming dawn, and he feared for her. By sewing, she brought a terrible fate on herself just so he, of all people, wouldn't die at the hand of a terrible man who reeked of opulence, possession, and madness. Even so, the lord was not someone to underestimate. The darkness Yuga channeled through his bindings did something to him. It emphasized his loneliness, his fear, and his grief, carving a hole in his heart. When Zelda inevitably finished her work, she'd be lost, and her light was the only reprieve from all the darkness in his life.

He needed to prevent that from happening. The robe could not be finished. And for that, he needed his sword. Maybe it would come to life in his hand and aid his plans. First, he had to free himself. Next, he would get Zelda to safety. Lastly, he would fight until his last breath. After Agahnim, the guards from earlier were nothing more than moblins in terms of skill. If he had enough time, he could cut through the rest of the guards and fight Yuga head on.

He was grasping at straws. He needed something, any idea, any reason for hope.

And so, he waited for the right moment to strike.

------

"It's close," Yuga said, investigating her work.

It was. She only had to complete the satin stitching on Dinraal's curved horns, to emphasize their fiery, faceted brilliance. The thought of fire and thread turned in her mind. If she could destroy the robe somehow, they had a fighting chance. Maybe. The whips were a major stumbling block. Maybe she could take one out of commission by being captured so Link had a fighting chance to escape. Perhaps even to fight. His condition, though…

She was keenly aware of Link hanging above her helplessly, bleeding and injured. If she looked up at him, she'd break. He needed her.

The end of her work drew near. She played it in her head: she'd cut the golden thread, knot it, burn it to prevent fraying, flip it over, and present the robes to him like a fool.

Burn the thread? That was it! She had a plan, and it was her only chance to end it once and for all. It was perfectly reasonable. When she used a flame to melt the thread, a standard practice, she'd accidentally set the entire thing on fire. Her powers augmented clothing, yes, but she had never sewn anything fireproof.

She finished the edges of the horns, flipped the robe over, and tied the knot, fighting her shaking hands.

"My Lord," she began quietly. "Do you have a blade? I must cut the thread," she spoke formally.

Yuga glanced at one of the guards, and they walked over and pulled out a knife. "Please leave a tail," she requested, and they sliced the thread where she pinched it. The golden thread frayed, just as she hoped, and she pretended to frown.

"My Lord?"

He glared at her. She continued. "I must burn the leftover thread so it does not fray and come undone." Yuga's eyes narrowed at her words. "It is standard practice, my Lord," she said, bowing her head and flinching, just as she used to, expecting a punishment. She received one; he backhanded her for the inconvenience.

Link made a distressed noise above her and struggled.

"A flame, you say?" Yuga said, crouching down in front of her. "Allow me."

She was going to request to control the flame, maybe sending a guard to gather one on a twig, but Lord Yuga took off a pristine glove and pointed. A deep red flame appeared on his fingertip, and with little patience, he lit the thread. The frayed strands curled and shrunk until they reached the knot.

And with that, the robes were finished, and her plan to burn the robes literally went up in smoke. The fabric shone so bright it was hard to look at. She wanted to throw up.

"It is done," he gasped. "It is finally complete!" Yuga wrenched the robes out of the seamstress's hands, like the whips she was forced to braid for him, the fabric chains, and every other piece of clothing under his imprisonment. Her anger, resentment, and fear boiled and flared, churning like molten metal behind her eyes. She clenched her jaw.

Yuga ran the cloth through his fingers in delight. With an errant tug of his whip, the baker fell to the floor with a thud. "Kill him," he declared. Then, he snapped his fingers—Zelda's stomach dropped to her feet—and her fabric chains grew in length and engulfed her. Yuga started pulling her toward him, like an owner with a stubborn dog, and she fought the entire way, scuttling her feet against the floorboards.

Her leg grazed over Link's rusty sword; as soon as it made contact with her calf, the sword began to pulse. Her skin glowed briefly—what in Hylia's name?—she watched the light accrue on her leg and sink into the metal. The rust faded in patches and renewed itself before her very eyes, leaving a mostly intact sword that gleamed with holy light. She was pulled closer toward the door before she could even think to grab it.

Quick as lightning, Link freed himself from the binds, went for his sword and barely snatched it with his fingertips. The fabric chains on her limbs held her back while the baker was dogpiled by the remaining soldiers. A flare of metal was thrust down toward his chest, stabbing him in front of her, leaving her panic-stricken, but her attention was ripped away. She gaped in horror as Yuga froze her bindings, immobilizing her as he donned his robes. They began to flutter in a directionless wind.

