#oot tp and st

[clowns0up-felix]

Linktober day 13- Link (part 1 here)

You saw it coming I KNOW it was obvious I KNOW it’s not new and fun anymore I KNOW, SUE ME

I drew the Zelda’s kinda without having heights in mind too much and now that I had to draw the links (for who I have pretty established height differences) it was made extremely clear to me how off it looks,, mask is so hunched over I’m crying,,,,,,,, actually looks so strange don’t study too closely, thanks!

Y’all can always send asks to request doodles nd stuff don’t be shy (if I don’t do them im SORRYYY I still appreciate them)

Alsoooo not being humble and modest at all and having to brag that in theory I’m the holder of the wr for the eow long flag race speedrun,,, bc the wr is 32.10 seconds and I beat it in 31.96 seconds but bc I can’t record my switch for longer than 30s it’s all for nothing (I type this as I lie on a pool of tears)

[theauthorandtheartist]

I had a dream the other night that i can't stop thinking about, where a new LOZ game was released in a similar vein to TOTK, except instead of collecting sages like in that game, there was a series of dungeons/temples that were directly tied to other LOZ games, and at the end, you gained the ability to summon the avatar/ghost of the hero from said game -like the TOTK sages- to help on your quest (and get a fun power up). All of the links would have stilted dialogue with you at first, but as the game goes on they get more friendly and at the end of the game theres a cutscene where they all "move on" and it's super emotional cuz by this point they're all brothers (player-link actually emotes during this cutscene, the only time he does so, for an extra punch in the gut). I don't remember all of the details, but what I do remember was:

A Palace of the Four Sword dungeon where you gained the Link(s) from FSA. FSA Link was the simplest in terms of abilities, the avatar would split into 4 and distract enemies/fight alongside you. Pretty sure this was the first one/tutorial temple. Later on this link gives you a sidequest after which you gain the Four Sword as a weapon (its the second strongest in the game behind the master sword).

A Tower of Winds dungeon where you got Minish Cap Link to tag along. He allows you to shrink for short periods of time to get through locked doors/escape danger. Don't remember much about this dungeon except that there's a timer to get through it before yiu have to start over.

Forest temple/great deku tree/kokiri forest type place where Oot/MM link joins up with you. He allows you to rewind time for a little bit (basically the recall ability but on everything including you). Later on He gives a sidequest that results in obtaining the Fierce Deity Mask (best armor in the game).

Arbiter grounds dungeon where you get TP link. He's basically a glorified horse; you ride him around.

Tower of the Gods dungeon where you get WW/PH Link to tag along. He's like Revali's Gale and Tulin's gust in one.

The dungeon to get the Master Sword is like the Skyview Temple, and to be allowed to draw it you must beat SS Link as the final boss of the temple, After which he joins you on your quest. He allows you to do skyward strikes with any one handed weapon.

A secret, optional dungeon that you only unlock by falling asleep on this random island. It's kohohlit. The only avatars/ghosts that you can access here are OoT/MM Link and WW/PH Link (because PH was a dream and MM was an alternate reality). By the end, You get Alttp/albw/LA link who can put enemies to sleep for a time. Later he gives you a sidequest to get ravio's bracelet, which opens up a few easter eggs and secret loot.

Other links/games were included as easter eggs but they don't stick around. BOTW/TOTK Link is a recurring ghostly NPC who you can find in all the weirdest places, offering seemingly nonsensical trades that change every time you see him (10 frogs for 13 bombs, a ruby for an apple pie, 35 monster parts for a single ancient arrow, etc). There's a few places around hyrule where you see two-bit LOZ1/LOZ2 Link just vibing. ST Link takes the place of Purah or Robbie as the eccentric scientist/engineer who will upgrade your stuff if you bring him materials, and he can also upgrade your ghost-Link-friend's abilities as well since he's -y'know- Hero of Spirits.

There's murals in the castle from Cadence of Hyrule, and there's "ancient history books" about HW and AoC. Throughout Hyrule you'll meet various NPCs claiming to be from different countries here to see "the birthplace of the hero of Holodrum/Labrynnia/Calatia."

Various Zelda's would show up too. You get a sidequest where you have to sneak aboard a ghost pirate ship. It's Tetra's. There's a mysterious sheikah warrior who repeatedly accosts you on your travels to loredump and test if you're ready to fight the big bad. She only ever brings you down to half heart, at which point she makes a disappponted comment and leaves. you aren't able to beat her until near endgame, at which point she reveals herself as sheik, has a brief conversation with Oot/MM Link, gives you some cryptic foreshadowing advice and a few fairies, and dips. BOTW/TOTK zelda is similar to her link since she can be found all over the place, but she deals exclusively in ancient materials and dragon parts. TP Zelda gives lore/exposition when you finally make it to the castle, right before the big bad fight.

Big bad is an amalgamation of all ganons/ganondorfs/big bads across the timelines. He telegraphs attacks via shifting forms to look like various bad guys (forms tentacles like bellum and Majora (at the same time) before slam attack, gets blue pig face before charge attack, long purple vaati hair and bat wings before AOE gust attack, scales up his arm and X on face before big AOE lightning blast, and big fuck-all sword and gerudo features before slashing. 2nd phase has it split into like 5 separate beings to fight you and all your friends at once (each one has different features: one is similar to bellum/majora, one is more beast-ganon, one more demise, one Vaati-esque one, and one Ganondorf-like one). The music is harsh and disjointed, cobbled together from many other games, and the noises that the beast makes are screeching and painful.

By the end of the game, there's a big deal made by SS link that you are the final Link in the cycle, that it's over, that you finished what he couldn't. There's a sense of hope, but also of sorrow, since all your new friends are leaving now. They're ghosts, they're dead, they've done their duty and it's time for them to rest. Before they go, though, each one gives you one last gift (the ability they've been helping you with this whole time) and one last sidequest (one for each of them) for you to accomplish: find their treasures, keep them safe.

