#like. you do not have this issue with oot link because he dies in one timeline and leaves in the other. but zelda is always there.

[funsizedcrow]

so im coming up with ideas for a zeldas meet au (nothing concrete just vague concepts.) and i have hit a roadblock and that is that ocarina of time zelda exists simultaneously in three separate timelines at once.

[blackstarchanx3new]

FSR rambles PT 4

Over explaining the decisions in my own comic once again. UwU

Smth fun about these pages is ZELDA. My lady.

Something I'm not sure was how well this portrayed that this was shortly after they put the sword back (like maybe a year at most?)

I kind of like to think for FSR at least, they were all around 13-15 during the events of the manga (This isn't my opinion tbh, though in the bonus pages they buy child tickets for the theme park so they aren't canonically adults.)

Link's old enough to drink in FSR so he's at least 21.

(I've never really liked the idea they're YOUNG kids during FS it just lends itself better to FSR specifically. I really write them however old I want for whatever scenario I'm writing because Link's as fluid as a Vocaloid when it comes to making fan works and cannon is my bitch. Writing them as adults during the events of the manga usually lends itself to MORE writing opportunities but not for FSR. I don't really give a shit what other people decide to do when making fan works either.)

You'd also notice the 7 years it takes FS Link to pull the sword is a reference to the seven years Link misses during OOT.

Anyways onto the page itself: Zelda's a sweet girl who cares deeply about her childhood friend. Link means a lot to her and she makes time for him. He waits for her too. Zelink shippers I got you lol.

Something I always found WEIRD was how Link doesn't talk in the pages after he reformed. That's so odd to me. The fan "theory" It's basically cannon in BOTW/TOTK at least Link's selectively mute. That Link's mute is also something I took inspiration for FSR Link.

So Link doesn't respond to Zelda verbally but she still makes the effort to talk to him.

Shadow Link is very disapointed he can't get hugged by the princess. Because as he stated earlier in the comic he loves her. Zelda addressed him too so she tries to include him.

This page shows off just how gradual the curse was: So funny enough at the START of the comic it was actually going to be explained how Link utterly deteriorated but I decided to add that later. (Wanted to get to funny shenanigans with the boys so I put it off)

It started with him just hearing whispers, then full voices then the what I call "Headspace" fully appeared.

Blue mentions liking Zelda's hugs Haha "Where's my hug???"

Vio just says Zelda's name, Vio's relationship with Zelda is something I'd love to expand upon later down the line.

Green's more focused on food oof.

Red's just happy to see Zelda.

Green was right about being hungry, so Zelda invites him over for DINNER-

Shadow Link's still just vibing.

Zelda lifting Link up in this panel just shows she's there for him.

Link is just dealing with the fact he can hear them by himself. Also dad is still alive.

Lol he's actually making his dad proud which was something he didn't do often before the OG book.

Zelda hanging out with Link and his father kind of shows them as a family.

Shadow Laughing in the bg but he's away from the rest.

So the captain died in a fight, and Link blames himself for it because he can't think straight when there's 4 people constantly talking.

Daddy's demise was really the start of the snowballing downhill for him.

Lol. So Vio's daddy issues are apparent for the SECOND time in the comic. He was uncomfortable even bringing up Link's dad before and this is partially the reason why:

Vio's the only one not crying or overtly emotional about their dad dying.

But something to consider is if he's truly talking to Link or himself in that panel. Because the man is still SHOOK. We have the liberty of SEEING Vio here, but Link doesn't.

So he takes this statement very poorly because:

Well, Vio's seeming "no shits given" attitude is unsettling enough coming from an outside source but that IS apart of Link.

A part of him, seemingly doesn't care his own father kicked the bucket and that's scary to him.

I think anybody would have lost it at this point.

Too bad Zelda saw Link screaming his lungs out at his father's grave lmao. Poor man.

Bro can't do anything but plead for Zelda to help him at this point. She's really the only person he feels he can turn too anyway.

Our girl comes in clutch with them hugs.

This was the conformation Link was actually not speaking in the comic Felt like I had to outright state it cause I wasn't sure if people would notice it otherwise.

Something I REALLY wish was a thing in Zelda manga:

Zelda and Link BOTH lose their parents. Usually their mothers.

And we never get any sort of bonding over that. And I find that a complete waste of potential.

I'd like to dive further into that with FSR or some other Zelda work I do because: HOLY SHIT THEY COULD BOND OVER THEIR LOST PARENTS????

Also Zelda's unfortunate phrasing here with "You can talk to me" she means just, that he can confide in her in general lol.

He's still struggling to actually speak. Poor guy.

While keeping him from doing knight duties kept him PHYSICALLY safe it was just another thing he lost to the curse Vaati laid on him.

So the obvious: Zelda had to watch the person she cares about most completely fall apart before her eyes and she couldn't do shit.

They weren't even aware this WAS A CURSE from Vaati mind you. They were completely in the dark trying to solve this.

Something horrific about this situation you might have also considered:

Not only did Zelda have to watch Link deteriorate but so did Shadow Link.

Shadow Link couldn't even offer much comfort. Zelda could offer physical comfort and attempt emotional comfort but Shadow was completely fucked.

And with the new context of "Link was mostly mute" the fact he wasn't actively TALKING to Shadow Link makes a lot more sense.

Still didn't make that fact any less painful in the moment.

Shadow literally could not participate, was isolated and lonely and had to watch someone else slowly get isolated and lonely and couldn't even help.

Link and Shadow Link literally felt the same way and could not help each other even though they were right next to each other all that time.

Also with the new context of what Link was going through, Shadow's persistence to be there for Vio starts to make a whole lot more sense: He can actually DO something now.

Vio's just stating the obvious at this point and his broken record nature really pissed Link off.

I'm sure you noticed what he wore color wise matched his emotions lol.

Vio technically is 100% right: They think Gannon is in the sword. It would literally be INSANE to pull it knowing that.

But Link's kinda at the point of not giving a shit.

Zelda would get hurt no matter what his "solution" to the problem ended up being.

Shadow Link trying to cheer Link up by reminding him he's there is so sad. Mghhhh

And for the first time in the flashback we actually have Link fully acknowledge Shadow Link's presence.

Vio was outright in denial the man was still alive and didn't want to acknowledge his existence so Link fully embracing Shadow Link here was a big moment between the two of them.

Shadow Link started to figure out what the man was planning but couldn't do squat about it. (He also couldn't communicate with the 4 or HEAR THEM.)

Link shows up in the head space! :D

His words imply he wasn't SURE he could properly communicate with Green like this alone...Which is no surprise considering Vio thinks how odd it is they were able to do that in the first place.

I kinda scrambled to think of what to have him look like hah. Ended up with him wearing white. Since white is the lack of color, white reflects all wavelengths of light so it literally kinda REJECTS color. (Apposed to Black which absorbs light, which funny enough his pants are black...)

And it symbolizes rebirth, peace stuff like that.

It can also symbolize death but we're ignoring that one lmao.

His nails are all the colors + Shadow Link too.

Lmfao when you gaslight yourself.

Okay in all seriousness the Link lays down just how DIRE the situation is since the other 3 don't seem to be quite aware.

And the "Promise" Green made to Link is what had Green so shook at the start of the comic for.

And the weight of the line "Can I trust you?" really sinks in as we'll see.

Link's kinda spooky haha. You can tell he wasn't sure Green was going to help him but that's quickly overtaken by how overjoyed he is Green is for sure on board.

One of my favorite panels from this batch is how happy he is. He's so relived he can finally just rest.

Green can't though. The crushing weight of keeping everything "Okay" is a heavy burden to bare and Dark Link spits those words right back into Green's face, and just holds him.

Green doesn't seem to hate the hug as much as Vio did hah.

Green doesn't even seem to acknowledge his presence while Vio not only NOTICED but was actively terrified of him to the point of trying to grab his sword.

He also mocked Vio more throwing Vio's own words back in his face, but just repeats what Link said to Green.

How. Odd.

And that's all for this batch. Hope ya come back to read my rumbly thoughts about my own comic.

[sillspore]

How will be the three relationship with Leafpool and squirrelflight?

i rlly dont know what the drama will be bc the half clan relationship won’t be revealed point blank 😭 it’s a law in my code that queens do not have to reveal who brought them to be with kits, and since leafpool is a warrior, she’s not breaking the healer code either (since they don’t know she’s with mothwing). the three will be raised knowing leafpool is their mother, and spend a lot of time being co-parented by leaf and squirrel! cool mama and aunty. if i decide to make bramble a sweety, he’ll be the nice uncle.

