#mipha deserves to be a BIT of a top

[haveievermentioned]

sending you back top 5 fic recs and top 5 fics you’re written for the ask game!! :)

Sorry this took so long! I got busy. Top Recs:

"You must fix your heart" series by @screechthemighty as much as I like Valhalla, it didn't come CLOSE to what I want from a post Ragnarok story like these fics do. They are kind of interlinked and honestly, after (Massive GoW ragnarok spoilers) this really helped me with all of that.

Angry Words by PoH. Actually anything by PoH. They are my best friend and all of their writing is fantastic. They Semi sincerely wrote fics about William Birkin having a love affair with the element fire, they wrote a GORGEOUS fic about Jack and the Little Sister's first Christmas on the surface, and a lot of great Ace Attorney and KH stuff that fill in blanks or are post series. But this is maybe the funniest ones they did (outside of William/Fire which was a sort of parody) where Xigbar gave Roxas and Xion a PS3 and a copy of Bioshock with no context and they learn about Swear words! Like "Communist!" and "Goddess!" It's great.

Dripping Diamonds (between my thighs) by @empresscirque Okay I haven't read it. But Empress is another fantastic friend and this is maybe their most popular piece. I skimmed it a bit and it's written really well. (Just not my ship, and they know that)

The Mallard Family by GreyLiliy as a MASSIVE Darkwing Duck fan I can't emphasize enough how much this completely changed how I thought of his yuppie neighbors, the muddlefoots.

Pearls of Portent by Zophaer Link/Mipha fic where Link wakes up with 7 of Mipha's eggs next to him. Link is mute, everyone is confused, it's really sweet and sad.

Okay, on to mine

As long as you should have lived - a Resident Evil post village story where Chris proposes a legally real but otherwise fake marriage to Mia in order to fulfill his promise to protect Rose. Mia agrees, and things don't go as well as they planned. Chris is a Demiromantic Asexual in here, Mia has loads of trauma to unpack from 7 and 8, and their fake honeymoon keeps running into complications, like Ethan's sister who never bought anything Chris said.

The Jecht/Maleficent series Kingdom Hearts universe, some time shortly after BBS, Maleficent mistimes a teleport and ends up on Destiny Islands, where she runs into Jecht - recently of Radiant Gardens - and falls ill. A combination of exoticism and Florence nightingale leads them to having a one night stand. After THAT it splits into 3 universes. In all of them, Jecht has promised to love her forever. In all of them, How that plays out depends on what happened right after that promise.

Italian Beef Sandwiches and Spaghetti! Introducing Chef Carmy! Look, in 2023, The Bear and Delicious Party Pretty Cure came out. Both stories had people using food to deal with dead family members. I had to smash them together, and I had a LOT of fun doing it. It was written before S2 came out so it's not exactly canon compliant even before the girls show up, but like... I had Yui and Carmy talk about food and dead relatives and Ritchie trying not to swear in front of kids.

You are not alone stand alone story in my Quadratum series, Sora figures out he's Aro Ace after being very confused by the X-files. Aya, Garrett, NieR, and Sora all have great moments, Ash gets introduced and as much as I love Xem, xeir pronouns make me frustrated (but non binary people deserve more non they/them rep) and Garrett also learns something about himself.

Welcome, Curious Friends a zine piece where Sora went to Phantom Manor and woke up looking at a ticket taker skeleton. It's got a mystery, it's got danger, it's got a LOT of catharsis for anyone who has ever wanted to punch (spoiler)

(honorable mention: Xion, the soap opera lover, Lover of the Light, The Secret Diary of Quincey Morris, Mia Goes Shopping, and Tell me it won't hurt.

[skyloftsword]

Sixth Playthrough of Tears of the Kingdom Done, Have my Thoughts Changed?

Short answer: NOPE. I still don't see how the entire package is bad. Every game ever has flaws, EVEN your precious Breath of the Wild was very flawed. This is still my favorite game ever and I do really like BotW a lot. Story is for the most part really great, excellent soundtrack, gameplay is incredible, wonderful cast of characters.

Long Answer (SPOILERS):

Okay so, when I first played this game, it made me look back at Breath of the Wild and feel kinda disappointed with that game. Breath of the Wild kinda didn't feel anywhere near as focused as this game does (ironic considering most people have been saying the opposite).

The Dragon's Tear quest actually was really connected and told a really, really interesting story that got me invested in the characters. The order should have been forced, HOWEVER, Impa notes that the order of the memories is on the wall in the room of the Forgotten Temple. The Regional Phenomena stuff is what the Divine Beast quests should have been. Only one Divine Beast quest had anything going on before the battle, all four regions have stuff going on in them with the Regional Phenomena. Not to mention the regions are actively being affected by the events of the phenomena going on, with the Zora being injured by sludge, the Rito being starved, the Gerudo being invaded by zombi- I mean Gibdos and the Gorons being mind controlled by Ganondorf's puppet. The Puppet Zelda quest could have been handled a lot better, however I have read people's posts about why Link didn't tell anyone about it and I choose to believe that (because a lot of this game is based around theory crafting, like Josha for example, she's all about making theories of the past). Purah not commenting on you having the Master Sword until AFTER you finish the Crisis at Hyrule Castle quest is extremely awkward, especially if you have it on your back. The Ring Ruins quest is also really good, needing to explore the Zonai Ruins to find clothes from the era of the Zonai. Mineru (my beloved)'s quest is genuinely incredible. Building a construct then being able to drive her around is such an amazing idea.

The cast of characters in this game is filled with really great characters. Yes, the ancient Sages are literal WHO? HOWEVER, outside of them, Impa and the Deku Tree, the rest of the cast is really great. Rauru's character arc is my favorite in the series, topping Groose's for me. Sonia is also a really charming character. Both of them are the parents that this Zelda deserved. Such excellent parents. Mineru's my favorite of the cast solely because I can relate to having VERY unhealthy hyperfixation and work issues. Tulin's a really fun character to be around. Sidon's arc is really, really good in this game and the fact that they tied it back to Mipha's death from the Calamity helps the ties between the games become even stronger. Yunobo went from a bottom-tier character to a very solid character for me in this game (partially because he wasn't associated with Scrapper Eldin quest 2.0 this time). Riju is an excellent leader for the Gerudo, willing to put herself in danger for her people. Purah is a bit awkward in terms of writing but she's still good (and thankfully not tied to a backtracking quest this time).

The music REALLY helps make this game's story stand out compared to every other Zelda game story (besides MAYBE Skyward Sword's). Remember His Name is such a powerful and emotional version of Link's theme. The theme from the final Dragon's Tear is what makes me shed a tear every playthrough. Seized Construct's theme helps make that fight hit harder since its a corrupted version of Mineru's theme. Hyrule Castle's theme is more somber than BotW's, which is fitting. The transition themes between the Sky -> Surface and the Surface -> Depths really help make diving feel even more satisfying. Each Sage's theme fits their personality perfectly.

The gameplay in this game is genuinely perfect. The dungeons (hot take) are extremely fun to do, every time I do them I learn a new method for at least one of their puzzles. The Shrines are FAR better in this game than they were in BotW. The Proving Grounds Shrines feel more like a test than BotW's Tests of Strength. HOWEVER, they, for whatever reason, decided to make MORE combat tutorial Shrines. Now for abilities... Ultrahand and Fuse are SUPER fun to toy around with. Ascend ruined gaming for me because I'm so addicted to using it. Recall is crazy and its incredible how they got it to work as perfectly as they did (also great way to reach the Sky Islands).

Now onto the new environments in this game. The Sky Islands are beautiful. While they aren't for the most part visually distinct, a LOT of them are extremely unique. Lightcast Island is especially a really fun island. Thunderhead Isles and Dragonhead Island are amazing as well. Dragonhead's theme is one of my favorite ambient themes ever, its so calming. The Depths is really fun to run around in, except when you run into a pile of Gloom, that really sucks. Construct Factory and Spirit Temple are literal perfection. Fire Temple is also such a really cool dungeon.

Alright, now that I'm done, did my opinion on this game change after my sixth playthrough? ...No. This game is still absolutely incredible and a masterpiece of a game. No matter how much I get harassed (which I have been harassed multiple times over this), my opinion still remains the same on this game. Yes it has its issues, yes I think there are aspects that could be very much improved, but I feel this way with literally every game ever. Thank you for reading my rambling, have a good day.

[needs-to-stop-looking-at-yigas]

I saw that you had a 20 request on the back burner recently, so I didn’t want to disturb you but if you don’t mind, I’m hoping you could maybe write something focused on Link and Mipha testing out kogha’s “Advice”? From what I’ve read, the way YOU write of them has to be my FAVORITE out of ANYONE ELSES!(Tbh I think I’m just asking for some Miphlink smut). Anyways, I wish you luck on those 20+ prompts! Stay strong and thanks for always supporting others(but don’t forget to take care of yourself!)!

You know, I appreciate this one, a lot, because I need something just a BIT different. Like don’t get me wrong, I love my yiga husbands, but as Kohga would say, “Gird up everybody, this is about to get spicy!”

“Remember, open palm. Open palm, and grab, open palm, and grab.”

It was so weird. Mipha was actually sitting here, in her bedroom, waiting for the boy of her dreams to come and claim her. She was excited, suffice to say. But the nerves still got to her. How could she do what Kohga did? Something that CLEARLY worked, given how it unraveled Sooga, but Mipha wasn’t like Kohga. Where he sought after the pleasures of life, she sought out hard work, purity. Could she do something like that for Link? It looked SO simple when he did it. She was laying on her stomach, awaiting Link to come out of her personal bath. Was he just as nervous? Was he wondering how to please her? She was about to turn around and call it off, when she suddenly felt the weight on top of her. Oh. Oh. Link was ON TOP of her. She quickly spun around, only to see the face of a Lynel. She studied the mask, more in shock, before Link pushed aside the mask, a smile on his face. She felt a sigh of relief, lightly chuckling.

“My, what a terribly handsome Lynel I found!”

She pinched his cheek, causing just the most adorable blush on his features. Link was more than a boyfriend, more than the princess’s knight. He was also her best friend. He cared for her feelings, and that was exactly WHY they were doing this. Since he chose not to speak, it meant he had to SHOW his love. He peeled off his mask, tossing it to the side. He took a second to kiss her forehead, before motioning to his clothes. They thought about Link just walking in nude, but Mipha would NOT be ready for that. So Hylian trousers and Champions tunic it was (not to mention he had his hair down, which was just her weakness). Mipha would undress him as she saw fit, and she was so glad they were on the same page. She took a deep breath, and carefully snuck her claws fingers under his shirt, roaming them over his stomach. She was about to peel it over his head, when she suddenly pulled away, hands covering her blushing face.

“I’m s-sorry! I can’t! Could you uhm...could YOU take it off, perhaps?”

Link gave a gentle nod, before getting off of her, and starting to take off his shirt. She sat there, watching as the shirt ruffled his long, golden hair. He tossed the shirt off to the side, but otherwise just stood there. Mipha always did need a minute after seeing him shirtless. He wasn’t super buff, but his arms, and his core, showed well earned muscles, as well as a plentiful amount of scars. Nostalgia filled her mind, and her hand caressed one of the larger ones on his chest.

“I remember when I offered to make these go away. But you refused. It wasn’t a means of pride. You just...didn’t like to forget your own feats. So modest, with the valiance of any knight. I admired that about you. I still do.”

Then she caught his gaze, and realized what she was doing. She was feeling at his chest. Not at his arm or even his back, but his chest. She tried to pull away from her nerves, when Link put his hand over hers, keeping it there. He nodded firmly. This was okay. There was nothing wrong with what she was doing. With a deep breath, she used both of her hands to feel at his chest. Despite the scars, they felt so smooth, so warm against her Zora skin.

“This is...alright, yes?”

Link nodded. He allowed her hand to move from his chest, down his core, down his stomach, before her claws hooked onto his pants. Link was willing, as was she. She pulled off his trousers, showing his blue, firm looking underwear. She had caught him like this once, but not once did she get a good, solid at them. They fit so...snuggly on him, she could see the way they lightly squished his thighs. Oh be still her beating heart. Link took this chance to lean down to kiss her, and as usual, she felt her stomach do flips. Link’s lips were so soft, and they tasted like pumpkin pie (most likely because he ate an ENTIRE pie right before this). He was delicate with her too, holding onto her cheek so tenderly as they kissed. Nothing too aggressive, just simple, honest kissing. If it weren’t for the fact that Link was essentially nude, this would be in a storybook. She parted from the kiss, giggling at the smudged lipstick on his face.

“My, you almost wear that color better than I.”

They both chuckled, but hers was so much more nervous. If she could sweat, she absolutely would be. She wanted Link, honestly and truly, but progressing with him made her so nervous, as if this was a make or break of their relationship. Thankfully, Link was ever her support. He pulled back a bit, kissing at her chin. Then at her neck. Then her chest, right between her breasts (don’t ask why Zora’s had breasts, but they pretty much did), and down her stomach. He carelly parted her legs, and looked up at her, silently asking for permission. Oh. Oh. He was asking to do something that she only dreamt in her steamiest of dreams. She tried not to make a show of it, but she had to fan herself a bit, swooning on the spot.

“I...suppose. If you’re comfortable. Y-you may be my guest.”

Link nodded, before kissing lower and lower still, right till she nearly jumped out of her skin upon feeling his lips at...well. Her own lips, suffice to say. Fun fact about Zora reproduction; you couldn’t see their organs until they were fairly aroused. It was why Link had to take a minute to kiss at the area, before he found himself able to part her pussy lips. He pushed and massaged at the folds with his thumbs, and it was already making him shake. His hands were SO careful, so skilled. She’d seen him use a bow and arrow, and now he was strumming an entirely different string.

“L-link-”

His big, blue eyes looked up at her, right as his mouth enveloped her. She gasped loudly, nearly springing out of bed. Mipha had NEVER put something in herself, so the feeling of a wet, moving tongue inside of her felt so...weird, but in a really good way. She had no idea if he was experienced in this field, but she couldn’t help but fawn over his soft, calculated tongue against her folds. He didn’t spend too much time down there, not wanting the party to end too soon, but he DID part by sucking rather aggressively on her clit, making her cry out.

“Give...give me a moment. Oh my goodness…”

She buried her face in her palm, averting her gaze from him. To put it bluntly, she was incredibly, and totally, aroused. She wanted Link inside of her. She forced herself to look at his clearly concerned (and wet) face, before she motioned for him to scoot back up. He obeyed, and she leaned down, kissing the bulge appearing in his underwear. That was bold, but she didn’t care. All she cared was for that Hylian penis to be nestled inside of her. She pulled down his underwear, and almost passed out. Link wasn’t huge, wasn’t fat, but he was so eager. Pale, with a reddened, eager tip, covered in a bush of pretty, blonde pubic hair.

“Link? M-may I?”

Link’s nod was slow, but it was there. She carefully ran her hand alongside his girth, and found herself fascinated.

“It...feels so odd. It’s so warm, so smooth in my palm.”

She watched as the skin folded over his head at every hand movement. She knew Hylian biology to a degree, but not ONCE had she seen their genitals, much less up close. Odd, only seeing one of them. He let her continue her hand motions for a moment, before he positioned himself at her hips. He placed his cock right on her stomach, silently asking for permission. She took a deep, calming breath, before nodding.

“Please, continue, my love.”

Then Link pushed himself inside. It was just the head, but either way she felt her entire frame stiffen. He was looking down at her so fondly, so lovingly, all while he was inside of her. He was even sweet enough to kiss her nose, just to make sure she was okay. So sweet, so caring. He was even careful as he introduced more of himself into her, stopping just short of halfway, mainly because her toes were scrunching so much. She knew that look on his face. Concern.

“I’m fine. I swear. It’s just...a lot, for my first time.”

He looked panicked for a moment, as if he did something wrong, when she held him by his shoulders.

“I’m fine, I promise. We just, have to keep things slow, until I’m ready. Please, put more inside, I can handle it.”

Link nodded, giving her a smooch on the cheek, before slowly pushing more inside of her. His face was buried into her neck, gifting her with plenty of kisses, so he didn’t notice her looking. She was SO close to taking him in fully. While it didn’t hurt, it certainly was a lot at once. But she loved him. She adored him, and wanted as much of him as she could handle. It’s why she pulled his face away, and forced his eyes onto her.

“Link, please. All the way, for me?”

Link nodded, before obeying her. He pushed himself fully into her, face scrunched up. It was her turn to be worried, despite how full she was suddenly feeling.

“L-link? Are you in pain? Am I t-too tight, or?”

