#she's not as tall as Sidon but shes definitely up there

[silverpsychedelic]

One of the Arctic royal family members and a younger sister of Siluk! This is Qaiyaani (Yani for short) and is the smallest of the Arctic siblings. She was born fairly small and sickly and never grew nearly as much as her siblings, so the cold was always rough on her. Because of her stunted growth she never developed the darker pigment that most Arctic Zora have, so she's far more brightly coloured than her siblings!

Being that the extreme cold is still rough on her body, she tends to stick to the mainland Hyrule area and works as a mercenary for hire (though she doesnt particularly like to flaunt her royal status). Even though she is small in comparison to other Arctic Zora, she is still very tall and towers over most Zora in the Hyrule Domain. She's based off a Minke whale 🐳

[flarree]

Rise of the Titans - Introduction Sequence & Tutorial Outline (rewritten)

Nintendo Presents

The Legend of Zelda: Rise of the Titans

[Prologue]

Link starts off in the hall of Zelda's new observatory, located on the Great Plateau. You simply walk through the halls to get to the main room, while looking at the artifacts on display.

Link notices the buzz coming in from his Robbie Radio, press the [D-pad down arrow] to tune into the channel - broadcast to Zelda.

In the main room, Zelda (being the hyper-fixated, autistic princess she is) begins to tell Link of her latest findings watching the stars and studying ancient text.

Zelda looks through the telescope once more, but realizes there are meteors headed for the kingdom.

These meteors do not cause catalytic amounts of damage across the continent, but their arrival has definitely not gone unnoticed.

One meteor crashes into Zelda's Observatory, knocking both Link and Zelda from the shock.

They wake up, with the first face Link sees being one that is unfamiliar…yet, strangely familiar?

This mysterious figure introduces herself as Midna (Prime Celestial of the Twili/Sage of Stars & Shadows) - she is mildly injured from her journey, and apologizes to the two Hylians for her unexpected arrival.

Zelda looks at her skin markings, her garments, her technology, and realizes she has read about her people in ancient textbooks - The Twili - saying no Twili has been seen in thousands of years.

On Link's wrist, a piece of Twili technology, known as a Chain has been placed.

Midna informs him that it is a gift of peace between thrm, and a tool to aid them against the Titans that are coming for their planet.

The three, still scraped up from the impact, help each other out of the damaged Observatory out to the Plateau.

And while the distant Greater Hyrule appeared more or less fine, the Great Plateau was definitely affected.

Chunks of land defying gravity. Spiars of ice and rock that reached great heights. And above all else. The remains of a colossal entity.

[TITLE CARD SEQ.]

Zelda has many questions for what is going on, but for now, Midna seems to have exhausted herself too much to go too much into detail. Simply stating that her people had to seek refuge and help from the corrupt Titans roaming space.

Zelda knows that whatever it is, it is not good. She radios the Sages and Purah to come to the Plateau, hoping to gain some assistance.

The Great Plateaus landscape is completely warped and distorted, which made navigating it difficult.

Midna informs Link how the chain's abilities were not all accessible, and scavenging the Plateau would actually benefit them, by completing the trials in the Dungeons.

Main Quest I: The Collision Course

[Tutorial]

The 5 Dungeons & The 5 Sages

*diclosure: while you are re-introduced to the Sages in the beginning due to narrative purposes, you do not yet have access to their abilities.

Dungeon of Agility [Tulin introduction]

Ability: Dash

This ability allows Link to sprint at superhuman speeds/scale tall, steep surfaces with ease.

Dungeon of Tethering [Sidon introduction]

Ability: Unteather

This ability allows Link to walk through certain obstacles/make certain objects intangible to the material plain.

Dungeon of Warping [Riju introduction]

Ability: Time Distortion

This ability allows Link to decelerate or accelerate the flow of time.

Dungeon of Construction [Yunobo introduction]

Ability: Ultrahand+

Same as Ultrahand ability from TotK, acceptive this allows you to launch objects at enemies at high speed and force.

Challenge Dungeon I (out of 30) [Josha Introduction]

Challenge Dungeons have at least three floors. You can choose to play as either Link or any one of the Sages per dungeon session to greatly enhance their abilities and stats.

Mandatory Miniboss: Kohga & Titan Talus

Kohga, who has been using Zonai technology and Yiga secret techniques to survive in the upper atmosphere, has used the opportunity of the recent meteor shower to return to the surface.

He has seized control of a stone talus corrupted by Titan influence, and he must be defeated.

Once defeated, you can take the Great Plateau's repaired skytram down to the kingdom and make your way to Hyloft - The Capital of Hyrule Kingdom.

[Tutorial Complete]

(1/X)

[aikoiya]

LoZ - Link's Attractiveness

Am I the only one who feels like, the more androgynous that Link gets, the less attractive I think he is?

Like, Twilight Link was, by far, the hottest Link. But then again, he was also the most physically masculine of the Links too.

Like, just look at this side-by-side comparison, ya'll!

I dunno about ya'll, but I know which design I prefer! It's the goat herder on the right in case you were in any way confused.

I don't know why they keep designing the Links more & more femininely. Though, I do remember reading something about one of the designers or something. Apparently, he asked his wife or whatever how she would make Link more attractive & she said what amounted to "make him look more like a girl" & I'm just sitting there thinking to myself, "please, don't."

Like, maybe Japanese women just prefer them with girly hips & bones like a bird, but not me. Which, looking at it, this seems to be indicative of the Sōshokukei Danshi (草食系男子, grass-eater men) trend that's become so big in Japan. Which, itself, is just something I'm very much not into. I just don't want a man who uses more cosmetics than I do, okay? I simply don't see it as attractive.

Like, why not just admit that they wanna date girls? Because that's what it seems like.

I just want another Link with abs, ya'll. Being traditionally masculine isn't a bad thing & shouldn't be treated as such.

I don't care if he's short (I mean, I'd like a tall Link, but I can live without one), but please give me a more masculine Link. Like, he doesn't even need to be uber muscular either, just don't make him so damn girlish, okay??

Like, I get that part of the appeal for a lot of people is that they can put themselves in his place & making him as androgynous as possible allows as many people as is possible to be able to fit into his place. But for me, personally, that's just not the draw.

I'm just not that into the whole reader or player insert thing because I like myself in reality where I am. When I play or read shit, I'm not doing it to read about or play myself unless it's a farming sim or some-such, I'm doing it to read about or play someone else.

Like, yeah, there will always be a little bit of "how would I do this" in it, but ultimately what I'm invested in is not me. I'm just not that self-obsessed & I like it that way.

All I'm saying, ya'll, is that masculinity is hot.

That's likely part of why so many are simping over Ganondorf. Because, for all his evilness, he's the most physically masculine person in damn near every game he appears in. Same with Sidon, he's pretty damn masculine too, just in a different way. You could even say that Rauru is also pretty masculine in his own way, just not the way that Ganondorf or Sidon are. Rather, he's more so in the way that a wise king is & even though I'm not really into the anthro thing unless it's werewolves (I own up to my flaws), I can definitely see why a lot of fans simp for him.

Now, don't get me wrong, Link is masculine in his own way. Trust me, there's a lot masculine about being a hero who helps people & saves the princess. And even just that sort of masculinity is very hot. He's just not very masculine physically. Especially with those hips. He's got too girly hips & he doesn't have the right build to make up for it the way that Rauru does.

Even Twilight Link wasn't extremely masculine.

Edit: Apparently, this post sparked some sort of ire? She insisted that I was being a bigot towards Japanese men & the Japanese culture as a whole, which... really doesn't sound right.

I thought all I did here was state my preferences.

LoZ General Masterlist

[radioactivepeasant]

Snippets: Free Day Thursday

Fighting Writer's Block Prompt: Link gets adopted by Hudson and Rhondson but remains oblivious

Link liked Tarrey Town well enough. The brightly colored box houses were a little funny to him sometimes, reminding him of children's blocks, but he didn't judge. (Anything was better than the Shrine of Resurrection.)

He hummed quietly as he nudged Epona along the path into Tarrey Town. There were more flowers than the last time he'd been here. A smile tugged at his cheek as he suddenly recalled the woman at the Hila Rao shrine, and her fervent overprotection of her maze of blossoms.

A familiar face caught his eye, and he swung down from Epona's back. It took surprisingly little time to recover from the feeling of having been on horseback for too many hours. But then, he'd been accustomed to ignoring pain for the sake of duty since he was far, far too young.

Sometimes Link wished he hadn't recovered some of those memories.

Link buried thoughts of hard-faced kings forever comparing him to his late father and finding him lacking. Instead, he turned a light smile to the sturdy figure approaching.

"Heh," he called, waving.

"Link!" Hudson beamed and spread his burly arms wide. "I thought that was you! What brings you back so late? We were starting to worry about you, you know!"

Link rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. He supposed that was one downside of making friends all across the continent. It did take a while to visit everyone, even with the magic of teleportation.

"Sorry about that," he signed, "I've been down in the Plateau, helping Zelda."

Oops. Probably should've said "Princess". I don't think there's a lot of other Zeldas though...

Hudson smiled until his eyes almost vanished behind his cheeks. "Princess Zelda! Moving up in the world, you are! Come, come, you must join us for supper! Rhondson and I want to hear all about your travels!"

Well, far be it from Link to turn down free food.

In the little cul-de-sac that made up Tarrey Town, Rhondson and Grayson were the strongest, bar none. As they came up the path, Link spotted Rhondson carrying six cords of wood to the house as if they weighed no more than a bundle of twigs. Oh, Link would have loved to have that kind of physical strength. But he was a Hylian, not a Zora or a Gerudo or a Goron, and he had to make do with being a slightly scrawny seventeen year old.

One hundred and seventeen, technically, he reminded himself.

Rhondson set the wood down beside a saw horse and plane, then glanced up to see Link and her husband. She put her hands on her hips and laughed.

"Well look who it is!"

Moggs and Monari, their neighbors, peeked over from their front stoop, not recognizing Link. Hudson strolled over to the space between houses and said conversationally, "You remember our boy, Link? He's been helping the princess down in the valley!"

Rhondson raised her brows. "The princess? Sav'otta! She's a beloved sister and friend of Gerudo City, you should be very proud, Link!"

Link squirmed a little. "She's a good friend, I'm proud to know her," he agreed.

The little blush coloring the tips of his ears said more than his hands did.

"Oh, Link! Of course!"

The speed with which Monari agreed suggested that the elderly woman didn't actually remember Link. He wasn't offended.

"He's certainly gotten...tall!"

Link knew for a fact that he had not. The neighbor was definitely thinking of someone else.

Why do Hylians have to be this size? Why can't I be as tall as a Gerudo? Or Sidon!

Dinner was a lively affair, featuring local plants and fish, plus fruits Rhondson had brought from the desert. Link had offered to contribute his own supplies from his traveling, but Hudson had looked into his sack of hot-footed frogs and slightly mushy apples and politely declined.

Link didn't get why everybody had to judge his dietary habits. You ate what you could find! He wasn't picky like everyone else!

"Tch. Doesn't anyone eat in the Plateau?" Rhondson asked as she scooped another helping of fish and peppers onto both her own plate and Link's. "I know Hylians grow differently, but it can't be healthy for vevhi your age to be the same size as a twelve year old Gerudo! We need to build your muscles, Link."