Post game is you running around without the ghosts (FSA Link's ability duplicates you now, giving you 3 buddies to fight with, but they can't give dialogue and they last like 30 seconds so it's not the samel), doing mini-dungeons and fetch-quests in order to obtain major key items (all old and unusable anymore) from the Links' adventures, (the Beetle, goddess harp, spinner, shards of the fused shadow, deku/goron/Zora masks, gnat hat, various kinstones, pictobox, deku leaf, LA instruments, Ocarina of Time, wind waker, etc) and some from games not mentioned previously or not from your gaggle of links, (Harp of ages, rod of seasons, silver arrows, a doppel, ST panpipes, a revival doll, Cadence of Hyrule Lute, HW blue Scarf, old and broken Terrako, champion's tunic, BOTW champion's picture, trirod, etc). In post-game, there are new NPCs to replace the links/zeldas that used to fill those niches, but it's not the same. They're gone. It's a bittersweet feeling.

After you finish all the post game and get all the treasures (basically 100%ing the game), you get an achievement called "archive of the ages" and a special cutscene where Player Link sets the Master sword down on the side of his bed, looks out the window of his house at the brilliantly setting sun, smiles, and falls asleep. You may no longer play on that save file anymore. The adventure is over.

Basically I dreamt up a game that was a love letter to the entire series, and I'm sad it was just a dream. Logically i know this will never happen because that would mean tying up LOZ and it's too much of a cash cow for Nintendo to ever stop making, but it was a wonderful dream to have for a little while.

[jackie-mae]

LOZ art dump! (Not shown: Thousands of scratched out notes of me trying to shove these games into a single timeline as opposed to whatever the hell the hyrule historia one is)

[linktheacehero]

In every life I will choose you

@zelinkcommunity

[starshipdecay]

My Links-meet AU at a glance! I wanted to finally sit down and draw them all, though the designs certainly are not final.

Feel free to (aka: please do) send asks and questions about them to give me things to draw about :D I have so many thoughts about them.

[t-5secondsart]

Linktober Day 17: Dragons

zelda (x12) immediately post swallowing a secret stone

[telemna-hyelle]

SUDDEN INSPIRATION FROM MY LAST POST BUT

would glass marbles be like candy for the gorons. or glass in general? because glass, is technically made of rock, and in the same way that there are sugars in most food, it's plausible that there's the goron's equivalent of sugar in sand, and when blown together and heated it's like, caramelization for the gorons.

Glass is goron toffee candy.

[zeldaversed]

The Legend of Zelda: Fate Unbound

Prologue: The Cycle Must End

Rating: M at its worst, I'm trying to keep it T. Depictions of gore, violence, themes of depression, war, battles, and some steamy scenes later on but nothing outright spicy, some strong language but nothing too explicit

Summary: One year after the events of Tears of the Kingdom, a mysterious man by the name of Sheik shows up on Link's doorstep telling him of a new incarnation of Ganondorf-- a once-great man being transformed into a wicked warlord in present time. Unwilling to allow the cycle to continue if he can stop it, Link recruits Zelda's head researcher and caretaker Asahi, a Sheikah warrior, to their cause. On the first leg of their journey, they are ambushed by bokoblins led by a shadow version of Link, who can match his every move. His knowledge too great to simply allow him to leave or end him, they decide to bring him along and limit his power with the use of Sheik's magic. Despite the warnings, Asahi and "Dark Link" find themselves drawn to one another. Unbeknownst to Asahi, her closeness to the shadow brings out a side she never knew she had, a side which may reveal that she's more than just the caretaker of the princess. For Dark Link, their growing bond may ruin his hidden agenda, the very reason for his existence. As far as Sheik is concerned, their relationship may spell the destruction of the entire quest, which may have been doomed from the start: After all, in order to stop the Curse of Demise, they need more than one incarnation of the Triforce and a weapon that never existed.

TL;DR: Link decides to put an end to the Curse of Demise with the help of a strange time-traveler Sheik, his best friend Asahi and a shadow-version of himself; Asahi and the Shadow are growing dangerously close while unlocking secrets that could end their quest to find a weapon to end the Curse.

Trigger Warnings: PTSD, gore, violence, mild steam, angst, forbidden/taboo love, enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, probably more I haven't thought of yet.

Word Count: Unsure

A/N: Asahi's appearance and name are loosely based off of Asahi from The Water Dragon's Bride, my favorite manga (besides Zelda, ofc). I've had this story in my head for a very, very, very long time and I'm really excited to finally be putting it out there, even if it's not in the comic form that I had originally wanted to do.

Media: Written for now, with some art and hopefully redrawn in manga form later on when I learn how to do it well.

Releases: Monthly, if possible. I work full-time and am in the midst of preparing for college, so I'll try to release chapters every other weekend alongside my usual content.

Anytime you see an embedded link (pun intended), it leads to related soundtrack.

The sky was a deep, soft orange when Link stepped out in the morning.

Sunrise was always his favorite time of day. It reminded him of peaceful mornings spent with Zelda before... everything. He stretched his arms over his head until his spine popped before he let them fall to his sides. Ruffling his hands through his long hair, he pulled out the tangles, enjoying the sensation of the dewy grass underfoot as he walked to the pond behind the house.

The little spring was warm compared to the chilly morning air, and as Link washed his hair and soaked in the early morning sunlight, his mind wandered.

It had been a long, difficult year, especially for Zelda. He was still getting used to his new arm, and sometimes he still got confused when he looked down and saw fur and claws, or when he felt phantom pains from an arm long gone. He was also still trying to process that he'd had to save Hyrule not once, but twice. He wondered if any of the other past heroes had slept for 100 years, defeated an eldritch abomination, then did it again barely seven years later. A bitter smirk played on his face before he dunked beneath the water.

But Zelda, gods, poor Zelda. She wasn't herself even now. After so long of being a dragon, she had lost much of who she once was. She complained of feeling her body dying, and of missing something. He would catch her staring at the sky for hours with an emotionless expression on her face. Not even researching interested her anymore, not for long. Sometimes something small would spark excitement, but it rarely lasted more than an hour.

In her dreamlike, catatonic state, she was in absolutely no place to run their kingdom, and neither was he. He needed to care for her 24/7, and he would. He appointed Purah and Paya to look after their affairs, trusting them enough to form a responsible council and make good decisions. So far, he hadn't had any complaints about the way they ran things; Hyrule was peaceful.