Her fear turned into burning, unending fury, so deep it filled her lungs, her nerves, and her mind. The baker dodged and rolled as the room filled with blazing red light.

Yuga laughed. It was a haunting, overwhelming sound. His powers came to life, deep red magic emitting from his hands to fabric, flat red becoming dynamic and roiling, churning red and magenta hues together. The robes billowed and expanded into an array of whip-like silks, glowing embroidery, and fine, endless linens. Unbidden, they streamed outward, billowing to their fullest length. They paused in midair, almost dreamlike in appearance, like someone hung the fabrics from the rafters.

Madness and awe spewed from Yuga's mouth. "What amazing power!" He clenched his fists, and his power permeated throughout the lengths of his ensemble. "Gaze upon my form!" The dragon embroidered on his back began to coil and snake across his shoulders, brought to motion by his magic. "Witness my maximum potential!"

Her bindings shifted, forcing her to look upon his horrific splendor. "I will raze this pathetic land and shape it to my will. Any who stand in my way shall fall. All shall bow to me. All shall obey me!"

Zelda was petrified. Her heart was beating so frantically she thought it would burst.

"I will forge this land anew! My bloodline will reign without end!"

Zelda felt her bindings rise, lifting her off the ground, leaving her feet dangling as she was pulled to Yuga's height. "And it begins with you," he noted as she struggled. "You and your incredible power."

Link shouted her name above the fray, dodging, swiping, and clashing with his combatants.

Yuga assessed her face with a critical eye. She felt wholly exposed under his gaze. He found what he sought, then; his eyes sharpened and leered. "I will plow your soil and sow my seed within you." Terrified beyond belief, her hopes and dreams crumbled into despair as Yuga continued his declarations. "I will reap your bounty until the fruits of your labor carry on my legacy," he hissed, clearly displeased at her disobedience and cowardice. "Now be a good girl and submit."

A single finger traveled toward her face, aiming to trace her jaw. Her skin crawled in revulsion at Yuga, his cursed robes, his expectant and domineering actions.

She felt the dire need to shrink like the frightened, beaten cat she was. It was instinctive, automatic, and she was sick of it. She was sick of this deplorable man and his plans. She was sick at what he'd done to Link and his bakery. She was sick of the bindings around her waist, the fear that followed her every thought and action, and the insurmountable pain and suffering she had faced.

Instead of flinching, the rugged cat within her yowled and hissed, bearing its teeth and claws.

Zelda's deeply submerged rage grew to unspeakable proportions and burst out of the confines of her fear, decency, and civility. She tore her head away from his hand, so irate by the action she retorted: "DO NOT TOUCH ME!"

Yuga reared his hand back in shock at her outburst, the dragon scales undulating with the movement, magic in motion. His brow tightened into a deep line, accompanying a ferocious scowl. "You dare defy me?"

Against her better judgment, she gathered her fury and spat it in his face.

Lord Yuga froze, wide-eyed and incredulous. He brought his hand to his chin, touched the wetness, lowered his hand, and peered at the saliva that dotted it. He closed his eyes.

Then, he laughed, laughed, and laughed. "You fool," he uttered. Then, he became rigid, clenching his jaw in concentration. His hair rose and surrounded him like his robes, a curtain of fire. When he opened his eyes, they were solid red. Yuga's power channeled across his skin, corrupting him wherever it went, a foul aura dripping and oozing from him as his skin went from pale to the color of slate and magenta.

"My Lord!" A guard exclaimed at the sight of his master, but he was silenced by Link's blade. Zelda was preoccupied by the malicious energy surrounding her, a suffocating blanket of gloom. It reverberated through her bones, seeking to destroy her from the inside out.

So many years of pain and fear and despair were dredged up by Yuga's aura. Her parents. Her uncle. Her grandmother. All of them lay still on the ground, while she was trapped in the corner, surrounded by Agahnim and Yuga's imposing forms, who snatched her up before she could blink. Five years of confinement. Five years of suffering and slaving away. There was no escape. Submit, or die.

She refused. No more. Enough. When the gloom forced its way to the last layer of her thoughts, seeking her soul, it met a wall of resistance. Her soul retaliated. She felt the thin layer of her power sink under the weight of it, and she plunged into the unknown depths of her heart. Something was there, freshly unearthed by her fury, just waiting to be discovered. She grasped and held onto it, a lifeline, and it embraced her, coated her heart in assurance, and steered her forward in the face of evil.

