#ruthless Zelda

[friendlylocalgeek]

What Capitalism Does to a MFer

[creativesplat]

Happy birthday to Nintendo's unexpectedly nuanced princess!

[entinullbutno]

Not me fighting a Hinox in BOTW on a horse named Odysseus listening to epic

[alternianbeauty]

wow

purah my sweet

[mochiobonio]

Alternate 'Sidon of the Zora' Quest for Tears of the Kingdom but he gets the mind altering device instead of Yunobo

My idea for the enchanted crown was to make a strong contrast between the friendly and overly supportive prince to a cold and ruthless king, suggesting he has changed on his own. Also I wanted to bring up the Mipha's importance here like it did in TOTK with Sidon reminding Link of his failure, not just of Mipha but also Zelda. Also I wanted to make use of the sidlink statue in TOTK by having it help remind Sidon of his friendship with Link, parellel to how Link remembers of Mipha thanks to her statue. Thank you for coming to my brainrot talk 👈😎👈

[charcoaldustonmyfingers]

Skyward Sword Zonai AU!

Meeting the Dragons! Link must prove himself to each of the dragon spirits so they will help him on his journey and he can claim their Secret Stones. Hopefully, with their power, he can muster up the ability to defeat a deity, Demise.

Lanayru is not impressed with how little he knows at first, being the spirit of Wisdom, and mourns that it must be a child on which they all rely to strike down such a powerful evil. Link gains her respect as he learns and grows along his journey.

Eldin only cares about those who prove themselves enough to be interesting to him, as most mortals are too weak and short lived for them to deem worthy of their attention. While he cares not for Link’s gentle character, he does respect his warriors nature and ability to enact ruthless ends on his enemies.

Faron is very kind after he is revived and finds a kinship with him as the spirit of Courage, standing up against impossible odds. He guides Link and admires his cleverness and daring, while appreciating Link’s respect to all innocent creatures around him.

{Zonai Designs} {Shenanigans} {The Beginning} {Fi Design} {Dragons} {Finding Zelda}

-

This is all I have of this au for now!

[vivacia-18]

This was getting to long for the tags, hope you don't mind me commenting directly!

asdlkjaada The freaking Dondon quest - I totally did that one by accident, and all of the reveal was totally overshadowed by the fact that I felt equal parts bad and annoyed finding out that they were unkillable NPCs when I just spent the last 10 minutes trying to murder the herd for meat X'D

But yeah, overall while I don't look for much depth in a video game (if I want it I'm cool to come with a shovel myself later) totk really lacked cohesion overall. Certain parts of the story and characters were enjoyable, but it definitely didn't pull itself together very well.

One thing I wanted to see way back in botw, and that I think could have tied in well to this game - and maybe even the Dondon quest! - was having the monsters actually be part of Hyrule. As in like, people that are meant to be there. Its stated multiple times that the blood moon summons lost spirits who are cursed to wander the land and fight and die in eternal cycles of damnation. We also know that dead/undead and transformation into other species is a thing in Zelda (the Stals in OOT anyone?) completely unrelated to Ganondorfs whole deal. What I wanted SO BAD was for post game after getting rid of the blood moon, the curse would be lifted and the monsters would be normal again. So you could barter for stuff (bokoblins, etc), or battle for prestige but not to the death (Lynels), or like sneakily harvest things (Hynox, Talus) but you wouldn't be killing them anymore - because they're among the people you were trying to save, they're a part of Hyrule too. And now the warrior dead can rest in peace once more.

Until we accidentally bring the blood back in totk and they're summoned/cursed again, whoops! But anyways, I felt like that would have been both good gameplay and good depth, and now I kinda like the tie in of the Dondons only being known as they were cursed under the blood moon, and it's only recently that they've shown to be naturally pretty docile, or something along those lines.

I also think that could have tied in well with explaining Gan too, and how the fuck he was still around when the Calamity was supposed to be banished and they made an explicit point of saying he had chosen to forgo the chance of reincarnation, so shouldn't he have been gone forever? Finally broken free of the cycle and allowed to rest?

I haven't thought this part through quite as much, so bear with me. The blood moon reads as a curse to me, but not so much one cast BY Ganondorf, so much as it is the manifestation of the curse UPON him. It truly seems like in this game duo especially Gan is destined to fall to madness, and one headcanon I've gotten rather fond of that ties into the Light and Darkness thing is that its because the power of Light is incompatible with him long term, just as the power of Dark is incompatible to Zelda (if we really want to reach we can link it back to the schism between Hylia and Demise in SS, but that's optional).

Any long term exposure to their opposite will have detrimental mental effects - basically a magical autoimmune reaction. I think he can interact with certain aspects - note that both he and Zelda seem compatible with Sheikah tech/magic, which is fun conceptually as they are a people/Sages of Shadow - but not pure Light. I think Zelda would go equally mad should she ever try to use Dark magics long term.

Fortunately for her and unfortunately for Gan, Light being the magic of the main ruling family makes it much more prominent and easy to find for someone who is naturally driven to seek Power. And when he does his magic becomes... sick, for a lack of better terms. This culminated into terminal illness upon bonding with the soul stone - cruel in the way of tuberculosis, granting a flush of power and vibrancy before death, this created the blood moon - a warped representation of death and rebirth, light and dark, twisted into something foul. And contaminated magic is what we see manifested as the blight/gloom in later years. The Calamity was his spirit, broken free of Rauru's seal, yearning to be reunited with its body. And in totk we see his flesh revived, though his spirit was thought slain and the curse of the blood moon broken. It wasn't though, just briefly contained once more, because the source of the blight - the soul stone - was still bonded to him, and he couldn't rest until it was removed.

...Wow, this got far longer than I was intending, guess I really brought that shovel afterall X'D

tldr; I agree with OP that totk had the potential to be much deeper and more narratively satisfying than it was, even within the realm of what one would generally expect from a mainstream video game (which is not too much). And a big part of that for me would be a tweak to the monster mechanics post-game, and a little more actual backstory to Ganondorfs backstory to they actually make narrative sense.

The Dondon Post (or: the bizarre TotK's side content counterpoints to its main quest's immuable binary morality)

Speaking of strange TotK Choices, I think I have one singe post left in me about this game; and it's about the Dondon quest, "The Beast and the Princess".

(and about other stuff too, you'll see, we'll get to them)

More specifically: about how... strange of a thematic point it feebly attemps to make in the larger context of the storyline, and how it seems to be yet another mark of a world that, perhaps, once tried to be more morally complex that it ended up becoming.

Buckle up: it's a long one, and it gets pretty conceptual.

(good gem boys notwhistanding)

The Princess and the Beast

So, a couple of things about the setup. We are investigating potential Princess sightings; but at this point, either because we have already completed a bunch and know the general gib, because we have met a couple of wild Fake Zelda shenanigans, or through the simple fact that we are completing a side quest, we know there's a good chance it won't lead to an actual Zelda information. So when we ask Penn about what is going on and he replies with the ominous "we saw the Princess riding some kind of beast --a frightening one with huge, brutal tusks-- that the princess seemed to control", we get Ideas. Then the sidequest is registered: "The Princess and the Beast".

So. You know me. And if you don't know me, here's what you should know: my brain immediately flared up with the thought there was no way in hell this wasn't some kind of wink towards Ganondorf's renowned boarish beast form, especially given tusks were given so much focus.

