#i also need to look up how often ganon's actually died

[canvaswolfdoll]

finally took the time to reach credits for tears of the kingdom.

i think i still prefer breath of the wild. it's nice to have ganondorf back and everything, but totk just felt like it had a lot of... busy work?

don't get me wrong, botw also had it's uninteresting sidequests, but totk added both the sky islands and the depths, but i didn't do much with either because they were huge pains to traverse and squeeze content and narrative out of. this is on top of gathering supplies to upgrade armor, and the default weapons being even weaker than botw weapons so now you're also gather and spending resources to make weapons usable.

plus the real meat and potatoes of the plot is with zelda in the past, which are small disconnected cutscenes that often repeat information.

i just miss when the zelda games had ordered progression so the (still light) plot could still have deliberate beats and link felt like he was involved instead of coming in to sweep up after the main party.

and that's not even touching on the mess the two games make of the mythology. i know people make fun of the timeline, but i find it a cool meta narrative exercise!

also bring back tired old man windwaker ganon. there's great pathos in a villain who's been dealing with this horrible reincarnation cycle that he's just going through the motions, well aware he's long lost sight of what his motivations were.

anyways, here's hoping echoes of wisdom tightens it's scope. i'm really hoping the navi stand in (tri) is the sentience for the triforce of wisdom, because that's funny.

[neverchecking]

Hi! I'm new following you... Looks pretty interesting... But I'm a bit confused of the nicknames of the characters... Like "sun" or "sage"

Did you have a list of who is each one? Please? Qwq

Well, first off, Hi! Hello! My name is Cinder and I write Yandere! Linked Universe!

If you're not familiar with Linked Universe I would highly recommend checking out the comic for it -> Here!

Anyway, as a fandom, we needed a way to easily differentiate between each Link bc writing 'The hero of so-and-so' every time would suck. So, they each go by Monikers that represent their hero title! The Zeldas are kind of the same. When we wanna differentiate between each games Zelda we use a specific name to do so. Here's a breakdown of each Link and their Zelda!

Name: Sky

His Zelda: Sun

His Games/appearances: Skyword Sword

Cool fact: When not including First, is often seen as the first hero of Hyrule and the first Wielder of Fi; A.K.A The Master Sword. Has a soul connection with a creature called a Loftwing, who I have dubbed as Crimson on this blog. Is mostly seen in a relationship with Sun because of their interactions in Skyword Sword, but I don't think it's ever been confirmed. Is Hella cute though.

Name: Four

His Zelda: Dot

His Games/appearances: Minish Cap, Four Swords, Four Swords Adventures

Cool fact: Four has the ability to split into four versions of himself, each reflecting an aspect of his personality (Red; protective, Blue; soft hearted, Green; still have no clue, and Vio; the brain cell). There was another part named Shadow who was, as you guessed, a shadow but he died. From my inference he was closest with Vio, but I'm embarrassingly unfamiliar with it. Four also has the ability to shrink to the size of a Minish/Picori; a race of mouse sized beings known for hiding trinkets and rupees in grass for said hero! Had a talking hat name Enzlo who ended up being a Minish in disguise. Did not get to keep talking hat.

Name: Time

His Zelda: Lullaby/Sheik

His Games/appearances: Ocarina of Time, Majora's mask

Cool fact: Has masks. Lots of em. One in particular linking him to a war god dubbed the Fierce Deity. Had an ocarina that turned back time, but he broke the timeline (Like a ding dong). Timeline A; where he survived and defeated Ganon. And Timeline B: A.K.A the downfall timeline, where he died (like a noob). Often seen as the oldest of the group but we have no idea how old he actually is. Was raised by a tree and has issues with the moon. Got trust issues from a mask. In Linked Universe Lore, he is married to a farm girl name Malon- who wrote Epona's song.

Name: Legend

His Zelda: Fable

His Games/appearances: A Link to the Past, Oracle of Seasons, Oracle of Ages, Link's awakening, Link Between Worlds, Triforce Heroes

Cool fact: Has a lover named Marin. She was not in fact real. Gave him trust issues. Also known as the Veteran for the sheer amount of adventures he's been on. Known as a hoarder, especially with rings that grant him special abilities and has a funky counterpart named Ravio (A merchant who reigns from Lorule, a mirror verse of Hyrule. his Zelda is Hilda, but he's not a Link so he doesn't get a paragraph. He does have a cool bird though named Sheerow and wears a funky hood. He's just a funky dude.) Legend is part of the Downfall Timeline, coming directly after that version of time, fell.

Name: Hyrule

His Zelda: Dawn, Aurora (He has two, though I'm not sure on the why/how/basically anything about them.)

His Games/appearances: Legend of Zelda, Zelda II

Cool fact: Is half fairy! It grants him the ability to use magic, especially healing spells and a lightning spell called 'Thunder', and he can turn into the size of a fairy with wings. Comes directly after Legend. Hyrule is also part of the Downfall Timeline, and is most often paired with Legend because of it. His Hyrule is particularly hostile with poisoned water and barren lands. Also gives him trust issues.

Name: Twilight

His Zelda: Dusk

His Games/appearances: Twilight Princess

Cool fact: Fell in love once. Fucked him up. Nah, I kid. No I don't. Twilight was raised in a village called Ordon as a rancher before his journey. On said journey, he was faced with something called the Twilight Realm which turned him into a wolf (A.K.A. Wolfie). There he met the Spoiler Twilight Princess named Midna. While in game there were no confirmations on their relationship, in the Manga they did smooch. made me cry. Anyway, after their adventure together Midna goes back to her world, destroying the only thing that links hers and Twilights together as she did, offically ghosting him. Gave him turst issues. He wears a twilight shard around his neck that allows him to shift between forms as he pleases. He is Time's descendant and had Time as guide to him in his adventure in the form of the Hero's Shade. Twilight is part of Timeline A. The one that did not fall.

Name: Wind

His Zelda: Tetra

His Games/appearances: Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass (Depending on who you ask, he's also Spirit Tracks Link, but I do not think so)

Cool fact: Is a pirate! Had a pirate ship dad! Had a little sister, Aryll, that was taken by birds. Gave him trust issues. Lived with his grandmother and Aryll before Tetra who is, spoiler, Zelda, shows up and helps him find his sister. Tetra is so cool man, she's a pirate captain. Anyway, most often seen as the youngest Link. In his game, he wasn't even a hero lmao. Just some guy who's sister got taken and he went and found the triforce before merking Ganon RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES. He was just feeling a little silly. Wind, I believe, is part of some third timeline stemming from Time's adventure or in the Downfall Timeline as his Hyrule flooded, leaving most to live on high mountains to avoid drowning.

Name: Warriors

His Zelda: Artemis (my love <3)

His Games/appearances: Hyrule Warriors

Cool fact: He's got a scarf. Had a wizardess who was supposed to watch time and space fall in love with him. Gave him trust issues. Has scars from when he drew the Master sword; which dominoed into something called The War of Eras. Companions and other heroes were pulled to his time to assist in the war, including, but not limited too; Time (Known as Mask in this regards), Wind, Midna, Marin, Ravio, Linkle (A female Link who was originally Wars' sister but, that idea was scrapped), and probably more that I'm missing idk I haven't finished the game. Is Captain of his knight squadron and famously despises Traitors. His own Zelda turned into Sheik to assist in the battle, but she's perfect just the way she is <3 Does not fall explicitly into either time line.

Now, this is where things kind of get tricky. Wild can either be one hero on three adventures or three different guys who arise during their subsequent time. For this blog, we see them as three different people.

Name: Calamity

His Zelda: Fauna

His Games/appearances: Age of Calamity

Cool fact: While his game is not seen as canon to the timeline, we include him because he's cool. Was part of a timeline where his Zelda unlocked his sealing powers earlier and saved them in time to fight the Calamity. He did not die, did not sleep for a hundred years, and kept his memory. Also a knight, also has trust issues, eats rocks. Does not fall explicitly into either time line.

Name: Wild

His Zelda: Flora

His Games/appearances: Breath of the Wild

Cool fact: Is the version of Calamity that's canon. His Zelda failed to awaken her powers in time, he, along with the Champions, died, took a hundred year nap, got trust issues, got memory issues, did not know wtf a stick was at the start of his adventure. Has a cool tablet called a Sheikah slate that lets him use runes (Magnet, ice, bombs, freeze time). In Linked Universe, he has scars lacing his one side. Is said to have had Wolfie as a guide during his adventure. Does not fall explicitly into either time line, but if I had to guess I would put it as Timeline A.

Name: Sage

His Zelda: Natura

His Games/appearances: Tears of the Kingdom

Cool fact: So, Sage was actually cultivated here! He is the Link from the newest Zelda Game, characterized by his anger and grudges held against Hylia. Does not have the scars, because of Rauru, but does have Fangs. Falls directly after Wild, as they are technically the same guy. When referring to the 'triplets' we are referring to Sage, Wild and Calamity.

Anyway, hope this helped! If you have anymore questions, lmk!

[anthemxix]

So... how far did Cia go exactly? I haven’t played hw but I’ve read several fics, and she’s always very... extreme.

hi anon! thank you for your ask!

by “extreme,” i’m thinking you mean stories where she’s a psycho who tortures link or forces unwanted sexual advances on him. which makes for fantastic angst! but that characterization of cia has never felt quite authentic to me.

in the game, she has a roomful of his portraits, like a shrine. that’s extreme. she technically starts a war because of him, which is very extreme, but i don’t think that’s about lusting after him, as people often joke. she says some off-putting stuff, and you could infer that she behaves in an inappropriately “seductive” way, but. she doesn’t really. do anything, like fics might imply. she’s creepy and lewd. i’m sure she makes him uncomfortable as hell. but as for what she does, the extremeness in fics is mostly fan extrapolation.

that’s my short answer! but i kinda got carried away while responding to this, and. um. wrote a lengthy character analysis of cia? XD i thought about not including it, but i spent so much time thinking about/writing this that i’ll go ahead and share.

in my opinion, hw does not present a clear picture of cia, and it skews fan interpretation of her.

(putting this under a cut because it got long 😅)

the story the game gives at the start is straightforward. there's a "guardian of time" (whatever that means) who watches over everything but never interferes. she admires the purity of the hero's spirit. she comes to love the heroes, then to want them. she's lonely. she doesn't want to just watch anymore. she wants to experience love.

gradually her desires become something darker. she doesn't only want the companionship, she wants to possess.

ganon sees this darkness in her heart and causes a split. the darkness separates from her, becomes its own person (a la dark link). the "good" part is lana, the "bad" part is cia.

for ganon, this is all part of a larger plan. in hw, his spirit is divided into four fragments that have been sealed away in different eras. he manipulates cia and gets her to open time gates so he can gather all the fragments together. a key fact: one of the fragments has been sealed away by the master sword, so ganon needs a hero to draw the sword.

cia willingly allows herself to be ganon's pawn because in so doing, in starting a war to force the hero to emerge, she thinks she'll get what she wants. throughout the story, she gives more and more of herself to ganon, fracturing her own spirit further and further, because she is so desperate to claim the hero for herself, to own him. lana repeatedly warns her to stop before she does irreparable damage to herself, but she doesn't listen, and ultimately she...well, dies, i guess. fades from existence. (that's how the original hw ending goes. they added stuff on later that changed this.)

ok, so. we have some interesting stuff going on here. arguably, cia is a tragic figure. a victim even. her underlying motivation is loneliness. viewing it through this lens, the story becomes an exploration of what isolation does to a person. how desperate it can make us. how we become willing to sacrifice anything for love--and i mean "love" broadly, not in a romantic sense. how it makes us vulnerable to manipulation and abuse.

let's also not forget the whole reason she focuses on the hero's spirit to begin with. after witnessing all the atrocities of history, she admires the purity and goodness and self-sacrifice of the hero. it has nothing to do with link being attractive. in her temple (the temple of souls), she has statues of different heroes from different eras, including wolf link and oot/mm link. she is certainly not lusting after an animal or a child, i assure you.

so why does she have frickin portraits of hw link, specifically, (not any other hero's spirit incarnations) plastered all over her walls, if not for lusty purposes? why does she dress so damn seductively? i'm not claiming lust isn't part of it, but i think there's more. she wants to feel surrounded by him, you know? she wants to feel like he's looking at her the same way that she looks at him--with desire. it's delusion.

and holy hell, she's nothing if not deluded. some examples of her actual in-game dialogue: "no matter what betrayals I may suffer, at least I know the hero will always love and protect me." and [to herself, as she's losing a fight] "the hero is still by my side... the hero is still by my side..."

and it's sad. she pretends that he loves her, that he will protect her, because she doesn't have any real love in her life. she doesn't have anyone.

and what's even sadder is that she's condemned to all these feelings and delusions because that's who she is. she is corruption and darkness personified! she's doomed to this lonely hell, to being ganon's servant, to self-destruction.

that's how tragedy, and tragic figures, are defined: hubris. characters that have an innate flaw that inevitably leads to their downfall. that's what a traditional tragedy is.

don't get me wrong here. i'm not saying she had no choice, or that she had to start a war. she can be tragic and we can sympathize with her while also accepting the fact that she's corrupted beyond redemption. morality isn't black-and-white. our understanding of characters, or of real people, isn't black-and-white.

...but. BUT. there is a major "but" here. the game sabotages its own character and its own story. the game opts for the path of least resistance. screw grey areas of morality, screw the tragedy of loneliness, screw exploring vulnerability and abuse and hubris... they sensationalize. cia is a joke.

have you seen her frickin outfit? her character design? she's an uber-sexualized caricature. all those portraits of link in her temple can easily be viewed as a joke, too. "lol, look at this crazy, horny bitch." hell, they even have her say innuendos about the master sword, like, “come show me what your sword can do” or something to that effect. 🙄

it's all very surface level. they don't go deep at all with cia. they give us no substance, only these little bread crumbs of information that i've laid out for you. and not only that, they set this up so that it feeds into old stereotypes. the salient details easily allow us to interpret cia, consciously or not, as an embodiment of feminine hysteria, a woman guided by irrational emotion and obsession, fixated on winning the ultimate prize of a man's love.

so koei tecmo's own confused presentation of this character muddles up fan interpretation and has us falling back on the familiar stereotypes we know and understand. that’s the basis for these depictions of cia as extreme. that’s what fans are extrapolating from when they try to imagine how she might act or what she might say. so in the end, she isn’t really depicted with accuracy. she’s like a caricature of a caricature at that point.

…or at least, that’s my opinion. 🥴

[hyrule-kingdom-updates]

Ok but I have been thinking about this “Astor takes Zelda when she’s young” AU all night like:

So Zelda’s mom dies and Astor gets his astrolabe from Asivus after he fucks with the guardians and [REDACTED] and Astor has his little Calamity agenda all within a shorter amount of time than the span of time in HKU. This is so that Zelda doesn’t have too much knowledge about her role as Hylia’s vessel yet so that when Astor takes her she’s like “dope” and doesn’t really know exactly how important she is. I mean as soon as your mom dies and your dad turns into a dick, the first magic dadstor to come into your radius going like “let’s go vibe somewhere else” I think anyone would accept that.

So the princess is whisked away and the kingdom goes into pure shit and chaos, and Rhoam is left no choice as to basic double, no, triple down on Sheikah tech and the divine beasts, all while sending out searches for the princess—which never come into fruition.