"SUBMIT!" Yuga bellowed, his voice octaves lower and raspy, filling her with disgust.

She refused. A distinct urge to purge, to purify the filth before her, to wipe clean, burst forth from her soul, pumping through her veins.

She opened her eyes, and Yuga's red eyes narrowed at the sight of the golden light beaming out of her from all directions. It streamed out of her heart, an unstoppable force of nature, yearning to cleanse all that sullied. It was pure radiance of impossible magnitude; instead of the comforting golden rays of the morning, her light was that of noon, of searing, divine fury.

Her power seeped into the fabric chains, guiding her pain and outrage and desire and resolve down the pleats and seams. Gold clashed against crimson, the fabric vibrating under the magical strain, a tug of war between light and darkness. The wind whipped as they battled, each outpouring their magic to their fullest extent. The constraints around her torso loosened in response, leaving only her wrists and ankles still under Yuga's control.

Yuga fought back with an irate, driven look on his face. A wave of malice-laden fabric raised and threatened to slam over her and the rest of the bakery. She wouldn't allow it.

The guiding light in her soul pressed, it screamed, and it overruled. She was the mouthpiece to something ancient, as old as the world itself, carried within her blood, and she was in complete agreement with its desires. "YOU WILL NEVER HURT ANOTHER SOUL EVER AGAIN!" Zelda roared, outstretching her hands, and her creations obeyed her sacred command.

One by one, the fabrics began a magnetic pull toward Yuga, so completely filled with bleaching radiance power they hissed on contact with his skin. The conflagration of streaming, whirling fabric began to blot out the oozing gloom and malice. Yuga proceeded to scream in agony.

A blazing column of fabric careened in the air and plunged into his open mouth, shimmying down his throat. He gargled on it; he thrashed and tried to wrench it out. It burned wherever it touched him, inside and out. His torso wriggled as the column split into separate strips and latched onto his face, shrouding his head completely. Golden light shot out his eyes and mouth as the rest of the fabrics surrounded his body, mummifying him in his own robes.

The soldiers paused their plight, distracted by the display. Link narrowly escaped the onslaught and hurtled toward the seamstress, impeded by the force of the power emanating through the room, swimming through a storm of magic.

The whips snatched the remaining soldiers around their waists, carrying them and the bodies and blood of the felled, dragging them into the tornado of fabric—and they howled in pain as the fabrics seared into their skin. At the center was Yuga, completely ensconced in his cursed robes and whips, giving off an immense heat from the magic and mass condensed in such a small space.

The Lord reached for her in agony, a pathetic, last ditch attempt—a blazing red plume of corrupted fabric shot toward the seamstress, ravenous tendrils meant to seize and drag her into the destructive tempest, aiming directly for her chest—

—But the baker interceded.

An echoing chime rang throughout the room. Link's sword glowed righteously, the daytime sky to her sunlight, and he ripped through the attack with a mighty shout, flaying the fabric clean in half. The fabric fluttered and snapped back onto the churning mass, tying Yuga and his men into a knot. The air grew uncomfortably hot.

Zelda felt a stinging pain around her wrists and ankles. The fabric chains glowed with Yuga's putrescence, four guidelines connecting her to his vengeance, and they slowly began to pull her toward the mass, the attractive force now out of her control.

Yuga was trying to take her with him.

She shrieked. Link whirled on the spot and sliced her taut binds with an upward pull of the sword. He launched himself at her. She crashed into his chest, and they clutched each other, reuniting as the room turned into absolute chaos. The mass writhed and steamed and blazed so bright, they shielded their faces as an explosion rattled throughout the bakery.

Shakily, the seamstress opened her eyes.

All that remained of Yuga and his entourage was a pile of ash. Everything had burned away: the robe, the whips, and her chains.

The bakery lay quiet. Ransacked and scorched, but quiet.

She felt Link heave for air beside her. She felt him swallow. And then she felt him speak. "Remind me to never make you angry while you sew," he said weakly.

The seamstress choked in surprise. Inexplicably, she felt a hysteria-infused laugh bubble past her lips. The world was spinning and he was alive and goddesses above—they were…

Agahnim, her heart reminded, ever vigilant. Lord Yuga never went anywhere without him. A slew of emotions and pain and fear and dread had her trembling on the floor. "Link!" She clutched his shirt to ground herself, glancing around the room before looking at him gravely. "It's not over. Agahnim—" she gasped, she couldn't breathe, she couldn't do this all over again, "—Agahnim is a sorcerer who will—"

"He's dead," he replied. That couldn't be true. Agahnim could not die. He often reminded her of that.