My first assumption was: that's a miniboss right? I will get to fight some small boar-like thing that Fake Zelda rides sometimes. Cool! I didn't hold too hard onto my hope that the relationship of Zelda and/or Ganondorf to the natural world, or to each other would be expanded upon, since I had already been burned before, but my interest was piqued.

You have to understand how starved I was for any hint of complexity or mystery or ambiguity at this point. I was extremely eager for the game to throw anything at me that would surprise me, enlighten something pre-established, make the exploration lead to a meaningful discovery or deepening of characters, world or themes (and not just slightly cooler loot, or a bossfight, or a puzzle devoid of emotional context --cohesion and depth is what motivates my play sessions, especially in an open world game that I want to believe is worth losing oneself into). This was about the most intriguing task on my to do list at the moment, and so I plunged in immediately.

After really REALLY misunderstanding what I was supposed to do (I stalked every corner of every forest surrounding the tropical area at night or during blood moons in hope to see something --which was very much the wrong call), I arrived to the other stable, then was guided to the other side of the river where Cima awaits and explains that these creatures are actually a new species discovered by Zelda; that they are gentle and kind and not at all scary ("Dondons aren't beastly, they're adorable!"), and even somehow digest luminous stones into gemstones. They like the company of people and liked Zelda in particular.

I was... I felt two different ways about this conclusion, and I think it's worth to explore both: disappointment and some sort of... "huh!" Hard to describe this emotion otherwise.

I'll get the disappointment out of the way first, because it's the least interesting of the two. While I think the little emotional arc I was taken on was not devoid of interest --I was indeed taken on by the rumor and intrigued by its implications-- I wanted, well. A little bit more. And if the creatures were to be Zelda's pet project, I would have loved for them to be actually terrifying and feisty, and for her to develop an interest for these creatures in particular regardless. It could have been very interesting characterization that veered out of the perfect princess loving the perfect world floundering around her, always bringing her clear, practical benefits from the interaction.

(I have made another post that speaks of my discomfort that Zelda does everything everywhere and everyone loves her for it --I get what they were trying to go for, but it either lacks conflict for me to buy into that dynamic at the scale of several regions, or they went on too hard for my taste, as she is, at once and in the span of a couple of years at most: a schoolteacher, a gardener, an animal researcher, a scholar, a traveler, a military expert, a knower of landscape, a painter, a horse rider, an infrastructure planner, a [...] princess --at some point it begins to sound made up, "Little Father of the people"-esque to rattle the hornet's nest a little bit, especially if it's not shown as either a clearly godly characteristic or, even more necessary imo, a negative trait; another expression of her killing herself at work to compensate for a perceived flaw she's trying to earn forgiveness for, like she did in BotW. But that's another topic, and the clumsiness of her character arc has been well threaded by basically everybody disappointed in the story already.)

But, if I decide to be a little graceful, I'd like to explore my "huh!" emotion, and take it apart a little bit.

I think there's something interesting to have such strong parallels to setting up a story about the relationship between Zelda and Ganondorf ("The Princess and the Beast", like come on guys that's the conflict of over half the series), or at least Zelda and the concept of Evil since Ganondorf pretty much represents it in this game, and then have it go: actually, there was a horrible monster that everyone was afraid of, but Zelda was wise and patient enough to approach it and realize its potential beyond the tusks, what beauty can be brought upon the world if one makes the effort to look for what exists underneath. It says something a bit deeper about the world and about Zelda in particular. It intrigues, at the very least.

Is it a reach? Probably! Is my first interpretation that the quest is actually about "eww you thought Zelda would be interested in *disgusting vile monsters* and not sweet and gentle and human-loving animals that literally shit jewlery when cared for? jokes on you, she never would feel any ounce of sympathy for anything that isn't Good and Deserving" uhhh definitively truer? Probably! But I also don't want to dismiss that the quest made me think about it. If I had completed it earlier, I might have even felt like it was (very clumsy, not gonna lie) setup about the main conflict.

But that's also a good segway into my next section: the arbitrary limitations between the animal and the creature, the monstrous and the human.

And the fact that TotK points directly at it.

A Monstrous Collection

(these two guys are just. doing So Much and being So Valid despite being massive weirdos the game wants us to be slightly repelled by. I, for one, respect the Monster kinning grind and their general Twilight Princess energy.)

So. These two guys. There is so much to say about these two guys. I don't think I have seen the Trans Perspective on Kolton on tumblr, and I would love to get it because. I feel like it's a worthwhile discussion (just, how gender and identity is handled in TotK overall, I feel like it's a very complicated conversation and I have not seen super deep dives and I'd be very interested in hearing more).

Beyond the throughline of voluntary consumption of magical objects to turn into less human creatures being a weirdly prevalent plot point in TotK (Zelda, Kolton and Ganondorf casually transing their entire species for funsies --Ganondorf being particularly relentless with Fake Zelda, mummy/phantom shenanigans, Demon King and then literal dragon), I want to focus on Kilton a little bit.

Kilton is genuinely the only NPC in the game willing to acknowledge the inherent personhood that monsters have (the game does showcase them picking up fruits, mourning their boss if you kill them, being cutesy and happy to identify you as one of their own if you wear the appropriate mask --and that's not even getting into creatures like the Lynels, who seem to really edge on the limit of being a conscious creature with a system of honor and property and many other things). He does encourage us to think of monsters as more than a species whose only worth lie in how fun it is to eradicate them; even more, gameplay-wise, he does give us a reason to interact with them in other ways than just our sword with his museum. He does encourage us to see that beauty for ourselves and then select what we think is coolest/most intimidating/cutest/eight billion ganondorfs in every pose imaginable

The fact that Ganondorf is considered a monster was a great win for this feature in particular, and is very funny, but it's also... A lot, if we dig at it a little more than warranted. Beyond all of the Implications and all of the things of representation and political conflict and values already discussed ad nauseum: when did he stop being considered a human? What does that mean about the flimsiness of what is a monster and what is a creature and what is an animal and what is a person and what is even a hylian, as sheikahs got absorbed into the definition in this game? Especially with the stones taken into account, how profound changes in nature are a huge part of the plot (even when reversed and ultimately pretty meaningless): how easy it is, to make that slip? Who decides when that slip has been made? What is acceptable to hurt without remorse? What is beautiful and worth preserving? What is both at once? What is neither?

And again, in a classic Zelda conundrum (appreciative(?)): who the fuck gets to decide that, when, and why?

The Bargainers and the Horned God

(major shoutout to these big guys for being the sole and only providers of actual depth to the Depths, and for looking cool as heck)

So. Let's move the conversation to the Depths.

Conceptually: what an interesting idea!! And so well executed (initially)!! A mirror world to the surface, dark and hushed and full of unknown creatures; haunted by gloom and sickness and the unknown. Not a first in the series, far from it: from ALTTP to ALBW, and even taking the Twilight world of TP into account, this idea of a Dark World acting as a deforming mirror to Hyrule and revealing many interesting aspects as we get to explore both is always a very interesting take on corruption and envy and fear/weakness and/or some sense of darkness looming under the perfect exterior. I'd argue even the Lens of Truth of both OoT and MM's serve a similar function, both gameplay-wise, but also in terms of theme: not everything is as it seems. In the world of Light, darkness must hide itself; but darkness also possess its own beauty, its own hardships, and will stare back at you without blinking if you go seek for it. It's, in my opinion, one of the series' most compelling conversation about the cyclical nature of fate, the coldness of godhood, and how small one feels in the face of a universe that is more complicated than it initially appears --which is why Courage must be invoked to push forward regardless.