Link shook his head, taking a minute to breathe. It was cute, how much they both very clearly seemed to care about each other. Thankfully they both supported each other through the initial awkward feelings, right till Link was comfortably pushing his hips into her. He was going slow, carefully, even being a gentleman and holding her thighs to his sides. It was sweet, getting to see his big, bright eyes as he moved into her, panting as his cock kept moving in and out of her. It was lovely. At first. Then, she suddenly found herself longing. She could just tell Link was holding back on her. And while that sweet, she knew he was holding back, knew she was keeping him from honestly and truly enjoying himself.

But how to ask for him to let loose? Just saying it to his face so bluntly was upcoming of her as a princess. That was when she recalled Kohga’s advice. Open palm, then grab. She mentally counted to three, before she moved into action. She ran her claws through his mane of hair, and as firmly as she could, grabbed at his locks. Link suddenly stopped, letting out a rather loud cry that she was NOT expecting. She thought for a minute that she hurt him, before their eyes met. Eyes were no longer kind and calm, but hazy, drowning in clear and obvious lust.

“Do that again.”

She nearly gasped. Link NEVER talked. But here he was, standing above her, looking at her as if she was worthy of worship.

“P-pardon?”

“That thing with the hair. Grab it again. Please? Please? I’ll do anything.”

His voice was quick, desperate. She let go of his hair, before raking her fingers through his hair, and grabbed him again, nice and tightly. He let out a loud, rather crude moan that time around, and Mipha could feel him throb inside of her. What else did Kohga do? Oh yes, that’s right! She pulled his head to her neck, and used her small, pointy teeth to leave slow, firm nibbles onto his ear. And how Link moaned. He squirmed, he swore under his breath, completely lost in those slow, steady pinpricks of pleasure. She stopped after a moment, giggling right into his ear.

“You moan so pretty Link. Do it again, but with my name. Go on. Say my name like no one else would.”

Another dig into his hair, another grip, and another small pull, he let out another loud, pleased moan.

“Mipha~”

Oh she almost couldn’t keep this up. How he said it. How he held no shame in his drooling mouth and hazy eyes. She forced herself to take charge though, and after a small yank to his ear (that made him shake something fierce), she told him EXACTLY what she wanted.

“I want you to actually make love to me. I don’t want you to hold back anymore. I’ve been waiting for so long. Please, make me cum, Link.”

It was instant, like some switch had been flipped. He bucked into her like a jack rabbit, making the room be full of not only her moans, but loud, wet slappings of herself being pounded into. She kept pulling and scrunching at his mane, and each time, it only made him more and more hungry, thrusting faster and faster. She was ashamed to admit that the whole ordeal even made her rub at her own clit, lost in the fact that she was being fucked by the only man she truly loved. Was it any wonder that with a loud cry of his name, she fell into orgasm? One that felt so good, she was close to tears? 

Link, upon seeing Mipha satisfied, pulled himself out of her, and pumped his cock furiously, till he gritted his teeth, and came, all over her stomach. She had no idea cum felt so...hot, and thick. She liked it. And as she looked at Link, who was panting, so heavily, hair askew, she was only reassured that she liked Link. She somehow met his eyes through the mop of hair, and they both had a tired chuckle together. He leaned down to kiss her lips, which she accepted oh so sweetly.

“Link...that was...wonderful. I wasn’t too hard, was I?”

Link shook his head so wearily, she chuckled. A bit of a naughty thought popped into her mind, and she pulled onto his hair again, making him cry out in ecstasy.

“Good. Because, quite frankly...I’m not done yet~”

------------------------------------

“Mipha! Morning!”

“What are you all doing here?”

Mipha walked down the steps and into the dining hall, in hopes to get a snack, when she noticed that Kohga, Sooga, Urbosa, Daruk, and Revali were all sitting there, having a cup of coffee. She wasn’t even out of her nightgown just yet. Kohga held up his drink, as if to celebrate.

“We were just checking to see how your first time went! How’d my trick work?”

Mipha blinked, before softly shaking her head.

“It….went fine, I suppose. I-”

“Aye! Goldilocks! Long night?”

Link walked down the stairs in nothing but his underwear. His hair was just an absolute mess, his body looked heavy as lead, and he seemed just wiped. He nodded, and turned his back towards them, getting a drink. They all whistled. Link’s back was just COVERED in scratches, and even a few bite marks along his shoulders. Kohga looked at Mipha.

“The hair trick worked, didn’t it?”

“It...might have been the hair trick-”

“HA! YOU OWE ME FIFTY RUPEES, URBOSA!”

Urbosa swore under her breath, and Mipha hid her face in her hands. There was a lesson to be learned about all of this.

Pretty boys liked their pretty hair played with.

[so-i-dont-forget-again]

So I Don’t Forget Again: A Breath of The Wild fanfiction

Entry 151: Zora’s Domain

 After training and lunch Sidon and I went searching for history again. We would have brought Bossa Nova, but he had wandered off during training.

We went searching around Ruto Mountain. It reminded me of when we were just walking around the cliffs that faced the Akkala region. Just walking around and chatting. He did give me a scare though when he accidentally slipped on some rocks and slid down a shallow cliff. Thankfully it was not a long drop and he found some more history.

It’s rarer, but Sidon got embarrassed. He’s rather cute when sheepish, he has this little habit of scratching his cheek, even if he tries to hide being flustered, that gives him away. He apologized for worrying me, saying a prince ought to have more awareness of his surroundings.

It was about Mipha, her trident. When she was born the trident was made for her. From the start she was loved by everyone, she was even skilled in spearmenship, easily mastering the Zora’s form. After she died, everyone was devastated, it was like they all lost the most lovable, precious, strong person in the world. They tried sending her trident down the river as a funeral of sorts, but it began to glow, and they heard Mipha speak. She told them her and her trident were one, and to keep going on happily, to remember the past with fondness, it happened and not grief that it was over and to not cry. Since then, on the anniversary of the Calamity striking, they honor the trident as a holiday.

So, when I was given her trident, when I was told that with it she would be protecting me like she wanted, it wasn’t hyperbole or a metaphor, or whatever, they literally meant it. Mipha is literally with me.

Sidon asked me if I was alright. I told him I was the one who should be asking him that. The gesture of being given this trident, what had become my main weapon, the one I almost always go to for battle, something that is considered to be Mipha, it just means a lot. I can understand gifting me the armor she wanted to give me, but her trident, it almost feels to be too much. I just wish I could remember more about her. I want to know what our relationship was, and if she really was as great as everyone says. She honestly almost doesn’t sound real. Just perfect in every way. But then again, Sidon is here, so a person like that isn’t too far of a stretch. Sidon said he wasn’t perfect, but he strives to be, to be like his sister.

I asked Sidon if he was pressured to be like his sister. He admitted that at times, yes. Sometimes he felt he wasn’t good enough and couldn’t live up to her legacy, how when he was younger he would be compared to her often but that just meant he had to create his own legacy and be the kind of person everyone could love, but in a way different from Mipha. He said it’s like what I’ve done. I… didn’t understand. He seemed confused and asked to read through my memories, of the ones of my current time here. He told me there was something I hadn’t noticed.

It seems so blaringly obvious now.

I’m not being compared to the Hylian Champion from a hundred years ago. We are separate people. There’s the old, or I guess younger me, the me who fought with the champions, the one who Mipha loved, and the one who died. Then there’s me, a new champion. One who is more expressive than the one from long ago, one who’s made a reputation for being a troublemaker with an exceedingly kind heart. The new champion who gleefully plays with the children and help them with their pranks. The new champion who had such a big heart he searched across Hyrule’s waters for one single person. The new champion who fought along side their Prince to save them all, a person who rose from death itself just to help people. Someone who even when injured still wants to help by becoming a teacher. They see the old champion and the new champion as separate people now.

They haven’t talked about the past much being here this time, the old me. The old me exists, and is remembered, but I’m not him.

At times, it feels the Zoras speak of nothing of the past, but they live for so long, it only makes sense, it’s not history to them, they all remember it all, yet… Mipha and Sidon are both loved, but differently, and I, though the same person, am thought of differently, and now even treated differently.

That must be why it feels different this time, not as suffocating or sad. Its… like the feeling I have for Hateno, but different, like the love for Sidon and Mipha.

It’s nice.

We kept exploring around the cliffs.

We got a clear view of Mount Lanayru. There seemed to be this bluish-purpleish glow at some places. It’s not like the Luminous stones in the Domain, it’s something else. It’s odd. I never looked around there before. Maybe there’s some shrines to be found, maybe I could get some new equipment, hopefully something to keep warm in the snow since I’ll be going to Rito Village.

We had to do a bit of rock climbing and Sidon carried me the whole way. He slipped a few times but did very well.

We also walked along very tally, grassy areas and found a forest. I insisted we search around it. No matter how small or inconspicuous, I’m going to search every forest for the Master Sword. Sidon asked if this was what traveling was like. Sometimes, it really depended on the area and if I’m following roads or not. Sidon said he’d like to travel someday. It would be fun to have him and Yunobo tag along. Maybe I should visit him soon and see how Death Mountain is doing. Maybe he’d feel safe enough to travel now.

We found more history in the forest.

It was about a princesses Zora who fought alongside the princess of Hyrule and the legendary hero against a man who wanted to rule the world. The Divine Beast was named after her and it was believed to be fate for another princesses Zora to have been chosen to pilot it.

The sun was beginning to set, we should have gone back, but we decided to go searching for a little longer.

The Domain at night is beautiful. It reminded me of Death Mountain. I tried describing the gorgeous sight of that bright, hot lava against the stark darkness. Sidon said that usually if the Gorons and Zora wish to speak, the Gorons come to them, but perhaps, I could be his escort, take him up the mountain, and he could use a lot of potions to protect himself there. The Gorons respect strength so a Zora, a being who needs a cool moist climate, to go to their land, surely they’d respect that and make the ties between them stronger! Sidon wants his people to have good relations with everyone, working together would make everyone stronger than they are alone. The Hylians used to be more so the force that tied the Zora, Goron, Gerudo and Rito together, but with our power fallen, everyone has somewhat separated and Sidon wants to get everyone back together to be able to better help one another and fight against any more disasters like the Calamity. The visit could serve two purposes! If he was going to go there anyway with me, he might as well as get to know the Gorons. He spoke of it like it was certain we were going to visit one day. He told me that if he had the power, he’d do anything for me. He said that with all my travels, I’ve seen so many places, so if I specifically am fond of one area, it must be something more beautiful and unlike any other, he trusts my judgement.

We’ve been taking the river when traveling, but this time we just walked on the trail. Traveling by river and riding on his back is much faster than walking. We found another one. It was about his father and how he had defeated a guardian single handedly and saved the domain.

On the way back we found some blue nightshade flowers. He tucked them behind my ear and just said ‘adorable’, and then I was especially so when I blush and he did it with that toothy grin and why must he make my heart race so effortlessly! He’s doing it again even now just remembering it! AGAIN!

We found one last history piece one the way back, it was right by the road like the last one. Unlike the others, it was notably worn, decayed and uncared for. It was just barley legible, unlike the others. It’s close by town too, it’s almost impossible to miss it when coming and going from town via the trail. The others, some are nowhere near trails or water and were difficult to get to or to find yet were perfectly kept up. It was about me, when I defeated the lynel and earned the Zora helm.

Sidon just stared at it for a while. I couldn’t quite read his expression.

After a while he took my arm and lead me back to the medical bay. Before leaving me in my room, he kneeled down and just hugged me. He told me I am an amazing and sweet person. That I’m strong and courageous beyond belief. He told me I am such a marvel, how hard working I am is astounding. He was grateful he could call me his friend, and I deserved only the best the world had to offer. He asked if I knew I was loved. That people truly care about me and want nothing more than for me to be able to be happy and safe.

If no one else, I at least know without a doubt he cares.

Bossa Nova was asleep on the bed when I got to my room. He looked so comfortable I didn’t want to wake and move him.

Sidon asked if I thought I’d go to sleep. I’m too wide awake, I have too many things on my mind.

Sidon asked me to follow him.

He took me to the reservoir where Vah Ruta was attacking from. We were able to climb up it with a staircase. At the top there are several docks that line the top. Before the dock we were on there is this big, I think it’s called a gazebo? It has a roof and the framing for walls, but no actual walls. Along the frames there’s this counter that connects everything except for the entrance gap. On it are some trays, chalices, a jug and some tall thin glasses full of drinks. There are also a few seats by the counters. The back doesn’t have any pillars, not far beyond it though is the large wall we had to scale to get here. It’s a little taller than the reservoir itself. On the frames are the softly glowing stones, everything else is crystals. There’s also a large bed at the back. Sidon says it’s a water bed. The bed frame is like a cradle that holds this giant bag of water that’s the mattress. Because it’s water the mattress moves and readjusts when you’re on it. It’s so comfortable, and warm, the heat readjusts too.

Sidon told me we was not sure why this was here, maybe it was for entertaining the Hylian royalty when they came to visit the reservoir. Whatever the reason for it, he found it to be a nice spot. From here there’s a gorgeous view of the town and the surrounding nature. You can even see distant mountains and cliffs. It feels like it close to town, but also detached. Just me and Sidon, no one else. The night sky here seems endless. It’s a strange feeling being here.  Almost feel a little nervous being here with Sidon. Sidon is usually so calming which makes this even stranger. It’s not a bad kind of nervous though.

Its more windy here than it is in the canyon, more chilly too. Sidon and I hid in the bed, and it was so warm. Like standing in the morning sunshine in Gerudo desert.

Sidon loosely draped his arms around me and made sure he wasn’t touching my injured arm.

He wondered aloud if I could have my splint taken off for a while so I could take a bath, it might be relaxing if it wouldn’t hurt me. He wondered if we should visit Death Mountain before or after I face the Calamity.  He wondered if I’d take him everywhere across Hyrule, just go anywhere I wanted. He wondered aloud about us resting under the stars. He spoke very sweetly, just about us being together. Sidon kept talking, trying to stay awake, but he soon fell asleep. He’s hugging me in his sleep. Even when he’s not awake his touch is so strong and secure.

Bossa Nova can get food, and I’m sure Sidon will be able to wake me up, so maybe I’ll try to fall asleep tonight. No one can get hurt if I rest for now. The Rito need help, but I can’t go till this infection in me is gone, the doctors won’t allow me to go till I’m healed, so since I can’t help them anyway maybe I can rest for the night. Maybe it’d be okay, but I’m not sure if I even can.

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[triforceangel13]

The Royal Guard’s Secret Ch. 9 (A Sidlink Omegaverse Au)

Chapter 9: The Truth

Link sat on the bed of Sidon's room, his arm cradling his stomach as Sidon sat in front of him on a chair, holding one of his hands as he waited for Link to speak.

Link was nervous, that much was clear. He hadn't spoken about this ever to anyone before and he was scared to let the information be released. What if it would come back and bite him so to speak? What if something wrong happened?

“I...I...” Link started but he looked back down to the floor once more. Sidon's large hand came to rest on his shoulder, squeezing it gently in support.

“Take your time Link,” Sidon told him “We can take as long as you need to. This is something that is hard for you to talk about. I'm proud of you getting this far with wanting to tell me in the first place. In a way I am honored.”

Though if it was this hard to tell him Sidon felt a little bad for making him tell him. But he also needed to know everything. He wanted no secrets between them any longer. He wanted them to lead a happy life with trust in one another. He planned on pursuing a life further than just a fling with Link. They were having a baby, he knew that he couldn't just ignore that. He wanted to marry Link and give him a life he deserved.

He trusted Link, he just hoped that Link would one day trust him. Maye this day would be the day that Link fully did.

“That man who runs that...place,” Link began. “He forces me into being one of his best objects so to speak, though you already knew that. But there is a reason. Everyone there but myself is there for the extra money, happily willing to give him what he wants to have a steady flow coming in even if they have to give him a cut of the share. I'm the only one that is there against my will. I never even see a piece of that money.” Sidon held his hand a bit tighter. All that money that Link made from having his body used in such a way and never to gain anything of it was terrible. Not that Link really needed the money being a royal guard to the princess, but the act of it was still so wrong.

“I'm very glad that you had stopped doing such a thing, but Link, why did you stay there? You were clearly unhappy there,” Sidon said softly.

Link squeezed his hand and brought his knees up a little closer to him as if to protect the baby even though there was no type of danger at all.

It was more of a coping mechanism.

“He has info on myself and the royal family that could ruin all of us. It would...it would mostly ruin Zelda's life,” Link finally admitted. It felt like a huge weight had been pulled from his shoulders. He had never told anyone about this aside from the parties involved, which happened to only be himself and Zelda. But even she didn't know that he was being black mailed, nor by whom was doing it to him in the first place.

