#was listening to ganon fight music

[skyloftian-nutcase]

(inspired by Ganon's Requiem by ROZEN)

The castle cut into the sky, a testament to all that Hyrule had built, a reminder of all it had lost.

Link swallowed, feeling the hair on the back of his neck stand up. This was it. When he had left his village a year ago, when he had waved goodbye to his sister and brother-in-law, he'd only had an inkling of what his journey would entail. When he'd left his village a year ago, he'd been a fisherman, a kid who was going on an adventure with the hopes that he could help rebuild a world that had been destroyed, a child of the Calamity.

He'd grown so much since then. Seen so much since then. Met so many new people, watched the hurts and healings of so many. He'd honed his skill as a fighter, he'd made new family, and...

He'd always known this day would come, but it had always seemed so far away.

All of Hyrule had fallen to the Calamity. Villages and town had been razed to the ground, all the champions had been murdered. Hyrule's greatest warriors had been unable to prevail over the beast, the princess had sacrificed herself just to hold it at bay.

His grandparents had died in the Calamity. His parents had died due to the lack of resources that had come in its wake.

His friend had suffered so much because of it. His new family had lost everything because of it.

"The Champions are with you, Link," his spirit companion said, eyes determined. "We'll defeat him together. You have the sword that seals the darkness, the abilities of the best warriors in Hyrule."

Link nodded, closing his eyes and shutting out the view of the foreboding castle. This was it.

It was time.

Marching ahead, Link opened his eyes, drawing the Master Sword and feeling it hum in his hand, warmth and light surrounding and filling him.

I can do this.

"Where do you think you're going? This field and the city will be covered in guardians."

Link paused, turning back to see the knight who had taught him and guided him since he'd acquired the blade. Abel watched him with a stern demeanor, but the worry in his eyes was evident.

"It's time," Link said solemnly. "The Divine Beasts are free. All that's left is Ganon."

"What was your plan, just going in alone, walking all dramatic while we stand here and watch you with awe?" Lyra asked, crossing her arms and furrowing her brow.

"We're going with you," Abel immediately confirmed.

"But--"

"Don't even try it," Lyra cut in, walking up to him. "I want that beast's blood on my sword. I want to hear it scream."

"Besides," Abel added as he also approached. "I can guide you to him."

Link looked at them uncertainly. "I don't want you to get hurt."

"That's cute," Lyra quipped, walking beyond him. "I was going to say the same thing. Now let's go kick his ass."

Link turned to watch her go, anxiety eating away at him. He was already scared, he--

A hand settled on his shoulder, warm, heavy, and comforting. He looked back and saw Abel watching him.

"I wasn't there to protect my son," Abel said quietly. "I will not make that mistake again. You fight for all of Hyrule, Link. Let Hyrule fight with you."

Link watched him a moment, his eyes stinging, heart swelling with emotion, throat tightening in response. He couldn't adequately express how terrifying this was, nor how relieved he was at hearing Abel's words. He leapt forward, slamming into the knight's chest and wrapping his arms around him. Abel stood there for a moment, stunned, before gently returning the hug.

[erimeows]

Answers

The wedding of King Sidon and Lady Yona is nothing less than beautiful. Link supposes he should be happy- he’s sat at the table with King Dorephan, Bazz, Muzu, and Lady Yona’s parents- a great honor. His best friend is beaming with joy, just as he has been since he was given the title of ‘king’. Sidon is proud of the hard work he’s done to catch up with his predecessors, proud of the new peace he’s provided his domain with, proud of his new wife.

Link wishes he could be just as joyous. He should be. He knows he should be, and hates himself for not feeling the way he knows he’s supposed to feel. Sidon is his friend, and all Link has ever wanted is for his friends to be happy.

Yet, as he sits at the table lined with lacy linen cloth, holding a champagne glass that’s far too large for his small hands and listening to the other guests’ absentminded chatter, he can’t help but notice how shit he feels. His stomach churns and sinks when his eyes land on Sidon and Yona.

He’s jealous. Jealous. Why is he jealous? Link stops to dwell on it, gripping his champagne glass so tightly that his knuckles turn white. 