HOWEVER. there is the issue of the gap of no medicine cat in between cinderpelt’s death and lion’s becoming a healer if leafpool isn’t one.

so, i may keep leafpool as a medicine cat, but that means she’s gotta die by the end of oots if we want alder as a healer too. luckily, with the code i have written, she’s allowed to have kits as long as there’s another healer to take over. so i think i’d push back the three’s birth a little, so that when cinderpelt dies, it’s when leafpool is out of camp considering running away with mothwing and their (weaned) kits. she decides against it, and is the sole healer until lion apprentices under her like a month later.

i’m thinking of kinda combining pot and oots, bc their plots are so linked and on their own they DRAG. but regardless, i think most family drama will come from ashfur and hollyleaf.

i can kinda see it, too, hollyleaf being a stickler for the code, and mentored by someone equally as serious about it. maybe thornclaw? ashfur corners squilf and the kids, bc he knows they’re not hers but he knows she loves them. same premise. to further the plot, ashfur’s gotta find out the three are half-clan somehow, and taunts them about it during the fire scene. i imagine lion and jay are irritated about not knowing, but because they just have another parent and neither care for starclan they get over it much quicker than poor hollyleaf. her world is shattered, like seriously. she doesn’t have powers, she’s half-clan, and breaking the healer code. sort of. i’ll work on it, haha.

a bunch of other tiny things lead up to her break, i think she’ll snap and kill leafpool. ashfur witnesses it, and taunts that he’ll tell everyone, so she kills him too. she’s horrified afterwards, acting so fidgety and jumpy at camp that everyone’s worried she needs medical attention. i think she’d tell her brothers in desperation for forgiveness, but they shun her, bc girl you killed mom?? wtf??? obviously they still love her, but turn her away. she CRACKS. at the gathering that day, she tells everyone their origins and special powers and what she did, before running off. the boys chase her, only to lose her in the collapsing tunnels.

i think the clans would kind of turn on thunderclan, worried about the power they have, and thunderclan in itself would be divided between hating the three (or two, technically-) for what they’ve “brought upon the clan”, or revering them for the power and security they give. lion tries to be nice, but jay is not pleased lmao.

i’m also considering having firestar die in the fire scene, protecting his daughter and grandchildren. like he finds a way to get them to safety, but he insists on being the last one to go so he dies before he can make it. maybe. i think with firestar in charge, it’s a little too stable. we need some drama!

i wonder who longstar would promote as deputy tbh. brackenfur would be such a good deputy, but a bad choice story wise. him and longtail would make a good leadership, a stable clan, which is bad for plot lmao. however, if i can think of other things to fuck up the battle cat’s lives, brackenfur as deputy could happen

sorry! went off on a tangent lol

[mira--mira]

Ok so, questions for OoT: Do Hashi + Madara cheer when Rock Lee kicks Sasuke's ass? If that still happens. Do they save Lee from getting his leg + arm crushed by Gaara's sand? Do Kabuto + Hashirama ever fight one another? If so, does Hashi kick Kabuto's ass? What does Hashi think of Kabuto's regeneration ability? Do Tsuande + Hashirama ever team up + kick ass? Please, I need this so bad. Also maybe Hashi hugging Tsunade when she has her freak out over seeing blood? Please? Does Madara face off with Itachi after Hiruzen dies (if Hiruzen still does die)? Do Hashi + Madara manage to save Sasuke from getting beaten by Itachi when Itachi + Sasuke see one another again in canon, when Naruto is doing his training with Jiraiya? (Also please tell me Madara at least stabs Jiraiya for stealing all of Naruto's saving when Jiraiya had plenty of money himself, AND was supposed to financially support Naruto as Naruto's godfather. If Madara doesn't just outright steal/demand Jiraiya give Naruto his money back or pay him back. That bothered me so much in canon.) I haven't been able to keep up with out of fic stuff in a while because of irl stuff, so I'm sorry if you've already answered these. Just link me, please, if you have?

Hey no worries! OoT is a monster that takes most of my energy to manage, lol, I don't expect everyone to be able to keep up with everything so please don't feel bad or like you're bothering me by asking! I haven't answered most of these questions, I'll answer a few below the cut but not quite all because 1. got to keep a few secrets :P and 2. I don't have specific answers to all of them yet either lol!

Do Hashi + Madara cheer when Rock Lee kicks Sasuke's ass?

Doesn't quite progress to that point! All of Team 7 and Gai's team go out for Sasuke and Lee's fight (here with a slightly different set up and explanation for why Gai's team was outside of the room bc that scene still irritates me in canon lol) but Team 13 gets lost (read: Hashirama and Madara not used to big buildings like the school and Sai laughing as they stumble around) and wanders in right before the fight happens and interrupts it. Even if they had been watching and not interfering they wouldn't be cheering outright I'd say. Hashirama has nothing against Sasuke and neither really does Madara. He doesn't has a grudge from the clan head duel, but Sasuke is a walking trigger for his own trauma that he subconsciously avoids.

Do they save Lee from getting his leg + arm crushed by Gaara's sand?

😶 The Tenten v Gaara fight happens and she's pissed at him so...

Do Kabuto + Hashirama ever fight one another? If so, does Hashi kick Kabuto's ass?

Not in the chunin arc (maybe in search for Tsunade, but probably not? Honestly idk at this point). Kabuto has a very good sense of self-preservation and he pegged them almost immediately as weird kids that he does not want to get involved with.

What does Hashi think of Kabuto's regeneration ability?

Honestly idk. I'm still trying to figure out how to classify it in a way. It's not from the mokuton, that really wouldn't make sense with my lore, but I'm not sure what else it stems from. I'm open to ideas and reactions to this, if anyone wants to suggest something! Otherwise I might make it where Kabuto doesn't have a regeneration ability, but he's such a competent medic, it's like he mimics the ability.

Do Tsuande + Hashirama ever team up + kick ass? Please, I need this so bad. Also maybe Hashi hugging Tsunade when she has her freak out over seeing blood? Please?

Yes, eventually. Their meetings are...rough at first. Hashirama and Madara know how Madara dies at this point and Hashirama has a grudge the size of the five elemental countries against his edo self (which will also be revealed if it's him or a parallel version by this point 😉) and he connects Tsunade to that at first and it puts an initial strain on their relationship. Add in Hashirama is very different from the "god of shinobi" Tsunade grew up with, 5 imo is too young to recognize the flaws and humanity in parents/grandparents so she doesn't have that perspective, and it leads to a clash. Not to mention the giant elephant in the room, Madara, and well...it's just a tough family reunion. I will say though the longer the fic goes on the bigger the "ripples" and canon divergences will be. There's a big moment at the end of the chunin arc that impacts...pretty much everything else in drastic ways. Just be prepared for a pretty sharp diverge!

Does Madara face off with Itachi after Hiruzen dies (if Hiruzen still does die)?

Hiruzen does die but I'm going to be mum about the rest of this 😉 Note I do have plans though 👀

Do Hashi + Madara manage to save Sasuke from getting beaten by Itachi when Itachi + Sasuke see one another again in canon, when Naruto is doing his training with Jiraiya?

Another one that's a mix of I have ideas but not solid enough to commit yet lol. Also the big spoiler at the end of chunin will affect this as you'll see!

Also please tell me Madara at least stabs Jiraiya for stealing all of Naruto's saving when Jiraiya had plenty of money himself, AND was supposed to financially support Naruto as Naruto's godfather. If Madara doesn't just outright steal/demand Jiraiya give Naruto his money back or pay him back. That bothered me so much in canon.

Oh fam, let me just say Madara and Jiraiya do not get along and the hate is mutual. Madara is 12 and he's going to fight that old man for custody of another 12 y/o and win. The money issue will definitely be brought up and dealt with. He, and all of Team 13 really, has zero tolerance for Jiraiya. I try to avoid the cliche "bashing" fic style, but I'm not going to shy away from Jiraiya's shitty canonical behavior and the "heart of gold pervert" is a character archetype that I loathe with the passion of a thousand suns. He's not getting excused for that either. Tsunade and Jiraiya have a complicated relationship with two people (three with Orochimaru) have experienced war and some of the absolute worst that humanity has had to offer and only each other to depend on...but then that trusted friend betrayed you and your boundaries and treating you like an object not a person and suddenly your entire relationship can never be the same (ie the peeping in the bath and almost killing him scene isn't going to be treated like a cute little jokey-joke~ Top 10 things I hated in canon, I can write an entire long post about this alone lol.)

