#i want to draw with my wife one day and watch her play through zelda games

[jammboe]

So im the next in my family to get married... Its exciting even though there's been no talks about it or anything other than friends and family members asking me when am i getting married 😭

[demoncryptspanties]

Time After Time

Part 5

Masterlist, part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4 

A/N Sorry this a day late, I didn't realise how busy I would be x. Also, thank you so much for the kind messages and support. Also due to linking issues just type in time after time and you should find the rest of these if the links don't work. 

Warnings: This chapter does contain smut so yeah. 

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You had prepared to visit the aunties a year later. There were things you needed to finish up here, and a couple other places you wanted to visit. At least that’s what you told yourself. It was more of you weren’t ready, but you didn’t want to admit that to anyone, most of all yourself. When you had gotten ready to come there was an issue. Ambrose’s uncle, the head of the coven had been caught in a scandal. It was a huge thing and the aunties thought it was best that you didn’t come until it had been sorted out.  

It had gotten worse once they had found out that his mortal wife had gotten pregnant and even worse after that as both parents had died. After the funeral, Zelda had asked you discreetly for help. You had always been good with children and although both aunties were midwives, they weren’t the best with babies especially newborns.

You had been talking to Ambrose every week, same as the aunties. You had been on better terms; one could say you were friends. Sort of. It was complicated. The amount of history between you two had meant that you were teetering on this weird line. You knew too much about each other, had been too close to start again and yet you both tried to stay on this line of not becoming too comfortable. You relayed practically every detail of every conversation with the girls.

Lilac had changed her tune. According to her, you were happier, brighter in some way. The women of the coven which you had become close to notice the same. It felt like home here, but you also missed your home there. Although your relationship with your dad was fine you kept your conversations monthly, it was weird dynamic you two had. You were angry at him, now older, now more mature, his actions and passivity was an issue in your childhood, and you had recognised that.

Once you arrived at the aunties house, you stood outside for a second or two. You spotted Ambrose sitting quite comfortably on an old trunk. You decided not to call him and instead knocked on the door and entered the house. How you couldn’t hear the baby crying from outside you would never know. Hilda was rocking the baby while Hilda sat with a cup of something a very annoyed look on her face.

She perked up at the sound of you entering the house, Hilda practically dropped the baby on you and went to the kitchen to stir something. You bounced the baby on your hip who seemed to settle down pretty quickly. The moment she stopped crying Zelda let out a sigh of relief and gestured for you to sit opposite her.

“I don’t think I have ever been so happy to see someone in my whole life.” Zelda held her cup tighter and the baby babbled a little.

“It’s good to see you too.” You started to coo at the baby who settled into your arms and fell asleep all in the space of about 10 minutes. Hilda set a brew of something in front of you which you accepted with a satisfied hum and brought it to your lips. It was something with cinnamon, extremely sweet but not sickly.

You felt a level of comfort with the aunties sitting across from you, all you were missing was Ambrose with his arm around your shoulder and a cup of tea in one hand.

“I would tell you about my journey and stuff but there is little to tell. Instead, who is this little cutie?” You shifted the baby into your other arm.

“So, this is Sabrina. You remember Ambrose’s uncle Edward. Well, I’m pretty certain you met once but yes; this is his child. He unfortunately as you know died in a plane accident with his wife. A mortal woman. This is their offspring.” She said all of that with a feign of annoyance which you knew well enough was a faced. She already adored this kid.

Ambrose came in not shortly after, the lack of crying baby seemed to draw him in. You could hear him sigh the minute he walked through the door, stopping short and cocking his head when he saw.

“Y/N, I didn’t expect to see you here, nobody told me you were coming.” He gave a pointed look at the aunties.

“I didn’t know that you didn’t know. How are you, Ambrose.” You tensed up at his surprise, Sabrina stirring in your arms.

“I’m fine.” He clearly didn’t know where to place himself, the only seat left being next to you. Selene ever protective of you crawled out of your arm and instead of doing what she was about to do, settled herself on top of the baby who grabbed her lightly. The picture of the three of you was endearing and by the time you looked up Ambrose had made his decision and settled next to you.

The feeling was odd like everything was back to ‘normal’ but also off. Like there was something on the edge of your conscious that you couldn’t place. He seemed to stop himself from doing something and refused to meet your eye.

“So, how long are you staying?” His tone had a feeling you again couldn’t place. He had changed so much over the years that you couldn’t read him as easily as you use to.

“Well, I’m not actually sure. I was asked to help with the baby. I suppose when you’re settled, I’ll leave again.” He seemed to ponder something before nodding his head slowly.

It turned out to be 8 months. You and Ambrose acted as you could, almost as if close friends. Angelica visited twice and Lilac once. Everyone meeting Lilac was probably the highlight of your 8 months stay. She had gotten on extremely well with Zelda and the havoc that they wrecked made everyone in the house chuckle.

Above all, you had become extremely close to Sabrina. You weren’t sure of what it was about the child, but she stuck to you like glue and you were happy to have her around you. She provided a distraction for the odd dynamic between you and Ambrose and for that, you would always be grateful.

You and Ambrose talked a little but often were not left together alone, by alone you meant without Sabrina or the aunties. It was sort of bittersweet when you left. You had filled 4 notebooks during the duration of your stay with all sorts of ramblings that you were ready to look over properly when you got to your other home.

You had promised to visit at last once a year to watch Sabrina grow up. Now that you had already come back, the thought of visiting again, of seeing him again seemed less daunting.

The years went by as normal, or at least somewhat normal. You visited your friends and your sister and Sabrina as often as you could. She knew you as auntie pumpkin for the first couple of years thanks to Ambrose and then shorted to pumpkin until she was 9 where she started to call you by your actual name. That year also was a weird time for you. Although you and Ambrose were okay, or at least friends there seemed to be something lurking beneath the surface.

The day started off as normal, you were due to leave and go back to central America a week later. You had gone to his room in the attic and for some reason decided not to knock. Both aunties and Sabrina were out. You had a book in one hand and the doorknob in the other. What you were going to do was ask whether he wanted to drink some tea and maybe watch a movie or something but instead, you got the sight of him with a wooden box in his hands, eyes towards the ceiling and a thoughtful look on his face.

His eyes widened the minute he registered that you were there, but he made no rush to hide the box on his lap. “Y/N.” He couldn’t bring himself to say anything more than your name and instead opted to wait for your response.

“Ambrose, why do you still have that.” Your voice was soft, shy even. The music that was playing on some antique record player you had given him filling the silence.

“I don’t know.” The answer was raw and soft. It had been the most truthful thing he had told you in a while. You had refrained from talking about your feelings and him, his. The conversation felt wrong, something was going to happen, and you would regret it. Everything seemed to scream at you to close the door and leave him be, you aren’t sure why, but you went in and closed the door behind you.

Your breathing seemed to get deeper, and you chewed on your bottom lip. “Why didn’t you ever give me that, when we were together. I mean you tried to once, just after your sentence but why didn’t you try again. For years.” He was still unable to meet your gaze.

It was in this moment that you wished the aunties would come back, or Sabrina or Selene was with you. Anything to stop this moment. You decided you didn’t want to know his answer, except you did. Maybe his answer would make everything make sense. Maybe this line you stayed clear of could disappear. Maybe the two of you would be okay, if for a moment.

“I felt like I didn’t deserve you. That I never did. That I still don’t. If you weren’t tied to me, you would find someone who deserved you.” The air was thick, he seemed to feel it too but didn’t say anything. Or do anything for that matter. You were both too afraid to move towards each other, why, you didn’t know yet.

“I don’t know why you would ever think that. I loved you.” You said that as firmly as you could, but it came across a little shaky.

“Loved?” You took a step towards his bed, the tension thick in the air. There wasn’t a point in lying now. You know he knew; you couldn’t hide it.

“No. No, not really. I love you. I thought it would be easier to pretend I don’t feel anything but it’s still there. It’s still there. I couldn’t get rid of you if I tried.” You took another step forward, it was dangerous. You couldn’t go back now. You were too close. It was like you could feel his own body heat. Neither of you knew what to do from here, this was uncharted territory. Long past that line, you tried to avoid.

You stole a look at the box in his left hand. The wood seemed like it was recently carved. Like he had taken good care of it. Because of this, you missed the flash of emotion on his face. The small curve of his mouth and then the sudden furrow of his eyebrows.

You had moved forward; this was something you wanted right. He stood up, slowly, testing. It was bad and he tried hard to stop himself. You both were in front of each other now, if you or he moved any closer, that would be it. You didn’t want to look at him in the eyes, so you made the mistake of looking at his lips instead.

“I love you too.” He had tipped the scales. You weren’t sure whether it was you or him that moved first but the two of you kissed, passionately but not quite desperately. It was testing, would one of you pull away. Did either of you want this?

Hands moved in a flurry, not quite pulling on clothes but deciding where to place themselves. Your head was fuzzy, and you weren’t sure why. You only knew that this is what you wanted, and that consequences and feelings could be a problem for a later time.

He pulled away first, looking at you in the eye. He was afraid that if he said anything it would ruin the moment. You answered his silent question with a tug of his shirt, he let out a breath and returned the favour. A hand traced shapes on his skin as your mouths explored each other. It was gentle, careful and calculated. Your head only cleared up a little when he moved from your lips to your neck making you moan quietly. The sound of your voice seemed to make him pause. He was asking again, and you answered again, a hand moving to the waistband of his trousers.

It must have been a minute before the two of you were completely bare to each other. His hand went further down your chest and back, exploring the curve of your breasts and ass before moving to your outer thigh. His right hand drew small circled there until he paused again to take a breath. You wanted to believe that this was wrong, but you couldn’t, your brain wouldn’t let you. It felt right, normal like this was meant to be. You chalked it up to fate that you chose that exact moment you decided to walk in when he was willing to share when you were willing to share.

He moved so that you had your back to the mattress and pushed you down gently. His mouth moved past your neck and he nibbled on each of your breasts. Your nipples were already hard, so he spent little time there, leaving a trail of opened mouth kisses down your stomach eventually getting to your thighs.

His left hand gently groped your breast and you laid your head back, completely engrossed in the moment. He kissed up both of your thighs and nibbled gently until you let out a soft whine, shifting your legs a little. His left hand left your breast and instead joined the other on your legs to hold them down. He stopped for a moment and looked up at you, you looked down at him and gave him an encouraging smile.

You felt his hot breath against the insides of your thighs for a second until you feel is tongue meet your clit. The pressure was perfect, he knew exactly how it worked with you, that seemed to be one thing that didn’t change. He started off with kitten licks, eventually his tongue moving to small circles around your clit. The rhythm matched that of his thumbs against your thighs. It was perfect. The air just seemed to get hotter and hotter the more worked up you got.

He licked a long line from your entrance to your clit and the sensation of his mouth was replaced by his thumb which had moved from your thigh to your clit. The circles were small and slow, but it had your leg twitching, you were close to bucking upwards for some sort of relief. He seemed to sense this, and two fingers entered you. It was slick and his pumping had you gasping, what was previous quiet moans and groans was replaced by the sound of extremely heavy breathing. You were trying hard not to lose yourself, but it was near impossible with how good that felt.

You let this continue for a moment, he was focussed, and it felt so good, he knew all the right angles and pace. He knew your body probably better than you did. He looked almost determined, you thought at first to make you cum but that seemed too obvious, then his face would have a lazy smirk and he wouldn’t look at you. His gaze was instead intense, watching every movement of your body. Your hand moved from your side and stopped him.

You pulled his fingers towards you and sucked lightly on them, swirling your tongue and pulling them out with a soft pop. He seemed mesmerised by your action. You sat up slightly and shuffled backwards, pulling him towards you. He waited for a moment, you weren’t sure what for, you practically whimpered a soft “please” looking at him straight in the eye. Your eyes were wide, innocent like there weren’t issue with what was happening. Both yours and his pupils were blown, whatever colour they previously had replaced with black.

He traced your lip with his thumb and then kissed you hard, entering you at the same time. You both groaned, louder than expected but at that point, you didn’t care. For whatever reason, you were holding back didn’t matter anymore. It was done, it was happening there was no reason to stop. You didn’t want to say no and deep down you knew that at any point if this had happened at any point before now you would have let it.

Everything was hot and sweet and blurry, you weren’t sure if it was the feeling of him on top of you, the hand on your thigh, the other caressing whatever skin it touched, the feeling of his lips or the way he felt in you. Maybe it was all of that, but it felt perfect, you weren’t supposed to be anywhere else at that moment. This was supposed to happen. Any reservations you had were completely thrown out the window at this point as one hand moved from the back of his neck to where his shoulder met his back. With the way, you were squeezing there was no way that you wouldn’t see red crescents for days.

Your other hand went between your legs, the moment your fingers met your clit your head tipped back. That was it, everything was perfect, the coil in your stomach tightened quicker than you anticipated, you slowing down the pace of your fingers but his thrusts were the same. His breathing got quicker at that point, thrusts more erratic, his head bent down, so his mouth was at your ear. “Go on pumpkin, I know you want to,” You let out a deep drawn out moan just as his thrusts got sloppy, he let out a similar groan and then stills pushing himself away and settling next to you. “You’re so perfect.” You chose not to respond to that.

Neither of your heads was clear enough to have the conversation that needed to happen, that was about to happen. If there was a way to make this moment not end, then you wouldn’t let it. “I don’t know what to say.” That statement was truthful enough.

