#the born to shojo forced to shonen exception

[emmaspolaroid]

medical malpractice barbie

[pocketramblr]

You know that post (originally from gallus I think) about Link would derail every shonen ever but be on point for shojo? So yeah, 5+ headcanons for Link as one of the Princess Tutu cast members.

1- Link as Fakir: A knight haunted by knowledge that he failed in his past life. A fabled hero's sword hidden away for his use. A tragic royal he's deeply bonded to and protective of. A tendency to listen to what old men ghosts want. Drosslemeyer is certain that Link is the perfect one for this role.

Problem- Link is not angry and snippish, his silence is not out of bitter resentment like the ghost assumed. As soon as Link sees Princess Tutu, he decides to help her instead. Collecting a number of magical gems to restore a great treasure? he's perfect for that too! Also, now that he's had years of dance lessons along with Mytho, he mostly communicates via dance mimes. (idk, drosselmeyer kept the town from figuring out standard sign languages to try and isolate him. didn't work.)

2- Link as Rue/Krahe: A corrupted would-be hero, desperate for the royal's love. Drosselmeyer figures there's a lot in Link that can be corrupted, and several Shadows and Darks would agree. Except, you know, Link beat those.

It does hurt a bit, and is lonely, growing up wrong as a raven- but as soon as Link realizes he's not one, and the town is full of kind people more like him, he decides to help them. Starting with the prince that he just wants to put at ease.

3- Link as Duck/Tutu: Drosselmeyer huffs and says if Link wants to be a hero so badly, then he can be one who is doomed- since he's so clearly always smitten with the royal and will find a way to help, he can end up a speck of light.

Problem: Link doesn't feel the need to ever verbalize his feelings for Mytho.

Aditiona Problem: Link learns how to fight really well with a fan, like, offensively.

4- Fine, fine. Then Link can be a random side character, someone who can't mess this up- Pike: out of the plot enough he should be unaware and at least not hurting Drosslemeyer's plans even if he isn't helping.

... Thing is, even when Link's a normal kid, even when he's born without a drop of hero legacy in his blood, even when he's got no special attention from any goddess- he'll make himself the hero. he'll forge a new hero spirit. he'll rip acknowledgement from the gods by force, if he has to. And Drosselmeyer, for all is power, is not at the level of a god.

5- No! Then if Link's heart is so powerful, he can't have it. He will be the heartless royal, the prince who sacrificed it in order to break the cycle and escape the story. He'll suffer for any part placed back (he doesn't care, he has to push on), and be poisoned if the heroes get too far (he'll fight against that too even if it means fighting himself), he'll be restricted to dancing and not allowed his own sword unless it's under the control of the Raven and- he can do WHAT with the magic of music???

That's IT, Drosselmeyer has given up, clearly this expy was a mistake.