The sword flashed at his side. Something fluttered against her thoughts, a feeling, a new but familiar voice, just a whisper: It is done. Flashes of color and movement played in her mind. Agahnim, towering over a familiar, frightened boy who held a rusty sword in his hand. The boy, writhing on the ground, earning his scars as magic clouded around him. The colors shifted, forming memories that weren't her own. Link, as he was now, rising to his feet as he dodged wave after wave of magic. Him, intercepting a massive attack with his sword, the magic pushing and pulling between Agahnim and himself with each consecutive slice of his sword and Agahnim's staff. Then, the final blow, the sorcerer slumping to the ground.

"I killed him." Link's voice was steely over her thoughts, vindicated, and deeply protective.

Do not doubt. It is done, the mechanical voice assured.

"He's gone." Link exhaled slowly, and tightened his arms around her. "I—I think it's over," he murmured, his hand finding its way to the back of her head and holding her steadfast against him.

The events of the evening came to a head in her thoughts, everything they experienced, and then, she felt the slickness of his skin against her own, his arm against her own.

He was bleeding. She jolted. He loosened his arms, and she gently pushed him back in order to inspect him. Where his skin was uncovered held the remnants of battle and captivity: bruises like brands where the whips bit into his skin, cuts, scrapes, and welts from his skirmish with the guards, but nothing was severe. Most of the cuts were already beginning to scab. His cropped pants were dirty, but relatively unscathed. Her eyes trailed lower, and paused; there was a rip right across his chest. She remembered the flash of metal and her panic as he was stabbed.

Fearing the worst, she looked down at skin peeking under the tear and found a bruise instead of a gash. She couldn't believe her eyes. His clothes were rumpled, singed, and cut in too many places, but his skin underneath was unbroken. That shouldn't be possible. He should have died from what he had gone through.

"How?" she questioned, looking up at him incredulously. "And you fought…you fought so fiercely!" So fiercely, she had a hard time coming to terms that he, the gentle, kind man that he was, was so skilled and ruthless with the blade. "How on earth are you alive?"

He laughed, looking absolutely exhausted, but overjoyed. "It was you. Look." He laid her hand on his chest and held it there. "Look at the stitches."

She gasped. Her thread and seams glowed faintly under her palm in the fading darkness. The gentle magic emanating from the fabric was a balm to her senses. Her creations for Yuga felt hot and agitated in her hands, fueled by fear and fury. This felt like…like how the wind carried autumn leaves and the soft petals of spring. It felt like the warmth of a comforting meal, the joy of shared company, and his wonderful smile.

It felt like love.

The fabric carries what the heart cannot, she remembered.

"I—I can't believe it," she stuttered. She truly couldn't; somehow, her powers protected him instead of destroying him.

He looked at her adoringly. "You saved me," he said softly. "It's over, Zelda. You did it." He squeezed her hand. "Those bastards are gone!"

Her heart sang at his words. It was over. It was over. She was awash with relief, so much that she needed to find an anchor in the emotional storm.

She threw her arms around him and wept. She was free; free to roam, free to sew what and where she wanted. Never would she have to run again. Never would she have to fear again. And he was the one who cut her from those awful chains.

"Thank you," she said tearily, and met his eyes. He deserved the noblest of words for the noblest of actions. "For you have freed me using your blade and courage." She immediately regretted the formality of her words, but hoped that her sincerity was apparent.

He made a soft sound in his throat in response. "Thank you," the baker echoed, pulling her flush to his chest, "for you have freed my heart from loneliness and strife." He nuzzled his face against her hair. She felt the gentle press of his lips at her hairline, and that was it—the dam holding her emotions burst, she held him tighter, and didn't let go as she sobbed.

When their tears subsided, they laid next to each other on the floor and stared at the rafters, exhausted, surrounded by the mess of the storefront. The sun rose over them, blanketing them in light.

"I can't believe I killed some today," she murmured, still trying to process it all.

"Neither can I," he responded. "But it's fitting if you think about it."

She turned her head to look at him. He stared up at the ceiling. The sword laid in his palm, no longer glowing, but most of the rust had faded. "Agahnim killed my family. Yuga killed yours."

She had no idea that Agahnim was behind the death of his family. The scars, yes, but…she should have figured that out. "I'm sorry," she said. "I had no idea."