The Depth's otherworldly ambiance is truy wonderful, whether in the plays of light and shadows, the creatures native to the environment we meet there (wish we met more!), the soundtrack, the strange aquatic/primordial plants, the fact that the dragons visit this place and connect them to the outside --invoking ideas of balance and interconnectivity, that the tree branches look like veins. The coliseums, the mines, the zonai facilities and the prisons do seem to poke at many things about what the relationship to the past was to this place; was it ever truly a place? Did it look like this back then? Why was it buried? Why did it come back? But in spite of it all, I think the Depths struggle overall to question or reveal anything about the surface that we couldn't already assume going in (that the only thing congealing there is Ganondorf's gloom, his lonely domain of Wrongness, only shared by Kohga and the yiga --the only naysayers of Goodness and Light, contemptful and blinded by self-importance and rage). The zonite is mined by gloomy monsters --why, what for?-- so any notion of greed and over-expansion that could have been associated to the zonai is now reabsorbed into Ganondorf's general evilness, since it needs to be reminded he is everything and anything bad with the world: darkness and conquest and greed and capitalism and pollution and bad weather and sickness and darkness and violence and war and death and betrayal and fakeness and lies and patriarchy and exploitation. No matter that he never does a single thing with zonite in the game; rather set up elements of conflict that never go anywhere than, for a second, let the foundations of absolute goodness and absolute evil risk becoming shaky --and you coming to this unwelcoming dark place that hates you, killing the miners and taking their resources for yourself is, on the other holy, royal fur-covered hand, utterly legitimate. The resources were once Rauru's after all, were they not?

And this is what I would say, except... except for the dead. The fallen warriors, the poes, and, most important of all: the Bargainer statues.

The Bargainers are, in-universe, godly creatures guiding the fallen to a place of final respite, regardless of moral alignment. The poes are all, fundamentally, cleansed of judgement: they are lost souls whose past reality does not matter anymore, and all deserve that peace regardless. In spite of the heavy paradise/hell parallels drawn in that game, with Rauru/Zelda/Sonia as the guardians of Light where Ganondorf gets to become a Devil-like figure, it is confirmed here that no such thing exists when you actually die in this universe.

It almost feels as if the fabric of Hyrule itself, in a brief moment that refuses to elaborate on its own point, goes: "yeah, whatever is happening here between Light and Darkness, it doesn't actually matter. This conflict is futile and doesn't understand the real nature of being alive, dead, a god, a person, a monster, an animal. The truth lies elsewhere --but you will never be told what it is."

It's: wild.

One of the game's most striking traits of narrative brilliance in my opinion --to the point where I'm wondering whether it's there on purpose or was effectively an oversight since every other aspect of reality breaks its own back trying to reassure us that everything is at its correct place, receiving the appropriate treatment by the universe in a way that is never to be questioned.

Another case of that ambiguity being allowed to exist without being immediately crushed and repressed is the case of the Horned God (interesting parallel to Ganon's actual horns that he develops in this game in case the hellish parallels weren't clear enough already): a demon Hylia sealed into stone and pushed far from humans in a clear case of questionable behavior since, while the Horned God isn't exactly nice, does propose a different philosophy you are not punished for exploring; and yet, a proposal that has seen itself persecuted in a very real sense by the goddess of absolute goodness, patron of hylians, Zelda, and many more. Pushed away from view.

Interesting.

And Yet, Light Must Prevail

Okay, so, after all of this, we're left to ask... What the fuck is up with morality in Tears of the Kingdom?!

What do we trust? These half-breaths in the occasional sidequests that Light and Darkness is just the wrong frame of reference, that nature cannot be this simple, is ever-shifting and can be recalled or reaffirmed by arbitrary forces, and might even not matter at all in the universe's fabric, despite having so much of its lore soaking in the dychotomy? Or... everything else about the game, this insistence that Good must not only be assumed as whatever tradition the kingdom has passed down for thousands upon thousands of years, but remain utterly unquestioned the entire time? That Bad is without cause, graceless and unworthy of investment?

Are the Bargainer's statues the only thing worth listening to, that morality is a fable the living tells themselves --or should we be moved when Darkness destroys Light, when Light suffers to preserve itself and the world --but not when the Other is rightfully slain?

Was Kilton correct to see beauty in the monstrous? Was Kolton onto something when he let go of his previous form because there is no clear distinction between what should receive an arrow to the face and what shouldn't? Or should we rather focus on Zelda losing her human form as a beautiful and tragic sacrifice --but something that never actually altered her nature as a hylian, the descendant of a lineage of Good Kings meant to rule forever?

Is the Dondon good because it always was, or was it worth Zelda's love in spite of the fear it initially provoked?

Either way, at the end of the game, evil is slain. Ganondorf is, not killed, but --like his angry BotW boar counterpart-- destroyed, as monsters tend to be. He explodes over the lands of Hyrule, freed from Darkness; freed from everything wrong, since the foreign menace that embodied it all was wiped out in one fateful sweep of a holy blade cradled in sacrificial love. Nothing wrong remains. The Sages reaffirm their vows to protect the kingdom forward, and a very human --hylian-- Zelda smiles: Hyrule now forever and ever basked in eternal Light.

[yourlocaltreesimp]

Yan!Chain Headcannons

Wild and Warriors

part 1

part 2

Tw: Yandarism and it’s accessories, violence, obsession, manipulation, unhealthy power dynamics (?)

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

Wild

It took him a while to fully trust you. Well, he recognised that he trusted long before he realised just how much of himself he wanted you to know. It took him longer to remember just how important you were on his journey, how you stuck by his side through rainy days and sunny skies. He knew you wouldn’t mind the blood on his hands.

He suppressed the memory of your guidance after you left, not wanting to admit that he’d lost another friend on his assignment of saving Hyrule. Perhaps it was his guilt that did it, blotting out your face and forgetting your warmth on his skin. Or perhaps it was others, like Impa and Zelda, neither of which saw you. Neither of which believed him, even as he wracked with sobs at the loss of you.

Main love languages are physical touch and acts of service. He will stick to your side as Hyrule burns now he has you back. Especially since they neglected to realise your importance, your utter divinity. How gracious you were to forgive them. But he was taught to be ruthless. And the wilds only coaxed it out of him farther. He’d never leave your side, doing whatever it was you asked. Cook food? He is the chef afterall. Fetch something? You shouldn’t need to tire yourself on something he could do for you. Protect you? What he was trained to do, and you’re far more worthy of his attention. Kill a man? His only question is how you’d like it done. Anything for his angel. Anything.

He loves being close to you. Having you there. Sure, he loves being wrapped around you, keeping you safe from the cruel world. But there’s something about having you hold him as if he’s precious that just makes him swoon. He’s at your beck and call already, but he dreams of having your hands in his hair and being between your legs arms.

He is a downright fool. Just in general, but especially for you. Anything you want done and he’s already running to do it, even if there’s no plan in his mind. Lord forbid you’re ever harmed or taken though. Don’t get me wrong, the others are just as seething and prepared to scorch the earth until you are returned, but Wild won’t wait. No. He’ll slaughter armies. If he could take on all of the champions and hold his own, he can take them all. Especially if it’s in your name, or for your hand.