It’s not like he spent much time with Sidon before, anyway. He was always too busy; fighting Ganon, helping the citizens of Hyrule, protecting Zelda and helping her train to control her powers. Though they’re ‘best friends’ according to Sidon, and though Sidon knows him in a way that most others don’t, Link isn’t justified in feeling jealous. Yona is a kind woman, anyway- it’s not like she’d rip Sidon away from Link entirely.

Link thinks back to the ceremony itself. There were some things about it that were… Off. While Yona and Sidon themselves were beaming with joy, neither of them read any vows, and when they were told to kiss, they only kissed each other’s cheeks. Link assumed it was a cultural difference- at least until he heard Yona’s parents whispering about how ‘odd’ this ‘new age’ wedding is. 

Old, outdated classical music being played by an orchestra echoes through the walls of the well-decorated palace. The piano and harp are played slightly off key, but everyone else is too blissfully unaware to notice. The decorations are gaudy and old, clearly picked by someone with far worse tastes than Sidon and Yona. 

The wedding is anything but new age. The only difference between this wedding and any other arranged one is that Yona and Sidon aren’t trying all that hard to be in love for their kingdom’s sake. That realization fills Link with some relief. He doesn’t want to consider why that might be.

Sidon and Yona dance together briefly before they separate to go greet their guests. Yona’s parents excuse themselves to the dancefloor along with many other Zora who were waiting for Sidon and Yona to finish their first dance. With the open chairs at the table, Sidon and Yona come to sit between Link and Bazz.

Though Link remains silent, sipping on his champagne, Sidon’s amber eyes are less than subtle with how blatantly they’re trained on him- even as he excitedly discusses a new idea for a military squad with King Dorephan. Link is too agitated to focus on the conversation despite the topic being one that would interest him on any other night. There’s laughter ringing in the air. Link briefly hears King Dorephan teasing his son for being so work-oriented on the night of his wedding before turning to Yona to talk.

“Are you alright?” Sidon whispers when no one else is paying attention to them, to which Link nods.

He hopes that will be the end of it.

It is not. 

Still able to feel Sidon’s gaze trained on him following his answer, Link stands up and leaves to go literally anywhere else. Riju, Tulin, and Yunobo hauled ass to make it to the wedding on such short notice. Maybe he could find them and get them to join him for a dance. Hell, people are paying so much attention to the newlyweds that Link suspects he could slip out of the domain and back into the wilderness where he feels he should be. The only person who would notice- or care- would probably be Sidon, in the midst of all of this chaos.

Link finds himself in a nearby corner. When he puts his back to the wall and turns around, he’s embarrassed to find Sidon weaving his way through the crowd to find him. The Zora is so tall that he has no issue seeing over all of the other attendees. 

Their eyes meet from across the room, and Link panics. The panic only grows as Sidon gets closer, until he’s right there, bending down to Link’s level and placing a giant hand on one of Link’s shoulders.

He panics because people are watching them, wondering why Sidon isn’t beside his wife or with his family and is instead chasing after Link. Whether Sidon is too oblivious to notice or just doesn’t care, Link is unsure.

He panics because Sidon chasing after him like this, being able to tell that he’s feeling poorly, makes him feel special- no, loved.

And he panics because he wants to feel loved by Sidon. He doesn’t want Sidon to stop whatever this is. 

Of course, it makes sense. It all makes sense now.

Link looks at the ring on his finger with that gorgeous cerulean stone on it and sighs. He leans back against the wall and slides- slides down until he’s sitting on the floor with his head in his hands.

A pang of guilt tears through Link- at least until he sees Yona and Bazz at the table together. From where Link is sitting in the corner, he can see underneath the tablecloth well enough to get a glimpse of Yona’s left hand and Bazz’s right hand, their fingers are intertwined and both hands are on Yona’s left thigh. 

Link puts the pieces together.

That’s why the ceremony was so odd and why the first dance was so friendly…

And he knows that Sidon isn’t a fool. He must know if his leaving them alone and acting so platonically with his newly wed wife is anything to go by. Even during their dances, he was overtly respectful, sure to keep his hands well above her waist and to keep a reasonable distance from her- almost as if they were family, rather than lovers, which Link figures is more accurate. An arranged marriage is more complicated than Link ever could’ve guessed. 