“Neither do I.” He couldn’t look at you. You got up pretty suddenly. Nobody was home so you went to the closest bathroom as you were. You cleaned up and sat on the toilet for a moment. The image of you in the mirror seemed to sober you up. You had seen this you before but instead of a loving and satisfying feeling, you were unsure. You didn’t know where to go from here, you didn’t regret it, but you also didn’t welcome whatever happened, whatever you were feeling. As unsure as you felt, you had the feeling that it was supposed to happen, it was fate or the result of longing.

You came back and threw a washcloth at him, deciding not to move any closer. He mumbled a “thanks,” but like you had no clue where to go from here.

“What does that mean, for us.” You felt brave up until you finished, then the question seemed stupid.

“I’m not sure. You could stay, for now.” The invitation was closed off, he hoped you would say no. It would be too awkward.

“I don’t think that a good idea Ambrose. You broke up with me. I didn’t willingly let you go.” Your ton wasn’t supposed to be as soft or sad as it sounded but your previous activities had completely killed your façade for the moment.

“I know.” He didn’t say anything more than that and turned away from you. His mind was screaming at him to say something, to explain, but he didn’t know how to phrase anything or what to say so he let you leave. He let you walk out the door again.

He decided that he was going to explain something, his actions seemed so dumb after everything. Everything he told himself about him not being good enough, about you losing your freedom seemed like complete bullshit now. He was wrong, he was so wrong. He couldn’t change anything now, but he could change what happened. He made the decision to talk to you at some point but with his mind, completely gone sleep came to him too quickly. He, therefore, missed your knock on the door, the subsequent letter you left on the bed and the soft kiss to his forehead. You were gone, again, before he had even opened his eyes. You hadn’t taken the box with you, deciding to leave it under your letter.

It took him a day after you left to read the letter. He tried to bring himself to, but it was a lot more difficult, he couldn’t help but feel that there was an ending of sorts inside of it. He was right in that aspect, his indecisiveness, indecision, it was too late for him.

Dear Ambrose,

  I’ll keep this short because I’ll say too much if I go on. I know this won’t be the end for us we seem to always find our way back to each other. Life is long and we always seem to be subject to coincidence and fate. I’m happy, now. Not that I wasn’t before, I am happy, being independent, visiting being a part of your life. Us teetering on this line that we just crossed it's not good. Not if you still have doubts, not if you don’t want me completely. I can’t find myself again, my place in the world if we try again and it doesn’t work. Once was enough for me, maybe I’m scared, well I am scared but I have to protect myself. That’s what I’m doing. I love you and I always will and that’s why I need to keep a distance, I’ve too long inhibited you from being happy and I can’t do that to you anymore. You thought the problem was you and your sentence and my want to travel but it was me, I wasn’t enough, and I won’t be. You deserve anything that makes you happy and I know now that, that isn’t me. I want you to remember me fondly, remember all the happy moments and just that. I want you to forget the longing, I want you to forget the mistakes. I was selfish and it cost me the best thing that ever happened to me. I should have stayed but I don’t get the chance to make that decision anymore. I want you to be able to find something that is enough, and I want you to feel like you deserve it. I will always love you, also, you should throw away the box, there’s no space for it in our lives now.

Yours truly,

Y/N

 He read it over three times and threw it straight into the fire. It was clear he was wrong, all those years ago. He was still wrong to not say anything now and now its too late. He told himself you would be better without him and threw the box into the fire as well. The flames were a bright red and he watched it, sat there until the flames fell to a soft yellow. It was an ending to something.

[smashy-headcanons]

An anon's complete list of headcanons on the WoL intro

So, yeah. This is what I headcanon happened to every fighter during the World of Light intro. But just for fun, I’m not using names, only numbers. So without further ado…

• Mario and Peach disregarded all logic and ran for each other, knowing they were doomed and wanting to be together. The sick part was, the light didn’t touch them until their outstretched fingers were mere inches away from each other. • Donkey Kong knew only one thing in his final moments: he wanted Diddy Kong to live. But all he could do was launch him into the air, hoping his rocket barrel would carry him the rest of the way (spoiler alert: it didn’t). • (Young) Link, Sheik, and Ganondorf were cursed with the knowledge that they would die here. They knew they had to go down fighting, and that’s exactly what they did. • Samus kept fighting even after she saw Link die, knowing she could do nothing else. • Dark Samus quickly realized there was no point in getting others to fight for her, and she tried to flee, just like so many others. • Yoshi ran. He ran as fast as he could, hoping to carry Jigglypuff, Olimar, and Alph on his back to safety. It just didn’t work. • Fox had an agreement with Falco. If things went wrong, Falco was gonna get out of there as fast as possible and call for help while Fox faced his fate. He knew what was coming for him. • Sonic tried to save Pikachu. We all cried. It was very emotional at the time. • Since Luigi and Daisy were standing at the back of the group, they had an agreement with Bowser that they would get Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings to safety if anything went wrong. When things did go wrong, they lost track of one, but in the end, they shielded the other seven from the horror that awaited them. • Ness and Lucas ran for their lives together. In the end, Ness tripped, and Lucas shielded him in vain. • Captain Falcon didn’t even get a chance to run. • Bowser fought back, knowing he had people at home and with him depending on him. His last thought was of his children, but he didn’t see Bowser Jr. running up behind him just to be with him. • The Ice Climbers held each other in fear, drawing comfort from the one person who understood most. • Zelda and Mewtwo were hopeful, which is the only reason why they shielded themselves at all, but they were also smart enough to know that, without a miracle, they were all done for. • Dr. Mario went looking for his sons, but he couldn’t find them. He died after they did. • Snake’s attempt at hiding seemed hilarious at the time, until he sadly admitted he had been hiding Pichu and Isabelle. • With tears in his eyes, Marth tried to fight back. He died a broken man, having helped lead this massive army and knowing he had failed them. • For once, Lucina didn’t have to protect anyone. Instead, she was held and protected by the people who loved her the most. • Young Link rewound time over and over and over again, until he realized there was just no fighting this. In the end, he let the light take him. • Roy hid with Toon Link. The light had stolen the courage from the Young Lion and the Wind Waker. • Chrom knew only one thing: he had to protect his baby girl. He died holding her, trying not to cry, his two best friends at his back guarding them. • Mr. Game & Watch didn’t understand completely, but knew beyond a doubt that this light thing was not good. He hid too. But since he was made of shadow, the light actually hurt him when it touched him. • Meta Knight and King Dedede could only watch a miracle in the distance. They knew beyond a doubt that they were not getting out of here, but they could see that star and know it meant hope. • Pit and Dark Pit thought they were safe until their wings stopped working. They knew what happened in that exact moment: Pit’s patron goddess was dead, and they were next. • Wario didn’t even get a chance to pull out his bike before he was taken. Good thing too, he would’ve trampled over so many if he had. • Ike did what he did best: he fought for his friends. • Charizard, Ivysaur, and Squirtle stood defiant, even as their trainers urged them to leave. They refused to leave them even in this desperate hour. • Lucario, Greninja, and Bayonetta felt foolish later, as they all dodged one beam only to get hit by another. However, Bayonetta found the courage to laugh about this once it was over. • R.O.B. only stood and cried (or as close as a robot can get to doing so), hoping to be reunited with his family. • Wolf wanted to run, but he absolutely refused to go down without a proper fight. Plus, if Fox was staying, so was he. • Villager panicked and couldn’t even hide in time. • Mega Man fought back and just hoped the light wouldn’t get his dad, sister, and brother back home. His hopes were dashed later. • Knowing what was coming, the Wii Fit Trainers just tried to calm themselves down. • Rosalina wanted to stay with her friends, but she was a mother. She couldn’t abandon her children like this, and if she asked Mario and Peach, they’d have agreed with her. It was the only comfort she had when she died. • Little Mac didn’t even know what to do, so he ran. • Mii Brawler died alone and he died later than the rest of them. He saw his friends, the Mii Swordfighter and Mii Gunner, too late and he couldn’t even go to them. • As for Mii Swordfighter, he shielded the Mii Gunner though he knew it was futile. They both hoped the Mii Brawler didn’t see them. • Palutena was one of three people who secured their hope for rescue, and unlike Falco’s failed attempt to call for help, she succeeded. She called to other dimensions, other deities, hoping something would work as she tried to get Pit and Dark Pit to safety. • Pac-Man didn’t know what to do, he’d never been through anything like this before! • The Robins went down with a unified blast of thunder. They had their best friends behind them to protect, and that’s what they were going to do.  • Shulk refused to be totally helpless in his final moments. He made sure their last hope, their miracle, got out safely.  • The Duck Hunt Duo went down as a pair, one wanting to hide but refusing to leave his best friend alone.  • Ryu channeled his honor and tried to fight.  • Ken decided to screw honor and retreated, but that’s only because he wanted to see his wife and son one last time. He didn’t get the chance to.  • Cloud charged at Galeem. …He doesn’t know what he was thinking either.  • The Corrins went down together, fighting and protecting the one other person who truly understood their struggles and pain.  • The Inklings tried to hide in their own ink…they weren’t ready. They didn’t know what to expect when they accepted that invitation, but it so was not this.  • Ridley only thought of himself. He wanted to run, and damn it, that’s what he did.  • Simon gave a final word of encouragement to Richter. They refused to meet their maker scared.  • King K. Rool fought back, defending Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, his former enemies turned friends.  • Incineroar hadn’t been this scared since he was a Litten. But he put up a brave front and went down fighting, with a massive grin on his face.  • Piranha Plant, Joker, the Heroes, and Banjo & Kazooie were actually saved by Palutena before they could officially be brought into the fight. She contacted their deities and told them to hide their chosen champions in the space between dimensions, where they’d be safe, and to only bring them out when the time was right. They were forever indebted to her, but they couldn’t save their friends. Later, when everything was over, they all decided to stay in the world of Smash.  • As for Kirby…well, they all had to be saved somehow, right?

(submitted by anonymous)

I changed the #s to the character names just to make things easier on others.

Also I’m going to add to some of these because I can and I want to.

When Fox told Falco the plan, there was a lot of initial refusal on Falco’s part, which only stopped when Fox yelled at Falco five minutes away from the expected arrival of Galeem, at which Falco had no more time to be oppositional. Fox was making sure Falco got in the Arwing and fled, even if it meant he had to drag him kicking and screaming into the Arwing and lock him inside.

Captain Falcon had no plans to run. His initial plan was to try to attack from inside the Blue Falcon because if he was fast enough, he didn’t think Galeem could catch him. That all changed when he saw just how quickly people were being lost.

Dr. Mario realized what had happened to his kids in the split instant before Galeem’s beam hit him.

The moment when Young Link realized there was no stopping Galeem was when he found one (1) possible solution to stop Galeem before he attacked and save everyone, only to have Dharkon arrive and wipe everyone out instead. He played the Song of Time one last time to go back to Dawn of the First Day, and just stood where he was.

When Mr. Game & Watch was first freed, he started asking a bunch of questions which, if Pac-Man was around to translate at the time, would have been translated to, “Is that this realm’s version of Dharkon? Am I gonna have to leave this realm too? Where am I gonna go? …Wait, are we planning on fighting this guy?! Will we have to fight Dharkon too?!”

R.O.B. was hoping and praying that he would end up in the Subspace where his people were trapped, because he knew that there was no afterlife for robots (the closest thing is the internet or cloud storage, which he had no access to at that moment).

Pac-Man was off somewhere else when Galeem arrived. He had no knowledge of the invasion until he saw a light beam flying at him for half a second.

K. Rool helped give Donkey Kong an extra height boost to try and get Diddy Kong away (to no avail). Afterwards, Donkey Kong and K. Rool stood behind hoping to try and combat Galeem.

I have my own developed headcanons regarding the DLC fighters but I also like that idea too.

[lycorogue]

Who Wants to Meet My OCs? (Part 2 - Gyateara)

First and foremost, I meant to have this whole series to be sort of churned out the same day/week as Part 1. Life.... didn’t let that happen. I then figured “okay, I’ll update the series every Sunday” and then yesterday came and went...

Regardless, from the NEXT POST onward, I’m aiming to update every Sunday. Now, back to the series itself.

Ever since at least November, I’ve wanted to do individual posts for each of my OCs so you could meet them all. Well, I’m finally getting off my butt and working on this massive project (we’ll ignore that I’m spending hours working on this instead of my ML fanfic.... >_>).

In Part 1, I gave a broad overview of this whole Meet My OCs series, as well as gave some generic IRL background to the two main worlds my OCs hail from:

1) Gyateara

2) Glitches

Well, in this part of the series, I’m going to stay IRL as I explain where each individual OC within the Gyateara universe came from. If this is interesting to you, feel free to check below the break.

If you’d rather just skip ahead to the character bios themselves, my first one about my Glitches character Willow should be up in two weeks (sorry for the wait).

If I’m talking about Gyateara characters, I should probably talk about the one that first birthed the world: 

Amara Yori

Amara was my first-ever D&D character. I had known of the game for ages since my father used to play it frequently (and apparently roped my mother into at least running the monsters so she’d be included; ignoring that she’d rather not be included XD). 

I really got interested in D&D when I was a teen and saw the gorgeously stylized covers for AD&D ver 3.5. My father had passed away before officially introducing me to the game (although we did used to play Dungeon all the time, so that was a start...), and none of my friends were going to touch that “nerd culture” with a 10ft pole, so I simply admired the books, but never actually played. Then I went to college and managed to Nerd Out.