Sidon's other hand came to rest against his cheek, smoothing his thumb over the skin there. Link leaned into the hand and he could feel that Link was trying not to break down again. He felt for him. He had been going through so much lately.

“The queen had...had an affair shortly after Zelda had been born,” Link finally said. “She ended up with child...”

Sidon froze a bit at that. Did that mean what he thought it meant...?

“She wasn't able to hide if from the king but he had loved me like his own son,” Link whispered, tears finally leaking down his cheeks. “But the kingdom couldn't know that the queen had a child that wasn't with the king. I look nothing like him.”

“So instead he made you Zelda's royal guard,” Sidon finished for him, wiping away a few tears from his face with his finger. Link was the prince but if his lineage ever got out it would ruin the royal family. So hide he must.

It was a most painful existence to have. To not be allowed to be fully who he wantd to be. To not have the rights that were his but also were ripped from him from a choice that wasn't even his. Sidon hated seeing this kind of pain.

“Yes,” Link said softly, clutching his hand to his face. “But that isn't even the worst of it. No matter or not of me calling myself a prince or taking orders from my sister, it's not the worst part of this whole situation.”

Sidon pet his face, slowly understanding what was going on. But he didn't want to stop Link from opening up to him. He had learned not to assume too much. He could be wrong and that wasn't the situation at all.

“You can tell me what it is Link. I'm all ears,” he promised him gently. “You have trust in me that I won't let this information out.”

Link took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “The man who runs that place had found out about this information a few years ago. He kept threatening to out the princess and the king for this situation unless...I became the star.”

“Have you told them this is going on? Surely they can put a stop to this if we know who it is,” Sidon begged.

Link shook his head. “I haven't told them that much. I told them that we had to be careful and that...well maybe having Zelda marry would take away the leverage this man had on us. But you see how that is going.”

Sidon smiled a bit. So that was why that messenger had arrived in his home in seeming such a rush. Why the wedding was meant to be so soon. The king wanted Zelda to marry to help save them all from the black mail.

But what had happened was something they hadn't expected at all. Sidon and Link had fallen for one another, Sidon even finding out about Link's most kept secret.

Zelda was in love with Urbosa as well and the ultimate problem rose the situation as well. Link and Zelda were both with child of the person they were not meant to. That would just open up even more ti be used against them.

“But I found the man I'm meant to be with,” Link said. Aand it's so wrong I'm afraid it's going to be used against me...and you.”

Sidon's eyes widened “I hadn't thought of that.”

The man there would have seen Sidon there and knew exactly what was going on. He could use this information to ruin Sidon no matter what and even ruin the marriage between he and Zelda that they were meant to play.

It would not look good for him to know that the prince that had married the princess was seen in a place like that and had slept with an omega that wasn't his own. But to top it off had gotten him pregnant as well.

“What do we do?” Link asked softly. “I don't want to go back to that place. I'm so sick of doing what he wants and doing that sort of thing...But if I don't it could bring down everyone here. Lives would be ruined...”

“Link the first thing to do is to find out who it is. You need to tell me who it is that way we can tell the king. He must have the power to be able to stop this whole mess,” Sidon urged him but Link looked away from him, fear in his eyes.

“I can't...” he said softly.

“Link,” Sidon said, tucking a finger underneath his chin and urged him to look back up at him. Link turned to look at him with tears rolling down his cheeks. “Try to be brave. Not just for you, but for our child. Our child to have a happy life with us together.”

Link cupped his stomach with his hand and looked down at it again. He was right but that still didn't stop the fear that gripped him like vines around his neck.

“It wouldn't be so easy to do that,” he told him. “He is one of the closetst people to the king. It would be a miracle to get him to listen.”

“Link, please,” he said to him.

Link looked back up at him, his lip worrying itself between his teeth.

“It's...it's...,” Link said slowly, his body starting to shake a little bit. “It's Ganondorf.”

Sidon's eyes widened slowly.

*

A scowl crossed Ganondorf's face as he pushed off from the door. He crossed his arms, thinking over what he had just heard.

So Link really was pregnant with the prince's baby but now he had just told him everything. It would be hard to use the old information over him to get him back into his establishment. He should have seen this sort of thing coming.

Ganondorf was not one to take things lightly. If he wanted to remain in this position and have Link wrapped around his finger he'd need to do something different.

Knowing that Link was with the prince's child made things a little easier. Those supressents that were given to Link before hadn't been strong enough against the Zora. He'd have to be careful with his other workers in the future just in case. Though Sidon was the only Zora that had ever come through their little area.

But the question was how did he end up using this information in a way that would work for him? Telling Link that he must return wouldn't solve any problems. He would be defiant as he had been for the past couple of months.

He needed something new. Something to get him under his control again but also to keep his mouth shut.

Though his pregnancy posed as a problem as well. There were some that were into that sort of thing but they were rare.

A grumble passed his lips as he made his way down the hall, rubbing his head as he tried to think of what to do with this situation. He needed to kep this position of power if he wanted his plan to work. His final plan to become king himself.

His original plan had been to marry Zelda but with the prince of the zora around he needed to try something else.

He would need to get step one back in order again. Get Link back under his control and possibly take care of that baby. It was a problem and it would get in his way. It wouldn't be easy especially with the prince knowing what he had done. He had to act fast.

A small body soon collided with his and he looked down at the small zora princess that stumbled back several steps.

He reached out, grasping her arm to keep her upright and smiled down at her.

“Goodness,” Mipha said softly but smiled up at him. “Thank you Sir Ganondorf. If you hadn't caught me I would have fallen.”

“It was my pleasure princess. Are you alright? You seem to be a bit distracted.” Ganondorf said an idea brewing in his mind.

He could use Sidon's sister to keep the prince away and gain control again. A smile stretched across his face but Mipha deemed it friendly and smiled in return.

“I am a little. I'm looking for my brother at the moment. He had said he needed to talk to me about something. He said it was important,” she said thoughtfully. “Have you seen him recently? I can't seem to find him.”

The idea brewed even more in his head and Ganondorf offered his arm to the Zoran princess which she took with a smile on her face.

“I saw him in the library recently. Come, I'll escort you there,” he said to her. Mipha smiled and walked with him down the hall again.

Yes, she would do nicely. If he got his way he could end up using her more than he had expected originially.

“That would be wonderful,” Mipha said with a warm smile, unknowing of the danger that she was putting herself into.

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[kafkasmelomania]

May 22, 2021: The Greatest Mistake of My Life by Holding Absence

*Bandcamp here

Did you know that The Greatest Mistake of My Life takes its name from a song from the 1930s? When lead vocalist Lucas Woodland gave his grandmother a copy of Holding Absence’s self-titled debut album on vinyl, she remarked that it was the second vinyl recording done by anyone in the family. She then told him that his great-uncle “went into Cardiff one day and recorded himself singing. It was like the equivalent of a photo booth where they press it on a small 7’ record and it would have been cheap as hell. She said that it was a song called ‘The Greatest Mistake Of My Life’. So I quizzed her a bit more and all she could remember was the lyric, ‘The greatest mistake of my life was saying goodbye to you’.” (Emphasis mine.) Woodland later looked up that lyric online and discovered a 1939 song by Gracie Fields called “The Greatest Mistake of My Life”. Not only did the band decide to name their sophomore album after the song, they covered it and used that cover as the closing track, which is so cool. As Woodland puts it (emphasis mine):

“I think longevity is truly the greatest achievement a band can accomplish. Some of the best albums of all time weren’t popular when they were released. I’d like to think that this music will last a long time. That’s kind of the point of using “The Greatest Mistake of My Life” as a reference. This song is 90 years old! And now some emo kid from Britain has named an album after it! Everyone involved in that original song is probably not around anymore. But that’s part of what makes it cool. So, if in 90 years’ time, a progressive lo-fi jazz trap band wants to name an album after a Holding Absence song, that would be wicked!”

Longevity comes up more than once in interviews, especially with regard to the Gracie Fields song. For example, from Loudwire (emphasis mine):

“This song has definitely made me realize just how special longevity is in every walk of life! Even things as simple architectural history or the etymology of everyday words. Just seeing how small things can trickle through time and what impact they have is really cool and kinda the ultimate goal as somebody trying to create art.”

Holding Absence took inspiration from a wide variety of places; the Gracie Fields song was just the start. According to Woodland, the song “Beyond Belief” is “the band’s attempt to channel The Cure if they were a 2000s Emo band.” (Emphasis mine) Additionally, “‘Afterlife’ was originally inspired by Mipha off of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. It’s because whenever you die, she brings you back to life.” I thought that was so cool. That whole Aesthetic Magazine interview is really good, by the way; if you liked this album, I highly recommend that you give it a read. One thing I learned from that interview is the origin of the ghostly monologues that appear on several of the tracks (emphasis mine):

“This part was recorded by an American actress with a lovely voice. The things she is saying are passages of poetry that I’d written. I kind of paraphrased comments on a Reddit thread which asked “what are the greatest mistakes of your life?” There were loads of comments and I picked three very different ones and turned them into poems. Then we got the actress to speak on the album. It’s kind of meta and over the top if you think about it, but I just liked the idea of no one having to listen to this album alone. This woman is always there and processing things with you. She’s one of the whispers at the beginning of the album and is also at the end.”

Isn’t that so interesting? Anyway, The Greatest Mistake of My Life has been getting rave reviews and for good reason. There was something in particular that Kerrang said that stuck with me (emphasis mine):

“During the past year, many have tripped over themselves to label certain albums the perfect distillation of the times we’re in. The Greatest Mistake Of My Life is prime for consideration. At a point when our world has been reduced to the walls around us and our thoughts have turned inwards, to lives we may have only half lived before the pandemic began, it’s a document that reminds us not to short change ourselves and seek the happiness we deserve before it’s too late. Nowhere is this sentiment more explicitly captured than ‘Die Alone (In Your Lover’s Arms)’, which agonisingly laments a life spent with the wrong person.”

“[...] to lives we may have only half lived before the pandemic began.” What a fantastic way to put it. Listen to The Greatest Mistake of My Life today!

If you’d like to get involved with stopping the atrocities against Palestine, here’s where you can start (text in bold for readability):

This Carrd is full of information, petitions, and places to donate.

Here are some organizations to which you can donate. This post now includes a list of corporations to boycott.

Here is some information about the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund and a list of other organizations.

This is a list of actions you can take (somewhat UK-specific). This is a reading list of texts with more background information.

UK petitions: This is a petition for the UK government to formally recognize the State of Palestine. This is a petition to introduce sanctions against Israel. This is a petition to condemn Israel for their treatment of Palestine and Palestinians.

Here’s the Wikipedia overview of the current iteration of the crisis.

If you’re curious about the United States’s involvement: this is a report about U.S. foreign aid to Israel. This is the Wikipedia page for Palestine-United States relations and this is the Wikipedia page for Israel-United States relations.

Here are some perspectives from on the ground in Gaza. This is also explains why spreading the Palestinian point of view. is so important.

This is one Jewish person’s explanation of the conflation of Jewish identity with the modern Israeli state. They mention the Nakba, which is important – per Wikipedia, “the Nakba, […] also known as the Palestinian Catastrophe, was the destruction of Palestinian society and homeland in 1948, and the permanent displacement of a majority of the Palestinian people.”

Black lives matter and here are some ways you can get involved in the  fight against racism, specifically anti-black racism (text in bold for readability):  

This Linktree and this Carrd are full of ways to confront and fight against anti-black racism: places to donate, advice for protesting, educational resources.

This post is specifically about Daunte Wright and how to help his family. This is Daunte Wright’s memorial fund.

The  Minnesota Freedom Fund is doing good work, and since so many people have been recognizing that work and donating to them, they ask that you  instead donate to Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence, the Racial Justice Network, Communities United Against Police Brutality, the Minneapolis NAACP, the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Minneapolis, and the Black Immigrant Collective. You can also donate to the Bail Project, which operates in multiple states.

Other organizations to which you can donate are the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition, the NAACP, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Okra Project, the Solutions Not Punishment Collaborative, For The Gworls, G.L.I.T.S., the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, the Black Trans Travel Fund, the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, and the Black Trans Femmes in the Arts Collective.

GoFundMe: Justice for Breonna Taylor, In Memory of Jamarion Robinson, Rent Fund For Black LGBT Family, Esperanza Spalding’s BIPOC Artist Sanctuary, Help the Williams Family Get a Set of Wheels, Survival and Gender Affirming Needs for Black Enby

(via https://open.spotify.com/album/4qY3S2Iz6VpAa2EzhWkrpo?si=m1iGdkTwRFWZk1Lv_3H_BQ)

[jinmukangwrites]

Memory

"Wild shows everyone his new house in Hateno Village. (bonus points for mentioning a specific picture you get from the DLC or headcanon that the house Wild bought was his former home he grew up in 100 years ago)" -anon

Note: while this is a recent Anon ask, it is also an answer to the LU Discord's weekly prompt "favorite memory". While I could have been creative, this is honestly my favorite memory while playing any Zelda game, considering I was crying during it. Now, to watch Spiderverse...

-o-o-o-o-

Wild puts his hand on the handle of his door as the rest of the heroes stand behind him in anticipation. They had just come from Kakariko, meeting Impa and taking a short rest there. Wild had mentioned his house practically as just a days walk away and next thing he knew they were at Hateno. Not that he minds, he has been wanting to visit home for quite awhile now.

"It's probably a mess," he says as he turns the knob and opens the door with a creek, "but it's home."

The door swings open, revealing his bottom floor and small hums and excited gasps sound behind him. Wild finds himself being pushed out of the way as Wind scrambles inside. "It's so cute!" He says as he goes straight towards the dining table.

Wild walks inside after him and the rest are quickly right behind him.

"It's…" Twilight says, looking around the small house with wide and surprised eyes, and Wild knows exactly what he is trying to put into words. He's sure that everybody has expected him to live in a cave, or have no organization what's so ever. Twilight takes a few moments to think of his next word as the rest all spread out, looking at the weapon racks and decorations in interest. "It's homey."

"Thanks," Wild mumbles. He walks further into the house and heads over to his little kitchen area. "There's not much, but make yourself at home."

Legend sighs and pulls out a chair, leaning back into it looking content. "Don't mind if I do," he says.

Warrior joins him soon after and begins to munch on the small bowl of nuts set in the middle of the table while Time, Twilight, and Sky admire Wild's weapons that are hanging up. His special weapons he would never use for fear of breaking them.

The rest wonder around his house, looking at cupboards and shelves, which Wild doesn't mind. He has nothing to hide from anyone except from the stuff he already has packed up with him. He slips off his jacket and throws it at an empty dining chair before he rolls up his sleeves and starts rummaging through cubbies and barrels to make a satisfactory homemade meal. He decides a good batch of soup and bread would be enough for their hungry group of travelers and he begins to gather the materials that he has safely stored away.

He's just in the middle of rolling out bread dough when Wind calls for his attention. "Wild? Can I look upstairs?"

Wild turns around yet is careful of his hands, he doesn't want to get flour everywhere, and sees Four and Wind both standing at the bottom of his staircase, looking up. He thinks for a moment that he should say no, his more precious stuff is up there and if any of it broke he knew he would get upset, but Wild also knew that Wild and Four are just curious and can be careful when it matters. They were restless from sitting and waiting for dinner (though the others apparently aren't, Time is leaning back on a chair and snoring while Sky had rolled up Wild's hood and is using it as a pillow, leaning against the table. Legend and Warrior where telling jokes back and forth towards each other while Hyrule threw in his own every so often. Twilight is sitting outside, whittling a chunk of wood down while have a conversation with Karson and Bolson).

He sighs, knowing that if he doesn't give permission Wind and Four would probably sneak up there anyway. "Sure. Just don't break anything."

Wind makes an excited noise before he blasts up the stairs. Four at least had the decency to say: "Thanks! We won't!" before he followed after.

Wild closes his eyes for a second to take a deep breath before he turns back to the bread and rolls or a few more times. His anxiety spikes every few seconds when he hears a drawer open or something shift above him—they are both very curious to see how Wild lives, aren't they—but he soon gets back into the groove of preparing food.

Small chatter fills the dining room, masking the small snores of Time as he slept. A few minutes in, Hyrule stands up and stretches before he joins Twilight outside to talk with Bolson and Karson. Small giggles and sounds of interest came from upstairs, but other than that nothing really happens until Wild is placing a hot pot of soup and rolls onto the dining table.

