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loz-furbies · 4 months ago

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Skyward Sword Zelda

Design

Now for something completely different since Zelda is a commoner this time! I think the outfit works well, it’s not too busy but it also has plenty of memorable details (I especially like the sailcloth around her shoulders) and the green and pink ribbons in her hair. And while the overall design is very different from the usual Zelda looks, the blue cloth on her waist at least reminds me of the “aprons” a little.

Mixed feelings about the white dress, the Hyrule crest collar is great, but everything else in the dress is really simple and basic so it feels a little out of place. However I like the white dress when she’s depicted with botw Zelda in her white dress, it’s a nice contrast how one has long flowy sleeves and the other has no sleeves at all.

Character

Skyward Sword Zelda has a charming and playful personality, making her super likable, and overall she really feels like an ideal girl-next-door type. As Link's childhood friend she's incredibly supportive of him, but also not above calling him out for being lazy or lightly teasing him. And she can be quite stern and gutsy when needed, as seen when she puts Groose and his cronies in place when she finds them bullying Link.

To some extent Zelda does feel a bit too much of idealised manic pixie dream girl to the more down-to-earth MC-kun that is Link. A considerable amount of her lines are spent on speaking positively of Link too, and we don't get to know much about what else she has going on in her life besides Link and the Plot.

A notable example of this is her status as a student of the knight academy, why is that not touched at all? Why was her role to give a trophy to the flight competition winner and not take part in it herself? Even if she's at a different stage from Link in her studies, shouldn't she still have something to say about their shared goal? I've seen some fans attribute the fact that she made it through a dungeon on her own to being a knight student, but I'm not giving the game credit for that.

We do get to know that she was interested in the surface even before the events of the story, and apparently has a knitting hobby judging by the items in her room. Which... okay I've been a bit too hard on her, as it's incredibly rare for any of the Zeldas to have a hobby at all and I do give SS Link points for his wood carving hobby too. It's just that so many of her lines are spent on gushing over Link so I guess I would have needed more stuff that's specific to her alone to balance that out.

Once she finds out about her role as the reborn goddess she becomes more serious and gloomy, but is still very much recognisable as the same character. Which has not been a given in the history of Zeldas with multiple personas, so good for her.

We don't get to know a lot about how regaining an unspecified amount of memories of her previous life has affected her sense of self, but I figure it has had at least some effect since she sometimes switches to first person, notably when apologising to Link about involving him in the grand anti-demise plan (which at least to me clearly isn't SS Zelda's fault). Though there's not any question if the goddess persona had somehow taken over, since the greatest line of the game "I'm still your Zelda" exists.

Ultimately while I think SS Zelda gets close to the line of being too much of a perfect fantasy waifu, she doesn't cross it and remains incredibly charming.

Role in the story

The game has a very slow beginning, where a lot of time is spent setting up Link and Zelda's relationship and ordinary life. And while the characters are the biggest draw for me in these games, I think there would have been room to condense the story a bit. Even if you really like the characters, in a video game you can reach a point where you're just hoping them to get on with it so you can actually play the game, which isn't exactly helpful if you're supposed to like the characters. But if you don't get frustrated with the slow start, Zelda is set up extremely well as someone you'd want to save.

After the setup she falls into a tornado, and the first part of the game is spent chasing after her and trying to figure out what's going on with her. You get more information about her bit by bit, so she clearly remains as the goal. Once you do catch up with her, it's after she was just rescued by Impa, who chides Link for having been too late to do anything himself. For me this worked just fine because I was really bad at the game, so her criticism was perfectly fair, but I wonder how better players felt about when the plot mandates that their perfect performance is judged to be a failure?

Eventually both Zelda and Link travel to the past, where Zelda explains herself as the reborn goddess and commits to her duty to seal Demise's curse for thousands of years, which changes the game's objective from trying to solve the mystery around her to a more clear rescue mission. Sealing herself to magic sleep is Zelda's big moment and the the game really plays it up, and to great success because that scene is beautiful. After that she doesn't really do much though, like because her darkness-sealing moment happens in the middle of the game (and chronologically before the main part of the gameplay since we're in the past here) and the grand finale darkness sealing is done by the Master Sword, there's not a lot of room for Zelda and she ends up with more of a victim role.

It is also kind of disappointing how Zelda gets damseled twice in the same game. I guess I can kind of see that since Link and Zelda's relationship is such a big part of the story, it makes sense that her life would be at risk when the stakes need to be at their stakiest, but I really wish they could have thought of something else than have her be woken up from her magical coma for five minutes before getting immediately kidnapped for the bad guys' evil resurrection ritual.

The end credits show snippets of Zelda's life after she fell to the surface, met Impa and started following her duty. Which was of course great but also a somewhat odd place to put it, and made me wonder if it was originally supposed to be shown somewhere during the story but got cut. And then they just put it in the credits since the scenes were already animated. But in any case it's nice to see more of Zelda's journey, even if strictly didn't offer any new information.

Relationships

As usual Zelda's most important relationship is with Link, and this time there even is more to it than a single line that they're childhood friends. Or they are childhood friends, and while in general I'm a big hater of this trope being so common in Japanese media, at least here it's used with a purpose, as the Goddess' master plan involved specifically preparing a hero who'd go to the ends of earth for her reborn form.

I said about Link and Zelda in Spirit Tracks that their relationship doesn't get any specific development and is more just about that they went on an adventure together and you have to imagine that they grew closer during that. Meanwhile in Skyward Sword they clearly know and care about each other as people and it's not just about like, general human empathy towards someone in trouble, which certainly makes their relationship more interesting.

So as I complained earlier, a lot of Zelda's lines are about Link. She gently teases him for being a sleepyhead, goes out of her way to arrange him time to practice for the flying competition and knows to send her loftwing to wake him up, asks his opinion on her ceremonial costume, asks him out to fly together which is totally written to look like a date, and so on. Some of her behaviour comes out as so flirty that it makes me think if she's all astonished at Link for being so oblivious. And she states multiple times that she wishes that Link will be the one to win the flying competition, so she can do the celebration ceremony with him, or how amazing he was when he managed to do that. The last point was brought up so many times that it just got really heavy handed, and I do think that some of it should have been cut, but just as it was entering actual cringe territory, an alternate explanation emerged that she actually wanted to talk about these ominous premonitions she's had, but had trouble bringing it up and was stalling for time.

Also it's just beautiful how the whole sleeping thing goes full circle, with Link being the notorious sleepyhead in the beginning, but Zelda requesting that it's Link's turn to wake her up as she's about to enter her magic sleep. Really shows that she has a lot of trust in him.

Meanwhile Link doesn't talk outside dialogue options as usual, so you don't get as much from his side, but his expressions when he looks at Zelda in many scenes tell a lot about how he cares about her.

In general their relationship skirts around being a romance but doesn't fully confirm anything (or at least that I can remember). After Link wins the flying contest, a scene where it looks like Zelda is about to kiss him is set up, but instead she pushes him off the ledge to complete the ceremony. And maybe she was just so coy about the "date" in the clouds because it was all about trying to gather courage and find a good moment to bring up a difficult topic, and Link's determined responses how he'll certainly save Zelda are totally platonic? But like, obviously a scene that teases a possible kiss is put in for a reason and the game ends with a shot of their loftwings flying together after Zelda tells about her future plans to live on the surface and asks what Link wants to do, so I'd say you need some serious anti-shipping goggles to ignore what's being implied.

Also since I brought it up for Spirit Tracks, Link and Zelda hold hands in this game too.

Impa is in the game as well in the role of Zelda's bodyguard, guide and friend, and this time offers a more meaningful relationship with her than her previous incarnations. Impa is fulfilling her job at assisting Zelda do hers, but they also clearly care about each other. We don't get to see them that much though, so their personal relationship isn't defined too well. Like Impa acts as a servant and refers to Zelda with "your grace", and Zelda just goes along with it and we don't know if she tried to establish a more equal relationship. In one of the end credits snippets we see Zelda doing this cute happy skip when she's walking with Impa and it looks like she's having fun, and these four seconds are probably their most casual scene together.

It's also really sweet when it's revealed that the old woman who helps the cast in the present timeline is actually Impa, so Zelda gets one more chance to meet her. Or it's kind of funny how they saying their goodbyes in the past but Impa reassures that they'll meet again, and after some time travel from Zelda's perspective the reunion in present time is literally just a few minutes later, and then Impa actually dies and they're separated for a second time. But obviously it was about how Impa had been hanging in there for thousands of years so she could still help Zelda and Link with their duty.

In any case Zelda and Impa's bond is clearly strong, even if we don't see the details. It also makes me think of how different this is from BotW Zelda's situation, and how things might have turned out for her if she had a mentor how knows what to do and also is emotionally supportive.

Groose primarily acts as a rival to Link, which includes being a romantic rival for Zelda's affections. He's not any threatening at it at all though since his feelings are clearly one sided, but it's not exactly clear what Zelda thinks about him. He is introduced when he has hidden Link's loftwing so that Link couldn't take part in the flying competition, and Zelda immediately jumps in to take Link's side. After that Groose's character development happens while Zelda is away, and next time they meet Groose behaves in a more respectable manner and Zelda appears to be happy to see him.

Like everyone else in Skyloft, she also has her own loftwing buddy, and much fuss is made about how everyone is soul-bonded to their bird. None of this really shows up about Zelda's relationship to her loftwing, who doesn't even get a name, though to be fair neither does Link's. In general I think the loftwings were hugely underdeveloped considering how much time you have to spend on one flying around.

Zelda also has a father with whom she actually gets to interact with, but I don't get much anything out of that except that they have a normal/good relationship.

#skyward sword #legend of zelda #zelda #character review #meta

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theoneeyedgoldenwolf · 2 months ago

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Lost friend

Whumptober 2024, number 4: "You're still alive in my head."

Summary: In a timeline that is somewhere between Time’s and Twilight’s, the Chain’s leader follows a feeling. What he finds brings back a painful memory and the feeling of loss overwhelms him. When the Chain finds him, they do all they can to help him.

CW: Feelings of loss (hurt, sorrow, anger, etc.), hurt fairies (Hyrule and Navi), death of a fairy (Navi), cursing

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Time knew the era was somewhere between his and Twilight’s. Yet, without the memories or knowledge that he usually got from this kind of times, he believed there wasn’t a Hero around. It was far enough from his time for him to be gone but not close enough to Twilight’s for the boy to have even been born yet. And still, he knew perfectly well where they were.

The Chain’s leader still was quite shocked of how much different his era was compared to Twilight’s even though he knew there were generations and hundreds of years between them. Nonetheless, finding the ruins of the Temple of Time in middle of a growing forest wasn’t something he had been really ready to face. As he looked around, he felt like this wasn’t exactly in the same timeline as he and Twilight were. There were too much of differences to be one on one with what his Cub had told about his era.

The one eyed male had just barely been capable of letting the others know he’d be out of the camp for a while before he had already left. The others worried, of course, but he needed to be alone for a while. Something just had dragged his feet into here and he wasn’t certain why he had followed the feeling. At least, not until he had seen the ruins.

The roof of the church like place was gone. Most of the walls were crashed down. The floor had dents in them. The short steps to the pedestal where the Master Sword had been were half crumbled. The pedestal itself was in a small hole and cracked into two. Half of the glasses in the round room were shattered.

The oldest Link sighed heavily and sat down to the part of the stairs that still was intact. He raised his gaze up towards the glass he had last seen Navi against. “You’re still alive in my head.” He whispered sorrowfully while remembering the day he had lost his guiding fairy. Yet, he soon shuddered as he recalled the conversation he had had with Hyrule about fairies. It had started with nice little stories and such but where it lead wasn’t something he had wanted to hear.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

“And then they just created this gigantic bomb and blew up most of the monsters from the battlefield.” Time told in Fairy Language and chuckled at the memory. “That was quite a situation. Took everyone off guard. Especially Wars. I knew the fairies could do some really neat things but that…” He chuckled again and shook his head.

“How many times did that happen during the war?” Hyrule asked quite baffled while staring at Time wide-eyed.

Time shrugged and grinned. “Six times or so, maybe. I just enjoyed the show and the blast.” He answered and grinned.

Hyrule laughed and shook his head. “Damn. The fairies have done some cool things for me but nothing like that.” He mused fondly before stretching until bit flinching.

“You okay, Pixie?” The one eyed male straight off inquired while already gently starting to work with massage for the youngster.

“Even though that feels nice it’s not gonna aid me this time.” The Traveler replied while almost melting into the action.

“Oh? What would help?” The Chain’s leader inquired but he didn’t stop his work. Even if it wasn’t helping as he hoped, it still clearly was enjoyed of as the half-fairy started quietly to purr.

“Fixing my fairy form’s wing. I got it hurt last time I flew around.” Hyrule answered and sighed a bit. “Only the Great Fairies can help with that but there’s none of them around.”

“I think I can help.” Time mused with a fond grin. “Change forms. I’ll see what I can do.”

The youngster was bit uncertain but he transformed into his fairy form and sat down onto Time’s knee. He was bit worried but he soon blinked in surprise about how gentle and careful the older male’s actions were. The touches were delicate and just barely there.

“I can see the problem.” The one eyed male told while inspecting the wings. He carefully moved one of the two higher being wings to get better check on things. After that he let go and drew out some bandages. Yet, he ripped those into much, MUCH smaller pieces before starting to wrap the hurt wing into a piece of bandage strip which he also dipped into a pinkish purple salve that was closer to a potion than anything else.