Not only were they reliable enough to run the country, but they had also appointed Link some much-needed help that he was too prideful to ask for. A young Sheikah girl had been assigned to help Link care for Zelda, and thankfully they had all been friends long before that fateful night. Asahi was probably the one person from the modern age that Zelda had been friends with, having met on an expedition three years prior to the Upheaval. An expert on Hyrulean history, her knowledge had been a great help to him during the whole ordeal, although he'd refused every attempt of hers to join him. He didn't want her to get hurt.

A bright, lovely young woman with deep red hair with black ends, and golden eyes, she looked nothing like the Sheikah; even her attire was different. Unsatisfied with the typical whites, reds, and beiges of Sheikah wear, Asahi wore deep mauves, reds, and browns. Purah told him that she had been adopted by a Sheikah couple who couldn't have children, and that she had been in an orphanage until she was three. The reclusive tribe never treated her any differently, however. Asahi was a capable warrior as well as a scholar, her knowledge on par with what Zelda's would have been if she were back to her old self.

Asahi's presence, teachings, and therapeutic sessions had certainly helped Zelda to cope. She smiled a bit more now.

Link left the bath, allowing his body to air-dry as he went back inside. He didn't have much planned for today. Besides some menial work in the gardens and cleaning the tack for their horses, Link had nothing to do but spend time with Zelda, which gave Asahi a much-needed day off. He glanced out his windows at the Bolson houses across the bridge. The smaller one, on the right from where he was standing, was Asahi's. Her lights were off, and he saw no movement; he chuckled a bit. She must be sleeping in.

Like someone else he knew. Turning around, Zelda was fast sleep in the bed, in her cozy pajamas and snoring ever so softly-- although she would vehemently deny that if he ever had the audacity to bring it up to her. Link dressed in some comfortable clothes and gave Zelda a kiss on the cheek before heading back downstairs.

Outside, it was already warming up. Summer in Hateno was still chilly thanks to the breeze from the frozen Lanayru mountains, but it was decent today. Link paused in the doorway and smiled in the sunlight, enjoying the sensation of the warmth on his skin. The sound of commotion across the bridge drew his attention to the Hateno children recklessly chasing some hot-footed frogs. At least they had an excuse today, more often than not they would linger on the other end of the bridge until Link or Asahi shooed them away, worried about the status of their teacher. Before the Upheaval, Zelda treated them as though they were her own children, and now...

She just didn't seem to care.

Link shook his head to clear his mind as the children followed the frogs down the path, making his own way to the stalls against the house. Here were there horses, comfortable in their own stalls: Prince, Link's white stallion, and Star, Zelda's golden mare. They both nickered eagerly at Link's approach, excited for breakfast. Happily, Link fed them each their own mixture of oats and hay flakes, petted them a bit, then made his way to the shed behind the house, where their tack was stored.

He had only just started cleaning it when movement near the pond caught his eye. His head shot up, and he froze. Zelda. Hair disheveled from sleep, still in her nightgown, she slowly walked across the field, as though in a trance.

Immediately, Link put his tools away. So not to scare her, he snuck up quickly behind her so that he could follow closely, unsure if she was sleepwalking or experiencing an episode-- it had been a week since her last one, and Link had started to get hopeful. His heart hammered in his chest as he followed her all the way to the edge of the cliff-- where she let out a sudden, violent scream as she tried to walk off the edge.

Link lunged, snatching her by the waist and yanking her back, causing them both to fall. Zelda instantly snapped out of her trance, sobbing profusely. "I was flying, Link, I was flying--" she inhaled sharply, burying her face in her hands as Link held her close. "Link... Help me... I'm dying! I'm dying!"

"Asahi!" Link's shout hopefully carried far enough to wake her; often, it took Asahi and Link both to calm her after an episode like this. Link squeezed Zelda's frail body, knowing that the sensation grounded her in reality sometimes.

The sound of running footsteps brought his attention to Asahi. She too was still in her pajamas-- a pair of old, worn trousers cut off at the knees and an old shirt. Her odd hair, short like Zelda's, was sticking in all directions. She had clearly been asleep, and Link thought it odd she was here so quickly. "I heard her scream," Asahi breathlessly explained, kneeling beside them. "What happened?"

"Another episode," Link managed to say around the lump in his throat. Goddess, please save her...

Asahi gently pulled Zelda's hands away from her face beaming at her-- he wasn't sure if it was her Sheikah training, or simply her personality, but she could hide her worry better than he could. "Princess, are you troubled again?" Her voice was soft and gentle, soothing even to Link.

"I'm dying!" Zelda cried, slumping over into Link's arms. His heart shattered as he pulled her close.

"We all die, princess," Asahi said softly, "I'm dying, too." It was all Link could do not to start sobbing alongside the princess. Often, he felt like he never should have rescued her from her dragonic form. She would not have known who she was, or even that she used to be a Hylian. She would simply be, for eternity, and wouldn't have to feel any of this pain. As though sensing his guilt, Asahi laid a hand gently on his arm and said softly, "Let's take her inside."

Without hesitation, Link scooped the grieving princess in his arms and carried her back into the house, Asahi following close behind.

It took them nearly all day to calm Zelda.

Asahi made a soup of mushrooms and Sheikah spices, techniques used by her people to cure madness. He didn't like the idea of using such things, implying Zelda was mad, but... She almost was. After several hours, Link had made Asahi leave so that she could eat and properly dress while he watched over Zelda, who, when she finally did stop crying, laid on the bed and stared out of the window, straight at the bleak, stormy sky in a catatonic state.

Ever since her episodes began, they had moved the bed so that she could easily see out of the windows. Sometimes the sight of the sky calmed her.

Others, it made her frantic.

In her lucid moments, Zelda couldn't remember her episodes at all. She didn't even want to try to think about it. She would make food, then stay snuggled against Link until she ultimately fell into a peaceful sleep.

It was as though she were asleep even now. Her eyes were open, but even if Link started yelling he very much doubted if she would be able to respond. He watched her, eyes trailing along her face and taking in every detail. It should be me. He was the hero. He was the bearer of the Triforce of Courage. Why couldn't he have been thrown back in time, forced to turn into a dragon to restore the Master Sword? If given the chance, he would switch places with her in a heartbeat.

A knock at the door got his attention. Asahi must be back. With one final glance at Zelda, he jogged downstairs and opened the door, wincing against the sudden onslaught of rain, expecting her arms to be full as she rarely ever knocks--

--his hand went to his blade at once. "Do I know you?"