It falls onto Legend to wake up Time and Sky and Warrior is tasked with grabbing Twilight and Hyrule. Wild looks up at the second floor and is about to call Wind and Four down, but then he hears a small whisper through the sounds of life around him.

"Do you think that's Mipha?" Wind asks.

Wild swallows and fear rushes through his limbs. His most precious thing, they must be looking at that. He has forgotten that he had it up there. He wipes his hands on his pants and starts up the stairs towards the second floor.

The first thing he sees is Wind and Four sitting on his bed, one at the head and the other at the foot. They are leaning over sometime placed in the middle, fingers gently pointing at different spots and their voices in small and curious whispers. Wild looks at his wall and sees an empty place.

He takes a deep breath and steps closer. "What are you doing?" He asks.

Wind flinches and Four nearly jumps out of their skin and they both whip around to look at Wild with wide and guilty eyes.

"Um, we were just getting a better look-" Four starts to explain but cuts himself off when another voice chimes in.

"Is everything okay?" Twilight asks. Wild turns around and sees the rest of the group all standing at the top of the staircase into the small bedroom. Twilight's eyebrows are drawn together as he studied the scene before him. Time has his arms folded across his chest, matching Twilight's expression while the rest are trying to get a better look by poking over each others shoulders.

Wild returns his gaze over to his bed and he walks towards it slowly. Wind and Four both back away slowly as Wild leans down and picks up the frame, holding it gently in his hands, looking for anything wrong with it.

"What is that, Wild?" Sky asks as he steps forward, and Wild wants to answer, but his voice is choked up and his hands are busy. He shakes his head and walks over to its place. The others remain silent as he places the frame back onto the wall, and he's thankful for their silence.

Finally he backs away and stares at the photo. Nobody speaks, and Wild realizes that that they are waiting for him to.

His hands come in front of him and he's ready to explain, but he then remembers that only Time would be able to fully understand him, maybe Twilight if he uses simpler signs. He clears his throat, hoping to round up some courage, but the thought of speaking only makes his stomach churn.

"It's-" he pauses when the sound of his own strangled voice reached his ears. He doesn't want to talk. He really doesn't, but he looks over at the others and sees their worried and patient faces and he knows that he owes it to them. They would let him stop, they would let him say leave it, and they would. They deserve a little bit of an explanation.

"It's… my most... precious memory," he says slowly. He hates how he croaks the words when just awhile ago he was fine with talking, his words clear and understandable. Now, they're mumbled and stuck in his throat. He'll be surprised if anyone understands him.

Recognition flashes in their eyes; Wild has told them about how he found his small stash of memories, each one is connected with an image, a picture. They must be realizing that the photo hanging on his wall was one of those pieces, one of his miniscule memories.

"Wild, I'm sorry," Wind says as he stands up from the bed. He folds his arms around himself as his face contorts into shame and regret.

Wild finds himself shaking his head. "It's… okay," he says slowly, and as he says it he realizes that it really is not. "It was a long time ago."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Hyrule asks. Twilight nods his head.

"We're here for you, Wild," Twilight says.

Wild looks and sees even Legend nodding his head in agreement. Warrior gives him a small smile.

He turns back to the photo, tracing each face with his eyes. He doesn't know these people, well, he knows Zelda. But he hardly does the others. He just has stitched together puzzle pieces that can't really be called remembering. He doesn't know Mipha, only that she loved him and she was kind. He doesn't know Ravali, only that his arrogance masked his loyalty. He doesn't know Urbosa, only that she was strong and a mother figure to Zelda, and in a way to himself as well. He doesn't know Daruk, only that he was brave and strong and never one for a frowning face. He… he doesn't know Link, only that he was supposed to be a hero.

"It doesn't matter," Wild says.

"It clearly does," Time speaks up.

Wild remains silent until suddenly he's pushed into someone's chest. His whole body stiffens but he finds himself relaxing as Twilight wraps his arms around Wild, holding him there, safe. Next thing Wild knows, Wind is squeezing in and so is Four. Time, Legend, Hyrule, Sky, Warrior… all of them join together into his small upstairs and gather in a group hug. Wild feels something in him burst and suddenly his shoulders are shaking uncontrollably and tears are streaming down his face. A hand runs through his hair and another pair tightens ever so slightly. He's crying, because it hurts so much. It hurts trying to remember the faces of one hundred years ago, it hurts stumbling upon gaps that he can't fill, it hurts feeling alone, it hurts to only know so little, it hurts…

When he finally catches his breath, when his eyes are finally dry, Twilight breaks the group hug ever so slightly to look Wild face to face.

"It's good to keep onto old memories," he says, "but you need to make new ones too."

Wild's eyes wet ever so slightly, but Twilight doesn't let the dam burst again. Instead, he takes Wild's hand and begins to lead him down the stairs and across the floor to the door. The rest follow, the soup and rolls remain forgotten.

-o-o-o-o-

"Okay~ skooch in closer Legend~"

"I am skooched in…" Legend mumbles but gets closer to Hyrule nonetheless.

Bolson rolls his eyes and Karson holds the Sheikah Slate in front of him as the group shifts again. Wild's heart is pumping harder than what it has for a long time.

"Time, you look angry, smile for me honey!" Bolson yells put, placing his hands on his hips and grinning ever so slightly. Time sighs and smiles, his eyes screaming is this enough?

"Perfect! Now~ everybody say Bolson!"

"Bolson!"

Click.

-o-o-o-o-

They take the slate to Purah and she makes enough copies for all of them. Wild hangs his up next to the Champion's Picture.

[incorrectsmashbrosquotes]

If the Incorrect Smash Bros Quotes (ISBQ) crew did a rendition of NerdOut’s Infinity War Rap Battle, who would portray each character?

*The piano introduction begins as we see the opening to World of Light... but with a twist. The Smashers are swept away by the Light of Galeem... except for Mario, Fox, Link, Samus, DK, and Captain Falcon. Kirby sacrifices himself to save them, scattering them to the wind. They must unite... to save the multiverse and stop Galeem once and for all.*

Chorus:

And now it’s time, to make things right,

Amending our mistakes.

The Ashes fall, so we answer the call,

There’s one last stand to make...

Whatever it takes.

-

*Cut to Mario, pulling himself through Mushroom Castle, being hunted by Galeem’s monsters*

Mario:

We’re the first of our kind, but we sure ain’t the last.

Pushing forward but we don’t forget the past. 

*Mario punches a monster to smithereens*

Our fight is far from over and we’re running low on options,

If I don’t return with my Cap I’ll be coming home upon it!

*Mario charges forward, blasting through a monster towards the door*

I’ve learned that history can’t be reversed,

Galeem was a judge for whom we could not rehearse.

I’ve got to assemble a team I can trust in again.

*Mario blasts through the last of Galeem’s monsters, busting out the main door of the castle*

Leavin’ a legacy behind that isn’t dust in the wind!

-

*Cut to Link standing alone in a forest clearing, Galeem’s monsters surrounding him. He is kneeling on the ground, Is head resting on the pommel of the Master Sword which is shoved tip first into the ground in front of him*

Link:

Set back, never felt we lost it. *He stands up, staring down at the Master Sword.

Break storms, not a game for profit.*He draws the Master Sword as the monsters begin to rush him.*

I, *flashback to the deaths of Mipha, Revali, Daruk, and Urbosa* Lost family to find the way.

Hold it down for my people, *slashes apart the first monster to reach him* I won’t die today.

Illegitimate, nothing to fiddle with, *slams his shield into another monster’s head and stabs it through the skull*

Just a little bit of faith and we’re out the predicament,

Stand behind me,

Give it your all, VOW! *stabs a monster*

We’re never gonna fall down. *decapitates another*

Still got one shot, Leaps high into the air, charging the Master Sword with lightning and bringing it down like a hammer*

Let the energy all out!

-

*Cut to Fox alone in an abandoned city as it rains. He walks down the street, consumed by his own failure to lead the Smashers.*

Fox:

Walking alone in the night!

There’s red in my eyes!

Can’t shake it outta my mind!

Lost everything I love, *stares down at his hands*

Is this what I’ve become!?

*his communicator starts ringing and he sees that Mario is trying to contact him. He stares at it forlornly, unsure of what to do.*

I know I don’t deserve a second chance.

*His hands tighten around the communicator*

But maybe there’s a shot that we could take it back.

For all they stole away... *he looks up to see a possessed Falco and Wolf coming at him*

I’ll do what ever it takes! *draws his blaster and fires*

-

Chorus:

And now it’s time, to make things right,

Amending our mistakes.

The Ashes fall, so we answer the call,

There’s one last stand to make...

Whatever it takes.

-

*cut to DK, alone in the jungle, sitting on top of a mighty ziggurat, his head in his hand*

DK:

When lives are on the line, man there is no try.

When it was time to fight, I was just wondering why.

Why the Beast inside chose to run and hide.

Went from wrecking ball to someone I don’t recognize.

*sees a flying Galeem monster heading towards him*

But if you bet on my demise, well surprise, surprise. *He stands*

I’m still here and still I rise. *he crouches to jump.*

No dry eyes, among my allies,

My drive’s revived. *he leaps at the flying creature with a massive jump, preparing to intercept it’s flight towards him*

Won’t stop till history’s revised.

-

*Cut to Samus desperately trying to fix her ship*

Samus: 

We lost it all, now all that’s left, *Samus stands satisfied with her work.*

This job, this mission I can’t forget.

We can’t stop till we bring them home! *stares at a picture in her hand. A picture of the Smash Bros. The family that she chose.*

90% of all we know!

*she stashes the picture and turns to face an approaching monster*

Gotta get back to how it was!

Some move on, *summons her power armor* but not us.

Whatever it takes I’ll pay the price!

Take my soul *blasts the monster into oblivion* I’ll give my life!

-

*cut to Captain Falcon racing down the road in the Blue Falcon He's doing what he does best, hunting*

Falcon:

Listen,

I learned my lesson so it’s time to settle down! *rams the Blue Falcon into a Galeem Monster*

If there were a weapon I could contrive to turn this Hell around, *Boost Fire Spins cutting through several others*

I would have kept at it every single night to figure it out,

And said Sam Bros: Brawl, now!

But I’ve gotta think of how we’re gonna make the Angel bow! *leaps out of the Blue Falcon*

Remember Shulk said, 1 outta 14 Million, *flashback to Falcon talking with a worn out Shulk before the disastrous fight with Galeem*

I’m a Hunter who’s proud. But not that brilliant.

Let’s plan on living as we take back the hours that were stolen from our-

FALCON PAWNCH! *Falcon Punch’s a monster out of existence*

-

Chorus:

And now it’s time, to make things right,

Amending our mistakes.

The Ashes fall, so we answer the call,

There’s one last stand to make...

Whatever it takes.

And now it’s time, to make things right,

Amending our mistakes.

The Ashes fall, so we answer the call,

There’s one last stand to make...

Whatever it takes.

[katedoesfics]

Breath of the Resistance: Chapter 3

Dorian’s suspicious phone call with the king left Link uneasy and sleep eluded him most of the night. His mind ran wild with scenarios and accusations. What was it that Dorian - and the king, for that matter - was hiding? Two things were clear: that Dorian was in fact hiding something, and that the king was aware of the situation. Link’s first instinct was to assume Dorian was perhaps a double agent working with the Yiga Clan. But if that was the ‘information’ that Dorian was referring to, then the king knew, as well, which only confused him more. If the king knew, was he, too, hiding the fact that Dorian was a double agent? Was the king conspiring against his own country? As Hyrule’s ruler, what could he possibly gain from turning against his people?

“It’s uncanny, really.”

Link took his eyes off the road for a moment and met Zelda’s gaze. Her voice had taken him out of his thoughts. He refocused his attention onto the road. “Hm?”

“Were you even listening?” She narrowed his eyes at him.

“Not really.”

Zelda crossed her arms. “Of course not,” she started. “Like I said, you’re just like -”

“My father.” Link’s knuckles whitened as he gripped the steering wheel. That was another whole matter in itself. He was feeling more and more aggravated with all the secret keeping. He was in the SFU to find the truth, not to be lied to day in and day out. And that only made him want to find the truth even more.

But there was an unsettling feeling in the pit of his stomach that suggested he may not like the truth.

“Are you usually this grumpy?”

Link bit his tongue in an attempt to keep back a snappy comment. She was the king’s daughter, after all, even without her typical royal attire, which usually consisted of clean cut, solid color dresses that hugged the frame of her body and flared out just slightly at her knees. From time to time, she’d even don a sundress of sorts, with pale colors and flowery patterns. She was always a bright figure at her father’s dark suited and serious side.

“Are you high?”

“What? No. Of course not.”

Zelda didn’t seem convinced, however. She inspected Link closely from the passenger seat. “You don’t seem with the program.”

She was right, of course. He needed to get his head out of the clouds. They had a job to do, and he couldn’t afford to be anywhere else. He needed to be focused and aware of his surroundings, now more than ever.

“Yeah,” he muttered. “Sorry.” He wasn’t much for conversation, especially with her, but he supposed he had to put their differences aside and make the best of the situation. He sucked in a breath and attempted to push away his concerns for the time being.

“You don’t have to try to be on professional around me,” Zelda said casually, leaning back against the seat. “We’re going to be working together a lot. Might as well get used to it.”

“You don’t sound very thrilled about that.” Link could feel her eyes studying him once more.

“Well, if we’re being honest,” she said, turning her eyes back out towards the horizon, “I don’t appreciate the fact that my father made the newest member of the force my handler.”

“Yeah,” Link muttered. “Must be a real buzzkill.”

“I thought my life was more valuable,” she continued, ignoring him. “Yet, he gives me this inexperienced boy.”

“I’ll remember that if you ever find yourself in trouble.”

Zelda’s eyes moved back to him, then down to the weapon under his arm. “And how proficient are you, exactly, with that weapon?”

“Proficient enough.”

Zelda settled back into the seat, but her stature remained stiff. “That’s reassuring,” she muttered.

“Don’t listen to what any Ritos say,” Link said. “I could out shoot them any day.”

Zelda smirked. “Ritos like Revali? He is a very skilled fighter, you know.”

“Ha.”

“Though he does seem to dislike you.”

“He dislikes anyone who challenges his authority and skill.”

“Not necessarily a bad trait for this kind of job.”

“Well,” Link started. Without realizing it, his grip relaxed on the wheel, though his fingers felt stiff. He stretched them for a moment. “When we get back, you can ask to have Revali as your handler.”

Zelda turned her gaze out the window. “I don’t know,” she said. “He’s a little too arrogant. He’d drive me crazy.”

“Welcome to my life,” Link muttered. He turned off the highway onto the road that wound through the country and up towards the mountains where they would find Goron City.

“The others speak highly of you, though,” she said. “Especially Mipha. I didn’t realize how close you two are.”

“I guess.”

“I think she likes you.”

This woman sure was blunt. Did she ever keep a thought to herself?

“Do you like her?”

“What’s with all the damn questions?” Link growled. “Stop interrogating me.”

“Just making conversation,” Zelda said. “Note to self: don’t question his love life.”

Link sucked in a slow breath in an attempt to remain calm. He was starting to like her less and less. What did he ever do in life do deserve such horrible karma?

“What about your childhood?” Zelda continued. “Where did you grow up?”

Link sighed. “The country.”

Zelda nodded. “Did you like it?”

“Better than the city.”

“What was it like?”

Link shrugged. “It was quiet,” he said. “No one interrogated me.”

Zelda ignored him. “Did you have any pets?”

“Sure.”

“Like what?”

“Dogs. Goats. Couple of horses.”

“I’ve always wanted to ride a horse.”

Link made a sound through his nose.

“When did you come to the city?”

“I don’t know. I was pretty young. I guess around the time my dad started working in the SFU.”

“What about your mother? What does she do?”

“She’s dead.”

“Oh.” Zelda shifted in her seat and turned her gaze back to the road. It was uncomfortably quiet for a long moment after that.

“My turn,” Link said. “What was it like growing up in the palace?”

Zelda kept her gaze on the horizon. “Really boring.”

“Yeah, right,” Link said. “I bet you could do whatever you wanted.”

“Not really. I had an image to uphold, and as a kid, that’s pretty shitty. I never got to go out and explore or play or anything a kid should be able to do. My mother was constantly teaching me how to act the part and telling me stories of our ancestors and this supposed power that I have.” Zelda sighed. “When she died, I was pretty much on my own. My father always seemed too busy, or only focused on my own training.”

“I didn’t sign up to be a therapist,” Link muttered.

“You asked,” Zelda snapped at him.