“You should stay in your fairy form for couple of hours to let the salve work.” The Chain’s leader told while finishing the work. “The others won’t be around for three hour or so. They’re heading this way but they’re still far.” He assured while having full feeling of where the rest of his boys were at.

“Is that what I think it is?” Hyrule queried while glancing at the healing lotion of sorts. He could feel magic in it which was more of fairy’s than what normal potions held.

“It’s something Navi taught me.” The Old Man replied while putting things away. He sighed a bit sorrowfully at the confused and bit curious look on the Traveler’s face. “Navi was my first fairy companion. She…. She meant everything to me back then. Still does, really.” He started while turning his gaze away into the forest around them.

Time took once a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Navi saved me from the first Wolfos I crashed with. I hadn’t really realized the threat those wolf like creatures posed and she hadn’t had the time to warn me before the beast just appeared and attacked. She got between and was struck to the ground. I freaked out and just attacked the thing. She was okay but her wing was bent. I freaked out worse at that than at anything else. She taught me the Fairy Salve and how to treat fairy’s wounds.”

“Is she the one you and Malon are searching for?” Hyrule asked while having turned around to see his oldest brother. The one eyed male just nodded silently. “What happened?” He inquired bit confused.

The oldest Link sighed and shrugged. “I don’t know. After my quest was over she just flew away. Not even one word of goodbye or explanation. She just left.” He half mumbled and tried to gulp the forming lump down.

The half-fairy frowned in full confusion. “How long…?” He started without knowing how to form his question.

“From the beginning of my first quest to the end of it. We went through hell and back again together. I never thought she’d just…” Time trailed off and simply shook his head.

“Did she accompany you out of her own choice?” Hyrule inquired while bit fearing for the answer.

The Chain’s leader shrugged. “I don’t fully know. She was appointed to me by the Forest Guardian.” He replied while trying to stay intact. The Traveler gulped once and slumped slightly as he turned his gaze off. Time frowned in slight worry as he noticed the youngster’s reaction. “You know something….” He half whispered before unintentionally giving a pleading look to his boy. “Please, tell me. I need to know.”

Hyrule slumped even more and closed his eyes. He couldn’t change forms and he couldn’t fly so he was fully exposed to the begging look his leader gave him. “I don’t want to say…” He half whispered while trying not to cry.

Time didn’t need more of answer and he gulped once thickly while fighting against his own tears. “She’s gone. Like healing fairies after they’ve done their job.” He mumbled quietly while blinking repeatedly. Yet, he soon took a wavering deep breath and let it out equally shakily. After that he turned his sorrowful gaze into Hyrule. “Not your fault. It’s okay. It’s long ago.” He tried to assure before gently picking the boy up and with slight grin placed him on top of his head. “Navi, Tatl and Proxi all have loved to spend their time on top of my head. Dunno why though but thought I’d give you the same they’ve gained.” He told as an explanation and bit shrugged. “In a way, you’re my fourth travelling fairy partner.”

Hyrule had given a slight shriek of surprise when he had been picked up. He blushed slightly at where Time put him but he soon tad frowned. Yet, very soon that turned into a grin. “I know what they like in here.” He told almost mischievously while making a little nest for himself out of the golden hair of his leader.

“Oh? And what’s that?” The one eyed male queried while having missed the messing of his hair by small hands of a fairy.

“Your hair’s so very soft.” The half-fairy told and Time blushed brightly. Hyrule laughed when his oldest brother facepalmed and whined.

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The knowledge of Navi’s death hadn’t fully registered back then but now, in here, Time finally fully understood to have lost her at that day when he had returned the Master Sword to its rightful place for last time. He had tried to deny it. He had tried to believe that Navi had chosen to be with him instead of having been commanded. He hadn’t wanted to think that she had left so he wouldn’t see her die. Plus, he had had Hyrule to comfort. There just wasn’t time or chance to deal with his own feelings when one of his boys was feeling down.

The one eyed male hang his head while wrapping his arms around himself. He slumped forward while pulling his legs against his chest. He was alone and so he let himself break down as no-one would see him like this. The Chain needed a strong leader and not the mess of emotions he was at the moment. “I miss you, Navi.” He mumbled with broken voice in Fairy Language. “Why didn’t you tell me?” He asked even though he knew he’d never get the answer.

The memories of their shared life came crashing into the Chain’s leader’s mind. He didn’t try to stop them but he wasn’t getting any comfort from them either. He pulled his arms free and just dug his hands into his hair while crying and trembling. He wanted to scream but he didn’t want to alert and worry the boys any of more than what they already were. And yet, when things started to be too much to bear, he just faced the stained glass against which he had last seen Navi and screamed his agony out.

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Navi watching over him while he was sick. Navi telling jokes to lift his mood. Navi fluttering all around the Lizalfos to give him a chance to strike. Navi braiding his hair and singing softly. Navi being fuming mad at him when he first threw in a curse word. Navi shrieking and holding on to the tip of his cap as he jumped down from the bridge leading to Gerudo Valley so he could reach the platform close to the far below being water’s surface. Navi barking down some random kid at the Market City for having been mean to him. Navi flying on full speed into King Dodongo’s eye to blind the beast for a moment and give him a chance to get off the way. Navi teaching him about fairies, nature and monsters. Navi enjoying the smoked pike he had managed to catch and cook just right for her. Navi waking him up from a nightmare and soothing his panicked mind.

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Time’s ear twitched at the whistled call but it didn’t really register in his head. He was slumped over his knees with his hands tightly gripping his hair. He was crying and trembling while the pain of loss was tightly around his chest. He barely could breathe let alone understand his own surroundings.

Suddenly the Chain’s leader jerked in shock and swiftly stood up while drawing out his Gilded Sword. He turned around in a flash as he had heard running steps approaching him but his mind clouded by the pain of loss wasn’t capable of recognizing them. All he could do was to try and defend himself.

“TIME!”

“WHOA! EASY! JUST US!”

The one eyed male gasped in shock and stumbled a step backwards before giving out a startled scream as his foot failed to find solid ground. “TIME!” The eight boys screamed out and dashed over to their oldest brother whom had quite ungracefully fallen to his back. “You okay, Old Man?” Legend queried as Time groaned and sat up.

The oldest Link sighed almost exaggerated while trying to dry his tears out of sight as quickly as possible. “I would love to say that yeah, I’m fine, never better, but that would be a fucking daylight bright lie now, wouldn’t it.” He partly grumbled and gave bit of a lopsided smirk.

“Yeah, well, I was meaning more of possible broken bones than hurt feelings.” Legend replied with a slight deadpan look.

“Oh, you think I’m that old to snap a bone by falling?” Time countered while letting his smirk turn into bit of mischievous grin.

“No! I just—!” The Veteran snapped bit startled. Yet, he soon huffed tad indignantly as the one eyed male chuckled slightly.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. Bad fall can break anyone’s bones.” The Chain’s leader said airily while waving his hand dismissively.

“Sprite…” Warriors called worriedly as Time stood up and the eight Links with him followed his action.

“Physically I’m fine, Wars, but mentally…” The war Hero’s younger brother started and sighed heavily. “Not so sure.” He replied sorrowfully and moved back to sit on the stairs. The Chain around him crouched down while watching him worriedly. With the immediate threat off, the Links looked around a bit without leaving from their place.

“This place seems familiar…” Twilight half whispered while recalling the place where he had drawn the Master Sword.

“Is that… A pedestal for a sword?” Sky asked while crouching down at the edge of the hole where the broken piece of square rock had fallen into.

Time sighed heavily and leaned his elbows at his knees while hanging his head and digging his fingers into his hair again. “We’re at the Temple of Time… Or what’s left of it, at least.”

“Yours?” Legend queried with an eyebrow raised and a grin on his lips.

The one eyed male chuckled and shook his head. “Oh, you wish.” He replied with equally teasing voice. Yet, he soon sighed and slumped again. “No, it was named as such long before I was even born.” He told and shrugged a bit while letting his hands fall as he took a look around. “This is where I drew the Master Sword.” He confessed quietly and pointed behind him into the small pit. “That’s where it should be. Don’t know why it’s not there or where it’s gone to. Hopefully somewhere safe, though.”

The Chain was bit startled about the reply and they gulped once at the thought of the sacred blade being missing. “Considering how you feel about the Master Sword, you’re not here for her.” Sky observed and time sighed heavily.

“No, I’m not here because of the sword.” The Old Man confirmed and raised his gaze back up into the stained glass. “I’m here because of different girl.”

The eight Links frowned and glanced at each other. “Who?” Wind inquired while feeling tad excited about hearing a story but also so very bad for hoping for such when his oldest brother was clearly not in the best of condition.

“Should we actually let you be?” Sky inquired instead while crouching down. He was looking sorrowfully concerned at his leader.

“What’s the point of leaving? You already saw me at my worst.” Time half grumbled while dropping his gaze down and hitting his ears back. He was feeling both ashamed and bit angry at himself for having allowed this come forth.

“Sprite…” The Captain called gently and reached out towards the one eyed male. Yet, he stopped and pulled away when his little brother flinched and bit recoiled away from the touch.

The Chain’s leader slumped again while letting his ears droop. “Sorry…” He mumbled quietly while wrapping his arms around his feet and rested his head on his knees. His gaze was in the dusty and cracked floor of the Temple of Time. The Links felt uncertain and bit fearful of trying to touch their brother as they were out of knowing how to help.

Time closed his eye and allowed himself slowly to break down all over again. He bit hid his face into one hand while trying to stay silent. He hated to let his boys see him like this. He felt like needing someone to hold him but he also knew he’d flinch away from it too. All he could do was to be alone with his sorrow and hurt.

Hyrule carefully placed his hand on his oldest brother’s should. He too flinched a bit when the one eyed male flinched roughly underneath his hold. Yet, the half-fairy didn’t pull away which only caused the older male to break down harder while still trying to stay silent. Carefully and slowly the Traveler pulled the Chain’s leader into an embrace.

Time didn’t think as he pulled out of his current way of being and turned towards the youngster. He pulled the Chain’s occasional healer into a tight embrace while hiding his face into the crook of the boy’s neck and shoulder as he shattered to pieces. Hyrule tightened his hold and gave a slight smile to his brothers as they turned his embrace into a group hug. The oldest Link barely even felt it as he was crying his broken heart out.

It took a while but eventually the one eyed male slowly calmed down. He weakly dried the tears while staring at the floor behind Hyrule’s back. He partly leaned his full weight on him while partly being supported by the others so he wouldn’t fully crush the teenager. He knew he should’ve moved off from being as he was but he didn’t have the strength for such simple action.

The Old Man gulped once. “Navi.” He whispered while just barely getting the word through his tight throat. “I’m here because of Navi.” He told and closed his eye while slumping. “She was my first guidance fairy. One of my best childhood friends. We went through hell and back again so many times. I don’t think I’d be alive without her.” He started and just let the words come out now that he had started to talk.

“Navi’s gone. She died in here. Like the healing fairies, she finished her task and… Vanished. She just left me. No words. No explanations. She just flew away.” Time told while feeling his breathing get shaky again. He tried not to break down but he couldn’t help it.

“Why!? Why didn’t she tell me?!” The Chain’s leader barked out and startled the boys. “I would’ve fucking understood! All these years! I’ve been searching and asking and—!” He growled while trying to fist his hands but fighting against the action so he wouldn’t hurt Hyrule. “I searched for her and ended up into fucking Termina and three day time loop! I searched for her and ended up into freaking warzone!” He ran his hand through his hair and gripped it tightly while even bit pulling on it.

“Sprite…” Warriors called as gently as he could while not liking of his little brother’s action at all. Yet, he knew that pull had to hurt. “Please.” He half begged and bit relaxed as Time’s hold loosened and he let his hand fall to his lap.

The Old Man slumped and just stared almost blankly at the floor. He closed his eye and whimpered when the Captain gently started to run his fingers through his brother’s hair. The tears he had thought to have already run out of just kept coming. He trembled a bit while feeling his heart ache harder than ever before.

“I wish I knew the answers, Sprite. I wish any of us had the answers.” The war Hero whispered sorrowfully. “All I can say, little brother, is that I’m sorry. I’m sorry this happened to you. I’m sorry that you lost your close friend. I’m sorry that there are no answers to give.”

Twilight partly thought about turning into Wolfie but he chose against it. Right now it felt like Time was needing them as Hylians instead of anything else. “We’re here, Time.” He started as calmly as he could while feeling his heart break at the pain his mentor was in. Navi clearly had meant the world to the one eyed male. Yet, he could understand it as he thought back to all he himself had gone through on his quest. It always meant more than one could understand when one had some form of company with them to share the hell and nightmares with someone.

“We swear that none of us will leave you without a word.” Four swore firmly.

“As long as we’re capable and allowed, you can count on us to stay by you.” Sky spoke softly but with full certainty in his voice.

“We love you, Time.” Wind told from full heart while wishing his words would be of some consolation to his oldest brother.

“I’m grateful that she was with you. Without her we wouldn’t have you. And I’m more than happy to have you with us on this quest.” Legend’s voice was surprisingly soft and loving.

“I know how loss feels. But, through all the rough feelings, I hope you can remember that she wishes you to live on. To remember the good things and know she was happy to have shared the journey with you.” Wild’s words came out from full experience with slight feeling of hurt of his own as he still tried to fully accept how things had gone with his friends. There were times he wished the Champions had actually fought beside him instead of having used those Divine Beasts. Maybe things would’ve gone differently at then. Yet, things had gone as they had and he just had to accept that eventually.

“Never forget her. She will always live in your heart and memories.” Hyrule whispered quietly in Fairy Language.