Link puffed out his cheeks and rolled his eyes. "That's the same thing the Gorons tell me."

"Let the boy be," Hudson chided with a smile, "Hylian youngsters don't really hit that last growth spurt until twenty. He'll get there on his own time."

"Actually I'm 117," Link mused, "Does that mean I'm just always going to be this size?"

Hudson and Rhondson looked at each other and then chuckled.

"One hundred and seventeen! That's a good one, kiddo." Hudson elbowed him. "But no, you're not getting my grog."

Drat. He'd guessed exactly where Link was going with that.

I give up. I'm never going to get to try that stuff unless I make it on my own.

It would not occur to him until the following evening when he'd once again settled into the guest room that they insisted was his "whenever he wanted" that there was something kind of familiar about the way they were treating him.

He couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Oh well. If it was important, he'd probably remember it later.

[captainbogwitch]

Excerpt: There Are Many Benefits...

There are many benefits to being an early riser, he thinks, walking along the shoreline, eager for the day’s work to begin. The sun is rising above the horizon line casting the first colors of dawn over the world. He breathes in the salty sea air and is reminded of home—not too far from here, in Lurelin. He promised the village he would come visit at some point (and of course bring Zelda with him), but they’d already sent enough mail to the Institute for each day of the program and more before he even arrived.

He had some now, if he didn’t read them all Kiri would have an absolute fit when he came back—his cousin was not one to take unread letters lightly. Link sits in the sand, still cool from the hours without the sun, and settles in, crossed legged.

Someone coughs behind him and he turns his head to see (what he can only assume is) another institute member giving him a small wave.

“Ah, good morning! I am sorry to bother you, but you are a student with the Institute, are you not?” he asks with a small smile. Oh, Link has to keep his eyes from widening at the man that’s approached him. He’s tall, definitely over a foot taller than himself, and his skin is the warm brown of someone who spends much of their time outside—similar to himself, when he’s not stuck inside doing data analysis, that is. His hair is a bright red, long, framing his face quite handsomely, and Link isn’t sure, but he’s pretty sure the underside is dyed white.

“Yes, I am,” Link signs, quickly catching his breath. “Name’s Link.” The smile on the man’s face grows.

“A truly fantastic name, a strong name! It is wonderful to meet you, Link. I am Sidon.” Sidon fingerspells his name and his smile becomes even larger at Link’s widening eyes. “My dear, late mother was hard of hearing, so my sister and I learned Hyrulean Common Sign when we were young. I am glad to be able to use it again. Might I sit with you? Please do not feel obligated to say yes—” but Link nods and the taller man sits close enough to him that their knees are touching. He seems content to watch the sunrise in silence, which is fine with Link, who gets back to reading his cousin’s many, many letters. The soundtrack of waves and gulls flying ahead is comfortable and they sit there together in the quiet until the sun is bright and yellow and full in the sky.

“He just came! Showed up! And sat! Quietly! And he knows HCS fluently! And he’s HOT, Zel, what am I going to do, I came here to learn about sharks, not beautiful red-headed biologists!” Link throws a pillow over his face after he slumps down onto Zelda’s bed while she watches his exaggerated, dramatic signs from her desk chair with a scientist’s interest.

“Interesting,” she says, tapping her chin. “You said he has a sister?” she giggles with mirth when Link chucks a pillow at her head.

[newtabfics]

Can we request for poly!Rauru & Sidon? Thanks!

If I use reverse psychology, maybe they'll send me them.

AHEM

NO. I DO NOT WANT IT.

I DO NOT WANT TO THINK ABOUT SHOWING THE KING OF HYRULE THROUGH ZORA'S DOMAIN AND WATCHING THEM CLICK LIKE TWO BESTIES.

NO I DON'T WANT TO BE A HYLIAN WOMAN WHO IS HELPLESSLY IN LOVE WITH BOTH TALL MEN.

NO.

DO NOT SEND ME REQUESTS ASKING FOR FICS ABOUT HOW THESE TWO COME TOGETHER AFTER A BATTLE BEFORE SHE ANNOUNCES THAT SHE IS NOT DECIDING BECAUSE SHE WANTS BOTH OF THEM.

NO. I DON'T EVEN WANT TO THINK ABOUT HOW THE TWO WOULD COME TOGETHER AND EXPLORE Y/N'S BODY TOGETHER AND BECOME A THROUPLE BECAUSE ALL THREE OF THEM WOULD BE GIVING KISSES.

AND I MOST DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM WHO WOULD TOP BECAUSE Y/N IS WORN AND UNABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THEIR STAMINA AND ENDS UP WATCHING THEM AND GETTING TURNED ON BY IT.

NOT ME. NOPE.

okay nailed it. all part of the plan

[thezoraprince]

LLISON hi have you considered. everyone lives au adult!mipha. mipha if she was Tall. if she was Wife. still ragging on a full grown sidon, as we oldest siblings are called to do. i just miss her

hi hi HI!!!!

it's 3 am, and this one is up!!! (ToTK has RUINED my sleep schedule)

i miss Mipha so so much, and i wish she were still here to kick ass and take names with Sidon and Link.

i think they'd have the strongest connection any siblings could have. i'm also the oldest of my siblings, and i can definitely see that dynamic between my oldest brother and i.

anywayyyy!!! i hope you enjoy this piece for Mipha! and i should have your other request up soon!!! <3

[mayo-t]

I decided to do some BoTW hcs! So here ya go! Some hcs for the Champions!

- The Champions -

Mipha

- Mipha is very ticklish, especially around her gills and fins. I would say her worst spot is her neck, where she will just curl up into an adorable giggling mess

- Her laugh is very soft and giggly, and sometimes you can catch a few squeaks in there

- She can and will wreck someone she knows closely if she has the chance to.

- She loves to tickle Sidon just to hear her baby brother's precious little laugh <3

- Mipha relishes when she gets the chance to wreck Link totallynotbecausesheloveshimoranything

- I don't think Mipha would really be the teasy type, but when she receives teases, she gets extremely flustered and Mipha.exe stopped working

Daruk

- This big rock man probably isn't very ticklish, but I would say he is more so on his stomach than anywhere else.

- His laugh, if loud enough, will shake the ground.

- I think this giant rock man would definitely be more of a ler. In being a ler, he is very gentle to not hurt the lee, because, well, he's big HDKHFHHXKBD

- Tries to make sure the lee is having fun!

- I don't think he teases, or gets teased, but if he does receive teases, he takes it all in good fun.

Revali

- Revali is pretty ticklish, but not greatly so. If you can get his wings though, he'll be squawking with laughter.

- He tries to hide his ticklishness, but the secret comes out eventually. He is pretty embarrassed about it too, like??? The great Master Revali??? Ticklish??? More likely than you think.

- His laugh is airy, but if you get to a certain spot, his laugh will be ridden with squawks

- Takes advantage of his feathers. Just like his archery, he is skilled in precisely fluttering his feathers to get someone into a giggly mess.

- Teases from time to time, but cannot handle teases very well himself.

Urbosa

- Urbosa is surprisingly ticklish. Her spots consist of her sides underarms, and stomach.

- Her worst spot is probably her sides/ribs, which are extremely sensitive. Tickle her just right, and she's full on belly-laughing.

- Tall lady is good ler JFLHFHDKJ

- Urbosa would tickle Zelda when she was younger. If her Little Bird was feeling down, she would tickle her to cheer her up.

- Urbosa is probably more free with teasing than the other Champions, and she might get a little flustered when teased back.

[attllhak]

Sorry, but this thought wouldn't leave me alone. What if the same the characters from Hyrule Warriors definitive edition from Warriors game, came through the time portal to assist the team? Like what if wind was cornered and nobody couldn't reach him in time and fricking Tetra comes guns ablaze, and Darunia and Ruto covering for an exhausted Time. That would be bonkers. Again sorry for this little rant, I hope you have a great day

So, I've been thinking about this since I got it, since this is a cool thought, and then I was considering more scenarios and such.

Upon writing this out I actually went into more detail about each situation, so I'm adding a cut.

So, Tetra showing up to save Wind is great if just only for the mental image of her immediately turning to him and telling him to get up since he was capable of helping her save him. He has questions, but you know what Tetra has a point. They both end up shouting questions at each other later on, I imagine. Neither has proper answers for the other.

The note of an exhausted Time actually amused me because, we're not at that part yet. That part technically isn't even in the main fic (though it does show up in a different thing). But, that does kinda happen. Regardless, I feel like Time's response to Darunia and Ruto showing up would be some variation of 'This may as well happen. Adult life is already so goddessdamn weird, may as well,'. Ruto and Darunia of course are slightly more thrown by things, not that Time is particularly helpful at the moment. Or ever. He's not helpful when he rests up either, he just hopes someone else will handle this particular issue. Fortunately someone does.

Sky would probably hug Fi. Once they're out of combat, of course, he's not going to put both of them in more danger. But like, that's his friend and he missed her. Fi of course doesn't really react much beyond a 'Hello Master Link,' because emotions are still new to her in that era. She lets him hug her though, and I imagine she'd be awful fond. Emotions may be new, but she does have them.

And then I remembered that Midna was in Hyrule Warriors, and the mental image of the entire battle grinding to a halt around them as Twi absolutely lit into her about that stunt with the mirror took over my mind for a bit. I'm making the executive call that this is true form Midna and not imp Midna because the idea of 5'10 Twilight shouting at the top of his lungs at 7'9 Midna is more amusing to me. You have this very tall, very powerful Twili Queen being chewed out by someone two feet shorter than her for leaving without even committing to a proper goodbye. Like when you come home after you go on a trip for a day and your dog is furious at you when you get back. That wasn't supposed to be a wolf pun, but I mean...

Of course once I got past the Midna reunion, I remembered Agitha is also in this game. So please also imagine Twi running after her and worried about her safety and then having to deal with the fact that she can summon giant bugs and thus doesn't need to be protected as much as he thought she did. Midna, of course, is laughing at him.

Also Ravio is here now, and Legend has to deal with that. He is unable to protect everyone from Ravio's scams, and so he's putting his focus on people like Silent, and Purah, and Robbie, all of whom are too curious for their own good and so might fall for the scam exclusively to get their hands on Ravio's goods.

And then on the note of these extra characters, Marin is also in HW. So, there's also that Legend has to deal with. His dead girlfriend is not dead. This causes him equal amounts of joy and distress, and I'm not sure how well he'd handle that. Not well, I would guess.

And now I'm realizing 3/4 of the namesakes for the Divine Beasts would be here now since Medli is also in HW. So once the shock wears off I want Ruto hugging Mipha and Sidon. I don't know where conversation goes from there, but hugs. Also, Darunia and Daruk would get along great. They'd be fast friends. Also I picture Medli as being still pretty small, since she's on the younger side, so Revali just looking down at this little harp-playing rito girl. They are so different with such different values, that interaction would be interesting if nothing else. (Especially with very defensive Wind there too.)

Of course then there's the fact every single one of these characters know Warriors too, and he'd have to explain why that is. And then the rest of the Heroes reacting about how he never told them he knew their friends. Which could quite easily transition into Silent eagerly grilling all of them for details on their lives and eras because information. I think Midna would vocalize that she thinks Silent is cute.