“My dearest Link,” Sidon starts, sitting right next to Link on the floor without a care in the world. It’s almost as if all he sees in this room right now is Link. That fact- that deep bond of friendship they have- is terrifying, especially now that Link is aware of how much more he wants. He doesn’t want to just be friends, he wants… He wants to be Yona right now. How embarrassing. “What is troubling you? Please, tell me.”

So blunt…

Link shakes his head again, trying to keep his face as neutral as possible. There are other Zora watching, confused as to why Sidon is neglecting his queen in favor of the measly Hylian hero who’s dressed in rickety armor. Thankfully, a lot of them are too busy dancing or drinking to notice, but the ones who do don’t make any attempt to hide their judgment- namely Muzu, who would’ve had Link dead on the floor by now if looks could kill. Link quickly comes up with an excuse and gestures to the alcohol bar near the entrance of the room with the best ‘sick’ expression he can manage.

“Oh, you drank too much? I never realized you Hylians were lightweights. I suppose you are much smaller than us… What a shame,” Sidon tilts his head curiously, eyeing the bar and then Link’s champagne glass that he left on the table. It’s still half full. If Sidon puts together that Link is completely sober, he’s at least courteous enough not to call out the lie. “Ah, I’d hate to cut the celebration short, but I could walk you back to your room if you’d like? I don’t mind at all! Actually, I’d prefer to be the one to ensure that you return safely.”

Link shrugs. Sidon takes as indifference as an invitation to lift the Hylian off the floor bridal style. He does it with such ease that Link is surprised. Sidon is so strong, so considerate, so… Perfect. Link watches Sidon’s face- his eyes go to Yona, who winks at him before turning to continue her conversation with Bazz. Link pauses. He must’ve imagined that… Right?

~

Link’s body aches with exhaustion as he walks towards the border of Zora’s Domain with Sidon by his side. Since solving the problems in the domain, defeating that giant monster, attending Sidon’s wedding, crying himself to sleep the same night, and staying knocked out well into the following afternoon, Link has gathered his supplies and readied himself to continue his search. With Sidon being the fourth sage he’s gathered, Link now has to find the fifth- and final- sage.

Link wants to stay. At the same time, his body is itching to leave. Staying with Sidon for the few days that he has has made him realize things that he didn’t want to. For instance, the realization that Link would throw everything away to stay with Sidon in the domain for the rest of his life if saving Princess Zelda weren’t a factor. Or, the realization that Link has been painfully in love with Sidon since that first day he rode on the man’s back. The worst one was probably the realization of how jealous he was during Sidon’s wedding, on what was supposed to be the happiest day of his best friend’s life.

It’s been less than a day since the wedding and Link doesn’t feel much better. All night, instead of standing by his new wife, Sidon followed Link around, trying to drag the information out of him- almost as if he could smell Link’s souring mood from a mile away. Link had to pretend that he’d drunk himself to the point of becoming sick; a lie that’s somehow less embarrassing than the truth. Link is so overwhelmed with the feelings that he chooses not to acknowledge them- at least not out loud. 

He keeps his arms crossed over his chest and pretends that he doesn’t sense Sidon’s eyes on him for the entirety of their walk. One of Sidon’s hands is on his back, cool and reassuring. He guides Link through the terrain even though they both know that Link doesn’t need the help. Sidon doesn’t talk about it, so neither does Link. 

When they reach where Link knows they’re going to separate, he dwells on what to do. He could forget it all, reject his responsibilities and stay here in the domain forever… But, then he remembers that really, he can’t. What would become of Zelda? Just like Sidon, she’s Link’s best friend. And how would someone as noble as Sidon react if Link failed the people he’s supposed to serve? Sidon would surely lose all love and respect for him.

Link glances at Sidon and stops in his tracks, sunkissed cheeks turning bright red when he sees that Sidon is already intently gazing back at him. He knew. Sidon has a terrible habit of staring at others without any pause, but actually meeting his eyes is… Intense. The prince- no, king, now- jumps and jerks his hand away from Link’s back as if the blond’s shirt has burned him. 