The Chain kept whispering reassurances and small truths while hoping the words would really get through their oldest brother. The Traveler bit gasped when he felt to be supporting even more of Time’s weight than before. “I think he fell asleep.” Wild commented softly.

“Not surprised. The feeling of loss is overwhelming.” Warriors replied quietly and carefully moved his little brother to lean on him instead of the half-fairy. After that he carefully picked him into his arms while carefully standing up. “We’d better get back to the camp.” He half suggested while noticing the Champion carefully taking the Gilded Sword into safekeeping into his Slate. After all, they weren’t up for risking of Time waking up at the sound of a sword being sheathed.

The road back to the camp was made in silence. Twilight swiftly moved his and Warriors’ bedrolls next to Time, one to both sides, before the war Hero carefully laid down to there. He didn’t let go of his little brother while doing his best to let him keep resting. The Rancher changed forms and curled up next to his mentor to let him feel his soft fur in hopes of it comforting him.

Hyrule thought for a moment before he recalled a conversation he had had with Time regarding Navi. They had talked every now and then about the fairies that had accompanied the one eyed male. He quickly shared his idea with Wild and the master archer was more than willing to go with the food suggestion.

Sky strummed his harp for soft and comforting notes. He didn’t really go for any known song but before he really understood, the music had gained something that worked well with forests. Legend listened for a while before he pulled out an Ocarina and accompanied the calm music.

Wind and Four shared a book and quietly read together. Neither wanted to be too loud at the moment so that they wouldn’t bother Time’s sleeping. They just wished they could’ve actually done something to help until the Smithy came up with an idea. He nudged the Sailor along and, with the rights from both Warriors and Twilight, they very carefully braided their oldest brother’s hair. The action seemed to calm the one eyed male a bit more which was a huge relief for the duo handling the task.

It took few hours before the Chain’s leader finally woke up. He sighed bit heavily while feeling drained and empty. Yet, he was grateful of the care and love the eight boys with him had shown already back at the ruined Temple of Time as well as after having carried him back to the camp. He picked up on the sounds of the music. Noticed the gigantic wolf and Warriors on opposite side. Felt the couple of braids on his bangs. Heard the starting of cooking.

“How are you feeling, Sprite?” The Captain queried while letting the one eyed male sit up. His little brother sighed a bit and just shrugged. “We’re here for you, little brother. No matter what, no matter when, no matter how, we’re right by you through thick and thin.” He promised while sitting up too. Wolfie carefully shifted forms after Time had stopped petting him.

“How are everyone?” The oldest Hero queried quietly.

“Worried about you.” The Rancher replied before, without thinking, hugged Time. “We just want to help you as you help us.” He whispered while bit calming down as his mentor returned the hold.

“I probably should talk with everyone.” The one eyed male half whispered after pulling off from the hold.

“Only if you feel like talking. No-one’s going to force you.” Warriors reminded calmly while following the Chain’s leader’s actions. He and Twilight were ready to support him if he was shaky on his steps. The Chain by the fire quickly made room for the trio when they came over.

Time sighed heavily while feeling tad uncertain of the situation. Yet, he felt like he deserved his boys an explanation. He took once a deep breath and let it out slowly to calm down enough so he could actually talk. “First of all… I heard the whistle but it didn’t really register in my mind. Sorry about that.” He started and gave a slight smile as the others just tried to dismiss the whole situation. “Second…” He began but trailed off nearly instantly.

The one eyed male dropped his gaze into the fire while frowning. He knew what he wanted to say and apologize for but at the same time he realized something almost startling. Eventually that got him to chuckle slightly and shake his head. “Shit… That’s going to make a hypocrite.” He half mumbled and leaned his elbow against his knee while resting his chin at his hand for a moment. Eventually he snorted softly and shook his head again while sitting up straighter.

“You know… I was going to apologize for lot of things but I realized it would start one hell of a shit-storm and making myself a hypocrite on full. So, instead…” The Chain’s leader started, sighed a bit and let himself relax slightly. He looked at the eight Links with him fondly one at a time. “Thank you.” He finally said.

The Chain was bit surprised of those two simple words. They had been ready to try and get their leader to understand how much he means to them. And yet, with these two words, it was clear that there was something that had finally gotten through their oldest brother. He accepted the fact that he was as much cared by them as they were cared by him.

“Thank you for having come for me. Thank you for having stayed with me. Thank you for having not asked too hard questions. Thank you for the hugs. Thank you for your words. Thank you….” Time started and bit struggled to get the words out. “Thank you for your love and caring. Thank you for your brotherhood. Thank you for having accepted me.” He told while trying to blink the tears away. “I love you all.”

That was all it needed for the six to scramble over to hug their oldest brother as Twilight and Warriors already were right by him. “I love you too.” Were the four words each of them whispered while holding on tight while feeling like their chain of nine Heroes finally was fully connected to one another. There weren’t any weak lines anymore and the eight Links could feel their beloved leader relax in their hold.

After a while the scent of the food reached the nine Heroes. “Is that smoked fish?” Time queried with a slight frown.

“Actually, it’s smoked pike but yeah, it is.” Wild replied while unwillingly pulled off from the group hug to check on the food. “Hyrule told that you had told to him that it was Navi’s favorite so I and he thought that, well….” He started but he soon began to trail off while beginning to feel nervous and bit like he had made a wrong choice with the food in the end.

“I think that’s exactly what I’m needing right now.” The oldest Link said with bit sorrowful smile. “And I think I could actually tell about my the quest I shared with her. My first quest, to be exact.” He continued while still feeling the pain of missing her but it wasn’t as rough as before. The eight with him would help him to get through this. And eventually, somewhere in the future, he could finally actually think about her with a smile and without the hurt. Yet, right now this was the best he could get and he’d enjoy of it with the brothers that would be there to help him pick the broken pieces and aid him to heal.

Time shared far more than he had thought to dare to. Funny and painful, calm and stormy, everything and anything that just popped into his mind. The boys with him stayed close and leaned against him whenever he talked about some harder situation to show their support and care. They laughed with him and asked question about some situation that were easier to share. They were right by him and helped him to reminisce and heal. And on that night, as well as for few nights from there, the Chain curled up on him for the Hero Pile of Support and Comfort to show they were right there by him through thick and thin.

#whumptober2024 #no.4 #“You're still alive in my head.”#linked universe #linkeduniverse #fic #Feeling of hurt #Death of a fairy #Anger and pain due to the loss #time lu #lu time #my stories #Navi

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chaos-cousins · 10 months ago

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So I've realized that pixie plate has had one (1) effect on me

I am slightly better at cooking.

So, naturally, I've decided to try an make the best possible curry I can

AND IVE DONE IT. I'VE FINALLY FUCKING DONE IT.

I HAVE MADE BETTER CURRY THAN LINK AMAMIYA, HERO OF HYRULE.

#pokeblogging #rotomblr #//yes link is slightly better at cooking than Ren #//yes link yoinked their last name

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neverchecking · 1 year ago

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The Chain as AOT (And ASOT) People

As decided by me. And @lilac-and-daydreams and @angry-trashcan.

・❥・So, this all started because they were making fun of my taste in men and the pattern of it (Link, Vash, Knives, Armin, Hawks, Gordon Ramsey-)

・❥・Just let me set that straight.

・❥・ Ganon is Zeke.

・❥・Legend is Levi. Short, short tempered, good at everything. It just seemed to fit.

・❥・Time, is this might seem controversial, is Erwin. The man in charge, at first, and has bad eyebrows, knows things he won't tell the others. Plus, c'mon. They're practically the same person.

・❥・Hange is four. Both are wicked smart and a little unhinged. Maybe not like season 1/2 hange but DEFINATELY commander Hange.

・❥・And then we had two directions. Option A) Was Wild was Eren and Mikasa was Cal (Quiet, calculative, good at fighting bc lore accurate AOC Link is CRAZY) or Option B) was Wild was still Eren and Twilight was Mikasa (Protective, follows like a dog).

・❥・It will surprise no one that we threw out the idea that Wild was Eren. BUT Twilight was decided to be Mikasa. Again, super protective, dangerous, good on their own.

・❥・Anyway-

・❥・Wild is Connie.

・❥・Thats where we threw him. And I KNOW someone will be like? What about Sasha? He could be Sasha? IM GETTING THERE-

・❥・Bc Wild's personality is more than food, just like Sasha's and his personality is closer to Connie's than Sasha's. >:(

・❥・Plus Wild never knew his mom so I could make the "His mom is a titan" Joke.

・❥・Sage we thought at first would be Armin. He's Armin coded in the least. Manipulative, gaslighty, you know, the finer things in life.

・❥・But in the end Bailey was like "What if he was Eren?" And yk what? They were so right for that.

・❥・The lost in translation, blurred between good and bad, because, like Bailey said, Sage is the perfect Antihero/antivillain. Because he's self-driven. He's looking out for himself. He knows what he wants and how he wants it done.

・❥・And SPOILERS

・❥・ To be taken out by the only person who tried to help him? Divine.

・❥・END SPOILERS BTW

・❥・Now, you guys are probably like What about Armin? Who's Armin if it's not Sage?

・❥・It's Sky.

・❥・Sky, whom looks so sweet and innocent and will cry to get what he wants. Sky, who knows what words are need to make what things happen. Sky who's willing to step on those under him all the way to the top.

・❥・Sky is Armin.

・❥・We joked that Wars would be Jean for a while, but then we scrapped that idea and decided that Hyrule would be better funnier as Jean. The vibes man. The VIBES.

・❥・@fanfic-fairy-fountain said Cal could also be Armin. Which I also agree with.

・❥・As Lilac said it's the underlying manic pixie girl energy.

・❥・We knew Wars was gonna be a Yeagerist-- which Ironic we know bc he hates traitors, but also it just fit too well otherwise.

・❥・ BUT THEN-

・❥・Wars as Reiner, and then WIND as either Birth control or Annie. Because Wind follows Wars and when he...disappears, it'll destroy Wars.

・❥・Plus Wind as Bertllala and then getting along with Hyrule/Jean only to then get sniped? MMM.

・❥・Cal is Sasha. Both eat questionable things. 'nough said.

・❥・FIERCE. He's the OG titan. Iykyk you know?

・❥・Wild is a slap on titan Armin thank you. But just for this-

"Who's that babe you're with?"

"Wild? And their not a girl."

"Hey there Wildmina, you wanna take a bath later?"

"....Can I bring an industrial strength lightning rod?"

・❥・I love it sm <3

・❥・Anyway those were our thoughts. Tell us what you think or don't. I can't control what you do /lh

・❥・ I WAS DOING TAGS AND OMG

・❥・SAGE IS A SLAP ON TITAN LEVI

・❥・"Don't cry Natura...You're so ugly when you cry."

・❥・Natura would be petra in a slap on titan

・❥・I AM CRACKING MYSELF UP WITH THIS SHIT-

Sage: Kid, what the fuck was I to you? Batman?

Wild: YES.

Sage: Huauubh?!

Wild: NO.

・❥・

Sage: And wild child, just so you know-

Wild: Yeah?

Sage: I'm Batman.

Wild: OH MY GOD I HATE THAT MAN.

・❥・

Wild: Admiral Casual? Your nickname is Admiral Casual?

Sage: Look, Wild, I'm just going by reality.

Sage: That's why your nickname is baby dick.

・❥・

Sage: Listen, buttercup, Ima need you to tone it down several notches. You're at an eleven right now, I need you at about a four.

Sage: You have no idea the hangover I'm fighting right now.

・❥・

Time: Here's the truth.

Time: Most of you are going to die.

Time, pointing to each villager: Dead, dead, you are DEFINITELY Dead, you're cute so maybe you'll live, dead, dead. By the golden three I don't even wanna know whats gonna happen to you.

Time: Who knows how you'll pass? *Proceeds to describe several very graphic ways of dying*

Time: Literally all we do is die.

・❥・

Time: I used to have a job crushing cans.

Time: It was Soda-pressing.

・❥・

Hyrule: A black flare? We never went over this? Either everyone's dead or-

Hyrule: ...Or Voldemort's returned.

・❥・

Hyrule: This is why Wild always told you to mix it right or the hallucinations start kicking in!

・❥・

Titan: You again? Really?

Hyrule: Yes.

Hyrule: Come to me. My Waifu.

・❥・

Sage: Look, Wild, sometimes you gotta run. I've been running from people all my life.

Sage: The military police, debt collectors,

Sage: Some bitch I know named Hylia.

Wild: Do you even have a plan?!

Sage: Of course I have a plan! I always have a plan for everything.

Natura: OH MY GOD HE'S BLUFFING- HE'S BLUFFING, thats what he says when he doesn't have a plan!

Sage: HEY- HORSEFACE-

・❥・

Natura: Im sleeping with WILD.

Sage: WILDCHILD? That swagless BEAST?

・❥・

Wild: So this is what you do?

Wild: Drop tail and run away? Like a little BITCH?!

Sage: Wild, you're only saying that because I can't reach back there and pimp slap the shit out of you.

・❥・

Sage: I DO NOT care. What I do care about is that basement.

Sage: Through heaven and hell, fire or rain, we are getting to that basement.

Sage: And I am wearing your dead mother's panties ON MY HEAD.

Literally all of Episode 18 is SO THEM.

#cinder rambles #linked universe #linkeduniverse #legend of zelda #attack on titan #imagine #Sage is a slap on titan levi

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mibkid · 7 months ago

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I got a fun little video up on my instagram of like fairy/pixie wings and a person who makes and sells them, but more like they lay down instead of having a structure that keeps them up.