Meanwhile, Zelda grows up with the Yiga Clan as an assassin shes got a sickle and short hair because yeah!! Zavis is still a spy but instead of joining the Yiga Clan to be more useful to Zelda, he joined the Yiga Clan to find her and when he did, since his dad and Zelda are all basically on the same side he doesn’t have really any loyalty to the crown anymore

Now just in case, Astor pretty much lies to Zelda about her past as she grew up, just so that there isn’t a chance she gets dragged back into castle life or anything. “Oh yeah, you were just some little noble girl who’s dad was a dick, and I was friends with your mom before she died so I decided to take you in” and it lines you just enough with what few memories Zelda has of her childhood that she believes it. And ironically, with her loyalty to Astor and the Yiga Clan, she grows to despise royals and laughs at the stories of the missing princess like “ha, what a nerd. Hyrule really is doomed since she dipped from her destiny, what a loser.”

Does Siv team up with Astor earlier since he doesn’t have Zelda to give him hope that he can overcome the Calamity? Maybe. Idk.

So anyways, Zeldas going out doing Yiga things and she meets a knight with a pretty cool looking sword, and she’s like “Oooo imma steal that” and then she tries but she failed because this kid is REALLY skilled. He beats her, but doesn’t kill her when he realizes “You’re just a kid?” Then, they hear someone coming, like a captain or something, and he tosses her a few rupees like “get out of here and go home, the others won’t hesitate to kill a Yiga like you—girl or not”

Now Zelda goes home but she’s PISSED. Not only did she get her ass beat despite being the most badass Yiga she knows, the kid has the audacity to toss her RUPEES as if she was just some common poor thief. What an asshole! But also, she’s super ingrained by him because pretty much her whole life she’s believed the knights and those with the royals are a bunch of ruthless assholes who do nothing but blindly adhere to their commands and rules. So the fuck is with this kid??

She doesn’t tell anyone about this encounter (mostly because she doesn’t want to be yelled at, nor admitting the embarrassing detail of being beaten) but she does tell Zavis about it. And he’s like “pfft. He’s just a kid, btt it give him a few years and he’ll grow up like everyone other asshole out there, trust me”

Then later on, Zelda sneaks out looking for this kid again. And she does, and they kinda cross blades, but mostly she just complains to him about how annoying he is, and she tosses the rupees he gave him back like “I don’t need your pity money!” And they banter for a bit more and eventually she’s like “what’s your name, huh?” And the knight is like “....you don’t know who I am?”

“Oh let me guess, you’re one of the hundreds of people named Link, is that it?”

“Something like that.”

“Well Link, I’m Mallory, and I’m going to kill you now!”

Suddenly Link’s stomach grumbles and he sheathes his sword “Dinner break!”

“WHA—?? Keep fighting me you idiot!”

“Nah...I’m super hungry.”

“What?!?! What’s wrong with you??? I’ll kill you!”

“No you won’t.”

“I will!”

“You’re already breaking a sweat and I’ve been holding back this whole time. Plus, if you wanted to kill me why did you just give me back my rupees when I had my back turned instead of stabbing me? Either you like talking to me, or you suck at your job. Anyways, cucco nugget?”

So they’re kinda friends now.

So time passes and they’re still secret friends, and they like being friends because they “keep it real” as the kids say. Link never admits to her that he’s the hero, but vents about his knight life and his dad who never seems to be happy for him despite his accomplishments. And Zelda vents about her life in the Yiga Clan, and despite being the best, Astor never seems to want her involved in the more important missions and never tells her jackshit”

“Well I guess that’s good for me. Would hate to have the Yiga’s best asset being used.”

“Hey this is serious!! I need to help in the destruction of the royal family with the Calamity!”

“Do you really believe that? That we’re all already doomed?”

“Well yeah. I mean, even if the hero’s around, the princess is dead, so you all don’t stand a chance. But don’t worry, when the Calamity comes I’ll give you a heads up and you can go chill in Faron or something”

Then, things be picking up with Astor and the gang, and he’s finally found an opportunity to kill the hero. And Zelda remembers hearing from Link that he sometimes hangs out with the Champions and the hero for protection, and she’s like, “can I come?” because she wants to be useful, but also to make sure Link doesn’t die or anything. Yet per usual, Astor’s like “No. Just stay here.”

Now Zelda gets super pissed and him and they have a fight, mostly circulating around the fact that Zelda’s been nothing but loyal to the Yiga Clan and yet she nevers gets to actually feel useful and it also put on the sidelines whenever anything actually impactful happens. “Hell, even ZAVIS does more than I do! What’s your problem?! Can’t you have confidence in my for once??”

And Astor in Astor fashion ends the argument super harshly like, “You won’t be ready for anything, ever. You’re still incredibly naive and foolish, so if you want to help, then you can help everyone by staying here, and safe, and away from everyone. THAT is the only thing of use you can do, so do it.” And then they go off to kill the hero and Zelda runs off to her room al frusterated and shit. 

But you know, you often meet your destiny on the road you take to avoid it. And this Astor’s little plan to keep Zelda away from Calamity related business so that she can never discover her powers or who she is...is gonna backfire, splendidly.

So Zelda sneaks out anyway, with the idea in her head that if she kills the hero before Astor even gets there he’ll have no CHOICE but to recognize how competent and useful she is and he’ll eat his words!

But then she gets there, and she sees the Champions, and Link, and she goes to confront Link with sickle in hand like, “I don’t need you! Just tell me where the hero is, and I’ll spare the rest of you!” And the Champions are like “wtf” and Link is like, “Just leave. You don’t know what you’re doing.” 

“I know exactly what I’m doing! Just tell me where the hero is and no one else has to get hurt.”

And Daruk’s like. “Uhh...but he is the hero?” And everyone glares at Daruk, and Zelda goes into shock, like w h a t. Aw shit..so that fancy sword was the master sword...and he’s so good at fighting because he’s the bloody hERO FUCK, IT’S SO OBVIOUS NOW FUCK.

And I feel like as Zelda is contemplating her life choices in the moment. Revali would attack first because he’s like that. So he shoots her in the shoulder, or something, and she releases Link, and then something something her mask falls of and Urbosa recognizes her because of course she does. And Urbosa’s like “Zelda?!??!?” And Zelda’s like, “Who the fuck are you? Who’s Zelda? I’m Mallory.” 

And by that point, Astor is there and he’s like “wtf is going on here.” And he sees Zelda, and he’s like “Mallory get over here right now.” And she hesitates for a moment because she’s right between him and Link.

“Move aside, now. Quickly. We’ll discuss your insolence when we get back home.”

And she’s like “...No.”

“Excuse me?”

“T-There’s no need for this. The princess is dead, right? S-So what’s even the point?”

“We have to ensure victory for Lord Ganon. We’re just making sure there’s no chance of anything happening. There’s no need to defend them, they’re all doomed, they’re all the same. If the hero doesn’t die by my hand, he’ll die by the Calamity’s. So move.”

“You don’t know that!”

And Astor raises and eyebrow because this is basically the first time Zelda has questioned this, ever. “What did you say?”

“I...I said you don’t know everything! You could be wrong!”

And he gives a sad smile and shakes his head. “I know more than you know.”

“I’ll tell you when we’re done here, promise.” And then he does his little malice teleport thing and he’s about to kill Link with a big ol’ malice attack, and Zelda does that reaching out thing like “No!” 

And the BOOM. Her powers awaken, and EVERYONES like “oh shIT.” And Link’s the first one to be like, “You’re the princess???” And Astor’s like “hmmmmmmmm....fuck.” And Urbosa’s like, “Ok, I’m gonna stab Astor now.” and then she does! good for her. 

And then Zelda is freaking out like what the fuck just happened who huh where what huh and then theres conflict because she doesn’t want Link to die but also his team just sorta stabbed her father figure and then its chaos or something and uhhhhhhhhh yeah that’s all I got I have no idea how this would end. 

I feel Zelda wouldn’t go back to the Yiga Hideout after that, in fact I think she might run off with Siv because he’s like “hey, hey, hey. maybe gimme some of that light juice and get the calamity out of my head?” And of course Zavis would go whereever Zelda went (maybe?) She definitly wouldn’t go with the Champions yet, but they’re out looking for her. And also Astor would be looking for her with the Yiga Clan but mostly he’s like “fuck my life.” because literally everything he had been working towards and planning for over a decade has been ruined in like, an hour.

[socially-awkward-chocobo]

20 for the triforce crew?

I don't know if you mean the present Triforce Crew or the past Triforce Crew (which, on me. I should have told people to specify) so I'll do both.

20. What do they like that nobody else does?

Idk how to do stuff that literally nobody else would like (outside of food crimes that even Link/Lyn won't touch) so I'll probably have to do stuff that nobody else in either versions of the group remotely like (or at least nobody else likes to do). This was a hard one so I hope that's okay.

Ghirahim (who never died in between story plots) - Collecting gaudy jewelry. He will find the most tasteless, clashy, bright jewelry and buy it. It's a hobby he has fun with and even commissions some when he has ideas for it. Half the Gerudo think it's some sort of gag thing, others joke that he wants to be prepared to win every horrible fashion contest that could randomly pop up. In reality, he was bored over the 5,000 years and needed something to do.

5,000 Years Ago

Link - This one does some botw level shenanigans when he can and decides to do crazy stunts. You say somebody can't beat an entire camp of monsters with just that Sheikah time-slow technique and a bunch of arrows? He's doing it. You think you can't trick a Lynel into charging off of a cliff into the water below? Think again. If you can think of a crazy stunt, he's most likely done it and earned Vaati's nickname of "Dumb-ss reckless moron."

Shadow - Raw acorns. You heard me right, raw acorns. Those things that I think could poison you or something. He will eat them raw and whole like some snake who eats raw acorns.

Zelda - Joking around in Hylia's presence. This may seem weird, but it's because Hylia's a goddess and very intimidating person so cracking jokes around her seems like suicide - especially to people who are in the know. But Zelda likes to do it because she finds throwing Hylia for a loop whenever she can really fun. This is also pre-war.

Vaati - Tea that is 50% honey, 20% sugar, 20% sweetened milk, and 10% actual tea. Everyone who saw Link try it and almost puke won't even go near it because if the bottomless pit won't touch it, why is Vaati drinking it every day??? It's an abomination.

Ganon - Somehow, despite not being either of the researchers, he's that person that will stop whenever he sees an unidentifiable plant, draw it in a notebook, and then write down everything he can infer about it. He'll later go to a library and look it up. It's because he's always been fascinated with the vast array of plants outside the desert.

Midna - A mixture of some dishes poisonous to Hylians and basic Hylian dishes. Not only do the food tastes clash badly to anybody else - it's poisonous to most of the people in the group and Link doesn't have Lyn's poison "immunity."

Zant - Finding ways to subtly prank the Sheikah whenever he visits Hyrule Castle with Midna. Midna is always occupied during meetings and is also 90% of his impulse control, so you can imagine that he gets creative in his boredom. The others don't really understand why he would do that - it's an "Are you trying to raise suspicion?" type thing - but they gave up on trying to understand Zant a while ago.

Present Crew

Lyn - Putting unidentifiable plants in her mouth to see if they taste good. She has a d-mn near perfect poison immunity - which means she can only be poisoned by malice - so she can eat anything without fear of poison. She will mostly do this with plants though, and, when she was younger, frogs.

Ebony - Tricking other people (mainly Lyn) into doing their physically straining chores or tasks. They just like seeing if they can do it and managed to trick their sister into doing it for 4 years once. Don't worry, Lyn got her petty, petty revenge for that one.

Zael - Turning tiny things someone wouldn't consider overly dangerous into weapons. She will take her sword, and change it's shape into pens, pencils, bobby pins, ribbons, and then use creativity and a bit more magic to make them utterly dangerous. Her mother encouraged it and considered it an exercise in creativity. It's also one of the many reasons her father (Rhoam) is scared of her.

Vaz - Some things got lost in translation between reincarnations, but the base of that abomination is now coffee and some percentages which got jumbled: 50% honey, 40% sugar, 5% sweetened milk, and 5% coffee. And then after that he dumps, like, 5 fluid ounces (which is five pumps) of espresso in there. Lyn learned from last time and politely refused Vaz's offer of letting her try it. Which is for the best because that drink is even more horrifying than the tea.

Ahdvant - He likes to flip people's expectations and do the opposite. Ahdvant likes to act very silly and crazy, and he does it so often people think he has no sanity. But that's really just him acting however he wants, and if it comes of as crazy then it comes off as crazy. When he's absolutely furious, instead of losing the "few" marbles he has he instead acts "sane" and destroys you in a very efficient and brutal manner.

Midiya - Wearing socks. This queen can float and therefore goes barefoot everywhere. In fact, aside from her anklet, she hates having anything on her feet.

Gandin - He will willingly turn off his light charm in the Twilight Realm (light charms allow you to keep your physical form in the Twilight Realm) so he can run around as a boar and have fun. Of course, he'll do it on an empty island as to not freak anybody out because he's 10ft tall.

[ganymedesclock]

there's a post somewhere about how ganondorf's death is often presented almost as a holy death, deeply dignified and with appropriate silence. i think the term the person used was like a kind of anti-martyrdom, like. "a holy death, but not of something good". i'm not sure if i'm using the terminology entirely correctly, but that's something that's always hit me. like. i don't think that comes from just the general seriousness of the plot, but also that there's a quiet acknowledgement that fate

itself was against him - and the inherent tragedy of that. like. they're So Close to digging just a little further and questioning that concept of fate + supposedly inherent character weakness in the first place. this is present in oot - zelda acknowledges him as pitiful, someone who couldn't control the triforce. and in tp, zelda seems to do something like a quiet prayer. this aspect of zelda herself isn't present in wind waker (iirc), but is embodied by the king, who directly compares himself.

That’s a concept that a friend of mine talks about a lot ( @betterbemeta ) in almost those exact words but I asked her and she said she wasn’t sure of the specific post, just that she didn’t get it from someone else.

But, yeah, I feel like... there’s this interesting sort of counter-narrative within the Zelda series, I think? There’s the main narrative, which is the Legend and the Cycle and that it is Correct to perpetuate the Cycle and live out the roles people are given.

But there’s also a lot of counterpoints, of things making it clear that the Cycle is hurting people, that you will not be rewarded or kept safe for perpetuating it- and in Wind Waker this is very interesting, because, a lot of the evidence points to Ganon’s stance- “Your gods abandoned you!” being correct. 

Hyrule was destroyed. Most of its people were killed. Two young people who were active servants of the god at the time were murdered and nothing protected them. Ganon comes across as someone who’d know- because he’s acting as the Divine Opponent, here.

And there’s this scene, late in Wind Waker, where he reads Tetra’s dreams with his power.

This scene sticks with me, because it’s Ganon doing something unnecessary. He’s got no reason to treat Tetra hospitably at this point. He’s got no reason to tuck her into a bed, which he does, or acknowledge that she’s a child, or wonder who she is besides Zelda. 

And, yet, we have this. unexpectedly introspective soft scene, and while it’s followed by the puppet Ganon fight, the things he says there don’t seem just like villainous trash talk, but, nearly a plea for these kids to realize how messed up their situation is. They’re allegedly agents of the gods who are being chewed up by their Fates, used and cast aside, and while he has an agenda in not wanting this to happen (as their given Fate is to be parties in his execution) there’s a bleak humor Wind Waker Ganon has about the situation that, to me, has never actually been contradicted within the Zelda games. Words to the contrary ring hollow. In practice, we watch Hyrule desolated, we watch its executioners throw him on vulnerable populations (in Twilight Princess, the Sages know enough of the modern Twili to recognize Midna in her cursed form- so they had to have known the people they were leaving at the mercy of a wounded, panicked Ganon who was nonetheless fully capable of killing a person with his bare hands at that point).