Hubby (then boyfriend) offered to help me build my first-ever character, but in 2004 the D&D 3.5 expansions were so massive I had far too many choices to choose from.

So Hubby had me go through some of his extra minis, and let me pick out one that I really liked. With his help, I ended up with the 2003 version of the Wood Elf Skirmisher.

Based solely on this mini, I started building Amara.

Hubby suggested that I try out the Scout class for my first one, since I couldn’t choose between a Rogue, Ranger, or Druid, and Scout is sort of in between at least the Rogue and Ranger classes. For whatever reason - I can’t remember it now - I also decided I wanted to play a half-elf.

Upon reading the generic backstory description the D&D books had for the Scout class, I figured my character needed some sort of Tragic BackstoryTM that would explain her scouting skills. Things like trap finding and dismantling, masterful rope use skills, hiding and tracking skills, and connection to animals.

I was in a big The Vision of Escaflowne kick at the time - which shows up in a couple other characters’ backstories - and was fascinated with the history between Van Fanel’s parents. Van’s human father Goau stumbled upon Varie, a Draconian woman, in the woods one day. Draconians have the ability to manifest feathered wings which allow them flight. It was rare to see a Draconian, and her beauty - with her wings shimmering in the moonlight as she waded in a small pool of water - mesmerized Goau. He instantly fell in love and brought Varie home to be his wife. The duo seemed to love each other deeply. Amara’s parents, on the other hand....

I’ll get into more when I break down their actual bios, but I took the idea of “Human stumbles upon exotic non-human in the woods and instantly marries her” and twisted it slightly. Amara’s mother was very much emotionally, and possibly even physically (I haven’t confirmed this yet), abused by Amara’s father. Amara, being a half-elf, also had to deal with abuse at the hands of many of her fellow clansmen - both the human and the elven clans; pretty much exclusively because she was a “half-breed” (Yes, I was really into InuYasha then too).

As I kept building Amara, I kept adding more and more tragedy to her backstory. I do enjoy what I created, but, especially after reading a lot of posts here on Tumblr, I’m afraid her history is nothing but a giant knotted ball of cliches and tropes. For now, though, I’m running with it. Perhaps I can figure out work-arounds later....

I never did get to play more than a session or two with Amara before the game disbanded (which seems to be a repeat thing with my gaming group), but she still lives on in my mind, and eventually in Gyateara.

Natalie

As I mentioned above, The Vision of Escaflowne very much inspired me while I was working on the earliest bits of Gyateara. Therefore, Natalie is your basic Isekai protagonist.

For those who don’t know the term (I didn’t know an official genre term existed until about a year ago), Isekai refers to a subgenre of fantasy/speculative fiction where the main character is abruptly teleported from their world to a new one; usually one with a fantasy setting.

It’s a massive subgenre and includes most of the fantasy animes I’ve watched:

InuYasha

The Vision of Escaflowne

Fushigi Yuugi

The Devil is a Part-Timer

The Rise of the Shield-hero

The Saga of Tanya the Evil

The Familiar of Zero

How to NOT Summon a Demon Lord

Sword Art Online (technically)

.Hack//Sign (technically)

Digimon (first season, specifically)

Psyren (manga)

The list can go on, but that’s not the point of this post. Getting back to the actual point, I clearly enjoyed this genre without even realizing there was a term for it, and created my own Isekai story. Natalie is from our world, but is abruptly teleported to Gyateara’s main Northern Isle, where she must save the country from being destroyed by a power-hungry, put painfully charismatic, villain.

I had taken elements from Kagome (InuYasha), Hitomi (The Vision of Escaflowne), Miaka (Fushigi Yuugi), and I think I had Ariel (The Little Mermaid) in there as well at one point. She was - and still kind of is - just “Generic Isekai Female Protagonist”, which is one of the main reasons the story she was in failed so soon into NaNoWriMo back in... 2014, I think. Almost a solid decade after I started dreaming up her Isekai story. She definitely needs to go back to the drawing board a bit to be properly fleshed out.

Connor

He was from the same story as Natalie. Connor was a denizen of Gyateara’s Northern Isles, and became Natalie’s traveling companion as he helped her try to find a way home. Ya know, that old Isekai chestnut. I even leaned heavily into the cliche and had the two of them fall in love throughout their journey. Which would lead to a third-act twist of “Okay, we can defeat the villain, but then what? Could they stay together? Would Natalie stay on Gyateara? Will Connor instead try to go home to Earth with her?” Real original. I know. Add in that Connor was a sort of Frankenstein’s monster of a character. Grab a snack, this is going to take a minute...

Connor’s traits included:

The basic backstory and drive of the player character in the video game Fable, in which his father was killed, his mother and sister tortured (and presumed dead, only to be proven still alive and captured), his home village burnt down, and he was taken in by the local guild so the guild master could train Connor to become the hero the GM believed Connor was prophesied to be.

The half-demon traits of InuYasha (InuYasha), which transformed him into a sort of were-cat. His mother, a full-demon, could become a 15ft (4.57m) tall panther with split tails. Connor’s half-demon heritage was hidden from him, and he only transformed under extreme moments of stress.

Yes. The “love interest is the only one who can snap the protag back from a monstrous rage” trope was heavily evident throughout the story.

His overall look was inspired by Link (Legend of Zelda video game franchise). His basic fighting style - swordsmanship and expert archery - was a sort of tag-teamed “thieving” from Link as well as Van (The Vision of Escaflowne).

A highly resistant, and begrudging submission to become the Hero of Prophecy lifted off of Tamahome (Fushigi Yuugi).

I know he was much more influenced by Van from Escaflowne when I was first making him. I even used Van as a reference guide when I tried to create character head shots of him. I just can’t recall now what else I swiped from that character.

I feel like there are also other male anime/video game protags I swiped traits from, but I can’t recall them anymore. Regardless, I threw them in a blender, and poured out the mixture that became Connor.

Jolene Crisslebalm

Ah, the character whose last name I always have to look up, because I can’t recall how I spelled it. Good starting point, right?

I am a very reserved person. In particular, a very sexually reserved person. But I do enjoy sex, and I love the act of flirting, and the “thrill of the chase” when it comes to dating, so a part of me always wonders what I would be like if I had let go of my reservations and just enjoyed the carnal pleasures of life.

So, two characters in particular - Willow (from Glitches) and Jolene - are my exploration of that Path Not Traveled. 

A friend of mine was hosting a D&D campaign via Roll20.net, and wondered if I wanted in. I hadn’t been involved in a D&D game in a year or so at that point, and I’ve enjoyed playing a couple of one-offs with him DMing, so I leapt at the chance to join. I had almost always played a form of Rogue class (hence the internet persona) in previous D&D campaigns, so I decided to stay the course, but with a twist I hadn’t tried before.

I wanted Jolene to be a sort of reluctant adventurer, preferring instead to be a cat burgler, but I also wanted that sexual/sensual exploration of character. So, she was a traveling prostitute (not exactly legal without proper ties to a brothel; much like a Sex Trade Guild sort of thing), but she also used her “alone time with clients” to scope out the place to see if it’s worth robbing.

Fast forward about 3 years, and I end up watching the first episode of the Freeform Marvel series Cloak and Dagger... where I saw Tandy doing the same thing, but roofying her targets instead of sleeping with them first... Great minds, and all that?

Eh, Jolene figures “might as well make money off of them before coming back and robbing the rest... less to carry later...”

In the end, while Jolene had an.... interesting run... and one I actually did enjoy role playing, even if it did leave me a bit frustrated afterwards (a good frustrated?)... Jolene just didn’t fit the world the DM created, nor did she fit in quite as well as I would have hoped with the other players.

They were all AMAZING players, by the way. Some of the best role players I’ve had the pleasure of meeting, and such fantastic writers as well. BTW, we wrote out everything in the Roll20 chat log instead of verbally playing or using video-chat. I must admit, I was quite envious of their skills. It was just a tighter knit group, and I wasn’t able to feel out their play-style well enough to continue with the group. Eventually they all had to go their separate ways anyway when their schedules no longer lined up.

Still, I LOVED Jolene, and she was the D&D character I had the joy of running the longest, so she NEEDED to live on. She did, in my first NaNoWriMo “win”. I managed to hit those 50,000 words, but I still had about 3/5ths of her story to write. 

See, while coming up with Jolene’s jaded attitude towards love and her pull towards a more hedonistic lifestyle, I went with the good old cliche of Heartbreak Was The Culprit. (With so many cliches in my character builds, is it a wonder why I just stick with fanfiction... the characters are already created...)

Jolene had her heart broken five times between the ages of 13 and 21. She was the type who fell quick into love, and fell HARD into it, and always felt intensely betrayed by her lovers when they left her. To be fair... they did routinely leave her for a woman of better social standing, or - in her youth - someone more willing to put out, or just straight up abandon her without so much as a farewell note. Eventually, she gave up on trying to find love, and joined a brothel, and then the thieves guild, and then headed out on her own from there.

The DM thought it unlikely that she was a prostitute for the better part of 5 years without a single pregnancy, so he rolled for it, and Jolene had one miscarriage, one still born, and one healthy child she gave up for adoption. I was not expecting to include that in her backstory, but it actually worked fairly well.

And all of that was the subject of my NaNo project: Lost Loves and Paramours. Jolene’s full biography leading up to the campaign: every man she fell in love with, every person she slept with, the one client who tried to murder her to avoid a scandal of his lust getting the better of him, the pain of her miscarry, the devastation of her stillborn, the heart break of giving up her surviving child, the struggles against a stalker, and her over-all YOLO attitude.

(Bitmoji is a beautiful thing...)

Well, second long post of this series is now complete. Next week, I’ll talk about the IRL inspiration for my Glitches characters. Thank you so much for indulging me on these epic ramblings.

[heartofhryule]

Breath of the Wild: Captured Memories - Chapter 7

Preface and Disclaimer; First and foremost; SPOILER WARNINGS. If you have not played The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, or completed the Captured Memories Quest and want to stay unspoilered for it, DO NOT READ. Keep Reading link provided for that reason. 

So I am writing these as I play through BotW for the first time - which means they probably won’t be ‘one-a-day’ consistent - I have finally gotten all of the memories, but not yet gone for the final fight at Hyrule Castle. #Soon. I will post them as I can though! Promise! I also plan to include links to the cutscene for you to watch at the bottom, if so desired - at least for the ones I can find. Any other warnings that become necessary, I will add for content as I go. For now, enjoy! [All Chapters here for your reading enjoyment.]

Y’all… Dammit Salty Bird. I got irritated all over again rewatching the scenes to get the dialog for Revali’s scenes. He’s SUCH a well written character... and I hate him. Well, hate is strong. But I really, really dislike him a lot. Even when he “gets better” he’s still a !@#%%^&^er. But, I like this chapter, and I hope you will too. Chapter 7 - Revali’s Flap

The Rito Village, and land surrounding, was genuinely breathtaking. The wood and canvas huts that served as both homes and shops were built around the landscape’s large peaks of sandstone. This design allowed wind to blow through the village unhindered without disrupting structural integrity. At this altitude and in the region, Link was chilled. Pretty much constantly. But, he’d bought some new armor from the nice Rito vendor in trade for some amber and a few sapphires he’d found. Now he was nice and toasty warm.

Sitting by the cooking pot inside a part of the village’s inn, Link stared into the fire as his dinner marinated. He’d been here before. He could feel it, and this was not a place soon forgotten. It might have been if it was the first place he’d come, but even then the striking beauty of the land, difference in architecture, and the colorful individuality of its inhabitants were like nothing else in all of Hyrule.

Maybe that was the opinion of an ignorant Hylian child that he had once been. He had grown up in and around the Zora Domain in the Lanayru Province. This knowledge was coming back to him slowly, and explained why he’d gone there first. It also meant the Zora had never seemed odd to him, though consequently neither had they seemed particularly awe inspiring in a long, long while. The Rito however, were a different story.

Ladelling out his dinner from the pot, simmered fruit for the moment as he was cold, tired and in need of foraging for some supplies, Link leaned back against the solid wood support beam of the hut. Simmered fruit made him think of his mother - now that he remembered her face. She made the best, and had taught him long ago. It always made him feel better.

He needed that right now. There was a long way to go for him to find all the locations in Zelda’s album, and take back control of two more Divine Beasts from Ganon. He was tired, and had only arrived less than an hour before, deciding that he was going to eat something before speaking with the Tribe Chief. In the sky overhead, Vah Medoh let out a shrill and bone chilling cry. The enormous ancient technology flew overhead in the shape of a bird, stone and metal kept aloft by gigantic propellers and magic. Glancing up, and giving a good, long look at the Calamitous energies pulsing through the construct, Link ate his simmered fruit quickly.

No rest for the weary, as it were.

After eating, he asked directions to speak with the Rito Chief and had the oddest interaction. It was as though the Chief could tell he was the fallen hero, but couldn’t accept it. Link had stopped bothering to try and explain it to people months ago at this point. He was told of Teba, and that perhaps the warrior could help him, if nothing else the Chief was worried.

But it was the following conversation with Teba’s wife that ignited something in Link. She showed him Revali’s Landing, a flight platform just outside her home named for the Champion of the Rito from a century ago. Looking at it, Link was taken by a memory.

***

Standing out on the center of the flight platform, Link craned his neck and shielded his eyes to look up at the impressive Vah Medoh high above him. It truly was an impressive piece of ancient technology, and he’d listened intently to Zelda lament at great length that she would never be able to set foot on such a marvel. The sky was the clearest blue surrounding the Divine Beast, and wind cool despite the sun’s warmth. But then, it was always cool in the Hebra region.