And i was like:

"huh that would be fun to do for a hyrule cosplay..... oh no"

KEEP IT TOGETHER MIB YOU ALREADY HAVE TWO COSPLANS FOR TWO LINKS IN LINKED UNIVERSE, YOU CAN'T DO THE WHOLE CHAIN FOR SANITY'S SAKE.

... but at the same time cosplaying a fairy hyrule has me by my boots.

I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE, CREATIVITY IS A CURSE. I'M NOT GONNA DO THIS TO MYSELF.

(edit: this was the video and the WINGS ARE so pretty :')... i gotta make some one day, HERE is the link)

#rambles #linked universe #cosplay #cosplans #I'm gonna be content with just drawing him w fairy wings sometime #Instagram

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murfeelee · 1 year ago

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A Great Conundrum

Meanwhile in Hyrule, the Great Fairy Sakura Rain was bleeding money trying to get the Wishing Well to grant her wish to find true love. That silly dragon warrior Ryuu was playing too hard to get!

MY THOUGHTS & CC CREDITS (under the cut)

MY THOUGHTS

Sakura & Ryuu were busy roleplaying/cosplaying as The Legend of Zelda characters this Halloween season. XD

CC CREDITS

- Great Fairy miniset coming later today!

- Sakura's eyelashes ACC at TSR, eyes (IDER), Motomayu eyebrows by Ptylo/Lyraea, nails at TSR, toenails/feet at MTS, invisible wings mod at MTS

- Ryuu's Link hat hair at MTS & sword/shield at TSR, TSM armor by Cocomama

- Jars & pixies (plus x3 OMSP resizer)

#sims 3 sakura avatar gameplay #sims 3 fantasy #sims 3 plantsims #sims 3 supernatural #sims 3 gameplay #sims 3 wips

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cloudninetonine · 1 year ago

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Yo isn't courage a pixy or something? Pixies and fairies don't get along and I think they had a war too. Sometimes they try to kill each other.

Now

Hyrule vs Courage

😃

Brains vs Brawn

I feel like their power is pretty equal so Player has to pull the pixie and fairy apart before they kill each other

#cloud answers

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snowiwyvern · 1 year ago

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yeah so remember my guys i mentioned

heres one

pixie (pix for short)!! the hero of hyrule my beloved (loz & taol)

he uses he/him, hes a bit quiet and a free spirit. he usually just has that blank expression (it does change, but very minimally) and is generally off putting. hes spoken about as if hes a cryptid that randomly shows up. he can usually be found running around just killing monsters

so name origin. i had a lot of fun figuring out names for these guys, just generally. so pixies, according to wikipedia and britannica, in the modern age are wingless and typically wear green (theres obviously a lot of different versions though). he reflects those two traits, and pixies are commonly associated with fairies, the hero of hyrule turns into a fairy yk yk.

he lived in caves for a while, and as soon as he went to go be a hero he spent too much time in the sun had freckle genes and got freckles 😔 he really hasnt got much of a change in like magic and stuff from the games, its just all gold and glowy cuz i think it looks cool. his eyes glow gold when he uses his magic. plus his blood is gold, a side effect from his magic use. just alot of gold

i love his color palette btw green brown and gold is a banger

if you recognize the first frame of this ^ thats cuz it used to be my old pfp

his sword and shield are well, magical, so they can be summoned with a bit of magic which is why he doesnt carry them on him

buh bye

#wyverndrawsthings #castaway links #cal pixie #his boots are like knee height man #links meet au

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whenstarslie · 2 years ago

Link

Chapters: 2/? Fandom: The Legend of Zelda & Related Fandoms, Linked Universe (The Legend of Zelda) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Four & Hyrule & Legend & Sky & Time & Twilight & Warriors & Wild & Wind (Linked Universe), Twilight & Wild (Linked Universe) Characters: Twilight (Linked Universe), Wild (Linked Universe), Time (Linked Universe), Four (Linked Universe), Legend (Linked Universe), Warriors (Linked Universe), Hyrule (Linked Universe), Wind (Linked Universe), Sky (Linked Universe), Link (Legend of Zelda) Additional Tags: Fluff and Angst, Humor, Whump, Canon-Typical Violence, Mild to strong language, Werewolf Twilight, Dragon Wild, Werewolf Time, Brownie Four, Merman Legend, Vampire Warriors, Pixie Hyrule, Selkie Wind, Harpy Sky, mythological creatures AU, Mythical Beings & Creatures Series: Part 2 of Not-So-Ordinary Heroes AU Summary:

The heroes had their fair share of encounters with dragons. However, not all had the experience of taking care of one. So, when the Hero of Twilight first met his would-be protégé, he decided to jot down his observations.

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peachssodapop · 5 months ago

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I saw the Linked Universe Pixie Hollow and I just had to ask why you chose those talents?

I could understand a few like Twi, Wars, Four and Wild but what about the others? Why is Legend a music talent fairy and why is Wind a story telling talent fairy?

Time and Hyrule confuse me the most.

Oh boy that AU is so old I don't remember perfectly lmao. I can't believe it's already been almost 4 years since that first post.

I do remember Legend's is music because of the amount of instruments in his games. The ocarina in alttp, the harp of ages from oracle of ages, the companion flutes from oracle of ages and seasons, and the ocarina and Instruments of the Sirens from Link's Awakening.

Wind is a story telling fairy because of the Fish Stories comic. There was probably a lot more to that decision but I don't remember all the specifics anymore. I think the story telling fairy in the second movie has connections to pirates, that probably contributed.

I think I made Hyrule a fast flying fairy because they can make those little tornadoes and in the first game you can play the flute to fast travel via a tornado. It's either that because I absolutely would decide something like that based on a detail like that, Or I just felt in my heart that he would be and then found further connections after the fact.

I do remember I struggled with picking Time's. I think it was that the leaf painting felt the most kokiri of what was left. I didn't want to repeat talents between the Links.

I think I made Sky a light fairy just because I wanted a light fairy.

#I think a lot of my notes on everything was in a group chat I had with some irl friends that I have since lost the ability to word search in #I don't keep good notes on most aus because I don't expect anyone to care about it for very long #including myself

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luimagines · 2 years ago

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To Protect The World From Devastation

Masterlist

Part 1 Part 2

Last part! Introducing the little fairy who got caught! I wonder who it could have been.

Content under the cut!

It had been a while since Sky had dropped off the face of the earth and Twilight had subsequently followed suit.

Hyrule wasn’t sure how he would have been able to help them. Something in the air felt familiar the day Sky went missing but Hyrule didn’t think too much about it and didn’t voice his opinions on the matter. He thought it was nothing.

He was beginning to regret not telling someone.

Hyrule takes a breath and chants the spell he knows off the top of his head. His body shrinks, his sense of smell heightens and the world around him gains colors and flavors that he’d be locked out of otherwise.

He flies.

It didn’t take him too long to reach the spot where Sky vanished from. The group didn’t want to travel far without him. Then Twilight went to go look for him and he didn’t come back either.

The smell is still in the air, thankfully. Hyrule can smell the sugar sweet powder of pixie dust and follows it through the forest. It begins to dawn on him, as he follows the trail, that it’s not leading him to any fairy fountain. If anything it’s leading him to areas he’s never been before. Not that he’s afraid or shies away from the unknown but he begins to wonder if he should get others from the group to follow where it leads.

He doesn’t do that.

Hyrule tires after a while and realizes that while the trail has strengthened to a degree, he’s still miles away from where Sky could be and that’s not even counting where Twilight got off to. He should go back and get the others…. But what if the trail fades away completely by then? And what if they don’t believe him? It’s not like they’re aware of this little spell of his.

He groans loudly and flies up again. He continues forward. He’s already come this far, right? He might as well see this through to the end.

Hyrule ends up in the desert, cursing his existence, his stupidity, Sky’s stupidity, Twilight’s horrible luck and the fact that he’s been flying for hours with very little rest and he’s probably going to be useless if it came to a fight because of it.

He finds a cave and heads in. The fairy trail is heavier here than it’s been before. He’s very close, if he hasn’t arrived already.

He has to land. He’s too tired. The sun begins to set anyway and he’s only sorry that he didn’t warn anyone before he also left the group, let alone tell them the direction he was going. Hyrule falls asleep.

And wakes up in a jar.

Panic fills his veins instantly and he bangs the glass.

“Oh, it’s awake.” A person with short hair and cracks in their hair and neck lean over him. Hyrule can feel his heart pound in his chest. They reek of fairy dust and magic. Who is this person? “Hey, buddy. Hate to put you here but we noticed you were out in the open and didn’t want you frying when the sun came up.”

Panic stills for a moment as confusion sets in. Hyrule tilts his head and furrows his eyebrows. Just as he’s about to open his mouth to respond, another fairy comes in and flies around the jar.

Hyrule stunned stupid. He’s never seen her before. Granted, this isn’t his era. Let him rephrase. He’s never seen anything like her before.

She taps the glass and smirks at him. “Idiot.”

The illusion shatters and Hyrule glares at her. She giggles and flies back up. “He can come in handy.”

“He?” The other raises an eyebrow.

The other fairy nods and flies around gleefully. “It’s not like you have the ability to heal.”

“Shut up.”

“I meant that kindly.”

“I doubt that.”

Hyrule sits in the jar and pouts. This is not how he was going to spend his day and on top of that! Where are the other-

“Oh hey, you have a fairy. How’d that get all the way out here?” Sky says calmly.

Hyrule sits up and flutters within the jar. His mouth is open and his eyes are wide. The one holding him nearly drops the jar. Hyrule yelps at the motions as the glass hits his head. He can’t focus on that though.

Sky is here. Sky is here and in chains. They caught him. They have him prisoner. Hyrule needs to… also get out. Well shoot.

Wolfie comes up soon after and Hyrule feels a little better about it. Twilight might still be missing but at least Wolfie was here to look after Sky, who looks well all things considered.

There isn’t much he can do from the jar though.

Hours come and go and Hyrule is more or less introduced to their third member. A pink haired girl with water manipulation abilities from what he’s gathered. Impressive.

She dotes on Wolfie and seems to be the main one to make sure everyone is fed, himself included. Which Hyrule is thankful for. He’s eaten through his rations already.

When this girl pulls a hidden crystal from Wolfie and reveals Twilight, Hyrule has to keep himself from crying from hysteria. He’s too busy trying not to cry from being overloaded with information and worrying that he hardly notices that in her panic, the girl opens his jar and all but dumps him out.

He hits the floor with a soft thud.

“You let him out!” The other fairy cries out in shock. “NO! He’ll escape!”

Hyrule calls off his spell and grows as well.

“Oh my god, oh my god.” The pink girl looks like she could cry too. “We just needed the one guy! Why do we have three?”

Hyrule laughs harder, tears streaming down his face.

“Are you ok, Traveler?” Twilight frowns.

The other fairy flutters close to his face and slaps him. It doesn’t hurt but Hyrule lets her.

Part 4

#linkeduniverse #linked universe #linked universe x oc #lu hyrule

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theoneeyedgoldenwolf · 1 month ago

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Within

Whumptober 2024, number 21: Body Horror, Spirit Possession

Summary: Cursed forest and evil Spirit of a Lizalfos. The Chain is not happy about this. Least of all Time. And it’s not just because every single forest is his turf…

CW: Faulty sight, attacking loved one, cursing, scaling one’s arms, blood, nausea, feeling like throwing up, possession, trying to rip one’s Spirit out, ghosts

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

It was calm evening at the camp of the nine Heroes. Time tried to follow the conversations going around the fire but he barely could stay still. Something in the forest they were at wasn’t normal. He wasn’t certain of what, how or why. Something just felt off.

“I’m going to check around.” The Chain’s leader called while getting up.

“Twilight already checked the perimeters.” Warriors replied in slight worry while watching the older male put his gloves on and picking up his Biggoron Sword.

“I know and I’m not saying he would’ve missed something.” Time answered calmly. “The forest just feels off. I’m hoping to get in touch with it to figure it out.” He explained while fastening the sword’s belt. “I should be back within an hour or so.”

“Maybe someone should go with you…?” Sky half suggested while checking around the Chain. Each of them were ready and willing to accompany their oldest brother.

“Thanks but I’m quite certainly going to be out of sight.” The one eyed male replied with a slight mischievous grin. The eight Links slightly chuckled and nodded. Even though they weren’t certain of how the Old Man did it, they knew he could quite well just vanish in any forest even if they’d be staring at him. Hyrule had confirmed it to be magic in use but even he wasn’t certain of what kind of or how.

“Be careful.” Twilight called and Time nodded while waving bit dismissively.

“Always.” The Chain’s leader replied and walked into the woods around them. Just outside the camp’s fire’s light, he disappeared into the darkness. The eight accomplished swordsmen still felt bit uncertain and worried but they knew Time could look after himself without any of trouble. Not to mention that the forest was his turf and in such place quite well nothing went past his notion.

About an hour later the group of Hyrule’s Heroes heard someone approach their camp. The footsteps sounded both awfully familiar but still oddly strange. They carefully pulled their weapons closer even though they were hoping that it was Time coming back to the camp. They hadn’t heard any of scuffles, screams or roars to cause their brother’s walking to be off. Before they could whistle out a query, the maker of the somehow both recognizable and unknown sound of movement came into sight.

Lizalfos walked calmly into the camp and the eight Heroes stood up abruptly. The beast stopped with a start when the Links drew out their weapons and screamed out their battle cries while attacking. The creature screamed out in start and began to back away from the slashes and stabs.