I don't think I'd ever be able to manage writing this out, because that is way too many characters to keep track of, but the scene where Twi is yelling at Midna is so clear in my head I might have to write it just to get it out of my head. Don't hold your breath though.

[runtedfiction]

tomorrow

day 3: flight @zelinkweek2021

ao3

AN: i fucking love haikyuu!! also this week has been lots of fun :)

* * *

Revali finds someone who flies nearly as high as he does on the court. The world implodes.

* * *

When Impa asks Zelda to be on an intramural volleyball team, she doesn’t think about it too much. They’re studying in the library, and she nods absentmindedly while organizing her cybersecurity notes.

“You’ll just be an alternate,” Impa says, over-explaining even though she knows that Zelda would agree to hide a body with her. “We have six people already, so occasionally you might have to sub in, but I don’t think that would happen. You can also borrow my gear.”

“Well, you remember how bad I was in high school,” Zelda says with a shrug. “And it’s been two years since then, so.”

“Don’t worry!” Impa waves her hand. “Most of them are Mipha’s friends, so they’re chill. We’re all very casual.”

Zelda nods again, and begins reading about different kinds of web attacks.

(If this were a sitcom, this would be the part where the narrator tells the audience, “They were not chill. Or casual.”)

* * *

She shows up ten minutes late to their first game. It’s not her fault--the exam ran over, and she had to get changed before coming--but it’s a bad look nonetheless. Everyone’s looking at her, already lined up on the court, and she smiles apologetically while dying inside.

“Midterm started late, sorry!”

“No worries,” Impa says. “We’re just getting started!”

The whistle blows, and a boy with black--no navy--hair does a jump serve that slams into the opposing team’s court. Zelda doesn’t know if she’s seen anyone jump this high.

“Way to go, Revali,” the burliest person she’s ever seen says. He pulls Revali in for what looks to be a bone-crushing hug.

The other team doesn’t score a point until Revali misses his fourth monster serve; the ball goes just outside the lines. But even when the other team finally gets the ball, it’s easy for the burly boy to receive, Mipha to set, and her roommate (Urbosa?) to spike.

Zelda realizes very quickly, much to her horror, that everyone on this team is good. She can’t even do an overhand serve--what was Impa thinking, what was she thinking--but she doesn’t have time to continue to despair because someone else is serving now.

He has a powerful overhand; again, the ball goes straight into the court. But for his second serve, he takes a few steps back, and flies for his jump serve. He’s shorter than the first boy, but he’s jumping almost as tall as him. Zelda’s mouth opens slightly.

“Nice one Link!” Urbosa says. Revali snorts.

Their team--the Champions--wins the game in what must be under half an hour. Zelda thinks about how she hasn’t done an underhand serve in two years and wants to scream.

* * *

After the third game (another ridiculously easy win), the burly boy--Daruk, she’s learned--suggests that they all go out for frozen yogurt. It’s 11pm and the brunt of exams have passed, so everyone is free.

“Perfect!” His voice booms throughout the gym and matches his giant smile. He claps a hand on Link’s shoulder. The force of it undoes his loose ponytail. “Let’s celebrate the little guy for his final block!”

They go to Selmie’s Spot and eat on the sidewalk. It’s a chilly night, but the chocolate is so delicious that she can’t complain.

“Link,” Revali asks, “where did you learn to play like that?”

“I started in middle school,” he says. Zelda wonders if she’s taller than him--they’re definitely the same height at least. “And then I played through all of high school.”

“Nice,” Revali says in a way that makes it clear he does not, in fact, find that nice.

“Your vertical is quite impressive,” Mipha says. Revali’s eyes look like they could shoot out murderous laser beams.

When everyone’s finished with their ice cream, they figure out logistics for walking back home. Impa, Mipha, and Urbosa head north; Daruk and Revali accompany them.

Zelda finds herself alone with Link, who doesn’t have much to say.

“You’re quite good,” she says.

“Thanks.”

“Did you ever consider playing for real in college?”

“Nah.”

Zelda shuts up quickly, and they reach her gate soon enough.

“Thanks for walking me here,” she says.

“No problem.”

Euch, she thinks as she walks him away. The night swallows his bright blue hoodie. Standoffish.

* * *

For the next two games, Zelda sits on the sidelines and alternates between clapping and getting work done on her laptop. Everything goes swimmingly. Link and Revali rack up points from serves and general talent, Daruk receives steadily, and Mipha and Impa set to Urbosa for spikes.

Then Zelda gets called into the next game. When Revali mentioned that he needed to leave for someone’s birthday party, she agreed to sub in, assuming that the game might end before them anyway.

The game, however, is not ending early; the Guardians might hand the Champions their first loss.

They’re one point behind when Zelda steps in, and then they’re five points behind. The best server on the opposing team aims the balls straight for her, and even though she can get the ball up most of the time, it’s punishing. It slams into her forearms, sometimes spiralling off (Link manages to dive and save it once), and rarely making it to Mipha.

Finally the serve goes out of bounds, and it’s a relief. But then it’s her turn to serve, and oh God, it’s match point.

“It’s ok, you got this!”

Impa’s too kind. Zelda takes one swing at the ball--underhand, how humiliating--and loses the game.

* * *

On the walk back, she’s the quiet one this time.

She doesn’t understand why she’s so upset; intramural volleyball doesn’t matter. Her grades are excellent, she probably has a second date with that cute classmate, and she definitely has a second interview with the university research lab.

Link speaks, unprompted, for the first time in her presence.

“You don’t need to look so worried,” he says.

“I don’t look worried,” she counters. Are her brows furrowed? They are. She makes a conscious effort to smooth them out.

He smiles. “Whatever you say.”

She spends the rest of the walk wondering if she looks worried. Then she remembers how she lost the game for everyone tonight, and that awful feeling pools in her stomach again.

“Hey,” she says when they reach her gate. “What did I do wrong tonight?”

He looks surprised. “Oh, hm--”

“Too much to count?” She tries to say it as a joke, but it comes out a bit desperate. Fuck.

“My roommate books practice courts sometimes, and always asks if I want to come,” he says instead of answering. “Maybe we can practice this week and I’ll show you some stuff?”

She nods. Her brows are furrowed again.

"Don't worry," he says. "It'll be chill."

“I’m not--I’m not worried,” she says.

“Ok,” he says, and she thinks he’s laughing as he walks away.

She scowls. Annoying.

* * *

At the practice court, he teaches her how to serve. Thankfully only Impa and Link’s friends get to dodge her serves that first go into the net, then way too deep, before finally she starts hitting the court.

“Nice,” he says after what must be two hours. She’s exhausted. “Remember you want to hold the ball steady in your left hand before you pound it with your right.”

“Uh. Ok.”

When they’re all walking out of the gym at the end of the practice, Link turns to her. “Sidon booked the court for Sunday night too, if you want to come then.”

“That would be great, thanks."

“He’s cute, right,” Impa says when Link leaves.

Zelda raises her eyebrows. “What?”

Impa just laughs.

On Sunday, he teaches her how to receive.

“Bend your knees more,” he says. “Instead of swinging your arms upward.”

They fall into a rhythm where he does a light spike and she gets the ball back to him. Her forearms are red when they break for water.

“Nice. You learn quickly,” he says. The compliment, said so matter of factly, makes her a bit embarrassed. “Before the qualifying game on Tuesday I got the sand courts up by the track if you want to practice a few hours before. I want to do my serve and Daruk said he might need to come late to the game, so.”

“Yeah, I'll come!” she says. She wonders if she hears a “please don’t mess this up” hidden between the lines, but she has a feeling he’s too nice to think that. He’s patient and an understanding teacher and--frick.

She examines his face more closely.

Impa wasn’t lying. He is cute.

Frick.

* * *

Zelda subs in for Daruk, and surprisingly it isn’t a disaster. She gets all her serves over the net, and only messes up two digs. Revali and Link's jumpserves are also particularly nasty this time around, and they win easily.

They make it to the elimination round, and then semifinals. Frozen yogurt at Selmi's becomes a regular tradition after each game.

Before they reach the finals, she asks Link to practice with her once more. It’s very likely that the Guardians will beat the Zorans, and they’ll have to face them again. Impa has a conflicting exam this time around, but can sub in once it ends.

“Sure, I’ll book the sand courts again,” he says. When they reach her gate, he smiles. Cute. “Night.”

Her mouth still tastes like chocolate when she smiles back. “Goodnight.”

She meets him at the court on a sunny day. They have a small rally, just the two of them serving, bumping, setting, and spiking to each other. Even though it’s late autumn, it feels like summer. They take a water break in the shade of the tree.

His water bottle is empty, she notices.

“Here,” she says, holding out hers. “Have some.”

“Ah, that’s ok--”

“Have some.”

“Ok.” He pauses before taking a small sip and handing it back to her. Huh, his eyes are really blue. “Thanks.”

“Yeah.”

On their way back, they reach the intersection that they normally split at when they’re walking during the day.

“Hey,” he says. “You want to get lunch?”

Her heart is pounding. “Sure.”

* * *

When they face the Guardians again in the finals, she’s the most confident she’s been in her skills. The monster server is back and targeting her, but she only misses once, and even then Daruk is there to cover for her and get the ball to Mipha.

Mipha sets it to Zelda this time, which catches everyone by surprise. Urobsa’s been hitting the entire time, barely getting past the blockers.

Zelda sets up for a spike that ends up rolling off her fingers and functioning more like a tip, but no one is covering her, and they’re one point ahead.

“Yes!” Impa yells from the sidelines. It looks like she ran from her test; there’s still a pencil in her hand as she punches her fist in the air.

“Thanks,” Zelda says as she subs out.

“No problem,” Impa says. “You did great!"

Zelda watches as the Champions go toe to toe with the Guardians. She cheers when Mipha does an elegant dump, when Urbosa hits the ball so hard it goes off the blocker’s fingers, when Daruk digs balls with gnarly spirals, and when Link and Revali pull off superstar plays.

The game ends when Link hits from the back row with impossible strength and precision right on the line.

“Nice!” she yells along with everyone.

(But she could swear that he smiles right at her, and it floods her with warmth.)

At Selmie’s Spot after, even Revali gives Link one of those boy handshakes where they do a one armed hug.

“Nice one,” Revali chokes out, sounding only minimally pained.

“Oh come on,” Daruk says. “The little guy won us the whole thing! Your yogurt’s on me.”

“No, no.” Link shakes his head. “Team effort.”

“Yeah,” Impa agrees, putting her arm around Zelda. “Team effort! To the Champions!”

Zelda smiles. ”To the Champions.”

On the walk home, they’re both quiet at first. She keeps racking her brain for funny things to say to break the silence, or excuses to see him so regularly again.

But then he reaches for her hand, so easily, and that’s all she can think about as they walk. His hand is warm and rough and lovely.

Hm, so lunch the other day was probably a date, she thinks. But I didn’t get that specific vibe? But hm, he’s holding my hand now, fuck. He’s holding my hand. Ok, concentrate--so lunch was a date. Ok but even if it wasn’t--maybe we should talk about this. Do we need to? Is there a “this” even?

The stress makes her palm sweaty. He probably notices, but thankfully he doesn’t break his hold and keeps the same steady pressure.