Just as Link had the thought he should probably go find the Rito Champion, as that was whom he had climbed the peaks to see on behalf of Zelda, the wind picked up. At first it was small, but it rapidly build to a steady cyclonic breeze that seemed to come from beneath the platform.

In the blink of an eye and the flash of dark grey feathers, the Rito Champion appeared from below. Shooting up into the air high above, Revali spread his charcoal and white feathered wings, gliding down to a light and graceful landing before Link.

“Impressive, I know,” the Rito archer said in his normal, smug tenor. “Very few can achieve mastery of the sky. Yet I have made an art of creating an updraft that allows me to soar. It’s considered to be quite the masterpiece of aerial techniques, even among the Rito.” Revali turned to pose dramatically, one wing lifted where he was backlit by the sun in the beautiful day.

Link managed to not roll his eyes at Revali’s grandiloquence, giving him a tight-lipped smile. Revali didn’t like him - Link knew this. The Rito felt within his superior self image that he should have been the Princess’s appointed knight as he was clearly the most capable and worthy of the Champions. Clearly.

Though the Rito had never said those words exactly, it was the undertone of every word, sneer, snort and action the Champion took while in Link’s presence to date. Somehow the Hylian knight had a feeling this interaction would be no different.

Link found Revali cutting him a sharp look, speaking again before the knight could give a syllable of proper greeting. “With the proper utilization of my superior skills, I see no reason why we couldn’t easily dispense with Ganon,” be boasted with a bow. Hopping down from the railing on which he’d perched, Revali tucked his wings behind his back as if about to give a dissertation (which Link had no doubt he was going to do just that). Strolling forward, Revali’s expression was one of barely contained detestation. “Now then, my ability to explored the firmament is certainly of note… But let’s not- and pardon me for being so blunt-” he said as his tone changed from fairly condescending to outright patronizing, “Let’s not forget the fact that I am the most skilled archer of all the Rito.”

“Oh here we go,” Link muttered to himself into the wind.

“Yet despite these truths, it seems I have been tapped to merely assist  you. All because you happen to have that little darkness sealing sword on your back. I mean, it’s just… asinine.” The only thing that prevented Link from drawing his sword then and there and teaching this megalomaniac of a Rito a lesson, was self control. As Revali’s red-feather rimmed, green eyes cut snidely to him, Link crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. The absurdity of this entire monologue was as laughable as it was insulting. Clearly, Revali liked hear the sound of his own voice.

“Unless,” the Rito Champion added after a moment, “You think you can prove me wrong?” He took one large step closer to Link. The bird man who was a good head taller than the Hylian leaned in, beak to nose and invading Link’s personal space aggressively. “Maybe, we should just settle this one on one.”

Link opened his mouth to say that he had no problem with Revali… not until this conversation at least, but the archer turned away and continued his drama. “But where?” he asked the wind, one wing crossed his chest as the other pretended to stroke his beak in thought. “Oh, I know! How’bout up there?!”

With a grand sweep of one wing, Revali motioned to the sky, where Vah Medoh was soaring past, making its rounds. “Oh! You must  pardon me,” Revali chuckled, his tone even more supercilious than before, “I forgot you have no way of making it up to that Divine Beast on your own.” The last words were spoken with actual open aggression as the Champion spread his wings sharply, and took to the skies, leaving Link behind on the platform.

As Revali grew smaller towards Vah Medoh, and the vision began to fade, the Rito’s parting jab echoed the skies. “Good luck sealing the Darkness!”

***

As he came back to himself, Link was being stared at oddly by Teba’s concerned wife. Apparently she’d asked if he was alright, while he’d been lost to the past. “Oh, I’m sorry, yes - thank you ma’am.”

Giving him an uncertain look, she touched a delicate wing to her beak. “If you’re sure… you seemed… angry? Irritated at least. Are you well?”

Cracking his neck at the legitimate frustration Revali’s personality had left him with, he nodded. “It was… just not a pleasant memory, ma’am. Sorry to space out like that- but I promise, I will find your husband, and bring him back alive.

“Oh thank you!” she said sincerely. “Please… be safe.”

---

The knight held his shoulder and looked around the topside of Vah Medoh. The Windblight Ganon creature that had held control of Vah Medoh for so long was gone, fallen to the Master Sword. Well the Master Sword, and a not insignificant amount of bomb arrows.

Staring at the Main Control panel ten yards from where he stood, injured and exhausted, Link smirked to himself. He should just sit down, right here, and bake some apples to eat so he could regain a bit of his strength. It had been a hard fight! It had taken a lot out of him! And Revali could sit around and complain all he wanted, since there wasn’t anything the spirit of the Rito Champion could do about it.

He deserved as much for the prickly and haughty manner in which he’d been speaking while Link tried to subvert Ganon’s corruption. Though the change in tone as the hylian’s repeated successes went on had not gone unnoticed by the knight.

No, No Link wouldn’t keep him waiting… that would have been cruel. With a sigh, Link closed the distance between himself and the Main Controls, setting the Shiekah slate on the tablet as he had so many times elsewhere. The bulb, large as a room and intricate with ancient energy, changed from orange to blue, and pulsed once… twice… three times as Vah Medoh was not returned to control of the Champions.

“Well I’ll be plucked,” Revali’s echoic, ethereal voice said from behind him, “You defeated him, eh?” Link cut his eyes over his shoulder and turned around, braced for a potentially long and self absorbed speech. There Revali stood, incorporeal as both Daruk and Mipha had been, green spirit fire dancing around him where he had just landed. Spreading his wings wide, Revali seemed reserved… for Revali. “Who would have thought?”

Looking at each other a long moment, Link felt… differently than he had before. Mipha and Daruk had been his friends, people he cared a great deal for. Revali and he had not been friend, and even actively disliked one another a century ago. And yet, there was still a sadness in Link’s heart, seeing the Rito Champion’s spirit.

Noting that the archer dropped his gaze and looked away before he spoke, the Rito’s next words were surprising to the hylian. “Well done.”

But Revali continued, and the moment was over. “I suppose I should thank you now that my spirit is free. This returns Medoh to its rightful owner.” With a grand gesture to the sky of one wing, Revali straightened, clearly meaning himself. “Hmph,” he added with a callous expression. “Don’t preen yourself just for doing our job.”

Link pressed his lips together and raised one eyebrow. “Oh yes. We could never have that from any Champion,” he mumbled sardonically. If Revali heard, he didn’t show it.

“I do suppose you’ve proven your value as a warrior. A warrior worthy of my unique ability. The sacred skill that I have dubbed Revali’s Gale!” Despite the posing and flapping of wings, Link forgave the Champion’s drama in the face of the nicest thing  Revali had ever said about or to him.

With yet another set of dramatic movements, Revali’s spirit summoned and sent an orb of green spirit energy hurtling at Link, and as it entered him body, a familiar, strong whirlwind kicked up, lifting Link from his feet and tossing him into the air quite unexpectedly. With a flip and twist, Link landed without injury on one knee, and looked back up to the Rito… in gratitude.

“It’s now time to move on and start making preparations for Medoh’s strike on Ganon. But,” Rivalli gave a small smirk, “Only if you think you’ll still need my help while fighting inside Hyrule Castle.” It wasn’t an apology, but even a small admission that he’d been wrong so long ago was enough to inspire forgiveness entirely in Link’s heart. Revali quickly ruined the moment again by added, “Feel free to thank me now.”

Rolling his eyes, Link noticed the now familiar gold light that meant his time on the Divine Beast was over, and was shocked to hear Revali say, “Or.. .nevermind. Just go. Your job is far from finished you know.” The Rito Champion was glancing at him sidelong. Finally turning away and lifting his beak to the sun, Link was fading away already when he heard the final words of his old self appointed rival.

“The Princess has been waiting an awful long time.” Revali’s Flap - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doMVZikgnNE Freeing Vah Medoh - https://youtu.be/uxP8BqemAvc?t=1413

[delicatefury]

So

I’m back in my city, at the LCS, enjoying a coffee on a miserable day. The bar exam is over and I have two days before I go back to work. I still need to do one last thing for my bar application (the state’s a UBE state so I have to do an “educatonal component” on the differences in the state law from the common law. It’ll probably take me a morning or an evening and it’s an open book test that you can keep taking until you pass), but other than that, my time is completely my own for the first time since frickin’ September.

So here’s the plan of what’s going to change going forward:

Back to writing! Good news everyone, I can finally write and plot and all that good stuff without immediately being distracted by the guilt of “you should be studying”. I’ve got some asks to answer, some plots to lay down, and some editing to do but I hope to have a new TDPL snippet at the very least ready to go by Friday. Still no clue when chapter 5 will be ready though. I need to rearrange some plot stuff first.

Also, I plan to have a second or third draft in my one completed original story done by my 30th birthday in seven months, so depending on inspiration, so expect some general writing rants about that too. (I’m going to flood my two best friends with drafts of that once I’m ready. One because she is a nit picker who loves reading more than I do so will easily find every plothole, grammar mistake, and OOC moment for me, the other because she’s been heavily invested in my writing since we were fifteen and I still have some old, old drafts covered in her notes and questions and excited squeeing.)

Reading! My goal is 8 hours a month (at least) which means about two hours a week. I’ve got Terry Pratchett’s Night Watch sitting on the table right now, and I found a copy of The Hero of Many Faces at the used bookstore (warehouse, actually. That place is friggin’ huge), so that’s probably next. I want to finish a book or two a month, so once I reach those goals, I’ll be working on some of my massive tomes from college (Socrates, Plato, some political books and collected writings, some stuff on game theory... etc.)

Drawing! My paper collection habits have left me with a lot of sketchbooks and drawing pads, so if I want to keep indulging, I have to start using them up. Plus, I love having a visual reference for the characters I’m writing. Also, my skills are super rusty. So, I’m gonna try to do a reference picture a day (from Senshistock on deviantart and a couple drawing apps since I can’t do posemaniacs. No computer so the pics don’t load. Which is a shame. Those thirty second gesture drawing exercises are awesome.) I���m also gonna use some time on the weekend to learn/refine a skill. This week? Skin tones. ‘Cause I suck at them. Always have.

Painting! One evening a week (or every other week) just having fun with a canvas and trying new things. I’m tired of bare walls so I’m going to fill them up with my own work and learn as I go. I’ve got so many ideas too, pages of sketchbooks filled with basic designs and rough sketches that I’ve been dying to put to canvas. Also, motivation to get my office clean.

KNITTING! I’m finishing my nephew’s blanket before Easter now that I have the time to devote to learning the new skill needed to complete it. Then finish my brother’s scarf, work on my sister’s afghan, and make myself that pretty summer shawl I want before going back and working on socks for Christmas next year.

Law stuff!

Being Social! Again, no more guilt of “I should be studying” so next time my sister or coworkers say “let’s get a drink” I can say “OK!” Instead of “I really want to but...”

Cleaning! My office and room are nightmares right now. I was doing ok most of the last few months, but the entirety of February... yeah. But it’s spring and I need to pack up my winter clothes (in a new box that I know for a fact my cat can’t get into and which will be at the bottom of a stack of boxes just in case) and take stuff to the dry cleaners and air out the house before we switch from the HV to the AC. So might as well do a whole cleaning/purge, right?

Exercise! I signed up for cardio boxing at the very end of January but have yet to go (you know the drill of why that is), so I’m gonna go get my membership card and try to go at least twice this week.

Job search. My cousin’s wife’s workplace back home (and in the state where I just took the bar exam) is looking to hire people with J.D.’s, and she’s asked for my resume to show to their HR people, so I’ll be cleaning that up and sending it on. I also need to work on a writing sample. My current one is several years old, and, as I’ve been advised, I should probably start doing my own research to submit for publishing (since this is kinda what I want to be doing anyway). Also, my linkedin is embarrassingly out of date and bare, so, yeah. I’ll be working on all that in the evenings too.

Video games. I’ve finally started my Pokémon Sun game (hey, do any of you play it? I’d love to actually know the people I add to my friends’ list for once) and I’ve got a whole friggin’ backlog to get through. I’m gonna save up for a New3DS since the left-trigger of my current one is broke (a mild annoyance for most games, but for some of the ones I really want to play, it completely breaks the game i.e. I can’t aim in any Zelda game and I’m not good enough to play without targeting) as well as a switch.

Work on a side-hustle. Be it producing original stuff here for a Ko-Fi account, finally creating that etsy store for my cute little paintings (remind me to post the fox painting I made for my nephew), or selling my coffee cozies at the LCS, I’ve got plenty of ways to make extra money that I haven’t taken advantage of. No more! If I want to enjoy my daily coffee while still saving up, I gotta start earning extra money.

COOKING! And BAKING! I’ve got so many recipes better suited to spring than winter and so many cookies I’ve been neglecting (macarons and snickerdoodles and fancy iced sugar cookies...) because they take more time than chocolate chip. But now I have time and SUNLIGHT (which makes it easier for me to be productive in the evening. Once the sun goes down my mind says “day’s over” and goes into pre-bed mode. But we’re almost to SPRING so that’s not an issue anymore) so more messing around in the kitchen for me.

Now, is this too much to conceivably fit in a week when I’m still working full time? Probably, yeah. But I’ve always done my best and been happiest when I’m slightly overwhelmed (slightly being the operative word. Last month I was just completely overwhelmed because of that background chorus of “study study study study” going in my head at all times), so Imma try to do it all. Or at least attempt. And if I turn my “indulgences” of reading and video games into important self-care with goals and everything, I think I’ll be more able to healthily fit them into my life and schedule.