“BOYS! WHAT THE HELL?! IT’S ME!” The being screamed out. The words startled the Chain only for a second or so before they already tackled the warrior lizard into the ground. The monster gasped before screaming again as the swords were struck downwards. The beast crossed his arms over his face while turning bit aside. Unconsciously he brought out a blue shield magic.

The eight attackers gasped in shock as their strikes clanged into the Nayru’s Love. They backed off a bit while staring wide-eyed at the situation. The Lizalfos was bit trembling while looking around in slight fear. “Pixie. Please. It’s me. Time. No monster talks Fairy Language. Right?” The creature spoke with slightly trembling voice.

The Links were even more shocked but not as much as Hyrule was. He stared entirely bewildered at the beast before him. “Time?” He called out quietly and the monster nodded. “Guys, back off!” The half-fairy commanded almost roughly while putting his sword and shield away.

The others gasped and jerked in full start. They quickly stepped backwards in slight shame while putting their weapons off. “Sprite?” Warriors called while feeling unnerved, uncertain and freaked out.

“Wars.” The Lizalfos replied while very slowly sitting up. “W-why did you guys attack me?” He asked while looking around and bit fearing to make a wrong move.

“Well, um… T-this is hard to explain…” Twilight started while scratching the back of his head and having turned his gaze off.

“You’re a Lizalfos.” Wild stated out flatly and everyone around him jerked in shock.

“Well, that was blunt.” Twilight muttered while shooting a slight glare at his protégé.

“W-what…?” The beast half whispered and looked at himself. “I… I’m not a Lizalfos…” He nearly muttered while not seeing any scales, tail or snout. “A-at least I can just see myself.” He told while turning his still bit freaked out gaze up into his boys.

The Captain crouched down and swiftly struck his hand at the creature’s snout… Only for it to go right through it like it wasn’t even there. The beast gasped slightly and bit jerked backwards at the unexpected and swift movement so close to his face.

“Not real.” Warriors muttered while waving his hand few times through the snout all the way until the beast was deadpanning at him.

“I could’ve told you that.” The creature grumbled.

“Yeah, well, I think we all needed that realization rather than your words.” Legend told firmly. The green scaled being huffed before bit gasping as the Veteran took hold of his hand, or more so of his fingers. “No scales. Just skin and fabric.” He observed while bit calming down.

The rest of the Chain calmed down slightly but they were still bit jumpy and trying not to fidget. “Time.” Sky called while still feeling odd to be calling the beast by his leader’s name. “What happened in the forest?”

The creature had turned his notion into the Chosen Hero by the call before already tilting his head a bit at the inquiry. “Nothing. The forest’s silent but nothing happened. Didn’t see or hear anything. There’s no monsters but neither is there any wildlife or fairies.” He answered with a slight worried frown.

“That doesn’t sound good.” Four stated out and the others nodded.

“There’s something off but I can’t catch the notion of it.” The Lizalfos continued before sighing. “I guess… This is part of the whole thing.” He almost growled while gesturing into the situation between them.

“I’d be surprised if it wasn’t.” Wind commented while still feeling uncertain of getting close to the beast. The voice, the color of that one eye and actions were very good indications of how things were. And yet, all the Sailor could see was the monster.

“Okay… Um…” The beast averted his gaze and ran a hand by the top of his head before shrugging. “How about I just keep my distance and stay here. Just ignore me and hopefully things are better tomorrow. We’ll head forward at the first light and, maybe, we can get out of this forest before nightfall.”

“How about no.” Warriors stated out firmly and yanked the creature up from the ground. “We all stay by the fire and we’ll pile on you for tonight.” He told almost commandingly after the monster had yelped at the sudden movement.

“And the rest of the plan?” The Lizalfos half queried with a mischievous grin.

The Captain almost groaned at that while the being just chuckled. The beast gasped slightly when the war Hero began to drag him along. The Chain followed behind while still being tad contradicted of the situation. Yet, as Warriors pushed the monster down onto one of the logs before already sitting down next to him, wrapping his scarf around the being and leaned against the scaled side of the beast, they finally calmed down.

“We’ll figure this out, Time.” Sky promised with a gentle smile. “Maybe the problem’s with us instead of something having happened to you. Or maybe it’s within the forest itself and just got latched onto you. Whatever it is, I’m sure it’ll dissipate once we get out of here.” He assured calmly and the Lizalfos just nodded.

Suddenly there was a sound of a click and everyone’s notion fell into the Champion. He had his Slate out and he was frowning at the picture he had just taken. “Okay… I didn’t wait for this.” He told bit confused.

“What is it?” Hyrule queried while already moving closer to the master archer. He gasped a bit when he saw the picture. Right after that he started to glance between the Slate’s screen and the beast in the camp. “That actually explain a lot.”

Wild took once a deep breath and turned the Slate around for everyone to see. There was round of gasps and jerks as they saw the picture. Most of all the Lizalfos was very shocked of the image.

The green scaled lizard-warrior was like an oversized costume around Time himself.

With the last confirmation of it really being their oldest brother in the beast’s place, the Chain calmed down. Sure, the whole idea of Lizalfos costume did NOT appeal to them. Yet, it explained fully why Time wasn’t seeing the creature but everyone else was.

“So…” The creature started slowly and slightly uncertainly. “That confirms it. The problem’s with me.” He stated out with a slight shrug and bit sorrowful lopsided smile. The Chain felt even more uncertain of the situation while having hoped for something different. Yet, that finally got the Heroes to get up to their feet and crowd around the beast whom in all reality was their oldest brother. The Lizalfos sighed a bit but he relaxed and calmed down while having the boys by him.

A while later the night shifts were shared but Time wasn’t given any of them even though he was very much up for taking at least one. “It’s safer if you stay in middle of the Hero Pile of Support and Comfort. We don’t want to risk repeating the earlier situation in any of way.” Warriors stated out as an explanation into the creature’s, which actually was his little brother’s, arguments and attempts of commanding them to allow him to have at least one of the shifts. For the being’s disappointment, he couldn’t find words to counter the Captain’s claim.

With everyone knowing the truth, it was easy for the Chain to snuggle up next to the Lizalfos. What they felt was Hylian and not the scales of the beast. That only calmed them down even more. Twilight had once tried to check on things as Wolfie but for once the canine’s sight saw the same as his Hylian form did.

At the next morning the Chain woke up into a terror filled scream. They snapped their eyes open and it took a precious moment before their minds understood what they were seeing. Time was sitting in middle of them with a knife on his hands, trembling and scaling his arms.

“TIME!” Four screamed out a bit before his brothers while already dashing towards the scene as he had been in the night watch. Yet, the others were right by their leader and swiftly catching his arms and desperately wrangling the knife out of his hold.

“THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!” The Captain screamed in shock and terror. Time was fighting against the hold while crying and clearly being entirely distraught. Hyrule knew they wouldn’t get any of potions through their leader at the moment so he initiated his healing magic and started to fix the bleeding arms and missing skin.

“I’m a monster! A fucking Lizalfos!” The one eyed male half shouted, half growled. He was desperately trying to claw at himself which only made it harder for the others to try and hold him still. “Kill me! Please! Wars, kill me!” He begged desperately while breaking down and only freaking the Chain out even more.

Warriors hated how he had to restrain the older male by the tight hug. Slowly the one eyed male turned from a terrified and self-harming into broken and slumped mess. The Captain loosened his hold slightly while allowing Time to turn around in his arms and hide his face into the crook between the war Hero’s shoulder and neck. He whispered quiet reassurances while gently running his arms up and down around his shattered brother.

The Chain around them slowly calmed down as the danger had passed. Sky carefully brought Warriors’ scarf and gently wrapped it around the crying Old Man while quite well just hiding him from their sight. The Captain gave him a grateful smile and a nod. The others clearly had learned what that blue fabric meant to their leader.

It took a long while before Time finally started to calm down. He slumped even more underneath the scarf while feeling both scared and ashamed. “I’m a monster.” He mumbled quietly while staring at his clawed and scaly hands while seeing the snout.

“No, you’re not.” The war Hero stated out firmly, almost commandingly. “This is like yesterday. Except that you’re seeing the beast while we’re seeing you.” He told while carefully pulling the scarf off. Time took a deep breath and tried to get ready for facing his boys after having freaked them out so thoroughly.

Yet, very soon the one eyed male gasped as Warriors carefully placed his hand onto his face. He was up for giving a slight glare to his older brother before gasping louder and recoiling backwards. The Captain’s hand was right through the scaly and long lizard’s snout. He stared wide-eyed at the scene while feeling both terrified and nauseous. “C-can you… C-can you, please…” He nearly stammered and sighed a bit in relief when the younger male pulled his hand away.

“What you’re seeing is as fake as what we saw yesterday.” Legend stated out firmly while noticing how much that one action had affected the Old Man. Time just nodded while not daring to look at anyone. It was hard enough for him to try and keep in mind that he wasn’t the beast he was seeing.

“Getting ready, a quick breakfast and heading forward. The quicker we’re out of this forest, the better.” Twilight half commanded while hating to take over the leadership. The others nodded firmly before already scattering off to handle the works. While Wild went to handle swift breakfast, the Rancher handled both his and the Champion’s gear and bedrolls for faster leaving. Legend and Sky handled both their own as well as Time’s and Warriors’ stuff. The Captain carefully led the one eyed male over to the campfire to be out of the way.

“Gilded Sword and Mirror Shield but NO armor.” Warriors commanded when Time felt bit better and was up for getting ready too.

“Why not? How am I going to aid in possible fight without my armor and the Biggoron Sword?” The Chain’s leader argued back almost childishly while wanting anything to take his mind off of what he was seeing. Ignoring the snout and scales was hard and he needed to get his mind somewhere else than into that false sight.

“Because you need to feel the scarf around you.” The war Hero stated out much gentler. “You need a reminder of what you’re seeing is not the reality.” He explained carefully and the one eyed male sighed heavily while slumping back down onto the log. “You’ll be okay, Sprite. I promise.” He swore while coming to sit down next to his little brother whom was about a decade older than him.

“I need a distraction.” Time mumbled while hiding his face into his hands. Yet, he quite soon gasped quietly and pulled them off nearly instantly after seeing the claws, scales and his Lizalfos hands through the beast’s snout. It all only made him feel sick.

“Lucky you, I got an idea.” The Captain stated out and pulled the Old Man up from the log. “You can help me getting the scarf perfectly on and the armor attached rightfully.” He explained while knowing the older male knew exactly what to do and how. Back in the war the ten year old kid had aided him quite often as it had seemed to be something the child had liked to do.

The Chain’s leader sighed a bit but he smiled fondly and nodded. Even though he hadn’t done this for decades, he still remembered the right actions. He knew exactly how the war Hero wanted his scarf and how to smooth any wrinkles. Warriors simply smiled and enjoyed of the skilled actions getting everything just perfect.

Next problem came at the breakfast. The Chain tried not to look as Time kept failing to remember that the snout he saw wasn’t part of him nor working as a mouth for him. “Sprite.” Warriors eventually called firmly and placed his hand in front of his brother’s face.

The one eyed male recoiled backwards. He stared at the hand that was through the scaled snout while not feeling it. He knew it should’ve aided him but all it did was make him feel sick. He eventually turned away while clamping his hand over his mouth. “Don’t do that. Please. It just makes me nauseous.” He mumbled while fighting to keep his need of throwing up at bay.

“Sorry, little brother.” Warriors whispered while bit running his hand up and down at Time’s back.

“’S fine.” The Old Man mumbled while concentrating into the comforting feeling of the Captain’s action.

“Maybe a blindfold for a while?” Wild suggested but Time shook his head.

“I’d rather still see what I’m doing. I just…” The Chain’s leader started before trailing off with a sigh. He took a deep breath, closed his eye and ran his hand over his face. “No snout.” He mumbled while keeping his eye closed and checked his skin and fingers. “No scales. No claws.” He tried to confirm for himself before opening his eye. He bit grimaced as he still saw the Lizalfos’ body instead of his own.

The click of a photo taken bit startled everyone and the one eyed male turned his gaze into Wild. “Well, if yesterday’s picture was freaky then this is worse.” The Champion told and bit unwillingly showed the picture. The Chain gasped in shock before everyone’s notion fell into Time as he loudly gagged.

“Y-yeah.. I’m not gonna get anything down my throat at the moment.” The Old Man mumbled while feeling even more nauseous than a while ago. He had turned away, clamped his hand over his mouth and shut his eye tightly. He was fighting to keep each inhale steady and deep. He gasped a bit in shock when Warriors carefully hugged him and began to whisper reassuring words and promises of them fixing the situation.

In the picture it was a Lizalfos wearing a costume of Time.

The rest of the Chain had pretty much lost their appetite too but they somehow managed to finish their breakfast. Wild stored the one eyed male’s food in case he wanted to give it a new try at later time. After that they left to continue forward while hoping they’d get out of the forest at that day. Each of them bit feared how the third day would begin considering how the earlier two turns had gone through. The idea of them all seeing the Lizalfos did not appeal to any of them.

Time slowly gained some kind of composure while walking. The silent forest was bit eerie but it gave him a chance to fall into his own thoughts. That helped nearly as much as the scarf and Warriors’ arm around his shoulders.

The oldest Hero of the nine Links glanced behind him out of habit. He gave a slight scowl to Legend whom was walking right behind him. “You’re stepping on my tail.” He stated out before nearly instantly flinching as the words left his mouth.