Link started to feel guilty. He always assumed she was some spoiled little princess, but she was really just forced into some role as he was.

“I’ve got some friends in the country,” he said in an attempt to change the topic. “Next time we get a day off, I’ll show you how to ride.”

Zelda’s gaze fell on him once more and a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “I’ll hold you to that.”

*****

The drive to Goron City only took them a few hours, but conversation between Link and Zelda felt forced, and uncomfortable silence often followed soon after. They were too happy to get out and stretch their legs when they finally arrived, and Daruk was the first to greet them happily. He let his large hand come down hard on Link’s shoulder as he often did, not knowing his own strength.

“I gotta admit,” Daruk started, leading the way towards the Divine Beast. “It’s good to be home where the bars are better suited for Gorons.” He pointed a large finger towards a smaller mountain peak where the ancient Sheikah machine slept. “There she is, Vah Rudania,” he said proudly. “Everyone’s been quite curious about her, you know.”

“She?” Zelda repeated. She cocked her head to the side slightly as she followed Daruk’s gaze.

“How are you going to activate her?” Daruk asked.

Zelda pulled a device from her back pocket. It resembled a tablet of sorts. An ancient tablet, if such a thing were possible.

“This Sheikah Slate is supposed to be connected to the Divine Beasts and the Guardians,” she said. “It worked in activating the Guardians, so I suspect it will work on the Divine Beasts as well.”

“A Sheikah Slate, huh?” Daruk said. He scratched at his head. “Those Sheikah sure are… mysterious.”

“Hmph.” Mysterious was an understatement. Link found his mind on Dorian once more.

“Impa gave it to me,” Zelda said to Link. “I trust she knows what she’s talking about.”

Link was familiar with Impa, meeting her several times before. She was the leader of the Sheikah tribe and was probably as old as the Sheikah themselves. Was it possible that she knew about Dorian as well? Or was she being played just as Link was?

He wanted to tell someone about the conversation he had overheard, but he knew now that he couldn’t trust anyone, even his own comrades.

Vah Rudania loomed above them as they approached and Link was amazed - even slightly intimidated - by the size of the Divine Beast. The three of them climbed their way to the top where the control panel stood and Zelda set to work activating it with the Sheikah Slate. Within a moment, the two devices seemed to sync, and Vah Rudania came to life, moving and seemingly stretching its body beneath them.

“Well, whatta ya know,” Daruk said in awe. “To think they had this kind of technology so long ago.”

While Zelda instructed Daruk on how to operate the Divine Beast, Link found himself standing at the edge, looking out over Goron City and even beyond, out into the countryside of Hyrule. In the distance to the south stood the palace, the bustling city just below. Though he couldn’t see it from there, he knew just past the palace would be the smaller towns and villages that dotted the countryside, including the small farming town where he was born. Now, many of those small towns were slowly being replaced by larger cities in order to keep up with the growing population, and the countryside was growing smaller and smaller. Link couldn’t help but to wonder what life in Hyrule was like thousands of years ago.

“Ready?” Zelda said, standing at his side. “Everything seems to be in working order here. Daruk’s got a good handle on the controls, so I think we can make our way to Rito Village, now.”

“Sure,” Link said simply. He was in no hurry to deal with Revali, but the sooner they finished the job with the Divine Beasts, the better. After they were all activated, Link was determined to find the pieces to the puzzle with Dorian. Something about the situation just did not sit right with him and it only made him grow more and more anxious.

[fonulyn]

top five Legend of Zelda characters!

omg i never expected to get any of these thank you ;;;;; and zelda too! ;;;; alho i have to say i’m kinda boring with these lol because i name so many main characters.

1. Link - he is the sweetest cutest adventure boy I love him. Especially the botw-Link, he is such a precious thing ;; Him being all cute getting compliments and being an idiot kicking treasure chests barefoot. But a BIG chunk of my heart also belongs to the oot-Link, the poor boy deserves so much betterrrrr. Also the ww-Link is super cute and expressive he deserves more recognition. 

2. Zelda/Sheik - I’ve loved her ever since I first played oot, lol, so over twenty years now. People always say how she’s so useless and doesn’t do shit but she’s SO active and badass, and I love her to bits.

3. Nabooru / Urbosa - this is kinda cheating? but lol. Nabooru is another one of my childhood loves, my mind was blown when I first got into gerudo fortress in oot, and I still love that part of the game to bits. And I think my love for Nabooru and the gerudo sort of did play a role in how fast I fell in love with Urbosa too? Although she’s plenty lovable on her own, too. I’d do anything for her ;;;;

4. Impa - (have bonus link and sheik too lol) I-- I did like Impa in oot already, but Hyrule Warriors was what made me really REALLY love her. I know that hw isn’t really a ~real~ zelda game but listen, i love it, i do. And especially Impa in it.

5. Ganondorf - Okay so I did already cry about how much I love the gerudo and this dork is one of them too so. Idk. Altho he’s kind of a traditional bad guy, I find him endlessly fascinating. And cool. And idk. Awesome.

I did wanna include Saria to the list, too. And Twinrova, and Darunia, and Malon and Talon, and idk. Those only from oot. And from botw there’s like a million characters, Daruk and Mipha and Sidon and Teba and Kass and EVERYONE IN KAKARIKO VILLAGE and all the gerudos and yeaaah. OH AND THE GRANNY IN WIND WAKER???? MY HEART!! 

;_____________________;

[gaiasophiaao3]

While writing, I sometimes doodle to try and collect my thoughts. Here is Bazz’s plush fish from my AO3 series: Reporting in Captain!

The history of the fish:

Bazz’s grandmother traveled Hyrule on official business. In Castle Town, she noticed children playing with objects called ‘Dolls.’ While Zora do have an equivalent made out of smooth stone, the dolls were able to be cuddled and hugged. Before leaving for the Domain, she made sure to purchase some fabric and thread.

Upon returning, she tried several attempts at making a Zora-like doll. However, they ended up looking creepy or simply unstable. She then decided to make something more simple, but still relatable to a child-Zora, a fish. Using her skills she picked up from her failures, she was able to craft a beautiful black and white plush fish with neat, tight stitching. It was her pride and joy, deserving of her first grandson.

When Bazz’s grandmother placed the fish in the pool, Bazz instantly swam up to it and laid on its head. During this time as a cute little guppy, he was only half the size of the fish. (About half a foot long) His grandmother and mother were filled with joy. However, Seggin was displeased at the gift. His son would become “weak” and teased for having a toy made for girls. After a stern lecture from his mother, Seggin agreed the babe could keep the fish.

Even though the fish was cloth, Bazz slept with it every night. As you can imagine, the fish gathered stains and wear over the years. Unfortunately, it became so worn down that the fish began to rip. With the passing of Bazz’s grandmother, Bazz’s mother was going to take it to the local seamstress to get it fixed. However, Seggin refused. He didn’t want others to know about his son’s embarrassing toy. Left with a distraught and heartbroken child, Bazz’s mother crudely mended it with yarn as she didn’t know the difference between yarn and thread. She did fix the plush toy to the best of her ability, but there was a big difference. When Bazz asked when was the fish going to be fixed, she reluctantly handed him her patch job. She was surprised when Bazz smiled up at her upon receiving his toy. “It has battle scars, just like daddy!”

When Bazz was around 30, Prince Sidon was finally old enough to run around and make friends. Well, after a bit of coaxing from Princess Mipha. Bazz was the Prince’s first real friend and deemed the prince as The Big Bad Bazz Brigade’s number one protectee. Since they were so close, Bazz showed the prince his plush fish. Upon seeing it, the prince claimed it as his own and refused to let go. Bazz grabbed right behind the dorsal fin of the fish and tried to wrench the fish free from the prince’s grasp. Both children refused to give up until the fish tore in the top. The cloth Bazz had, accidentally fell out the window when he fell backwards. Seeing his toy destroyed and part of it lost, Bazz screamed and clawed at the prince. Seggin, seeing his son act in a manner, pulled the two children apart and threw the fish out the window.

At night, Princess Mipha heard what happened and scolded Sidon for his behavior. The two swam under the domain looking for the fish for hours. They finally found it lodged between two rocks. Sidon refused to touch it, still demanding it wasn’t his fault. Yet, Princess Mipha taught the prince that sometimes, being kind is better than finding out who is at fault. The prince picked up the fish and returned to Bazz’s house. Princess Mipha explained what happened to Bazz’s mother. Prince Sidon explained that they couldn’t find the part of the cloth that was missing, but vowed to find a replacement piece to make things right. The prince kept good on his promise and presented Bazz’s mother with a red and white striped silk cloth. Sidon couldn’t find a matching piece, so he found the best cloth he could find. Following Princess Mipha’s orders, Bazz’s mother patched up the plush fish and gave it to the prince. Prince Sidon approached Bazz with the newly mended fish and gave Bazz his apologies. Bazz accepted the gift and smiled at its newly acquired battle scar, a ‘badge of honor’ as he called it.

All was well until his 35th hatch day when Seggin demanded he get rid of the dumb thing. It had stains and the yarn was fuzzing. Bazz understood he had to ‘be a man’ and give up his toy. His mom gave it a final washing before placing it in a dry box for Bazz to keep as a memento from his grandmother.

[princesiddie]

a commission !!! (2/4)

commissioned by @skenandj

there r four parts !! heres the second one!!! some context its within the mob au n its the anniversary of miphas death !!

It rained the night of the ceremony. A deafening crack of thunder had startled Link awake that night, and the vengeful battering of fat, angry raindrops against the window had kept him up for nearly half an hour. Sidon hadn’t stirred beside him, his large, hot form curled minutely away. When Link woke again, pale grey light spilling across the room, Sidon turned toward him now, close enough to see the worried contours of his slumbering face, the weather had tuckered itself almost entirely out, although now he had still been able to hear the soft pattering of rain upon the cool glass of the window. It mirrored, he now thought to himself, the steady tapping of it on the umbrella he held.

Sidon’s hair was swept neatly up on his head, each hair tucked carefully into a braid and then twisted into a bun. He was wrapped in a thick, plush jacket, colored a rich, vibrant burgundy like spilled wine. His eyes were cast down, glued to the gravestone before them. His face was tight, the same tension he’d seen this morning visible in his hardened features, cold and icy and clouded. His brow was drawn heavy and low over his fiery eyes, and his jaw was visibly tensed, teeth probably grinding down on each other the way they tended to when he was upset. His mouth was twisted into a thin scowl, lips pressed coldly closed as if they were permanently sealed. His face was hard, sharp, intimidating, but Link knew it was only one of the collection of visages Sidon adopted only when he felt had to, when he was too messy, too vulnerable inside to let his true feelings show; when it was too dangerous for sincerity.

Link clung gently to Sidon, the hand holding the umbrella hooked through arm, the other clutching a bouquet of pretty, redolent snow-white lilies to his chest. Sidon had his own flowers in his free hand, plastic and tissue paper crinkling in his fist. Everyone had one, including the four other men Link didn’t recognize circled about the grave, as well Dorephan. His grief was plain on his creased, worn face, so viscerally so and so much unlike his son’s it was startling. His piercing, steely eyes were hollow now; they overflowed with broken sorrow, wetting the tired gray skin of his cheeks. His wide, powerful frame seemed drained, sunken, utterly powerless, his strong, deadly hands shivering as they clutched their bundle of already fading flowers for dear life.

Mipha’s grace was similarly wretched, moss obscuring the careful nuances of the engraved letters, filling in the center of the P, creeping over the arches of the “M.” Over and over again, Link’s eyes scanned the dates, so near, too near each other, calculating and recalculating how old she was, how you she had been, how much of her life she had never seen. The old flowers upon the overgrown grass had long since lost their glory, trampled and beaten and ruined by the storm. They were, Sidon had once told him, usually thrown out and replaced every week by a paid groundskeeper. This week had been different, the groundskeeper suddenly and unavoidably unavailable, the old flowers allowed to stay and the site allowed to decay another week. It had knocked something out of Dorephan, had further killed something in him to see his precious daughter’s grave in such a state. Sidon’s brow had only tightened further, and he had spat bitterly under his breath something about replacing the man.

Dorephan was the first to speak. His chest rose and stretched as he inhaled, so deeply so it seemed he had scarcely been breathing before.

“They took her from us too soon,” Dorephan said, voice grim and wavering minutely as he struggled to keep himself afloat. “Those bastard—they didn’t know what they were doing. What they were extinguishing. She was just—” Dorephan’s eyes fluttered shut. “She was just… a job to them. An opportunity to get to me. To hurt me. To break me.” Dorephan gazed at her grave, so utterly, completely shattered Link felt intrusive just to watch. He shifted, held onto Sidon’s arm a little tighter. Above him, Sidon squeezed his arm gingerly.

“You’re alright,” he murmured. His voice was level, but notably different, affected by something specific Link couldn’t quite place. “If we didn’t want you here, you’d know it.”

Link looked up at Sidon. His face remained the same, a cold, hard visage so unlike his father’s shattered one. It had grown darker it seemed, more opaque to whatever was going on within him. His eyes, trained carefully and unwaveringly on Mipha’s gravestone, were hollow.

“She didn’t deserve this.” Dorephan clutched his bouquet a bit tighter. His cheeks were glistening terribly in the oppressive grey light from where Link stood. “She didn’t deserve any of this.”

At that, Dorephan stepped forward, gingerly laying down his bouquet of cottony lilies, lingering for a moment to rest his hand atop the gravestone. His wrecked body sagged further in on itself, so viscerally, powerfully mournful it pushed a soft huff of air out of Link. A second later, Dorephan rose, some of the shadowed contours of his face already hardening and darkening. He took out his handkerchief as he stepped back, dabbing at the wetness upon his cheeks. The rest of the men to Dorephan’s right each stepped forward and put down their bouquets in turn until it was Sidon’s turn. The two of them stepped up together, arms tightly intertwined, mouths pressed silent in mute solemnity. Link placed his bouquet down first, minutely aside from the others. Sidon lingered, eyes trained on the faded, messied lettering of Mipha’s gravestone. Briefly, terribly, Sidon’s visage suddenly shattered, porcelain mask tumbling apart, a short static of blistering grief overtaking his features, like a crackle down a computer monitor. By the time Link had blinked, it was gone; the cold, impenetrable shell had been picked up and reassembled and spackled back on, although there were cracks in it now that Link couldn’t ignore. When Sidon set down his own wilted bundle of flowers onto the soaked grass, a soft sigh slipped from his lips. The two stepped back into place. Link’s arm was squeezed between Sidon’s own and his body. The stricken procession was silent, sorrow hanging horribly in the sky, pushing out all the air about them, all the air in the world, and replacing it with cold, bleak, shivering pain, stark enough to numb Link’s unfamiliar, unaware vibrance, to rip at his rich, vigourous, bloody self until he was just as rotten as the rest of them.

“May she be forevermore at rest.” The voice was unfamiliar, torn and graveled and heavy.

Everyone about Link raised heavy heads he hadn’t realized had been bowed, bound themselves up tighter in their cold downy coats and began picking their ways back to their vehicles. Link cut his eyes to Sidon, watched his aurate eyes watching the horizon. He remained still, something visibly whirring in his head. He remained a few minutes longer, cemented into his spot, his soul seemingly petrified into stone. The first movement Link saw was his eyes, stealing a glance at Mipha’s grave. A moment later, he sagged, bit back whatever bitter thing he’d seen, swallowed whatever agony had risen in his throat. He let their arms fall, reached down to grasp Link’s small hand in his a moment later. His grip was distracted.

“Let’s go.” His voice was tinged grey in Link’s ears.

Link was mute as he and Sidon walked back to the car. What was there to say? Of the millions and one things perched on the tip of Link’s tongue which was right? How did he approach this? How did he fix this? What comfort was there for him to provide for this, this pervasive grief, so deeply rooted, so all consuming it seemed to paint the whole of him blue?

As they reached the top of the hill the say ahead of them, across the wide blacktop street that wound through these doomed meadows, was Dorephan, some feet away, his shiny black car left alone on all sides, deserted by ones that had already left. He had his suit jacket off, draped across the back seat, and his sleeves rolled to his elbows. His back was to them, body slumped in an exhausted lean against his wide black van, head ducked, swathes and swathes of sooty, salt-and-pepper hair spilling from its tie, smoke of an unseen cigarette curling and twisting away into the sooty, heavy sky.