He gave her an understanding look. "Even then," he supposed, "We didn't kill them outright. Their power led to their ruin."

A previously unperceived feeling of guilt released after his statement. It was true. If Yuga didn't desire the robes, they wouldn't have killed him. Her power was released in self-defense. It was over. They were safe. She hummed in agreement and sunk into the floor, the fatigue weighing on her eyes, and she let them close. She should probably clean their wounds before infection set in. But she needed to rest, just for a moment. She felt the warmth of his hand taking hers into his own. And after a gentle squeeze in response to his affections, she was out.

------

Zelda was awoken by the sounds of someone screaming. She shot upward, winced at the pull of her muscles, and Link barely pushed himself off the floor before someone sprinted through the axe-battered door.

"HELP ME!" It was a woman with dark, curly hair, her belly carrying a tiny swell of life, and she dove behind what was left of Link's display case.

"Cecilia?" Link said in shock.

"DO SOMETHING!" Cecelia barked. Her voice was familiar. She'd heard it before, somewhere. Wait...was she the woman in the woods?

Zelda and Link looked out the door. Two bokoblins tumbled toward the bakery, carrying blunt, nasty-looking sticks as weapons.

Link instantly surged out the door and left his sword behind. "Wait!" Zelda called, plucking it off the ground. The sword vibrated in her hand as soon as she lifted it; light swirled from her fingers and surged into the blade. The rust faded, the metal morphed, and it was fully restored in seconds, gleaming and sharp, the Triforce clearly visible on the blade.

Thank you, your Grace, the sword spoke in her mind. I am renewed for the first time in centuries.

Her eyes widened. Your Grace? What did that mean? Link snatched it out of her hand—"Thanks!"—ran outside, and went to work, culling the bokoblins in moments. They exploded into purple ash.

Cecelia hadn't noticed her yet, too busy hiding from her assailants. Zelda froze. The woman peeked over the counter and shrieked at the sight of her: "A GHOST!!!"

Zelda wanted to run. Not safe—and the woman started to throw things at her in fright. She narrowly dodged a chunk of wood. "HELP!" Two loaves of bread followed suit, and she stepped backward, feeling pressured to leave. "DON'T SUCK OUT MY SOUL!" she cried helplessly.

Link rushed into the room, stood in front of her, and intercepted the blows. Zelda went for the door, but he grabbed her arm and pressed her into his back. He pointed his sword at Cecilia, who dropped a dinner roll at the sight. "Master Link," she said shakily, holding a hand over her belly protectively, "Are they gone?"

"They're gone," he confirmed, and lowered his sword.

"You killed them?" She questioned, in awe.

He nodded. Cecelia, still unnerved, went on her tiptoes and tried to peer over Link's shoulder to see what he hid. "You're being haunted, Master Link!" Cecilia pointed at him, and Zelda recoiled, grabbing the back of his shirt, frightened at being perceived.

"I'm fine!" He said, clearly annoyed, and kept Zelda close.

"But–!"

"Go home!" Link bellowed.

Cecilia seemed to remember herself then, and scampered past them. To Zelda's surprise, she paused in the doorway, and bowed. "Thank you." She gave them one last look and fled.

Once the woman was out of sight, Zelda bolted. He grabbed her wrist before she could make it very far, squeezing the bruises that laid there, and she winced.

"Sorry!" He let go and placed his hands on her arms instead. She glanced at the decrepit front door, at a loss.

Link seemed to read her mind. He held her hands, keeping her in place. "Stay," he said, standing in the chaos of his storefront. She saw the heartbreak in his eyes. "Don't mind her. Don't mind any of them. I will keep you safe. Please, just…stay."

She still felt the need to flee. But she didn’t anymore, did she? It was over. Yuga was gone. And where else could she go? Where else did she want to go?

He squeezed her hands gently, pleadingly. She realized that didn't want to go anywhere without him.

Zelda made her first autonomous choice in years. She chose to stay. She squeezed him in response and let go, looking around the bakery.

The storefront was worse than she thought. His shelves and counters were fractured. There was wood, bricks, and dust everywhere. A huge scorch mark marred the floorboards where Yuga had met his end.

Well, there was plenty of work to do around here. He worked hard to get her back on her feet, so she would do the same. Without any prompting, she began to pick up the rubble. It was somewhat painful. On that note, she should find a rag and fetch some water to clean their wounds.

"What on earth are you doing?"