Link raises an eyebrow, partially confused, partially concerned.

Sidon looks at Link for a little too long, amber eyes going wide as if he’s also realized something important. His normally pale, cool skin flushes a deep shade of purple around his cheeks. Link pauses, wondering if he should ask what’s wrong, but before he can, Sidon bows.

“I wish you the best of luck, dearest Link,” Sidon grins- that ridiculously big, ridiculously toothy grin of his. Link can’t help but smile back. “Please, travel safely. I believe in you.”

Link’s heart throbs in his chest at the warm, familiar words. He wants to say something so badly, but he just… Can’t. Not without knowing for sure that Sidon returns his feelings. Not yet.

So, he offers Sidon a nod, and then turns to leave. He barely makes it out of the domain before he misses Sidon’s large, strong hand on his back. 

For now, Link is sure that things are better this way.

They have to be. 

~

As much as Link hates to leave Sidon’s side, he finds that it’s easier for him to decompress once he’s out of the domain.

Whether that’s because he’s away from all of the people, because he’s finally ‘working’ again, or because he’s away from Sidon and Yona specifically, he isn’t sure.

Over the next few days, Link spends most of his time occupied, just the way he prefers. Between struggling to help the other sages with the lingering issues in their respective areas, fighting off gloom and monsters, and searching for Zelda, Link hardly has any time to himself. He’s grown accustomed to this, though- since becoming Zelda’s personal knight, it feels as if his life is constant chaos, constant fighting, constantly being on guard. 

Most other men would become insane from the lack of rest, but Link finds comfort in what has become his day to day life. He goes to bed late, wakes up early, eats breakfast, and spends his morning helping whoever needs it. Then, he spends the rest of his day hunting down monsters, fighting them, and- currently- searching for the supposed fifth sage. After that, he eats dinner and goes to bed. 

The four avatars, Tulin, Riju, Yunobo, and Sidon are with him. While Sidon’s walks by his side, far too close for comfort, the other three stay close behind- guarding. Link wonders why they take the positions they do. He wonders a lot of things about the avatars in general. 

Link still isn’t used to having them around. He thinks about them constantly, theorizing about them, all while scolding himself for wasting his mental energy on something so trivial when Zelda is in Ganon’s clutches. 

The avatars aren’t real, he reminds himself. They’re spiritual manifestations of his friends, here as tools to assist him in battle. They’re not living, breathing beings. They’re not feeling. They don’t need to eat, rest, or sleep. And yet… Link finds comfort in them just as much as he finds comfort in being on the battlefield. As if they’re real people.

In Sidon’s avatar, Link swears he finds more comfort than he finds in being on the battlefield- and that fact is terrifying, mostly because it makes Link fantasize about silly, unrealistic things like settling down with the Zora and living the rest of his life out in peace, with Sidon by his side.

That’s something Link tries not to think about. Sidon is married, after all… These feelings he’s had for him are inappropriate, especially considering Mipha… Link shakes his head, trying to clear it of the thoughts. Sidon’s marriage is arranged, and both Sidon and Yona had made it apparent that the two were merely friends who happened to be getting married during Link’s visit. Regardless of Sidon’s marital status… There’s no way it would work out. What’s the likelihood of Sidon returning Link’s feelings, anyway?

Link peers at the man’s avatar, who continues to walk next to him. The avatar stares back, but doesn’t smile. Link frowns. Oh, how he misses that big, toothy grin of Sidon’s… The familiar feeling of a cool hand on his back, guiding him through Zora’s domain. Link just misses him.

It’s late- two, maybe three in the morning. Link wishes he could be like the lifeless avatars surrounding him, constantly alert and ready to go, never in need of sleep or food or anything at all. But, even Link can admit to himself that he is merely a Hylian. As such, he needs his rest. 

He finds a cave to camp out in, sets out his sleeping bag, and takes in his surroundings. It’s scarily dark and damp, but he knows he’ll manage just fine. He’s slept in worse. 