And I’m just... so excited to finally move forward. And if I end up failing the bar and have to retake in July? I’ve got nearly two months before I know if that’s an issue and nearly five months before that test anyway so I’m going to enjoy myself until then.

[liv-andletdie]

@ultrafrank23 how does 2 babies sound? 

I LIVE for Fluffy TP Zelink! However this took me WAY longer than I wanted thanks to a complete re-write halfway through, too many ideas I wanted to work in, and a pause to work on my other fic. Also there's not even a plot it's more like a collection of cute shorts. But it’s here now! Sorry for the long wait.

 Ao3 link [x]

The Queen of Hyrule was rudely awoken by the wailing cries of her newborn. The screams echoing around the old stone walls of the royal chambers, the cold night air whistling past the windows. Zelda threw the blankets off at the first piercing sob, the action awakening her husband.

“Love?” he said, his voice thick with sleep. Link rubbed his eyes, trying to wake himself up “where are you going?”

“It’s Tina” Zelda replied, pushing herself out of bed. The feel of cold stone against her feet causing her to jump slightly. Link seemed to notice his daughter’s cry, pushing the blanket off of himself.

“I’ll go” he said, letting out a loud yawn “you rest. It’s my turn anyway” Zelda rolled her eyes, pushing him back onto the bed.

“You said that last time. It’s my turn now” She threw the blanket over his chest, ignoring the look he gave her. “Besides, if she needs feeding you’ll have to wake me up anyway” Link opened his mouth to reply, before promptly shutting it when he realized she had him beat.

“Fine” he sighed, letting himself settle back against the pillows “but next time it’s my turn” Zelda held back a giggle at his annoyed pout, moving to press a kiss against the tip of his nose. He seemed pacified at that, letting a small smile show on his lips.

Another wailing cry cut through the air, Zelda turned her head at the noise, her heart going out to the new Crown Princess. Link took her hand and pressed a gentle kiss to her knuckles, his eyes telling her silently to go to their child.

The Crown Princess, Augustine Zelda Marie Hyrule, lay in her cot screaming. Cushioned by white linen and pale blue wool. She’s beautiful, Zelda thought, even when her face is red and scrunched up from crying. That crying stopped once Zelda held her in her arms.

“You just wanted a little cuddle didn’t you?” She asked, her voice low and light. Augustine looked up at her, sky blue eyes like her father, taking in shapes and colours but not objects. A pale face, brown hair, and a pink smile all meant Mummy. “It’s okay, I won’t tell. Your secret is safe with me my darling girl”

Zelda presses a soft kiss against where a heavy crown will rest later. But for now, cradled in her arms, the next Zelda to take the throne is simply Tina. Free of all responsibilities and expectations.

She bounces her softly in her arms, humming her ancient lullaby. The sound of rustling sheets behind her draw her attention.

Link was sitting upright in the bed, the blankets smoothed out beside him, a content smile on his face. He didn’t speak but his eyes said it all. Zelda felt her cheeks warm slightly at the look of adoration he gave the two of them.

He’d been so excited when she’d told him she was expecting. She remembered clearly how he had lifted her from the ground, spinning her around in his joy. He’s laid gentle, almost terrified, hands against her stomach. Uttered prayers of thanks and protection for the two most important people in his life.

He patted the pillow next to him, a silent invitation. Zelda smiled, holding Augustine closer to her chest. She made her way along the freezing stone floors, the cold biting at her toes. Everything is so cold now she thought to herself, noting how even the satin sheets stung through her nightgown 

Link pulled her close to him, resting her head on his shoulder as he held her from behind. He kissed the top of her head, glancing down at the precious bundle in his wife’s arms.

“Did she need feeding?” he asked, running a hand up and down her arm, feeling her skin warm under his touch. Zelda shook her head, gaze fixed on Augustine as she settled back to sleep. “What did she need then?”

“I can’t tell” Zelda whispered, careful not to wake her baby. “I promised I wouldn’t” She felt Link smile into her hair, a soft laugh warming her heart.

“Okay don’t tell me” he relented, sleep returning to his voice. He had to be up early, she knew, The Knight initiates needed training and he didn’t trust anyone else to do it. Something about securing a safer kingdom for the children of Hyrule. It was admirable, if tiring, work 

“Get some sleep Link” she said, turning her head to press a light kiss against his cheek, “I’ll make sure Tina settles in her cot. You rest”

“I’m fine” he mumbled “I’ll put Tina down you rest” Zelda rolled her eyes, at this rate he was likely to drop the baby with how exhausted he was.

“Link, I’ll put her to bed. Tell her you love her so I can move” Link pushed himself off of the head board, bringing his head down to where Augustine lay in her mother’s arms.

“I love you” he whispered, pressed a kiss to her little head, “I love you, my little princess”

---

Link wiped the sweat from his brow, the hot summer sun beating down on his skin. Training in the summer was always difficult, when the weather got warmer his weapons seemed to get heavier, his clothes stuck to him more making it hard to move.

He dropped down on the bench next to the training grounds, taking the moment to catch his breath. He looked out over the sea of knights and soldiers, brave men and women working and training tirelessly to keep Hyrule safe. They had improved drastically in the years since the invasion. And since Tina was born he’d been working day and night to make sure that the army didn’t slack in their efforts.

“Daddy Daddy!” a young voice called out, causing the soldiers in the yard to stop what they were doing. An entire army moved in synch to watch the Crown Princess race across the sand of the sparring grounds and into the waiting arms of her father, The Prince Consort.

“Hello my Princess” he said, sweeping her up in his arms, her happy childish cries echoing across the yard. “What are you doing here?” he asked, settling her weight on his hip. Augustine giggled, holding onto his shoulder so she wouldn’t fall.

“Mama said to come get you” She sang “We’re going on a picnic!” Her eyes shone with unconcealed joy! She was practically shaking with excitement and Link found himself unable to hold back his own smile.

“A Picnic?” he said, fake surprise coloured his tone but Augustine was too excited to notice. She only nodded frantically, Link was scared her hat was going to fly off. He reached up, securing it soundly over her hair. She giggled, reaching to mess with his hands.

The sound of a hundred feet echoed across the yard. Men and Women coming to attention all around them. Link looked over his daughter’s head to see what caused the sudden change in his army.

Zelda, Queen of Hyrule, strode through the training grounds. The midmorning sun glinted against her golden brown hair, the white ribbons tied around her braids reflected against her face giving her an ethereal glow. Her long purple dress floated behind her as she walked. Not for the first time, Link was caught by her beauty. I’ve married a goddess

“Look it’s Mama” he said, turning his body so Augustine could see Zelda walking towards them. Augustine reached out, her hands grabbing at air in an attempt to make Zelda walk faster.

“Mama!” she cried as Zelda got closer “Daddy’s gonna come picnic with us” Link relinquished his hold on his daughter as Zelda took her in her arms. Balancing the child on her hip she smiled, her eyes lighting up with Augustine’s infectious excitement.

“Well that’s wonderful. Daddy needs a break don’t you think?” Tina nodded and Zelda turned to look at Link, a winning triumphant smile on her face.

Oh I see He thought, watching as his wife tried to balance his overactive daughter on her hip She’s trying to get me to stop working… well… I suppose I can take a break for one day.

“Give me time to wash up” He said, leaning in to press a kiss to Zelda’s cheek “Then I’ll meet you two in the stables”

Zelda nodded, moving to return the kiss. Augustine swung in her mother’s arms, desperate to get moving. She pulled on Zelda’s sleeves and hair, and yet the Queen remained unaffected by her daughter’s actions.

“Come on” she whined, ignoring the looks Link and Zelda were giving each other, “Daddy smells he has to have a bath”

Link let out a laugh, stepping back and bowing to his Queen. “I’ll see you in the stables” he said picking up his sword and heading towards the bathrooms.

---

True to his word, Link met them in the stables. Their horses already saddled and waiting, their lunch already packed and stored away safely in their saddlebags along with blankets. Zelda was already atop her horse, Augustine waiting for Link to ride with her. She’d start her riding lessons in a few years, at five years old they feared she would be too young.

“Where have you been?” the little Princess demanded, her arms crossed stubbornly over her chest. Link held back a small laugh at his daughter’s act, kneeling down so he was eye level with her.

“You said I smelled, I had to get clean so I wouldn’t be all stinky” Augustine let out a giggle at his words, her fake annoyance fading away. Link lifted her, placing her atop Epona, before moving to sit behind her on the saddle. He pressed his ankles into Epona’s flank and the small family were off, racing towards Hyrule field and their picnic.

They found a spot in the shade of a tree, far enough from the bustling noise of Castle Town to relax, but close enough to be under surveillance from the Royal Guard. Link set the blankets out as Zelda laid out the food. Augustine was lost in her own little world, running through the thick grass and playing with the bugs she found.

“Augustine” Zelda called out once everything was laid out. She watched the grass for any sign of her daughter, stifling a sigh of relief as her head popped up from the long grass, small streaks of dirt marking her cheeks. “Come over here”

The Princess ran over to where they were seated, her hat coming loose, long strands of blonde hair falling across her face. She fell into Zelda’s arms, loud breathless giggles colouring the air. Zelda wiped the dirt from her face, pulling back her hair and replacing her hat.

“There you go my darling girl” she cooed “doesn’t that feel better? Nice and tidy” Augustine relaxed under the attention, smiling as her mother played with her hair. Link pulled a plate out of his pack, selecting different fruits and cheeses from the assortment provided. He left the plate next to Zelda for Augustine to snack on while her mother worked.

The three sat in relaxed silence, just listening to the sounds of the birds in the distance. Link laid down on the blanket, having eaten his full. He could hear Zelda singing softly as Augustine stole grapes and berries from her plate. What did I do to deserve such happiness? He wondered reaching a hand out to brush against Zelda’s ankle.

“Daddy? Are you sleeping?” Augustine asked crawling over the blanket to poke him in the cheek.

“I was” he responded, keeping his eyes shut to the bright sunlight. “Mama’s singing made me feel sleepy” He could imagine Zelda’s joking pout, her hand coming to rest against her heart in mock shock.

“Don’t blame me just because you’re being lazy” She said, throwing a grape at his head. It hit his nose causing him to sit up in shock. Zelda let out a laugh at his bewildered expression, his mouth hanging open his eyes wide.

“Very funny” he pouted, moving to lie back down on the blanket, his hands cradling his head.

“It was actually, you pull the most amazing faces my love” he tried to ignore the way her laugh set butterflies loose in his stomach. He moved his hand back to her ankle, giving the skin there a soft pinch which caused her to squeak.

Augustine watched her parents in abstract confusion, while she didn’t understand the joke or what her mother found funny, she had to admit Daddy made some silly faces. But soon she began to grow bored of sitting and listening to them talk, the long grass looked fun to run through, the trees looked like they wanted to be climbed.

“Daddy” she demanded, poking his cheek again “play with me”

“I’m sleepy Princess, let me have a nap first then I’ll play with you” he replied, fighting back a yawn. Augustine’s little pout broke his heart, he couldn’t say no to her when she looked like that I blame Zelda he cursed she does the same thing He was about to will himself into wakefulness when Zelda spoke breaking the spell.

“Daddy’s tired” she said reaching behind her for her saddle pack. Link knew she had packed books in there to read in the sunshine, she was never one to pass up an opportunity for learning. “Let him nap, then he’ll take you on a ride with Epona. Won’t you Daddy?”

Link nodded, locking eyes with his daughter. “I promise” he said crossing his heart. Augustine looked crestfallen, eyes tracing the shapes and patterns woven into the blankets. She’d be bored out of her mind with Daddy napping and Mama reading.

“I wish I had a little brother or sister” she mumbled, causing Zelda to almost drop her book in shock. “Then I wouldn’t have to wait for Daddy to stop napping, I could play all day” Zelda marked the page in her book, setting it to the side.

“Augustine” she cooed, holding her hand out to the little girl “why don’t you go and find those bugs you were looking at before? Miss Agitha lent you that book on bugs remember? I can help you find out which one is which”

The little Princess seemed to perk up at that idea, getting to play in the dirt AND learn with Mama! It seemed to good to be true. “Okay!” she cried getting up and running into the grass before Zelda could change her mind.

Zelda watched her daughter run around, bugs momentarily forgotten as she just enjoyed the freedom of running through the field. Link’s voice broke her from her thoughts, his soft questioning tone causing her to look at him.

“How come you ain't playing in the grass with her? You used to love that. Are are not feeling well?” Zelda felt herself blush at his concern, shaking her head shyly. She shifted so she was closer to him, her hand resting over his heart. The steady thump thump thump was reassuring and comforting under her palm.

“I’m alright” she said “But… what Tina said…. About wanting a little brother or sister… well, she might get her wish sooner than she realizes”

Zelda didn’t hold back her joyful laugh at his expression, eyes wide and smile shining. His heart raced under her fingertips.

---

The Prince of Hyrule was born in the early spring. He was small and quiet, much weaker than his sister had been. Julius Russell Daphnes Hyrule, the second child of Queen Zelda Antoinette Harkinian Hyrule, was rumored to be too weak to last till the summer.

Zelda clung to her son for months, watching over him every second of everyday. Link feared it would drive her mad, that the goddesses would remain deaf to her silent prayers. He kept Augustine away, scared of upsetting her if the worse were to pass.