Sidon held open the door for Link, murmured directions to the driver before he slid in himself and shut the door. As soon as the car rumbled to life and started to move Sidon was reaching across the stiff leather seat for Link, pressing himself forward as well so that they might meet in the middle. Link let him slide his arms around him, curled up against his sorrowed form, one hand braced against his wide, strong chest. He tucked his head under Sidon’s chin, the way he knew he liked, let his ear listen to the soft, coarse rasp of his breath in his throat, the muffled, marching thud of his heart. Hands came to pet hair from his eyes, brushed rain damp bangs from his eyes, tucked them behind his ears. Sidon’s touch was ginger. When he took in a soft, stiff breath, it was sharp in Link’s ear.

“Thank you for coming with me,” he murmured. “To this. It’s… I know it must’ve felt awkward.”

Link shook his head. “I was ok. And it’s nothing. I didn’t want you to have to do something like this alone. I’m—” Link hesitated for a moment. “Whatever— whatever you need, whatever you want… right now, I’m here.”

Sidon combed his fingers lazily through Link’s hair, heart and lungs and mind all trembling, shivering to collapse, bound and barely held together by some invisible threat; some shimmering, twinkling stuff stamped with Link’s name all along the seaming. A soft breath curled from his grief blackened throat.

“Thank you.”

Sidon’s hands were gentle on him, soft and warm and affectionate as one came to cup the edge of his jaw, fingers curled loosely against Link’s cheek. The kiss was slow, lovely and sweet and so ginger it made Link’s heart ache. He pressed towards Sidon, deepened the kiss until it was something hotter, hungrier, stirred more intensely the hot embers in his belly. Sidon accepted this, powerful hands pressing up to curl in soft tresses, his lovely mouth moving expertly against Link’s own. His tongue pushed hungrily at the crease of Link’s lips. A soft moan eked from Link’s throat as he parted them, let Sidon press his tongue forward to explore the soft, wet corners of his mouth. Link found himself breathless when Sidon pulled away, the very edges of himself beginning to turn fuzzy from so much attention. Sidon pressed eager, wanting kisses down Links cheek, down to the soft curve of his neck. A hot tremble ran through Link at the lapping of his tongue at the sensitive skin, the ginger, dizzying tug as he sucked and nipped wine-stain bruises into the alabaster skin.

It was so much that Link almost missed the nigh imperceptible flinch that jolted through Sidon, dropping his hands from his hair and stilling his jaw. Link felt the minute tug on his hair disappear, the sudden loss of sensation at his neck, replaced by the press of his nose against the skin instead. Link sputtered out a huff of air, struggled to pull himself around enough to speak.

“Si—” His voice was still dreamy, inappropriately breathless and winding. He took in a soft breath, wrestling back the hot hunger in his belly. Something was wrong. He knew it. “Sidon.”

Sidon didn’t move, face still buried in the crook of his neck. He shifted, hand coming to rest on his shoulder. This close, Link could hear the low, shallow rasps of his breath, erratic and forced and muddied suffocated by something else. When he gingerly moved to wrap his arms around Link’s slight shoulders he took in a fragile breath, so broken, so finely shattered it tore through Link’s heart like a bullet.

“You’re ok.” Link’s voice was soft, wrapped in cotton and linen, ginger as a strand of silk, warm and soothing and smooth. Sidon’s chest heaved, loud and sharp and sorrowful, against Link. Link pressed a hand flat against Sidon’s wide, trembling back.

“It’s ok. I’ve got you.” He clawed his hand, let the backs of his nails drag gently up and down Sidon’s spine. “You’re ok. You’re ok.” He turned his face, let his nose press minutely against Sidon’s temple. Softer, gentler, he breathed, “You can cry.”

Sidon did. His breath sputtered in his throat, tripped over the tight, cracked sob that was pushed from him, muffled immediately by Link’s neck. He collapsed, whatever delicate precarious thing that was holding him up, piecing him together snapping and slumping his weight into Link’s arms, crushing under its gravity the very fire blazing within him. Another cry pealed from him, sharp and messy and pained, as though the sound had been forced from him. He clung desperately to Link’s frame, clutched and grappled for something solid, something he might grasp with the last bit of his strength so that when he fell he would not do so so terribly hard. His hands curled into quivering fists in the fabric of Link’s shirt, his breath hastening and his body wracked as everything, his grief, his pain, his confusion, all came tumbling from him at once, loud and hot and splintering and messy, rushing and twisting and melting together until he could not sob loud enough, could not weep tears enough to keep pace with the agony pulsing within him, radiating through every nerve, leaching into every atom of him. There was so much of it all, too much it seemed, for him to bear without completely ceasing to exist. His mind panicked, so pained, so excruciated, it could compel him only to hang onto Link for dear life, as if he might be swept away otherwise.

Link was firm beneath him, his arms welcoming, his embrace steady. He braced a hand upon the back of Sidon’s neck, turned to press soft lips to the side of his head, swallowing the ache in his own chest at the trembling of Sidon’s form, the sheer sorrow in his sobs. This Sidon was a stranger to him. He had never before cried in front of him. He had been on the verge, he had swept away tears fallen just moments before, but Link had never known a Sidon like this: one so wholly broken, so overwhelmed with suffocating heartache it seemed he could scarcely breathe. It was difficult. It was upsetting. But Link could not forget the innumerable times Sidon had done just this for him, had sat and held him as he shook, shushed him when he sobbed, petted away bitter, burning tears from flushed cheeks. And even if Sidon had not, to watch him like this and to do nothing would have, to him, been unthinkably cruel. He was not wont to tolerate cruelty.

Link closed his eyes, moved to hug Sidon tighter, to bring his broken form closer to himself, to let him press into his embrace. He shifted his hand to brace the back of Sidon’s head, fingers clawing where they lay to catch up in them some of his hair and comb it back, tucked behind his ear.

“It’s ok,” Link murmured again, wishing there were someway he could take this grief from him, pulling it from his body and destroy it, or absorb some of it into himself so he didn’t have to suffer alone. “You’re ok. Everything’s ok.”

“Sh-She’s— She—” Sidon’s voice was made of glass, splintered and quivering, blasted shards fine as dust burying themselves deep in the ruddy muscle of Link’s heart. “She—”

“I know. I know. It’s ok.” These words felt like lies on his tongue, blatant, bruised poisoned lies. He did not know this pain. He could not know. He would never know. His fortune has been too blessed, life too kind in the reading of his cards. But he would try; try to find some way to take a bit of his burden so it did not flatten him, for him; for his Sidon.

“I couldn’t—”

Link shushed him, tightened his arms around him. “Don’t. You were 10. You were only 10. You couldn’t have done anything more.”

Sidon sagged against him, slumped more of his sick weight into his embrace. Link held him steady, held him aloft, as high as he could bear; he did not let him collapse into himself. He would not let him. Sidon was broken—deeply, pervasively, achingly so—but he would not let him become irreparable. He would not let him become destroyed.

Sidon’s tears were hot, terrible things that tore to shred Link’s very soul, but they did not last long. They were soon exhausted, Sidon now only clinging to Link and panting, burning, splotchy face buried into the crook of his neck. Link was ginger as he coaxed it up to face him, hands petting back his hair soft and warm, voice pouring gentle reassurance over him smooth and sweet. Sidon’s eyes, shimmering vibrance dulled by pain, blazing irises muted by the redness about them, refused to meet Link’s own, cast away by shame.

“Sidon.”

He closed his eyes. The hollow weariness in his frame was familiar now, mirrored his father’s as he’d stood over the grave of his daughter. He shifted minutely away from Link.

“I’m s—”

“Don’t.” Link’s hand found Sidon’s on the bed, laid gingerly atop it, fingers curling to grip his. “Don’t apologize for missing her. Don’t apologize for grieving.”

Sidon’s hand under Link’s tightened. His gaze softened, brow coming together again, cracked visage contorting as though he might cry again. The emotion rolling from him like a sick heat was raw, blistering, aching stuff that made Link’s stomach turn, made him wish he could turn it all off for him, but it was infinitely better than earlier, when he had been so numb it had scarcely seemed he was still in there. Sidon’s gaze shifted, came up to meet Link’s eyes for a few moments.

“...Thank you.”

[needs-to-stop-looking-at-yigas]

Camping double date with Miphlink and the Yiga Husbands??

This is a TERRIBLE idea. Why? Because Kohga loves to live like a king, so camping is something he HATES. Unfortunately, Sooga got to pick the double date idea, and he LOVES camping. So, let's go!

 "We could've gone sunbathing on a beach. Could've even gone to the shores of Zora's domain. But no. You just. Had to pick the FUCKING woods!"

Sooga chuckled as he checked the sturdiness of the tent. Mipha and Link often went on double dates with them(to show their support), and the four of them took turns on where to go. It was Sooga's turn, and he picked a camping date. Not JUST a camping date, but a camping date up on Satori fucking mountain. It meant they had to fucking HIKE. And Kohga was hating EVERY moment of it. It must’ve been obvious, given the fact that Mipha was staying with him as Link and Sooga lead the pack. Sooga was grinning as he walked backwards, clearly not trying to sound giddy.

“Master Kohga, this is a nice change of pace, is it not? The smell of trees, the plentiful resources? It’s lovely. I mean, not as lovely as you, but still lovely.”

“You’re using flirts to keep me from going home.”

“Is it working?”

“...kinda. But don’t push it.”

Sooga nodded. Him and Link were having just a ball during this little trek, and it was JUST because of that, that Kohga wasn’t making him pick him up. Mipha chuckled, lightly nudging Kohga.

“Do be patient. Love is full of that. I’m sure he appreciates being out here.”

“He better, I’m taking all his future turns.”

The climb was slow, exhausting, and Kohga was SO goddamn happy when Sooga and Link started to unpack their things, ready to set up camp. It was near the top of the cliff, and a number of trees decorated the rocky land. Kohga sat down on a log, groaning. Kohga wasn’t in bad shape, but hiking was just AWFUL compared to working out at home. Dirt, animals, all of it just sucked to him. He’d MUCH rather be working out at home (Kohga could name other ways he could work a sweat with Sooga).

“Why THIS spot? There’s BARELY any stable ground, and these trees barely leave us rooms for the tent.”

Sooga nodded as he finally undid all of his prep work.

“It’s true, but this spot is special, I swear. Now, if you’ll excuse us. Link, you first?”

Link nodded, and started to clear the trees and bushes. Not all of them, but enough to give them actual stable land to pitch tents in. Kohga watched as Link and Sooga chopped the trees, tossing them in the corner for firewood. Mipha chuckled as she sat next to Kohga.

“Hey. At least we can watch the boys do a little bit of labor.”

Kohga gave her a bit of a side eye. Mipha was really starting to know him.

“I mean, true, I do like watching cute guys do hard work. Think Sooga’s showing off for me?”

“Absolutely.”

They both shared a bit of a giggle, and immediately Kohga felt just a bit better. Even if a fuck ton of bugs kept hovering around. They both finally finished, pitched their tents (one for each couple, for privacy of course), and Sooga immediately started to make a fire. He was pretty good at it, getting it ready and roaring just when Kohga was starting to lose patience. Sooga patted the dirt from his hands, and walked over, grabbing Kohga’s hand and kissing the back of it.

“I left some food for you in the pack, but I’m going to catch something more...lively. I will come back in a moment.”

He turned to Link, who was already starting to unpack the food bags. 

“Link, keep an eye in my stead. Precious cargo here.”

Sooga walked off to god knows where, and Mipha smiled her precious little smile.

“He loves you very much. I can tell.”

“Yeah yeah. Makin’ me trek all the way up here, all sweaty and shit. He loved me, he would’ve picked an ACTUALLY good trip.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“Mipha, I love ya, but stop being right about things.”

Link even seemed to smile about that, bringing a bunch of bananas over to Kohga. At LEAST he packed him something good to eat. Link helped a bit too, going to a nearby tree to pluck some fresh durian fruit. Link gave them both fruit as he tended to the fire, and Kohga SAW that swoon on Mipha’s adorable face.

“Hey, I saw that.”

“Saw what?”

“You swooning over your man, you little minx!”

Mipha stammered, but as Link looked over, shooting her a wink, she knew she had been had, hiding her face in her hand, and trying to hide at Kohga’s side. Kohga laughed, shaking his head.

“You two! Got it SO bad! It’s precious! You two really deserve to be together.”

Mipha peered past her hands, to make sure Link wasn’t looking anymore, before looking back up at Kohga.

“Well thank you. Father appears to think so, as does Sidon. Can I uhm...tell you a secret?”

“Shoot little red.”

Mipha covered the side of her mouth with her palm, keeping her voice low.

“I made Zora armor for Link. I’m planning on giving it to him this week.”

That was Zora lingo for ‘marriage’ essentially, and Kohga nearly jumped off his seat, hands thrown about wildly.

“YOU’RE SERIOUS?!”

The sound of his scream made Link miss his shot, about to shoot a bird for dinner. Upon missing, he turned to scowl rather heavily at Kohga, who muttered an apology. When he turned away, Kohga finally found his heart back in his chest, rather than his throat.

“You’re gonna get MARRIED?”

“I’m planning on it, yes!”

“Mipha, lil’ red, I love you to bits, but you’re SO young! How could you want to get married NOW?”

Mipha turned to look at Link, gently cocking her head in a loving, adoring fashion.

"I'm certain I'll never find another for me. I adore him with all my heart. I want to marry him. Very, very much. Do you...not think it's a good idea?"

"No no! I mean, great that you wanna settle. It's great. I fully support you both. I just...the idea of getting married is weird to me, I guess. But I mean, so long as I get to be the best man."

"That's my brother."

"Okay fair. What about flower girl?"

"Riju."

"Ring bearer?"

"That's Midnight."

Kohga threw his arms in the air, in total disbelief. 

"Who's Midnight?!"

"Link's horse."

"...That's actually super cute."

"Isn't it? If it helps any, you can help me pick my wedding outfit."

"Deal."

They both shook hands, satisfied with the deal. Kohga held onto her hand for a moment, clearing his throat.

"But uh...don't tell Sooga, yeah? He's wedding crazy, and if he hears you're gonna get hitched, he's NOT gonna let me hear the end of it."

"End of what?"

They both turned to see Sooga, carrying an entire honeyvore bear over his shoulder. Kohga should've been surprised by his man carrying a whole ass bear like a sack of flour, but he really wasn't.

"Nothing. See you got dinner."

"I did. I was going for a mountain goat, but this one didn't seem to know how to behave. I trust Link has been taking care of you in my stead?"

"Totally. Cut us up some fruit like a good boy and everything."

Kohga pinched Link's cheek as he came over, eager to show his arms full of freshly killed pigeons. Sooga chuckled, rustling Link's hair.

"Quite the provider you have here, Mipha. Should you two marry, I can assure you'd never go hungry."

Kohga tried not to groan. Marriage ALWAYS came up with his ass. It seemed to make Link a bit nervous too, as his face turned dark, and he went back to tending the fire. Mipha giggled into her palm.

"Thank you, Sooga. That's sweet of you to say. But I'm not looking on proposing here and now, so."

Sooga shrugged as he started to cut through the animal's hide, getting it ready for the flames.

"The future is fickle. Who truly knows?"

There was a smirk in his tone, even Mipha seemed to catch onto it. Kohga rolled his eyes. The idea of marriage was so ridiculous to him. Being tied down to one person forever? Fucking ONE piece of ass forever? Not his thing. But hey, he wasn’t Mipha. He scooted over next to Sooga as soon as he put the meats over the fire.

“Sooga, how much longer till it’s ready, you think?”

Sooga chuckled. His Master LOVED to eat, and while he was no chef, he could cook some good, fresh meat over a campfire. He cut a piece of the meat, showing Kohga just how raw it was.

“It’ll take a good minute, Master. Unless you’d like it raw, then I can serve you a piece now.”

Kohga stuck his nose up at it, and Sooga, for some reason, found his face so charming.

“Who wants to eat raw ass-”

Link snatched the piece from his hand, stuffing it in his mouth. Kohga sighed.

“Right. Link. The guy that will actually eat ANYTHING. You remember the time he just, ate some fucking rocks?”

“I recall, yes. Yet, he makes a VERY good fish pie.”

“Hey. Bad enough we HIKED here, don’t you even bring UP fish.”

Sooga gave a light shake of his head, even as Kohga smacked at his tit. He was lucky he was fine, else Kohga wouldn’t put up with his nonsense. They spent a good moment in idle chit chat (how restoration to kingdoms were, recent training practices, new dishes, the usual stuff you’d talk about with folks you more or less considered family), before Sooga handed Kohga a healthy plate of food. Fried wild greens, and spiced meat skewers (Kohga ALWAYS had Sooga bring goron spices whenever they went out. Kohga put it on EVERYTHING, especially meat). Kohga helped himself, digging into his meal hungrily. Sooga was a shit cook in a modern kitchen, but when it came to spicing and cooking meat out in the wild, Sooga was damn good enough. Juicy insides, and a nice, crispy outside. Him and Link didn’t talk as much, in favor of eating ravenously and enjoying their meals.