Sidon’s avatar still stands next to him, far too close, while the other three linger near the entrance of the cave with their beady blue eyes watching over Link’s small frame. 

With him sleeping alone in the wilderness, it’s not uncommon for Link to use the avatars to keep guard of his resting area. He is all too aware that it does take small amounts of energy from the sages to have their avatars active, so he only uses one at a time to guard him when they’re not traveling through dangerous terrain or in active battle. 

Tonight is Sidon’s night, Link’s favorite. It’s nice to feel like he can be alone with the other man for once. Even if it’s not truly Sidon. Whether it be in a cave, in his home, or on a field of wildflowers, being with Sidon(‘s avatar) brings Link peace. And, unlike a real person, the avatar can’t judge him. 

Would Sidon judge him? Link is curious. At the same time, he doesn’t want to know the answer. Not really. If Sidon knew who he was outside of the stoic, impressive hero that he sees behind his rose-tinted glasses, would Sidon still consider him his ‘dearest friend’? Would Sidon still place a hand on Link’s back so carelessly to guide him from place to place if he were aware of Link’s true feelings? 

Part of Link wants to know. Most of him doesn’t, and as that- yet another realization- washes over him, he dismisses Riju, Tulin, and Yunobo’s avatars, leaving him and Sidon’s avatar alone in the cave. It’s just the two of them, alone. 

If the real Sidon were here, what would he do? Would he act like he always does? Or does he also have things that he would die to do if they were alone, together, like this, without anyone or anything to stop them? Images flash through Link’s mind, so vibrant behind his eyes despite them being figments of his imagination; of Sidon, holding Link close to keep him warm through the night, pulling Link close to his broad chest, connecting their lips, and-

No.

Not right now. Not tonight.

Trying to clear his mind of the thoughts, Link lies down in his sleeping bag and sharply inhales. He gives the cave one last scan to make sure he’s safe before settling. 

Then, much to his surprise, Sidon’s avatar is not only sitting on the ground, but digging through Link’s backpack. Link watches with curiosity. Is it looking for something to eat? Something to keep itself occupied while Link rests? A certain tool or weapon to use for nearby enemies? 

Link furrows his brow when the avatar pulls out… A blanket. An old blanket that Zelda crocheted for him God knows how long ago. Link keeps it for comfort, but doesn’t use it often, fearing that it’ll get ruined by the elements or a midnight battle. Link jumps up to take the prized possession from the avatar’s hands, but before he can do so, the avatar is gently ushering Link to lie back down and draping the blanket over him.

Oh.

Oh. 

Link’s face turns bright red. He watches the avatar, whose expression doesn’t change. Instead, it turns around, sitting with its back facing Link, and crosses its arms as it peers outside of the cave to watch for any potential danger.

Flustered, Link turns around in his sleeping bag and cuddles the blanket closely. He swears he can smell Sidon on it where the avatar’s hands touched the fabric. 

No. It can’t be.

The damn thing is just an avatar. It’s not Sidon. It doesn’t have feelings of its own, let alone feelings for Link.

Clearing his head, Link turns around, closes his eyes, and falls asleep.

~

The next morning, Link wakes up with a clear mind, summons the other three avatars back to his side, and continues on his venture. On his search for the fifth sage, he finds himself in Rito village for supplies. He knows that there shouldn’t be any conflicts arising and dismisses all four avatars as to not attract more attention to himself than he already does when he’s in the area.

Link approaches Brazen Beak and is unsurprised to find that Tulin is there, fluttering outside the front and haphazardly screwing around with a new bow and arrow that he has between his claws. To anyone unfamiliar with the boy, it would look dangerous and reckless, but Link knows Tulin isn’t stupid enough to hurt himself with his own weapon- even if he isn’t the most careful. Teba is standing next to Tulin, carefully watching. It looks like he wants to scold his son and snatch the bow right out of his talons, but he manages to restrain himself, merely crossing his wings and impatiently tapping his digits against the top of his chest. It’s apparent that despite Tulin clearly having come of age as a warrior, Teba is still having trouble treating him like he’s fully grown.