In the end, she manages a lame, “That was fun.” when they reach her gate. Instead of entering in the code immediately like usual, she turns around to face him. She drops his hand so he doesn’t drop hers first, but she wipes it on her sweater to have an excuse.

“Yeah,” he says, smiling faintly. The warm feeling starts to come back. “Really fun.”

“I definitely got better thanks to you,” she says.

He shrugs. “You were really determined to get better. Stubborn, even.”

It’s so easy to joke back. "Worried about it?”

“Oh, yeah. Always. I feel like you’re worrying right now.”

“Well, yeah,” she says. His eyes are so kind when he picks up her hand again. He laces his fingers around hers, and squeezes. The warm feeling multiplies tenfold. It makes it easy for her to ask, “Let’s do something tomorrow?”

He's really smiling now. “Let me cook for you.”

The seed of hope in her chest blooms. “Sounds good. See you tomorrow?”

“See you tomorrow.”

[botwstoriesandsuch]

Regarding the post about links kids calling urbosa grandma how do you think the (old and new please) champions + Zelda react to link marrying a gerudo and having some really beautiful children who are just like they’re father? Like would Zelda be sad? Upset?hurt? Same for mipha....

Sorry if these are kinda short, I couldn’t think of much but I did my best! :P 

Link with a Gerudo family, Champion Reaction Headcanons

Honestly I think for Mipha (and I guess similarly Zelda in this case) they would love Link enough to be happy for whoever he ended up with, even if it wasn’t them. They’d probably be sad, but at the same time they’re both mature enough to acknowledge that their respective feelings aren’t requited and move on. Mipha especially isn’t an overly jealous type.

As for the other Champions, I always thought of Daruk being kinda bad with kids, in the sense that he doesn’t wanna hurt anyone, like “Tiny children???? What do I do with them?????? Fragile pebbles?????????????” Yet at the same time, if they’re Link’s kids he’d honestly do something similar to Urbosa where he’d brag about the battles and fights that he and Link had, bloody details may or may not be included.

Yunobo would be similar, however Link would definitely tell his kids about his adventures with Yunobo, so now the poor Goron is going to be constantly bombarded with questions from these tiny baby Hylians, with him attempting (and failing) to give across straight answers before being interrupted every five seconds

Revali would just tease Link for marrying someone who is three times as tall as him. Now there is major emphasis on him being the “little” knight

Teba’s kinda chill. “Look at my adoptive son, moving up in the world and having a family. I love him” The birb dad will 100% be giving tips to Link about how to handle kids and such

Sidon is super confused about Hylian/Gerudo kids because “They are how old??? They can walk???? When I was that age I’m pretty sure I didn’t even develop fins yet??” He’d also be amazed with Link’s wife because Gerudo and Zora are basically cultural opposites, so he would probably bombard her with questions about the desert, and Gerudo weaponry and culture and such

Riju is just happy she has an excuse to see Link more often, as ever since he and his wife moved closer to the desert, a mysterious veiled Hylian advisor can be seen frequently talking with the now grown Gerudo queen

[sittingoverheredreaming]

I have a lot of thoughts on how Age of Calamity could have worked better for me, but one thought I’ve had since the Demo that only got stronger after completing the game is the idea of putting Impa in Terrako’s role, because I’m just not fond of a robot changing everything instead of a character we know and love.

The game still opens with the original timeline calamity, but after the first shots of the castle the focus moves to Blatchery Plain, where the final battle is taking place. Impa watches from near Kakariko Village, where she and other Sheikah, are stationed to defend their home. She wants to run and help her princess, but is held back. You know this is how it was foretold, you know this is how it has to be, someone, possibly Purah, reminds her. (You cannot take the idea that the Sheikah as a whole had some knowledge that the events of BotW would happen in order for Ganon to be defeated from me). And so she waits, until Zelda’s powers awaken, until Link is taken to the shrine of resurrection and her princess approaches her to ask her to guide him when he wakes, her princess, who has lost so much, tells her that she is going to fight Ganon alone for as long as it takes. And as Zelda walks away, Impa breaks, she can’t let her suffer like this, she opens a time portal and jumps to before it all unravelled.

The first battle of Hyrule Field happens largely the same as in game, except everyone is surprised to see Impa there, rather than at the research lab or in Kakariko. No one more so than Zelda, who comments that it has been years since Impa has visited her. For a split second it’s clear how deeply sad about it they both are, but Impa quickly fakes a smile and says she’s missed her and it seemed like a great time for a visit. Later the King seems mighty unhappy about it, but reluctantly agrees to Zelda’s request to have Impa accompany her to approach the Champions. (Maybe Link doesn’t even get to go with her yet, and there are some parallel missions about him proving himself, and/or he happens to already be there for one or two of the battles, it’s easy to put him in Zora’s Domain with Mipha, but it also makes more sense to leave him out of the Gerudo Town mission).

At the end of the chapter, it’s revealed that the Yiga Clan and Astor have taken the opportunity to capture the original Impa from this timeline, having noticed the time travel using their own ancient technology and figuring out that the presence of the other Impa means no one will notice if the original is missing. Kohga interrogates her for information, but Astor states there may be a better use for her, and then the scene cuts to black. 

That’s all we see of that Impa for a while, the story progresses much the same as it did originally (maybe with a little more adherence to BotW canon and some more character stuff, but that’s not my point here), with Impa inserting herself into every situation she can and trying to steer events away from the original timeline. Unfortunately, part of that is encouraging everyone to drop their use of Sheikah technology, which eventually leads to a fight with Zelda because You sound just like father! Is this why you came back? Just to be his puppet? And she says she doesn’t want Impa coming around her anymore, and she’ll be going to the Spring of Wisdom the next day without her. Impa panics but cannot change her mind, and when she tries to run after her Link blocks her way.

The next cutscene is at night in Zelda’s bedroom, where she tosses and turns unable to sleep. She then hears a noise outside, which turns out to be Impa, sneaking in through her window. She apologises, and says she was wrong, and claims Purah and Robbie have made a discovery that could change everything, Zelda should come see it now before her father can stop them. Zelda agress, relieved to have something other than the pressure of the coming day to focus on and follows behind Impa as she leads her out. Unseen by Zelda, Impa’s eyes flash with Malice-- she is this timeline’s Impa, controlled by Astor.

The next day, Zelda is nowhere to be found. The king is barely keeping composure, Link is being kind of a dumbass in where he looks for her for a little levity (is she behind this curtain? Is she under this table?), the champions, who have come to escort her too, are very uneasy and Impa is all but having a breakdown because she feels this is definitely her fault, and this is when it comes out that she time traveled from the future and the Calamity is going to erupt that very day. Then the search for Zelda gets really frantic, and eventually someone raises the question of wait, if you’re from the future, where’s the Impa that was originally here? They put together that the two disappearances are likely related and decide that the likely most fruitful course of action is to raid the Yiga hideout.

And so they go, and of course it’s a trap, the Calamity erupts while they are all occupied fighting Yiga lackeys (Kohga, Sooga, and Astor are conspicuously absent). Impa urges the Champions not to go to the Divine Beasts, but then the other Impa starts insisting that one is an imposter, that one tricked her and Zelda into being captured, and the Champions begin to falter. Why had she come from the future and only said so now? Was that some tall tale spun to keep them there while Hyrule fell? Why should they abandon the only hope of Hyrule winning this war? They are all in agreement, Link grabs a hold of Zelda and they depart, he and Zelda for the castle, the Champions to their Beasts, all the while Impa yells after them that they can’t win.

And then, once they’re gone, the other Impa begins to fight, Malice coursing through her, strengthened by the Calamity. It’s a playable up to a point, when Impa begs her to remember Zelda, to remember the point of everything, and there’s a quick set of flashbacks to them playing together as children, Impa defending Zelda from Bokoblins, them tinkering with Sheikah tech as young teens, and then just a series of quick flashes of Zelda’s face. The Malice disperses, the timeline’s original Impa quakes in fear of what she might have done, but resolves to change the outcome of the Calamity. Impa says they may not be able to do it alone, and they nod resolutely before the scene cuts.

The new Champions are brought from the future, much the same as before (but they’re enough to defeat the blights on their own without another character). The Impas rush to the castle, where Astor is waiting. Zelda is inside, he says, and soon she’ll die there. It was foretold.

That triggers another flashback. A fortune teller, younger than Astor, dressed suitably for an audience with the king, but unmistakably the same man, whispering to King Rohm those same words. You! screams the time traveling Impa. You caused all this! 

They begin to fight, two against one, and Astor asks Can’t you of all people understand? How much have they asked of us, only to cast us out when we become inconvenient? What has our loyalty ever eared us?

Cut to King Rohm in the past, telling a child Impa that she must protect Zelda with her life. Cut again to him with a young teen Impa that Zelda can’t be distracted with any frivolous studies or games, and Impa is not to see her anymore.

In the present, both Impas appear to falter for a moment. Astor smiles and opens his hands to them. They look to each other, and nod.

And then completely obliterate him.

They make their way to Zelda and Link in the Sanctum, where Ganon’s power has converged for an endless assault on the hero. He’s protected Zelda, but he’s wearing down. For a moment it looks like the Impas are too late, but then the Divine Beasts strike! Maybe here there’s a mission for each of the Beasts complete with some cutscenes of each Champion pair.

Then, as Ganon is weakened, Link strikes again and again. Zelda despairs because even now, her sealing power will not awaken. The time traveling Impa tells her she knows she can do it, she’s seen her.

You have? Zelda asks, hope in her eyes for the first time since the Calamity started.

And then Ganon summons his strength to strike at Impa. She falls, badly injured, and Zelda and the other Impa run to her side while Link batters Ganon further.

Princess, Impa says with faltering breath. Your power has always been in your heart. I wish I had defied fate sooner. 

Her eyes close, and Zelda lets out an anguished scream for her old friend. Her power explodes outward from her, the bow of light materializes and the final fight is played as her, taking Calamity Ganon head on.

She is victorious, but it is, it seems, a bittersweet victory. She emerges from the castle somber, Link trailing her, one Impa carrying the other.

But Age of Calamity is a triumph story, and Mipha has healing powers.

Impa comes too and has an emotional reunion, and then the new Champions agree it’s time for them to return to their own time. Goodbyes are had-- Sidon is particularly lingering, though he won’t say why-- and they all step into a portal Impa makes.

But then it doesn’t close.

Impa realizes that she has to return as well. She argues I fixed it! I belong here! But it is unmoving. She turns heavy hearted to say her goodbyes. The Impa that belongs there promises she’ll be at Zelda’s side from now on. Link nods. The Champions say their bit, and then she finds she doesn’t know what to say to Zelda, and ends up pulling her into a tight hug and then running through the portal without another word. 

She finds herself back in her half-destroyed word, the bright sun of a peaceful Hyrule replaced with the dark clouds of the Calamity. Impa’s shoulders slump.

But then a portal opens up, and a letter flutters down, on stationary clearly marking it as from the Royal Family. Impa catches hold of it and smiles, a little piece of the victory she fought for now in her hands.

