#time defiantly has something against the deku tree

[gekle-the-gremlin]

Reunited with Family - Chapter 1 -  A Trip into the Lost Woods

But, as he made his way closer and closer, the tree opened his eyes and, in a deep yet quiet voice, he spoke. “Link, it has been a long time. How have you been, my child?”

Years after his adventures has supposedly ended, and he had passed the time where he never thought he would return to them. Millions or Billions of years after he would have died, the lost woods called out to him. Begging him to come home. To return to his family and friends.

As they stepped out of the portal, the chain saw that there was almost nothing around them. Per standard protocol, Wild took out his Sheikah Slate to see if his usual map would show up on the slate. Thankfully, it did.

“We’re in my time,” he called out to the rest of the group, a smile creeping onto his face. 

Some groaned, others stayed silent, but all of them were thankful that at least one of them knew where they were. 

They were standing just to the side of a path, there was a river next to them. Looking around, the group were able to see a wooden bridge, and, in the distance, stood Hyrule Castle in ruin.

The calamity had gone, being beaten by Wild shortly before his current adventure. 

“We’re by a stable,” Wild continued. “Since it’s late, we should probably head there to sleep. It’s 20 Rupees for a normal bed or 40 for a soft bed.” He stayed looking at his Sheikah Slate. “Or, we could set up camp, but we risk getting attacked by some Yiga that are still out for my blood or stal-monsters, out for everyone’s blood.” 

“I think it would be nice to sleep in a bed for once,” Sky yawned. 

“I agree,” Legend answered. “20 Rupees is pretty cheap for all of us to spend the night sleeping on a bed, also, my back is starting to hurt from sleeping on the floor.” 

“Then that settles it,” Time said. “Wild, how far away is this stable?” 

Wild stood there for a moment, looking at his Sheikah Slate before pointing away from the wooden bridge and along the river. “It should only take us an hour to walk there at most. The next time we come here, I should teach everyone to ride horses.” 

“Pup, some of us already know how to ride horses,” Twilight said, putting a hand on Wild’s shoulder.

“I know,” Wild complained. “But others don’t, and they should learn.” 

Time subtly nodded in agreement with Wild, thinking about the next time that he could return home to Malon. Maybe there, he could teach them all. 

Despite it being dark, the chain set off on their way towards the stable. As they made their way towards death mountain, Wild followed a split in the path that led the group towards a tower that glowed blue in the distance. 

“The stable is just before the tower, you should be able to see it when we get to the top of the hill.” Wild continued directing them, making sure to stop to make sure that the others were following him the whole time.

It was about an hour before they all arrived at the stable. It was a miracle that they all had a bed each. Some even chose to pay more for the soft beds. 

Once the group had settled down, Wild started cooking, as usual. In the pot, he threw in a large handful of mushrooms and a few herbs before throwing in some rock salt and finally finishing the dish off by pouring in 9 bottles of fresh, Lonlon milk. 

Within what felt like seconds, Wild was handing out bowls of a creamy mushroom soup. It was a miracle how much food he was able to keep in his Shieka slate, it seemed like it was able to hold almost anything. 

There was a moment of silence as the group sat around the fire and ate their dinner. It had been a long time since they were able to have proper food cooked in a pot, rather than just food that was cooked straight over the fire, or even, in some cases, eaten raw.

It didn’t take long for the first few in the group to head off to bed. Sky was the first, starting to fall asleep while he was eating his food. Then it was Wind, being forced to bed by Wolfie, after denying that he was tired. Something that he had been almost complaining about for the past few days. 

Next, surprising both everyone and no one at the same time, was Legend. He had been up, watching the chain for the past few nights, refusing to take watch duty in shifts. 

This continued until it was just Time and Wild left. 

“It’s lovely, isn’t it?” Time looked up into the sky. 

“What are you looking at?” Wild walked forward to stand next to him. 

“The sky, but, more specifically, the moon,” He said, sounding melancholic in his words. 

“I thought you hated the moon?” Wild sat on the floor before laying down to continue looking at the sky.

Time joined him on the ground and chuckled a little. “I never said that.” He smiled

“But you said that you went to war with the moon.” 