Link can’t blame him. Seeing Tulin’s tiny, fluffy body, his big blue eyes still full of so much life, Link realizes that Tulin shouldn’t have to be a warrior- even if he wants to be. There shouldn’t be so many evils for him to have to fight against. A lot of the warriors in Hyrule shouldn’t have to be doing what they’re doing right now… That’s why Link is so grateful for the avatars. With them as substitutes, Link doesn’t have to have Tulin or any of the others there in person to assist him. To know that they’re both by his side and safe at home is worth the pangs of loneliness that hit Link when he has to remind himself that the blue silhouettes aren’t the people he loves, but a small piece of them.

It’s freezing cold. So cold that Link has to wear four layers of thick clothing to feel remotely comfortable as the snow rains down onto his hood. He pulls his coat tighter around him and approaches Tulin. He’s not really in the mood to talk after the wedding and the event that took place with Sidon’s avatar last night, but it would be rude to pass Tulin and Teba without saying anything. 

“Good day, Link!” Tulin excitedly greets the swordsman, his wings fluttering with joy as he returns his newfound weapon to the bow holster on his belt. “I didn’t know you’d be coming again so soon after we met up! I thought I felt you in the area, but it’s a little hard to tell, y’know?”

Link shrugs. He was in the area on his search for the fifth sage and desperately needed to stop for more armor, bows, and food. With Brazen Beak as well as a flurry of authentic Rito markets and restaurants nearby, Rito village seemed like the logical place to stop. Link almost explains his thought process, but then, he processes Tulin’s last question. 

‘Felt’ him in the area…? What the hell does that mean?

“Felt…?” Link mumbles, tilting his head.

“No one explained this to him?” Teba sighs, sharp charcoal eyes laced with exasperation. Tulin doesn’t get the chance to answer before Teba turns back to Link and clarifies. “It seems the sages had a discussion about the avatars they’ve given you. They were trying to find new ways to assist you without having to leave their domains, but all they can do is put small amounts of their energy into their avatars and track your general location.”

“...So, you all know where I am,” Link nods in understanding. He never would’ve guessed. It’s not like he’s seen the sages too often. In the midst of all of the chaos, they haven’t had spare time to sit and chat about the avatars. “Can I ask something else, Tulin?”

“Of course! What is it?” 

“Can you control or see what the avatars are doing?”

“Um, no, I don’t think so,” Tulin tilts his head, pausing to think. He brings a wing up to his chin and hums. “Wait, why are you asking? Did something happen?”

“No,” Link shakes his head and offers the most reassuring smile he can muster even though his face is covered by a cloth mask to keep him warm. Though Tulin appears unsuspecting as always, Teba’s eyes narrow with confusion- as if he’s trying to figure out the same thing that Link is. Thankfully, Teba has no idea about Link’s feelings for Sidon, let alone an idea of what happened in the cave or of the thoughts that Link has had about Sidon and his avatar. “I was just thinking that if you could, it would be useful.”

“Oh, yeah, that makes sense,” Tulin frowns. “Sorry I can’t help more!”

“You’ve done more than enough,” Link quickly replies upon seeing the disappointment on Tulin’s face. Prying for information about the avatars for his own personal use might not have been the best move, especially when his questions were directed at Tulin… Perhaps he should’ve waited until seeing one of the others. Then again, one of the others may have questioned his intentions more than Tulin is now. “Thank you, Tulin. I’ll be on my way.”

Before Tulin or Teba can object, Link ducks into the entrance of the store and lets out a sigh of relief when the warm(er) air washes over his ice cold body.

He reaches into his pockets to count out his rupees, mulling on what all he should buy (or, mulling on what all he can afford)...

~

A blood moon comes later that night. 

After weeks of travel and tedious tasks, doing what he’s meant to do once again fills Link with energy unlike anything else. No more puzzles, no more socializing with people in places he’s not that familiar with, no more riding random horses, no more rotting away in caves, no more constant cooking over a shittily made fire- just fighting to protect the people of Hyrule with his sword and shield. The avatars stay close behind, but Link is the one who carries the battle.

He’s never liked to rely on others. 