The mysterious visitor only narrowed his eyes. "No, you do not. Not yet."

Link tensed his body, preparing to strike if needed. The man was clothed fully from head-to-toe in close-fitting, off-white clothes, leather, and light armor; the Sheikah eye was emblazoned in gold on his chest. Deep brown eyes cut through Link like daggers, and sandy blond hair hung from his tight-bandaged, sky-blue cap, falling to his shoulders and in front of his covered face. A curved, golden harp hung at his lower back, and a long, faded blue scarf was wrapped around his neck. "Who are you?" Link knew pretty much all of the Sheikah in Kakariko, and they never wore attire like this. Yiga, maybe? But here? Now?

"Hello, Hero of Wilds," Answered the visitor, his voice deep and smooth. Link tensed, the hair on the back of his neck standing up. "I have waited a very long time for our meeting." He showed Link his gloved palms. "I am no threat to you, nor your princess. I come bearing a message... and a request. You may choose to hear me, just as you may choose to deny my request. This is up to you, hero."

Link regarded the visitor carefully. "Where do you come from?"

The man replied, "I will happily explain everything. I am willing to meet you elsewhere if it comforts you."

Slowly, Link nodded. "I'm waiting on someone. When she returns, I will hear you." He wasn't sure why he agreed. Maybe some small part of him hoped that this message wasn't bad news, although he felt in his heart that it could be no other kind. He refused to move from the doorway, however; he stood on the balls of his feet, prepared to strike if necessary. Whatever happened, this stranger would not take Zelda. He trusted Asahi's capabilities to keep her safe in his absence.

As promised, she hastily returned, carrying a couple of books and a half-eaten sandwich which she still munched on as she hurried across the bridge and up the path to the house. She paused behind the visitor, brow furrowed; he turned, breaking the staredown with Link. Much taller than her, he glowered down at her; Link braced himself, but Asahi only turned to Link, a bit confused. "Link, who's this?"

"I don't know," He answered, ignoring the visitor as he snatched his cloak. "But I'm about to find out. Can you take care of Zelda while I'm away? I'm sorry to drop her solely on--"

"Shut up. Go." She brushed past him, eyeing the visitor with a suspicious glance before closing the door behind Link. Unwilling to risk a brawl in front of the citizens of Hateno, Link escorted the visitor to the beach, empty due to the weather. The rain was lighter now, but still dreary enough to keep people away.

"So who are you?" Link demanded. "First I would know your name, and where you're from."

"I am called Sheik," Said the visitor, to which Link turned to face him. The name sounded... poorly imagined, at best. Why would he only take the first part of "Sheikah?" What's his real name? "And I am from very far away."

"What does that mean?" Link challenged.

"If I wanted you to know, I would tell you," Sheik responded coldly, to which Link balked.

"You said you'd explain everyth--"

Sheik interrupted him swiftly. "I said that I would explain everything, yes, but about my purpose here, not my personal details."

A spark of anger ignited in Link's chest, the emotion bellowing out before he could stop it. He took a couple of menacing steps toward Sheik, and in an explosion of light like he'd thrown a dazzlefruit, the warrior disappeared. Link gasped and struggled to regain his eyesight, furiously blinking away the afterimage of the flash. He drew his blade. "Where are you?!"

"I told you I wasn't here to harm anyone," Sheik reiterated, from behind him now. Link whipped around. The warrior was standing a short distance away, on top of a massive pile of driftwood that the villagers had been gathering for months. Lazily, he plucked at the harp, a single, beautiful note pealing from the instrument before fading into silence. The calls of the gulls overwhelmed the ending. "But if you come at me with violence, then I shall return the favor." His amber eyes, alight with a deep ferocity, cut through Link like a blade. The warrior shook his head, evoking another note from his harp. "Do you know of the Cycle of Resurrection?"

Link didn't sheath his blade just yet. He had no idea what this man was capable of. Instead, he stayed right where he was. "...Yes." How could he not? 10,000 years ago, Ganondorf became the Demon King, and was sealed before returning as Calamity Ganon, and then again in his newly revitalized form after that. And apparently, it had been happening for far longer than just 10,000 years, if Asahi's deep dives into Hyrulean history were to be believed.

Another note, this time off-key. "Do you know how it started?" When Link was silent, Sheik glanced at him before closing his eyes, then began to play a beautiful, haunting melody. Softly, Sheik began to sing.

"Oh youth, guided by the servant of the goddess,

Unite Earth and Sky

And bring light to the land."

Sheik glanced at Link, whose body had frozen in place. Link's skin crawled with chills, a deep knot of nostalgia rolling in his core. "...Sound familiar, hero?" Link could only stare, speechless. Where have I... heard that before? "Music is powerful in Hyrule. More so in the ancient ages. It could turn night to day, summon violent storms, heal a soul, change the season... Reverse time itself. Hyrule has forgotten its roots."

Link swallowed hard. "You mentioned the Cycle of Resurrection. What of its beginning?"

Sheik stared at Link for a moment longer before turning his gaze to the ocean. "In the beginning, there was no such thing as Hyrule. The world's citizens simply coexisted peacefully after the Golden Goddesses created the land. Din, Nayru, Farore; they left, leaving in their wake a legendary artifact with a power that would destroy the world time and time again. This artifact--" He plucked a string, "Was called the Triforce."

Link's heart skipped a beat. His mind went to the motifs present in the throne room of Hyrule Castle, even the champion's gear and Zelda's royal attire. The symbols, the statues of golden triangles with three parts. Wisdom, courage, and power. Granted, he knew very little about it until he came to know Zelda more, and they both learned more from Asahi, but knowledge on the Triforce was limited indeed. He said nothing, allowing Sheik to continue.

"The gods could not touch it. The Triforce and the Kingdom was watched over by a lesser goddess, Hylia. Peace lasted for many years, until a vengeful Demon King known as Demise brought forth his armies in a vicious battle for the Triforce's power. He was defeated by a hero clad in green chosen by the Goddess, and sealed away. Knowing that he would return, Hylia shed her holy form and was reborn as a mortal girl, able to wield the Triforce against the Demon King.

"Reborn alongside her was the Chosen Hero. His name," here Sheik turned, meeting his gaze. "Was Link."