The Priest from the castle sanctuary came daily. He tried to convince Zelda to let go, to let the baby Prince sleep. But she refused, nursing and caring for her tiny son. Link began to stand guard, to turn the Priest away, to let Zelda and Julius rest together.

Summer came and went, and soon winter was spreading her frozen talons across the land.

The Prince lived, getting stronger everyday. He was as silent as his father and as still as his mother, he lacked the boundless energy of his older sister. And yet he lived.

Augustine adored her brother. She spent every free second with him, shaking his rattles and singing the songs her father taught her. Julius always smiled more in his sister’s company. Link would often say that she shared her strength with him, Zelda didn’t seem to think it was far fetched.

As Julius reached his first birthday, Augustine passed her sixth. Her excitement for her brothers party grew with each passing day.

“I think Julie would like chocolate cake!” she cried wanting to have her say “It’s sweet like him!” Link had laughed at that, knowing full well chocolate was Tina’s favourite. He played along, watching as Zelda playfully rolled her eyes at the two of them.

“I agree” he said, bouncing Augustine on his knee “Chocolate is the perfect dessert” He felt Tina smile at him, pride shining behind her big blue eyes at his support. She’d stopped wearing her hat, letting her long hair fall in braids down her back like her mother. Link enjoyed playing with his daughter’s hair, braiding and unbraiding the fine golden locks. The action always helped to calm her down, to relax the overexcitable Crown Princess.

Zelda held Julius close to her chest, listening to his quick even breaths as he slept. She sat at her desk, the prince held in a sling over her heart so she could work. Listening to Augustine and Link agree on cake flavours and what kind of sweets should be served, she made notes to give to Chef.

“What else do you think Julie would like at his party?” she asked, a hand coming up to rub her son’s back gently. Augustine seemed to think seriously about that, bringing a hand to her chin, her tongue sticking out in concentration. Zelda bit back the urge to tell her to tuck her tongue away, such behaviour was unbecoming of a future monarch.

“I think he would like it if everyone wore green!” Augustine cried, practically leaping out of Link’s lap. “It’s his favouritest colour!” Link chuckled lightly behind her, catching Zelda’s eye.

“Why do you think that?” he asked, unbraiding her hair again. Augustine looked proud of herself, holding her back straight and throwing her chin out in an attempt to look serious and smart.

“Julie always smiles more when I wear green” She said “he waddles faster when he sees me and the gardens make him happy. And Daddy wears green so Julie’s gotsta like it!”

Zelda leaned forward, tickling her daughter’s nose with the tip of her feather quill, causing her to giggle loudly and almost wake the prince from his nap.

“I think he smiles more because he’s happy to see his big sister” Zelda said moving to tickle Augustine’s chin. “But if you think everyone should wear green then we’ll make everyone wear green”

Augustine’s smile lit up the room, her excitement for her brother’s party bringing joy to both Link and Zelda. She bounced up and down lightly on her father’s knee, happy that her ideas were being listened too. She was going to make this the best birthday ever!

Julius shifted in his sling, his sister’s happiness rousing him from his sleep. He let out a cry causing Zelda to pull him from the sling and bounce him on her knee. Augustine shifted off of Link’s lap, desperate to see what her little brother was crying at.

She raced around the desk to stand next to Zelda’s leg as her mother pressed kisses against Julius’s head. His crying quieted down, the nose only serving to show he was awake, as he looked around the room with wide and curious eyes. Augustine reached over Zelda’s lap, trying to tickle her baby brother’s toes. He seemed to notice his big sister, letting out a happy gurgle at the sight of her smiling face.

“Do you want to hold him?” Zelda asked. Augustine looked at her with a mixture of shock and awe 

“I can hold him?” she asked, amazed and scared at the prospect. For almost a year Julius had been held exclusively by Zelda and Link, Augustine had only been able to play with him when he was placed on the floor or after he started crawling.

Zelda nodded, lifting Julius from her lap and kneeling on the floor next to her daughter. She could tell Augustine was nervous about holding him, scared that she would drop him. Link shifted in his chair to get a better look at the three of them.

“Don’t worry” Zelda said, holding out her son, “I’ll tell you exactly how to hold him so you won’t drop him. Okay?” Augustine nodded back, holding her arms out to support her baby brother. With steady hands Zelda lowered Julius into her arms, taking care that his head was well supported in his sister’s elbow.

Augustine looked down at her brother, listening to his happy squeaks and giggles. He knew a few words, mostly “Mama” and “Dada”, Augustine was hopeful that it would be her name he would learn next. She’d tried teaching him before, even though Link had explained to her that “Augustine” was a difficult word for a baby to say. But she had faith that Julius would be as wise as Mama.

“Hello” she cooed, giggling as he reached for her long braids. “Hello Julie, what’s my name?” Julius looked at her, her braids forgotten as he listened to her soft lilting voice. “It’s Augustine, can you say Augustine?” she asked, bouncing him slightly as she’d seen Zelda do before. Link moved from his chair, coming to kneel beside his wife.

“Tina” he said “It’s a long name, he’s not even a year old yet” Link watched as Augustine shook her head, little Julius giggling in her arms delighted with the way her braids swung in front of her.

“No, he can do it I know he can” she said, remaining stubborn and steadfast. She looked down at Julius, smiling and trying again “Aw-gus-teen” she sounded out. Julius giggled at her, his mouth moving to try and learn the strange sounds she was making.

“Tina” Link said again, shifting on his knees so he was closer to the two of them. “Maybe an easier word? Something short might be a better place to start?”

Julius listened to his dad, the small word he’d used to refer to his sister sounded funny to the infant. He began to move his mouth, trying to speak like his father.

“Tee...teenah”

---

Augustine wiped the sweat from her brow, the hot summer sun beat down against her skin. Despite her discomfort the Princess always enjoyed riding in the sun. She’d been given a horse for her seventh birthday, one of Epona’s foals which she’d named Sleipnir. Link had been giving her lessons for three years and in that time she had improved greatly.

Looking down at her handkerchief, a gift from Julius, she lamented her brother’s young age. It would be two more years until he would be taught to ride, two more years of waiting for the young Princess. Julius didn’t seem to mind being stuck indoors however, he actually seemed to prefer it.

The Prince would often spend the long days at his mother’s side just watching her work or practicing his embroidery. Sometimes he would take strolls in the garden with either Link or Zelda, but for the most part he was content to sit and read to himself while his sister studied or went riding.

“You alright Tina?” Link asked realising that his daughter had stopped behind him. He was taking her on a ride around the Castle Walls, “getting some exercise” was his excuse, but Tina saw right through it. He just doesn’t want to be stuck inside like Mama and Julie

“I’m okay Daddy” she said, leaning forward to scratch between her mount’s ears. Sleipnir let out a happy whinny at the touch, his ears flicking back and forth. “I just wish Julie could come with us”

Link led Epona back to where the young Princess had stopped, his shoulders sagging slightly. “He’ll learn to ride soon enough. Anyway I’m sure if you just asked him he’d love to come” “But he can’t ride” She challenged, fingers tracing over the uneven threads of her handkerchief. It had been one of Julius’ first projects, Zelda had led him through it step by step. It wasn’t his best work but Augustine treasured it more than anything. He’d embroidered her initials in blue thread, her favourite colour, The A and the Z were two different sizes and the M looked more like a zigzagging line than a letter. It was perfect.

“So? That didn’t stop me from taking you on rides when you were his age. Remember that picnic when you were five?” Link leaned over in his saddle, a gentle hand coming to rest on his daughter’s wrist.

“But I sit sidesaddle. Julie wouldn’t be comfortable riding with me” She held his hand, playing with the worn leather of his glove. Even as a young child she found comfort in the feel of her father’s riding gloves. She could remember him holding his hands out to her, just so she could play with the stitching and the creases where his knuckled bent.

“He could ride with me, unless you don’t want me hanging around with you two” Link teased, watching his daughter’s face come up in shock “You’d be too embarrassed to have your old man join you I get it”

“No that’s not true!” she defended, noticing too late the mischievous glint in his eye. Link let out a loud laugh, squeezing her hand in his. She let herself pout at his joke, hands reaching for the Sleipnir’s reigns.

“Poo to you Daddy” she said, throwing her chin to the side, turning her face away from him. Link was caught for a second by how similar she had looked to her mother. Augustine took after him more than Zelda, both in looks and in attitude. However there were moments when he swore she was Zelda’s double.

“I’m sorry Princess” he sighed, letting his chuckles die down “do you want to go back to the castle? See if Julie’s been missing you?”

The mention of her brother caused Augustine to smile brightly, her long ears perking up in excitement. She nodded her head, to energised to speak. She pulled on the reigns giving Link a clear message.

Race you

And the two were off

---

Julius sank in his seat, the embroidery hoop in his hands forgotten as he watched the lazy clouds float past. It was such a lovely day, the sun shining down made the gardens too hot for walking in, but it wasn’t like her could go walking anyway. Mama was working and Daddy was out with Tina, so unless he went with one of the nursery maids he was confined to the shade of his mother’s study.

It wasn’t that he didn’t like the nursery maids, it was just that they weren’t as fun as Tina, or as quiet as Daddy, or as smart as Mama.

“Are you well my Cherub?” Zelda asked, noticing her son’s slouched position. He had been practicing his embroidery while she studied harvest reports and letters from dignitaries, but the steady sound of needle against thread had stopped a while ago.

“Yes mama” he replied, tired eyes still watching the sky.

"Is there anything I can get for you?” she asked, noticing her son’s almost melancholy mood. “A drink? A snack?”

“No thank you” he sighed, moving the embroidery hoop to sit at the spot next to him. Zelda got up from her spot behind her desk, coming to kneel in front of the sofa he sat at. She held his hands in his, soft silk gloves ghosting over his tiny knuckles.

“Are you bored my dove?” she asked, watching as he nodded his head slightly. “Do you wish to go for a walk? I could call Selena…” she trailed off at her son’s disgruntled expression.

“Selena’s boring” he whined, kicking his legs slightly “She doesn’t like running or playing”

I see Zelda thought, shifting closer towards him. “Do you want to play with Tina? Is that it?” Julius nodded, eyes drifting back towards the calm blue sky. She was out there right now with Daddy, having fun without him.

“She’ll be back soon” Zelda said, trying to pacify her son’s bad mood. “You can play with her then”

Julius rolled his eyes, a very undignified action for a royal such as himself. “I wanted to play with her now. But she and Daddy left before I could go with them” Zelda moved to press a kiss to his hands, his sad expression causing her heart to break. I can’t imagine it’s any fun to watch me work all day she thought, pulling him into a hug. Julius wrapped his little arms around her, his head tucked under her chin. His soft brown hair tickled her nose.

“Do you want me to talk to Daddy?” she asked, a hand rubbing up and down her son's spine. He shook his head, only clinging tighter too her. She rocked them back and forth, humming her soft lullaby as she did.

Suddenly the door was flung open and the Crown Princess of Hyrule came running in. She was flustered and out of breath, her hair coming loose from her braids, her riding gown caked with mud around the hem. And yet she wore the brightest smile the Queen had ever seen.

“Julie!” she cried “I beat Daddy in a race! I won!” Her smile melted from her face when she noticed that he hadn’t moved to look at her. Julius still clung to Zelda refusing to look at his sister. “Julie?” she asked “what’s wrong?”

“He’s been bored to tears watching me work” Zelda said, pressing a kiss against the top of his head. “He wanted to play with you but Daddy got there first… where is Daddy?”

As if on cue, Link appeared around the side of the door, out of breath and in a similar state to his daughter. Zelda raised a brow at his appearance, silently asking what took him so long to get there.

“Her highness locked me in the stable” he answered, shooting a glance at Augustine who seemed very pleased with herself.

Julius shifted in her arms, burying himself closer to her. Zelda squeezed him in response, glancing between Link and Augustine. The two of them were now watching Julius, worry etched on their faces. Augustine stepped forward, coming to kneel next to Zelda.

“Everything alright?” Link asked, removing his riding gloves and throwing them on the desk. Zelda shrugged in response, rubbing her son’s back as he avoided eye contact with everyone in the room.

“He wanted to play with Tina” she said eyes following Link as he sat down on the sofa, pulling Julius’s embroidery into his lap. “But you took her out riding before he could, so now we’re just having a little cuddle”

Augustine laid a hand on Zelda’s shoulder, silently asking for the chance to talk to her brother. Zelda leaned back, pulling Julius from his hiding spot in her arms. He still wouldn’t look at Augustine, his eyes burning holes in the plush velvet cushions he sat on.

“Julie” she tried “do you still want to play? I found some really pretty flowers I wanted to show you” Julius tried to remain impassive, but his ears gave him away. They perked up at the idea of going to see new flowers, especially with Tina.

“That sounds nice” Zelda chimed in, moving to brush his hair away from his face “I think that would be really fun” Link got up from his seat, handing the embroidery hoop back to Julius who took it without looking.

“I agree” He said “why don’t you two go sit outside? You can work on your embroidery in the sunshine” he saw Julius hesitate, his hands running over the delicate stitches he’d done before “I’ll keep Mama company don’t worry” Julius seemed satisfied at that, happy that Mama wouldn’t have to do her work alone. 

“Okay” he mumbled, kicking his legs out, “as long as you don’t distract Mama” Link let out a happy chuckle, helping Zelda to her feet. Augustine took his hand, a happy smile growing on both of their faces.