“I fought the moon, but I never said that I hated it.” He put his hands behind his head, as he got into a more comfortable position on the ground. “In fact,” he continued. “I find it quite… beautiful.”

“Oh,” Wild replied, with a hint of embarrassment in his voice. “I don’t think anyone believes that you've fought the moon.”

Time stays there in silence for a moment before laughing. “Not even Malon believed that I fought the moon when I first told her. I didn’t expect anyone to believe me.” He smiled at the champion. “You can choose to believe me, or you can choose to not believe me. Only I know the full truth about that story. Oh, and so does a skull kid, two fairies and a creepy mask salesman.” He continued smiling at Wild. “As well as Malon, of course.” 

“Skull kids are those wood-like creatures that we saw in your lost woods, right?” 

“Correct! They aren’t much harm, but most of them tend to not like adults. I can’t blame them. If you were a child and you ran into the lost woods, you would probably have a dislike for adults, too.”

Wild hummed in agreement, as Time got up and started walking to the entrance of Minish woods. He stood there for what felt like hours, just touching the rough bark of the almost ancient trees. 

Time took a deep breath with his hand still on the tree. It was as though something was calling out to him further on in the woods.  

The wind blew stronger as Time was standing there. It was as though it was trying to pull him deeper in. Much like it did years before. 

Wild, holding his Shikha Slate to his chest, followed Time to the edge of the woods. “Where are you going? I don’t think that it’s a very good idea to travel through here alone, especially not so late at night.” 

“Champion, I think that I know where those woods lead to.” He took a deep breath as he removed his hand from the trunk of the tree. “Do not worry about me getting lost in there, alright?”

Wild just stood there in silence. “I should go back to the others, I’ll see you in the morning, old man.” 

Time chuckled, “Night, kiddo.” 

With that, Wild walked back towards the stable, while Time stayed looking deep into the woods. 

He started thinking. 

Thinking about everything that could happen, if he were to make his way into the lost woods. The worst thing that he could think about, was somehow, finding his way back to Termina, but he quickly shook that thought away, before it consumed him, and the masks, too much. 

He knew that, if he left the group, they would be safe, at least for a few hours, but he also knew that the rest of the group would worry about him if they found that he had disappeared during the night. 

It took him another few moments to finally make a decision. He took one step, then another, and then a third. They were slow and silent, but he made them. Wanting nothing more than answers, he continued on with a fourth step. 

Before long, Time had walked so far into Minish woods, that he found that the air around him had started to feel off, and the wind started blowing in a number of different directions. But there was something inside of him telling him to go deeper in. 

The air around him started to feel familiar, as what appeared to be cliffs slowly appeared from the ground, acting as some sort of wall between these mystical woods and the outer world.

As Time continued forward still, he saw a stone wall with an archway. Within this strange and abandoned structure, there was a singular lit torch, showing the direction that the wind was blowing. North. 

Time followed the wind, as though he was being pulled in the wind’s direction. As he did so, he came across yet another torch, blowing in the very same direction. He decided to continue following the torches. 

North, West, West, South and then west. 

Eventually, he found two lit torches, blowing south, with an unlit torch next to the first lit torch, just resting.

He stood there, looking around at the trees. Many of them had been mostly hollowed out and had evil faces carved into the bark. “Likely a deterrent for anyone that wishes to venture into these woods. ” He thought to himself and the wind continued to push him South.

He continued in that direction until he felt the wind change directions quite suddenly, pushing him west. 

The change in the wind’s direction happened twice more, blowing North, and then West again, until he reached a clearing, with lots of odd looking creatures surrounding him. 

There was something familiar about the clearing that he was in. Though he wasn't sure what it was, exactly. It could have been the sounds of the forest, or the fact that he had to walk through what felt like a maze to get there, he didn’t know. But he did know that he was supposed to be there. 

He looked around at all of the strange creatures that had started to gather in front of him, all standing at his feet, looking up at him with their leafy masks covering their faces, being held up by what he could only describe as a long branch where their noses would be. 

Bending down, Time picked up one of the strange creatures and held it out at arms length. “Well, aren’t you a strange one.” He said, almost to himself. 

The odd creature looked on at Time in disbelief. “You can see us?” It asked, almost in confusion. 