Link's heart dropped. "When Link and the goddess reborn, Zelda, faced the Demon King, he was defeated once and for all; or so they thought. With his dying breath, Demise swore that he would return time and time again to confront those with the blood of the goddess and the spirit of the hero. For eons, this cycle of bloodshed has continued ceaselessly." Sheik began to play a mournful ballad; Link sucked in a breath.

How long has this been going on for?

Sheik continued without pause. "Through time, twilight, floods, even the Calamity, Demise's own chosen one-- a Gerudo boy, born very rarely-- is entirely unable to resist the influence of the demon, just as the hero is unable to fight the goddess's lead. Again and again, individuals are used by the gods to battle for an artifact they recklessly left behind. This, Hero of Wilds, is where you come in.

"In all of my travels, I have not yet met an incarnation of the hero and the goddess so similar to the original. Many incarnations have been deeply bonded; the Era of Time was a distinctly pivotal moment in Hyrule's history--"

"Hold on," Link interrupted breathlessly, trying to process everything he was hearing, "What do you mean, that you've met? What sort of travels?"

Sheik regarded him carefully, then rolled his eyes. "I wasn't finished, but... You recall me informing you that music has power-- or rather, had power. It seems that this era of Hyrule has forgotten that, as I've said." He rested a hand on the top of one of his harp's arms. "This harp is a replica of the one that the first incarnation of Zelda used. It is what allows me to travel so effortlessly across vast distances of land, sea, sky... and time."

Resentment, cold and ugly, reared its head. What was so difficult, nigh impossible, for him and Zelda to overcome, what effects her even still, is so easily done for this mysterious newcomer. With a harp. Link wanted to scream. He wanted to activate ultra-hand and send the pile of debris flying with Sheik on top. His growing anger didn't stop Sheik from continuing as though nothing happened.

"Your extensive trials, and Zelda's transformation into the dragon, has made for an impressive duo. You both have obtained new powers, the likes of which few incarnations have seen. You are also one of few heroes to witness the rise of Ganondorf twice-- soon to be three times, if we do not act fast."

"Stop!" Link cried, heart racing. "What are you talking about?! You're insane!" Surely this was some Yiga's ploy to frighten and disorient him. No way in Hylia is anything he's saying true.

"Am I?" Sheik hopped down from the debris pile. "You do not trust me, clearly. But shall I show you?" He extended a hand toward Link. His hand tightened on his blade.

"What exactly are you going to show me?"

Sheik was silent. "I could show you the first battle that started it all, the Imprisoning War, or take you to meet one of your predecessors. It's entirely up to you, hero. I will give you your choice."

Link hesitated. If this was a Yiga...

But if it wasn't, and what he was saying was true, then there may be a way to end the cycle. Their descendants would never have to worry about Ganon again. Sheik's hand remained extended. Link did not take it, did not sheath his blade. "Show me what I did this morning."

"Very well," Said Sheik, and played a melody on his instrument that chilled Link to the bone. The world flashed a deep, slate gray, and it was over in the blink of an eye. Physically, he felt no different, but something was definitely... off. The sky had darkened.

It was dawn again.

The rain was gone, and all was dry.

Link shuddered. Simple Yiga magic, probably. He's just trying to scare me.

"Come with me, hero." Sheik led him back up the way they had came. "Your past self cannot see your present self. It is one of the many rules of traveling through time."

Reluctantly, Link sheathed his blade and followed Sheik through the streets, wondering how in the world the warrior could navigate them so well, especially the back roads. Eventually they came to crest a ridge, where Link and Sheik could look down on the village of Hateno. At first, he saw nothing out of the ordinary besides the change in day; until he saw Zelda, leaving the house. She drifted across the field as though in a trance, and he recognized the events of this morning playing out before his very eyes.

Link flinched and turned away as Zelda's cry rang in his ears. I'm dying! He hated hearing her say those words. "Traveling through time is not easy, hero. If you decide to join me, see if our first recruit will tell you of his own travels. He waits for us at the edge of two eras."

Link whipped around. "So what exactly is your plan, then? Just gather a bunch of incarnations of the hero and fight this new Ganon one-on-one?"

"If it were that easy, we would have already done so," Sheik countered, following Link down the hill. "My travels have led me down many paths, and in all my years I have found only one lead. It is this one lead which has led me to take action." Link heard the rustling of old parchment and turned, finding Sheik pulling a small scroll out of his pocket. He unrolled it and read it, a shimmer of hope in the warrior's eyes.

"In realms unseen, where monsters dispel,

Fragments of courage, wisdom dwell.

Gather them, a scattered gleam,

An army born, a mighty feat.

The Demon King, a shadow's blight,

Seeks to consume the fading light.

But hope remains, a flicker bright,

A weapon forged in darkest night.

No blade of steel, no arrow's flight,

But whispers born of ancient might.

Find it in a place beyond time,

Following the spirit guide.

A bond unbreakable, a love so true,

To break the curse, and see it through.

The cycle ends, the blood shall cease,

When courage finds its final piece.

Wisdom's light, a guiding hand,

Will lead the way to a free land."

"It is poorly written," Sheik admitted, "But it is the only reference to the end of the cycle that I've found. I discovered it quite by chance; centuries after your era, and Hyrule still knows peace. It appears that something must have happened to stop the demon's spirit from continuing its hateful wrath."

"Can't we just wait for it to happen, then?" Link countered.

"It's not that simple," Sheik told him, and showed him the parchment, pointing to a corner in the bottom of the page.

Link's heart dropped. "That's--"

"Your signature, yes?" He wasn't sure if he imagined it or not, but Sheik smirked. "You wrote this, hero. But not yet. When you write it, we will have already long since undertaken this journey, discovered what we needed, and found an end to the Cycle. But your cryptic message makes it impossible to simply translate and find what we need."

Link sank to the ground, sitting on a rock and letting his head fall into his hands. The sensation of claws on his right hand made him want to throw up. "So you're telling me I have no choice?"

"You have the illusion of choice," Sheik corrected, "But the gods have plans for you yet, hero. And that princess of yours."

Link jumped to his feet, immediately defensive. "Zelda is in no condition to travel."

"I wholeheartedly agree," Sheik returned his harp to its place on his back. "But what of the girl?"