In Breath of the Wild, which doesn’t even depict Ganon as a person who can argue his point (though the sequel may shed new light on that), he still nonetheless seems correct about the nature of the cycle; Zelda is unabashedly a survivor of child abuse who was forced to pray in sacred springs starting at age seven. 

BotW is basically the series’ most detailed thesis yet that the Cycle broke Link and Zelda and tore pieces from them they’re not getting back. Both of them lost a century. Zelda’s passions and interests were sublimated to force her into a passive role. People they knew and were close to died. Link’s habitual silence is depicted as a product of the anxiety that the hero role pressed on him, and he was also a human shield just to guarantee that of the Champions, Zelda at least could make it, that left him critically injured.

The only real coherent defense raised by the Cycle- which is meta-wise, “justified” by Skyward Sword, which establishes it as an unholy curse- is “this is the only way to save Hyrule” which is never challenged or argued or defended. It’s merely accepted. And we keep watching young, vulnerable kids following the paths laid out by their predecessors and being torn apart by these events.

Link and Zelda don’t look like people who are protected by benevolent gods that shine over them. Repeatedly, the deities of the Zelda setting are depicted as not especially loving. In A Link To The Past, the Triforce itself says it doesn’t care about good or evil, merely that Link has proven his worth and should now make a wish. Other characters in the setting describe it as fickle or a troublemaker. In Skyward Sword, Zelda, regaining Hylia’s memories and thus the clearest potential insight into how Hylia was thinking and feeling, states that Hylia obtained a mortal incarnation basically as bait for Link, who would be driven by compassion to protect his friend, and thus get functionally conned into acting as Hylia’s champion.

I think this is why fanworks that put the chosen three on the same side make sense, because, in this way, Ganon is more a contemporary to the heroes than the King of Hyrule, who, no matter how often he dies, never really has that sense of being a martyred hero who’s lost fragments of himself. Daphnes was able to choose his own death, and the death of his kingdom, on his own terms using the Wind Waker and then the Triforce; Rhoam controls the narrative at the beginning of BotW.

Ganon?

Just from what we know about BotW’s sequel (which is not much at all) Ganon is having a bad time. In a way, his fate seems to combine elements of Link and Zelda’s- he was confined for a long time in a death match with another force (Zelda), and he was heavily and brutally injured and may have lost consciousness (Link) only to awaken in an unfamiliar future where he’s been all but forgotten (both of them).

And part of this is the need that the games seem to have, to have everything be Ganon’s fault, but to never acknowledge or explore the relationships Ganon actually, has with the various entities he ostensibly commands. I love Wind Waker, but, as friends of mine have pointed out- there’s only flimsy excuses at best for Ganon to put the various boss monsters in the environments they’re found in. They’re themed to their environments so that they seem fitting elements, rather than something foreign placed there that’s disrupted an extant order.

It leads to this sense of Ganon more as a pariah than as a true Source Of Evil. Because he’s blamed for everything, including things that don’t actually seem to further any of his stated objectives and in fact, might even work against something he is stated to want (e.g. the withering of the Deku Sprouts in Wind Waker, which are stated to be a potential way to drain the Great Sea and leave the Land Below accessible once again- the big thing Ganon wants- but they’re stated to fail because of Ganon’s magic; or him outright saying he wants the sun to shine on Hyrule when earlier in the game Daphnes accuses him of cursing the entire sea into a state of darkness because he wants everything to be dark)

Ganon’s not blameless and harmless- like. he absolutely did shit and is rarely sorry for it or sorry but not enough to stop- but, it definitely feels like his role as Hyrule’s Enemy is a degree outside of his control, much as the Hero or Princess roles are out of Link and Zelda’s. This is a game series about people being forced into roles that cause them to suffer, and then the end takeaway is I guess It Was Worth It because the Bad Man Died.

It’s this situation where the narrative tells us we are dealing with a demon man who hates everything and the only holiness or justice can come from his death, and then at the same time we’re shown a guy who is a power-hungry jerk with a large list of offscreen and frankly mystifying crimes that don’t seem to add up with anything he seems to want or value or even his sense of humor. And it ends up leaving the whole Cycle... feeling rather bleak.

[my-other-story]

53 QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR PARTNER:

What was your first impression about your partner?

Hard to get. Yung feeling na kahit anong ganda ng paguusap nyo di pa rin nya kukunin number mo, kung papatayin mo yung call alam mong di mo na siya makakausap uli sa buong buhay mo HAHAHA. Kaya nga comfortable agad ako nung unang pag uusap namin (through phone call)

kasi di siya yung taong nag t-take advantage. And he is really a great listener which i badly needed at that time.

What did you like or love about your partner?

Sa totoo lang, ito medyo deep to ha. Ang dami naming differences, sobrang iba yung ginagalawan naming mundo before we met. Still, he manage to handle entering into my world without any judgement. He knows sobrang weird kong babae, making spontaneous decision, idealistic, ganito ganyan, etc. But he knows when to correct me, when to stop me, when to comfort me, when to tolerate me, or when to help me (pero minsan may disadvantage din yun kasi naiirita ako nffeel ko minsan wala syang pake hahaha).At talagang hinahayaan niya akong mag grow on my own.

How did the relationship start?

App, that you can talk to a stranger. Hahaha actually nag tagal yung paguusap namin without knowing our full name, address & other personal info. Yung purpose lang naman talaga e yung may nakakausap ka lang pero iba yung nangyare hahaha. To be honest, wala ding formal na label nung una pero ayun napag usapan naman and we decided to make it official & serious na.

Do you still like what you loved about your partner and why?

Oo, pero minsan din kasi gsto ko na pinagdadamot nya ko? Hahaha weird pero oo.

Are you happy with the intimacy you share?

Yes.

Do you feel the same the way you felt for your partner at the beginning of the relationship?

Hindi na ata, kasi ngayon habang patagal ng patagal mas lalong nagging deep yung love ko sakanya. Yun din kinakatakot ko ayoko talagang maumbok nya yun kasi nagging toxic ako pg nagmahal ako ng sobra e.

Are you positively affecting each other’s life?

For now, i think yes. We'll see pag tumagal.

Have you started to do something because of each other’s influence?

Yes, isa na don yung matutong kumalma hahaha.

How often do you laugh together?

For now, di pa ganon ka dalas.

When was the last time you dreamt about your partner?

Noong isang gabi lang.

Do you like spending time with your partner’s friends and family?

I don't know, di pa ko pa meet yung family & friends niya ganon din sya. Ldr din po kasi.

How often do you talk on the phone with your partner?

Everyday.

How often do you think of your partner?

Everyday.

Do you smile when you relate something from your daily life with your partner?

Yes.

Can you recall the most romantic moment with this partner?

Sobrang worried ko. Cuddle kami tapos kinocomfort ako. While kinocomfort ako kinikiss nya forehead ko and kinikiss ang lips ko tapos kinokontra lahat ng mga negative thoughts ko. Pinapakalma niya ko. Grabe first time ko nakaramdam non, sanay kasi ako palagi na ako lang nag cocomfort sa sarili ko. Pero this time someone did that for me. I feel safe in his arms.

Do you get each other’s feeling without the need to say anything?

Sometimes.

What was the best moment in your relationship so far? (Are you smiling while recalling that moment?)

Vacay at cebu. Yes always.

How do you show your love for each other?

Ldr. Kaya through consistent communication & commitment.

When was the last time you said “I love you” to your partner?

Kanina lang.

Have you ever changed anything for your partner?

Yes. Many to mention.

How much do you think you understand your partner?

HAHAHA to be honest. Di ko pa sya ganon kakilala, and the truth is, it will take time pa. Parang libro sya, easy to read but very hard to understand.

Do you trust each other?

For now i don't know. Kelangan pang i gain yung trust. It will take time pa. Pero for sure we're working on it.

Have you not let your partner do something just because you feel jealous or angry?

Yes. Hahaha (one of my toxic traits)

How do you feel when others find your partner attractive?

Sarap ipagsigawan

"hoy boyfriend ko yan, girlfriend niya ko"

Do you feel jealous if your partner hang out with a friend of the opposite sex?

YES YES YES YEEEEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!

pero kelangan kalma lang ako.

How serious are you both taking this relationship?

We're planning na wag na mag LDR.

Do you bring up arguments very often and why?

Oo ako, pero sya hindi.

Do you make sacrifices for your relationship?

YES

Have you ever apologized for what you’ve done wrong to your partner?

YES

Do you forgive your partner’s mistakes easily?

Yes i can forgive, but i can't easily forget.

Do you throw temper easily for small mistakes of your partners?

Yes, kaya minsam out of nowhere bigla akong may topak o toyo, but he knows how to handle the situation. I really admire him for that

Do you respect each other’s beliefs?

YES (pero kinocorrect yung mga mali)

Is it really necessary to know everything from your partner’s previous relationships?

For me NO NEED, hindi sya healthy sa present relationship. It is possible na jan pa panggalingan yung umpisa ng away at katoxican sa relasyon nyo.

Do you believe in staying with this partner for a very long time or even forever?

yes i believe.

How do you feel when your partner has to leave you for some time because of work or studying?

natatakot ako hahaha.

Will you say sorry to your partner even though it’s not your fault?

Yes.

When was the last time you had an in-depth conversation with your partner?

Di ko maalala pero nung nakaraan lang about financial & family problem.

Are you keeping any secrets that you’re afraid of letting your partner know?

Yes.

Do you think your partner’s friends and family like you?

I don't know.

Do you feel that your partner accepts the way you are?

For me yes - but not 100‰ sure. Di ako sya.

Have you seen each other at your best and worst?

I think sya nakita niya na. Pero ako wala pa.

Have you ever thought about cheating on your partner? Why?

WALA as long as alam ko di sya nagch-cheat.

Have you ever thought about breaking up with your partner and why?

If it's time to let go. Why not?

Will you lie for the sake of your partner’s happiness and how do you define the line?

Yes.

Are you in a relationship only because you enjoy the excitement or the feeling to be loved and cared about?

yes one of the reason why i'm in a relationship with him right now BUT it's not the ONLY reason. There are thousands/million of reasons why. Remember, it's not always a sunny day, there will be also rainy days. Worst thing could happen jan mas patitibayin pa ang relasyon.

Does this partner make you forget the painful feeling of your previous relationships?

I don't want to compare anything about him to my previous, he don't deserve that. I don't like this question.

Do you look forward to your future with your partner?

Yes.

Have you thought about marrying your partner? (If you two have already married, do you remember why you had that thought of marrying your partner?)

Yes. Why not?

Are you willing to compromise your happiness for a successful relationship?

It depends.

When it comes to future, do you and your partner have the same relationship goals?

For now, di pa namin napag uusapan yan.

Are there more joyful moments than sad ones being together?

Yes.

What makes you happier in a relationship, sharing or sacrificing?

Sharing.

If you could choose your partner again, would you choose the same person?

Yes.

[bxstiae]

⚜ ; [ THE HERO’S SHADE & HERO OF TIME / HC.5  ]     WORLDBUILDING │ META

i sat ( && slept ) on this for a bit because i really, REALLY, wanted to discuss this. i just didn’t know how or when the right time was for this. since i am a mun who is reactive rather than being proactive, i just needed a good reason to talk about it. well, you all can thank @hyaciiintho​​ for that because after i posted that ask from them, i had the strong urge to talk about not JUST the hero’s shade, but also the hero of TIME. 

in a way, this HC post will be a 2-part piece. like i said, i didn’t know how to tackle this. if i wanted to really make two posts, i could, but the hero’s shade & the hero of time are so interwoven together that you can’t just write about one without the other -- mainly because they are the SAME person. it is impossible to talk about one without the other. thus, i have decided to talk about the both of them in this post instead.

keep in mind that this is going to be a very LONG post -- i cannot sum it up for you either. if i, at any point, think or want to write about more of the shade or of time separately & at some late date, i will. just know that this will be considered the og post. any & all other things i write about in regards to this ‘subject’ will always refer to this post. 

now without further ado, let me begin under the cut.

A KEY for you just in case you get lost because i will use the shorthand terms:

the hero’s shade : the Shade the hero of time : Time the hero chosen by the gods ( TP Link ) : Twilight , Twi , Link

first & foremost: the hero’s shade = the hero of time. no doubt about it. this isn’t up for discussion, this predecessor is the one & only hero of time. that being said, the Shade =/= Time. Rather, Time & the Shade are two different entities that you need to consider -- which i will discuss. know this though:

the Shade is Twilight’s teacher & predecessor. Time is Twilight’s incarnation ( one of them ) & therefore is also a predecessor by default.

these are TWO different people to Twilight. & yet they are the same person. I don’t want to keep going back & forth between them though as each one has a lot to unpack. so i will start with the Shade because you clearly have a more definite & canon interaction with the Shade than you do with Time. 

THE HERO’S SHADE

i know there are some people who don’t really know the LOZ franchise well enough -- as somebody who also hasn’t gone much outside the realm of... like TP, SS, BOTW, MM & Warriors, i can kind of relate & understand. but unfortunately, i don’t want to spend every moment of this post explaining things to people because, i genuinely want to get into the real thing that this post was meant to be. That being said, i will give you a few things that you can look into. i do suggest you go down that rabbit hole. there’s so MUCH to unpack really. so here is this: 

Just ONE link to the Hero’s Shade ONE link to the White Wolf ( which i personally call & prefer as the Golden Wolf )

Twilight is introduced to the Shade near the beginning of the game -- like when he first sets out on her journey AFTER he restores Faron from the Twilight. Right from the START, you can tell that the Shade has mixed feelings about Twi. Like, he WANTS Twilight to learn & grow, yet at the same time, you can see his frustrations with Link as well. the Shade wants to be his teacher! He wants help him so that he doesn’t make the same mistakes & so he can actually learns to BE the hero of courage. But it’s not just that. it’s also for a slightly selfish reason too... the shade wanted Twilight to learn the skills that Time knew of but was never able to pass down. in turn, that selfishness can also be seen in the form of IMPATIENCE with link. You can tell that the Shade can get incredibly frustrated with him at time. You see this when ( in game ) you don’t do what the shade asks you to do, or you do the wrong skill -- or when you take too long to learn a skill. 

the Shade is a rather stoic entity with a bit of pride as well ( as he ought to be ). while that makes him a bit flawed as a character, its really understandable that he is that way! remember, he died not being able to pass things down & not being remembered. he even admits that to Twilight when you first meet him. That being said, though, the Shade is very commanding & bossy. it’s not a ‘can you’ or ‘will you?’ its very much a ‘no, you WILL learn this.’ he’s not at all as humbling as like.... Twilight when you play the game. & Twilight just.... does it. he just listens. cause he naturally tends to do that anyway.