[telesthisia]

HANDY DANDY RP PLOTTING CHEAT-SHEET FOR PRINCESS ZELDA (A Link to the Past)!

Want new-and-exciting plots for your character? Long to reach out to more of your followers, but don’t know where to start? Fear not! Fill out this form and give your RP partners both present and future all the of juicy jumping off points they need to help you get your characters acquainted.

Be sure to tag the players whose characters YOU want more cues to interact with, and repost, don’t reblog! Feel free to add or remove sections as you see fit. Template here.

mun name: Amber!!  ooc contact: My DMs are always open for mutuals and non-mutuals alike (I think at least, if not don’t be afraid to send in asks either I try my best to get to them ;v;)! I do have a personal blog but weeps.... me no longer active on there. And a twitter but weeps once again, it’s an oc twitter despite my yellings of off topic things. MY DISCORD TOO!! Though my activity is very inconsistent somedays I’ll be on others not so much! Don’t be afraid to ask for that uvu 

who the heck is my muse anyway?

HOHO!!! For those who never touched The Legend of Zelda in their lives, I’m sure it’s pretty dang confusing to see more than one design of both Zelda and Link, I’ll try my best to explain this! The series follows a very, very convoluted timeline filled with plotholes, as such the Links and Zeldas we see throughout different titles of the game are actually reincarnations who are destined to seal away whatever darkness may threaten the lands known as Hyrule.

The Zelda I play as is the princess of Hyrule during a point in the timeline known as “Downfall Era” where the Hero of Time in OOT lost against Ganondorf in the final battle; Ocarina of Time is the reason for why there’s multiple timelines with each having their unique era depending on the choices in that game. The Downfall Era is known for having games known as A Link to The Past, Oracle of Seasons, Oracle of Time, Link’s Awakening, A Link Between Worlds, Triforce Heroes, The OG Legend of Zelda, Annnnd Adventure of Link! The Zelda I play as comes from A Link to The Past as well as the Oracle series and I guess Link’s Awakening despite having no appearance. The events of A Link to The Past and Oracle Series has deeply affected my Zellie in that she suffers from unspoken traumas as well depression. See, before the events of ALTTP there was a war known as the Imprisoning War, that war ended where the seven sages seal away Ganon. Peace reigned for a while until a series of plagues and droughts struck which affected the kingdom. It wasn’t until the antagonist of the game, a wizard by the name of Agahnim, would put an end to the misfortunate blighting Hyrule with his magic, gaining favor with the king. He was able to worm his way into court and from there act on his plans in breaking the seal to the sacred realm where the triforce and Ganon rest. Doing so, he must capture the seven maidens who are descendants of the seven sages and sacrifice them in order to break the seal and well, guess which princess happens to be one of those seven maidens? Suffice to say, he was successful in breaking the seal with Zelda being the final sacrifice. Here we find out that he’s actual the alter ego of Ganon (don’t question it too hard) and we also find out she’s not dead! Hooray! But she is trapped in a plane known as The Dark World, once the sacred realm corrupted by Ganon’s greed. So as all LOZ stories goes, Link saves the day. Happily ever after, right? Well... no, see unlike in the game where the ending is happy and everyone who died is alive I follow both the 90s comics and Himekawa manga where those who died in the games did not come back to life. This includes Zelda’s father, Link’s uncle and some of the maidens. It’s very bittersweet in that, the day is saved and Ganon is gone forever but at the cost of loved ones no longer coming back. 

Well... Ganon comes back! In the oracle series! Two years after ALTTP, Twinrova tries to resurrect him by using the blood and body of Princess Zelda, meaning she can actually die this time around. But Link saves the day once again. Which leads us today, the main verse of the blog which is a year after Oracles and three years after ALTTP! NOTE: That my smash verse more or less follows this timeline I have in place for this blog. 

things you should know

I sound like a broken record but. She’s a glass canon of sorts. Where she’s very powerful thanks to blood of the seven sages, the light force, and having hylia’s blood in her veins. As such, she’s very powerful and her magic super potent which is why so many people wanna sacrifice for dark rituals... BUT!! She has super power health issues that affects her magical stamina and body as such she can’t even use half her powerful magic and this upsets her greatly. It’s a small headcanon of mine because in the games and manga, she doesn’t really do much despite being a powerful magical princess. Keep in mind that ALTTP came out before the retcon that is Skyward Sword and before they decided to add more to Zelda’s abilities throughout the course of the series... so my brain went to: she’s powerful but can’t use magic too much due to poor health. It worked!! Before smash came along but I swear I’m not at all salty. To be fair, it was my fault for assuming things but imagine: glass canon Zelda. It sounded super cool at the time! 

She represses a lot if only for the sake of her nation and to appear as a good leader for her people. As such, she’s almost always calm and has a gentle smile on her face despite radio static sounds resounding in her thoughts. Give her time, she’ll open up and show you her playful side! 

She’s been surrounded by death considering before ALTTP, during ALTTP and kinda with Oracles if you count Twinrova, as well as having a connection with the spirit realm due to freaky PSI powers. So, she doesn’t really have a negative view on death and has actually gained that edgy romanticist view as the result of her life experiences. She’s very much someone who likes to live life to her fullest as the result... and well, it doesn’t help that she’s aware of her short life span thanks to her future vision. Something she won’t reveal to anyone more than likely as to not worry them. She’s more or less accepted her fate... speaking of which

She hates fate/destiny/etc but accepts whatever happens because again clairvoyance has proven that there’s no changing what’s been planned. So, she doesn’t bother fighting against it. But, what impresses her are those who manage to overcome destiny, something that Link does sometimes which is why she looks up to him. He’s that variable that the future can’t keep track of due to how ever changing he is. 

 She loves exploring creepy places, ruins, caves, and dungeons that are scattered throughout her kingdom, for both history and the spooky aesthetics of it! So if you see her outside the castle she’s more than likely getting ready to explore some spooky place. She’s almost always wearing her cloak but there are rare moments where she’s not either ;v; she’ll always go by the name Elle... worth mention she doesn’t bother hiding the mark of the triforce on her right hand.

Speaking of which, only people from the capital known as Castle Town and even some from Kakariko village as well know of the princess’ appearance. Various small towns throughout the land of Hyrule however, only remember her appearance from ALTTP where her hair was a more golden blonde rather than the platinum color that it’s taken from the various fear and stresses from her life. And also, she’s more freckly due to not wearing coverup when outside the castle. Ok well,,,,, here’s the best side by side comparison I have...

If you ask her what the light arrows are, she’ll look at you funny. She comes from a time where silver arrows are a thing :’) the few things that can defeat Ganon

Closet romantic, as in she loves love and wishes for a romance of her own but when it comes to her own feelings she’s an idiot due to repressing feelings.

what she’s been up to:

main verse: Which is during the events of Skyward Sword, as such she’s no longer in Skyloft nor does she have the full knowledge that she’s Hylia but Zelda is suspecting that there’s a connection there. She does not know how to wield her magic as it comes and goes in spurts. She’s seen throughout the Surface so she can be anywhere! Even in other timelines due to using the Gate of Time, we can just say that something screwed up causing for her to end up in another time period or even verse! LOZ series is pretty flexible in time travel.

where to find her:

Graveyard + Sanctuary: It’s a soothing place to visit and also to pay respects to the fallen in ALTTP. 

One of the three provinces (my rendition of Hyrule is a little bigger than the in game map so don’t be afraid to add places that aren’t in ALTTP but in other titles, I know I tend to do): aka anywhere in the fields, she’s a woman plagued with wanderlust and doesn’t like being confined to one place

Kakariko: the villagers who know her true identity are hella nice to pretend that it’s not the princess but Elle! Guards tend to be here after a certain time though, so to avoid them she always avoids going to the village when it’s nearly sundown

Ruins, catacombs, abandon shrines etc: again she likes creepy or historical places or both! 