Time, quite simply, just nodded. 

“You can see us!” Another one of the creatures exclaimed. “The only other person that can see us is Link.” it said, seeming happy enough that another person could see it.

As he finally looked up from the place where he stood, Time saw a large tree sitting right in front of him. Memories came flooding back to him. Memories of his childhood filled his mind with fear, sadness and loss, but also a sense of longing for his family. 

He decided to put the creature down and, as slowly and as silently as he could, he made his way towards the tree. It appeared to be asleep when he entered. That made sense, it was around 3:57 in the morning by the time he took his first steps towards the tree. 

But, as he made his way closer and closer, the tree opened his eyes and, in a deep yet quiet voice, he spoke. “Link, it has been a long time. How have you been, my child?”

[hyruviandoctor]

Prisoner: Chapter I – Dinner with The Beast

Hey there! Despite the chapter number, this is the second part of a long fic I’m writing that details the (platonic) relationship between Ganondorf and Zelda during the hundred years Link was asleep in Breath of the Wild. You can read the prologue here! I have one more chapter already ready that just needs final editing, so expect that soon too! 

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Rating: Probably T (just to be safe)

Characters: Zelda, Ganondorf

World: Breath of the Wild (During the 100 years Link was asleep)

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Zelda was taken aback as a deep, hearty, almost friendly laugh emanated from the monster she called an enemy. He grabbed his stomach with one hand and threw his head back in an uproarious laugh that seemed to resonate inside Zelda’s very core. It was a laugh reminiscent of the warmth of the desert sands late in the evening, under the shade of a palm tree near the oasis – infectious and relaxed.

Zelda tightened her grip on her rapier.

“It has been quite a while since I’ve had a fight like this,” the Gerudo chuckled. “You are truly gifted with that blade, your highness.”

Zelda’s frown deepened.

“Come now, you can’t really expect to just fight me continuously, can you? Young princess, we’ve been at this for nearly two years now.”

Zelda’s eyes widened and her mouth opened in shock. Two years? It couldn’t possibly have been that long. There was no way she had been dueling the Gerudo King for that much time. Surely someone would have come along and defeated Ganon had that much time truly passed. Surely Link would have awoken by now.

“And just what do you expect me to do then, Ganon?” Zelda snapped. “Sit here and have tea with you?”

“Please Princess, call me Ganondorf. I am not Ganon.”

The Gerudo sighed.

“Well, I suppose on some level I am. But not on any level that I wish to identify with, and not in the way you assume. And yes, I thought we could dine and chat for a bit, if I’m being quite honest. Please, will you sit with me?”

Ganondorf clapped and the void around them changed, the malicious fog shifting and congealing until it formed into a room reminiscent of a Gerudo parlor. Soft, colorful rugs covered the floor and brilliant tapestries hung from the mudbrick walls. A table sat low on the floor with pillows on either side of it for seating, and delicacies were stacked high on trays and dishes atop it. Braziers filled the room with a relaxing glow, and curtains were closed over the door and windows to hide the swirling mass of corruption outside. A number of comfortable-looking furniture decorated the rest of the room: large, cushioned couches and chairs, piles of pillows, and soft rugs. All-in-all it was a very cozy and inviting space, and it reminded Zelda of the many nights she spent with Urbosa after her mother’s passing.

The Gerudo King sounded oddly refined, Zelda thought. He certainly spoke in the manner of someone capable of being a ruler at least, and the room didn’t seem to harbor any apparent dangers. She wasn’t about to let her guard down, but she felt there was no immediate harm in speaking with him. It’s not as if she had much choice; she was stuck here same as he was.

Ganondorf walked over to the table and took a seat, gesturing for Zelda to do the same on the other side. She joined him – placing her blade by her side and making sure it was well within arm’s reach should the need arise – as he poured a cup of wine and handed it to her. She frowned. She wasn’t willing to risk a cheap death by poison. Ganondorf rolled his eyes and chuckled, setting the cup down and pouring another. He drank from it, making sure to show the stain from the wine on his beard and looked expectantly at the Hylian Princess. Slowly, she lifted the cup to her mouth, smelled it, and drank. She was taken aback. This wasn’t at all like the wine they had in the castle; this was smoky and somewhat fruity, not at all bitter. Her host smiled proudly as a look of contentment spread across her face and he grabbed the cooked leg of some kind of bird, taking a bite out of the succulent meat and sighing happily.