“Time, you don’t have a tail. And even if you had one, we sure as hell wouldn’t step on it. Not to mention you’d definitely feel it if we stepped on it.” The Veteran nearly snapped the reply. Yet, he straight off slumped when he realized how roughly he had answered. He could feel everyone’s hard gazes on him. “Sorry.” He almost mumbled.

The Chain’s leader had bit flinched at the words while already before the reply having felt like an idiot. “It’s okay. Just… Sight problem.” He answered while giving a sorrowful smile to the Weapon Specialist before already turning his gaze into the road ahead of them.

“Here.” Four called while already offering his bandanna. “Might be better not to rely in your sight at the moment.” He told with a slight shrug. “And don’t worry. We’ll keep close check on surroundings and Captain’s keeping eye on the road. Just trust us, okay.”

The Old Man felt entirely uncertain of the idea of not seeing where he was walking or ending up eating or let alone to fight without knowing what he was doing. Yet, he took the item and placed it over his eyes. The full sightlessness made him feel bit scared and uncertain but he fully trusted the eight around him.

They continued forward and Time felt ashamed as he was bit stumbling and feeling like a newborn foal. Yet, the Chain didn’t say a word and Warriors held him upright and steadied him very swiftly every time he took a wrong kind of step. It took a while before he was catching his going and calming down as his steps became more firm and certain.

The whole Chain desperately wanted out of the forest but they kept the pace calm and slow enough for everyone to stay along without trouble. They didn’t stop for meal as Wild just handed out fruits while, even though everyone else than Time saw them, named them just to let their leader to be aware of what was going on around him. The bandanna over his eyes actually let him eat without needing to think about the form of Lizalfos he was seeing himself as.

It started to be late and the one eyed male still unconsciously kept notion of the passing time. “We probably should set a camp for the night.” He more of suggested than commanded.

“Once we’re out of the forest. The edge of it is less than hundred meters away.” Warriors replied and noticed his little brother relaxing at the news. Even though the war Hero understood the reasons, he still couldn’t help but feel worried at the odd reaction. All forests, no matter if they were known or foreign, were Time’s turf. The desperate want of getting out of one of such wasn’t like him. Yet, with the faulty sights in play, they all wanted to leave the area behind as swiftly as possible.

Suddenly, just few trees before leaving the area, the Chain’s leader stopped. “Everyone, get out of these woods first.” He commanded surprisingly firmly.

“Sprite?” The Captain called while giving a sharp nod towards the field and sandy road outside the forest. The Chain moved past the duo bit uncertainly while fearing what their leader had sensed.

“Whatever that Lizalfos is, I don’t want it to attach itself into anyone else.” Time stated out and the others nodded in understanding. It bit calmed them down as the Old Man was simply looking after them like he always did. Just making sure they were safe.

The war Hero checked the road once before turning his back towards the way out. After that he started to walk backwards while holding onto the older male. “Just follow me. I’ll be out of the forest before you but I’m not going to let you stay any of longer than needed.” He stated out and the one eyed male simply nodded while allowing the situation.

The moment Time was out of the forest, he gave out a pain-filled scream and fell unconscious while crumbling into Warriors’ arms. “SPRITE!” The Captain screamed out in shock while already carefully picking up his little brother into his arms so that they could get even further away from the woods. The Chain gathered around them while making sure not to enter the forest anymore.

In the darkening evening they could notice the lights of a town. Without thinking the Chain headed towards it while hoping it would have an Inn they could stay at. And even if it didn’t have such, they would not camp at the forest for the night.

For their luck the place did have an Inn which also had several rooms still free. Yet, the eight Heroes only booked up one room while not wanting to leave their leader without the knowledge of them all being there by him. Even though the Inns were usually safe and sound, they set up night shifts just in case there would happen a change for worse in their oldest brother’s condition.

Time woke up slowly with a quiet whine. His ear twitched a bit when he heard someone move in the room but he easily recognized Wind’s steps. He opened his eye while bit fearing of what he’d see. Yet, he soon smiled bit relieved as there was no snout and his hands were normal. He inspected his hand for a moment before closing his eye and sighing in relief. “Normal.” He whispered before opening his eye and giving assuring smile to the youngest Hero. “What are you seeing?”

The Sailor sighed in relief and relaxed while smiling happily. “You in middle of our brothers.” He replied with a slight grin.

The one eyed male chuckled a bit and shrugged. “I doubt I’ll be moving anytime soon.” He pointed out before beckoning the pirate-Hero closer. “Just take a nap. Everything’s all right again.” He suggested calmly but Wind shook his head.

“Just because everything’s okay now doesn’t mean it’ll be okay after a while.” The youngest Hero stated out while not wanting to trust the calm moment.

Time groaned and slumped. “I freaked everyone out pretty roughly, huh?” He half queried before tad shrugging. “Guess I wouldn’t trust the situation either if I were you.”

Suddenly Wind grinned. “Only one way to find out.” He told before already moving next to Wild.

“Wind, let him sleep.” The Chain’s leader half commanded but the Sailor ignored him while knowing the one eyed male wasn’t getting up without waking everyone else up too. Time half sighed, half groaned while just slumping as the Sailor gently shook the Champion awake.

“Is it morning already?” The Chain’s cook asked before yawning.

“Nope. Just needing to take a picture by your Slate.” The one currently on night shift stated out calmly. Wild frowned in confusion while bit tilting his head to side. “Time’s awake and not seeing the Lizalfos. I just want to see how things are.” Wind explained while having not wanted to let the over hundred years old youngster know of the current situation.

The Champion was bit startled and fully awake by that one simple line. He swiftly but carefully sat up before smiling at the calmness in that one eye of his oldest brother. “Hi. Sorry for the wake up. Couldn’t really stop him.” Time apologized with a slight shrug.

“No trouble at all.” Wild replied calmly while doing his best not to wake others as he got up to his feet. He moved bit away before taking out his Slate and finding the right application until already taking the picture. He sighed in relief and relaxed at what he saw. “No Lizalfos around anymore.” He stated out with a happy smile and turned the Slate around for the Chain’s leader to see the picture.

Time sighed in relief too while relaxing and calming down. “Thank the Deities.” He half mumbled before already grinning bit mischievously. “Yeah, I’m taking a nap. I suggest you two to do such too. It’s still way too early for anyone to get up yet.” He told before closing his eye, bit wiggling around to find a good position and relaxing.

The duo glanced at each other before shrugging. Things were safe and sound with the Lizalfos gone. There was no reason to keep eye on the situation so they just returned into the Hero Pile of Support and Comfort. They didn’t notice the one eyed male’s grin as he felt the duo fulfilling his current family and letting him know everyone was safely around him.

Several hours later Time woke up first like he did almost every day. It didn’t take long before the first one, Warriors, started to stir. The Captain yawned and bit stretched before already bit frowning for few simple reasons. One, no-one was waking him up. Two, he didn’t catch the scent of breakfast. Three, as he opened his eyes, his little brother was staring right back at him with a grin on his face.

“Morning, big brother. Slept well?” The one eyed male queried after having bit chuckled at the slight startle he had given to his older brother.

“Gremlin.” The war Hero grumbled but he couldn’t help but smile a bit as Time partly laughed, partly chuckle at that exclamation. “How are you?” He inquired while getting serious and not being able to silence the rising worry within him.

“I’m fine. Not seeing the Lizalfos anymore. Wind woke Wild up and they took a picture. No beast.” The Chain’s leader replied calmly with a slight shrug. “Told to them both to take a nap too.”

Warriors sighed in relief and relaxed. “That’s good. No, that’s great news.” He whispered and the Old Man simply nodded in agreement. After that they waited for the others to wake up too before, almost one by one, sharing the good news of the situation.

The day went past calmly while handling off the normal restocking and information gathering. Even though they were mainly searching for oddly behaving monsters and trouble with them, the Chain also queried about the forest. It turned out that Time had been extremely lucky to have survived.

The forest was haunted by a bloodthirsty Lizalfos Spirit. It latched on to travelers without hesitation. If it was just lone one, they didn’t survive the second day of the possession. If the person was with a friend or a group, they rarely survived the first day or evening. It wasn’t because the beast would’ve caused their death but due to their friends, family and or group members taking their lives. And, if for some odd way they’d survive that, they’d end up killing themselves at the next day. The stories of the survived groups were heartbreaking and they were entirely overtaken by guilt and sorrow. After all, they had either taken the life of their comrade or been unable to stop them from committing suicide.

People usually rounded the forest even though it lengthened the road quite a bit. There were warnings all around the forest’s edge but, sometimes, those signs went missing. Some believed that someone possessed by the Lizalfos Spirit had been forced to destroy the warnings. Either way, that didn’t help the Chain as the portal had dropped them right into middle of the forest without the knowledge of how things were at there.

None of the nine Heroes were even one bit happy about the news. None of them wanted to go back but they knew they had to try and fix the situation. In all reality, eight members out of nine were more than willing to leave Time out of the mission. Yesterday and the night before that had been rough enough. They sure as hell didn’t want him to go through any of worse.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t for the Chain to decide even though they had the majority of the votes. The Old Man was their leader but that wasn’t the reason he followed his boys back into that forest. No, he simply wanted to fix the woods back to the way it was supposed to be. He felt like he owed that much as it was his turf. The forests meant the world to him and he couldn’t leave any of such places into this kind of mess.

Twilight had managed to get a map of the forest. It aided them in planning things out even though the forest must’ve changed since the map’s creation. “I hate to say this but we gotta split.” Time began while checking the map on the table. They all had gathered around it to get the full knowledge of the area. “We can cover more ground by that way and, maybe, lure the beast out. It clearly doesn’t latch on anyone if there’s too huge a group together.”

“Maybe in pairs and one trio?” The Rancher suggested while not wanting to let any of his brothers get struck by the monsters. And even less he wanted that to be Time again.

The one eyed male shook his head. “No. Everyone alone.” He told and partly groaned while pulling away from the table. He began to pace around while not liking of the situation even one bit. “I hate this as much as each of you do.” He stated out after having stopped walking around and turned his notion back into his eight boys. “Wolfie can’t help but Wild’s Slate does. We didn’t check but maybe my Lens of Truth is of aid too.” He mused while frowning. “Just trust in your instincts and stay alert whole time. Once we get back together, Wild will take a picture of each of us and we’ll take a picture of him to check on things.”

The others nodded while not wanting to go by that plan. The idea of separating in a forest without really knowing of the area wasn’t appealing. Wind took several pictures of the map and handed the photos to everyone for a map. After that, while marking the roads on their own pictures, they chose on the pathways and where to meet up at the evening.

Each of them was unwilling to enter the forest once they got to its edge. The Chain’s leader gave a short pep talk before they walked into the woods and separated ways. They had picked a place for a camp around the middle of the forest while, hopefully, getting half of the area checked. If nothing jumped at them by the evening they’d meet at the chosen spot, they’d check the rest of the forest at the next day. If things still were calm once they’d meet outside the forest, then they’d need a new plan in getting the Lizalfos Spirit out and handled out of there.

Time had first listened to everyone picking their roads before taking part into that planning. He made sure Wild had the shortest road to the chosen campsite while he had the longest. He hoped for the best as he wished that the Champion would go unnoticed by the beast and on that way being capable of checking everyone’s safety by the pictures.

When the night fell and the Old Man made his way towards the right spot, he was grateful of seeing the campfire going. Things seemed calm at there which meant that everyone whom had gotten together by now were quite certainly safe and sound. The closer he came, the more relieved he was that all eight had already regrouped.

The Chain turned towards the sound of someone approaching their camp. They reached for their weapons before calming down and relaxing as Time came into sight. Even the one eyed male relaxed as the others weren’t seeing him as a monster. Yet, when he had come well enough into the light of the fire, the eight Links abruptly stood up and snatched their weapons. The oldest Hero stopped dead on his tracks and slowly raised his hands in calming manner. “B-boys…?” He called bit tentatively while fearing for similar situation as a few nights ago.

“Not you, Sprite.” Warriors stated out firmly and nodded behind the Chain’s leader. “Behind you.” He told while glaring at the Lizalfos that was in touching range from the war Hero’s little brother. “Keep your filthy claws off of him.” He snarled while glaring at the best.

Before Time had a chance to check behind him or even to move, the claws of one scaled hand of the creature were already around his throat and back. He gasped in shock and froze to his place while feeling the icy cold hold and sharp claws on his skin. One sharp finger was at his back, two at his throat and two spread closer to his shoulder. He barely dared to breathe while staring almost pleadingly at the others.

Suddenly an arrow flew right past the Old Man’s head. The beast behind him snorted. “You really think mortal’s weapons can harm me?” The Lizalfos snarled and tightened its hold. Time gasped in shock and pain as the claws broke through the skin. “I got his life in my hands. Are you willing to risk him?” The Chain grit their teeth while gripping their weapons even tighter.

“You can’t separate me from him.” The creature told with a smirk. “I’ve latched myself into his life. But, killing him won’t kill me.” It continued calmly before bit shrugging. “I have to give it, though. You survived my possession.” It nearly snarled in slight anger. “It was foolish of you to come back. You got rid of me and yet you chose to give me a second chance. This time you won’t leave this forest alive.”

Time tried to find a reply but the icy cold touch was almost numbing him. “How did you do that?” Sky suddenly queried. “The possession. The faulty sights. The messing with one’s feelings. How are you capable of that when you’re only a ghost?”

The Lizalfos chuckled and slightly loosened its hold. The one eyed male sighed a bit in relief while being more capable of breathing and thinking straight. As the beast behind him began to speak, Time signed several swift commands.