"Staying," she replied, and went looking for a broom and rag. The kitchen was largely undamaged, much to her relief, with his flipped work table and broken flour containers being the only casualties. She assumed the rest of the shop was in a similar state. That was good. In a few days, he could resume operations at a smaller scale, albeit with a dilapidated storefront. The thought filled her with hope.

She opened the pantry door, found a broom, a dustpan, and a rag, shut it, wet the rag using the drinking water bucket next to the cupboard, and returned to the storefront.

Link stood there and watched her, absolutely perplexed as she handed him the rag. Then she began to sweep, starting with the chunks of wood sourced from the front door.

"You're sweeping," he said blankly, watching her create a pile of dirt, wood, and fabric scraps. He looked at his hand and seemed startled by the wet rag resting within it. "What's this for?"

"You’re injured," she answered simply, "and I didn't know if you had bandages. It'll feel good to clean up." Her scrapes had scabbed over throughout the evening, and she didn't have as many cuts as him overall, so she didn't need it. She could handle a few bruises and burns. Besides, doing some work would help her process this, the beginnings of her new life. Life marched on, and she would march along in time, even if it was scary at times.

"But…" he frowned. He was confused as she'd ever seen him. It was endearing.

She smiled at him. "You have a village to feed, don’t you?" She leaned down, picked up a few sizable bit of debris, and tossed them into the dustpan. "And you can’t do that with the storefront in such a state. Let me help."

Link stared at her, just like the day he learned her name as she continued to sweep the floor. She blushed at his expression. This time, instead of standing there and gaping like a fish, he tossed the rag aside, strode across the room, pulled her into his arms, took her face into his hands, and kissed her.

She dropped the broom in shock, swept up in his embrace and the softness of lips, and returned his affections in earnest.

Together, as partners, they worked together to rebuild as the daylight sun shone hopefully on the bakery. Slowly, they healed. The villagers paid the oddly scarred but pleasant couple no mind, and they lived happily, working side by side, stronger in their partnership than by themselves, linked through broken bread, companionship, and the hidden enchantments of the different kinds of love they shared.

They never feared again.

[the-mandalorian-historian]

a snippet of a zelda wip fanfic i started a year ago🫣

Zelda dreamt of dragons. Their long, slender forms twirled and twisted in the vast open sky of Hyrule. Farosh, Dinraal, and Naydra—the spirits of Courage, Power, and Wisdom, respectively—danced through the air in harmony while Zelda spectated. She felt weightless and free, as if she, too, could execute such fluid movements in the emptiness of their altitude. Zelda no longer had hands and feet, nor arms and legs. Her body stretched for miles, her appendages now scaled claws. In the water beneath her she saw her reflection. A dragon, no doubt. Princess Zelda was a dragon, one bathed in the spirit of Light, a being that brought together every fiber of Hyrule. The golden fur that surrounded her head shone across the earth below her. She gazed upon the hugeness of Lake Hylia, the terror of Death Mountain, the majesty of Mount Lanayru. These were all places of importance to the dragons, places where they found purpose. But where did she belong? Zelda felt herself stumble, the Light beginning to slip away. She was plummeting, plummeting into an abyss of Dark. Even further down, the mouth of a dragon smothered in Darkness taunted Zelda, whose form was shrinking back to her natural human body. She was going to be engulfed by this evil spirit if…

[theliterarywolf]

You know, people say the Zonai look like goats, but they honestly look more reptilian to me. Kind of like slightly mammalian Dragonborn.

I think it depends on your perspective when you look at Rauru and Mineru.

Because if you look at Rauru and your eyes key in on his nose shape, head shape, and his ears, your brain makes the connection to Capric features. However, if your eyes key in on his horns, teeth, and eyes, then your brain makes the connection to Draconic.

With Mineru on the other hand, if you look at her head shape and ear shape, your brain makes the connection to Lapine (rabbit) features. However, her nose shape, the longer approach to her body, and her eyes cause your brain to make a connection not to Capric or Draconic... But Vicugnan (Alpaca). Which, while some would say 'oh, that's still like a goat', it's actually the perfect middle point because I'm sure that the first time Spanish colonizers saw Alpacas, they thought they were weird, furry dragons.

The Zonai are actually an interesting exercise in monster/nonhuman design (particularly the approach to monster/nonhuman design that is 'combine features from existing animals into one creature') that I'm impressed the developers brought in for TotK... But really wish we got to see more of them (aside from the implication that Naydra, Farosh, and Dinraal are Zonai who achieved immortality).