[sidon-reader-support]

Pic for a Fic

(I absolutely adored this idea, I love seeing my dear Prince being the absolute sweetheart that we all know he is~ And to have him be a sweetheart to a little kid, especially a little girl, ugh, so much diabetes; I love it to bits~ Also I headcanon that Zora birthdays are called hatchdays because they do age according to when a Zora hatches from their egg so yeah~ X3 Hope you like it @reignitedn7 Enjoy!~)

Princess For A Day

Word Counts: 3664 Warnings: Sweetness, Fluff, Children, Really long

“How could they forget…?” The little Zora girl mumbled to herself as she wandered out to the center of the town, taking out her frustrations on the pebble that happened to cross her path. With a swift kick she sent the pebble a short distance away from her, plopping into the pool of water that surrounds the statue of the late Princess. The girl didn’t need to look up to know that her assumption was correct, it had been there since she was hatched so there was no need to wonder.

The girl looked up and drew a little closer - her feet moving easily through the ankle-deep water feeling it splash a little against her scales -  to the great statue wondering what kind of person that Princess Mipha had been.

Surely she must have been very nice since everyone had adored her because they talked very highly of her. Stories about her beauty and gracious presence when she talked to others like she was ready to listen to all that troubles her subjects or about her healing magic that could mend any kind of wound or even her contributions to a group called the Champions as a powerful wielder of the spear. Pretty and strong she was truly the talk of the kingdom even though the Princess was not here anymore. The young Zora often witnessed others come to visit the statue of the late Princess throughout the day paying their respects to the radiant marble a clear sign that they miss her.

Adored and respected by everyone in the Kingdom and then some the girl thought that surely someone like Princess Mipha would’ve never had her Hatchday forgotten.

Letting out a soft sigh the girl hung her head and walked sitting down on the lower step of the statue’s stand that protruded from the water. Staring down at her feet that kicked lightly at the cool waters that engulfed her small feet making splashing sounds as they were raised and then let fall back into the water. The girl let out another sigh then thought to herself, maybe if she stayed here by the statue her parents would eventually come by and notice her.

Maybe then they’d remember what day it was.

After a short while of soaking her scaled feet in the water someone did approach her, however, it was definitely not one of her parents. She heard the person approaching before she saw him, the splashing water quickly giving him away and catching her attention.

The male Zora was very tall and she had to crane her neck back just to look up at him, eyes widening a little in surprise to see the Prince of the Zora making his way over. Strangely the adult seemed very happy to see her, though she had never really seen Prince Sidon without a smile on his face. From what she knew he was always a very happy nice person and she had played with him a couple of times when he came to play with her and the other children.

None of the other children were out today, though now that she thought about it she had only seen one or two other people wondering around the kingdom on her way here. Was something going on? Adults were always running around doing important things that the girl could never understand.

“There you are, young one, I’ve been looking for you.” The Prince said kneeling down in front of her surprising the young girl in question who stared rather curiously up at the larger man who still towered over her even while he was kneeling down.

“...Looking for me? Why were you looking for me Prince Sidon?”

“Well, I had to come and wish a lady good tidings on her Hatchday! Happy Hatchday!”

Curiosity quickly turned to happy shock when the Prince said this and the girl jumps up from her spot of sulking to hug the older Zora the best that she could with her significantly smaller arms. Somebody had actually remembered her Hatchday and the Prince nonetheless!

The little girl gasped softly and then broke away from the Prince bowing her head politely adding a timid, “Sorry,” since her mother had told her to act well-behaved around others especially the Prince. “It’s just nobody else remembered not even my mom or dad. I think they forgot it,” the girl said before sitting down in her sulking spot once again.

“Oh I’m sure that they didn’t forget it,” Prince Sidon said in a very kind voice as he sat down beside her but the little girl only huffed and kicked her foot in the water.

“They did! They didn’t even act like today was special at all, mommy just told me to go play and daddy didn’t even look at me. They probably don’t care about me anymore!” The girl knew that this was probably a mean thing to say about her parents but that’s what it felt like.

“Hey now, don’t say that,” Prince Sidon suddenly lifted the little Zora and sat her down on his knee so that the girl could be a little more eye level with him. “I know for a fact that your parents love you very much and they would never stop caring about you.” The Prince insists offering a big smile to the frowning girl.

“How do you know?”

Prince Sidon seemed to get a little nervous by this sudden question, like he was having trouble trying to answer which only made the girl more puzzled and curious. He fumbled a little for words but eventually managed a smile and just said, “Trust me,” which didn’t really answer he girl’s questions but he moved very quickly to the next subject not giving her very much time to ponder his words. “So Hatchday girl, what’re you planning to do to celebrate?”

The girl stared at the Prince for a moment then just shrugged her shoulders. She had been expecting to spend the day with her parents playing games together, going swimming at her favorite spot, laughing and having a fun time. That didn’t look like it was going to happen so she was clueless. The farthest she got wa sulking beside Princess Mipha’s statue and that was not very much fun.

“You don’t know? Hm, then perhaps we could play together,” the girl’s face lit up,

“That is if you want to, would you like that?”

“Yes please!” The girl chirped eagerly giggling as Prince Sidon stood up supporting her small form on one arm.

“Excellent! What would you like to do on your special day? Just say anything that your little heart desires.”

“Anything?” Prince Sidon nodded his head and the little Zora smiled wide. The girl tapped her chin in thought thinking long and hard about what game they should play; there were so many options how could she ever pick just one?

Out of the corner of her eye the girl caught the image of Princess Mipha’s statue and her mind started to wander back to how everyone loved the Princess and surely showered her in affection and gifts. She had been admired by everyone, the girl wanted to experience that kind of attention she would never be forgotten then. Turning back to face Prince Sidon she smiled and then spoke a little hesitantly, “I want to be a Princess…”

The Prince’s crest rose a little at this request and for a second the girl was worried that he was going to reject it. However, Prince Sidon didn’t once drop his smile and even let out a soft laugh that reassured her worries. “A Princess, you say? That’s quite the request young one. I think that can be arranged.”

The girl’s face lit up again and every trace of worry vanished from her face as she began practically bouncing up and down with excitement bubbling inside of her. “Really?” She exclaimed in utter disbelief and when the Prince nodded smiling just as wide the blue Zora giggled and then threw her arms up ecstatically. Though this action nearly knocked her off balance and off her perch on Prince Sidon’s arm, luckily he was able to keep her steady.

“Careful little one,” Prince Sidon laughed before he set the girl back down in the water before putting his hands on his hips and gazing down at her. “Now I can’t make you Princess forever so just for your special day I will grant you the title but before I do you must take a vow.”

The Prince bent down so he could be eye level with the girl again giving her a serious look that made her straighten up and give her own serious and determined look though it was clear that both were doing so in a playful way. “Do you promise to be generous, kind, humble to all of your subject, to only use your power for good, and most importantly have fun?”

The girl nodded her head furiously. “I promise!”

There was a moment where the Prince was silent and simply stared at the girl as if to make sure that she was being complete distance. The girl continued to put on her brave face, eyes sparkling with fierce determination and excitement; she wanted this more than anything else in all of Hylia. Prince Sidon nodded his head then smiled wide as he said, “Then I hereby proclaim you Princess for the day! All hail the Princess!” He kneeled and bowed his head to the girl as he spoke making her giggle at the older man’s silliness.

“Get up Prince Sidon,” the girl said still giggling.

The Prince laughed along but only rose his head as he spoke, “You are the Royal today, Princess. You can just call me Sidon, your loyal subject.”

With another giggle the little girl nodded in understanding then put her hands on her hips trying to stand tall and proud like a proper Royal but the smile on her face gave away her disguise. “Then rise my loyal subject,” the Princess said in her best Royal voice watching giddily as Sidon obeyed her command and stood up.

“So, my highness, as princess for the day, what is your first royal decree?”

The girl, newly-crowned princess, thought long and hard once again before she made her command though once again she found herself taken aback when it was accepted. Actually Sidon seemed very eager to agree to what she said looking off at something in the distance but she was much too excited to be swept off her feet. Before she knew it, the girl was being lifted up once again into Sidon’s arms before she is paraded cheerfully toward the palace entrance.

Eyes wide with anxious anticipation as Sidon passed right through the Kingdom to the entrance not being stopped by any of the guards to inquire about the little girl currently nestled in his arms. She became more and more nervous they closer they drew to the main entrance catching quick glances with a few of the guards. Their eyes focusing on her ride and then on her curiously but after a moment they would return to their business guarding or patrolling around. Never once did Sidon stop not even when they approached the open archway and passed by the two Zora guards posted outside.

A great thrill courses through the girl when they strutted right past them and she straightened up a little giddier that she had been led straight into the palace by the Prince himself. The entrance hall, also known as the throne room, looked just as extravagant as the other rare times she had come to see it. To be here without her parents was rather strange but the brand newness of it all filled her with a sense of pride that was quickly dashed away when she heard a voice that was quite hard to miss considering how it boomed throughout the room. It was stern but not angry and could be heard clear as day over the sound of the water gushing from the fountains and splashing water around the circular podium that Sidon now stood on.

“My son, who is this little one you have brought with you?”

King Dorephan. The girl couldn't believe that she had forgotten all about the King especially when entering his palace. She had never gotten to meet him up close like this; only from afar when the Zoras gathered in this throne room for important announcements, or whispered by the adults. Kind and wise from centuries of holding the crown and ruling the land with a steady hand. Maybe, if he was nice as they say, he would not mind her intrusion or that Sidon had proclaimed her a princess. The girl tried to cling tighter to Sidon but the older Zora carefully maneuvered her from her safe perch and set her down on the ground where she timidly ducked behind his leg instead.

“Well this is my friend.” Those words alone made the girl smile and heart full with joy. Sidon continued, “Today is her Hatchday so we were going to play together in the palace as she wished to be princess for the day,” Sidon said looking up at his father before the girl noticed him glance down at her and nod his head. With uncertainty she took a small step out from behind Sidon’s leg but still kept her hand on him looking up at the massively large king shyly. “She’s very sweet and she promises to stay out of trouble, she took a vow after all, right Princess?” You nod your head looking up at Sidon then turning back to the King.

He chuckled in what sounded like a deep rumble gazing at her with his own sort of fond gaze though there was some other feeling mixed in as well she could not tell from her spot. “I hope you have a lovely afternoon then Princess, you are in good hands.” King Dorephan gave a bow of his head and the child felt it only right to give him a polite bow of gratitude in response though she could hardly contain her excitement.

Sidon thanked the King then held out his hand to the eager girl, joy now restored ten fold as she was lead out of the throne room and further into the palace; this was further than she had ever been and the idea was so exciting she couldn’t help but pick up the pace wanting to get inside as soon as possible.

“C’mon Sidon, let’s go,” she chirped trying to pull on the older man to get him to go faster but he seemed determined to whisper something to some other Zora which only made the girl more impatient. She turned around now gripping the Prince’s hand with both of her smaller ones to pull on the larger male urging him to move with her. “C’mon!”

Sidon laughed and then broke away from the lady Zora - who must’ve been a maid in the palace with how she bowed her head to the Prince - before suddenly swooping the girl off her feet which makes her let out a squeal of surprise being suddenly picked up. “Alright! My impatient little princess,” The man proclaims as he throws the girl up and then catches her in his arm rousing a round of giggles from her, “Let the fun begin

“Back monster, I am the Princess of this Domain and you will bow before me!” The girl thrust forth her weapon - a dull training spear - striking the mighty beast before her directly into his stomach making him let out a cry of agony. Sidon stumbled back clutching the spear to his chest as if it had actually plunged into his flesh and fatally wounded him. “Curse you oh mighty Princess of the Zora!” He exclaimed before falling to his knees and then onto his side groaning and moaning from his “pain.”