"Asahi?" He wished he hadn't said her name, who knows what this traveler might try to do with that information? "What about her?"

Sheik shook his head. "Do not think you are the only one I've been watching, Hero of Wilds. Asahi is a Sheikah. Not only does her combative prowess make her a prime candidate for an adventure such as this, but her knowledge of Hyrulean history nearly rivals that of Zelda's; and your princess is in no way up to the task. We cannot wait for her recovery, either."

"You said that I'd face three incarnations of Ganondorf," Link breathed, running his hands through his hair in frustration. "What did you mean by that?"

Sheik paused briefly, then explained, "Due to the Calamity, the Gerudo were very careful about having a male child. Their efforts were in vain. A boy was born, Ganondorf, around sixty years after the Calamity. He was banished as an infant and raised by twin witches in a hut in the middle of nowhere. He went by a different name and started as a good person. He traveled Hyrule, was well-read, and had many friends. No one knew he was a male Gerudo. Recently, however, due in part to the Calamity's return and the Upheaval, Demise's grasp has taken hold of him and is slowly crushing his humanity. He is building an army in the Depths, though he does not understand why. He is losing himself to the madness of the curse, and he cannot stop it. If we do not, then he will rise as another incarnation of the Demon King, and your blade will be called upon once more."

Link's stomach churned. He felt like he was going to be sick. His skin felt cold and clammy, his vision swam. Not again. Sheik patted Link on the shoulder as he walked by. "This would be a difficult decision for anyone, hero. Do not think your predecessors leapt at the chance, either. I will be in the inn for three days. If you do decide to join me, find me there."

Before he left, he played another quick song; Link grimaced as the sun violently shot from one place in the sky to the next before being hidden by cloud cover. Rain came pelting down. Sheik pulled up the hood of his scarf and headed back toward the village, leaving Link to wrestle with his own conflicted feelings.

Hylia, what do I do now?

When Link returned home, it was nearly nightfall. His heart and head heavy with everything he had learned-- and been shown-- by Sheik, he spilled all of the information to Asahi, his only source of friendship. Zelda, thankfully, was asleep finally. He told Asahi in the tool shed, unwilling to allow Zelda to overhear anything that might upset her.

Asahi stood in the doorway, chewing anxiously on her lip and curling the rope necklace she wore around the fingers of one hand, stroking the amber pendant with the other. "Goddesses, even though he used that powerful of magic, how are we supposed to be believe he's being truthful about everything? What if he's just a really powerful sorcerer looking to trap you in the past so that he can get rid of you and Zelda?" Her eyes widened. "And he knows I'd protect her in your absence."

"But if what he says is true," Link pinched the bridge of his nose, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. "Then Ganon is coming back for another round, and I honestly don't know if either of us can handle another battle like that. Zelda certainly can't. Not right now. And if I know Ganon, he'll strike before she's ready at all."

"So what do we do?" Asahi questioned softly.

Silence filled the shed, broken only by the soft pattering of rain. Link and Asahi dwelled on their choice of options... or, rather, the illusion of choice, as Sheik had so wonderfully put it. "That... prophecy, or whatever it was... It really did have my signature on it."

Asahi couldn't stifle her smirk. "He said it was 'poorly written,' so, I believe it."

With an exaggerated roll of his eyes, Link stood. "Should we sleep on it?"

Asahi shrugged, letting her arms fall to her sides. "I'm with you, Link, whatever you decide to do. If that weirdo wants me along too, then... Oh well. Purah and Paya are more than capable of protecting Zelda."

"They aren't the most deadly Sheikah in over 100 years," Link countered playfully-- Asahi beamed, her eyes squinting shut as she did so. Her bubbly nature hid a very powerful, bone-crushing kick, sharp skill with a blade, and an array of Sheikah magic. "Still... I'll try to sleep on it."

Asahi only shrugged again; she gathered her things before she left, and Link patrolled the house dutifully for hours-- no, who was he fooling? He was pacing, up and down the stairs, around his living room in circles, up in the bedroom... That paper had his signature on it. Even if Sheik was watching for much longer than he let on, how would he have gotten close enough to copy Link's signature when he'd only used it a handful of times in his life? He paused at the top of the stairs, freezing as Zelda stirred. Her brow furrowed and she whimpered softly; the beginnings of a nightmare, but hopefully it would pass.

His mind wandered to all those before them, if what Sheik says is true. How much pain and agony they must have suffered. If Ganon really does come again, how would Zelda survive such an onslaught? She wouldn't, he realized grimly, I doubt if she would even be able to summon an ounce of power. Link couldn't do it by himself. If Ganon came again, Hyrule would fall, for good this time.

His heart skipped a beat.

Link snatched his cloak, locked the door, and ran across the bridge. He raced up to Asahi's door, raising a fist to knock, when it opened--

Asahi, but not in the comfortable tunic and leggings she had worn earlier. Already, she wore the snug Sheikah attire, built for stealth and dyed a deep black. Her face was concealed by a mask, a crimson wrapping around her head and fingertips. An armament of kunai blades hung at her hips, and he knew hidden in her gear was an assortment of weapons and tools galore besides that. A bit of her reddish hair stuck out from under the cap, and Link was struck by how similar her attire resembled Sheik's. "Figured you'd decide to join him, buddy. Decided I might as well get prepared."

A smile slowly spread across Link's face. "We could be going straight to our deaths, y'know."

Asahi raised an eyebrow. "Is that supposed to deter me?" She waved him on. "Go get the warrior. I'll make preparations to teleport Zelda to the Sheikah village in the morning."

At her words, Link tossed her the key to his house and raced through the empty streets. Rainwater splashed from puddles, soaking his legs and the hem of his tunic. He was nearly out of breath when he pushed open the doors of the inn, lungs heaving for air as he scanned the room, ignoring the surprised stare of the innkeeper as he jolted from his sleep. Sheik wasn't hard to find; in his white and blue armor, he stood out like a sore thumb. He sat at one of the tables, calmly sipping on his drink, as Link rapidly approached and plopped down on the seat across from him. "We'll join you," Link rasped, struggling to regain his stamina from the sprint down the road, "But we leave tomorrow, after we send Zelda somewhere safe."

Sheik leaned back, lounging in his seat. "Excellent," His amber eyes crinkled as he smiled beneath his mask. "What changed your mind, hero?"