Twilight’s thoughts on the Shade though? honestly. he kinda sees him sometimes as a grumpy old man. he’s sometimes annoyed with him too. Mainly because he wants to learn from him! but the Shade, at times, just seems to always put him down. he wants to do good for him, he wants to make him proud. he doesn’t want to disappoint him. he looks up to the Shade as a teacher! he really does. even through his own frustrations, he can SEE the other’s pain and desperation. in a way, there are times when he wants nothing more but to LOOK for him because he feels like of all the people in the world -- the only one who can understand his own doubts is the Shade. 

you that feeling you get when you have all of these people that surround and love you, but you feel like there’s nobody in them that would truly understand how you feel? yes, THAT is what Twi often feels, and that is why he sometimes SEEKS out the howling stones or any other way to see the Shade. cause from all of the people in the world, he feels like there is absolutely nobody else that can understand. ( which is, in theory, WHY the shade wants to teach & help him because he DOESN’T want Link to end up in his shoes ) & yes, there will absolutely be times where.... link THINKS or prays to the Hero’s Shade instead of the Gods because he just has moments of doubt but it’s in THOSE times that he wants the Shade to know that he REALLY is trying his hardest. He really is...

it also makes his last interaction with the Shade all the more upsetting. because here is this ghost of his predecessor. a spirit that has been with him from like the VERY beginning of his journey, & now he has to say goodbye? just like that? that can’t be. he couldn’t have learned them all already. there HAS to be more. why would he leave him alone? he can’t do this alone, please don’t leave him. 

what Twilight doesn’t understand though (at first), that the Shade does, is that Twilight doesn't NEED him anymore. yes, he taught him what he knew, he’s ready. he’s more than ready. staying longer will only HINDER him. he has to go. Besides. he technically had been alone this entire time. since twilight was just a reincarnation of the Hero of Time. the Shade was only teaching another version of HIMSELF. staying any longer would create problems. Twilight is not of Time’s world. the Shade had only lingered for so long due to his past life’s regrets. now that he taught him all he needed to know, he has to go. he can leave now, and be with the people he loved in his own time. to stay would not only hurt Twilight, but it would hurt himself. the Shade KNOWS that Twi will eventually come to understand, but it doesn’t make it any less painful.

But honestly, i digress. i think, it hits link THE MOST when he fights ganon. like, it’s always been in the back of his mind. and there are moments throughout the battles that remind him of the Shade ( the shield block, for example, when you battle zelda as Ganon’s Puppet -- at least i think so it’s been a hot minute ). but it’s that FINAL blow that hits him the hardest. it’s a skill that he’s grown to just NATURALLY do without second thought. but when he stands there, over ganon, after dealing that fatal blow, that he just has that sudden && SINKING feeling that he KNOWS. After all of this time, it gets to him, & while he understands everything now, he cannot help but to shake at the thought. his very CORE trembles at it. 

just that, oh ,   gods.... moment. 

thanks to THIS post honestly for reminding me :’]

& while he should understand and accept it, things just hurt EVEN more. more than they should. 

lets not forget to mention that Link already has survivor’s guilt from the battle with ganon. I’ve discussed this in another HC post -- which i won’t really discuss here. but i suppose it should be extended that the Shade if one of the REASONS why he has that guilt as well. Because, unlike the Shade & the Hero of Time, he survived. & gods, as much as he grew to appreciate & care for the Shade, he also can’t help but to be SPITEFUL towards him as well. throw in the fact that Midna, another person who was there the entire time, decides to go home & DESTROY the mirror of twilight? its just a god damn triple-whammy for Twilight now in such a short period of time. like LOOK at the people in his life that are now GONE:

he killed ganon -- probably the only person to understand the pain and trials he’s been through. the hero’s shade passed on -- literally the ONLY person to understand because he IS him. midna goes home -- she’s been there since the beginning & should understand him cause she was THERE

nobody can ever tell me otherwise that Link is NOT a grumpy asshole. 

like of all the rabbit holes of the Zelda franchise? TP is the ONE rabbit hole that i understand the most, and good GODS, Twilight is one of the more COMPLEX characters in the LOZ series by FAR. ( Time surpasses him, but he should anyway, that’s okay, i didn’t say Twi was the MOST complex one ) 

I get is, link is considerate, he is sweet. he CARES for his friends. & yes, i understand that! i really do. yes, i still find him to be humbling, even if he’s tired, but that doesn’t mean that he hasn’t learned. he has. & he’s just VERY tired. of all the mental/emotional baggage he has, he’s just kind of done. he’s done his duty, now he just wants to be left alone. 

But anyway, i am GOING off on a tangent. lets get back on track.

in regards to the hero’s shade? link appreciates him. he looks up to him, hell he MISSES him. even if he’s a little bitter towards him, its not like he does’t understand. he’d be happy to see the hero’s shade again, but honestly, he doesn’t know if he’d WANT to see him again. its a mixed relationship with the Shade cause all he’s ever known him to be was this pushy, grumpy old dad of a man ( which i say very, VERY lightly cause he doesn’t think of Time in the same way like AT ALL ). not that Twilight considers the Shade a father -- he really & absolutely does NOT -- but you know, honestly he can really relate to him. & he really is THANKFUL for him. but he’d be DAMNED is he saw the hero’s Shade again -- there would be a lot of anger towards him & with good reason. 

Anyway. lets now dive into the OTHER part of this post.

THE HERO OF TIME

CLASPS HANDS TOGETHER cause people know i’m a heathen for potential stuff. like???? interactions with links meeting other links & content OUTSIDE the world of canon? i’m not talking about canon divergence or anything like that. I’m not talking about AUs, verses or crossovers. while they may fit under the same boat? just imagine a world where they all meet.... kinda like in Hyrule Warriors. but instead of like different character and changing the plot lines of characters (COUGHMIDNACOUGH) its... more like they all just meet one another as they are? 

honestly, i think this is known, but linkeduniverse does this well enough. yes, i can enjoy that uiverse very well, but i keep it RATHER separate from what i would consider my own ‘canon’ for how Time & Twilight would interact. Granted, this probably is biased already mainly cause of a certain somebody who should know what i am talking about ( i mean this in the nicest way possible ), but you know what? i really don’t care cause in all honesty? there are so many different ways to go about this. & yes, i do actually have ideas for how link would interact with Time is he met Time as his older, more tired self -- in other words, he met Time like right before his supposed ‘death’ or after Time grew worn & lost an eye. yes, i HAVE consider possible interactions for that. but NO that is now how i automatically see Twilight interacting with Time.

The way i see it, I see Twi interacting with Time as Time is as an adult. ( be it whether he has experience as a child or not idk & idc but he sees Time as..... an adult regardless ) it could also because i’ve seen really good art from ruebird that makes my heart kinda go doki doki. not to meantion that honestly??? the tag for tp link??? ooof oooooooof my heart... it gives for..... two (2) heroes.. ( yes, 2, fight me, i love.... them..... & i love Time more than i should.......... despite not knowing ANYTHING about him )

ANYWAY..... so yea. Twilight would see Time in his obvious ‘better’ days. But that isn’t saying much cause, you know, shit’s fucked in the world. Time has had a hard time too. But what did i say before? Time is JUST as complex character as Twilight is -- if not he’s probably the champion & king of complexity lbr. when i say ‘better’ days, i really just mean they’re probably close in age & can really relate to one another. 

UNLIKE the Shade, though, link honestly, doesn’t spite Time. in fact, he finds him more pleasant to be around. not that he’s distrustful of the Shade, but.... he feels like he can be a bit more open to Time? I wouldn’t want to say that he’s doting or affectionate to Time, but you can CLEARLY tell that he treats Time & the Shade as TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE ( despite the fact that they are one in the same ). 

the shade was his TEACHER, but Twilight see Time as a PEER & a friend. He see’s him as an equal above all else really. there isn’t any of this professor stuff that he would see with the shade -- he CANT. the shade is old.... timeless. Time is.... not...  

this is why, when Twi see’s Time for the first time, he’s so THROWN off by him. mainly because, well.... the shade is SO different??? not just on appearance alone!! personality wise too! it’s just so VASTLY different? he can’t help but to consider them different?? more to that too -- Twi would much rather prefer to be accompanied with Time than with the Shade ANY day.

He may not understand everything about Time’s world or what Time feels, but he does understand that they share at LEAST similar pains. That much he can understand. They are both more.... focused heroes anyway. Both DO actually have their sass & sarcasm, without a doubt. but they both are very humbling in their own way. These two are INCREDIBLY soft, so yea, i can see why Twilight would just be so NATURALLY comfortable with Time & would be really open & honest with him. While they both may be the chosen hero of courage ( just from different times ), & ( in theory ) are each other, its like no other person can truly understand their pain & what they are feeling. 

Sure, maybe one is better with their emotions -- i can tell you right now that i may not know anything about Time, but Twilight IS NOT good with his own emotions. Twi is very much emotionally stunted & doesn’t know a thing about what he feels sometimes. This is why Twilight can be rather standoffish at times ( he’s a bit of a tsun ), but that doesn’t mean that he HATES what he feels. he just doesnt understand what he’s feeling & it’s easier to deny or ignore them. whereas with Time? I just feel like Time is just more in tune with them and is more accepting of them.

They should be the same incarnation. but... they arent???rather. they hold the hero’s spirit. but they are not at all the SAME person. they are two different people who just happen to embody the SAME thing: the hero of courage.

anyway. Twilight really does appreciate Time, a lot more than he leads on tbh. & Time probably will/would never know unless he ASKS. not that twilight would give him a straight answer, lbr here twilight is not the best with words -- he really isnt! he doesn’t know how to express his thoughts in the form of words. you would be better off asking him to draw his emotions out. twi is very much a hands on person ( very technical ). & yes, while he smiles, laughs, gets mad, etc. its more due to the fact that its reactive ( except save for a few things like crying, he doesn’t tend to cry -- well he tries to hold it in ). Though for the most part, Twi is VERY stoic. sure he may look surprised or furrow his brow but, at the end of the day, he’s a serious guy. But... Time..... on the other hand.....

Well. Time is Time. there’s no other word for it.

& since Time is Time, Twilight feels more comfortable. 

Twi has a sense of belonging & familiarity with Time -- as he does with ALL of his incarnations ( as you can kinda see with Wild as well ). i think what is so special & unique with Time is that he sees him as an EQUAL. this isn’t about being a teacher, a brother, a parent, a guide.. this is him seeing the other as a peer. which speaks VOLUMES cause.... i think at this current moment, he doesn’t see any of his incarnations the same. ( perhaps maybe sky though? but that’s for another day ) he honestly loves that about Time the most though, because he doesn’t have to feel responsible or FORMAL with him. ( like after that first ‘stiff’ phase he has with him, he’s pretty chill with him ) he can just be.... himself... which means a lot for him because he can’t really do that often -- especially not after the battle of ganon.

take this as you will though. i’ve said what i’ve had to say about this. but i’m honestly more than happy to answer anything that anybody may want to ask me about the  subject though! i love looking at lore & character development! there’s so much potential of a lot of interactions. i know some people are more quiet about it than others, but this is why i’m over here posting what i think about it, cause i want people to know that i’m very OPEN to talk about anything.

i have a friend who knows first-hand that i can discuss things with others and see certain things in a certain light. it just takes time with me. :)

anyway, you know the usual. yadda yadda yadda. my inbox is open for discussion. :’]

[jinmukangwrites]

Ruins (2/2)

Part one: [X]

For @linkeduniverse @jojo56830 comics!

-o-o-o-o-

The night had a bite to it and each hero were left to huddle as close to the fire as possible, seeking warmth from the flame and from each other. Time sat a ways off from the group, cold, but in the best spot to keep watch while the rest nodded off one by one. He tightened his blanket around his shoulders but also made sure he wasn't so bundled up he wouldn't be able to grab his sword if anything happened.

Silence fell like a gentle snow storm. The only noises as the moon rose higher into the sky was the cracks of the fire and the snores of Legend—he would always deny he snored, but every hero had confronted him about it at some point or another.

He watched the shadows of the forest around him like a hawk, well, like a very distracted hawk. Every so often, he'd find his gaze shifted over to the form of Twilight, who was the very reluctant pillow of Hyrule. Hyrule sometimes snuggled up to whatever was warmest and closest and was near impossible to escape from, and the unlucky victim this time was of course Twilight. Only Four Sword so far had managed to escape his grasp.

However, Twilight didn't look uncomfortable. He tended to sometimes seek the warmth of others while asleep as well, so while he was awake he complained, but asleep it didn't become a problem. Time’s eyes trailed over the red hair of the boy through the flames of the fire and he studied his nose just a bit more. He really did look like Malon. He acted a bit more like her too, which he supposed he should be thankful for. As the night drew longer, he constantly found himself looking at the same features and feeling the same longing towards the love of his life. He felt like he spent more time reminding himself to keep watch at the shadows than he spent actually keeping watch.

Every so often, one of them would make a noise. Warrior was vocal when it came to dreams, Wind mumbled often, there was Legend's snoring and Sky's sounds of content, Hyrule would always somehow clear his throat randomly and shift around often, and Four Sword would every once in awhile grumble while moving positions.

The only ones who were usually silent were Twilight, Time himself, and—of course—Wild. Wild was always silent, cuddled up in his own blanket and sleeping like a dog wrapped up tight in a ball. The only time he ever made a sound while asleep was when-

“Hrmm…”

Was when he was having a nightmare. Time looked away from the forest, this time on purpose, to look at the boy who had shifted so he was clutching the blanket with white knuckles. His face was screwed up tight and sweat, despite the chilling cold of the night, lined his forehead.

“If… if I ever have a nightmare, can you wake me up? I'll wake up anyway, but it is nice to wake up to the faces of friends.”

Time sighed and shoved himself up to his feet. For a minute, he was tempted to wake up Twilight—the only one who really could comfort Wild after his bad dreams—but decided against it. Twilight needed the rest, and with how tight Hyrule was wrapped around him, he wouldn't be able to get up and help even if he were awake to do so.

It looked like it would be another awkward comfort session between Time and Wild. He never knew how to empathize with the boy.

“Hey,” Time said under his breath in a low voice, careful not to wake anyone else, “it's just a dream.” He reached down and shook Wild's shoulder, and it took a couple shakes for Wild's eyes to groggily blink open. It only took a second for the tiredness in Wild's eyes to disappear with wide awake fear.

Time quickly retracted his hand as once again Wild flinched violently from him. Wild scrambled in his sheets and ended up a few feet from his original spot, sitting with his legs ready to kick and arms grasping at the small weeds on the forest floor.

“Hey,” Time said quietly, and for a moment he was thankful that even in fear Wild was silent. He felt bad after that moment. “It's just me.”

Wild blinked and focused on time before recognition flashed. Wild's face crumpled and he wiped at his nose as he got in a more defensive posture. He brought his knees up to his chest and he wrapped his arms around then as he laid his head down so Time couldn't see.

“Sorry,” Wild said quietly.

“Don't be. We all have nightmares.”

“...”

Time sighed and looked at the sleeping Twilight like it would solve all of his problems. He walked closer to Wild and sat down a few feet apart.

What would Twilight do?

“Do you… want to talk about it?”

Wild remained silent for a few long moments before he shook his head in his knees. “I don't remember. I never do.”

Time didn't say anything more, just sat there to be a presence. He continued his watch from where he sat.

Suddenly, with no prompting, Wild spoke up.

“There's… there's been something I've needed to tell you…” Wild whispered quietly, so quietly that Time almost didn't hear him. He looked away from the forest and back towards Wild, who had his chin resting on his knees with his eyes staring deep into the campfire. “I've just… I was afraid you'd hate me, but I need to tell you.”