The little girl giggled at Sidon’s act until he went still and the spear fell with a soft clang on the polished floor as he turns over onto his back tongue lolling out of his mouth truly committed to his role as a dead beast. She moved to stand over the head of her fallen foe and bent over gently tapping the tip of Sidon’s crest, “Wake up Sidon, we have more games to play!”

Sidon coughed and gasped as if that was the last breath of air he was ever going to take, “But how can I play when I have been slain?”

She giggled again and then moved over to Sidon’s side glancing up at him to see one of his eyes open and gazing down at her to see what she was doing but quickly closed it when the two Zoras met eyes. “The Princess declares that you will live again!” The girl proclaims before jumping on top of Sidon. The older Zora winces and immediately throws his arms up to try and soften the blow of the Princess’ body colliding with his own; sitting up with a groaning sort of laugh he lifted the girl off of him and set her down to the side.

“You are a lot heavier than you look your highness,” Sidon chuckles just as there is a knock at the door. A servant opens the door and looks at the Prince on the floor then to the young Zora girl standing beside him who shyly moves a little closer to Sidon. Her eyes then move to the mess of the room and the young girl thinks for a moment about the mess the servant would surely have to clean up.

The place had become her Royal playroom, in a way, and the games she had played with Sidon were spread out all around the space; there was the table where they had a lovely tea party, a bunch of fancy jewelry and silks draped over the couches that she had been allowed to dress up in, a practice bow - that had belonged to Sidon when he was young - along with a couple of dull arrows scattered about the room.

The girl hides behind Sidon when the servant entered, peeking her head - still baring some of the royal jewlery - out to peer at the female warily. “It seems like you have had fun,” she ducked behind her esteemed night when the servant looked directly at her. “I just came to inform the Prince that preparations are ready.”

Tilting her head curiously, the girl tried to decipher this strange information trying to figure out what the servant meant. Sidon didn’t have any trouble, he actually seemed to understand perfectly as he quickly stood up and thanked the lady for letting him know. Just what exactly was ready? Once the servant left, the young Zora found herself being swept off of her feet, rousing an enthusiastic giggle from her small body as she was spun around in the arms of the older male. “Let’s get going, your public awaits!”

It was hard to know what to expect as Sidon carried her further down nearly identical hallways - she definitely would’ve gotten lost in the palace if she didn’t have her guide -  her tiny heart jumping with anticipation every time they turned a corner, expecting something to be waiting for them on the other side. It wasn’t until they came to a grand doorway, even bigger than Sidon, that the male Zora finally stopped and her anxious feelings hit their peak wondering what was waiting for them beyond the doors.

She hadn’t realized how tightly she had been clinging to Sidon’s royal adornments until she felt his arm shake jogging her from her worries and focusing her attention back on him. “Now why does the princess look so scared?” The little Zora shrugged her shoulders fiddling with Sidon’s accessories until she was jolted from that action.

“No, no, no. Now that just won’t do,” he exclaimed setting her down on her feet in front of the door and examining her carefully. “A Princess doesn’t show when she’s scared, something is missing here… I’ve got it: a smile!”

“But Sidon-!”

He stuck out his finger, silencing her before she could say anything else. “No but’s, now you listen here Princess,” the male kneeled down to be at a better level with the smaller Zora, “Did you know the Mipha used to get scared a lot too?”

“No way.”

“Yes way, and I do too sometimes. But, even though she was frightened, you know what she always did?” The girl shook her head eyes beaming with curiosity. “She would smile, to make herself feel better and put her people at ease. So if you can smile even when you’re faced with something scary, well then I’d say you’d make an amazing Princess.” Sidon stood up grinning down at the girl who returned it with a timid one of her own.

“Perfect. Now, I’ll go in first and when you’re ready just knock and I want to see your biggest bestest Princess smile okay?”

“Okay!”

The girl giggled giddily as she watched Sidon carefully open the door just enough for him to slip through, giving her a thumbs-up before he disappeared inside. She waited a few moments for her giggling to subside and her lips would stop moving enough to let them settle in a chipper smile. When she finally felt ready she eagerly knocked just like she had instructed and the doors almost instantly swung open revealing a dazzling room full of decorations and people that she knew, including Sidon.

Sidon smiled wide and then bowed to the girl followed closely by her friends giggling to themselves, her parents who were smiling just as delighted that their plan had worked, and everyone else that had pitched in on planning this surprise party for her. All at once they chorused happily, “Happy Hatchday your highness!”

[prince-cake]

Healing and Helping - Chp 1

I decided to post the first chapter here, in case any of y’all wanna read it! The rest can be found on AO3. Summary: “Link is the Champion, savior of Hyrule, the Hero. But even heroes can get hurt, and when Link defeats Vah Ruta, he can't get up and walk away. Luckily, the Zora healers are just nearby, and so is a certain prince...Link and Sidon bonding while Link recovers from injuries: The Fanfic”

Link stood, out of breath, watching as the monster he'd been fighting for far too long erupted into smoke, finally defeated. Avoiding his attacks had taken everything Link had, and then some. The last swipe from its spear had been too close for comfort, near enough to scrape against his armor. Maybe if he'd tried to roll instead of jumping back... Link shook his head, trying to clear his mind. Now was not the time to review battle tactics. Gripping the Sheikah Slate, he trudged back to the terminal, and slotted it into place. The familiar blue glow greeted him, along with a voice. "Hello, Link." Mipha's graceful visage gave him a smile. "Because of your courage, my spirit is now free... And Ruta as well." Link gazed at his former... friend? He had no idea what Mipha was - or used to be - to him. One memory wasn't much to go off of, and the Zora armor only told him how Mipha felt. "For I am now allowed by this freedom to be with you once again." Link tried to smile back. The adrenaline was wearing off, and the various gashes and scrapes were starting to make themselves known. He was going to need an actual healer, not just his own slapdash method of applying bandages and moving on. As Mipha blessed him with her grace, he felt floating, painless bliss for a moment - and then he splashed back onto the ground, and the pain was back. Maybe Mipha's healing powers were only intended for dire wounds...? Link blinked at the Zora princess as she told him how she wanted to see him one last time. He wished he could think of something to say, but he simply didn't know the person in front of him. As much as he wanted to comfort her, or tell her he'd missed her too, Link knew it would be a lie. Mipha was a stranger. As the princess finished her farewell, Link felt Vah Ruta lurch beneath him. Caught off guard, he fell into the knee-high water. Before he had time to pick himself up, a glowing white light surrounded him, getting brighter and brigher until he had to close his eyes. The sloshing water faded away, and the ground beneath his hands became cool and smooth. "Hero!" Link opened his eyes to see the blue tones of the Zora domain, and two guards rushing toward him. "Hero, are you all right?" Attempting to stand up revealed that no, Link was not all right. One leg gave out beneath him, and Link hit the ground with a small cry of pain. Something felt very wrong with his entire left side. A glance-over revealed blood seeping into the cloth under the armor Mipha had made for him. Maybe the near-miss from the monster's spear had, in fact, not missed. He definitely needed a healer. One guard looped an arm under his shoulders and the other under his knees, lifting Link off the ground. "We'll get you to a healer, Champion." Link nodded, attempting to sign "Thank you". His arm protested immensely. His vision was starting to get fuzzy, and his head felt heavy. Link couldn't pass out now, he had to stay strong for the Zora people... Link awoke with a start, feeling a hand on his. He tried to sit up and immediately regretted it, pain shooting through him. "Link! You're awake - but you shouldn't move! You're healing." The panic calmed as Link realised the hand on his was Prince Sidon's, who was sitting on a stool to the right side of the bed. He glanced around quickly, taking in his surroundings. He was in an unfamiliar room - well, he assumed it was a room. There were curtains drawn around his bed, but he could see a ceiling above. It smelled like... Link couldn't pinpoint an exact scent, but it was something medicinal and clean. Looking down at himself, Link saw that his chest was bare except for bandages along his left side. His left leg felt oddly stiff, as well, but that was all covered by blankets. "You were injured in your fight. I'm sure you were very brave, though! Vah Ruta has been restored, all thanks to you!" Link looked back at Sidon. He was smiling, showing off all his sharp teeth. He had removed his hand from Link's, and it was now giving him a thumbs-up. Where am I? Link signed, giving Sidon as much of a smile as he could. He was still in pain, albeit much less than before. His right arm wasn't happy as being moved, but communicating was more important right now. "You're in the Zora Healer's temple! We put patients that have severe injuries in here. That way, if something happens, the healers are right there! It saves time from going to check up on patients as well." Sidon offered a hand to help Link sit up. "Your left leg has been fractured, so I'm afriad you won't be able to walk for a bit. But don't worry!" Sidon gave him a toothy grin again. "It won't take long to heal, a few days at most. You should be good to go overall in a week!" Link nodded. Healers could only do so much at a time before they were exhausted, and considering how fucked up he was after Vah Ruta, a week was understandable. Then he would move on to the Gerudo people. The final Divine Beast was out there in the desert, waiting for him. Vah Ruta would probably seem simple in comparison to a beast that controls lightning. How on earth was he going to defeat that...? Link looked up to Prince Sidon. He was still tall, even when sitting down. Why are you here? Don't you have princely duties to do? Sidon blinked, then laughed. He had a nice laugh, Link thought. "You've been asleep for a day, my friend. I've been doing my 'princely duties', as you say, but I stopped by a few times to see if you'd woken up. Looks like I got lucky this time!" The prince gently patted Link's arm. "I'm going to get a healer to give you a proper diagnosis, my friend. Don't move!" Watching as Sidon left the curtained off area, Link caught a glimse of other beds like his, but with the curtains drawn back. He was probably the only patient injured enough to stay in the temple. It felt oddly empty, now, without Sidon's large form taking up space. Link huffed to himself - Sidon had other things to do than sit with an injured Hylian. Which reminded him, he should probably check himself over properly. Whatever healer was coming didn't need to waste time listing off each individual injury. Carefully, so that he didn't move his left leg, Link lifted the blanket off. His right leg was mottled with bruises and smaller patches of gauze and bandages. Pulling his knee close to his chest, Link found it sore, but usable. His left leg, however, had a splint, and was covered with salve and bandages all the way up to just above his knee. Link didn't bother trying to move it. As much as he didn't want to sit around and do nothing, further injuring his leg would just give him more to heal. Moving on from his legs, Link had on a pair of cotton shorts, and there wasn't anything seriously hurt on his pelvis. The wound on the left side of his chest was either still bleeding, or his bandages hadn't been changed recently, as there was dark reddish brown soaking into them. Link cautiously pressed a finger to them. They were dry, meaning he had stopped bleeding, and Sidon had probably awoken him just before the healers changed all his bandages. Just as Link pulled his hand away, the curtains parted, and a small blue Zora entered, followed by Sidon. "Hello there, Champion! The prince informed me you were awake. How are you feeling?" the Zora asked. Link waved his hand in a so-so motion, frowning. He wasn't a Champion, he was just Link. "Well, the worst of this should be cleared up in a few days. I'm going to change your chest bandages, okay?" Link nodded. As the healer began peeling back the blood soaked cloth, Link looked up at Sidon. Why are you still here? Go do your princely duties. Sidon laughed again. "If you insist, Hero. I'll be back!" For a second time, the Zora prince parted the curtains and left. Link watched him go until he disappeared from sight. The next time Sidon returned, Link was alone again, looking over his map on the Sheikah Slate. He was planning the best route to Gerudo Town - or, where he thought Gerudo town might be. Link had met one traveler that gave him directions, but they were incredibly vague. He still wasn't sure how he was going to get inside the town, since boys apparently weren't allowed inside... "Hero!" Link looked up to see Sidon enter. "How are you feeling, my friend?" Link crinkled his nose. I don't like sitting and doing nothing. I should be helping people, not sitting here useless. Sidon frowned. "You cannot help if you're injured! You need to heal in order to help." I know, I know. Doesn't mean I have to like it. Link looked back down at the Sheikah Slate. The desert was so vast, how was he going to find one tiny town? "What are you doing?" Sidon asked, seating himself on a stool and leaning over to see. Link handed him the slate. The last Divine Beast is plagueing the Gerudo people, but I don't know exactly where their town is. Link sighed, leaning back on his pillows. I'm not looking forward to wandering the desert. Sidon nodded. "An understandable worry. My people have not ever gone to Gerudo territory. It's much too hot for us to survive." I'm going to have to stock up on supplies before I leave. Link signed, then took the Sheikah Slate back. If he was careful about his rationing and water consumption, he could last at least a week. That should be enough time to find Gerudo town, and once he was there, he could... Not enter, because he was a 'voe', as the Gerudo said. "You're frowning quite hard, my friend." Sidon spoke up. Boys can't enter Gerudo town. I don't know how I'm going to get in. Link crinkled his nose. Maybe he could meet with their cheif outside town...? Sidon took Link's face and turned it towards him, looking it over. Link looked back in confusion, feeling his cheeks heat up. Being stared at with such intensity was... Not uncomfortable, but not something Link was used to. Sidon gently turned his face from side to side, and then let go. "You could pass as a girl." Link stared at Sidon, waiting for him to laugh. He was joking, right? "If you covered your jawline and chest, I don't think anyone would question you." Link lifted his hands to sign something, and then dropped them. He wasn't joking. "I'm sure you'll find a solution. You are the Champion of Hyrule, after all!" Sidon smiled. Link tried not to cringe at being called the Champion. He wasn't a Champion of anything. He was just doing what he was told. It was the only thing he knew. There was nothing heroic about that. "Is something wrong?" Sidon asked. Damn. Apparently his face had betrayed his emotions. I'm not a Champion. I'm just... me. Link signed. He didn't look at Sidon as he did. "Link, look at me." Sidon waited for a moment, and when Link didn't move he again gripped his face and turned it towards him. "You singlehandedly saved my people. You are a hero." Link avoided his gaze, instead looking down at his shoulders. Sidon sighed, and let go of his face. "Alright. I'll leave you to your planning." Sidon stood and left, leaving Link feeling small and alone.