Or, Better yet, it’s one of the few times he does plan. He’s so eerily still and quiet as he mulls over every detail of how to save you, how to avenge you. That’s the Wild the world needs to worry about. Sure, the feral one is scary. But when he’s pissed and planning? Terrifying.

Would probably ask to marry you. He already has a house, title, land and favour of the crown, all he needs is a wife and kids. And he knows there’s no one else that could fill that role. You protect him, even when it’s not your job. You make him happier than anything. You calm him from his night terrors and patiently wait for him to stop clawing at his scars. You bandage his wounds, you help him cook, you bless him to stand at your side. He couldn’t live without you. Please don’t leave again.

He wouldn’t necessarily kidnap you. But don’t be surprised if a portal drags you back to his universe after everything is said and done.

Preferred nicknames for you: (my) Love, Dear(est), my flower, honey

Bonus: Feral. He is absolutely and utterly feral. Not to your face, no, he’s the goofy champion you knew him to be. But to the men who look at you as if you were an object, to the women that glared at you as if you were filth, he was unhinged.

Warriors

He’s chivalrous, albeit a little bit of a flirt when you first met. Sure, he’s a little more hesitant, given how familiar you are and how his heart fluttered, but he’s just as much as a flirt as we all agree he is. That is, until he remembered you. Then he can’t even bring himself to utter your name without his face turning red.

Man is whipped.

Utterly done for.

He usually didn’t miss the loud boasting of his old comrades. The knights were not usually the type of comfort he seemed out, despite their familiarity. But now, he wished he had their advice. He’d finally found a person to faun over and yet he’s stumbling over his own words.

His feelings derail into obsession after seeing you so easily speaking with the others. How he wished he could have you at his side and his side only. But he kept his ambitions to himself, playing lovesick fool to the others so they wouldn’t expect his knife.

He’d consider dealing with the others. Weather or not he goes through with it varies on a lot of things, but the thought has passed through his mind.

He doesn’t have a love language that he expresses, more just finding whatever makes you the most flustered and sticking to that. Praises and flattery? He’ll write ballads, poems, letters, whatever it is you wish. He’d hold you for hours if it what made you happy, having an arm always strewn around your soulders or waist. He’d do whatever it is you wanted to do, keeping you save and enjoying the happiness you excerpted.

He, however, absolutely adores quality time with you. It doesn’t need to be much, or anything at all. Just so long as you’re near and content with him, he’s head over heels.

Another one to court you traditionally. Flowers, love letters, fancy dates, fancier gifts, whatever your heart desired of him. He does this because it’s the only way of romance he’s familiar with, courtesy of the novels he’s read, but also to silently show off to the others that you’re his. Not something that’s shared. If you shatter a vase and share the peices, it’s just a shard. Not a vase. He doesn’t want just a fraction of your love, a shard of your heart. He wants all of it.

He’d kidnap you. 100%. He’d flaunt off his new spouse too, so everyone knows who to return them to if ever you ran away. You’d be safe, albeit not the normal definition of free. You have everything you desire. But he’d definitely play white knight, putting you through danger to save you from it. Just to remind you how much safer it his to be with him.

Favourite nicknames for you: My love, My dear, Dearest, Darling, My heart, My soul, Maybe just Mine on occasion.

Bonus: He kissed your hand when he met you. Got on one knee and everything.

[angelremnants]

A TALES OF... l Veiled Deception

OR.. You get caught up in a flirty exchange with someone you believe to be a mysterious stranger. Unbeknownst to you, it’s someone having a little fun at your expense.

pairings : (Lady) Loki Laufeyson x f!reader

warnings : Mature themes (16+), flirtation and teasing, fake identity, light humor and embarrassment, implied suggestive content, playful banter (Loki being a little shit), implied sexuality. Proceed with caution if you're sensitive to such material.

word count : 3.7k

author's notes : Two in a row, I know, I know but I couldn't resist writing about Lady Loki :[ (this is me avoiding having to review my notes for one of my final exams I'm having tomorrow). Also, can you tell I got inspired by Zelda: BOTW for this one?

(ao3 version)

Your golden trio had been traveling through the realm of Muspelheim for what felt like an eternity. Their latest stop brought you to the desert kingdom of Asethka, a realm renowned for its ancient red-hued civilization. Towering ceramic buildings and gold-laden temples stretched out across the sands, their grandeur undeniable, even in the fading light. This place thrummed with power—a hub of cosmic energy where celestial magic coursed through the very land like the heartbeat of the universe itself.

The constant glowing of your necklace confirmed the King of Dwarves’ intel had been accurate. You were on the right track to recover the next chipped piece of Yggdrasil. But as you quickly learned, navigating Asethka’s complex, matriarchal society would be no easy feat—especially with Thor and Loki as your companions. Here, men were viewed as little more than pets or servants, treated with casual disdain by the women who ruled. It was a society steeped in strict customs, enforced by powerful priestesses, where masculinity was a weakness to be exploited.

You hadn’t anticipated Loki’s solution to this challenge—mostly because he hadn’t bothered to inform you of it beforehand.

The village where you had stopped for the night was little more than a refuge in the endless desert. It was an odd place, small and self-contained, where the air was heavy with the scent of spices and sweat. The people here wore flowing garments that shimmered under the torchlight. The women’s attire reminded you of elaborate Arabian dance costumes, their bodies adorned with coins and glittering jewels. The men, however, were not nearly as free. Many were chained, performing laborious tasks or serving as docile attendants to the women who commanded them.

It was an unsettling dynamic, but not entirely unfamiliar. You had seen societies like this before, where power was hoarded and wielded with ruthless precision.

The bustling fly market had been chaotic, packed with traders and travelers alike. The air was thick with the aromas of exotic spices, and the hum of whispered deals surrounded you. Loki, true to form, had disappeared into the crowd without so much as a word. You weren’t sure what he was up to—possibly hunting for something, possibly scheming. With him, it could be either or both.

While Loki was off doing whatever it was Loki did, you and Thor had spent your time gathering what little intel you could before returning to the modest inn where you were staying. Exhaustion weighed heavily on you. The unrelenting desert heat had drained you, and the constant tension of your journey was beginning to take its toll. When night finally fell, you decided to take a break from the stress and the oppressive masculinity of your traveling companions.

The tavern downstairs was dimly lit, filled with the low hum of music and the comforting aroma of roasted meats and spices. You settled in at the bar, ordering a drink that looked vaguely fruity but didn’t bother asking about its ingredients—better safe than sorry, especially after your last unfortunate experience with local cuisine.

As you sipped your drink, you turned to observe the room, letting your guard down just a little. It was a rare moment of reprieve, one you intended to savor.

That was when you saw her.

A woman standing out amongst the mass, dressed in shimmering gold and green, intricate patterns painted onto her skin. Her long, midnight-colored hair framed a stunning face and fell like a waterfall around her slender body, shimmering under the moody light like her eyes that glinted with both assurance and intrepidity. Her movements were graceful, almost hypnotic; she moved as though the hot desert wind from the outside itself guided her steps. 

You froze, the drink halfway to your lips, unable to tear your eyes away. She was stunning—commanding, even. Her presence was magnetic, her beauty almost unreal. And yet, there was something else about her, something that made your pulse quicken.