Haunted Grove: Well... it’s haunted! So :’)

Castle: it’s possible to meet her here too! Whether as princess or someone sneaking either out of the castle or back into it. 

current plans:

Lead her kingdom to the Golden Age, something her father tried to do before his demise. While wishing to see Link once more. 

desired interactions:

I would love the usual adventure threads!!! 

FRIENDSHIP!! She needs friends, pls!! 

ENEMIES!! It’d be fun to write a more angry Zel who doesn’t get along with someone! 

ROMANCE!! I’m a sucker for cuteness ;v; and slow burn ;v; 

HORROR AU!! HORROR AU!!! 

Creepy gothic threads of Zelda running into a creepy cryptid in a gothic castle on a stormy night.... this is very specific but listen, cries... 

Comfort thread ;v; 

things that bother me:

People who know she’s the princess right off the bat ticks me off ngl. A-ok if you muse is unaware of her otherwise! 

PEOPLE WHO KNOW THAT SHE’S FROM A BLOODLINE OF A GODDESS AND SAGES DHSJAKJADB no one really knows that the royal family actually did descend from gods, unless your muse is an immortal and is aware of the events that goes on they shouldn’t know this fact. The only thing the public is aware of is how the royal family have mystical powers different from the population. 

uhhhh that’s about it? Mostly metagaming pft, not too much bothers me now that I think about. 

tagged by: i pirated it ;v; from myself! 

tagging: whomst ever! i recommend doing this since it’ll help a ton with those who still are unsure with your muse but feel too nervous to ask questions.

[universal-kitty]

ALRIGHT, Hit me up with your LoZ theories!!

   OKAY, this is going to be a MAJOR DOOZY, so hear me out-! Buckle in, get snacks, a drink or two, cause whenever LoZ and I lock eyes, I write like a novelist who’s final draft is due Monday of next week…and it’s Friday.

   First off, I’d like to introduce my building block to all of my subsequent theories involving this series: There’s a fourth goddess that would complete the Triforce.

   This theory has…typically died out, but I won’t let it. I keep mine alive and kicking, because while most people try to nudge someone else into that empty slot (Goddess of Time, Goddess of Deserts (of the Gerudo), Hylia, etc), there’s a FAR more convincing, prior unknown option… One of darkness.

   Four themes are actually more prevalent in LoZ despite threes being the sign of the goddesses and- you would think- be more common compared to fours, but… Hey, there’s a lot to work with when you have four, especially when you look at it from the perspective of the Japanese.

   Anyways… Under the cut go the shorthand of my extensive notes.

We’ll start with four, the first basis for this theory I think of a lot: “Four” in Japanese can be read as “shi” [死 ]. This specific reading translates to “death” and is considered an unlucky number. If four goddesses could be unlucky….why not cast out for 3?

Though what’s interesting… I couldn’t find a source for it- so who knows, maybe the guy pulled it outta his ass- but there was a theory video involving Majora’s Mask that mentioned purple often being a color of death in Japan. Again, couldn’t find anything to back that claim up, but…. On the other hand…..

The image above is of the Shadow Medallion from Ocarina of Time. Not only is it in the color purple, but it’s found in the Shadow Temple (a place that seems to reek of death and horrors) and features…an upside down triangle, with three dots around it…… Hmm.

Equally baffling, the Four Poe Sisters from the Forest Temple in the same game. Four over three, again. Also, this is a trend we see repeat in ANY Four Sword adventure… Take a look.

Note how we can see the colors of the four goddesses represented here. Red for Din, of Power. Green for Farore, of Courage. Blue for Nayru, of Wisdom…and purple. The fourth, odd color out.

This is actually ANOTHER issue in Tri-Force Heroes. While on the surface, all Links would be accounted for…. There IS a fourth, forgotten Dopple…. Check it out.

Ditto for Minish Cap; four objects, purple the odd color out. Image link.

It’s suspicious, I tell you.

Four AGAIN shows up in Twilight Princess, wherein there are FOUR guardian Light spirits… Three helped the goddesses, while one was unaccounted for…. I believe this was Ordona, far removed in nearby Ordon Village.

Nintendo tries to state “Ordona” finishes Faron’s name (for Farore), but I personally find THAT a load of bologna.

Though not of four, Purple continues to be an important color in the LoZ franchise… Even when they remove it from the final product. See here, the removed Fairy Doors from Phantom Hourglass (Philos) and the almost-there sixth Lokomo of Shadow… See their art Here (Syda).

A theory persists Bryne might’ve still been the reincarnated “Shadow lokomo”, but it’s only a theory that’s never been confirmed. (Much like the stuff I do.)

As well… What purpose would there be for the goddesses to create flaws? Who would create Demise? Where did he come from? The darkness, the evil….and all the creatures that bloom from it…?

Having also learned of beings like the Horned Statue and looking more into Malanya (BotW)… There are beings who don’t fit the norm of most “godly” creations, but STILL fit into the role of such “gods.”

(Which, I should note now, I use loosely; as someone else pointed out during my binge-watching, “gods” are probably used in translation of “kami”… Which is more like “god or spirit” in Japanese. Kami are a complicated thing for our mindset of what gods are, but… Essentially, all things have a spirit and are alive. A worship of them can go from “spirit” to “god” as far as translation goes, but….. Y’know.)

I just personally don’t see a bunch of well-intentioned goddesses go a’slippin’ and spill out some evil, especially one as chaotically evil as Demise goes…

So I brought forth the idea of Orona. An exiled fourth goddess of Shadow. Chosen color purple. Creator of Demise and the evil within the hearts of Hyrule.

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   Oh, and the bit! About the Horned Statue and Malanya! That’s new!!! Which is what’s really gotten me jazzed about my theories involving LoZ… I just keep feeling like Nintendo is unintentionally validating me, even though it’d be a game-changer and probably would work TOO WELL for ending the series… Which is the last thing Nintendo would want to do.

   ….I mean, not that it’s going to stop me any. I can write out how my version of the series could end as Nintendo keeps making money and I keep giving it to them, too, LMAOOO. To be fair to them, don’t fix what ain’t broken….and I’ll sure keep buying Pokemon and Legend of Zelda long as the series keeps living up to the core of what they’ve always been, y’know?

   Anyways, wanna drop one more theory on ya before I set you free. :3c

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So… Remember Groose? Skyward Sword? Red hair, kinda tanned skin, golden eyes? Wanted the girl, lost out to MC, grew enough by that time that he wasn’t bitter about it, and flew off with friends to go be cool somewhere else?

Yeah, that guy. So…. Here me out.

Groose got cursed by Demise, too. It wasn’t ONLY Zelda/Hylia and Link who were dragged down into the reincarnation cycle.

Hear me out… Most people have made a fair guess that- by endgame- Groose and Co. flew off in the way of Lanayru Desert. (Once a populous ocean and with green fields… I’d joke about it being a downgrade, but I live in a desert, too, so… FML.) This location- deserts, specifically- have been KNOWN for housing the Gerudo race.

Now…. Please look at Groose compared to an OoT Gerudo.

They might not be the most similar people in existence….but you try to tell ME that a few who-knows-how-many-generations later, his kids could VERY WELL end up becoming the Gerudo race.

(Also not a flattering picture, but I don’t have a lot to work with premade…and I currently don’t have the ability to make one of these on my own.)

So what am I getting at? Groose was cursed to have his descendants bear his new host.

Theory goes like this: Groose is cursed. Never knows of it. He has kids normally… They have kids normally….for a few generations. As time goes on, more women are born, less men. Until no boys are born, only little girls who resemble their mothers. It never ceases.

Until the day the first boy in thousands of years is born. He is hailed a king of their people, in honor of such a rare, undocumented occasion.

Ganondorf, they name him. Unknowing that within the boy, is a demon, waiting for his time. Ganondorf shall grow up with a hatred unmatched, nobody will know why, but the goddesses will. They will do nothing unless called down with might.

Unwittingly, Groose continues a line of a people scorned nearly always by Hyrule, who’s king is ALWAYS destined to lose himself to the madness of the darkness that consumes his very being.

EDIT: BEFORE I FORGET, I also think it’s very telling of BotW to say there’s “not been another male Gerudo since the King who became the Calamity” that’s very HMM, isn’t it?? (Reference: Creating a Champion / Master Works)

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   My name is Aki, and I stan the LoZ franchise because I rebuilt it with my bare hands, how’ya doin’?