“Oh, it was quite easy to be honest.” The lizard-warriors’ spirit began almost airily. “He’s already traveling with four ghosts. One more didn’t matter in the group.” It told before scowling. “Yet, those fools weren’t happy of me tagging around. Especially the tall marked one.” The beast smirked cruelly. “Yet, nothing can keep me from latching into my target. I just had to round them to find an opening.”

The Lizalfos’ gaze fell into Wild. “Even though he’s not the only one walking with ghosts he’s the one with strongest connection into such.” The creature’s notion moved into Wind. “Surprised you didn’t see me being something… Odd.”

“You’ve had too much of practice. Your form is too strong to be really seen through.” The Sailor told while hating the fact of having not realized the Lizalfos having been a Spirit instead of Time having been transformed into such beast. Yet, the light of the campfire wasn’t exactly the best one to check if one was seeing a ghost or real deal.

Suddenly the Old Man crouched down while bit growling at the slight cuts from the claws by his unexpected movement. “NOW!” He screamed out before already striking with Light Magic the moment he hit his hands against the uneven ground. Sky and Wind dashed forward while trying to shield their eyes from the bright flash.

The beast screamed and stumbled backwards. Time flinched slightly when the Master Sword moved in a fast flung only inch or so from touching him. The sacred sword was shining bright blue as it moved from above of the Chain’s leader’s head to behind him until already striking into the ground. The Lizalfos screamed as its connection was being cut like that.

The youngest Hero moved past his brothers and attacked with the Phantom Sword. The monster screamed in agony as the blade actually caused a real damage instead of going harmlessly through it. The beast stared wide-eyed at the weapon in the Sailor’s hands and felt the dangerous pull towards it.

The Lizalfos turned around and tried to escape from the area but the sword struck right into its tail. The creature screamed once again as it crashed onto the ground and started to be dragged into the hourglass within the Phantom Sword. Wind growled while using all his strength to keep the blade where it was. He had never fought against this kind of Spirit before and it fought against the situation harder than the armored Phantoms had during his second quest.

“I’M NOT GOING ALONE!” The Lizalfos Spirit screamed and struck its glare right into Time. It snapped its clawed hand towards its latest victim while calling for the small fragment of itself that was still within the one eyed male. The ghost of the beast slowly fisted its hand while smirking cruelly while doing all it could to latch that last piece fully into the Chain’s leader’s own Spirit.

Time screamed in agony as the creature was trying to rip his Spirit out of him to be sucked into the hourglass of the Phantom Sword with it. “NOT ON OUR WATCH!” The rough shout was followed by four Spirits appearing around the Old Man. Sky, and Warriors whom had come close to his little brother when Wind had gone to attack the ghostly Lizalfos, moved away from their leader in shock.

Mikau, Dextri, Darmani III and Fierce Deity crouched down around Time. “You will be alright, my friend.” The tall Hylian told gently before drawing out his Double Helix sword and striking it on full force into the ground. The Lizalfos gave out a growled gasp. Yet, it was swift in trying to reconnect with its fragment and the connection into Time’s Spirit. The one eyed male had gasped a bit in relief but still clearly being in pain.

Darmani III simply waited until that connection was cut for the needed short moment. At then the former Goron leader quickly struck its hand through his friend’s back and pulled the tangled mess of two different souls being cruelly connected. Time was whimpering in pain while leaning against Fierce.

Mikau quickly started to untie the soul pieces with precise and delicate fingers. His work was fast like he was strumming his guitar in a quick rhythm. The moment the knot was opened and both he and Darmani III let go, Time gasped and fell limp against the Deity while still being conscious.

The Lizalfos growled in anger. It put all its concentration into recreating the contact into the Chain’s leader. That was when Dextri took part and began to shoot the bubbles. It was the very needed distraction for Fierce to bring out the Nayru’s Love and making sure the beast couldn’t reconnect with the one he guarded.

The Spirit of the lizard-warrior kept trying over and over again to get through the defenses around its target. Darmani III kept striking stationary earthquakes. Mikau struck with Water Magic. Dextri kept attacking with the bubbles. And Fierce held the shield magic far stronger than what Time ever could on his own. Nothing was going to break through that protection.

Suddenly the Lizalfos gave out an agony filled scream before already vanishing into the Phantom Sword. Wind gasped and staggered couple of steps backwards before falling to his butt. The sword flashed few times with bright light before calming down and the hourglass was full with the golden sand of Life Force or, in other words, the blade finally had gained the needed Sand of Hours.

Time gasped, almost just exhaled, and fell unconscious in the Fierce Deity’s arms. The marked Hylian God turned his gaze into the Captain while vanquishing the Nayru’s Love from around him, Time and the trio with them. Warriors didn’t need anything else than that one gaze and he was already there to gently pick the one eyed male into his arms. The Goron, Zora and Deku simply nodded before already vanishing out of sight. “Link will be all right. He just needs bit of rest.” Fierce told calmly before standing up. He glanced once around at the Heroes whom were bit tentatively gathering close to their brothers. “The forest is safe again. You may camp in here without a worry.” The Deity assured with a small smile before taking a step backwards and vanishing from sight.

The Chain felt still bit worried even though they trusted the God of Protection’s words. Nonetheless, they still assigned the night shifts just to be certain. Yet, the end result was that none of them slept at that night. They just couldn’t get the sight of their oldest member’s Spirit having nearly been ripped out of him. All they really wanted was for Time to wake up and be perfectly fine.

The one eyed male woke up to the scent of the breakfast. He half groaned, half whined while pushing himself up from the ground. He just barely heard the Chain gather around him while already having someone’s strong hold on him helping him to sit up. Slowly, while leaning against the one whom had helped him, he started to catch the sound of worried calls of his name and simple queries. He shook his head a bit before opening his eye.

“Time? You okay?” Hyrule called with fully concerned voice. He had already healed the five scratch marks before the Captain had carried their leader to the bedroll at last night. The Old Man just simply nodded before unconsciously bringing his hand up to his throat. When he started to frown at the lack of feeling the wounds, the half-fairy was already reassuring him: “I healed those after the Lizalfos was dealt with.”

Time sighed a bit in relief and relaxed slightly. He hesitated for a second before signing one word: “Water.” He flinched slightly when most of his boys were already willing to get the waterskin and almost crashed with one another. He smiled bit fondly while shaking his head at the eagerness and foolishness. Yet, soon enough the water container was brought and he nodded his thanks.

“Sorry. Dry throat. Not fun to talk with such.” The Chain’s leader partly apologized and the Chain just showed not to worry about such. “So, yeah, I think I’m okay. Feeling bit tired but intact.” He assured while finally realizing to be leaning against Warriors as everyone else was right in his sight.

“The four ghosts… Who were they?” Wind queried while having a feeling they were still around even though he couldn’t see them.

“And why are they with you?” Sky asked while feeling grateful of their help but not liking the idea of Time being haunted by the Spirits of the Dead.

“Well, I guess this was to come out sooner or later.” Time sighed and took bit better position while leaning against his older brother. He grinned slightly when the war Hero wrapped the blue scarf around him and bit tightened his hold. “Yet, before I start to explain anything…” He started and checked around as well as he could from his place. “Is everyone all right?” He queried bit worriedly.

The Chain nodded firmly while relaxing a bit more as their oldest brother seemed to be doing well. “No-one except you got hurt.” Warriors stated out calmly. “Fierce Deity severed the connection between you and the ghost Lizalfos. He and the others kept you safe. Sky cut the first connection and Wind dealt with the ghost.” He explained and the one eyed male nodded in understanding. He was grateful of the younger male being in good enough basis with the God of Protection. Though, last night’s situation certainly made it clear to everyone that Fierce was on their side and wouldn’t harm him in any of way.

The Chain’s leader sighed a bit and shrugged. “I met with the four during my second quest.” He started bit sorrowfully. “I met with Dextri first. He’s the Deku. The silent one. It took long while before I got his name so until then I only could call him as the Deku Butler’s Son.”

Time smiled slightly. “Mikau was second. The Zora guitarist.” He chuckled a bit and slightly grinned. “I got his Fishbone Guitar, by the way. The laidback guy whom can be very fierce too if he’s fighting for his family.”

The Old Man sighed again sorrowfully. “Darmani III. He was the Goron leader but he died while defending his people and young child of his. Very righteous and serious but he certainly knows how to have fun too.”

The one eyed male smiled bit lopsidedly. “Fierce Deity. The God of Protection. Very powerful and very protective. He’s had rough past but his intentions have always been good. And right now I, and you all through me, are fully under his guarding.”

The oldest Link took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “The reason they’re with me is the masks. Soul-bound. I don’t know Fierce’s story yet but Dextri certainly didn’t deserve what happened. The demon that tormented the lands of my second quest killed him and forced his Spirit into me. Dextri never fought against but I think it might’ve been out of shock and fear at first. Yet, things changed after the curse was broken and I was back as myself with the Deku Mask in my hand. I could feel him there but I couldn’t talk with him. Or, well, he didn’t want to speak to me. Nonetheless, for the sake of his family and friends, he aided me through the Temple at his home area.”

Time sighed heavily and bit slumped. “Mikau’s death I witnessed. I was by him when he took his last breath. He talked a lot and accepted my aid. It took a while before we found a common ground in the movement and fighting but after that it’s been very smooth. Since I could actually have conversation with him, I realized that Dextri just wanted to stay silent instead of making himself known.”

The Chain’s leader’s expression showed respect when he began to talk about the Goron leader. “With Darmani III I actually met his ghost. He explained things while being bit surprised that I could see him. Since he couldn’t do anything as a ghost, he accepted my help. As I had found a way into cooperative going with Mikau, it was bit easier to find common ground with Darmani III.”

The Old Man sighed a bit and shrugged slightly. “Fierce was the least accepting. He didn’t give me the rights to use his mask until I had proven myself to him. It wasn’t because he wouldn’t have understood the situation. There were only two reasons: I was a ten year old kid and the transformation from one species into another is agonizing. He simply didn’t want to harm me nor force his ways with me. He just wanted to be certain I got what it took to wield his power and do the right thing. In his past there had been situations where his mask had been used wrongly. He didn’t want such to happen again.”

Wild glanced around while feeling fully uncertain to voice out what was going in everyone’s heads. “The markings…” He started without really knowing how to form the question without being too blunt like he had been few days ago.

Time shook his head. “Not because I would’ve misused Fierce’s mask or had it at wrong times or anything of such. Few years back I faced a battle I couldn’t win. Fierce told me to put his mask on. The monsters took us off guard and that’s how I lost my eye. Fierce was going to lose his life due to the mask having been struck at. I wasn’t going to allow that to happen but Fierce wasn’t going to accept my death. So, to keep me safe while I kept him safe, he shared his life with me and hence the markings.”

The one eyed male sighed and slumped again a bit. “After the second quest I offered to free the four Spirits from their masks but they refused. We argued about that a bit but they eventually just claimed that they wanted to see the world and be of help. Couldn’t fight against that. So, they’re soul-bound into their respective masks but clearly at times of need they can actually appear without me using the masks. And I’m entirely grateful of that. I don’t want to think about what could’ve happen without them.” He finished with a slight grateful smile.

Once their oldest brother had fallen silent, the Chain moved closer and hugged him tightly. “You got amazing ghost friends.” Wind stated out and the others nodded in confirmation. None of them could’ve felt more grateful of what the four Spirits had done to defend their beloved leader. It had been shocking and frightening but it also had been so very clear that the see-through beings had been there to protect out of the very fact that they cared about the same person as the eight Heroes did.

“Breakfast and leaving the forest after that, yeah?” The Champion queried after having pulled off to check on the food.

“Breakfast sounds perfect but I’m not up for leaving the forest. It feels so much different than when we first entered this area.” Time replied while taking a deep breath, closing his eye and just listening. There was a calm and gentle wind rustling the leaves of the trees. The birds were chirping. Small animals were scurrying in the undergrowth. And he could swear a fox was going around them not far from them. All this and so much more was what he was catching just by listening and relaxing. And all of it was something he had been missing ever since they came out of the portal.

“Fierce did say the forest was fixed.” Warriors mused while enjoying of seeing his little brother calm and relaxed again. This was exactly how the older male was supposed to be in any forest.

“I can fully confirm that.” The Chain’s leader whispered before opening his eye and nodding this thanks as Wild brought the breakfast for him and the war Hero. “I just want to take a while and hear what the forest has to say.” He told calmly before starting to eat.

In the end Time’s ‘a while’ turned out to be the whole day. The Chain didn’t mind since it helped the Old Man to calm down and know that everything was perfect again with the forest. The Lizalfos Spirit had been in the forest far longer than the young forest knew of. The beast had, little by little, gotten the older trees and bushes killed and on that way cut the information off. The trees shared information through roots but when those died and the connection was cut off, the new one’s roots grew too slowly to gain the information until the ones with the knowledge were already destroyed and the ones with the needed news ended up being too far to share it in time before they too were murdered.

At the next day the nine Heroes returned into the town and informed of the forest being safe again. They were up for spending a night at the Inn when the portal already opened up. They wanted to just ignore it but the worry of where it would lead and what it could bring out was too big to dismiss. Lucky for them, the nine Heroes came to Twilight’s era and close of Ordon Village. A safe night and Hero Pile of Support and Comfort were guaranteed.

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dearratroi · 1 year ago

Text

The Great Fairy Zarina

Based on @flammelikeshookdust's art. Find it here. It was so cute I got inspired and wanted to write a little bit of what happens in the drawings.