She was beautiful, commanding, and… looked eerily familiar. She wore a stunning local desert outfit of deep emerald, adorned with intricate gold jewelry all around her body that shimmered under the flickering torchlight. 

You raised an eyebrow as you watched her approach the bar near where you were stationed, your eyes narrowing in confusion. Loki? It couldn’t be. You had to be delirious—surely the constant teasing and lurking of the Asgardian hadn’t messed with your head so much that you’d immediately think of him at this moment.

You tried to shake the odd feeling in your chest as your gaze lingered on the stunning woman. You were just imagining things; there was no way it could be Loki. And yet, the woman’s features—those sharp, calculating eyes and the mischievous glint in her smile—felt undeniably familiar, even though they seemed so out of place in this realm. It had to be a coincidence, you told yourself, but the more you watched her, the more something about her presence seemed to pull you in.

She must have sensed your attention because the woman turned her head slowly, her lips curling into a knowing smile. Her sharp eyes locked onto yours from across the room, sending a jolt through you. There was no mistaking it now—she was watching you, and not just idly. No, her gaze felt deliberate, purposeful. She was engaging.

Your breath caught as your gazes met, the inexplicable pull between you growing stronger. Your heart rate quickened, and you took a sip of your drink without thinking, trying to steady yourself. Your thoughts raced, but no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this encounter than what it appeared to be on the surface.

The woman tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable but somehow inviting. Then, with a grace that seemed almost unreal, she began to saunter toward you. Each step was measured, exuding confidence, her emerald dress shimmering in the dim light while the golden accents adorning her caught the flicker of nearby torches. The air around you felt heavier as she approached, and the bustling noise of the bar seemed to fade into the background. All you could hear was the rhythmic click of her heels and the pounding of your own heart.

When she finally reached the counter, she didn’t speak right away. Instead, she leaned casually against the bar, her gaze fixed on you, unrelenting. You suddenly found it difficult to meet those piercing eyes, and an unfamiliar warmth began to spread through your face.

“Are you always this transfixed by strangers, or is it just me?” The woman’s voice carried a soft, seductive sweetness that sent shivers down your spine.

You quickly wiped your hands on your pants, pretending not to notice the heat spreading across your cheeks. “I… I wasn’t staring,” you muttered, embarrassment lacing your tone, though you knew it was a futile attempt to deny the obvious. Your voice came out flustered, and you winced internally. Normally, you’d be the one doing the teasing, not stumbling over your words like this.

The woman smirked, clearly enjoying the effect she had on you. “Oh, but you were,” she purred, sliding gracefully into the seat beside you. “Do not worry—I take pleasure in being admired.”

Your mind scrambled for a response, something witty to reclaim control of the conversation. “I wasn’t admiring you,” you shot back quickly, your tone sharper than you intended. “I was just… curious.”

Her eyebrow arched, and a knowing grin spread across her lips. “Curious?” she repeated, her voice playful as she let the word linger. “Curious about what exactly? The woman who can command a room with just her presence?” She gestured faintly toward the rest of the tavern, but the glint in her eyes made your stomach twist in a way that was hard to ignore.

You shifted uncomfortably under her gaze, the tension between you growing thicker. “I—well, uh—” you stammered, struggling to steady your thoughts. “Maybe… maybe I was curious about why you seem so different from everyone else around here.” You’d tried to keep your tone light, but your words carried more weight than you intended.

Despite your attempt to maintain composure, your attention was momentarily drawn to something small and ornate attached to her waist. It was a charm, shimmering with a cold light that seemed out of place against the desert’s relentless heat—yet somehow familiar. Your eyes lingered on it briefly, a faint flicker of recognition sparking in your mind. You had seen that trinket before, earlier in this journey.

Her gaze darkened almost imperceptibly, and her lips pressed into a serious line for a fleeting moment. If she noticed your glance at the charm, she gave no sign of it. The somber expression faded as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by a teasing smile. “Ah, I see. A keen observer,” she remarked, her tone light and lilting. “You’d be right to notice. I don’t exactly fit in with the rest of these people.”

You opened your mouth to ask what she meant, but before you could speak, her fingers brushed lightly against your arm, sending a jolt of electricity through you. Your breath caught at the sudden contact, and your heart stuttered in your chest.

“But I do enjoy the attention you’re giving me,” she murmured, her voice low and intimate, as though she were confiding a secret meant only for you.

Your pulse quickened, heat blooming in your chest as you struggled to steady yourself. “I—” The words caught in your throat, and you cursed yourself internally. This wasn’t like you. You were usually the one in control, the one who stayed collected. But something about this woman—her enigmatic presence, the way she spoke, the way she moved—it left you feeling unmoored.

Before you could regain your footing, she leaned in closer, her lips brushing lightly against your ear as she whispered, “Tell me, does your curiosity extend to more… personal matters?”

Your teeth grazed your bottom lip as you fought to maintain your composure, but the undeniable chemistry between you made it nearly impossible. “I don’t know,” you began, your voice low and measured, “maybe I was curious if someone like you could hold my attention for longer than a few minutes.”

Her eyes sparkled with amusement, a satisfied smile curving her lips. “Well then,” she responded in the same hushed tone, “perhaps you should test me, and see if I can keep you intrigued for the rest of the night.”

A rush of heat flooded your body, your chest tightening with anticipation as you tried to steady yourself. You weren’t used to feeling so out of control, but there was something about her—something magnetic, intoxicating—that was impossible to resist. Tilting your head slightly, you met her gaze, your lips curving into a bold, mischievous smile. “I have a feeling you could keep me intrigued and entertained,” you replied, your voice gaining confidence.

Her lips parted, her expression shifting to one of impressed delight. “Oh? I must admit, I’m intrigued by your confidence,” she said, her eyes narrowing slightly in a way that felt both playful and predatory. “Not many women can keep up with me.”

You raised an eyebrow, refusing to back down. “Well, maybe I like a challenge,” you countered, your tone daring as your heart raced with a mix of nerves and exhilaration. You leaned in, closing the space between you just enough to heighten the tension. “Are you up for one?”

For a moment, she paused, her eyes glinting with mischief as she shifted closer. Her voice dropped even lower, almost a purr. “I’m always up for a challenge,” she murmured, her fingers ghosting over your arm again, sending another shiver through you. “But are you ready for it?”

Her touch left you dizzy, the heat between you now far surpassing the desert’s warmth. You weren’t entirely sure what was happening, but you had no intention of pulling away. “I think I am,” you replied, your voice steady despite the wild rhythm of your heart. Your eyes remained locked on hers, unable to break free of the spell she seemed to weave around you, every deliberate move and teasing smile pulling you further in.

Your breath caught as the woman leaned in just a little closer, her intoxicating scent mingling with the warmth of the air around you. The way she moved was almost predatory, each gesture purposeful and fluid, as though she had every intention of drawing you in deeper. Her eyes were dark pools of mystery, reflecting the torchlight with a gleam that made your pulse race. You could feel the space between you shrinking, the magnetic pull between you undeniable. Your chest tightened as the woman’s lips curved into a seductive smile, not quite a grin but a promise of something dangerous. 

“Do you know, darling,” she murmured, her voice smooth as silk, “I find you far more intriguing than I initially expected.” Her gaze never wavered, and you felt your resolve begin to slip.