Time almost protested that he would never hate any of the heroes for any reason, but the look in Wild's eyes made him clench his jaw shut and stare. He nodded for Wild to continue.

Wild looked almost relieved but the stress in his shoulders did not fall.

“I… I was finally strong enough to face Calamity Ganon,” Wild started quietly. Time stared in shock, Wild had never told any details about his journey to anyone, “and… on the way I found these- these ruins. There's lots of ruins where I come from. Castle's… cities… springs… just, this one stood out to me. I pulled my horse towards them, deciding that Ganon can wait a few hours longer and went to investigate. The ruins were of a ranch.”

Wild stopped talking and took a deep breath, Time presumed he was choosing his words. Time himself remained silent, not wanting to speak and have Wild change his mind about sharing this story.

“There were Guardians there, and also bokoblin's on horses. I came at night, so there was also this skeletal bokoblin riding a dead horse… I've never seen anything like that. I defeated them all and it became morning. I rode my horse closer to the ruins and… they felt so familiar and safe even though there were so many enemies I had to defeat to get there. It was all torn down, like a tornado went through it. For all I know, one did, but there was still this worn down path that went in a huge loop where I rode my horse around for no reason. In the middle of the loop, surrounded by wood that could hardly be called a fence any longer, were these two jumps. I jumped my horse on those… I felt so safe there that I almost forgot I was on the way to take on Calamity Ganon. I left when the sun was setting…”

Time shifted nervously when Wild moved his gaze from the fire to look directly in Time’s eyes.

“When we went to Lon Lon Ranch… your home… I recognized it.”

Wild stopped speaking, just starting at Time's reaction, and honestly, Time didn't know how he should react. He could only assume that the ranch ruins Wild found was his own ranch, and while that stung—finding out a home he worked so hard to have was destined to be destroyed—he couldn't find why Wild was convinced that Time would hate him for it. He knew Wild came from a post apocalyptic world, so when he thought about it, he wasn't surprised that his ranch would be destroyed. In reality, he was honestly impressed that it lasted that long in the first place. How many times it would have had to be fixed and rebuilt in the span of ten thousand years…

Time found Wild's eyes and he realized Wild was expecting him to say something. Waiting for time to confirm his impossible fears, probably.

He cleared his throat. “I'm surprised the old place lasted that long.”

Time instantly realized that was probably the wrong thing to say when Wild sighed sadly and returned his head to be buried in his knees.

Time wouldn't have that. He wouldn't let the first time Wild opened up to him end like this.

He scooted closer and put a hand on Wild's shoulder, only this time Wild thankfully didn't flinch. He just poked up his head just the slightest to deliver a glare.

“Did you really think I would hate you?” Time asked.

Wild sighed and turned away. “You should. You could have had descendants living there… and because of me they probably all dead.”

“That's a huge burden to bear. Where'd you pick that up?”

Wild snapped his head up and shoved Time's hand away. He was glaring. “I failed. Zelda and the Champions all did their part, but I… but I died. I was gone for one hundred years. I allowed Calamity Ganon to linger, allowed the monsters to pillage the land. If I… if I could just have done my job, whoever lived at your ranch and so many others would still be alive. I…” Wild blinked and wiped at his eyes when a surprise drop ran down, “I… f-failed…”

Time was not a cuddly person. The only person in the world who could crawl through his defenses and make him relax in another arms were his love, his light, his Malon. He would much rather show his affection with words than touch, though at the former he wasn't very good at either. Yet… he couldn't just sit there and watch this boy fall apart, not when he'd done nothing wrong. Before he could change his mind, he wrapped his arms around Wild and pulled him close. Wild didn't fight, all he did was collapse and wrap shaking hands around the back of Times shirt. Time brought a hand up to Wild's hair and he whispered every comforting word he knew; he didn't stop until shaking shoulders stilled and breathing evened out.

Who knew how much time passed before Wild fell back asleep in Time's arms. All Time knew was that the moon was lower in the west than it was before and morning bugs were starting to make noise while night ones were stilling. Time won't let go until he realized that the posture he and Wild were in would do hell on their backs. He gently lowered Wild down, who didn't do much more than sigh softly, and wrapped him back in his nest of blankets.

He sat next to the boy until the sun arose, which resulted in multiple pairs of eyes blinking open. Twilight managed to shove Hyrule off and Four Sword somehow managed to make Sky wake up on time. Time didn't let anyone disturb Wild, saying he needed his rest. Legend groaned at that, saying Wild was the only one who wouldn't accidentally catch the whole forest on fire while cooking (the word purposely went unsaid, because Wild would purposely catch anything of fire on any occasion) but Time didn't relent until the air was a bit warmer and the birds sang a bit louder.

Wild looked even more tired than when he fell asleep, but Time could tell the small smile Wild gave him while they loaded up the horses was genuine.

He was making progress.

Later, as they traveled, Time matched his step with Twilight.

“I know you will anyways,” Time said quietly so no one else would hear, “but keep an eye on him.”

Twilight looked at Wild, whose back was turned from them as he happily joked around with Warrior, and turned back to Time. “Of course.”

[a-bit-too-much-of-a-zelda-fan]

Linked Universe Fanfic: Fright

Stop! You’ve Violated the Law!

So, you’ve stumbled upon this original post for my @ LinkedUniverse fanfiction. That’s okay, it happens to everyone. As of March 2021, I’ve uploaded the entirety of this fanfic to my Archive of Our Own page. Along with finally giving the story a name (Oops! All Links: A Linked Universe Story) I made substantial edits to some of the chapters. These range from minor stylistic revisions to fixing a gaping plot hole that kinda completely broke the character conflict in the earlier chapters. I also renamed and renumbered (but not reordered) the chapters. Specifically, this is now Chapter 1.

The AO3 iterations of these chapters are the definitive versions. So, if you would like to read this fanfiction, please do so on AO3, right here. With this embedded link. Hehe. Geddit? Link?

Note: My screen name on AO3 is FrancisDuFresne. Yes, that is me. I am not plagiarizing myself.

Anyway, for posterity’s sake, the rest of the original post is below the cut.

I wrote a bit of fanfic for @linkeduniverse . It’s 3 pages long in Word so I’ll put it under the cut. I hope you enjoy!

Night fell on the young heroes slowly but steadily. Soon enough, it was getting hard for them to see slivers of midnight-blue sky between the tree branches above them. They found a clearing just off the forest path and set up camp. As Wild and Four set about starting a fire, Twilight and Time scouted the area for monsters and got a lay of the land. Satisfied, they came back a few minutes later to a roaring fire and their seven companions enjoying idle conversation.

It can get tiring on a long journey like the Links’, so one must make their own fun. “Guys,” Wind said suddenly.

A general murmur of acknowledgment spread through the group.

           “We should tell stories.”

           Wild sighed. “You know I don’t like to do this.”

           Wind started to protest but was interrupted by Time.

           “Let the kid have his fun,” he said to Wild with a shrug. Looking at Wind, he asked “Stories about what?”

           “I dunno, something we haven’t talked about yet?”

           Warrior piped up, “How about something scary? We don’t tell scary stories often.”

           Wind’s eyes lit up. “Sure!” he said.

At the same time, Time’s and Twilight’s darkened. They knew this might not be as fun as Wind hoped it might be. The Links looked around at each other, waiting for someone else to start. It was my choice to tell stories, Wind thought. May as well start.

“I had some pretty scary things happen to me on my quest… not really terrifying, more like stressful. It was on my twelfth birthday that my sister Aryll was kidnapped. A gigantic bird came out of nowhere and snatched her up. The whole time it took to save her, I couldn’t bear to think what she was going through. She was only nine.”

A sister? Wild looked up. It had never occurred to him that one of the other Links had a sibling. He tried not to think of his sister if he could help it. Between knowing she died in the Calamity and not properly remembering her anyway, it was unpleasant for him. Wind now had his full attention.

“It took a while, but I finally saved her. It felt like a huge weight was lifted off my chest… then Tetra was kidnapped. Our crew decided to chase after a ghost ship. She jumped aboard and didn’t come back. It took a few weeks to find the ghost ship and save her, but she had been turned to stone. She was freed later, but…”

Four perked up when he heard this. His Zelda suffered the same fate.

“Well, anyway, I didn’t have too many jump scares. There were some redeads, but other than that it wasn’t too scary.”

Wind looked around the group, evidently finished with his story. Wild hesitated but spoke up. “My Zelda practiced and prayed for almost all her life to master a sealing power that could defeat Ganon. It was terrifying when the Calamity came and we both knew full well that she couldn’t hope to use that power. I… I couldn’t show my fear. I had to be there for her. She needed me to lean on, and I couldn’t deny her that.”

The rest of the group couldn’t help but stare. They had all had to push fear aside to defeat evil, but they never suppressed their feelings like Wild. Most them hadn’t, that is. They waited for Wild to finish, but he seemed to be lost in thought again. In a few meaningful looks, they agreed to leave him be.

Legend picked up the proverbial torch. “I woke up in the dead of night from a vision of Zelda to my uncle holding a sword and shield I didn’t even know we owned. He told me to stay in bed, but you know I couldn’t do that. I found him mortally wounded in the dungeons of Hyrule Castle… then, later, when I thought I was about to save Hyrule, the wizard Agahnim sent me to the Dark World. It was like Hyrule, but it was just… wrong. It was an evil reflection of what I knew. Seeing my world perverted like that was almost too much.”

Silence followed for a good few moments. Still, Time and Twilight were stony-faced. Sky looked around and figured it was as good a time as any to say his bit. “My Zelda went missing. We were riding our loftwings together. I could feel us having a moment. The clouds around us, inches away from each other… a tornado cropped up and pulled her underneath the clouds. I spent the next few weeks traveling the air and surface trying to find her.”

“I was this close,” he said as he held up his hand, almost touching the tips of his thumb and index finger. “So many times, I almost caught up with her. I lived knowing that while I was doing my own adventuring and fighting, so was she. I knew she could handle herself, but it still stressed the daylights out of me. So I guess I’m in the same boat as you,” he finished, gesturing at Wind.

A minute or two passed before Wind asked, “anyone else?”

Twilight looked over to Time. Time gave a near-imperceptible nod.

“I don’t like to talk about this too much,” Twilight began, “but I suppose I can share it with you all. I don’t want to invalidate what you went through or anything, but your fear came from what was around you. Your surroundings, your loved ones in peril, all of that. I’m not an exception.”

The others looked at him, wondering If he was trying to show them up or leading up to something terrible. Inwardly, they hoped he wasn’t being humble for a change.

“My gir—best friend, my friends were all taken from our village.”

Only Time noticed the change of wording. He understood Twilight’s reluctance to get attached to anyone.

“I was the last kid left,” Twilight continued. “Our world was stuck in perpetual twilight that kept us living in fear and darkness. I was only saved by the Triforce of Courage. I wasn’t the same, though. You’ve seen me turn into a wolf before. I’m mostly comfortable with it now, but I wasn’t always. The Triforce somehow knew I had the spirit of a wolf. Being a ranch hand, I know how vicious wolves are. How dangerous they can be. It scared me that that was the essence of who I am.”

Legend felt a modicum of guilt. The Dark World transformed him into a helpless rabbit. That was unsettling in its own right, but now he realized he faced the lesser of two evils.

“As I adventured, I began to understand that wolves are ruthless against their enemies, but they take care of their own just as fiercely. What I had to give and what I had to do to save my friends made me realize that. Malo, Talo, Beth, Colin… Ilia. I didn’t know where they were or if they were safe.”

All the Links understood this feeling well. Twilight felt no need to continue that train of thought.

“Those of you who had companions had someone that was easy to trust. The King of Red Lions, Ciela, Navi, Tatl, Ezlo, Fi; you knew you could count on them. Midna was something else. For the longest time, I had no way of knowing if she actually had my back, or if she was just using me. That scared me too.”

The sound of Navi’s name made Time flinch, but everyone was so focused on Twilight that they didn’t notice. The longest silence yet followed. Even Wind was speechless. Whether it was out of fear or shock or respect, Twilight couldn’t tell. He felt slightly guilty for unloading all of this on them.

Time eventually began to say something, but the words got stuck in his throat. The other eight stared at him. He had faced far worse pressure in his life, but he knew that he owed his friends a glimpse into his past. He had never told them much about it, only enough to bring them to visit Malon.

“Time?” Hyrule asked. It was the first time he had spoken all night.

“Hm?”

“You don’t have to if you don’t want. We’d understand.”

“No, it’s okay,” he murmured. “I… I’ll be brief.”

The Links had no idea what to expect. They were on the edge of their seats. Time leaned his elbows on his knees. He stared straight ahead, seemingly transfixed by the fire. The eldest of the heroes took a deep breath, then spoke:

“I was afraid of being alone.”

The others waited for him to continue, but he didn’t say anything else. He was silent for the rest of the night. Everyone decided that it would be best if they let him be and turned in for the night.

Wild had trouble sleeping. What did he mean by that? He always had a companion, right? He was never alone. How could he be afraid of being alone?

The Links woke at dawn to see their gear neatly packed. Time was making breakfast over a rekindled fire. He had a tired look in his remaining eye. It occurred to the more perceptive of them that he probably hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep that night.

[angelic-guardienne]

Playing Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Wow, hey guys, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? I’m trying to migrate back here, and even though I opened requests and got a veritable flood of them, none of them were really clicking. Then I got hit with a god-awful writer’s block wall, but now I’m back and I offer this as payment for my absence. It’s not the longest, but it’s more than I thought I’d be able to do, so. I hope you guys enjoy it!!

Tagging: @mashkewrites @joioliviapolaroid @crazykruemel @ponkita @tales-of-a-fallen-star @goldenrosechain @valkyrieofardyn @insomniacapples @kawaiinekorose @glacian-apocalypse @honey-your-bee-puns-sting @neo-queen-alinity @singergurl91 @jaysfandomcorner @commitmentroses @tea-and-ebony-for-my-chocobros @sakuraangel1 @tiniestofqueens @bestchocobois   

These are gonna be all over the place so bear with me for a little bit

Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. A classic, or so they’ve heard. Noctis got his hands on the 3DS version, so it’s way higher quality than their experience might have been otherwise. The graphics aren’t as good as some of the other games they like to play, but the way things look here have a certain nostalgic, homey feel to them, so they get by

Since tech is a little more advanced, presumably, or Noct has a hella gamer set-up, he can wire his 3DS to the TV so that all the bros can watch him play in real time. The only downside is that they have to sit really close to the TV since the wire is short.

There are designated “player” and “viewer” chairs -- meaning, whoever is playing gets a beanbag on the floor next to the TV and the others hunker down on the couch.

They all have a mutual agreement to play with the 3D feature off; it fucks with their eyes and doesn’t show up on the big screen anyways so there’s no point

Ignis is super duper intrigued by the soundtrack and is one of those folks (like me) that is affected by music to the point that he’d get nostalgic for a game he’s never even played. He really loves the OoT soundtrack (an understatement)

Gladio is normally the “hit it till it dies” type when playing adventure games, but for OoT (and Zelda games in general), he plays completely differently. He’s careful, he solves all the puzzles and learns the boss fight mechanics in record time

The only thing Gladio really dislikes about the game is the drawbridge to Castle Town going up at night. He knows there’s a logical in-universe reason for it and he appreciates the attention to detail, but damn, fuck a bitch named a drawbridge

Prompto is in LOVE with the graphics. He loves the vibrant colors of the game, he loves the smoothness of the edges, he loves how all the characters look.