“Sooga, you don’t like goron spice?”

“Not especially. I always give my portion to Kohga, who loves it. But I prefer mine lightly salted. And I'm not the only one, it seems."

A raven seemed to trot over to them, eyeing Sooga curiously. It welcomed the slices of meat Sooga tossed its way, and Sooga noticed Kohga’s look of interest.

"Birds always did seem to like me, for whatever reason. Watch."

Sooga brought his hand down, and almost immediately, the bird jumped into his hand, eyeing everyone curiously. Kohga leaned over and lightly poked its head, making it squawk.

"Huh. That's why Revali thinks you're hot."

Sooga shook his head, as if something smelled. 

"I wish you hadn't told me that. Makes me wish birds hated me."

"What if it was Teba?"

Sooga took a moment in hesitation, before lightly nodding.

“I like Teba.”

“EVERYONE likes Teba, can’t say I blame you here.”

Sooga gave the crow another scrap of meat, before motioning for it to leave, which it did, but not before looking back at Sooga once more. Mipha handed her plate to Link (who always ate whatever she couldn’t finish), before softly nodding.

“That’s honestly quite charming. I’m personally really good with fish, though it might be a Zora thing.”

Then the most odd thing happened. Link put his plate down (with food STILL on it), and nearly leapt towards Mipha, clearly excited. She seemed surprised for a moment, before chuckling.

“Oh, you want me to show them, don’t you?”

Link nodded again, wildly. Mipha held onto her head fin, and the spots on her skin seemed to glow, which seemed to glow brightly as the sun soon seemed to die down. 

“Woah. Since when could you do that?”

“Always. It’s made to attract fish, bugs...Hylians.”

Link was just enthralled in her spots, fingers carefully brushing against her skin. She sat there, as flattered and flustered as a young princess could be, while Link just sat there, adoring her like something out of a story book. Sooga looked down at Kohga, who was enthralled with them both. With the moon gracing the sky, now was just as good of a time as any.

“Master Kohga, I think these two need a moment of privacy. Could I...show you something?”

Kohga nodded, quietly helping them sneak away. This somehow ended with Sooga leading Kohga god knows where, covering his mask with his hands.

“Sooga, why can’t I just close my eyes?”

“You peek.”

“I won’t this time! Maybe!”

“Relax, Master Kohga. We’re almost there. Now, be silent.”

Kohga stopped talking, and just trusted Sooga to guide him. He was about to take another step, when Sooga stopped him in his tracks. His voice was in a hushed, low tone.

“Open your eyes.”

Kohga did just that, and couldn’t believe his eyes. Blupees. Blupees , surrounding a lake, littered in cherry tree petals. They all sat there, hopping about, grooming their long, orange feelers. They hadn’t been noticed yet, and it was incredible. Some sipped at the lake water, some seemed to hop amongst the piles of petals. Kohga kept his voice low, in disbelief.

“You...knew they’d be here.”

“I did. This trip was the perfect opportunity to show you something as beautiful as you are. I take it you’ve never seen them up close?”

“No. Only in books. They’re...so different in person.”

Kohga took a step forward, making a branch snap. They thought it had been the end of it, when one of the blupees turned to look at him. But then, it chose not to run. Rather, it hopped right to Kohga, standing on its rear legs and eyeing him curiously. Kohga glanced at Sooga, before looking back towards the creature.

“Thought they were skittish?”

“They’re supposed to be. Unless they consider you not a threat.”

“W-hey! I’m plenty threatening! Go on, get!”

Kohga knelt down and pointed at it, only for it to bump against his hand, and snuggle into it like a stray cat. Kohga grumbled in a mixture of confusion and amazement, before another blupee walked over. Then another. Then another. They all scattered about him, clearly fascinated and eager to rub their little faces against him. It made Kohga fall on his ass, trying not to step on them. Sooga knelt down to him, ever ready to be of assistance. Though, it seemed the only thing his master was in danger of, was getting a permanent scowl. He chuckled.

“I don’t think they find you too threatening. Foolish creatures, honestly.”

“I should be making these bunnies shake in their boots dammit.”

Kohga raised a hand in accusation, before a blupees seemed to fall right into it, desperate for a good petting. Sooga took a small step forward, careful not to spook them, before he clunked his mask against Kohga’s.

“You...never cease to amaze me, Master Kohga. You’re incredible. These creatures thrive on purity. I can only imagine how much of it is in your heart.”

Kohga scoffed, playfully pushing his face away with his hand.

“It’s nothing like that, these things are just dumb. But… this is sweet. YOU’RE sweet. And as much as I hated the hiking, the bugs...this was nice. I don’t ever think I’m going to forget this, Sooga.”

“So I did good for my turn?”

“Good enough to try again, yes. God you’re so dumb and pretty.”

Sooga chuckled. He parted his mask, as well as his master’s, and was about to lean in for a kiss, when suddenly a shadow peered over them. Both of them jumped a bit, scaring a few of the blupees. Kohga stood aghast at the creature, while Sooga looked stiff.

“Is that...the Lord of the Mountain?”

“Yes. Aka, one that brings curses upon the land it walks.”

Sooga brought out his weapon, and aimed it right between its faces. The creature stared at him, before slowly walking past Sooga, and stopping right in front of Kohga. It slowly brought its head down, right into Kohga’s lap. It looked at him with it’s intense, bright eyes. Kohga looked unsure of what to do, before he slowly, carefully, brought his hand right next to his face. Kohga motioned wildly with his free hand, totally in disbelief.

“I’m petting it! I’m THIS cool! Can you SEE this?!”

The Lord seemed comforted by his hand, eyes lidded as Kohga’s hands nestled and scratched at it’s fur. It was brief, but it was enough to leave a lasting impression in Sooga’s mind. The creature pulled away after a moment, before dipping its face into the water, taking a sip. Then it took a step towards Sooga, and promptly spat water at his face. With a snort, and a stomp of it’s hoof, it turned, and started to graze within the water. Sooga turned to look at Kohga, who was trying VERY hard not to laugh.

“Pffft! It spat water at you! Holy CRAP, he does NOT like you!”

Kohga lost it at that point, pointing at Sooga and just losing himself in laughter. He only stopped once Sooga knelt down, and held his hand in his own.

“I’m. So in love with you, you couldn’t even fathom it-”

“This shit again.”

“Say the word and I’d be your husband IMMEDIATELY.”

Kohga groaned, using his other hand to smack his forehead. It wasn’t entirely Sooga’s fault that he was so lovesick though.

Not when the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen, got to pet the Lord of the Mountain.

[so-i-dont-forget-again]

So I Don’t Forget Again: A Breath of The Wild fanfiction

Entry 62: Goron City

 We left after watching the sunrise.

Yunobo was wierded out by how my skin became so wrinkly after being in the water for so long.

While hiking I asked him if he ever wanted to travel since he’s never left Death Mountain. He said that he would like to but was afraid if something were to happen and he couldn’t get help, and that with Hyrule being such a big place he’d have no idea where to start. I told him about the places I had been. He said it was incredible how I could describe them so vividly.

I asked him what he knew about Daruk. He didn’t know much more than me, mostly just the basics like he was a Champion and such.

Soon we came across a drawn-up bridge. The Bridge of Eldin. The boss has it raised up so no one can get too close to where the Divine Beast Rudania resides. Yunobo had this big grin when he explained how we could use a near by cannon to get it down by having him use Daruk’s Protection as ammunition. Just as before, I used the Sheikah bombs to set off the cannon, and we got the bridge down in no time.

As we made our way across the bridge Yunobo said that it’ll get dangerous so I’d better stay alert and on guard, if we get too close then Rudania will attack us.

My heart got caught in my throat as Rudania stopped moving, and many small flying Guardians like the ones by Akkala Tower came charging from the beast and surrounded a large area around it, including the only path there was leading to the cannon. Yunobo told me that if those things spotted us, the mountain will erupt and Rudania will thrash about. He told me that as a seasoned traveler and warrior he’d trust my judgement when it came to dealing with them. But with how surprising loud lava can be we came up with the idea of using a signal system, specifically whistling.

I know this is probably weird, but he just keeps reminding me more, and more of Friend… He even mentioned that whistling would be like calling a horse.

We hid under rocks, or even climbed around them. Most often I’d destroy them by using the metal power of the Sheikah Slate and bash any metal I could find into the flying Guardians and blow them up. If I could get to a higher advantage point I’d blow them up with bombs or push boulders on top of them. The techniques Yunobo showed me for Goron wrestling were quite handy in that instance.

When we reached a cannon, I shot Yunobo, sending him flying into Rudania, causing it to make that ear-splitting roar and scurry a little up the mountain. The higher we got the more Guardians there were and less and less places there were to hide, till there were none at all. After shooting Rudania with several different cannons it eventually made its way into the heart of the mountain. I immediately raced after it, with Yunobo asking where I thought I was going.

Before I could leap in after Rudania, Yubono grabbed me and asked what in the world I was thinking. When I said I planned on boarding the Divine Beast he said that even I would get killed, it was too dangerous. When I said it was the only way to stop its rampage for good, he asked me why risk my life for that when we could just keep using him to drive it off. He said that he couldn’t let me throw away my life. I started to explain what should happen to Hyrule if Rudania wasn’t stopped for good, but he interrupted me, stating he knew all that, but… “Aren’t you scared? Link, if you die in there nobody will know! Nobody can help you! Please, don’t do this! This isn’t being brave or a hero, this, I don’t know, it’s something else!” But he also admitted that this was probably my big chance to gain control of it. His hands which were gripped on my shoulders quaked as he spoke. Before I could answer the ground shook beneath us. Before I knew it the footing under me had collapsed. Yubono immediately jumped in after me, clutching me close, and Daruk’s protection surrounded both of us as we plummeted.

Yunobo panicked, realizing we were on the Divine Beast. The moment we entered the door behind us shut, and we were trapped in complete darkness. We held hands to not get separated. I used the fire rod I got long ago as a torch in the dark. I soon started hearing a voice which told me it was good to see me again, and he knew that I would come back, he pointed me towards where the guidance stone was, where I could get a map.

That black/purple gunk was everywhere and we took extra care to not touch the stuff. We even had to do battle in the dark, small guardians would shoot at us without warning. Thankfully Yunobo was quick on his feet when it comes to using Daruk’s protection.

When we found a terminal, we were able to gain control, and open the top so we could actually see. We even had to have Rudania crawl around, and flip to different sides to reach new terminals. Every time we reached one, I heard bombastic encouragement echo about in my mind.

Very soon all that was left was the control module on Rudania’s back, outside, unlike the large room in Vah Ruta. Even with the Goron armor on, in the heart of the mountain this heat was sweltering, my vision blurred.

Before placing the Sheikah Slate on the control panel I warned Yunobo that we were possibly about to get into a fight. He swiftly nodded. Then asked if I was alright. I was drenched in sweat, and my face red. I said that we had to finish this quick, then placed the slate on the panel.

After I did so, black and purple mist exploded from the device and morphed into a thing that should only be conjured in a nightmare. It wielded a giant ax and fire. The voice told me this is what killed Daruk.

I found difficulty in moving, and I could hardly see. Yunobo used himself as a shield for my sake. We managed to get some good damage on it before it flew high above us, setting it’s ax on fire, and surrounding it’s self in a ball of flame. It prepared an attack, somehow drawing lava and rocks to it, like a tornado. Yunobo threw himself at it, with Daruk’s protection active. When he made impact, it collapsed onto the ground. I threw my all into causing as much damage as I could. I even used Mipha’s Trident, and bombs. I used anything.

It screamed this awful screech before splitting apart and dissipating into nothing. Once it was over I placed the slate back on the panel. I heard a voice behind me, saying I did great work. I turned to see Daruk, his arms wide open for a hug. He said that he couldn’t thank me enough, he was finally freed. He then apologized for falling, but at least Radunia was back under our control. And now our plan to defeat Calamity Gannon can go into effect again. He said that he’d now take Radunia down the mountain to get a better place to shoot the Calamity. Then he said

He said that he was proud to call me Brother.

Next thing I knew I was being carried in Yunobo’s hands. A sigh of relief escaped him as he saw me awaken. He said the moment I placed the slate on the panel again I collapsed. Then Radunia began to move on its own. It perched itself at the edge of the mountain’s top, and a red laser shot from it, pointing it directly at the blackened castle. Once it was perched Yunobo got off and immediately ran for town to get me to a doctor.

Though he was a bit hesitant I told him I’d be fine as long as we rested in the hot springs for a while. When he saw how much better I looked only after a minute in the spring he stopped asking if I was sure I didn’t need a doctor. We didn’t stay for too long though.

When we got to town we were revered as heroes. Everyone insisted on calling me ‘brother’. Though I’m not a Goron, they say I have the heart and bravery of one of them, so I’m their brother.

As much as I would have liked to stay longer, I knew I couldn’t keep Friend here any longer. She deserves fresh food, but there was one thing I had to do before leaving. I was going to speak to Boss but then, not far in the distance I heard that marvelous voice and accordion. Kass was glad to see me. Now that Rudania had calmed he thought he should come here so he could write Daruk’s song. He told me of tales the Boss told him of Daruk’s strength and bravery. Kass chose to write his song showing a different side of that bold Goron. The song was of a time where he was brave fighting off monsters, but then an unexpected side and fear of his was shown. He was much more than the strong legend; he was a person with his own struggles.

I listened to his songs till morning. At that time, I finally met with Boss and asked what he knew of Daruk. I already knew of all the legends he told me, so he then gave me Daruk’s diary. It was found recently. He was surprised to find Daruk even kept one.

On the first page Daruk decided to call the diary a training journal instead. He often wrote about delicious food he had. He wrote about the build up to Calamity Gannon, and when the Divine Beasts were unburied. He wrote about how we first met. He saw me being attacked and was going to save me, but I saved myself. He said that he ‘couldn’t help but admire his Goron-like strength.’ As he was distracted by me, I saved him from being attacked which really impressed him. He also admired my appetite, I’d eat just about anything, I’d even tried his favorite rocks, I was apparently speechless. We even Goron wrestled often. He said he really liked me, ‘he’s the type of guy you can trust to have your back and also have a nice hearty meal with. Yeah! That settles it! From now on, Link is an official brother.’ My vision blurred after reading that. He often wrote about how proud he was of me. Even saying he wasn’t surprised at all that I was appointed as the princess’ guard. He thanked me for helping him learn how to control Radunia. In one of the last entries he wrote that I had told him I had opened up to the princess about my troubles, and how she said that we are the same.

I reread entry 50… I was raised to be an amazing knight, but they couldn’t make me not a person. I was troubled by this even back then, almost. That word, almost. I said it was almost true. My need to protect people that Sidon pointed out to me. Something a part of me that I hadn’t noticed till then, did I know it a hundred years ago?

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[llulabeee]

King Rhoam pros: hermit is very fast, extra attack when switching disguises, I appreciate that they added he woodsman persona in the first place, wholesome interactions with Zelda when switching characters

King Rhoam Cons: king form is slow af, stasis controls are terrible, sir why do you hold your sword like that

Terrako Pros: he’s literally a cute robot what more do you need, he’s tiny, dodges very quickly, wide array of attacks, makes cute beep beep noises

Terrako Cons: his special attack never does much damage so it kinda sucks, can’t guard well

*Additional note: I can only fight guardians with shield wielding characters and that annoys me, there’s no good way to block their beams without one

Riju Pros: wholesome child trying her best, Patricia plows through enemies quickly, her special attack is cute (ITS TIME, PATRICIA), she has some cool lightning attacks, has a shield

Riju Cons: weird bomb controls, neutral attack is hard to control, more of a mood character than a main

Urbosa Pros: good special attack, lighting is fun, YOU DESERVE NO MERCY yes queen, more on her character but she is mom and I appreciate that

Urbosa Cons: her attacks are a bit one note, idk all of her controls, I don’t like her bombs, she can’t deal a lot of damage quickly

Daruk Pros: hard hitter, protection is a good shield, good sheikah controls, supportive dad energy

Daruk Cons: SLOW, large and easy to hit, hard to do fast combos

Sidon pros: I appreciate how ride or die he is, shark surfing is cute, ability to boost attack power is good, good regular attack

Sidon Cons: what even are his bomb controls (what is this BASEBALL NONSENSE), attack boost can be hard to time, special attack is meh

Calamity Ganon, revali, yunobo, monk, great fairies: I’m not even going to explain these ones, they suck ass and I never use them

Idk how to add it above but I main Teba now, he’s actually a beast against the large enemies (especially taluses) and I love how I can aim his stasis and bombs. I also appreciate how he’s like “hm, revali is kind of an asshole” because true

Current end of game top three characters are: teba, link, and light Zelda

Honorary mentions: Mipha, riju, terrako, king rhoam, impa

Ok I think that’s all of them, let me know if I’m missing anyone???