Rated: T (no warnings)

Tags: Fluff, romance, humor, first kiss, surprise kissing, Hookdust, Crossover between The Pirate Fairy and Legend of Zelda: BoTW/TotK

Summary:

James Hook has found his way out of Neverland and into an entirely new land: Hyrule. As he acclimates to this new land he hears about the Great Fairies and sets out to meet one. Out of her flower bud emerges the beautiful and charismatic Zarina, who takes quite a liking to James.

Read below or on AO3

“There’s a Great Fairy near Kakariko Village. Legend says if you offer the right price to her, she will upgrade your clothes for better defense.”

That’s what James heard since he found himself in Hyrule. It was a strange place, that was for sure. It wasn’t a tropical paradise like Neverland was, well, there was Faron but it was a small area. Most of Hyrule was rolling plains surrounded by mountains, deserts, and lakes.

Other differences of note: There were a lot more monsters in Hyrule. In fact, it was quite an epidemic of Moblins, Bokoblins, Lizalfos, and other strange creatures. However, James was intelligent, and he was nothing if not adaptable. He didn’t have his crew here, but soon he established himself as the captain of a small crew of Bokoblins. They were primitive, territorial creatures, but easily bribable by food and treasure, both of which he promised they would receive in abundance if they adventured with him. Also, Hyrule had fairies but they were tiny things, little pink fuzzy dots with wings. They were nothing like the pixies of the hollow. He was fairly certain they weren’t sapient, they mostly floated around like butterflies until he got too close, then they’d fly off.

So when he heard there was a Great Fairy, he was curious. Was it Great as in huge? Like a giant fairy? Or was it a title of some sort?

He wanted to visit this Great Fairy, both out of curiosity for how she compares to Pixie Hollow pixies, and so he could receive this boon to his equipment. Hyrule was much more dangerous than Neverland and he needed the upgrade.

He saved up his rupees, even some gemstones in case that was more her fancy. (What kind of price did she require anyway? It was left quite vague.) And with his flying ship, he sailed toward Kakariko Village.

The denizens of Hyrule told him to look for a giant, green flower bud with red thorns on top; it was the Great Fairy’s home. Sure enough, from the skies it was visible from a mile away.

After finding a place to land, James placed the rupees and gems into a pack and slung it over his shoulder. He also made sure to explain in careful detail to his crew to not follow him under any circumstances. The Great Fairy surely wouldn’t appreciate the creatures in her domain. He parked the ship far enough that it was a half-mile’s walk, and emerging through the trees he saw it ahead, the flower bud.

It towered over James. Giant flower petals acted as stair steps up to the ‘entrance’ of the bud. Hesitantly, he took a step, testing the integrity of the petal. He expected it to crunch under his foot, but it barely even bent under his weight.

“Okay…” he said, taking the next one.

He climbed the 5 large petals and looked at the bud in front of him.

“Erm, hello?” He asked, addressing the giant plant.

James reached out his hand but before he could try to part the leaves, the flower bloomed.

“Hello!” A feminine voice shouted.

Out of the center of the flower a giant, winged woman emerged, her arms to the sky and a grin on her face. The bloom threw pollen to the sky and the enormous petals folded open to reveal a deep red and pink flower. In the very center was a glittering pool of water, which the Great Fairy was submerged in from the waist up.

And the fairy herself, while she was giant she had the face and body of a young woman. Her auburn hair cascaded down her shoulders in rich rivulets. Under one eye was a dotted beauty mark. Adorned on her wrists were gold bangles and covering her upper body was a white and gold halter top that ended just above her stomach. It was much like Gerudo wear.

She put a hand under her chin and took in the sight of the man before her. His expression was a mix of fear and awe. He took half a step back as she studied him. She knew that look, she’d seen it a hundred times. He thought she might squish him. Adorable little humans, so very frightened of everything.

“I haven’t had a visitor in quite a while,” the Great Fairy said. “You’re a cute little thing.”

James blinked and his cheeks turned red.

“Great Fairy, uh…”

“You can call me Zarina,” she said, smiling.

“Great Fairy Zarina,” James continued, bowing his head. “I’ve come for your gift. What is your price?”

“So forward,” the Great Fairy teased. “You have my name, but I don’t even get to know yours?”

James stuttered. “I am – I am very sorry. James Hook. You can call me James.”

“James, what an odd name for a Hylian,” Zarina said, rubbing her chin. “In fact, you’re quite out of place for a Hylian; your clothes, your accent. Where are you really from, Mr. James?”

“I hail from a place called England,” he said.

“Never heard of it! Such strange names.”

“But before I came here, I was in Neverland.”

“Neverland!” Zarina exclaimed, her eyes shining. “How are my pixie cousins there doing?”

“C – cousins?”

“Yes! We are distant relatives, but they are so teeny-tiny over there. It’s adorable. I have to make myself small when I visit.”

For the first time, James gave a little laugh. Great Fairy Zarina was quite a peculiar thing.

Zarina’s heart melted a little, hearing the young man’s laugh. His shoulders loosened up a little, too. She smiled seeing him come out of his shell.

“Anyway,” she said. “Yes, your boon. I imagine you came a great distance to get here, James Hook from England.”

James nodded, unslinging the pack from his shoulder. He rummaged inside it. The gems and rupees inside clinked against each other. He pulled out a bright blue sapphire, deep as the sea, and raised it to Zarina.

“I – I don’t know what kind of price you require, Lady Zarina, but I think this sapphire quite suits your eyes…”

He found himself blushing again. Did he sound absolutely ridiculous? He hoped not, he just found it quite difficult to act himself around this beautiful woman. Her eyes glittered blue as she took in the sight of the sapphire, oohing and aahing.

It was quite a large gem for him, one hand barely big enough to hold it on its own. For Zarina however, she pinched it like a pebble between her fingers and held it close to her face to examine it further. Her rosy lips pursed together and eyelashes fluttered. James wasn’t sure if he should stare but found it quite difficult to look away.

Zarina had seen many gems but few of this quality. She looked back down at the Englishman, beaming at him for his flattery and kindness. He was so cute, she wanted to squeeze him like a kitten. And so well-mannered!

“You’re so kind, Mr. James, but I won’t require a price from you today.”

“You – you won’t?” James asked.

Zarina shook her head. Her curls flowed and the gold beads on her top glittered with the movement.

He bowed his head to her again. “Thank you.”

“Alright, James of England. Close your eyes and don’t peek!”

James straightened his posture, rolling his shoulders and standing straight as a pole, and closed his eyes, ready to receive Zarina’s blessing.

Zarina leaned forward, placing one hand on either side of her flower home, and pursing her lips, prepared to kiss James on his tiny ones.

She warned him not to peek, but it was hard not to when he noticed the change in light as she loomed over him. It’s probably just a cloud passing over, he thought. And just when he shrugged it off he felt a pair of large, lush lips on his own.

Oh!

He almost shied away. Not out of disgust or disinterest, but from the shock that this large woman was suddenly kissing him! James willed himself to stay still but what he couldn’t do was resist the urge to peek. He cracked one eye open, and just as he did so Zarina pulled away. Her eyelashes rested against her cheeks, which were a faint cherry red. And her lips were pulled up in a small smile. When she pulled back completely she opened her eyes, those long eyelashes fluttering open.

Zarina’s smile widened seeing James’ expression. His face was colored like a beet and a dazed look was in his eyes. He rubbed the back of his hand nervously.

“You look like you’ve never kissed a Great Fairy before!” she said, giggling.

“I, well, haven’t,” he said.

“I’m teasing, silly.”

Then, without warning, she scooped the little human up in her hands.

“Aah!” James screamed, his voice pitched as high as a little girl’s.

He squirmed underneath her fingers, his legs flailing in the air out of instinct. But once Zarina brought him to eye level he had a chance to process what happened and stopped. His chest rose and fell rapidly as he tried to steady his breathing and the minor panic attack.

“You are just too cute! So shy, but not a bad kisser! I could just squish you.”

James gave another nervous laugh. Then he looked over the edge of her palms at the ground that was now twenty feet below. A feeling of vertigo washed over him and he turned away, looking back up at Zarina.

“Yes, please don’t fall. Anyway,” she cupped him in her right hand. Then she raised her left and sprinkled magic dust over his head.

Great Fairy Zarina’s dust was just like pixie dust in Neverland. It fell slowly, like pollen fuzz, but glittered like starlight. Zarina’s fingers waggled until the last of it fell and all the dust settled on James, then she blew it all away!

“And there you go!” Zarina exclaimed. “Same clothes, but completely new functionality. How does it feel?”

James pinched his shirt, looking down at himself. It was the same outfit he always wore, the white shirt, the purple vest, the blue-gray pants, and the buckled shoes, but it all felt different. It felt softer, lighter, and yet more durable somehow.

“Thank you, Zarina!”

“You’re very welcome, James,” she beamed.

Zarina closed in for another kiss, smooching him a bit harder this time, and then set him back down. He wobbled a bit off her hand, and then fell face-first onto the flower. The Great Fairy covered her mouth and giggled. She’d seen this reaction plenty of times.

James brushed himself off and got back to his feet. He glanced up at Zarina like nothing happened.

“I won’t forget what you did for me today, Zarina. Thank you again.”

“Please come back any time. It gets lonely here, you know.”

James nodded. He slung his pack of rupees and gems back over his shoulder. “I will.”

And he did many more times. Even though his base was set up much closer to one of the other fairies, James usually made the trip for Zarina. She was the most beautiful fairy by far and he found himself enjoying her company the most. It came to a point where he didn’t even need his clothes reinforced anymore. Sometimes he just felt… lonely.

So it came as a surprise to him one day when he visited Zarina and she emerged from the pool in her flower the size of a normal human.

“Zarina?” James said, eyes wide.

It was the same Zarina he knew. She was just, well, him-sized! In fact, she was a little bit shorter. She had her signature white and gold halter top that she always did, but this time he was able to see the rest of her. She wore a matching skirt with the hem ending at her upper thighs. Standing there, she had slender legs and small bare feet. And poor James was thrown for a complete loop.

“Zarina. I – hi. You look… different,” he stuttered, blushing like mad.

Her bangles jangled as she threw her arms out. “I’m human sized!”

The fairy beamed, her eyes closed as she presented herself to him. She opened her eyes, expecting him to be smiling too, but instead he barely met her gaze and his cheeks were scarlet.

“I didn’t change for you to look away. Come on, James! We can dance together!”

Zarina reached out and yanked James toward her. With a yelp he lurched forward and caught his footing awkwardly. They both giggled.

“Sorry, I just feel… Erm, I don’t want to stare.”

“Why? I stare at you all the time!”

James let out a nervous laugh. Did she think he was handsome? She did call him cute a lot, but he assumed in a cuddly teddy bear kind of way. But with the affirmation she gave him, he decided to swallow his nerves and looked Zarina in the eye. With their hands clasped together, her hands the size of his, her eyes looking up at him instead of the other way around, her body pressed against his… all of it felt right.

“You’re beautiful,” he said, gazing into her eyes with his half-lidded ones. His voice was low as he said it.

Zarina’s eyelashes fluttered as she looked up at him. Her eyebrows turned upward and she smiled. The fairy’s lips pursed. For the first time she really got to see him. When she was large, she always saw her visitors just fine, but this time all the details made themselves known. The little imperfections – like a faded scar on his cheek, little hairs out of place, how James’ smile was a little lopsided at one end. But these imperfections weren’t bad, they were James. It was like she was seeing him for the first time; up close and personal, not like a woman and her pet mouse. But he was still just as cute as one.

Zarina was always the one to kiss James. This time, however, James kissed her. Tilting his head he greeted his lips and hers. James always appreciated her kisses, they were sweet and they filled his stomach with butterflies, but the drastic size difference made them kind of awkward. Maybe it didn’t feel that way to her. But for him it was a little daunting having a giant woman’s face right in his with her lips big enough to swallow him whole. So this was nice. Their lips slotted perfectly together and something within him ignited.

Zarina’s feelings were the same. The kisses were always nice but she had to make sure not to knock him over or smooch James’ entire head. It was nice kissing him at his size level. No, it was more than nice. It was magical.

James hooked one hand around Zarina’s waist. He was unsure where to place his palm, since Zarina was more skin than clothes. He felt very inappropriate assuming he should touch her bare skin, but he didn’t want to dirty her pristine white skirt either. Guiding his hand, Zarina placed it on her hip, silently letting him know it was okay to touch her. His other hand cupped her face; Zarina’s auburn hair tickled his fingers. His thumb swept over her cheekbone.

As she said before, James wasn’t a bad kisser. But with the height difference and the fact that he never initiated, she didn’t know he wasn’t just not bad, he was quite good! His lips were soft, warm, pressed against her own just the right amount. Zarina melted into him and gave a pleasured hum.

After what could have been seconds or minutes – neither were sure, James pulled away. When he did, Zarina had the dazed look he so often did. There were stars in her eyes and she blinked a few times.

“Sorry. Too much?”

Zarina’s shoulders hunched a bit and she laughed. “No, it was fantastic.” Her cheeks were beet red. Her dainty hands rested against his chest, and in each other’s arms they got lost in the other’s eyes.

“So, you mentioned a dance?” James said, brushing his thumb over cheek again, grazing her beauty mark.

“Yes!” Zarina said with a little jump. Her wings flitted behind her.

“Then may I have this dance?” James asked with a slight bow, offering his hand.

Zarina took it, yanking him again. The two giggled and danced until the sun disappeared over the horizon.

#hookdust #the pirate fairy #james hook #zarina #disney fairies #great fairy zarina #the great fairy zarina #fanfiction #crossover #mine #my fics #disney

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