Wait, what did she just call me?

Before the moment could escalate further, the door to the tavern burst open, and a booming voice shattered the tension like a cold gust of air.

“Ah, Loki! There you are!” Thor’s voice echoed through the room, loud and unmistakable.

The woman beside you—Loki—chuckled softly, the amused sound making your heart stop for a beat. Straightening with an air of nonchalance, Loki didn’t seem fazed by the wide-eyed look you shot in their direction.

You froze, your gaze snapping toward Thor as he strode into the room, grinning broadly and heading straight for the two of you. “Are you ready to help me with this whole… ‘womanly’ thing we’ve got going on?” he asked, his voice full of cheer.

Blinking, you glanced from Thor to the woman—Loki—beside you, confusion knotting in your mind. “Wait, what?” you managed, struggling to process the situation.

“Oh, brother, you’re ruining the fun,” Loki said, their tone light and teasing. Then, turning back to you with a smirk, they added, “Don’t worry, darling. We can continue our little conversation later, when we’re alone.”

Your eyes darted between Thor and Loki as realization hit you like a thunderbolt. “I—what?” you stammered, your face heating as you stared at Loki. “Loki? That’s— you—?”

Loki’s chuckle deepened, their grin widening as they basked in your stunned expression. “Yes, yes,” they said, waving a hand dismissively. “I’m afraid you’ve been flirting with me this whole time. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to have a bit of fun with you.” Leaning closer, they whispered near your ear, their breath warm against your skin, “And I must say, you were rather entertaining, darling.”

Your heart raced as embarrassment and confusion flooded through you in equal measure. Your cheeks burned as you clenched your jaw, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Shooting Loki a glare, you sputtered, “You—you were pretending to be someone else this whole time?!” Folding your arms across your chest, you huffed, “Why didn’t you just tell me? Why all the games?”

Loki lounged back, utterly unbothered, their expression brimming with amusement. “Where’s the fun in telling you right away, darling?” they teased, their voice light and carefree. “Besides, you didn’t seem to mind. You were quite enthralled, if I may say so.”

Your face flushed a deeper shade of red as you balled your hands into fists at your sides, huffing in frustration. “I don’t know what’s worse,” you muttered, your voice tinged with irritation and humiliation, “the fact that I just flirted with you like a fool, or the fact that you thought it was so funny!” Crossing your arms tighter, you pouted, clearly unhappy with the turn of events.

Loki’s soft laugh only seemed to add fuel to the fire, their eyes twinkling with mischief. “Oh, come now,” they said with a playful grin. “Don’t look at me like that. You’re so easy to tease—it makes me want to eat you up.”

Before you could protest, their hands were suddenly at your waist, lifting you effortlessly and settling you onto their lap. A gasp escaped your lips as your eyes widened, your heart skipping a beat. Instinctively, you tried to scramble off, but Loki’s grip was firm, holding you in place.

Their gaze was practically glowing with mischief as they tilted their head, their voice dropping to a low, teasing murmur. “What’s wrong, darling?” they asked, their finger trailing lightly down your arm, sending shivers through you. “You seemed so eager to talk to me earlier… What’s changed now?” Leaning in, they whispered against your ear, their breath sending a fresh wave of heat through you, “I think you like this more than you’re letting on.”

Your heart hammered in your chest, a chaotic mix of annoyance, embarrassment, and something else entirely swirling in your stomach. Swatting at Loki’s chest, you tried to push away, but the god merely smirked, effortlessly dodging your hands.

“Stop it, Loki!” you snapped, wriggling in their grasp, but Loki only tightened their hold, their grin growing more devilish by the second.

“No, I think you’re enjoying this more than you care to admit,” Loki teased, their hands resting lightly on your thighs, fingers toying with the edges of your clothing. “I could stay here like this all night, if you must know.”

Your face burned hot, a mix of fury and flustered embarrassment flooding your senses. You didn’t know whether to yell at them or—gods forbid—kiss them. The swirl of emotions clouded your mind, making it hard to focus. “You are impossible,” you managed through clenched teeth, your voice strained with frustration.

When Loki leaned in just a bit too close, your patience snapped. In one swift motion, you pushed yourself off their lap, your heart still racing as you took a step back. “I’m going to my room,” you huffed, your voice firm even though your pulse betrayed your composure.

Loki chuckled, leaning back in their seat as they watched you march toward the door. “Oh, come now, little minx,” they called after you, their smirk as insufferable as ever. “Don’t be too long. You wouldn’t want to leave me lonely, would you?”

You turned just enough to shoot them a heated glare, your cheeks ablaze with a volatile mix of anger and something you refused to name. Without another word, you stormed off toward the exit, fully aware of Loki’s gaze lingering on you the entire time.

Thor, standing by the entrance, finally broke the tension with his booming voice. “What’s going on here? I thought you two were having a quiet drink?” His brow arched as his eyes darted between you and Loki, taking in your flushed, irritated expression with a look of growing confusion.

Your face burned even hotter as you whirled on Thor, pointing an accusatory finger at Loki. “This—this is what’s going on!” you burst out, your voice cracking with frustration as you waved your arms in exasperation. “I just spent the last hour flirting with this—this—person! And it turns out… it turns out this is Loki!” You practically yelled the last part, gesturing dramatically toward the smirking figure still lounging casually in their chair.

Thor’s eyes widened as realization dawned, and then, to your utter dismay, a slow grin spread across his face. He raised a hand to stifle his laughter but was clearly failing miserably.

“Ah,” he said, his voice carrying a note of amusement only years of experience could muster, “I thought you knew.”

Your confusion deepened, and you turned on Thor, planting your hands on your hips as disbelief colored your voice. “Knew? Knew what? That this—Loki—was playing tricks on me?” you practically growled, your exasperation bubbling over. “I had no idea!”

Thor’s grin widened, and he crossed his arms, leaning casually against the doorframe. “Ah, well, you see, this isn’t the first time Loki’s taken a form like this. There’s a rather famous incident you might’ve heard of. You see, back in the day, Loki and I had to… well, disguise ourselves as women to retrieve Mjolnir from some giants.”

Blinking, you stared at him, your anger momentarily derailed by sheer bewilderment. “What?”

Thor leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if recounting a grand tale. “Oh yes. The giants had stolen Mjolnir, and the only way we could get it back was by convincing them we were women. Loki, of course, thoroughly enjoyed that particular ruse.” He chuckled, shaking his head fondly. “I thought you knew, my Lady. Loki’s… well, not just a god of mischief, but also of many forms.”

Your jaw dropped as the information settled uncomfortably in your mind. “Wait—wait—you’re telling me this entire time I’ve been… flirting with Loki in his female form?” You turned sharply back to Loki, your eyes narrowing as your emotions roiled. “Ugh, this is way worse!”

Loki leaned back even further in the chair, their smirk widening as they observed your turmoil. “Ah, but you see, that’s what makes it so fun,” they said, their tone low and playful. “You thought you were flirting with someone else, and now look where you ended up. In my lap, no less.”

Your fists clenched at your sides, your heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst. “I’m going to my room. Now.” You shot Loki one final glare, your face burning with frustration and a strange, uncomfortable attraction you couldn’t quite shake.