This was not at all what Zelda had expected when she had marched defiantly up the path to Hyrule Castle to face the Calamity, nor was it what she was met with when she first entered this realm. For the first, goodness, two years now she had been locked in a constant struggle with her captor and co-prisoner, and now he was acting as though all of that simply hadn’t happened – as if the world outside wasn’t being ravaged by the evil he carried. He was acting like – well – he was acting like the friendly ruler of another land entertaining a royal party.

“Tell me princess,” Ganondorf said, meat juice running down his chin, “Why do you think it is we fight one another?”

Zelda’s brow furrowed once more.

“Because you seek to destroy my kingdom – my people – and the Goddess chose me to fight back against you and the Calamity.”

Ganondorf sighed.

“Part of that is true, I suppose. You were indeed chosen by Hylia – in a way – to fight me – sort of. And I suppose I do seek the destruction of your kingdom to some degree. But there’s much more to it than that, I’m afraid.”

He wiped his mouth and took a sip from his cup, then reached for another leg. Zelda watched impatiently as she waited for him to continue, but he seemed perfectly content to drag things out. After a moment she huffed and reached for a bowl of hydromelon chunks and began to eat the watery fruit – a favorite of Link’s, if she remembered correctly.

A few minutes of silence passed before Ganondorf once again spoke.

“I was born a very long time ago, your highness. Long enough ago that Hyrule is in an entirely different geographic region now. Gods, people move around so much and I simply don’t understand it. Anyway - “

He refilled his cup and took another drink before continuing.

“As I said, I was born a very, very long time ago. Ganondorf Dragmire, King of Thieves, they called me. Sure, I may have led some Gerudo raiding parties back in the day, but my people were hardly thieves. We mostly traded with Hyrule, only stealing when met with cruelty or malice. Unfortunately, that happened fairly often. You have to understand, there was a lot more hatred for Gerudo back in those days. We lived in the harsh desert and had dark skin and harsh features and worshipped a different goddess, so obviously we were evil and not to be trusted. At least, that’s what the people of Hyrule thought.

“I met with the King of Hyrule one fateful day, all those years ago. I wonder what would have happened to our people had things gone differently that day. We met under pretenses of a treaty, an alliance – something to better both our people. What happened was, of course, not at all that. For earlier that month I had gone to the Kokiri Forest and – oh my, you may not know what a Kokiri is, now that I think about it.”

Zelda sat in silence, completely caught off guard by how relaxed his tone was. This was the greatest evil known to all time? This was the man who had caused the near downfall of her ancestors’ kingdoms so many a time? This was the malicious force currently ravaging her own people? How could that possibly be the case? And yet, she knew it was true, otherwise she wouldn’t be here in the first place.

“See, the Kokiri were the original form the Koroks took. They appeared as small Hylian children, clad in green and incredibly mischievous. I had entered their forest and demanded the Great Deku Tree turn over an object of great power, something that would allow me to claim the Triforce as my own. He was……uncooperative, to say the least. I didn’t enjoy placing a curse on him. He didn’t need to die.”

Ganondorf closed his eyes and bowed his head, almost as if he felt regret for what he had done. He took a slow sip of his wine, then watched the liquid spin as he slightly shook the cup.

“I know a seedling of his sprouted a few years later; I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the same on that’s growing above that murky forest across the canyon now.”

A few moments of silence passed while the two ate. Zelda sat pondering what the Gerudo had said, wondering just what he was getting at. When he spoke next it sounded slower, more reflective.

“Your ancestor watched me from the courtyard window as I met her father, the king. She thought she was sly, but I turned my head and locked eyes with her to show her I wasn’t as naïve as she thought. Unfortunately for her, she didn’t get the message.”

Ganondorf turned his head to the ceiling and frowned gently, his bright red locks cascading down his back like a flaming waterfall.

“I was much crueler in those days.”

He closed his eyes.

“The kingdom burned and I sat upon my dark throne, victorious and powerful. And then you showed up with that boy.”