Zelda. Our ancestors. Our descendants. If there really is a way to stop this... "The cycle must end."

"I make no promises," Sheik told him. "None whatsoever. We have a mere glimmer of hope that we can even put an end to this cycle at all. This letter could mean nothing, or we may not figure it out, leading to a branch in the timeline... Regardless of the outcome, I will return you to this time, hero, and I will help you stop Ganondorf if it comes to that."

Link felt a bit of relief, but he tried not to show it. Sheik extended his hand to Link once more. "Are you still so sure about this decision?"

This time, Link took it, shaking his hand firmly. "I will do whatever it takes to keep any incarnation of Zelda from facing this suffering again."

Sheik smiled. "Then we will leave as soon as you are ready."

Link's heart hammered in his chest with the adrenaline of such a hasty decision. He could only hope that he made the right choice; for everyone's sakes.

I take no credit for any gifs, images, or music used here!

Please enjoy! If you'd like to be added to the tag list, just let me know!

[gaylight-prairie]

Bunch of guys i did whilst testing out a custom brush

[emuanon34]

This is a hard pill to swallow but I think we should start accepting that the Zelda franchise is episodic and does not have serialized storytelling except for direct sequels.

[aikoiya]

LoZ: The Wild Series is an Inevitable Event at the End of the Adult & Child Timelines

I just realized something. The time of legends that the Zonai lived in Hyrule for, had to have taken place after not only Skyward Sword, but also Twilight Princess/Spirit Tracks/Adventure of Link.

One major reason being that the Great Plateau was in the same place in TotK's past as it was in BotW & TotK's Present.

Like, you can literally see it in TotK's 6th Tear Memory. And you know that it's in the same exact place because Ganondorf is standing on the East Gerudo Mesa & facing north northwest. Directly in the direction of the Great Plateau in the present.

However, we can assume that it wasn't always there. Having likely instead been either in the Woodland area, right where the Great Hyrule Forest is now, as the bog has nearly the exact same shape as the Great Plateau. Or exactly where the Forgotten Temple is. The Great Plateau being the sight of not only OoT's Castle Town, but its Hyrule Castle. However, as is, both are oriented wrong.

And we know this because OoT's map also had a compass rose &, just like in BotW/TotK, Castle Town was located north & the Gerudo Desert was located west.

However, if one were to enter the remains of OoT's Castle Town, you would be entering it from the north, which would mean that the desert should be to the east, but that isn't what we see.

The desert remains west.

Meaning that, either the entirety of the Gerudo Desert swapped sides or the Plateau has been relocated & spun around. And on a scale of things that are impossible, the Plateau being moved seems just that little bit less so.

However, we can't be sure whether the switch was a result of pure magic or megi-tech as the machinery under the Plateau was Sheikah in origin & likely wasn't there during the time of the Zonai.

Either way, if this is the case, then OoT's map would've much more readily fit within the Wild Series' map.

The fact that it remains in the same place as the present even 10,000 years before, suggests that whatever switched Plateau 100% happened before Rauru refounded Hyrule.

In fact, another thing we see in the 6th Tear Memory is the second reason, which is the fact that all the Gerudo except for Ganondorf all have pointed ears while the ones from OoT don't. Creating a Champion even addresses this & says that the ancient Gerudo had rounded ears.

Third reason being the presence of both the Zora & Rito as major parts of the story.

It has to be after Skyward Sword, period, due to the absence of the Zora. Now whether you subscribe to the theory that the Parella or the Tadtones are the ancient ancestors of the Zora is irrelevant. The point is, the Zora themselves are not present.

And the Zonai could only have appeared after Four Swords Adventure/Spirit Tracks/Adventure of Link due to the Rito being present during Rauru's reign. (Possibly even Hyrule Warriors if you wanna consider it canon adjacent. It'd certainly work as a way to fuse the 3 timelines back together. And it's possible that New Hyrule is still out there & inhabited by Spirit Tracks' Link & Zelda's ancestors.)

Therefore, this lends credence to the theory that Rauru wasn't actually the first king of Hyrule, so much as the first king of Hyrule since the last of many, many, many massive near apocalypses in Hyrule's long fucking history.

Nintendo outright saying that the game happens so far into the future that all the other games are considered myth & legend confirms this. As a result, it's likely that Rauru named his kingdom after the Hyrule of legend & most likely truly believes that he was the first king of Hyrule because of this.

I think that Hyrule was likely destroyed once more after the FSA. To such a degree, in fact, that not only was the monarchy destroyed & the Hyruleans were basically back to square one as a race again, but the Gorons retreated underground to Gorondia. After which, the Zonai appeared, & Hyrule was refounded.

Something else to remember is that, in the Child Timeline, the Deku Tree stated that the reason he was having the Koroks plant trees all over the Great Sea was in an attempt to reconnect the land, thereby rebuilding Hyrule on top of the old one. And keep in mind that Tetra left the Great Sea to found a new kingdom. Meaning that the area where this reconstructed Hyrule would be had no defined power structure, let alone a monoarchy.

Also, the past events of TotK happened around 10,000 years ago with the first Calamity depicted on Impa's screen (I hc as having been) around 100 years later. That Zelda having been the daughter of Rauru & Sonia (we don't actually know how long Zonai can live) & the red-headed Zonai known as the Ancient Hero being a Link.

Personally, I believe that he was actually the next Gerudo male to be born, as Urbosa only said that there have been no male leaders of the Gerudo since Ganondorf, which means that those males might've simply not been made leaders of the Gerudo.

I'm saying that these Voe ARE being born, but due to the 2-4 previous Ganondorfs, there is a systemic misandrony within Gerudo culture that leads to mothers either not returning to the desert upon birthing voe in the best case, & either abandoning the voe or outright killing them at worst.

TotK's Ganondorf also has to be a different one as OoT's remastered Ganondorf after 7 years, TP's Ganondorf, & WW's Ganondorf all had pointed ears, while TotK Ganondorf has rounded ones. Meaning he most likely doesn't have the Triforce of Power, which is likely what initially made the 1st Ganondorf's ears become pointed, which you can see after OoT Link's 7 year nap.