[rottenappleheart]

mm and the stages of a hero’s life

Noted bias: I view all the LoZ games I've played through the lens of OoT, and so I see them as responses to it. I think you are meant to. OoT is the first "modern" Zelda game, and the other games are full of reminders about it. Obviously I spent six months dissecting TP as conscious adult revisitation of OoT's fairytale, and an exploration of power (as might, as corruption, and as responsibility); WW is about letting go of the past (after which Nintendo said "oh wait, we need to make money, let's reel this franchise back in.")

But MM - MM is unambiguously a continuation of OoT. The same hero, beginning his story where OoT ends, and carrying with him all the memories of that world and that adventure.

Link enters MM driven by a loss of his own: his longtime companion, Navi the fairy. He has lost her, and he is looking for her, and ultimately he will not find her. That loss is permanent. Most losses are. (Most of the resolutions in MM are bringing people to accept the unthinkable. Only very occasionally, miraculously, what is lost can be found again.)

He carries within him a sense of dislocation that the world of Termina makes unsettlingly tangible. (See also my old notes on MM's-time-cycles-and-forgetting as a high-octane version of OoT's seven-year gap.) Nintendo's decision to reuse the character models from OoT may have gotten them two games for the price of one, but it fuels the narrative beautifully. You think you know everyone, but you're wrong, and they don't know you. You have to learn to start again. As you do, after a loss.

OoT Link is a child who was abruptly thrust into an adult body and an adult life and an adult set of responsibilities, struck with it rather than growing into it. And at the end of OoT, he is ripped back out of that adult life and reduced to childhood again - but now with the burden of adult experiences that no one around him recalls. Because to them, it didn't happen.

The roles Link takes on through the "main" masks of MM are, I think, exploring that issue. As if, much delayed, he gets to grow (back) into being an adult, but in stages instead of all at once.

In his first, unwilling form - the Deku Scrub - he is a child again, even younger and more helpless than in his "real" childhood. But his interactions with people are oddly comforting. He reminds someone of their son, who treats him with kindly playfulness (something that Link, a bullied orphan child, never got in his own life.) The town guards protect him from danger. A girl his own age thinks he's cute and teases him about it. For once he is enveloped in the kind of warmth that a child ought to have had. I think that part gets overlooked in the usual "fridge horror" analysis of the Deku storyline.

In his second form, he becomes the reincarnation of the Goron Darmani - a hero and big brother. These are familiar roles to Link by now, and I imagine it feels "right" on some level to step back into them. A validation of his instincts to defend and protect which no one acknowledged in him as long as he is reduced to the child's body that no longer suits his experiences. As Darmani, Link gets to be a champion once more, and receives the praise and pride of people that he reaaalllyy kinda doesn't in OoT, where his heroics are 1) out of sight and 2) erased from history. I think being Darmani must be very important for Link's own journey towards healing. Also, Darmani's sufferings acknowledged and mourned by those he suffered for - another thing Link was denied in OoT.

The third form he takes on is that of Mikau the Zora, and here's the very interesting thing... I think that as Mikau Link experiences the life he was just beginning to grow into in OoT before he was forced back into childhood. Mikau's storyline is that of an adult relationship. He is a lover, a young father, and he died trying to take care of his family. Briefly, for the three days that Link can inhabit Mikau's life, he gets a glimpse of what it would have been like to be a man, to have a career, colleagues, friends, a family of his own. I don't believe he ever lives that life himself, in the post-credits events of any game, but for a short period of grace, he sees what could be.

The fourth and last is of course everyone's favorite, the Fierce Deity - a being of pure wrath. There's some great stuff to unpack about the Fierce Deity being a demonic and horrifying figure, perhaps the "bad future" TP promises Link if he pursues power too strongly... but it's also the version of Link that is nothing but the battle, all the violence without the heroism to fuel it. The alternative to the stages of ordinary life shown to him by the other masks. But, like the other masks, this is a temporary change in him. He briefly experiences it, and learns from it, and does what he can within its guise, and then... lets it go. Because while he is not a child, and not a brother, and not a lover, he is also all of these things in small bits, engaged with the world and the people in it. As a hero should be. (That is, I think, the line that TP takes as well - but I have said more than my fair share about that.)

Link ends MM saving the world - not his world, but a world - because it needs saving. The people in it aren't his people but they are people, and he grows to love them and gets to be loved back (for short, 72-hour stretches, sometimes for his own merits, sometimes for who he reminds someone of.) He spends uncounted time helping people to live with the uncertainty of life and letting go of their fears and regrets. He gets to see, if briefly, the difference he made - another thing he was denied in OoT, where the world he saved was... to an extent past saving. The only salvation for Hyrule was for it never to have gotten so bad.

Couldn't we say that the whole game is, in effect, his own Song of Healing - learning to let go, learning to accept what is, and getting to finish the things he didn't finish in OoT? I think we can.

[sussex-nature-lover]

Friday 22nd May 2020

Introducing Newbies

As suspected a couple of days ago it seems we have a very close new neighbour. This view is out of a front bedroom window through the Wisteria.

Looking at this untidy tangle of twigs reminds me to record why we call Wood Pigeons ‘One Twig’ - much like all

Pheasants are known as ‘Travis’

♦ after the group who sang ‘Why Does It Always Rain on Me’ and coined after watching them stand, absolutely bereft and sodden but not seeking shelter

House Sparrows are known as either Dirks or Hodders

♦ The first after an old neighbour and a very public ejection of bedding into the garden - which is a whole different Blog in itself and the second after a builder

Nuthatch known in our house as Wig Sellers

♦ Because (to us) their insistent call sounds like Wigs! Wigs! Wigs! and they seem like the type of characters who’d have a strong business ethic

Crows aka Rate My Baby

♦ A bit obscure, but do you ever get totally fed up with using a service or purchasing something and immediately you’re unremittingly hounded to give feedback or (5)star ratings on social media. Gaaah. Anyway, listening to Crows for any length of time gives you exactly that same feeling

Blue Tit ... The Li’l Uns

♦ No explanation necessary

After that diversion I’d better explain One Twig who is somewhere in there.

Our garden is a veritable Hyper Market for twigs. Any time of year, any variety, fill your boots. Two things we’re not short of here (in these straightened times) are Twigs and Ants. You want either, our garden is most definitely Where. It’s. At make no mistake...unless you’re a nest building Wood Pigeon that is.

I kid you not, we watch the exhausting process of Wood Pigeons departing our garden for a short while, only to return with one solitary twig per journey, in order to construct their nests amongst the trees and shrubs of said confines.

We can’t really work it out and seriously doubt it’s a quality control issue. 

There is a very strong suspicion that the subject of future Nest Watch news has bestowed her patronage on next door’s much less well equipped Twig Shop and this is the result.

Introducing ‘Daisy Waldron’ as she will be known - after the character in the children’s animated TV series Pigeon Street.

The old lady who is a next-door neighbour to Rose and feeds the pigeons on her window sill. 

There’s the tenuous connection.

Daisy seems quite comfy there. Hopefully we won’t be experiencing high winds any time soon as that Wisteria can and does take a battering.

My only other experiences of Wood Pigeon nests are the time there was a nest in the Wisteria outside a different bedroom and I opened the curtains one day to be directly confronted with two massive nestlings at eye level and from times our younger daughter’s cats have holidayed with us.

Mr B (Not his name, just what we call him...it stands for Mr Brave in the same way you’d call a Labrador ‘Spot’ or a Butterfly ‘Tiger’) is a massive character inside a teeny little black cat who’s never seemed to age beyond the kitten stage and is often up to no good.

There was the time he careered through the open kitchen doors and ran around the whole house - the house which, may I say, was proudly sporting brand new pale beige carpet throughout. He was running and yowling like a Banshee. It sounded like OWLS OWLS OWLS OWLS. He was also dripping wet and covered in green pond slime. Well, he was covered when he first came in, you can imagine how that panned out. So that’s one Mr B story - how Owls picked him up and dropped him in the pond*

The other two stories are about him being lost for hours. One time we eventually discovered him hidden and nestled down inside the bottom folds of a duvet that was mostly draped over the banisters to air. The second time he was even harder to find, but turned up eventually asleep in an empty Pigeon’s nest inside a massive shrub by the back gate. It’s a mystery how he found it, but he’d made himself very comfortable indeed. Actually it’s also a total mystery how we managed to locate him at all.