[bunwithabox]

[ My Zelda Drabble ]

[ So when I made that post, I didn’t really have a plan of whether or not I was going to actually post the little fanfic, drabble thing I was talking about - but I got quite a few people actually asking me to post it - so here it is I guess! A little drabble of a scene that I’ve had in my head for a while from Breath of the Wild! To my knowledge this hasn’t been done in game or in another fic, so if it has, my apologies!. Enjoy I guess? haha ]

  It's been months since the fall of Calamity Ganon and the resurgence of  Hyrule Castle and the bordering towns. Reconstruction has been slow as many have been tentative to return to what was once a beautiful landscape scourged with lumbering mechanical beasts known as Guardians; things of nightmares that had taken the lives of thousands and made living in such a place nearly impossible without the constant fear of being obliterated.   Castle Town itself has been slowly rising from the ashes to form a beautiful amalgamation of all the different cultures over Hyrule all coming together to bring back the once capital into its former glory. Gerudo, Rito, Goron, Zora, and Hylian architecture can all be pinpointed and seen with ease if one were to walk through the streets, and even if the cultural aesthetics of each race differed greatly, it all came together in one big group effort that made it look almost... Natural in its entirety. The open nature of the Gerudo's beautifully simple and cubic taverns, to the Gorons' rough and slightly ramshackle forges, to the ornate, and curvaceous, and silvered pathways and docks, to the nicely simplistic and somewhat rustic roosts of the Rito, set atop other buildings to give beautiful views of the entire town.   The populace is still fairly scarce compared to what it used to be as it is still shocking to the people of the land that this once hellish place is now able to be resettled. Most of those who lived through the fall of the Calamity creature saw this place as death incarnate with massive pools of Malice slowly creeping over the landscape like sentient, acidic ink with a mind of its own; so seeing it now begin to thrive is almost a culture shock to them.   There is one thing, however, that had never been thought of until the rebuilding began which brought a rosy tint to the Hero who saved them all's cheeks; and that is a statue in his honour, alongside a statue of the new Queen of Hyrule. The two who were responsible for the fall of Calamity Ganon, The Hero, Link, and The Princess who held the beast at bay for 100 years, now Queen, Zelda. The two statues are locked in a never-ending pose of heroism as Link stands aside Zelda, the Master Sword raised to the heavens and Zelda in the same pose, with her empty hand emitting a spray of colour made from a myriad of stained glass spires and gems, courtesy of the Accessory Shop owner from Gerudo Town who was once helped by Link himself, Isha.   The rest of Hyrule has been slowly recovering as well; multiples of more stables have sprouted all over the map where once there was nothing but open fields and monsters. One such field would be Hyrule field, and roughly ten miles out, the Heroes who assisted in the slaying of the Calamity Beast have decided to take a break from all the research and rebuilding to relax and take in the scenery of the place they spent so long to protect.   A small picnic was held by the Hero and the Queen for those who assisted in the pacification of the Divine Beasts, as a sort of nice get together to acquaint each of the Divine Champions with one another.   First off, Yunobo, a Goron Youth with a quaffed tuft of white hair and a blue scarf wrapped around his neck sitting at the edge of the water with a large smile on his wide face. Being a Goron from Goron City, he wasn't too privy to the splashing waves and the calm, cool breeze of Lake Hylia that bordered the eastern side of Hyrule fields, so to him, this was astounding. It was still fairly early in the morning, so the stones that protruded from his back - a significant feature that all Gorons possessed - were slightly glistening with little droplets of dew. He didn't seem to mind though, as his full attention was on the lazily lapping waves at his feet on the shoreline of the fields, a light mist hanging low over the water's surface, giving him the intense curiosity of almost childlike splendour.   Next was Sidon, the extremely tall, red Zora Prince who was standing tall and smiling wide, with a gold and bejewelled necklace hanging loosely around his neck. He was no stranger to Lake Hylia, but for some reason, the lake never looked so pretty to him as in this moment. The glistening waves in the morning sunlight, the low hanging mist giving it that mysterious glamour that nature allowed, and the sound of the rustling leaves in the trees flanking the small party of relaxing Champions. He turned every now and then to comment on the ongoing conversation between Yunobo and himself about how the currents of the Lake worked and how wonderfully vast it all seemed to the Goron. Sidon relished in the idea of teaching another person about this where his entire race was born with the natural instinct of how to read all the currents at just a split second's glance. He tried to act cool and collected as he was now appointed Champion of the Divine Beast that sits atop Zora's Domain, but his shark-like tail was swishing in such a way that betrayed his attempt at seeming collected.   Then there was Riju, the child Chief of the Gerudo people, with her bronzed skin glistening with beads of water as she had tripped over a rock and fallen into the lake, something that she will never actually admit to. Her carmine hair plastered to her forehead in little rivers of red. She was still wearing her Gerudo Chieftan raiments which were not meant for the chilly morning breeze in the Central Hyrule regions, and was now wrapped up in a fur blanket that was packed by Zelda; you know, just in case. She swore up and down to Zelda that she was pushed into the water, to which the Queen giggled and nodded, reassuring Riju that she definitely saw someone push her, though she wouldn't name who.   And lastly, out of the Divine Champions, there was Teba, the Rito who was slightly standoffish at first, but quickly warmed to the group after spending some time talking to them. He was sitting on a small blanket that was laid out for the picnic-esque gathering, cross-legged, sipping a small cup of tea which looked rather comical in his large, wing-hands. The pot of tea was sitting next to him on the blanket, small ornate Rito designs covered it with dark blues and reds, and gave off a very gentle chamomile tea smell. His white feathers were a bit ruffled around the shoulders as he was constantly changing the position of the blue scarf that each Champion was given to show their connection with the royal family. For some reason it just never felt quite right on him; one minute it would be around his neck, then another around his waist like a sash. The other Champions giggled at this and Sidon even went so far as to call him a "Prissy Bird" once. Only once though.   Link and Zelda were both wearing their outfits that they remembered each other in all the way back, 100 years ago; Link in his blue Champion's Tunic, and Zelda in her white woollen top and blue half-shirt. The two of them sat close to where Teba was drinking his tea, Zelda talking to him about some of the things she now had to put up with while being Queen of Hyrule, while Link in his normal fashion, sat silently and listened intently.   Once upon a time, Zelda would have found his silence infuriating, but now knowing what she knows, just knowing he's listening so intently was comforting, almost in a therapeutic sense to her. They had become closer than they had ever been before, Queen and Queen's Knight, best friends till death, and it showed. Zelda was never this forward or open to anyone else but him, and even though she was amongst others, just being within Link's presence gave her a calm feeling.

  As the hours progressed onwards towards mid-morning, the sun cresting ever so slightly over Crenel Peak to the east, the morning mist faded from the lake and the dew of the grass (and on Yunobo's back) dried and warmed the party of Champions sitting at the lake's edge. They had all breakfasted on meat and vegetable sandwiches, as well as a hearty broth to go with it, which were prepared by Link himself - something that Zelda had requested personally from her Knight, knowing his cooking as well as she did.   After a while more spent chatting and enjoying one another's company, a silence had fallen over the entire group as they all watched the sun rise above the Crenel Peaks and the far off Ploymus Mountain which kept Zora's Domain safe from any westward blowing storms. The clouds in the sky drifted lazily across the sun's path, casting the group in a cool, springtime shadow. Riju shivered at the sudden drop in temperature and they could all hear the girl complain openly that the temperature in Central Hyrule fluctuated too much, which brought a laugh from everyone but her, before they all fell into a comfortable silence once more.   As the silence dragged on, Link left his spot aside Zelda and walked up to the water's edge where the waves were lazily lapping against the shoreline. His boots sank into the damp sand a bit as he walked, and he could feel the eyes of everyone on his back, but he didn't' mind one bit. These people were his friends, his new family even. He was comfortable with them as they were with him.   After a moment, he drew the longsword off his back; the sword to banish all evil and to seal the darkness, The Master Sword itself. As he drew the sword, the cloud coverage drifted away from the sun, and the blade seemed to glisten in the light. Everyone back at the blanket of the picnic seemed confused and quite interested in what he was doing, and all raised their eyebrows as he turned the tip downwards and drove the blade into the sand, his hand resting on the pommel of it.   No one really knew what to make of this - the Hero of Hyrule, taking the sword that seals the darkness and driving it into the sand, staring off over the water, his hair gently swaying with the breeze, what could he be thinking?   As if Zelda had figured it out, she stood up and joined him, standing next to him with a hand on his shoulder; out of assurance, comfort, or just kinship, no one else could tell but Zelda and Link themselves. A silent conversation was going on between the two of them through that one touch, one that no other was privy to.   A few moments passed like that, Link and Zelda standing at the water's edge with the Master Sword acting as a glorified walking stick, jutting from the sand tip down - that is until Riju stood as well and joined them, standing next to Zelda and smiling up at her.  Yunobo, not wanting to feel left out of whatever it was that was going on, joined them as well, then soon after Sidon too. Teba wasn't sure what to make of the whole thing, as it seemed pretty silly and he almost wanted to call it quits there and head back home to his child and wife, but something odd tugged at him. This strange urge to join them in their unknown vigil at the lake's edge.   After losing a mental argument with himself, Teba shrugged and stood, joining the line of Champions at the far end, staring off out over the lake like the rest. It wasn't clear to even Teba what they were all doing, but somehow... Somehow it felt right to stand by all of them.