“Come on” she said, pulling him towards the door “I wanna see what embroidery you did” Link and Zelda stood and watched as their children disappeared down the hall, the sounds of laughter filling the air. Link wrapped his arms around Zelda’s waist, his chin resting on her shoulder. She let herself melt into the hug, taking the time to enjoy the moment. Her husband’s strong hands running up and down her spine, her children’s joyful cries floating around the castle.

“I love you” she murmured, resting her cheek on his shoulder. She felt him smile, his hands holding her close to him.

“I love you too” he whispered

[anotherlifefic]

Chapter 14: The Wedding

A few months later, during which I had ceaselessly worked on my wedding dress, the day had finally come. Today was the day everyone I loved would gather at LonLon Ranch to witness Link and I being joined together as a married couple. Against my better judgement, I had also sent invitations to my parents, hoping that coming together at my wedding would mend our relationship. And now I stood in Malon's bedroom, already wearing my wedding dress, while Malon herself was braiding my hair so she could pin it up and stick the comb that held the veil into the updo. I had given the dress my all, and it was beautiful. The overlay which endet in the trail of the dress was white tulle, while the rest of the dress was the white linen with light green embroidery of leaves and vines on the bodice. The dress had trumpetsleeves that almost reached my ankles when I kept my hands at my sides. I did not wear any jewelry besides the wooden pendant my Grandpa had made for me. It made me feel like he was there with me, watching me get married. After all, it had been this very pendant that started my relationship with Link. A soft knock came from the door, and Malon opened it, only to find Princess Zelda standing on the other side, smiling at us. „May I enter?“ Both Malon and I curtsied before her. „Of course, Your Highness.“ The Princess came in an approached me, her armes outstretched for a hug. She smelled sweet, like spring flowers, and her embrace was warm and welcoming. When she let me go, she pulled a small flask out of a hidden pocket in her dress. „Here, this is my wedding gift to you.“ She opened it, and a sweet, luxurious smell spread through the room. She put some of the liquid on her finger and lightly dabbed it on my neck, right underneath my ears. It felt cool on my skin. Perfume. She pushed the flask in my hand before I could say anything and turned around. „I suppose I should go take my place among the guests. I will see you during the ceremony.“ Malon looked a bit baffled after the Princess had left. She turned to me. „I knew that you met the Princess, but since when are the two of you such good friends??“ „I honestly don't know“, I replied while I grabbed my bouqet from the nightstand. „Shall we? I don't want to keep Link waiting.“

Malon and Talon had repurposed the gate to the pasture as a wedding arch. Benches were set up to the left and right of it, and there sat our guests. Most of them were people of Hyrule City; my neighbours and other childhood-friends. A few of the Kokiri had come to witness Link's wedding; among them was Mido, who made an effort to look like the grumpy little boy I had met when visiting Kokiri Village. But when he felt like nobody was watching him, I caught him smiling to himself. Next to the Kokiri stood a group of Gorons who were obviously very happy for Link. Their grins were so wide that they barely fit on their faces. Link was standing under the arch, wearing the tunic I had made for him, and Talon led me down the aisle. As I passed the first row of benches, I saw that two spots were empty... the ones meant for my parents. I tried to ignore the stinging pain in my heart as I turned my head to Link again. I did not want to cry on my wedding day, and if I did, I should only cry tears of joy. As we arrived at the arch, Talon gave my hand a last encouraging pat before taking his place in the first row. A priest from Hyrule City had been kind enough to perform the ceremony for us. He smiled at both Link and me, before he started talking:„Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness this man and this woman being joined in holy matrimony, under the loving eyes of the Goddesses. Love, so they taught us, is a committment to each other, to be each other's power, wisdom and courage, and thus, in love, the Goddesses are among us. Love takes many forms, and to express that, the groom and bride have prepared their own vows. So please.“ Link cleared his throat. „Rebecca, I know all of this came pretty quickly. Our relationship, our wedding. And that might mean that our marriage will need a lot more work than it would normally. But I swear by the Triforce that I will do everything to make you happy. I swear to protect you, to keep you safe from anyone who might mean you harm.“ Now I really felt tears of happiness creep into my eyes. But I took a deep breath and steadied myself. „Link. Honestly, when I realized that I had fallen in love with you, I really did not expect anything to come from it. But then you told me that you felt the same, and in that moment, I felt like I could do anything. And now, I want to do the same for you. And I swear that I will. I would do anything for you. I swear to be your shelter on a rainy day, your safe harbour in the midst of a storm.“ The priest nodded. „Very well then. If anyone objects to this marriage, may they speak now or forever hold their peace.“ Just in this moment, I looked to the people gathered and saw my mother and father hurrying towards us. Our eyes met, and my heart skipped a beat. No. They wouldn't. Would they? But after just a second, my mother lowered her gaze, as if embarrassed, and dragged my father over to their seats. I heard Princess Zelda quietly voice her disapproval of the interruption, but then I turned back to the priest. „Link, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love, to cherish, in sickness and in health, in peace and in war, until death do you part?“ „I do“, Link said and smiled. „Rebecca, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love, to cherish, in sickness and in health, in peace and in war, until death do you part?“ „I do.“ My heart beat a little faster as I said that, almost overwhelmed with joy. „You may kiss your bride.“ Link pulled me into his arms and kissed me softly. I wrapped my arms around his warm body, wanting him closer to me. I heard our guests cheer, but I was so caught up in the moment that it seemed very far away. Our guests came in small groups to congratulate us. First came Link the Goron and Malon, our best man and maid of honor. They hugged us, and I smiled even though Link the Goron's hug would probably leave me with a few bruises. Then came the Kokiri and the other Gorons, shaking our hands, hugging us and giving us their best wishes. Group by group, we accepted their well-wishes, their handshakes and hugs, until only two people were left who hadn't congratulated us. My parents. Of course. „Looks like we'll have to meet them halfway“, I told Link. Link sighed. „Yes, let's.“ My father was the first one to talk when we approached them. „Rebecca. Congratulations. I'm so happy for you.“ I smiled, but it must have looked a bit forced, because my father looked off to the side. „I'm so sorry I wasn't there to walk you down the aisle.“ „Well... I'm glad you came, either way“, I said, trying to sound optimistic. Then I looked past him to my mother, who looked like she'd rather be anywhere but there with us. „What about you, mama?“ She sighed. „I... don't know what to say.“ Well that was new. My eloquent mother was at a loss for words. Or maybe it was because I hadn't called her 'mama' in years. „There are a lot of things to say right now.“ She looked at me, then at Link, before turning around, and I just caught a glimpse of her gaze hardening. „I hope you won't regret it.“ With that, she marched off. My father looked at me sadly. „Don't resent her for this, Rebecca. She fears that you made the same mistake she made when she was your age.“ He bit his lip, as if he had said too much. Then he smiled. „I for one wish the two of you the best. And may your marriage be happy and peaceful.“ After saying that, he turned around and followed my mother.

The reception was pretty small, but we hadn't intended for it to be a big party anyway. We all had supper together, and then we said our goodbyes as our guests started to go home. Link and I helped clean up the ranch and put the benches back to where they originally stood, before mounting our horses and returning to the city. The circumstances did not allow us to have a honeymoon, but I actually didn't mind too much. When we stood in front of the door to our home, Link opened it and lifted me into his arms again, carrying me over the threshhold. „You know, you technically already did that“, I said dryly as he set me down. „And I will do it many more times in the future. What can I say? I just like carrying you.“ He chuckled and kissed me. „Let's go upstairs.“

I had barely reached our bedroom, when I already felt Links arms around my waist. He pulled me close, kissing my hungrily while his hands wandered to the lacing of my dress. I sighed contently once he managed to undo it and let the tips of his fingers run down my now bare back, giving me goosebumps. While he was doing that, I opened his belt and tossed it aside, before pulling the tunic over his head. My dress soon fell to the floor, and Link led me over to the bed. I sat down on the edge, and started to pull down his trousers and undergarments. Then I hugged his mid-section, planting gentle butterfly-kisses on his stomach, causing him to chuckle. „Rebecca... that tickles.“ „Do you want me to stop?“ He grinned, then pushed me onto the bed and sank down on top of me. „Well... there's more interesting things to do.“ I felt a blush creep up my cheeks as my core grew hot. I had slept with Link several times during the past few months, and once the awkwardness had worn off, Link had turned out to be a great lover. Maybe it was because by now he knew all of my sensitive spots. I moaned as he kissed my neck, then wandered down my collarbone until he was slowly approaching my breast. But he wandered farther down, drawing a burning trail down to my crotch. I gasped when I felt his tongue on my most sensitive spot, caressing and playing with the small bundle of nerves until I had to bite into the pillow to keep myself from crying out. Just when I was about to reach my peak, he suddenly stopped. He was grinning when he lifted his head to meet my gaze, amused by my grumpy expression. „Not so fast, love.“ He sat up and spread my legs farther, taking his place between them. „Ready?“ I nodded, hazy with anticipation, and couldn't stop myself from moaning at the top of my lungs as he entered me, spasming with an intense orgasm. Link moaned as well when he felt my inner walls tightening around him. It did not take long for him to find his release after that, letting him sink down on the bed with me.

We celebrated our new marriage in our own way, through the entire night, until we fell asleep when morning was only an hour or two away. It was already past noon when Link woke me up. He was already dressed in his everyday-tunic. „I have to go to the castle. I'm sorry.“ „It's alright“, I mumbled. „I know that you need all the training you can get at the moment. I'll have a nice supper ready for you when you return.“ He kissed my forehead and left, while I was getting out of bed. There was some tidying up to do, and then I had to get started on the supper I had promised.

I was just done with cleaning up the kitchen when I heard a knock at our door. I opened, and found my mother on the other side, holding a book in her hands. I did not even question how she knew where I lived now. „Mother? Is there anything I can do for you?“ She basically thrust the book in my hands. „If you want to keep that fine husband of yours, I suggest you learn to cook properly. This book contains all of your father's favourite recipes. Chances are that there's at least one recipe your husband will like in this book. If you don't mess it up, of course.“ I pressed the book to my chest, and for the first time in years, I found myself smiling at my mother. In a very gruff, roundabout way, she could really be caring „Thank you.“ She made a dismissive noise and then left, while I retreated back into the house to see which dish I would try to make for Link this time. While I was browsing through the book, I realized that it did not only contain my father's favourite recipes, but also mine. And finally, I found the perfect one. Roast beef with potatoes; something my mother usually cooked for special occasions. And since this was my first day as a married woman, I decided that it qualified as a special occasion. While I was preparing the roast, I allowed myself to think of the future Link and I would have together. Maybe we would have children. There was an empty room upstairs, one that Link had locked off because he had no use for it as of yet. I thought about what our children would be like. Would they be brave and kind, like Link? Would they have his eyes? His smile? Either way, I just hoped that they would be healthy and able to grow up in a peaceful Hyrule.

[heartofhryule]

Heart of Wisdom - Final Chapter

Heart of Wisdom - Chapter 16

Chapter 16 - 100% Fluff'N'Smut. The final chapter in The Heart of Wisdom story. Thanks for sticking with this long guys!

WARNINGS: Depicts Explicit Sexual content. Contains Hyrule Warriors spoilers and story items. I highly recommend playing the game if you haven’t! It’s complete fluff, but fun fluff.

_____________________________________

Heart of Wisdom | Chapter 16 | Conclusion

“You lied to us?!” Link wailed from Epona. If Zelda hadn’t been seated in front of him, he might have fallen off.

Midna’s laughter was eerie and musical in the air around them. “Of course I did! Lana told me she wasn’t supposed to intervene, but knew you needed help. So, I fibbed a little to cover at the time.”

Midna float along between Epona and Impa’s horse, the party returning from having bound Ganon’s soul once more under the Master Sword in the Sacred Grove. Impa and Lana rode slightly ahead of them and Lana turned in her saddle. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked her to lie. Don’t be mad at Midna.”

Link sighed, understanding the need for the deception. It honestly wasn’t that he was agitated about. “But that means that we won’t see you again,” Zelda said softly, reaching out to take Midna’s hand, voicing the true root of Link’s upset.

The Twilight Queen just gave her a sad smile. “Yeah, but think about it this way - I’ve gotten to see you two again, twice more than I ever thought I would.”

“This is where we part ways,” Impa sighed, looking to Lana and Midna. They’d reached the fork in the wooded path, one way taking their party back to Hyrule Castle, the other a path that would take Midna and Lana back to the Sorceress’s sanctum.

For the first time since the battles with Darkness had started months ago, everyone dismounted and gave Lana a proper goodbye, not a one of them letting her slip off without it this time. The Sorceress was clearly touched, and wiped her eyes with a smile. “Thank you all.”

“Without your help, we would not have been able to do this,” Zelda said solemnly. “It is you we should thank. Thank you, Lana.”

“Damn I’m gonna miss you guys,” Midna said, seeming to voice both her own and Lana’s feelings.

“Same,” Link said, squeezing Midna in a hug one last time.

Volga however cleared his throat. “I will accompany Lana and Midna back to the Sanctum to assure their safety,” the Dragonknight volunteered. Midna turned her lips in against a smile at the same moment Lana’s eyes lit up a little.

Zelda nodded to him, seeing something for the first time but keeping her council. “Travel safely then,” Impa said, clapping his shoulder before swinging back up onto her horse. All riders mounted again and called their final farewells before the party split and headed for their destinations.