Thor raised his hands in mock surrender as you stormed past him, muttering angrily under your breath. “Alright, alright,” he said, still grinning. “No need to get upset.” He glanced at Loki with a knowing look. “But you’ll have to admit, that was a rather clever bit of trickery, Lady [Y/N].”

You didn’t bother to listen as Loki’s teasing laughter echoed behind you, but their voice followed you like a taunt. “Don’t stay away too long, darling. You wouldn’t want to miss out on more fun, would you?”

Your teeth clenched as you quickened your pace, needing the solitude of your room to collect your thoughts. Even as you walked away, your heart betrayed you, still racing with a mixture of frustration and something far more maddening.

Thor chuckled as he watched you leave. “You know she’ll be back, right?”

Loki’s grin softened but remained. “Oh, I’m counting on it.” They glanced over at Thor, their tone playful yet oddly sincere. “It’s part of the fun.”

Thor sighed, his expression caught somewhere between amusement and concern. “You enjoy tormenting her, don’t you?”

Loki’s smile turned almost fond, though the glimmer of mischief never faded. “It’s hardly torment, brother. She’s got a kindred spirit. I like that.”

Shaking his head, Thor pushed off the doorframe, his expression tinged with mild exasperation. “One of these days, you’re going to push her too far.”

Loki gave him an innocent look that fooled no one. “Do you think so? I have complete faith in her resilience.” Their eyes sparkled with mischief. “And besides, it’s far more fun to watch her try to resist.”

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[everhavenworld]

What is Everhaven (codenamed Project Dragon)?

Everhaven was a sandbox survival crafting multiplayer RPG game that was being developed by Phoenix Labs. It had fantasy characters and quests inspired by Minecraft and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. We first hear about Everhaven through the former development team of the game, including the character artist @nicholaskole on his Twitter/X where he explains what the game was about and how far along it was in development.

The game had been in development since 2021, 3 years. It was to be announced in June 2024 and released later in Early Access in September. The player would've started with 5 playable races: Humans, mountain-dwelling Fauns, plantlike Valekins, draconic Wyvarrs, and the feline Purrans.

Players would also collect creatures and have them as pets or ride them as mounts. Many regions were planned, and a starter region was to be used for launch, the Inner Lands - "a cosy pastoral paradise of rolling fields, lush forests, and alpine slopes". Like Minecraft, players would be able to build houses and customize their land, and grow crops and gardens.

Fully voiced NPCs would've given the world of Everhaven life, expanding the lore surrounding the 5 playable species and a story for players to follow. Enemies would also fill the regions of Everhaven as you explore the land, embark on quests and gather materials.

Each NPC was designed with unique art, gameplay traits, quests, and quirks. They each had a profession, a culture, a backstory. Some had friends and rivals and possible love interests. Aside from their personal quests, they had no linear story. Instead, by playing the game, players would discover their own developing narratives. Narrative designer Bethany Higa stated that the world of Everhaven would be procedurally generated each time, and everyone's experience with the characters would be different. When you met them, and how, and where in your journey, would all be unique. Phoenix Labs wanted to give players the freedom to choose how to build their own story using the NPCs.

The story of the characters would've been told through cinematics driven by the aesthetics and motifs of their cultures.

According to Nicholas Kole, Phoenix Labs was entering the final 3 months stretch with Everhaven: the character customization was working, music soundtrack and character voiceover was mostly done and still being recorded, cinematics were close to completion. After the Early Access period, Phoenix Labs would've went on with a full plan from there.

The game received excellent feedback and mock reviews, as it was preparing for its upcoming release.

Unfortunately...

A blockchain company named Forte quietly bought Phoenix Labs in 2023 and later decided to cancel all projects that were in development, including Project Unicorn and Everhaven. The team members assigned to the projects were also laid off. This decision was done to focus fully on the other existing games at Phoenix Labs, Dauntless and Fae Farm. There were internal attempts made to save Everhaven but they were unsuccessful.

Phoenix Labs wasn't the first company Forte had purchased. They had also bought Rumble Entertainment, the developer of the mobile game Towers and Titans, and decided to shut down the studio this year in July 2024 in, what a former Rumble dev member calls it, "a ruthless pursuit of profit". This reveals that Forte buys game studios and would casually shut them down if they choose. A gaming news article with anonymous former employees later revealed that Forte would close down studios they acquired and cancel their game projects if they can’t find ways to implement their blockchain tech into the games.

On July 12, 2024, the embargo for Everhaven was lifted, allowing the former team members to post their contributions of the project on social media and on their personal portfolios.

After seeing the content made for Everhaven, a movement was formed by fans; this campaign was called #BringBackProjectDragon, at the hopes of getting Forte's attention and convince them to revive Everhaven and at least sell the game to another publisher. Word spread, and a few cozy game influencers covered Everhaven and its cancellation.

A petition was even created that has reached over 9,000 signatures as a way to show Forte that there is a fanbase that cares for Everhaven.

To try and get Forte's attention, please spread the word about Everhaven to your friends and on social media (Twitter/X, Facebook, here on Tumblr, Bluesky, etc.), sign the petition, send Forte passive messages about wanting Everhaven back!

For Everhaven fans, there is a Facebook Fan Group, a Bluesky fan account, one for Twitter/X, a subreddit, and a discord server.

#BringBackProjectDragon!

[betagrove]

Really any story in which female characters are allowed to have inner worlds and complex emotions already has me grasped firmly by the horns. Give her an inner conflict and let me think about it

And Franziska von Karma don't forget her either

[the-au-collector]

Four is Jesus (Part 2)

@not-freyja I did not forget about this! I just had too many incoherent thoughts I needed to sort out, but now I have some more thoughts for my whole “Four is Jesus” headcanon.

What roadblocked me a lot was that the religion of Hylia is already very heavily based in Christian motifs and symbols. So I really want to shout out @trash-aged-like-fine-wine for their reblog of my post (read it here seriously) which helped me figure out some things like:

pre-four swords era = the old testament

Four sealing away darkness = "dying for our sins"

the Palace of the Four Swords = the cave Jesus was buried in

So with that out of the way I had to figure out the details of Four's sacrficie. Since the religion is Christian-like and idk if crucifixion would fit into Legend of Zelda, I don’t want Four to just get crucified but I also didn’t know how to make him sacrifice himself in a way that could somehow create a cross motif. Then I thought about getting stabbed/sealing yourself in a sword. It fits for sacrifice. And swords kinda look like crosses. The idea is that over time the religious motif of a sword simplified into a cross shape.

This is the direction I think I want my Christian-like religion to go. It’s a split from the normal Hylian religion, kind of like how Christianity split from Judaism. So Hylia is still the main god, but some subset of Hylians decided Four was somehow related to Hylia. Those details are still in the works. I’m thinking maybe he was brought down from the sky or something since he’s the Hero of the Minish and the Minish reportedly came from the sky. Religion does have an element of truth to it (spiritual religions are based in nature, most polytheistic gods have something to do with natural forces, Jesus was a real person who existed. This is the sort of thing is what I’m talking about), but the thing that’s really fascinating to me is how humans interpret it into being divine. So I’m both focusing on the real thing that happened, and how people would later interpret it.