There are a few more stories about the cats’ vacation escapades, no doubt I’ll be able to fit them in sooner or later.

*NOTE it would seem that as the pond was covered in green at the time, he mistook it for a surface to walk on, however, the pond is not all that deep and has several steps in the levels all around the edges, plus a very shallow ‘beach’ area covered in pebbles. This is always a good idea for wildlife safety.  Currently the pond is out of commission as we started to drain it last year with the intention of refurbing and re-landscaping the area, but that project has been furloughed for now.

Ne’r cast a clout ‘til May be oot

Click Here

Hedgerow Watch: so pretty Hawthorn

From a company called Plews Garden Design

Crataegus monogyna can support more than 300 insects! The caterpillars of the Hawthorn moth obviously enjoy munching on its leaves, but they are joined by nearly a dozen more. May blossom is rich in nectar and pollen; so is a treat for bees, butterflies and many pollinating insects. Also, if you have them in your wildlife garden, dormice delight in eating the flowers.

When it comes to the season of autumn, haw berries provide a nutritious take-away snack for many migrating birds. British native birds and small mammals also eat the red berries.

NEST BOX WATCH:

House Sparrow nest seems to be trundling along at a pace

The ranks of the Sharks and the Jets (mixed flock of Crows, Rooks and Jackdaw) have been swelled by numerous demanding giant babies

The Starlings are back with a vengeance, also with large and demanding babies.

♦ As I type this the noise has completely died down and all I can hear is the song of a Blackbird and a little bit of background accompaniment from various woodland birds. Bliss for as long as it lasts.

All the usual caveats apply about errors with spellings or grammar and outside links not being affiliated with this Blog.

[rebbykins]

i woke up thinking more about my weird zelda/httyd au thing

This au thing is what I mean

Gonna put some of this under the cut b/c this is rambling between me and a friend and maybe mild spoilers? also, @shadyspeaks​ for the rambles and stuff.

Rebbykins: I'm not sure if my au would work for the ship b/c if Sidon is like toothless it would be weird Rebbykins: "Hylian are scared to go into the sea because of the scary Zora. Link is training to join the ranks of Zora hunters. Then he finds an injured Zora trapped in an inshore pond with a fucked up fin or idk maybe missing an arm." Rebbykins: But maybe it's not just Zora, maybe it's the other non-humanoid races Rebbykins: And through befriending Sidon, he learns the other races aren't bad either Rebbykins: And and Shadyspeaks: Ohhhh shit Shadyspeaks: That's good shit Rebbykins: Link grew up on the streets for a while before being formally taken in by the leader if the town (aka the king) because he saw "potential for this boy to do great things". Well if by "great things" he meant fail miserably as a Knight, he was right. Link has been training along side Zelda, the chief's daughter, (and insert OoT fairy kids b/c y naught.) and shows no ability to even fight a Rito. Rebbykins: What kind of injury would Sidon have tho? A missing arm, leg? Rebbykins: Something that would make it impossible for him to swim again Shadyspeaks: Hm Shadyspeaks: Perhaps something that would make it very difficult to do so effectively - like a missing eye? Rebbykins: But that wouldn't trap him anywhere Shadyspeaks: You underestimate the power of depth perception Rebbykins: Maybe missing eye and mega broken arm AND leg on the same side *** Shadyspeaks nods *** Rebbykins: So he can't swim back through the strong currents that have land locked him Shadyspeaks: "Come ON dude, I'm trying to help you! Stop trying to bite my fucking leg off!" Rebbykins: ....now, is he human intelligence or dragon is the question. Can he flipping talk Rebbykins: LOL Shadyspeaks: (cut to Sidon gnawing on Link's leg) Rebbykins: Kekeke Rebbykins: Not really trying to eat him b/c "ew this isn't fish" Shadyspeaks: Yeah Rebbykins: zora use their mouths to know their environment Shadyspeaks: Bwahahahahahaha Rebbykins: ...I think sharks actually do something like that Shadyspeaks: They do, yeah Rebbykins: Good Rebbykins: ...Link saying that and Sidon, who has not said a word in the few days Link has helped him looks up and speaks "sorry, I tend to use my mouth on new things" And links soul leaves him for like five minutes Shadyspeaks: I'm legit coughing and wheezing thanks Rebbykins: :'D Shadyspeaks: Got tears in my eyes, heart's going ninety to nothing because I was trying to laugh without air Rebbykins: "you can talk?!" "Yeah. What did you think, we're monsters?" "...yes. you destroy our ships." "You guys are hoarding fish." And he sticks out his tounge Shadyspeaks: But hold on a second Shadyspeaks: Additional issue Rebbykins: O? Shadyspeaks: Mute Link Rebbykins: OH RIHHT Rebbykins: fuck Shadyspeaks: I only ever play him mute these days, or selectively Rebbykins: I think I need to do more research on selective mutism Rebbykins: But but also Shadyspeaks: .......... Selective. Definitely selective. Link's been talking to Sidon because he thinks the Zora is just a beast, and once he speaks - whoops, he can't talk anymore Rebbykins: Fuck my next idea is kinda spoilers Rebbykins: LOL Shadyspeaks: He's ranted at the Zora for days on end about how everyone expects greatness out of him and he's trying but for fuck's sake he can't do everything they're trying to teach him or get him to do Shadyspeaks: And suddenly, nope. Nothing but grunts and squeaks. Rebbykins: And he just starts patching Sidon up in silence. Sidon tries to get Link to speak, even going as far too bring up things he had muttered himself. (Link does not like that he was listening!) "Hey, um, how's that Zelda girl you talked about?" Idk Rebbykins: ....do u know of any other Zora in the game Shadyspeaks: Mepha (I think) is his also red(or pink?) sister, father is basically a blue orca Rebbykins: Cool so not super spoiler Shadyspeaks: And I think she dies? Rebbykins: Sidon has told Link about his older sister with great detail (u know to fill the new silence), and then one day in the training ring they bring a newly caught Zora who is extremely close, if not on the nose to what Sidon's sister looks like. Shadyspeaks: <Shit how do I get her out of here?> Rebbykins: Yes Rebbykins: Either he does a big escape while everyone is watching Rebbykins: Or he does a sneak escape only to meet Zelda along the way Shadyspeaks: And more mute complications Rebbykins: LOL Rebbykins: I'd think Zelda can read Link pretty well Rebbykins: Mipha however Shadyspeaks: Oh gods Rebbykins: Snap, snap teeth, grrr, trying to bite everyone. Link just sticks his arm in her mouth Rebbykins: MAYBE Rebbykins: Maybe Zora have poor eyesight on land too Shadyspeaks: Yeah! Because fish eyes aren't designed to see out of water Shadyspeaks: Even amphibians aren't particularly good at seeing out of it Rebbykins: Zelda flinched as the Zora sank its teeth into Link. Link however stood and took the bite. The wild look in the Zora's eyes calmed and it let go of Link's arm, looking at the limb with a slight head tilt. "Ooh my, did I do that? I'm very sorry." Link shrugged and turned away, ignoring the blood dripping down his forearm. He waved a little to signal that they should move. "Link!" Zelda grabbed the upper part of his injured arm tightly. "That Zora just spoke!"

That’s all I’ve got atm~ Maybe I’ll do dabbles for this, idk.

[chaos2go]

Ramble about the Deku Tree and Alden >U

Okay. Finally getting around to finishing this ramble. Sorry it took so long ;w; I had one of those times of “wow I really want to do this //does everything else” orz.

Just as a reminder, the stuff below is following my ‘headcanon’ of junk. So please don’t take it literally XD And I apologize for length. This is way too long haha.

So I’ve pretty much stated in my LoH lore before that I believe the Deku Tree can create life. It’s never really stated what he can do so I just roll with it given it makes explaining stuff a lot easier. And he’s supposed to be a deity of sorts anyway. He is a ‘spirit of nature’ after all so why not organic things? His specialty beyond ‘simple’ plants are forest fairies (aka guardian fairies), koroks, and his newest/most proud creations the kokiri (the intended form of the koroks).

Now even if he is a deity, it had taken him quite a few decades if not centuries to ‘perfect’ every sentient creation. He is proud of them and he enjoys watching them live their lives. They bring about a harmony he loves. They are not savage but rather innocent creatures. They have bouts of anger but they never outright really try to hurt anyone beyond survival needs. These creatures are his children. In all due respect, he wants to protect them beyond just his magic because he understands that his magic isn’t unstoppable. In fact, his magic is mostly that relating to creation of life.