My thoughts on my hyrule warriors mains:

Mipha pros: wall of destruction, special ability to heal hearts is very helpful, I like how fast she can hit things

Mipha cons: I don’t know how to fight guardians with her because I can’t deflect a beam with a spear, her yelling “it burns!” After she’s hit with fire hurts my soul

Link pros: very reliable, easy controls, can deflect guardians beams with his shield

Link cons: his attacks are kind of generic and it isn’t the most exciting to play as him, lower attack range

Zelda pros: sheikah slate and light powers are fun, can be wall of destruction if used properly

Zelda cons: idk how to shield with her and guardian beams are an issue, sometimes her controls confuse me

Impa pros: FROGGY, very destructive, love that she can make clones of herself, did I mention froggy

Impa cons: shielding?? Her attacks can be low damage sometimes, her attacks sometimes hit her backwards away from enemies

There are more but these four are the ones I use the most, might add more later

[gwydionae]

Zelda: Breath of the Wild

(As I literally spent an entire month doing little more with my free time aside from playing this game, I want to get my thoughts out about it. While kind of my own little late and unwanted review, I also just want to ramble about some random things in this game. So here is my one master post of all my BotW thoughts - that way I’m not bombarding everyone with a bunch of things now that I’m back from the tumblr dead. XD

Only very vague spoilers included. ...also this is crazy long. ^_^;; )

Optional Intro:

I have never played a modern open world game outside of Minecraft. They looked like fun, but there was always something that made me go “ehhhh, maybe not...” like the cringy voice acting or the overall look of the game. I was super excited to hear that Zelda would be going back to this, however, since straying from it ever since the very first game. Not that I don’t like the typical Zelda formula - I actually really love it! But Skyward Sword, while it did have its good points, was too linear even for me, so I greatly anticipated them breaking away from that. I tried not to get too hyped, but I couldn’t help it. Luckily, this time the hype was not unwarranted.

End of Game Stats:

Hours Played: 220+ Shrines Found: 120 Korok Seeds Found: 262 Map Completion: 44.58% Side Quests Completed: 69 Main Quests Completed: All Times I’ve Stood Far Above Enemies and Rained Lots of Bombs on Their Heads and Slowly Whittled Down Their Health: too many to count lol

Overall Opinion:

I don’t think I have ever spent so much time playing a game that actually has an end objective! From the minute I got it, I could not put it down. My sleep schedule was ruined within a day, and I have been a living zombie for a month now, all because I kept saying, “I’m just gonna do this one thing, and then I’ll go to sle- OH WAIT WHAT’S THAT??” This game is addicting. There is SO much to see and do, and so many ways to do them. ...not to mention I am a huge wuss and would often run away a lot and waited to do the truly hard stuff until I was a bit OP. XD

That being said, it should come as no surprise that I really, really like this game. A lot. It’s super fun, beautiful, magical, humorous, and engaging. It is still not my favorite game ever nor even my favorite Zelda. But it doesn’t have to be, because what it is is amazing, and I would recommend it to literally anyone, Zelda fan or no. If you haven’t played it and you have the opportunity, take it. Because even just climbing to a tall location and looking around before jumping off and paragliding to a destination far away is one of the best things I have ever done in a video game period. It sounds silly, but it’s true - the scenery is gorgeous, and the climbing and paragliding mechanics are so, so satisfying.

It is not a perfect game, but it doesn’t have to be. The positive elements far and away make up for the negatives.

Criticisms:

Frame Rate Drops - I am not one to really care much about this sort of thing, but, yeah, it’s there. Most of the time there were no issues, but in some places it was consistently pretty low, like the Korok Forest. The only time it was an actual issue for me, though, was in Lockup - I was fighting a Moblin in a tight corner when suddenly the game completely freezes for about two seconds. I swear my heart skipped a beat! LOL Luckily that was the only time it actually was bothersome in all my 220+ hours of playing. Still deserves to be mentioned, though.

Voice Acting - (Note: I am extremely picky about voices, no matter the language - you have been warned!) I cannot WAIT to play this game in Japanese, because I am 100% sure I will enjoy the cutscenes more. It’s not that everyone in English is terrible, but man are some of the voices not good... Decent - Urbosa, Revali, Riju Bad - Mipha, Daruk, Yunobo Worst - Impa Best - Sidon Most Inconsistent - Zelda Urbosa, Riju, and Revali hammed it up a bit at times, but at least they didn’t sound flat, so I give them kudos for that. On top of that, I liked how their voices sounded, so bonus! Daruk and Yunobo, however, were both pretty flat, though at least the sound of Daruk’s fit. Mipha, on the other hand, was trying to act, but it really sounded like she was reaching pitch-wise (like in her final cut scene near the end of the game). On top of that, her accent kept coming and going randomly - if you can’t do it all the time, don’t do it at all. Impa, however, was far and away the worst offender, to the point I wanted to turn the sound off when she opened her mouth. For one, again, it was flat. But on top of that, she had the “younger woman trying to sound like an old lady” voice going on that grates on me like you wouldn’t believe. Some people can pull it off - she can’t. And, again, the coming and going accent. Sidon was the opposite, and the lone true bright point for me. I wish we had heard more of him as I liked his voice, he kept the accent in all his lines, and he sounded enthusiastic in his delivery. I heard him shortly after Impa, so it was quite the whiplash for me, lol. Now for Zelda... there are some points in which I really like her voice, but then there are other times I think she ruins the scene with a flat read. The 17th memory, for instance, is great - she does a wonderful job with it, and I honestly can watch that one many, many times over. The 16th, however, she completely ruins for me. She just does not sound as emotional as she should given the circumstances, and it really takes me out of it. She usually does a good job with the accent, but like Mipha and Impa, occasionally she slips out of it. Overall I am not displeased with her, though. I do wish we would have gotten more of 17th memory Zelda and none of 16th. As for the overall use of voice acting, I am glad it was limited. I, personally, do not care for voice acting in games as I usually find it to be more of a detriment than an enjoyable experience. If done well, yeah, I would have liked a little more - having the voiced characters always speak, for example. But since I was not thrilled with it, I couldn’t be happier that it was limited, and I don’t think my stance on this will change until companies are willing to pay a bit more to have quality work instead of going cheap and not paying it it’s due attention. (Although Link should never speak, in my opinion, and I seriously hope this never changes!)

Story/Characters - They weren’t bad so much as disappointing and underwhelming. Only one character got truly fleshed out, so it was hard to get attached to anyone. I think they did a good job of having a focused story despite the open world design of the game, but the problem was that there just wasn’t much story to be told, and the ending left me with a feeling of, “...that’s it?” Not the way you want to end such an otherwise great experience. I enjoyed what we did get, but I just wanted so much more! I guess this is the trade off for not wanting something as linear as Skyward Sword. SS had amazing characters and a great story while being a chore sometimes gameplay-wise. BotW, on the other hand, is always a delight to play and feels so free and magical, but the characters and story left me wanting more, like I was only getting a small glimpse of the large picture. In a game, I suppose I will take “fun to play, underwhelming story” to “good story, chore to play”, but it would be nice if in future Zeldas I could have my cake and eat it too, lol.

Dungeons/Bosses - Trying not to spoil too much, it’s not that I didn’t like playing them, it’s their designs. They are all designed to look similar. The dungeons are unique and fun from a solving them perspective, but from a visual perspective, I do miss the old “every dungeon has a different theme” from past Zelda titles. I can, however, see why they chose this route for the dungeons, so while it’s disappointing, I have a hard time knocking them for it. I DO have to point out a huge issue I did have, though - THOSE MAPS ARE NOT HELPFUL. Seriously, oh my gosh, I have never tried to use a more infuriating map! It never turned the way I wanted it to, and I could rarely see what I actually wanted to see. These, for me, were simply awful. I hated everything about them, and groaned every time one popped up on my screen signaling that my map would be mostly useless from that point until I was done with the area. The bosses, on the other hand, are a different story. There is no reason they all have to look and act so similar. True, they all have their own gimmick, but I still used basically the same fighting style for all of them. And why the near identical designs? Why not something more interesting? The outside of the dungeons are all interesting to look at, so why not make the big boss at the end reflect that instead? I can see what they were going for, but in this case I feel it doesn’t justify the end result. After boss designs like Stallord and Koloktos, it was very disappointing.

Music - I am going to start off by saying that I do NOT dislike the music - in fact I feel it suits this game very well. I can’t, however, talk about this game’s music without comparing it to previous Zelda games, and there is where it falls short. Whereas previous titles were filled with memorable tracks, BotW is not. It does have some enjoyable tunes here and there, but overall I didn’t really pay any attention to it and never came away with it stuck in my head. Does that work with this style of game which is all about getting sucked into the environment? Yes, absolutely! But if I wanted to listen to some Zelda music on its own, this game’s soundtrack would be one of the last ones I would choose. So what this comes down to is if I were to give the game a score, I would not knock it for the music as I feel it is quite fitting. But if I were giving the MUSIC a score, it wouldn’t be as high as past Zeldas. Underwhelming tracks - Nearly any city/town, the shrine battle music, the dungeons, the more atmospheric tracks with little actual music (in the fields, Temple of Time, in the cold, etc) Tracks I love - Molduga’s theme, the dragons, riding a horse at night, normal battles, just outside Hyrule Castle, memory 17 (I need this track, you hear me!!)

Praise:

Scenery - This game is so pretty, you guys. The designers did an amazing job laying everything out just perfectly, so there is nearly always an awesome view to be had. Pictures do more justice than words.

Character Design - Everyone looks so unique! Even the random NPCs have personality and quirks worked directly into their design, and honestly there are so many outfits I would love to cosplay from this game. XD Some of the characters do suffer from the “Wind Waker large head, gorilla arms, stumpy legs effect”, lol, but I can forgive everyone minus the Gerudo children on this one as most that fall prey to it are not human and do not have to stick as close to normal human anatomy. Still all very colorful and whimsical, and I adore the different styles of Zora! And all of Link’s armor? Pfft, oh man, it’s great. Some of it is hilarious, other stuff is really cool, and a few items are just plain weird. But they all look unique and interesting with a lot of thought put into them, and I always loved finding new stuff. ...I do have to say, though, that I laugh at the guy in the Japanese Zelda interview who said he was having trouble making the green hat/tunic outfit look cool and that’s why it’s not prominent in the game when there are outfits like the Firebreaker (below) or the Radiant gear. I mean, really now?? LOL

Color - Speaking of color, this really does deserve it’s own bullet point! Just... wow. I am so used to seeing games that are dull and gritty and grey and brown, but this one... this one makes me so happy, you guys. They get every color imaginable in here, and they make them all work together in harmony to not only create gorgeous visuals, but landscapes that truly do feel like they have life. “Breath of the Wild” is such an appropriate title, my goodness.

Gameplay - This game is super fun to play!! And this is coming from someone who is terrible at games and died a lot. XD I am far from the most creative individual to play this game - never used my balloons once.. I should go back and try that on more things, lol - but still it was obvious just how many different solutions there were to things, like puzzles or how to take out a large group of enemies. And the physics! I didn’t think this was something I would really care about, but wow! Doing literally anything feels satisfying as the end result is what you would expect it to be - chopping down a tree, rolling a rock down a cliff, watching the wind take a bomb to exactly the spot you thought it would land, etc.

Wildlife - SO MUCH AND SO DIVERSE. Ok, yeah, like, over a dozen different types of mushrooms, but every kind is different. So many birds, bugs, fish, horses, deer, moose, RHINOS, BEARS! Flowers, trees, grass, bushes, vegetables! This world is full, you guys, so full! But never overly so - there are patches with not really anything of note. But it’s never a bad thing. Every quiet patch is like a brief pause, letting you get all the more excited when something does appear. Perfect balance of a lot of things in some places and not so much in others.

Weapons System - Ok, so, maybe I’m an outlier on this, but ultimately I think the whole weapon breaking thing really works. At first I was not thrilled with it as you are given very little inventory space, and I don’t like passing up on cool looking things. But once I realized this could be upgraded, I changed my mind. Would I like to be able to keep all the cooling looking stuff and use them forever, or at least longer? Yeah, but I feel like that might actually take away from the experience. This game is about thinking situations through and using what you have however you want. With your weapons limited, it forces you to think more instead of just, say, spamming the Master Sword on everything. And the fact that you are given the opportunity to upgrade the inventory slots if you want to made me eager to explore more areas to do just that. This game is all about exploration and the experience; I think ultimately this system works to really further that objective.

Puzzles - WOW! The puzzle lover in me was very pleased! All but maybe three times out of 120 shrines and 4 dungeons did I get irritated because of what felt like poor puzzle design. The rest were all fantastic - even if they have a DLC pack where all it does is add more shrines, I’m in, lol. I loved finding these things because I loved solving them. I am a puzzle person at heart, so this made me very, very happy.

Animation - OH MY GOSH, ok, I know everyone knows about cold Link and when he cooks, but did you know that if you stand still after you run out of stamina he eventually does two little fist pumps and grunts like, “Ok! Now I’m ready - let’s go.” when it’s full again? Or how he will wave to people? Or his face when a Great Fairy is trying to kiss him? Or how if you stand still late at night for too long he will start doing the head nod thing where he’s trying to keep himself awake? Or how his body gradually flushes red when he’s chilly, even when simply equipping frost gear, and goes back to normal when he’s comfortable? Or when he eats? Or is hot? Or literally anything??? Because it’s great. I love it. The characters - especially Link - are all very expressive in this game thanks to the great animation.

Miscellaneous:

Favorite Creature: The dragons - I would stand in awe every time one was in the area, just taking in the music and how pretty and cool they were.

Favorite Character: Prince Sidon - I’m pretty sure every fangirl loves him, but, like, he’s so nice and friendly and seems genuinely cool?? lol Easily liked him the best.

Favorite Armor: The one you get when completing all the shrines, lol.

Best Throwback Music Usage: THE ORIGINAL DEATH MOUNTAIN THEME FOR DEATH MOUNTAIN HECK YEAH

Favorite Random Detail: They give an explanation for why Link is so quiet, and it’s a great one. Previous to finding this bit, I was a little torn on Link’s presentation in the cutscenes. I thought he was a bit bland, especially considering how animated he is in game. This changed my opinion completely.

Favorite Sign: “Rest Yer Bones” XD (also I’m pretty sure one says “poops”...)

Part That Made Me Laugh the Most: Risa in the Gerudo “Voe and You” class - I was not always completely cool with how they characterized some of the Gerudo, but my gosh, sitting in on that class and going through all the dialogue options was WORTH IT. XD

Things I Need to Do (More):

Ride a horse (I RARELY did this - I preferred running and climbing everywhere)

Customize a horse

Try to ride literally anything because you’d be shocked at what is ridable

LEARN TO FREAKING PARRY

Experiment more with food - once you know the best recipes, you stop trying new things

Actually use Stasis...

...not to mention Korok leaves

Completely translate the Shiekah and Hylian languages - I can read most every Hylian sign now, but I forgot to write down my Shiekah translations...

Try to translate Gerudo/Yiga (that... might be harder, lol)

Take more screenshots because did I mention how awesome it is that the Switch can do that??

Conclusion:

I’m sure there are things I meant to cover here that I forgot about as there really is just SO MUCH to this game, but this is quite long enough, and kudos if you bothered reading this long already, lol. But I really do love this game, and I had a ton of fun with it. Truth be told, it is not my favorite Zelda game, but it is ONE of my favorites, and honestly it deserves the praise it’s been getting. Is it perfect? No. Would I personally give it a 10/10? No. But do I think the people who are scoring it as such are completely wrong? No - a lot of things I personally had issues with, I know other people did not, and while I do like the general Zelda formula, I can appreciate that others are happy to see it gone. I do hope they fix up some things for future games - better voice acting, more interesting dungeons/bosses, etc - but more in the vein of Breath of the Wild would be fine by me. Because Nintendo created a world I could truly get lost in, and I would gladly lose another month of my life to a next installment, lol.

Thank you, Nintendo. I love this game. <3 And I’m glad so many others are loving it too!