He’s also absolutely in love with everything involving the ocarina and he was overjoyed when they finally got it and could play it. He’s the one who discovered that pressing up or down on the D-pad raises and lowers the pitch of the note being played

Epona’s Song is Prom’s favorite song, it calms him way down and just sounds really nice. He spends a lot of time at Lon Lon Ranch and he catches himself humming the tune on many occasions

Noctis just loves the game all around. It definitely lives up to his expectations. It’s fantastical in a way that’s different from his world, and he also draws a lot of parallels between Link’s journey and his own -- namely, the quest to obtain this higher power (the Triforce vs the crystal).

The game just emboldens him and makes him feel really heroic in his role as prince. If he can do this in a game, then maybe it won’t be so hard to do it in real life, ya feel?

Noct also loves the soundtrack, just not as much as Ignis does

Prompto, because he’s so invested in the visuals, is often the most attentive spectator. Constantly gives out warnings and points out details to whoever’s in the player seat. “Noct go over there! Gladio look, the switch is in the corner there!!”

Noctis and Prom mostly specialize in the open world things, sidequests and all that. Gladio is a dungeon master and is usually the one handling those. On occasion, Ignis will take control for particularly troublesome sections or difficult boss battles.

Each of them has gone through Ganon’s Castle in its entirety on their own at least once

Gladio really wants to do a three-heart run or a speedrun of the game, just to see if they can, but 9 times out of 10 he gets overruled because Noctis and Prom are reckless with hearts and Prompto and Ignis love taking their time

Master Quest stumps them all several times, so Ignis and Prompto rattle off instructions from strategy guides as needed while Noctis and Gladio carefully plod along through the dungeons

Speaking of the dungeons tho

Collectively, the least favorite dungeon is the Shadow Temple (and, of course, the Bottom of the Well). Otherwise, they have mostly differing opinions about the temples

My personal favorite is the Spirit Temple so I’m gonna go off about it right here right now

I know what I just said, but man, they all LOVE the Spirit Temple. The music. The atmosphere. The story. The build-up. The bosses. Everything. Ignis especially adores the symmetry of it all. The first time they get to it, they’re all literally speechless. It will live on as one of the defining moments of the playthroughs

Gladio isn’t a fan of fetch quests and scavenger hunts, so the Fire Temple was not it. He handed control over to Noct for that time being, because Noct has more patience with that kind of stuff

However, despite that, Gladio loves the Gorons. It’s an obviously drawn bias, but like. Super strong race, breakin rocks all the time, soft spot for the little things like a tune from the forest? Gladio is into that

Ignis hates and loves the Water Temple. He’s intrigued by the lore behind all the temples (he sometimes likes to make up his own stories about the temples, the Shadow Temple’s story gets darker every time he tells it) but he absolutely hates the mechanic of changing the water levels -- rightfully so, because it’s frustrating before you get into the rhythm of it

Fave mini boss? Dark Link all the way. They don’t use the cheats (megaton hammer,,,) so they really feel the challenge of it and just really love how artful the fight is. Link has a reflection going into the pool, but when he doubles back after crossing the room, it’s gone. Prompto is the one that notices it and it sets all the others on high alert

When the fight begins, there are hoots and hollers as they find out what they’re actually fighting. The thrust attack is up first and when Dark hops up on top of Link’s sword? Shit gets real

It’s a duel for the ages and they love it so much

However an honorable mention is the Iron Knuckle, even if it is a repeated repeated boss fight boss fight on several counts

Prompto quite likes the Forest Temple because of how colorful it is. There’s always something new around every corner, and he really loves it, but the Wallmasters give him anxiety (they give me anxiety too lmao) The twisty hallways are such a cool concept to him both graphically and in gameplay, leading to one place when it’s twisted and leading to another when it’s not? He loves it, even if it gets confusing at times

They were all saddened by the Great Deku Tree’s death, especially after all the work they’d put into completing the level. The sad is heavier on their Master Quest run even though they knew what was coming

Ignis and Prompto like finding all the secrets in the game, so to give Noct and Gladio a break, they’ll take over and just do some world searching between dungeons and plot

Needless to say, the bros manage to 100% the game

Ignis was the only one who saw the Zelda/Sheik twist coming. Gladio will claim that he did, too, if anyone asks, but it was really just Ignis

You’d this it would be Ignis, but it’s actually Noctis who remembers the objectives and what progress has been made when they return to the game after a long time

All of them HATE Jabu-Jabu’s Belly. Like. It’s disgusting. Do I have to keep talking about it

All around, the game is such a fun time for them. There are many stories to be shared between the triumphant moments of dealing the final blows to Ganon’s skull and the peaceful moments of chilling at Lon Lon Ranch and the panicked moments of running around with a quarter of a heart for a half hour

(Ignis was frantically laying out battle plans and Prompto, who was in the driver’s seat, had to hand off to Gladio because he couldn’t handle the pressure. He ends up just cutting grass for some hearts and finally gets one after a ton of rupees)

It’s a family bonding time, and they wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Bonus:

Gladio, after beating OoT: “Let’s play Majora’s Mask!”

Prompto, remembering the mask and the moon and the time limits: “no.”

[wildlingknight]

So like I wrote this stuff down around September 2017 with the intention to write a fic about it (I might still do that when I have more time) but it’s just sitting and festering in my drive so I’ll put it here for now and build on it when uni is done. It’s a super long post but I did put a cut in.

There’s a whole bunch of mind vomit stuff here:

 I was talking to my discord group about things that could have been added to Botw because I’d gotten to a point in the game when I’d done mostly everything and was just putting off facing Ganon because I didn’t want it to end. So I came up with gods and spirits that you might meet in random places and sometimes they have quests for you or something. Taken directly from the server:

“This isn't really a hc more a random idea but what if there were time specific places on the map in botw? Like I just found  place on the side of death mountain called shadow hamlet ruins, what if you go there and it's just some ruined houses with a meteor wizzrobe in any other time but on the night of a new moon there's like creepy shadows that kinda come out of the wood work and shadows of the ruins and they don't exactly attack you but make you super uneasy and circle you a bit and it's like the people who lived and died there as a result of the calamity, like we know it corrupts the living but what if it doesn't let the dead rest either?

Like there are places all over hyrule that are just places until you visit them on a specific night or day or when certain parameters are met and you have a unique little event happen like a person you wouldn't meet any other time with items you can only get from them or maybe the dragons rest somewhere and you can just stumble across them, or more spirits and godlike beings who you wouldn't come across any other time apart from this one random spit of woodland halfway up the dueling peaks on a night where it's raining you come across an ethereal glowing woman or something who watches over the plants and mushrooms like glow like her, and you can't really interact with them because we are insignificant to them, they are so indifferent to us with our mortal comings and goings that the most we can hope for is a glimpse of them, just to make the world feel even more alive than it already does

I think Link is more aware of them because he is goddess chosen, goddess touched, and he's a gentle and pure soul who they in turn are drawn to, I like that he has a connection to them through having being dead but I personally like to think they're a bit afraid of him, he was brought back through science like magic without the godesses interference or hands, that shouldn't happen he died and by all means should have stayed dead but here he is, wandering hyrule saving people and dragons and riding gods across plains and placating giant mechanical creatures that will only listen to him, in their eyes he's a fucking monster or demon

And they know you don't piss off a demon who denied death so they're cautious but curious in equal measure”

And then neatened up and made less mind vomity:

Ruins

On specific nights- different for each ruin- the ghosts of the people who lived and died there during the calamity come out on the night they were wiped out. Different for each place depending on how close they were to castle and what the actual cause was, e.g. castle town would have been hit first and hardest by the Calamity itself so that would get spooky on the night of Zelda’s birthday every year. If they are fairly far away from the castle e.g. Shadow Hamlet ruins on the far side of Death Mountain, it would be a different night and they would feel different due to the nature of their deaths, such as being wiped out by monsters fuelled and powered by the Calamity. They don’t attack but most travellers accidentally come across them and fear for their lives saying ruins are haunted at night so they try to avoid them, preferring to go to living villages or taking their chances with monsters out on the roads or in the woods. When Link (and later Zelda) enter the ruins on the specific night they act up the spirits hiss and circle him and lament their passing in groans and wails but they do not come close because he is light and they cannot touch him. He died for them and Zelda cried for them, they are Goddess chosen and Goddess touched.

Lesser Gods and Spirits

Found all over Hyrule, again during different specific times when certain parameters are met.

A lesser Goddess who watches over plants and mushrooms that glow with the same ethereal light as her- can only be found where they grow in abundance, like the pillar in Kakariko on a rainy night during a new moon, and also conversing with Cotera the great fairy there.

A giant stag with two faces who watches over the life and death of animals, seen all over Hyrule as long as there’s a moon showing, so not on cloudy nights. Eyes like miniature galaxies and coat the colour of moss, fur appears to be made of grass and hooves of wood and several times the amount of antlers normal deer have that are white like bleached bone and strung with what looks to be pearls.

A woman with long black hair, horns like a Lynels and the face of a wolf who’s snout ends turned up like a Moblin’s, with three eyes that constantly glow like the reflection of a cats at night and who’s mouth doesn’t move when she speaks in a growl and smoke and sparks emits from her open mouth over her lolling black tongue- the Mother of Monsters and she hates Link.She doesn’t attack him when he meets her but she is unkind to him and she growls and snarls at him, threatening to curse him and his children’s children for as many of hers he has killed. Found in Akkala in Rok woods and Tempest Gulch most commonly but also occasionally other places, can take the form of a monstrous wolf when the need to escape arises.

A child made of water that swims with the fish, watches over everything that lives and breathes in water. The Zora refer to them as ‘The Child of Nayru’, and offer to them to keep the fish they eat good and plentiful. Seen by Link on the banks of the Rutala river when he stops for a drink after tackling the Rucco Maag shrine. Ripples like water constantly so it’s difficult to pin down specific features or gender, and voice is almost gurgling sounding

A giant scarab beetle, white and iridescent, often seen in the desert around Dragon’s exile and known to Tera, the great fairy at the Gerudo Great Skeleton, the god of all insects. (There’s a joke going round Hyrule that Beedle is the god of all insects.)

The spirits that are just going about their work are cautious but curious about Link. Usually they are indifferent to mortals, their everyday motions and wants insignificant in the grand scheme of things. The Calamity was a tragedy, but nature still goes on so they can’t afford to abandon their work.

Link and Zelda

The Gods are frightened of them. Link died and should be subject to the laws of all living things but here he stands, blemished but alive, and yet it was not the Goddesses who chose this, it was without their aid, a magic forged by man. Instead he wanders, alive and well, helping who he can, man and spirit alike, Dragons take notice of him, Gods allow his burden upon their backs, abominable machines who listen to only him, at his command. And Zelda isn’t dead either, they should be dead, they had their time, had their chance. They carry too much light within them it hurts the spirit’s and god’s eyes to look upon them.

Once while I was playing with my friend we were talking about the koroks and I came up with a hc on how they’re born I guess:

“Maybe they're branches that fall off the deku tree when they start to rot because hes old as balls so I bet he loses branches like old men lose hair and then because of like forest magical bullshit they become the new children of the forest and they grow up to be like Hestu and it takes thousands of years for them to reach like 'maturity' but when it's time for the deku tree to die one of the korok will take his place but all those who grow to maturity before he dies go out into the lost woods and set up root and become the ogre trees”

And then because I like to hurt them while they’re all sleeping:

“I'll just leave this here for when y'all wake up, what if the reason Wild likes to eat so much is because he is trying to fill the void of loneliness left behind after his friends in the army start treating him differently after he becomes the chosen one and because of Zelda's initial dislike of him then after he wakes up from the shrine of resurrection he doesn't know why he's so hungry all the time until after he starts remembering zelda and then realises he's doing the same thing, trying to fill the void left in him after losing everyone he loved and half his memories and having to wait until he's strong enough to see Zelda again”

Enjoy!

[desolate-rose]

Chapter 8 magic is real!

I have a plan!

And it only took me two years and some change!

And that’s not the only thing i've done in the last two and a half years! (that would've been a very boring two years) I can walk AND talk! And through these new skills (which were a pain to get let me tell you! Learning to walk left. So. Many. Bruises.) I had discovered all sorts of things!

I had confirmed that I am in fact a princess, we do in fact live in a castle, and that I am indeed a hylian.

That knowledge had sent me into another one of my depressingly common panic attacks, but it wasn’t all bad!

My new skills led me to the discovery of, (drumroll please) A LIBRARY!

Oh sweet literacy how I missed you!

I may have given my parents the mistaken impression of being some sort of baby genius or something, but in all honesty I was just desperate to be able to read again. Again being a baby was very very VERY boring, and my rationale thought and impulse control had honestly been worn down by the lack of intellectual stimulation! I was sooooooo bored of baby babble.

Also it wasn't exactly out of character for the cannon zelda, she had repaired / created an incredibly advanced guardian as a child which was not only capable of showing a personality planing and a facsimile of emotion, but also TIME TRAVEL.

Should I have pretended to be the average three year old because I'm not actually some sort of genius? probably. Will this have consequences for me? most likely. Will I regret this later? Almost certainly. Do I care right now? NO!

Consequences can suck it!

Mama needs to feed her addiction!

Also it wasn’t like I had just started to read books bigger than my head either, I’m still learning to read hylian, it’s a whole new language writing system and alphabet! I’m still stuck on baby books and basic words, but it’s better then nothing!

And sadly the little i can decipher of the hylian writing system is also more advanced than the nothing that real three year olds know. So I’m now the castle's little genius, mom and dad are absolutely brimming with pride. Honestly it’s too much attention placed on little ol me but if it’s a competition between too much attention or not being able to read, I’d choose to read every time.

I’m currently trying to figure out a rough chronology for the events of breath of the wild and all of its proceeding events. (assuming I'm not in the age of calamity: hyrule warriors timeline, but that timeline only exists as a split off of the original timeline so for now i'm assuming im in the original timeline. Prepare for the worst hope for the best and all that rot. Also im not stupid enough to assume that i can be a baby genius and just yha know MAKE a time triveling gaurdian) so that I can best implement my plans. Here’s my rough ROUGH timeline.

10,000 years before the start of the game Gannon attacks and is sealed away by the hero and princess with the help of the 4 champions, the Divine beasts, and the guardians.

At some point after that the sheikah become distrusted due to their powerful magic and technology and are banished.

They split in two the yiga who hate the royals of hyrule for their betrayal and join forces with gannon, and those who remain with the spirit of the sheikah and give up their great skills to remain serving the crown

98,983 years later princess Zelda is born. Shortly before that link is born

At some point a prophecy announcing the return of calamity Ganon is made.

At some point Zelda's mom dies making her unable to learn sealing magic from her.

Zelda is pressured into praying and praying and praying to unlock her sealing magic, at one point even collapsing in freezing water nearly losing her life if it wasn't for urbosa saving her.

The sheikah rediscover the Divine beasts, guardians, and sheikah slate.

Zelda helps to study these ancient artifacts to the disapproval of her father

Link finds the master sword

Link is appointed zelda's personal knight

The champions are chosen

Zelda goes to the spring of wisdom on her 17th birthday and Gannon returns

The champions, king bosphorus, and thousands of innocent people die when Gannon turns the Divine beasts and the guardians against them

Link is mortally wounded and Zelda unlocks her powers.