Same with HW Ganondorf, who also possessed the Triforce of Power. Which he's been able to keep the Triforce over multiple lifetimes & through resurrections.

Anyway, my thoughts are that the Ancient Hero lived in a small Hylian village with his father at least & thus grew up Hylian. Then, when he was discovered to be the Legendary Hero, at some point he got his hands on a Majora's Mask-style Zonai Mask that turned him into a Zonai.

If not that, then he was possibly half-Gerudo, half-Zonai.

Not to mention, the Sheikah technology of the time having been the Sheikah's adaptation & expansion of the Zonai tech, but with a different power source & material.

It's possible that due to not being made with Zonaite, it allowed these machines to be much more long-lasting than the Zonai's tech.

LoZ Wild Masterlist

[jackie-mae]

Some people were interested in my single zelda timeline notes so I scrabbled together what I had into (Hopefully) a digestible and legible format. This isn’t everything (A have a whole thing on the depths that isn't done yet) But I can only post so many things without actual art lol

[fever-project]

Words are making me cry so have this old sketch of a bunch of Zeldas

[lilyblossom-art]

All of the zeldas so far in order of release

This took me so long lol i don't even know why i did this but here it is :>

And also i have not played eow yet so no spoilers pls

1. Classic Zelda

2. Zelda I

3. Alttp Zelda

4. Cdi Zelda

5. Other cdi Zelda

6. Oot Sheik

7. Oot adult Sheik

8. Oot downfall Sheik

9. Ssb Zelda (i needed to get to 25 lol)

10. Oox Zelda

11. Fs Zelda

12. Tetra

13. Fsa Zelda

14. Mc Zelda

15. Mc stained glass Zelda

16. Tp Zelda

17. St Zelda

18. Ss Zelda

19. Albw Zelda

20. Hw Zelda

21. Botw Zelda

22. Ancient princess (named after Sonia from totk)

23. Coh Zelda

24. Aoc Zelda

25. Eow Zelda

[chibinur]

I think I never showed this one :o So here it is !!

This is not a ranking btw !!! I took the Links I wanted to draw at that time and just wrote things about their respective games.

OoT : The first Zelda game I have ever put my eyes on (I was watching my big bro play when I was like 4-5 years old) and it has my favourite Link in it !

ST : The first Zelda game I have finished, so it has a special place in my heart... This game is often overlooked because of its trains gimmick but it's so good I swear !!! Plus Zelda's your companion in this game, she's one of my favourite princesses alongside Wild era Zelda. I LOVE her chemistry with Link in that game, they're too cute AAAAH

OoS/OoA : They're Zelda games I haven't played yet (I know, shocking) but I read the manga and I particularly love the one with Ralph and Nayru in it XD

TP : Link is ripped good lord (and his voice ???). Also you can talk to animals so that's a plus for me. I also think this game has the best dungeons ! Best character Midna is in it, should be an enough reason to play the game !

[linderosse]

✨ Wisdomverse x Smash ✨

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Masterpost

It’s time.

I finally get to talk about Smash and the Zeldas :).

How this wacky little fighting game series represents the LoZ gals and influences them in Wisdomverse— explained under the cut!

Exactly four Zeldas make an appearance as playable characters in the Smash Brothers franchise, spanning different games and decades.

[OoT] Lullaby: Melee (Zelda and Sheik), Smash4 (Sheik), Ultimate (Sheik)

[TP] Dusk: Brawl (Zelda and also Sheik somehow), Smash4

[ALttP/ALBW] Fable: Ultimate

[ST] Phantom (a special case): Smash4, Ultimate

Funnily enough, there have also been four Links in Smash, although they’re not quite from the same games as the Zeldas.

[OoT/MM] Time: SSB64 (Adult), Melee (Adult and Young), Brawl (Young), Ultimate (Young)

[TP] Twilight: Brawl, Smash4

[BotW/TotK] Wild: Ultimate

[WW/PH] Wind: Brawl, Smash4, Ultimate

Now, Smash is just about as non-canon a game as Hyrule Warriors— and we all accept Wars and Artemis. And some Zeldas arguably have more of a chance to display their skills in Smash than in their own games.

Therefore, I’ve peripherally incorporated Smash into Wisdomverse:

Characters who have met each other in Smash will sometimes recognize each other from there, as if they’ve met in a vague dream. They may also forget. Such is the ephemeral world of Smash to its players.

To keep things fair, Smash connections and story will not be relevant to the plot of Wisdomverse.

Each mainline Smash Zelda also gets one of the three Golden Goddess skills from their Smash moveset to use in Wisdomverse, based on their personality and events from their actual games.

Charismatic, dramatic Fable gets to blow things up with Din’s Fire — like how Fable and the sages blast through Ganon’s barrier in ALttP

Steady, calculating Dusk gets to defend against attacks with Nayru’s Love — reminiscent of the twilight pyramid encasing her in Hyrule Castle in Twilight Princess

Quiet, stealthy Lullaby gets to teleport short distances with Farore’s Wind — like how Sheik (technically Requiem, not Lullaby) vanishes ninja-style in Ocarina of Time

And there you have it! Rebalancing the Zeldas, one skillset at a time :).

Extra:

For the truly dedicated folks, here’s a further analysis of interesting (and intentional on the part of the devs) Smash x Zelda facts:

Despite clearly looking like Dusk and not Lullaby, Brawl Zelda is able to turn into Sheik in both the plot of Subspace Emissary and in battle in Brawl. She loses this ability and goes back to normal in Smash4.

Despite clearly looking like Twilight, Brawl Link is shown with Navi in Subspace Emissary.

Wind is clearly Wind, and not Spirit, because he has the Wind Waker as a taunt in all three Smash games he shows up in.

Wind uses some of Legend’s attacks. And some of Time’s attacks. Wind is a dirty rotten move stealer (affectionate).

Phantom isn’t technically playable, but both Fable and Dusk summon a phantom to fight alongside them, and neither of them have seen a phantom in any of their games. Also, while their phantom summoning skill is recharging, they have a purple glow around their hand. Therefore, I’m inclined to believe they’re literally summoning Spirit Tracks Zelda (Phantom), like Robin summoning Chrom for his Final Smash, and you technically control her, so close enough.

In Melee, Young Link is clearly from MM, while Link is from OoT. This means Young Link is older than Link (just Time things).