Given legends of the past, the Deku Tree is worried about something bad eventually happening in his forest. This means that his creations will die in bloodshed rather than natural causes (not to say they can’t die to monsters or creatures in the forest in general). Not to mention his control over the Lost Woods is only so much. It has a strange magic of its own and the way to navigate it seems to change from time to time. The only way to protect his children is to create something unlike them.

The legends of the past speak of heroes. This would be something he would believe in but there are other things that stood out too. Robots, machines, and even of swords that have spirits. A lot of his interest went into these ‘mechanical’ aspect but the resources to make a machine let alone an understanding on how to make one was just outright lost. A sword spirit however was more in his field given his magic. It sounded a lot more organic than trying to make a machine. He put many fairies to work to try and find information on creating a sword spirit but not a lot of information was returned. Still it was enough for him to make an attempt and a chance at extra protection for his organic creations.

It took a lot of tries to actually create Alden properly. Creating life was pretty simple in comparison to making a metal statue mostly made of magic live. For a time he gave up and thought about perhaps making a new race to protect the forest. But then what to give them? He didn’t want to create any sort of monsters or have the creature(s) turn into them. And what if they died for some reason? There were so many variables that he wanted a constant. It needed to have a little consistency like he did. Having a protector of the forest meant sacrificing some things that made organic life better in his opinion. Plus it couldn’t die as easily.

A few more tries were given with more success but nothing solid. At times he’d end up with metal lumps, other times a spirit that only survived until the gem collapsed, or just a spirit that died for no reason. Eventually Alden was created using pieces of these spirits (in terms of metal body, not gems) and there is a celebratory moment. However the moment is somewhat shattered when he realizes Alden isn’t anywhere near what he expected. The spirit is outright confused upon creation and doesn’t know what to do. Even though he’s seen others have this problem, the fact Alden doesn’t shatter right away brings some pain. He’s lifeless compared to the organic creations. There is little will beyond asking for instruction on what to do. This really makes the Deku Tree regret his decision. Thankfully the fairies (and a few koroks) step in on the Deku Tree’s silence to make Alden start to ‘live’.

The Deku Tree gives Alden a simple purpose of protecting the forest before instructing him to meet the kokiri he will be protecting. Given Alden is just outright do and ask only simple -if not stupid- questions, he just pops out and gets scared by the reaction he got. Just backlash. He was told not to fight them yet he got rocks and sticks thrown at him. His instinct did want him to fight back. Instead he retreats and asks what he did wrong. The fact Alden couldn’t come up with making a disguise is actually somewhat troubling for the Deku Tree despite there being some promise given how he reacted to the event. There was a little hurt in how he acted which was a good sign of life.

From there the Deku Tree instructs him to make a disguise to fit in amongst the kokiri. The actual disguise takes a lot of work and quite a few attempts before he fits in enough for the kokiri to let him be. He actually had to observe -alongside getting feedback from his partner fairy- and choose. Thing is, even with a disguise to fit in he still lacked basic things others could do. He couldn’t emulate eating, sleeping, he ‘cheated’ at games, etc. He had to learn how to be a child and fitting in became a priority. In all honesty, it was part of his purpose whether or not it was intended.

Alden’s frustrations with fitting in became apparent to most in the forest. It actually became a bit of a joke and he didn’t mind playing to it to fit in. However being laughed at still stung him. Thankfully during his existence thus far the Deku Tree tried to teach him through stories. It was a thing he did every night with Alden when the kokiri were sleeping in order for Alden to learn more about the world he was in, the kokiri, and just how to ‘live’. Stories of heroes and such became Alden’s favorite as he could relate to them more because of what he is. Every once in a while a kokiri came too which meant Alden could observe a bit.

All in all, this was a big effort. More than the Deku Tree wanted to do. He honestly felt awful for creating Alden to be so lifeless at first but was so hopeful with how much he was growing. Even if he was a bully from time to time, he still was trying to live. Still he was a spirit with little soul. Alden wasn’t completely stupid or extremely smart. And he didn’t have a large range of emotions but rather a collection of emulations and reactions he understood for certain situations. He could be angry at the right moments or emulate happy at the right moments. Very little things were genuine unless it involved his purpose, a wrongdoing, or a chance to show off his powers. Really the only plus of anything there too was his speed, magical abilities (at the time due to the Tree’s power), and his skill with the sword. Unlike most others (including most people he’s met), the Deku Tree sees that Alden is mostly a machine of reaction at the proper times. And honestly, that is how I see him too. A very well studied one that goes to extremes. But back to the tree who wishes he could make Alden ‘real’.

The arrival of Link to the forest didn’t help Alden grow at all either. Especially when the Deku Tree could observe how little Alden changed. He was confused by the baby (as were many kokiri) but Link just had an understanding of everything so much easier. For a time, Alden even distanced himself from the kokiri as Link was growing because he couldn’t understand what the heck a baby was or what it was doing. The baby was annoying as far as he was concerned and he didn’t want to break Link either. He was more fragile than a fairy and cried every time he was forced to interact. If anything, he only got more confused on Link growing up. Despite knowing how Link got there and bringing him to the Deku Tree in the first place, Alden never once mentions this to Link. And in fact, he ends up being on of Link’s bullies given he chooses to be with Mido due to Mido’s status as leader.

Upon Ganondorf doing his crap in OoT, he honestly hoped that Alden would have died in that attack in some respect. Alden wasn’t a strong spirit but rather a mostly innocent one that had a hard time understanding how to ‘live’. Destroying him would be a good thing in that respect. At the same time, Alden was a great creation and he didn’t want him to die. Alden was dutiful and did everything in his power despite being bested. Alden chose to defend when he clearly could have easily stayed out of the situation. The lack of a real choice and the obligation to do his purpose is what could have saved the Deku Tree. Ultimately it would help shape Alden further though.

Skipping through Alden blaming Link for the Deku Tree’s death, revealing himself to Link, and outright continuing bullying, we get through the Forest Temple. The sprout emerges from the ground and isn’t exactly the same one as before. However it still carries some regret about Alden. It was partly saddened to see Alden still existed but glad to see he was still trying to do what he was created for. There was a sense of relief that he at least did one thing right with Alden. On the other hand, Alden didn’t consider the new sprout to be the same tree but wanted to listen.

The sprout specifically tells him that the old tree wanted to give him new purpose. Those being 1- Continue to protect the forest to the best of your abilities, 2- Do what you can to help Link, and 3 - Live your own life. The last one having the most emphasis which only confuses Alden. His entire ‘life’ has been fitting in and protecting the forest. So really he puts the second job as his priority. And that only leads to more issues given he is set on his duties and he is a spirit of reaction.

But that about sums it up without jumping to other games or LoH. Sorry it turned into more about the overall arc of his story. But eeeeh lemme just state this. There is a deep regret the Deku Tree carries about Alden. Alden however is a creature of reaction and learned behaviors rather than his own being. Given enough time, he would assimilate into another culture. Fitting in is his ‘life’ and little things do confuse him. Why a certain way of dressing? Why are some actions more preferred than others? He has many questions but refuses to ask them and instead just tries things in hopes of positive reactions when able. Otherwise he will observe unless he feels brave. As I said, Alden isn’t smart or dumb. He reacts. His entire character is about proper reaction rather than being him. His entire emotional range goes from extremely angry to extremely happy or extremely sad in a matter of seconds. There is very little inbetween so it can be as if he is hyperactive. The only time he tends to sound mature is when he feels there is nothing to react to and can state what he wants. It is confounding to him to be outside of the forest until he realizes that children can get away with certain things. He uses his childlike nature to Link’s advantage when the adult Link cannot do things. Fi has her smarts, Ghira has his emotions, Alden has a mix in terms of just reacting in the proper way at the proper time (which can be messed up!). So more or less he understands to an extent when to be happy, sad, etc.