He looked the Hylian Princess in the eye.

“You and that damn boy had to ruin everything. I had worked so hard, done everything I could to win – even secured the Triforce of Power – and yet the two of you still managed to beat me without batting an eye. You locked me away in the Spirit Realm, dooming me to this very void for eternity. That, my dear princess, was the start of our battle.”

He raised his cup to his lips and drank deeply once more. Then he rose and sauntered to one of the couches where he laid down and spoke no more that evening.

[botwriter]

Rewritten, Chapter 24: The Master Sword

Read this on FF.net or Ao3  ➜

The Master Sword was the last thing Link needed before going to take on Ganon. Over the last few days, an incredible momentum had been pushing him forward, and he felt like he was hardly able to keep up with it, like he would be swept off his feet at any moment. The four beasts were done. He had regained his memories. He remembered, finally, and he knew now why the sword was so important and where it would be resting. But then, he also knew that it would not be easy to get.

♪

He stood near the military camp Sheikah Tower and stared out at the Lost Woods, surrounding the Korok Forest like a moat. He could see the Deku Tree, pink in springtime blooms, sitting in the middle. Knowing where it was was not enough, however - the lost woods required a more methodical, more in-tune approach.

The woods were oppressively foggy. Firelight was provided on torches, the sparks lifting and floating eerily into the mist, a sign of where he was meant to go. Link took a breath as he stared into the darkness, and it stared back at him, a challenge and a welcome all bundled up in one. Am I still worthy?

With a quick breath and a burst of determination, Link headed into the woods between the two torches. He could see another a little ways away - and then another, the sparks drifting to and fro as they led him deeper and deeper into the woods. Shivers sat on his back that wouldn’t go away, eyes on his shoulder, shadows disappearing behind trees as he looked to spot them. There was no need to be paranoid. When he’d first come, there was an unspoken trust he felt for the trees, a feeling that maybe he wouldn’t return… and that was okay. It was the risk he took, to be the chosen one. He wasn’t doing this for himself.

The last torch stood ahead of him, silhouetted by a large tree with bare branches creeping down like hands towards Link as he stood beneath it, not defiantly like when he first arrived, but like an old friend. With a small smile and a whisper of thanks, he picked up the torch that rested against the tree, and lit it carefully in the torch.

The sparks flew in one direction or another. As subtle as it was, Link knew he couldn’t take his eyes off of it, or he’d be sent back in some uncomfortable way back to the beginning and have to re-do everything. He stopped every few steps, making sure he was still going the right way, and finally his path began to focus in one direction. Taller trees sat ahead of him - the sky was beginning to peek through the fog now, and there was only one way to go. He put the torch out and continued forward, finally pushing through the grey and the damp to find himself in a sunny, welcoming haven.

♪

Link couldn’t hide the relief he felt, and he shook in a shiver as he finally left the Lost Woods behind him. Koroks greeted him, spinning with their leaves and peeking in and out of bushes as he past them. Glinting in the light, ahead of him, was what he’d been looking for - the Master Sword. It sat in the rock, where it had before, and Link took a moment to stare at it. How had it come back? On its own?

As soon as Link let his hand rest against the handle - it was familiar feeling, and smooth - he was struck with a powerful set of flashbacks. Zelda’s voice was back - telling him he was the light. That he was the fate of Hyrule. It hit him hard, and he staggered back from the sword, staring at it in shock as the sounds of the forest came back into focus. And a voice. A loud voice.

“Who is that? Did I doze off again?”

Link looked up quickly - the deep voice of the Deku Tree was somewhat familiar, but still new. His face, etched into the bark, wrinkled in concentration as he peered down upon Link. There were no real eyes on the tree, and yet Link felt himself being judged to his core.

“Well well… it’s you. You finally decided to return.”

It felt as though a knife entered his heart on the word ‘finally.’ Link swallowed.

“Better late than never,” the tree continued, seeming distracted, yet his gaze never left Link. “After 100 years, I’d nearly given up hope on seeing you again. Even my patience has limits, you know.”