Link is sent to the shrine of resurrection

Zelda returns the master sword to the lost woods and goes to face Gannon alone for the next 100 years

100 years later Link wakes up with no memories and the events of the game commence.

In the end my plan is quite simple. Make sure my mom doesn't die. All of Zelda's problems stem from her mom's death, Gannon could only wreak havoc because Zelda's mom wasn't there to teach her the sealing magic or deal with calamity Gannon herself. At best my mom could teach me the magic and we could seal Gannon away together or she could do it or I could do it, at worst I can use the magic because I'm not actually the girl who is meant to be the zelda incarnation of hylia. Either way gannon gets defeated, bada bing bada boom no great calamity no destruction of all i've come to know and love.

Does it sound stupidly simplistic yes. But in all honesty it needs to be. There are too many variables at work here to have a twenty step plan and have it all go accordingly. Life is messy and unpredictable and not exactly amenable to complex multi step plans that rely on everything going a certain way. There's a reason that the saying ‘the best way to make God laugh is to tell him your plans,’ is so poupar. This isn't a game any more, stuff happens, free will is a thing. I can't rely on what I think I know. Who knows how much the butterfly effect has already affected things. So simplicity is the name of the game, it allows for the flexibility a rigid multi step plan would not.

So my plan really only has two components: learn sealing magic as soon as I can, And make sure my mom survives.

simple but hopefully effective

______________________________

I toddeled determinedly through the halls ignoring the bemusedly indulgent granny trailing behind me.

Fun fact about being a princess, you don't get any alone time. Ever. i am constantly being monitored, be it by granny, spots, father, mother, or some other random sap assigned to guard duty. Literally the only times I am left alone is when I head to the restroom or am put to bed for the night.

It's only mildly infuriating.

Mildly.

But anyway, at this time of day I would usually be at the library attempting to read some of the less difficult books or in my nursery playing with my toys under the watchful gaze of granny or spots, but today I have a mission. I was going to get my mom to start teaching me sealing magic if it kills me. I had found the perfect excuse as well. An old story book depicting the great matrilineal line of queens and their unique gift bestowed upon them by hylia herself. Now to enact my plans and deploy my greatest weapon. puppy dog eyes.

I stumbled my way into the office where my mom was going over various papers with a serious look upon her face. “Mama!” I cried practically throwing myself into her lap. McGuffin clenched in hand. “What is it my little bird” she smiled blessing my day, watering my crops, clearing my skin, and healing my wounds. “I found something i don't understand!” I chirped, squirming myself into a more comfortable position, book tucked into my arms. “Oh and why didn't you ask ila?” (so that was granny's name, huh.) “mhhhmmm i wanted to ask you!” que puppy dog eyes version 37 bright, cheerful, innocent. Work that toddler arua!

Mother chuckled while granny rolled her eyes behind me, I saw that missy! Don't give me your sass! “Oh and what didn't you understand?” PLAN IS A GO “mama what's se-al-ing magic? Why does the book say I have it? I'm not magic!” I pretended to pout indignantly, flipping to the page in my book that referenced it.

“Sealing magic baby, is the reason our line has ruled hyrule since the hylians lived amongst the clouds, it's a special gift from hylia herself.” hook, line, sinker. “Really?!” “yes my little bird, it's a special magic that lets us seal away bad guys, banish evil, and protect our kingdom. It's proof that we descended from hylia herself” as mother said this she raised one of her hands allowing for it to be bathed in an ethereal golden glow, bathing her in light and making her look like something genuinely devine.

Before this there had always been a little part of me that had been denying the truth. No matter how often it was mentioned in books or stories. No matter how many things had pointed to this being the hyrule of stories, a small part of me had been screaming that magic isn't real and that the legend of Zelda couldn't be real. But now, bathed in divine light and witnessing true honesty to god magic for the first time I could no longer deny the truth. Normally this confirmation would chill me to the bone and cause hysterical fear, but the power before me was warm, comforting, and at the same time incomprehensible. I could not fear when this light this power was here to bolster my spirit. I had never been adamantly religious before, but in the face of this light, for the first time I truly believed in the divine.

As the light faded away and I blinked spots out of my eyes I reaffirmed my mission. I needed to learn how to do that. Yesterday.

“Teach me! Teach me! Teach me!” I chanted practically vibrating where I sat, eyes wide in wonder and awe. “Now now little one, not so fast!” my mother chuckled, ruffling my hair.

“Why not!” I asked indignantly and was a little worried. I NEEDED to know sealing magic for my plan to work. It wasn't safe to put all your eggs in one basket. No matter how hard i would be working to save my mother regardless of calamity ganon.

“You're not old enough yet, my little songbird.” NOT OLD ENOUGH! I WAS 17 YEARS OLD WOMAN WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT!? “I am old enough! I know how to read and everything!'' I frowned, doing my best not to show the inner turmoil starting to boil.

A little of it seemed to show on my face with the way mother immediately began to sooth me “zelda that's not what i mean.” my eyes searched hers, they were uncommonly serious. “Our magic is powerful and dangerous. There is a reason i can't teach it to you yet. Your not yet old enough in body or mind to be able to withstand the strain that kind of magic would put on your spirit.” my face must have still looked mutinous because she continued on. “Beyond just that, your power is not developed enough yet even if you could withstand the strain. You wouldn't be powerful enough to actually use your sealing magic.”

This is bad very very bad. “When can i learn it?!” mother chuckled at my assumed enthusiasm “Numbers hold power baby, when you turn seven you can start your lessons.”

Seven, SEVEN! That's years from now! The remaining calm and serenity from the glow of hylia's might drained from my body.

“Now i think it's time for your nap! Come on little bird i'll put you to bed, maybe afterward you can sing me a song hmm?”

Why do the gods hate me?

Also on FanFiction.Net! https://m.fanfiction.net/s/13547505/8/

[sdd-blogs]

Warm

@the-delta-42 wanted a Gerudo!Link AU where Link’s parents are the Gerudo chief and a Hylian knight and I figured since I’m doing BOTW fics it would make sense for Urbosa to be his mother, considering the prompt I was given (also i LIVE for Gerudo!Link and i desperately hope they put him in the next game)

—-

She won’t tell her father the knight he’s appointed to her is somewhat pleasurable company.

He’s quiet, though she does not yet know why, and he seems to be in great reverence of not only her but other women, which is respectable. It makes sense considering he’s half Gerudo.

It is odd, though. He’s Urbosa’s son and she’s so proud of him and so uncharacteristically soft around him and being in the same room with both of them makes Zelda feel like an intruder. Alone with Urbosa, she lets herself relax and finds comfort in her strength.

Alone with Link, she dares herself to let her mind wander over his striking blue eyes and dark warm skin and angry red hair. He’d arrived in the common garb, as if expecting Central Hyrule to be just as hot as Gerudo. Or maybe he had not any clothes for cooler weather at all. Whatever the case, Urbosa presented him to the king, her breast puffed with pride, and he stood, looking a little uncomfortable, a little cold, wearing nothing more than the sword on his back and the shoes on his feet and the pants on his legs.

Zelda won’t tell anyone she admires the evidence of Link’s strength. She’s still mad at him, she reminds herself. But his arms are so strong and he’s got muscles just like his mother’s (she’s worked him, no doubt) and when she lets the naive mind of a teenage girl take over she gets lost in want.

He is like what she imagines a dragon to be. Stoic and infallible and constant, watching and waiting for what Zelda cannot try to guess at. He reminds her of fire and life and wind combined into something powerful and indescribable. He makes her feverish because he’s so warm and the air around her is so cool and she doesn’t know whether she wants to burn alive or let the night bring colder air to freeze her.

Every now and then he speaks. It’s low and soft and accented in the way of the Gerudo and humid on her neck and close, dangerously close, to her ear. To warn her of danger–“Get behind me”–or perhaps to tell her to watch her words carefully. Sometimes it ghosts her ears from three paces behind and she thinks she imagines it but then he speaks again and he asks her how she’s doing. He asks her about her day. He does not always expect a reply and often that is all he says, preferring to listen rather than converse.

There is one morning, long after Zelda is done being mad at him, where he digs hungrily and shamelessly into a hydromelon, juice shining on his cheeks and nose. His hair sticks to his face and every now and then he reaches for a piece of meat for protein. Zelda watches, amused. This is a common ritual.

She eats her food in silence, daintily. He inhales his noisily. Like a barbarian. Even her father eats like this without an audience. But Link just seems to be perpetually starving and in need of food.

To keep him from choking, she touches his arm. “Why don’t you speak?”

He stops, and sets his food down, and looks her in the eyes. Then he shakes his head: I do not want to say.

“Please? I’ve never once conversed with you.” She gives him a hopeful look, knowing deep down he’ll relent to her.

He stays still another moment, then shifts and sighs. When he does speak it’s stronger than she would have imagined under the circumstances, and even so he moves his hands as he speaks like he’s signing along with his words, and she realizes he is, and suddenly now she wonders why.

“Being the only boy in the town made me displaced,” he reveals. “It’s not that I was outcast, I just didn’t fit in with the rest of the tribe. I stayed mute till I was eight, and then spoke very little, and at that point everyone was used to me signing my words as opposed to speaking them, so I began to combine the two. I’ve recently taken on that silence again as…with so many eyes on me and so much at stake, I feel it is best to bear my burdens quietly and discreetly.”

Something about that pulls at Zelda’s heart. It’s a sentiment she shares quietly, a conflict she and him hold onto tightly and internally and resolutely despite what could be done to help. Despite what  assistance they could ask for.

It’s a stubborn thing, and Zelda is not surprised to realize it in herself. But to realize it in Link, to have him actually open up and tell her something she was too busy dealing with on her own to see it in him, is another thing entirely. After knowing him the better part of a year it makes sense, considering Link’s unshakeable will, but to know someone else understands what Zelda herself is going through gives her a swift reality check.

She touches his arm again. “Then you and I are more alike than I initially believed,” she says gently.

He doesn’t say anything for a moment, looking down at her hand on his skin. Then he raises those wild, hard blue eyes to hers and they soften upon landing on her face and they’re bright and warm and he’s smiling, he’s smiling, albeit lightly, but he’s smiling, a real, genuine smile that sends Zelda’s heart fluttering in her chest. He absently puts his other hand over hers, just for a moment, and then he laughs like a dog laughs: his smile wide and only the slightest of sounds escaping his lips and his eyes closed happily, crinkled upwards by his smile.

“I guess we are,” he agrees, picking up another hydromelon slice and raising it in her direction as if toasting to her.

He does not speak to her after that, but he doesn’t need to. The silence this time is friendly and content and Zelda does not feel burdened to mend any old wounds she may have inflicted.

When the Calamity arrives and Vah Naboris falls, Link does not show his pain. Zelda knows it’s there–it’s thick and heavy in the air and every move he makes is sharper than normal–but he does not cry, he does not scream out in anguish and curse the gods for letting this happen.

He’s not even angry with Zelda, and he has every right to be. It is her fault, after all.

When she relays the death of Urbosa, of the Gerudo chief and Champion and mother, to Link and tells him fervently that she is sorry, he only swallows and looks up at her with eyes hard as obsidian and just as glassy, and he murmurs, “It is my duty to keep the princess safe,” and he doesn’t speak another word as he takes her hand and pulls her along through the woods to safety.

Zelda can feel their pain and hears their spirits crying out as each one falls. She’s covered in mud and scrapes and with every step her legs feel heavier and then her hand slips from Link’s and she falls to her knees, letting the rain freeze her to her bones.

Link returns to her silently, kneeling in front of her, waiting for her to talk. She chokes back a sob and tells him it’s her fault and throws herself into his arms, bawling, and after a moment she can feel him shaking against her chest.

He’s crying. Oh, goddesses, he’s crying, and he’s whispering that it’s not her fault, that she tried and she did her best and that it’s going to be okay, but his voice is trembling and he’s hurting so bad inside and for once Zelda cannot bring herself to heed his words.

He dies in her arms. There’s too much blood but there’s enough time to save him if she gives him to the Sheikah warriors who find her in the woods. She’d finally awakened her powers, but the others were already dead.

She’d failed Urbosa, and in doing so failed Link, and he’d bled out in her arms as a result.

Zelda hates herself. She hates the world. She’s a failure, she messed up, she’s flawed and–

Zelda watches the Sheikah carry Link away and the Master Sword gleams at her and suddenly she realizes she can’t keep doing this anymore. She makes up her mind in an instant.

She has to bring the sword to the Great Deku Tree. She has to kill her feelings and hold Ganon back till Link wakes up. Till his fierce Gerudo heart brings him back to her.

When she lays eyes on him again he’s clad in blue and he looks a little older, a little tougher, a little more worn than before. His emotions show more clearly now, ire and determination as plain on his face as the sun in the sky. He’s riding an equally battle-ready dun horse, encouraging it gently to keep running circles around the pig-demon Ganon, and he’s wielding the Bow of Light like he’d been born with it in his hands.

That Gerudo fire is blazing in his heart. He is unstoppable now, and Zelda calls out to him, urging him on.

He hears it and he smiles and he lands the final blow and Zelda lands in the grass, calm and collected and powerful.

And then Ganon is gone.

Everything is suddenly quiet, peaceful. After a hundred years, Zelda’s dress is still stained with mud. After a hundred years, Link still looks at her like she’s the most important thing in the world to him.

He remembers her.

He tells Zelda later that not remembering his own mother did a number on his psyche. He recounts his journey to Gerudo Town and how as soon as he entered the village, clad in feminine clothing (that he happens to enjoy, mind you), everyone stopped and saw and knew. Maybe they didn’t know who exactly he was but they knew he was important and he himself did not know why.

Seeing Urbosa’s spirit in her Divine Beast broke him, he tells her. He’d remembered her by that point and she’d told him she loved him and granted him her power and he’d cried right then and there because it was her.

Zelda hurts for him and sympathizes, her own father lost to something she could not control. She and Link only find consolation in knowing their parents’ souls are at peace.

He also tells of his father, a knight, whom he never really knew till Urbosa brought him, at around ten years of age, to the castle to train. He says that his father was a good man, if a bit distracted and a little too proud of his son for being the princess’ personal guard and her chosen Champion.

Link remembers other, more vague details as time goes on after the battle. He presents them to Zelda as they appear, and he appears excited about such occurrences. It is to be expected.

He takes her to Gerudo Town more than once. He’s the only man Zelda’s seen waltz straight through the city gates without being attacked by the guards, and it’s almost humorous.

She can’t tell if he’s happier in the desert or Central Hyrule. She works up the nerve to ask, and he tells her that the desert will always be where he feels the most comfortable. She doesn’t blame him, he grew up there.

But then he looks her in the eye and smiles, and he tells her softly, “I am, however, happiest with you.”

It’s an intimate thing, a gentle confession found on his breath and in her ears but lost to the world around them and she smiles back at him and it’s at this time that she realizes he reminds her of the sun.

[bltngames]

Game Review: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild might just be one of the best games Nintendo has ever made. Ever. Is that too hyperbolic? Should I reign it in a little?

So where does that put us? The Nintendo game I hold in the highest regard is Super Mario 64, which on top of just being a really good game, basically defined 3D character movement for the entire game industry. Everything from Uncharted to Grand Theft Auto and NieR Automata owes something to Super Mario 64 for establishing how to use an analog stick to control the action on screen. It was a revolution.