***

Lana’s sanctum wasn’t much more than a half day’s ride from the point in the journey they’d bid goodbye to their friends, and there had not been much talking. A somber aire had fallen over the companions, but the lack of conversation had let them make good time.

The Dragonknight insisted on seeing Midna safely back as well, if it was what she desired. It clearly both was and was not, the Twili yearning to stay but knowing she had a duty to her time to return. Twilight could not be without its ruler, despite it’s Queen’s desires. That and she had once possessed the Triforce of Wisdom. She knew that it was necessary.

Turning to Volga, Midna winked as Lana’s voice casting the spell echoed around them. “Watch over these idiots for me, yeah?” she said with a broad grin.

Bowing respectfully - she was royalty after all - with his right hand over his heart, he nodded. “Of course, your highness. As best that I can.”

“Oh come on, warlock,” she laughed, “We both know if anyone can it’s you. And Volga?” He stood, meeting her eyes to find the burning coals of her irises glittering with amusement. “You’re going to handle your heart, right?”

Smirking, the Dragonknight sighed. “You don’t know how to avoid poking dragons do you?”

“Literally compelled.”

“Of course. And yes, I do.”

“Good.”

Turning to see the portal was open, Midna shot Lana a broad grin. “You’ll come visit, right? Because you can, and we both know it.” Lana hesitated, but gave Midna a resolute nod. “Good. You should bring him with you,” she said and with the last float backwards through the portal as it closed.

The air became less charged around them, and the light faded with the magic. The Sanctum was currently still anchored in this time, Lana had explained that she would have to unanchor it eventually, but she hadn’t once she realized Darkness was going to yet return.

Looking around for any excuse to procrastinate, Lana saw nothing she could use to waylay her duty any longer. “It’s time,” she said sadly.

Volga however took off his helmet and set it on the table next to him. “What’s the hurry?”

“I’ve already stayed too long,” the sorceress intoned quietly, turning her back to him as she tried to not let her emotions get the better of her. Volga saw this and took a step forward. “I need to return to my duties.”

“And is it all monitoring? Constantly watching the time stream?”

“Well no,” she sighed. That’s what I do mostly, because there’s nothing much better to do. I used to read, or write, but I’ve read all the books and very little inspires me. No one to be inspired by, or to even talk to.” Turning to him, he saw her lashes were again damp with emotional tears. “You weren’t wrong, about what you said. It is very lonely, and… I’m not looking forward to going back.

Dropping his gauntlets and gloves to the table beside his helm, Volga returned his gaze to Lana and reached out, offering her a hand. She took it, but the Dragonknight pulled her closer rather than that mere gesture of comfort. Gathering her other hand as well, Volga gently urged her to look up at him. “And what if I went with you?”

“You can’t,” she gasped, shaking her head.

“Why not?”

“The...rules…”

“So the goddess forbid you from having friends?”

“Well… no…”

“She said no one could ever share your eternity. Your loneliness? She wanted you to be lonely forever?”

“No! No she would have never!”

“So Nayru, Farore and Din have appeared and said as much?”

She narrowed her eyes, seeing he intended to continue in this manner. “No. There was no official decree from any Divinity. It was just… understood. I thought.”

“And you never questioned, as it wasn’t a problem until-”

“I realized I was lonely,” she admitted, her voice rough with the truth of her words.

“Then I will come with you, and you will no longer be lonely.”

She shook her head, still resisting. “Your Barony, the people you defend…”

“Are in good hands. I have left the lands to my cousin who has done magnificently in my absence over the last few months, and deserves the reward. When I joined Cia, let Darkness steal my heart… from that moment forward, I was never meant to go back to Snowpeak. Not permanently.

“But our friends… your life…”

“They will understand. If I had my guess, Zelda already knows.” He gave her a smile and watched as the sorceress relaxed slowly, starting to accept that he meant it. “Besides, who better to accept a once cursed Warlock knight like myself, than the purest goodness of a true Sorceress?”

“Oh Volga!” she cried and fell forward into his arms, forehead against his chest. “Do you really, truly mean it?”

Wrapping her in a warm hug, the dragonknight found it impossible not to smile. “Of course I do. I can think of no better fate than living outside of time with a kind, intelligent, and beautiful soul who wants nothing more than to not be alone. Only the Goddesses could grant a better fate.”

-

Lana wept softly a moment, accepting his affection and searching her own. It seemed that her gratitude could lend to misunderstood emotions on both sides… but then there was a part of her that knew. He was one of her few friends, she already cared deeply for him. Would it really be misunderstood?

Looking up to the handsome Knight holding her in chaste comfort, Lana smiled. Something told her that in those red, magical eyes might be where her true destiny lay. Yes, yes she could fall in love with Volga.

Pushing off his chest gingerly, she grabbed his hand and pulled him into the center of the room. “Alright! Then let me show you how to unanchor the Sanctum. Then I can show you how to anchor it! We’re going to need to if we intend to visit Midna!” Feeling more bubbly than she’d felt in months, Lana’s heart was light and effervescent as she stood across from Volga and smiled. He seemed amused and pleased, and endlessly patient.

Yes. Yes, she could be very happy like this. And she would be. And he would be. And they would be happy together, she and her Dragonknight Warlock.

“Okay, now repeat after me…”

***

The Castle was nearly repaired from the battles both recent and previous by the time they returned, the people recovering as well. They made the Castle by evening of the next day thanks to Lana’s magic there and back, having left almost directly after the ceremony that had wed Link and Zelda.

By the time they rode over the drawbridge and into the stables, Impa was ready to be done with the giggling and affectionate newlyweds. Leaping from her horse and handing the reigns to the stable boy, the Sheikah’s laughter echoed with her words, “Please, Highnesses, have the evening off. I will handle what needs handling - far away from the two of you. For as many days as you need.”

Link, feeling much healed after the potions Zelda had fed him, slid down from Epona and reached up to help her down. In so doing, he wrapped her in his arms and brushed his nose to hers affectionately. “Where to, my wife?”

“The bath,” she laughed, kissing him chastely and pushing away from him. But the Hero pouted, catching her hand as she started to walk away. Hyrule castle did not have the shared baths of Snowpeak which meant drawing up tubs, possibly in separate rooms.

“Together?” he asked hopefully as she pulled him along.

“No,” she giggled, teasing him cruelly. “Remember, you did not grant my wish in Snowpeak because of all my promises for our wedding night. Now? Now you will wait for those promises.” He whimpered as they made it into the palace and up the back stairs towards her private chambers. “Oh hush,” she laughed. “You made me wait, and now I’m just returning the favor.”

“You might be evil…” he whined. Reaching her rooms, she tried to shake him off and close the door, but Link wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back against him, laying kisses on the back of her neck.

“I’m filthy,” she argued, but merely waddled into the room without shaking him off.

Link kicked the door closed behind them, and tucked his face against the bend of her shoulder. “I don’t care. The world isn’t ending, we’re not at war, Darkness is bound and I have the most beautiful wife in all of creation. There is but one thing in the world that I need right now and a bath is not it.”

“What if I begged to differ?” She teased, leaning back against him as she kicked off her boots. Another pitiful whine was the only answer he could manage, inspiring a round of giggles from her.  “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up and see what we can do about that whining problem you have…”

She pulled him over to the wash basin, clearly not summoning the servants for a tub, and began helping him off with his clothing while accepting his help with hers. Making an affectionate game of the undressing and washing, Link discovered that any nervousness he’d once had about the splendor of her body and their intimacy was completely gone. He had a lot to learn, but he’d already brought her pleasure once before, and they had the rest of their lives to learn even more.

He watched her run the cloth over herself carefully and he knew she was tormenting him, the smirk she gave over her shoulder confirmation he’d not really needed. However before he could gather his thoughts enough to respond, she was cleaning the dried blood and dirt from his arms and chest. “I don't want to be reminded constantly that you nearly died today. Not tonight…” Despite her smile, her voice was soft with emotion.

Link stopped her hands gently and took the cloth from her, cleaning himself off entirely and with haste before reaching out and pulling her against him once more. Claiming her lips in a deep kiss that spoke of his passion for her, he strove to erase the upset that threatened her mind. When he needed to breath more deeply, he broke away just enough to rest his forehead to hers and look her in the eye. “No more of that,” he purred, one hand coming to tangle in the soft hair at the nape of her neck, fingers massaging gently in the hopes of coaxing and distracting. “No more thoughts of what could have happened. Only what did, and what’s going to.”

Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears, but she gave him a smile and nodded gently. “Like how today you became my husband?”

“And you my wife,” he grinned encouragingly.

She grinned up to him, happiness resurging as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body to him in a line from chest to knee. Link was very distracted, and undeniably aroused when her lips brushed his. “My King,” she whispered.

He couldn’t take it any longer. Link didn’t give a flying octorok’s backside if they were clean any more. Bending his head to taste her lips again with a low rumble of desire, arms around her waist he lift her from her feet and carried her to the bed.

Bending to lay her down, she refused to release his neck or abandon his kisses so he followed her down with a smile. Once comfortable, Link rest to her side slightly and held her close. Hands roaming her sides, the feel of her skin was slowly driving him mad. His kisses trailed down her neck and over her shoulder and as his lips brushed the soft flesh of one breast she cooed in anticipation, the sweet, feminine sound inflaming his blood.

It was an act of will to maintain his mind as the soft noises of pleasure she made under his hands and lips were enough to strip him of civilised thinking for the rest of his life. She was frenzied and begging him softly after a short while, and when his dancing fingers could tell she was on the verge of pleasure, he drew up beside her. “Zel,” he whispered and was trying to form words to make sure she was ready, but Zelda had other ideas.

She silenced him with a hungry kiss, and pulled him over atop her as her knees parted and accepted him between. There was no stopping the moan of true pleasure and full body shudder that wracked him as his need caressed her sweet warmth for the first time. After that, there was no more self control.

He met her hunger in kisses, and positioned himself before one hand came to hold her hip, the other propping him up over her. He had intended to be slow and gentle their first time, but she undid him so thoroughly, he found it impossible to maintain his intentions. Hips thrust forward, once within her desire there was no other heaven he would know. She was perfection, the way he fit within her perfect… Divine, and a fevered ache began to take over his entire body.

Beneath him, Zelda’s back arched and the soft wail that ripped from her was a sound of pure ecstasy. Her legs came up to wrap about his hips, and when Link remembered how to breath again, his body began to move of it’s own volition. His thrusts became heated and greedy, needing to please her, bring her pleasure and find his own. Each coo and whimper from her spurring him on further until finally her legs tensed around him and she cried out. It was a beautiful thing to watch, his princess so in ecstasy that she came up off the bed, shuddering repeatedly with the stroke of his body into hers. It also inspired fire in his lions that demanded satiation or it might kill him.

But then suddenly, he was on his back and looking up at the blissful and mischeivous face of his wife from under the curtain of her golden hair. He didn’t entirely realize or recall how this had transpired, only that she had kept him within her in so doing.

Heart racing and breath short, he was going to ask if she was pleased before begging her to let him find satisfaction, but then her hips began to move astride him. Words were no longer an option. Little fireworks were going off in his brain, and his eyes were glued to the lusty Goddess who moved atop him. She was smiling in addition to her mewls of furthered rapture, and watching him with her blue-violet eyes as she moved his hands to her hips.

He was only a mortal man. Some might argue that, but Link was well aware of his limitations. Resisting or maintaining any semblance of coherency with the vision above him was one of them; impossible. His hands gripped where she’d placed them and he began thrust up to meet her gyrations with blind abandon. She bent forward, her soft chest brushing his face in the processes before she claimed his mouth in hungry kisses once more, and it was done.

With a cry against her lips, he moved within her as the fireworks moved from his mind throughout his entire body until he could no longer. A languid and heavy feeling started to spread in his veins and all he could do was weakly return the kisses she gave him.

Floating, though he was mostly sure he’d not left the bed, Link was dimly aware when Zelda slid off to his side. He managed to tuck her under his arm as he tried to catch his breath that she’d stolen, head lolling over towards her. “I…Zel.... That…”

She giggled at his poor attempted to speak and touched a finger to his lips. “Yes it was,” she purred and nuzzled his neck. “And it will be every night for the rest of our lives.”

The thought brought a lazy grin to his face, and he rolled up to his side to gather her in both arms. Poetry was trying to dance around his mind for the dizzying spectrum of feelings and emotions whirling  around his mind. There was nothing else he could ever want outside of this, and he wanted to tell her, but he couldn’t find his voice.

“I know,” she grinned, accepting him into her arms as he curled around her. “I tried to convince you of this in Snowpeak…”

He chortled once sharply. “I’m never going to live that down, am I?”

“Mmm… maybe,” she teased and kissed his forehead. “But not for a while. But it’s alright, because I adore teasing you.”

The warm feeling tugging at his consciousness, he smiled at her words. He honestly liked her teasing too. It felt like a lifetime ago he’d met the kind but somewhat distant and regal Princess of Hyrule - she was the same person, but the nymph in his arms was warm and loving, brave and kind as she was funny and made of mischief. It was also, in realilty far longer ago that they’d met. A truth that would always warm his soul. She was also his, while at the same time owning him mind, body and soul.

“And, my hero?” she said softly, rubbing her cheek affectionately against his hair.

“Yes, my Princess?”

“I love you.”

Link smiled and turned his sleepy face up to her for a slow kiss, full of the pure,

unbridled love he felt in return. “And I you, Zel. Always.”

She smiled and nodded, giving him that kiss as she affirmed, “Forever.”

~fin~