Perhaps the malice that the blood moon brings affects Link a little, too. On any other night, he’d never enjoy a fight like this. But tonight, he enjoys it more than anything. The rage, sorrow, and desperation that have been coursing through his veins since Ganon’s return are all released with each monster he strikes down and dissects for meat, weapons, and parts. 

By the time Link finds a camping spot that night, a warm, fuzzy feeling of optimism is coursing through him. He feels as if he’s coming closer to finding the fifth sage as well as finding Ganon and Zelda. 

His mind flickers to Sidon. Why did the avatar put that blanket on him? Was it an act of love? An instinct? Or is taking care of Link something the avatars are just automatically programmed to do? If so, why wouldn’t one of the others have done it previously? Why was Sidon the first? Oh, the things Link would give to know exactly how the avatars work… The things he would give to know Sidon’s true intentions.

Link lies out in the middle of a field on his back. It’s not snowing where he’s at now, but it’s still chilly. The coat on top of the layers of sweaters and wool pants he’s wearing keeps him at a comfortable temperature, but none of the clothing replicates the warmth of a body. He wishes Sidon were here with him now, abandoning his responsibilities to stay with Link, lying beside him and holding him close to keep him warm through the night. Even if Sidon is cool blooded, anything- anyone- is warmer than this frigid cold. Lying with Sidon would be heaven right now…

Link flushes at the thought and sits up. He’s surrounded by yellow grass and dead wildflowers. Though he’s cleared out most of the monsters in the area, the signs of the blood moon remain, drops of crimson on nearby blades of grass and a metallic scent lingering in the air to accompany the ruby moonlight that shines down on his sunkissed skin. 

He dwells on the issue of the avatars as they interact on the field. Riju and Yunobo’s avatars sit in the grass to study the wildflowers while Tulin’s flies around above them. Sidon’s avatar watches them, but doesn’t smile or join them. Link doesn’t command them in any way for now, instead choosing to observe for as long as he needs to in order to figure out the answers to the many questions he has.

It doesn’t take long- at least not after considering the other information he’s collected since being gifted them.

Link quickly starts to suspect that the avatars will only do things that their respective sages would. They’re not uniform, soulless beings who are programmed to perform a strict set of actions. They’re spiritual representations of their sages, and while they aren’t capable of any actions that are especially complex, they can act of their own accord as long as it doesn’t go against Link’s commands.

Link would normally dismiss three of the four avatars before settling down for the night. This time, he allows them to stay for a little longer.

Tulin’s avatar flutters over to Link and ruffles his hair. It’s another sign that the avatars not only act for practical purposes such as combat, but of their own free will- or, of their sage’s will. While not nearly as expressive, they do have… Personality, even if it’s not very much. 

Though Link has known that the avatars aren’t directly controlled by the sage’s themselves, he supposes it makes sense that the avatars would do things that their sages would despite that, such as fighting alongside him in battle or guarding him during his travels. They’re more like spirits or manifestations than they are like machines.

The same night that Tulin’s avatar ruffles Link’s hair, Yunobo’s avatar starts to cook Link a meal over a fire made by Riju’s. Admittedly, Yunobo burns the food into a big black heap, but Link isn’t sure whether that’s a result of it being made by an avatar or an inevitable happening with Yunobo being the chef.  

Meanwhile, all Sidon’s avatar does is stand near the others with its beady blue eyes on Link. 

Link never thought he’d miss the color amber so much… Never thought he’d miss Sidon so much.

Link wants to know what Sidon is doing right now. He wants to know if Sidon is thinking of him, too.

But, currently, he’s stuck in the middle of the wilderness with the four wisps of blue still by his side. He supposes it could be worse. At least this time, his friends are doing a good job of staying alive. 

…Hopefully it stays that way. 

Link forces down the food that Yunobo’s avatar ‘prepared’ (AKA decimated with fire) and sets up his sleeping bag in the middle of the field. 

Technically, if he follows the rotation he’s been using, it’s Riju’s night to keep watch as he sleeps. But, Link figures he could probably get away with using Sidon’s avatar again. Sidon is a king now, anyway, busy with days full of paperwork, meetings, and other political crap if Zelda’s career as princess is anything to go by. Surely, Sidon won’t notice a little more of his energy being sapped than what he’s used to… A mere night’s worth. 