Which brings me to Four’s sacrifice. Most of my fics and worldbuilding overlap, so I’m going to just *nabs my idea for Ruthlessness from my Cost of Courage/Epic AU*. Four sacrifices himself for Shadow by either being killed by a powerful foe (no it’s not Fierce Deity like in my Epic AU that detail might be changing anyway) or, more likely, sealing himself into the Four Sword to save Shadow (which I said in my previous post could be interpreted as saving everyone, since the idea is that people believe Shadow is the manifestation of our sins.) This is seen as the Ultimate Sacrifice. This opens up very valid beliefs of a second coming. It also can kind of explain the cross motif without making Four have to get crucified. And best yet, it’s at least semi-canon compliant.

I know Four’s games (and I think he’s also merged with the Hero of Men from Minish Cap’s opening???) can somehow be interpreted as religious stories. Especially with the light force thing going on, and literally killing a demon thing. And I know I’m also going to pull stories from my Lorule worldbuilding (it’s coming! It’s coming!), so I think there’s enough there to theoretically make a religious book promoting similar ideas to Christianity. I cannot stress enough that I’m aiming for Christian-like instead of “hey let’s dump Christianity with no extra thought into LoZ for the fun of it.” Most of things that make Christianity Christianity don’t even exist in LoZ!

But uh yeah. Here’s more thoughts on that. Lorule stuff will come in a part 3… eventually.

[offeryoucannotrefuse]

So, I'm replaying Tears of the Kingdom, and I am really hyper critical of stuff, I realize that more and more, but god the game is a mixed bag. A really, really good mixed bag

On the one hand, I don't know if I will pick up Breath of the Wild in the next decade because of how much better the gameplay and combat and collectables and ultra hand and god the new enemies are so good. Horrablins are fantastic, just make a Proboscis Monkey evil, and Gleeoks and Frox are great, and of course it just has literally double the content of Botw, and it's just so good and I got the Official companion book (the game guide, not the masterworks) and it's great and I got the MM and Oot amiibo so now my paraglider can be Lon Lon Milk god it's a good game.

But on the other, they ditched breath of the wild faster than they ditched the Virtual boy. Every single shrine and guardian (minus one) has disintegrated, including the shrine of awakening, so now it's just a joke that the yiga hang out in. So they deleted shiekah tech to make the same thing for zonai And while there are freedoms that come with the more magical Zonai tech, Sheikah tech actually has a backstory, and feels older. Calamity ganon was a known quantity to a degree, so the entire world made an effort to end that war before it began, so there was a tech boom, just like in real life. Then, just like after actual wars, there was an arms collection and the government destroyed them. The Zonai just existed, found zonite, made a civilization that never existed in the first game (excusable, but still throws you off),went basically extinct somehow (how the heck is Zelda related to Rauru, and also pick a new name), made a pathetic defense against a much smaller force than Calamity ganon, and lost.

The only people who have a connection to the era of myth (the tapestry battle) are mummified in the shrines in botw, and it's as if their souls are speaking before they go. There aren't robots that still exist and just tell you everything. And it felt like a valid reset with Botw, a unified timeline, where nothing from the previous games can affect creativity, but come on, the second time collecting memories of someone you don't know before they make a novel sacrifice so that you can rescue them does not have the same effect. Also secret stones are really pathetic compared to divine beasts and the champions inherent powers, although I like the modern day sages powers, but having a ghost follow you around feels unnecessary when the method from botw worked so well.

And Ganondorf...

For those who don't know, Ganondorf from Oot, TP, and WW (and all the ganons) is the same individual Gerudo, after different events and timeline splits. And the most interesting appearance of him was in Wind Waker, when he explained that some of the reason he attacked Hyrule was because the desert was just a horrible place to live, and why should there be green field when his people go without water. It's like 2 lines, but it shows more humanity in a villain than any other Zelda game has done, and when I heard they were hiring Matt Mercer to do Ganondorf, I thought they would give him more of that, something beyond generic ruthless villain, a reason this Ganondorf, a separate extremely rare male Gerudo whose a mage and has the powers of evil and a second form he gets using his yellow magic item, was worth using instead of just letting Ganondorf stay dead.

But the writers didn't, they gave more cunning to the giant purple cloud shaped like a boar than the man.

Really, I just didn't like what they chose to keep from the breath of the wild and what they chose to ditch. Dispute that, I think it's my second favorite game on switch now.

[rawliverandgoronspice]

One thing that TotK does constantly but really doesn't land for me when compared to BotW is that every NPC loves Zelda so much.

She is the sweetest, and she loves animals and is the very best at them, and she goes to every major landmark to spend time there and also she teaches the people secrets about the lands they have always lived in and they're like woow thanks zelda incredible I'll change my entire ways because you were just SO enlightening (Lurelin + Gerudo Town feeling particularly questionable here for obvious reasons), and she's so wise and beloved and talented --to the point that nobody (beyond the Zora King) even dares to question her actions when she starts acting off.

(Yunobo please stop letting her walk all over you, like it's alarming that you understand she basically brainwashed you and your entire race, and you're still running after her like a lost puppy for an explanation that will surely make everything make sense instead of, like, punting her into the sun? I know it's the eeeevil zelda, but that this situation could even remotely begin to happen feels... so offputting.)

In BotW, the rare mentions of Zelda worked because 1) she was an ancient figure and the modern hylians knew very little about her and would build her up as a legendary figure accordingly, 2) she was literally giving her life for them (I mean she kind of still does here but people do not know that or cannot infer that in any way --which is its own sort of problem), 3) she was extremely hard on herself, felt like a failure and... kind of was one (and she was given shit for it).

(also in BotW we are in a post-Hyrule kingdom world, while here we're living its re-foundation, and so it feels very... convenient that they excavate a previous version of their perfect kingdom to boister up the hylian claim upon the lands also --but that's beyond the topic)

So for anyone to give her grace and compassion in BotW, while a little eyeroll worthy at times, was endearing and made sense. None of this was her fault; she may have extreme power, but she didn't directly yield it --her imperfections the byproduct of a stressful situation every champion was being forced into due to the tides of fate. Also the king was criticized for being a little ruthless and asking too much of his subjects, including his own daughter. There was solidarity between you and everyone else at the same level.

But here? I don't know, it feels like the entire kingdom is terrified that the sheikah secret police will drag them back in the Bottom of the Well if they breathe wrong when talking about their beloved princess, it's so unsettling. I liked BotW Zelda, but... I don't know, I'm literally more comfortable around fake Zelda than the real one. Fake Zelda feels more like a real person that she does.

[izunias-meme-hole]

Anyone find it funny that the main reason why a LOT of people have brainrot over the Yiga is because they’re literally the most… unique Zelda villains?

I mean they’re all ex-sheikah that are masters of disguise, ruthless assasins, and confirmed technological geniuses in both BoTW and ToTK, but they’re pretty much the Ginyu Force of the series.

Instead of being played straight as these stone cold killers, they have some goofier elements too, and this is most prominent in Master Kohga, especially in his later appearances.

It’s honestly surprising that these guys are Zelda villains because they certainly don’t act like it.

[moonglide]

Link, when Zelda arrives: Oh, woe is me! The one who I thought was my beloved Zelda truly doesn’t care about me, for she took this long to arrive! ‘Tis almost like helping people collect materials and doing fun games is her top priority; she cares not about my endless suffering at the hands of the ruthless demon king, Ganon!

Zelda: Very funny.

Link: Now you know how it feels, Zelda. Now you know the power of that last heart container dangling just out of reach in that bad-controls mini game.