Breath of the Wild isn’t a revolution. This is a game cut from the same cloth as Skyrim or The Witcher 3 — an open-world fantasy game, with towns full of people and quest logs designed to distract. You’ve technically seen this game before, or at least parts of it, and on the surface it can be easy to brush it off as nothing more than a thinly veiled “me too” clone by way of The Legend of Zelda.

But here’s the deal: you’ve never played Nintendo’s version of this. Those other games I mentioned often prioritize production quality and narrative depth. A quest’s story in my examples is often more important than what you actually have to do in it, with the worst example being multiple quests in Skyrim that send you from one edge of the map miles away to the other edge just to kill a single enemy and then hike the entire distance back for your reward. Even on horseback, a quest like that would take hours of mind-numbing transit. The obvious (and likely intended) solution is to use the game’s fast travel system to teleport to the destination, complete the objective, and then teleport back, turning an all-day gameplay excursion into a something that takes less than 15 minutes. The problem is that this creates a disconnect where everything stops feeling real, because there’s no reaffirmation that these are places that exist. You come to view the world as nothing more than a piece of software that lets you materialize at your destination. There’s no sense of distance, no journey.

That’s simply not true with Breath of the Wild, which goes out of its way to make you feel like a part of the land of Hyrule. Not only does it feel like a real, lived-in space, it feels like one with thousands of years of tangible history. Ruins of what used to be litter the land, some more recent than others, but all purpose-built with a legacy of their own. The environment of Hyrule is as much a character here as anyone else, and its battle-scarred vistas tell a lonely, somber tale.

Zelda is one of Nintendo’s most narrative-rich franchises, which allows it to slip into Skyrim’s skin with ease. Just the same, Breath of the Wild is a game about journeys. It’s a game where you look over your shoulder and think: an hour ago, I was on top of that mountain. I have come so far, done so much, and seen so many things. Yes, it has fast travel and horse riding if you really need to get somewhere quickly. But why would you? Breath of the Wild is a game where there’s always something on the horizon calling out to you. Horses and fast travel might get you in the general vicinity of where you want to go, but never close enough. Eventually you have to take matters into your own hands (often literally) and venture forth by yourself to discover Hyrule’s mysteries, one cliff face at a time. Literally the entire point of this game is to meticulously sift through the world inch by inch, and it manages to feel like magic basically the entire time.

You also connect to this world in other ways. Breath of the Wild features surprisingly robust artificial intelligence and physics systems, and you’re given tools perfect for playing around in this space. Rather than acquire a stable of items from dungeons (as in past Zelda games), Breath of the Wild gives you five core abilities during its tutorial and then turns you loose on the world to use them as you please. Unlike, say, Ocarina of Time’s hookshot, which could only be used on specific hookshot targets, these five abilities are far more utilitarian in their approach. They allow you to interact with the environment in ways most open world games shy away from, like picking up physics objects or generating platforms over tricky terrain. In addition to helping you solve puzzles and navigate the world, many of these abilities have combat applications, leading to fun games of cat and mouse with Ganon’s minions.

In one particular example, I came upon a camp of pig-like Bokoblins that had set up inside the ruins of an old building. I had mostly cleared the place out, but there was still one lone Boko on patrol outside completely unaware of what had happened to the rest of the camp. From the door, he peered inside. Bokoblins don’t have great eyesight, so from the distance he was at, he didn’t really have a chance to identify me before I darted out of sight. He obviously knew he saw something suspicious, so he walked over, grabbed a club from the camp’s weapons pile outside, and then headed inside the ruins to investigate. By this point, I’d climbed on top of the ruins and was watching him from what would be the roof, if this building had one (it did not). He headed to the last place he saw me and sniffed around, hoping to figure out what he’d seen. By now his back was turned to me, so I jumped from my vantage point above him and came down on his head with my spear for a quick kill. This kind of emergent gameplay is a first for The Legend of Zelda, and it makes every combat encounter feel unique.

Perhaps Breath of the Wild’s greatest strength is its willingness to embrace this kind of emergent player expression. Nintendo could have very easily locked a lot of its puzzles and encounters down, discouraging all but the one “true” solution, but they didn’t. It brings to mind the elements that made a game like Minecraft so captivating; the only thing stopping you from getting somewhere or doing something is your own ingenuity. Nothing in the game ever has just one solution, and it fully embraces whatever ways you can find to bend its rules. Previous Zeldas were full of jigsaw puzzles that had to be assembled in the same way every single time. Breath of the Wild is more of an actual test of problem solving skills, and one where my answer might be different from your answer and neither one of us is wrong.

Of course, even the best games have their flaws, and Breath of the Wild is definitely not a perfect game. In particular is the game’s performance — I played on the Wii U, and there, Breath of the Wild suffers occasional choppy framerates and sometimes more significant stuttering. Knocking down a Moblin can sometimes make the whole game freeze for up to two full seconds. Zelda is undoubtedly simulating a lot of stuff behind the scenes, between physics, climate systems, fire propagation, and artificial intelligence, so it’s understandable when the game threatens to buckle under it’s own weight, but it’s still a problem worth talking about. My understanding is that the Switch version is also affected by many of these technical issues, but with less severity. But, even on the Wii U, I found them to be momentary annoyances and not anything to really cast the game in a negative light. For 75% of my time in Hyrule, the game performed just fine (and it’s worth mentioning that during the process of writing this review, Nintendo published a patch for Zelda that optimizes the game just a little bit more to reduce framerate drops).

The other elephant in the room deals the game’s systems, particularly in weapon durability and weather. If you use a given weapon too much, it will eventually shatter. Often, I’d leave a combat encounter with fewer or worse weapons than when I started, but once I learned not to get too attached to any given sword, shield or bow, it ceased to be an issue. Breath of the Wild is a game about making do with what you’ve got and building an ever-changing strategy around that. Enemies also scale in strength over time, providing you with a drip feed of slightly more powerful gear as you play. That being said, the game definitely could have benefited from ways to repair fragile weapons, because just about everything breaks after only a few minutes of use.

Weather, on the other hand, was probably the single biggest point of frustration for me in Breath of the Wild. You’re given an on-screen weather forecast, presumably so you can plan accordingly should something like rain come up, but sometimes it can be unpredictable as you move through the world and suddenly shift into a new biome with different weather patterns. In one particularly ridiculous scenario, I found myself stranded on a rocky alcove because if I climbed up even ten feet it would trigger a biome change and begin raining, making it too slick to continue upwards. The moment I’d drop off the cliff (or more likely slip off), the rain would suddenly vanish. Sometimes, it doesn’t make any logical sense at all, such as the time I had to light fires as part of a quest and it began raining just long enough (about six seconds) to snuff out my flames and make me start over. Nothing in the forecast called for rain, nothing on my HUD changed, it just started pouring rain and then instantly stopped. You very quickly learn to dread rainstorms, because there’s not a lot you can do about them except wait for the weather to clear.

Regardless, these problems barely register as a blip on the game’s radar. I know it can be easy to sometimes get frustrated with Nintendo’s output and design philosophies, specifically with regards to past Zelda games like Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword, but when this company pulls together and fires on all cylinders, the end result is something truly incredible to behold. Breath of the Wild is a tremendous game; even after finishing the game and putting in more than 140 hours, I wasn’t ready to leave Hyrule. I was still finding new discoveries. New places I hadn’t been to yet. No game that I can ever remember playing in the 30+ years since the NES has gotten its hooks into me this deep for this long. It may not be a revolution, but with Breath of the Wild, Nintendo has still run circles around the industry just the same. Under no circumstances should you allow yourself to miss this game.

[serenityindefinitely]

Silent Prince 2

More of this shit! https://serenityindefinitely.tumblr.com/post/163887686027/silent-prince (Im on mobile due to computer issues im sorry TTvTT) ___________

Link wandered the southern part of the castle, casting a glance through every window before moving on.

A sound caught his ear, steps, approaching down the hall. He turned to the sound, it was Zelda. They nodded to each other in a silent hello.

“You can’t give up the forest, can you?” she looked out the window. “I don’t get it, why are you so bound to kill yourself over a sword?”

Link took to the hall ahead of them, walking forward, Zelda followed in tow. Zelda knew the day, she knew the time, her thoughts answered when he motioned for her to stay.

_________

Link was the first to leave the room, he glanced at Zelda with a face she was all too familiar with, she balled her fist, huffed a breath and crossed her arms. “I give up with him, if he dies due to recklessness, It’s not my fault.”

“Hmn,it’s been awhile. Hasn’t it, Zelda?”

“Urbosa! Oh! It has!” she spun around to look at the chief. She noticed a small girl with long braided hair stood beside her. she waved and smiled at Zelda. “Oh! Riju, you’ve gotten so big!”

“I can see that you have been struggling with him, Link, I mean.”

“Well- Yes, I have, he refuses to open up to me. I just, have given up.” She looked at the ground, tracing the tile floor’s pattern with her eyes.

Urbosa smiled at Zelda, taking a hand through her hair, and holding her chin.

“You have come so far, sacrificed so much, so that you could be prepared if Ganon returned, but you also took time for yourself, despite your father’s disagreement.”

Urbosa took Zelda’s hand “Link, has struggled so much. He has fought with himself internally, trying to do whats right. He is persistent because that was what he was told to be, he takes risks because that is what he think the Kingdom needs, not because he is reckless. Perhaps,” she looked to Riju, who continued her mother’s sentence. “Perhaps, you need to show him that it is okay to take a break.”

Urbosa nods in agreement.

Zelda stared at Urbosa, into her rich green eyes, “but, how?”

Urbosa smiled, a warm, gentle smile, and crouched so she could look eye to eye with the guard captain. “Take him someplace, that he would enjoy. Someplace where the sword, and ganon are far from mind.” she looked down the hallway.

“Show him what it’s like to be happy Zelda.” Without another word, Urbosa stood upright, looked to Riju, and then walked the other way.

Zelda was left breathless and confused.

__________

A knock sounded through the small room, Zelda peeked in through the door.

“Link?”

She shut the door behind her.

Link turned to look at her, a gentle breeze ruffling his hair. He wore his night clothes, a simple shirt and pants.

Zelda had never noticed how slim he was, how drawn his features were, the circles under his eyes, the slight scar on his chin.

“I didn’t mean-”

“You didn't”

The sudden, forced sound of his voice caught her off guard, she wasn’t expecting to hear him speak.

“Tomorrow, we are saddling up the horses. We are going somewhere important.”

Link looked shocked for a moment, before his face returned neutral, he tilted his head slightly, eyes filled with curiosity.

“It’s a secret, but you need it.”

He rolled his eyes, and flopped onto the window sill, turning back to the scenery.

Zelda walked to join him.

Zelda watched the birds chase each other with the breeze, diving and soaring with one another.

After a while, Link stood and went to make his bed.

Zelda, now upright, shut the window and looked to the Prince, whom had a hair tie in one hand as he gathered his hair. As he wrapped the band around his hair he looked over to Zelda, the sliver of remaining sun lighting up his eyes, which seemed to glow a fierce blue.

Zelda averted her gaze to Link’s bed, which was large for one person, there were pillows that formed an almost curved shape, one that would fit someone of Link’s size perfectly.

She never thought he was the type that enjoyed being surrounded by pillows.

Her hand began to itch again, and she looked up at Link, before taking her leave, moving rather quickly.

Link wondered if he had done something wrong, maybe he should have said something to her.

________

Link looked up at the passing stars, and the twisted face of the moon. The wind carried salt, and the sky drifted birds in twilight.

He looked at the raft he floated upon, rickety and unsure, moaning with every wave that crossed under and around it.

The boat gave in, dropping link into the sea, dragging him down. It tore at his lungs, and played with his hair. It grew dark, and silent, heavy, with grief and doubt.

Something grabbed at his arm, pulling him up. Bringing light upon the waves and undertow, clearing his eyes, that something had a name.

_________

Link woke with a suffocating panic, struggling to move his body. He was on the floor of his room, wrapped in blankets, pillows strewn on one side of the room. He must have fallen at some point during the night.

He went about his morning routine, making his bed, changing into his day clothes, splashing his face with water, he let down his hair and combed through it with his hands, running them through water before hand.

It wasn’t long before he was joined by someone, their presence alerted by the creak of the door just before it shut, he turned to the person, on edge, nervous. His muscles tightened with anxiety.

“Link?”

Relief washed over him, and he shook the water droplets off his hands. He stepped into the main portion of his room, Zelda looked at him, hands clasped and thumbs twiddling.

“You step so quietly, and always look on edge.”

Zelda swiveled her head towards the bed.

“Did you sleep well?”

Link shrugged and emitted a sound that could be determined as an indefinite answer. He wasn’t sure. He always felt tired, regardless of how well he actually slept.

“Are you ready?”

Link replied with a hesitant nod.

“Let’s go then, the horses are already prepared, and I’ve already talked to the council.”

Link followed Zelda for once, a rarity for someone so anxious.

_______

The black and white mare had a surefootedness, at a canter, it followed the trail loyally. Link sat upon that horse, patting it gently in praise and admiration.

The Stallion at the hands of Zelda, moved with a trust, knowing that if it were to accidentally stray, its owner would reassure it of the path to take.

“I never thought of you as the horse type, I didn’t think you would trust an animal so much as to let it take its own path.”

Link shrugged, he always thought animals were easier to trust. They wouldn’t force you or leave you behind if you cared for them well.

“I suppose you are full of surprises….”

“Hmn..” was all he could manage to mumble.

______

They stopped and set up camp for the night.

Zelda helped Link gather for dinner, noting how he had a good eye for the best of ingredients. As Link cut the radishes, she became familiar with what he was cooking. They ate Creamy Heart Soup, to of which there was no protest.

“You are a really great cook.”

She spoke between spoonfuls

“ why don’t you cook more often?” she looked up.

Link stirred his soup a bit, and sighed.

“Don’t tell me- they don’t let you, do they?”

Link shook his head and looked away

“Wow, you’re kidding me…… that’s awful.”

Link, still looking away, nodded slightly in agreement.

“You know,” she poured more soup into her bowl. “If I hadn’t gotten this power, I would have gone into science, like Purah and Robbie….. I was hoping it’d skip me…”

Link blinked and looked at her, his head tilted like he was astonished “I-” he paused and cleared his throat a bit, forcing the words out “never knew…. S-” he took a breath, moreso frustrated “I’m sorry…”

Zelda blinked and waved her hands “I-It’s not your fault! You had no cause of it. You don’t have to apologise…”

Link nodded, rubbing his throat a bit, he didn’t like the vibration his throat made when he talked, it made his voice shaky, and left his throat numb. Zelda stood up and got out the mats and sleeping bags.

“I-I at first, was mad when you talked to me, but now, I appreciate that you open up to me, of all people….” She said, as she prepared the mats, smoothing them down and making sure there wasn’t anything sharp underneath.

Link nodded in agreement. “M-maybe I should,” he coughed a bit “I should learn to sign”

Zelda shrugged “That’s not a bad idea, I’ll have to learn it too….”

Link laughed at that, sending bolts through Zelda.

“Well, the mats are ready.” She said as she got ready for bed.

Link took of the overcoat he wore and folded it neatly before laying it in the horses travel bag, he pat his mare gently, to which she snickered slightly, bobbing her head in his direction, he smiled gently and readied for bed.

________

UGH HELL IVE STRUGGLED SO HARD WITH THIS ONE.

LIKE I ACTUALLY REWROTE THE ENTIRE CHAPTER AT LEAST TWICE.

The struggle is real with me.