“I’m sorry,” Link choked, trying not to break down. His memories felt fresh, and raw, despite having just gained them back. It hurt to think that he had failed not just himself, not just Hyrule, not just Zelda, but even beings like the Deku Tree… had been let down by him. The tree remained silent.

“I must warn you… the sword stands as a test to anyone who would dare attempt to possess it. You may have wielded it 100 years ago, but you failed in your duty as the Chosen Hero… as you are now, I cannot say whether you are worthy or not. If you sought to free the sword in any sort of weakened state, you would surely lose your life where you stand.”

The tree paused to chuckle, a deep laugh that was not sinister, but one that had seen fate and destiny twist before. Link knew it.

“Best of luck, young one.”

Link looked down at the sword. It wasn’t just a sword, it was an entity, a friend, an extension of himself and his soul. Despite his insecurities, he knew deep down that it was just him. That he had to get redemption. Not honor, not revenge, but he had to right the wrongs that had befallen Hyrule. He had to destroy Calamity Ganon and save Zelda and do it all not just for himself but for everyone. And… for her.

He gripped the sword again, without hesitation this time. Holding it tight and stern with two hands, he began lifting it up out of the stone. It moved slowly at first, but then gave a little - Link felt his heart writhe in pain and he remembered the first time he had picked up the sword. He had passed out, waking up on the stone the next morning with the sword laying in his hands - hopefully that wouldn’t happen again, or he’d be losing precious time.

Still, it hurt just as much as the first time. Each pull of the sword sapped at his energy like nothing else, cut his spirit, tested his resolve, and pushed him further and further to the limits of what he knew he was capable of. But Link thought of the Champions as he pulled. Daruk’s endurance, Urbosa’s fury, Revali’s skill, Mipha’s acceptance… each of them had taught him something, and they weren’t really gone. They had waited for him because they knew he was the one. Even the Deku Tree. Even Zelda.

When the sword was finally released from its home, Link let out a breath he hadn’t realised he was holding in. The blade was longer than he remembered, stronger, but it greeted him enthusiastically nonetheless as he held it close to his face, to his heart. He lifted it to the sky to catch the sun, and so he could send a message to Zelda - I’m coming for you.

As if in response, a memory - not his own, but one of Zelda’s - graced him.

♪

It was Zelda in her dirty prayer dress. Clearly it was just after Link had been taken to the shrine, because she was covered in mud and soot, laying the sword down at the foot of the Deku Tree. She knew that Link would be back, and she knew that his memories would be gone - wait. Link didn’t have time to focus on the thought that Zelda, loving him and being loved in return, knew that sending him there would make him forget. Did she know that he would regain them as well? Or was it simply the risk she was willing to take? It shouldn’t have surprised him - he knew she would do whatever it took for Hyrule, she knew that he would die for it. But still, the heartbreak was there, in her voice… knowing that the Link who woke up in a hundred years would not be her Link, not yet.

The Deku Tree had discussed with her what she was planning to do next. Zelda knew where she had to go - and the Deku Tree was right. The strength in her dedication, the resolve she held, was focused enough that she could achieve anything. And this was right after their incident in the swamp - she’d gone all alone with the sword to the forest…

In the memory, Zelda asked the Deku Tree to relay a message to Link, and he desperately tried to hear it, but the tree cut her off. “Now then, words intended for him would sound much better in the tones of your voice, don’t you think?” And she had agreed.

When Link came back to, he found himself wiping more tears from his face, but there was no shame in it. He had to reunite with her, had to do whatever it took. More than anyone, Zelda had believed in him all this time, and that would be all he needed to take down Calamity Ganon.

“What you just saw happened where you stand 100 years ago,” the Deku Tree said, looking happier than before now that Link had sheathed the sword - clearly worthy. “After you departed from the sword, the princess thought to bring it here, where she knew it would be safe under my watch. She continues to fight, trapped deep within the confines of Hyrule Castle. Her heart cascades with faith that you will return. ...She has a smile like the sun… I would do much to feel its warmth upon me once again.”

“Me too,” Link replied. “You can count on me this time.”

“I know I can, for you have proven yourself worthy,” the Deku Tree replied, “now go, child. Do not rely solely on the Master Sword’s power. You will need your own courage and strength of heart for the battle that lies ahead.”