To quickly jump to another games since I rambled about the rest, Alden’s second purpose becomes a major focus for the MM game. Especially since he becomes even weaker. Alden’s focus is broken to a point and he has a loss of powers. At times he is a hindrance to Link. At the same time, it also allowed him to speak his mind more freely. If anything he sounds a tad more intelligent than before if not emotional. He thinks about things and realizes why people might enjoy it. He’s seen a lot more in life than he ever would have in the forest. Being lost in these thoughts become is downfall however. There are joys/fears/etc. he’ll never understand and it kinda scares him a little. And it scares him even more that he won’t be able to protect Link from it. In the end he fulfillshis third purpose before he is ultimately destroyed. He spends time with Linkdespite time travel and enjoys things he hasn’t before. And as an upgraded sword, he can continue to protect Link. But that’s for that version.

Come LoH, the Deku Tree gets to meet Alden once again. There isgreat disappointment in knowing that Alden was left behind by Link but also ahappiness in seeing that he’s trying so hard to help someone else. Alden has chosen to continue his job and his reactions give more ‘life’. He seesKalla has rubbed off on him and he’s actually happy to hear Alden reject himwhen he states that he should stay. Still Alden is a lost cause as he seesgiven he is so strung to his purpose that living will never really happen. He’s still attaching himself to a forest dweller despite wanting to be outside of the forest. And the only reason Alden states he wants to stay outside is to protect the forest. Sothere will always be a loss for this magical life he created rather thanbiological. Little does the Deku Tree understand though that if Alden was to stay, he’d try to leave. Alden does want to protect the forest but understanding others to some degree might help. He in no way wants to be like them (he believes himself a kokiri after all) but it means a possible means to an end if he has to fight them.

[sage-nebula]

Zelda is on my mind, so, Zelda!

My issue with the Zelda timeline is not that there’s a branch where “this is what happens if the Hero of Time dies in the fight against Ganondorf.” I think that actually makes a lot of sense. My issue with the Zelda timeline is how the original OoT split (adult timeline vs. child timeline) works out.

For the first bit, it makes sense to me that there’s a timeline split where the Hero dies because that’s just how Time works. Time, at least in my mind, is like an extensive, massive tree branch that we’re all traveling down, and every single time we make a choice a new branch splits off that one. You can also think of it like a road, and these are forks in the road, whatever. When we make a decision, new branches split off from that. There’s the branch we decide to start traveling down, but the other branches, representing events that don’t occur or choices that aren’t made, are still there. They still exist. And since they exist, there are things that happen on them, there are events that occur because of them.

So we take this situation, with Link fighting Ganondorf. On one branch, Link succeeds and wins the fight. Ganondorf is trapped in the Sacred Realm. On the other branch, Link dies. He is murdered and Ganondorf’s reign continues unchallenged. Both of these branches exist, because they have to, just as Link’s death at any other point in OoT technically should exist in separate branches as well (though since Ganondorf’s reign continues unchecked, they all mostly lead to the same end result, with the exception of if Link dies prior to getting all three Spiritual Stones---that should be its own path). The same is true for any other Zelda game, really, and it’s true for other characters dying as well. The way a timeline looks is that it’s less like a line with a few branches, and more like a series of infinite roads and branches, all continuously splintering and fracturing, some only marginally different than their neighbors, others radically so. In this line Zelda dies in the seven year game because she’s killed by a Gerudo soldier while masquerading as Sheik. In this timeline over here, Saria dies in the Forest Temple before Link can save her. In this one over here, Ganondorf dies because he chokes on a piece of pita bread, and so on and so forth. Maybe in this other timeline no one dies, but Death Mountain erupts. Sure, everyone is saved, but Kakariko Village is completely decimated from the lava, and so on and so forth. 

What we see as the Zelda timeline is---or should be---an extremely simplified version for our consumption based on the events that are relevant. All of those other timelines absolutely exist, because they must, because this is how Time works, but we don’t see them noted because they’re not relevant. The “Hero dies” timeline is relevant because Nintendo has figured out what happens after that point. The other possibilities are there, but right now we don’t need to know about them. They’re not relevant.

So I’m more than fine with the “Hero dies” branch of the timeline because it makes sense. None of us saw it coming, but it makes sense. The other part, though . . .

Oh boy.

So, long before Hyrule Historia was released and the actual timeline was revealed, my friend Andy and I got into a three hour fight---a fight with actual yelling---about the Zelda timeline. Keep in mind that this fight was from something like midnight to three in the morning, and we weren’t angry so much as we were passionate, but it was still a very heated discussion that involved our mutual friend/Andy’s roommate Pedro yelling at us to shut up about it and stop (which was kind of hypocritical, because this was the same guy who would give twenty minute speeches about his philosophical beliefs, would allow us to say one sentence, and then say “no no no” before he went on another twenty minute speech, but nonetheless). This timeline argument was, specifically, about how the branch in the timeline occurred. We both agreed that the split occurred with OoT. However, we disagreed with how that split should carry out. To summarize, our arguments were as such:

Andy:

The split occurred when Zelda sent Link back in time. This left the Bad Future/adult timeline, where Link no longer was, and created a new future from the child timeline.

Me:

Zelda sent Link back, yes, but the true split hinged on Link’s decision after that. Namely, in one version of events he chose to go to Termina (Majora’s Mask), which resulted in him not being there when Ganondorf broke free and wreaked havoc, leading to the ocean future (Wind Waker) in which we are specifically told that the Hero of Time did not come when called. In another, he chose to stay in Hyrule, leading to him being there when the time came and Ganondorf being imprisoned again (Twilight Princess).

And we all know who ended up being right, but I still disagree with it.

Andy---and Aonuma---feel that the change comes dependent on where Link is, physically, at the time. The way that Andy and Aonuma feel is that Zelda physically sent Link’s entire body back through time, leaving the Bad Future completely open and defenseless for Ganondorf to come back and wreak havoc (never mind that the Seven Sages have all been awakened in that timeline, and thus it should logically lead to Twilight Princess and not Wind Waker, but nonetheless). Because the Hero is physically present in the child timeline, and can warn King Daphnes (who for some reason listens to a ten year old stranger he doesn’t know versus his ten year old daughter???), everything is fine in the Child Timeline, whereas it is not in the Adult Timeline.

I still vehemently disagree with this.

I disagree with the fact that the split occurs when Zelda sends Link back. In fact, I feel that Link going back, warning Daphnes, and averting that Bad Future (as Nintendo says he did) means that the Bad Future just . . . shouldn’t exist anymore. It’s been averted. They saved Hyrule, Hyrule is still suffering, Zelda sends Link back to fix this mistake, and he does. Ganondorf gets imprisoned as a result of him warning Daphnes. Then, some time after that, Ganondorf breaks free. In one timeline, Link has gone off to adventure in Termina, and Hyrule is defenseless. This leads to Wind Waker. In another, Link said “nah, I can live without Navi” and never went to Termina, therefore he is there to save Hyrule and say “not this shit again,” leading to Twilight Princess. That is when the split should occur, that is what makes sense. I can see Andy’s reasoning that “but the Bad Future does exist, you can’t just wipe a branch off the map like that,” but I feel like that’s precisely what you are doing if you go back to specifically negate the event where that timeline happens. And even if it still exists, technically, in the context of your story and the things relative to your narrative, it doesn’t. It’s like---in Majora’s Mask, Link specifically keeps traveling back to the start of the three days in order to save Termina. Of course he can’t save everyone in every Cycle, but at the end of the game everyone is saved regardless, from the Moon and otherwise. The timelines where they aren’t are now rendered null. We aren’t doing anything with them anymore. That’s Hyrule’s Bad Future, I feel. That’s the “Adult Timeline.” The split shouldn’t be dependent on whether or not Zelda sends Link back, but rather dependent on the choice Link makes of whether or not to leave Hyrule, which has been a choice that he canonically does make since 2000. Particularly given that Wind Waker followed Majora’s Mask, I honestly thought for years that the Hero of Time’s absence when the people needed him in Wind Waker’s backstory was a direct result of him being gone from Hyrule as a result of his quest in Termina.

So yeah, tl;dr, my unpopular opinion is both that I’m A-OK with the Hero Dies timeline, but I still take issue with when the split occurs in the rest of the timeline (or rather, how it occurs). I don’t jive with all this Adult Timeline and Child Timeline nonsense. I much prefer a “if we have MM, we have Wind Waker” and “if we don’t have MM, we have TP” type of split. That makes the most sense to me. Nintendo’s other convoluted nonsense? Nah. Leave that on the wayside, son. They messed it all up.

(Andy was pretty happy to win the fight years later, though.)