  A few moments passed in complete silence, with everyone looking over the clear blue water glistening in the late-morning sunlight. No one broke the silence, and no one really moved either, aside from their hair blowing in the breeze. It was a breathtaking site to behold, and it was only made better when Link finally turned to see all of his newly founded family standing beside him.   It made him smile, a gentle, sweet smile. A smile that had seen a lot of pain and hardship that had finally found its home. But as he turned his gaze back towards the water, the smile widened, and tears started to well in his eyes as he looked at the lake and saw their reflections, for their reflections were not their own, but those of the previous champions that had stood besides him and Zelda 100 years ago in the first clash with Calamity Ganon.   Riju's reflection was none other than her ancestor Urbosa, Yunobo's reflection bore the image of Daruk, Sidon's was replaced by Mipha, and Teba, Revali. Even 100 years after their deaths, and another few months after freeing their spirits from the prison that was the Divine Beasts under Calamity Ganon's control, they were still with him. They never left his side, not one of them. They just came in a different form each time. And this time, this time the form they took were his family.

  He and Zelda were home.

[sidon-reader-support]

Sidon with a s/o who is bigger than he is? (Just had a funny thought about it XD )

(This is a really good idea but this could go so many ways that I couldn’t decide which to do so I just compiled a list of all the different scenarios that could happen~ Enjoy!~)

S/o Is Bigger?:

Warnings: Fluff

S/o Is A Gerudo

- The tallest person, that I know of for certain, is the Gerudo woman, Deltan, who was crying in town because she got rejected by someone she admired since she was 8 foot tall which means that they can grow to get very very tall

- And I’m certain from all past experience with Ganon being the beast of a man that he is in previous games that the males can grow even tall

- So with my headcanon that Sidon is about 10 feet tall at least, I’m certain that a Gerudo could definitely reach that height or a little taller in that case

- Therefore a Gerudo S/o would be one of the simplest ideas for a partner that could be taller than Sidon, something that would be very surprising to the Zora considering how he is the tallest person in his Kingdom aside from King Dorephan

- Sidon would be on a political visit to Gerudo Village to have an important discussion with Chief Riju, accompanied by Muzu and two Zora Guards

- Though the guards would have to wait outside the village considering how the Gerudo Village is women only and they are already making big exceptions in order for this meeting to take place

- Both would have an enchantment placed upon them that keep their scales from getting dried out in the hot sun for a couple of hours and he would see you selling Gerudo jewelry in the market

- He would approach you more interested in what it is that you are selling at first because it would be the first time that he has ever been this far away from his domain and he is so curious to see how other towns and villages operate

- You would greet him from your place on the floor and likely engage in some playful banter as neither one of you has seen much of the other species so you want to get to know each other more

- Much to the discretion of Muzu, who has to remind the Zora that they are on a tight schedule to their enchantment’s limited time

- You would stand up from your place and stun both men by your large stature and offer to personally lead the two to the Chief’s palace

- Sidon would be so taken aback that it would take him a moment to register that you had even said anything, he is just so fascinated and a little intimidated to find somebody that he actually has to look up in order to meet eyes with

- It is such a foreign but pleasantly surprising feeling that makes him a little giddy especially since it is not someone from his kingdom

- Eventually he would manage a polite response, though he would worry about you leaving your stand unattended, to which you would wave off his concerns and then happily guide him to the palace pointing out some of the stands and people

- Sidon is so impressed by your extensive knowledge of the village and all of its people that by the end of the quick tour he asks if perhaps you can give him a more in depth tour the next time that he comes to visit

- You say it’s a promise and laugh as Sidon has to be told by Muzu to get moving towards the stairs before he moves away from you

- When the meeting is over Sidon looks around for you but he can’t stay long due to the enchantment starting to wear off so he can only manage a wave in your direction, one that you return with a bright smile that makes the Zora eager to return

S/o Is A Lynel

- I’m not completely certain if Lynel are actually sentient, or if they are capable of speaking english, or if females actually also exist in the canon universe and it’s not just males

- But with the power of my wishful thinking and personal headcanons I’m gonna say that most of the above are true and they just reallllllly don’t like other people

- So in super treacherous locations spread throughout the land of Hylia there are very small groups of Lynel with one male that guards the area and 3-4 females as well as a few kids (much like a pride. You know… because they are part lion..?~)

- They interact with each other much like any pride through their language of grunting and growling, the females taking care of the cubs (Foals? Coals?) and doing most of the hunting while the male guards the area and keeps away any and all trespassers

- Sidon meeting a Lynel would be a very very very rare occurrence since they are frequent users of shock arrows which, you know, could kill him instantly

- Anyways meeting with a male would be easy considering that they are the ones that tend to stay out in the open

- But meeting a female would be a lot harder since they are slightly smaller, stealthier, and don’t roam around Hylia as freely as their male counterparts do (Both are definitely much taller than Sidon regardless)

- So the best way I can imagine that Sidon would ever meet a Lynel (male or female) was if he heard that one was lingering in the forest and when he went out to investigate armed with his bow and arrows he finds you lying in a dense part of the woods fatally wounded

- Curiosity would quickly overtake his alertness though he would remain cautious as he approached you wondering what could’ve possibly caused such brutal harm to such a gigantic and powerful creature

- A growl of forewarning would emit from you when he got to close, your eyes locked on his weapons steeling yourself for a fight but both of you know that you are not in any state to actually do any sort of fighting which sort of puts the Zora at ease

- Lynels are capable of great power and destruction but you are, for the lack of a better word, helpless and it is apparent in the way you look at the Zora’s weapons with fearful acceptance like you are embracing this fate that has fallen upon you

- Sidon would lower his guard and holster the weapon because he knows that you can’t and won’t do anything to him, you’re too weak and  tired from the blood loss

- He would leave but the next day he would come back to find you looking worse but this time along with his bow and quiver he has brought some bandages and healing salve

- Like a cornered animal you would snap at him like you did yesterday, growling but it is so pitifully weak that Sidon does not feel intimidated however he would remove his weapons before getting any closer as a way to gain your trust

- Many visits to you later with more medicine and food and you would come to trust him and learn how to talk some English instead of just grunting at him

- Once you return to near full health you would elect rather to stay close to the Kingdom than leave the small strange person who took care of you so you linger in the forest awaiting his next visit

Sidon Shrunk

- By the power of twisted magic from a Wizzrobe or some strange potion Sidon would be shrunk down from his usual towering stature

- So now both of you are stuck with a six inch tall Zora that you must take care of since he certainly isn’t in any condition to go anywhere by himself

- Which means that Sidon would be out of commission and unable to attend to any of his usual duties because he is confined to the palace

- He certainly doesn’t mind you accompanying him everywhere but he does not like the helpless feeling of being so small and insignificant

- Not to mention that if anything were to go wrong he would not be able to protect you from anything

- It’s a little humiliating being so useless that he has to rely on you for everything since the Prince is so used to being capable of doing everything himself

- But in this form he has to ask you to do it all, like: making you stop what you’re doing to lift him up to something he can’t reach, carrying him everywhere he needs to go, and even doing all of his paperwork (though he is sitting on the desk guiding you through every step)

- He can’t even go out and swim to relieve the stress that gets pent up because of his negative feelings because his usual spots have currents that are too strong for his much smaller body

- You know that it’s embarrassing for the Prince to feel so helpless so you do your best to cheer him up and show him the fun things about him being so small

- For one, you can finally be the one to carry Sidon around like he is a precious package and though it does take some time for the Zora to get used to he does come to enjoy being able to sit and even stand in the palms of your hands

- He also becomes a big fan of your now large arms that can cuddle him like he’s a small teddy bear, it’s a fun change of pace from the usual, though he will confess that he prefers being able to hold you much more

- The large swimming pool of a tub in the bathroom also provides the Zora what would normally be an ocean of water to swim in although it is much calmer than ocean waters

- Everything is just such an interesting and bizarre experience but he is glad that you are there to help him out although you do tease him a little now that you are the tall one

S/o Is Another Zora

- Another super simple one but just difficult enough considering how Sidon is the tallest one in the Kingdom and for their to be another taller one they would likely have grown up alongside him from a very young age

- Males seem to make up the majority of the tall Zoras but I don’t doubt that a female could also be tall, however my headcanon is that Sidon’s height is mostly the result of his Royal Zora genetics since King Dorephan is so massive

- So for a female to reach him or be even taller they would have to be a Royal Zora and you can see how that would be a problem for his s/o to also be a Royal Zora in a kingdom where there is only one family

- Meaning this scenario is a little male, trans-female, basically more male body specific (sorry if that upsets anyone)

- Back to growing up, the two of you would’ve definitely grown up alongside each other and spent a lot of time together when you were little

- Exploring the different waters nearby the Domain, finding cool things and adding them to your collection of little trinkets, and even racing against each other

- Something you always beat Sidon at because you were the faster of the two and that always upset Sidon deep down since he is the Prince and wants to be the best

- You never rub any of your victories in his face though, in fact; you would always encouraged the Prince to get better and someday he would beat you

- One of you would never be seen without the other is how close you are with him until the day his sister was proclaimed dead and Sidon became less and less free to hang out with you until eventually it just stopped

- However you couldn’t let go of your friend that easy so you decide that the best way for you to get close to him again is to work in the palace

- But with your skills you don’t think being a servant would be at all suitable so you instead decide to become a member of the Royal Guard fighting to protect your friend

- Though this pushes the two of you away even more since Sidon gets held up by Royal duties and you are now going through rigorous training

- Many decades pass before you two cross paths again, now young adults in the eyes of Zora society, and it is Sidon who spots you patrolling the palace one day and he is amazed to see how you have grown especially your height

- The Prince would excuse himself from whatever he was doing in order to greet you, surprising you as you thought after all this time that he might have forgotten about you

- Turns out that he was actually watching over all of your progress and knows that you have made quite a name for yourself and he tells you how impressed he is

- Sidon has to return to his duties so the meeting is cut quite short but he promises to meet you later once you are off duty to challenge you to a race

- “Perhaps, I can show you the progress that I have made, old friend. This time I might even beat you.”