Link gives all four avatars a once over before dismissing three of the four of them. Now, it’s only he and Sidon’s left, standing alone underneath the cool air of the night.

The avatar approaches Link on its own, but it doesn’t do anything. Just stands there.

Link is curious. The smart thing for him to do would be to go straight to bed. Rather than doing that, though, he finds himself tempted to test the many theories he’s concocted regarding the avatar- regarding Sidon’s avatar, specifically. What would it do if Link touched it? Held it? Loved it? Would it react at all- and if it did react, would it react kindly? More importantly, if it did react kindly, would that reaction be a reflection of Sidon’s true self? 

…Would using the avatar get him the answers he’s been craving since Sidon’s wedding night?

Link takes a step closer to ‘Sidon’.

Sidon matches the action and takes a step closer to Link. 

Link commands him to kneel, so he does.

And then, Link is practically throwing himself into the avatar’s arms. It catches him, holds him tight, and pulls him into its chest for a tight hug. Link melts into the touch, a shaky sigh of relief flowing through him as he’s affectionately spun around in the cool night’s air. Then, ‘Sidon’ is gently placing Link down on his sleeping bag, sitting next to him, and pulling that same crochet blanket over his frame. 

Link sighs. His heart races, pounding hard and fast against his chest. He can’t remember the last time someone has hugged him, let alone in a way so… Affectionate. So close. There are so many things he wants to ask, but he knows that the avatar won’t answer the questions Link has for the real Sidon.

Link tries not to overthink this like he overthinks everything else. It’s an avatar, and from his understanding, the sage’s connection to them is minimal. They don’t know what the avatars are doing at any given time, just their general location, so Link could use them for any purpose. With the information provided by Tulin, Link is fully aware that Sidon has no way of finding out about what happened. Link should feel better, but he doesn’t, because the hug from ‘Sidon’ isn’t the answer he assumed it would be.

Friends hug each other all the time. 

Link wants a definite, concrete answer. A kiss, maybe a verbal confession- even though the avatars can’t talk. He wants something that, if he were to gather the courage to bring it to Sidon’s attention, Sidon wouldn’t be able to deny the romantic implications. 

The only solution is for Link to test the avatar again… In a different way.

Right?

~

Link puts it off forever. He runs around, doing meaningless tasks; fighting Yiga clan members, helping a little girl trying to travel to Gerudo Town, taming different kinds of horses, the usual things. 

Finally, on another one of ‘Sidon’s’ nights, Link decides that it’s worth pushing his theory about ‘Sidon’- or, about the avatar of him. The hug, while not too suggestive, was intimate and intense for Link. Maybe it was a hint to Sidon’s true feelings- maybe, if Link takes this further, he’ll get confirmation that Sidon is in love with him- that is, if his theory about the avatars only responding to situations the same way their sages would is correct. 

Link decides to test the avatar a second time. He tells himself it’s merely to confirm his theory. Deep down, he knows it’s because he wants that intimacy again. He’s getting greedy. He can’t bring himself to care. The avatar doesn’t smell like Sidon, and it certainly doesn’t speak like him, but the avatar is part of Sidon regardless and Link loves it for that.

Perhaps it’s wrong of him to abuse Sidon’s ‘vow’ like this, but Link has done many questionable things since the calamity and figures that there’s no harm in continuing to do so. The avatars aren’t people, anyway. This isn’t hurting anyone except for Link himself. Best case scenario, the avatar reacts the way that Link hopes it will and returns his affections. Worst case scenario, the avatar doesn’t, and though it will hurt, Link will at least have his answer. 

The others are gone and Link is alone with ‘Sidon’ in another cave he’s found to set up camp in during his travels. Sidon is sitting by the entrance, his back facing Link as his broad, blue frame blocks any potential enemies from coming in.

Link commands Sidon to come and sit by his side, so he does, blankly peering down at Link.

Link doesn’t remember when ‘the avatar’, ‘Sidon’s avatar’, and ‘it’- turned into ‘Sidon’; into ‘him’, but it’s already happened and he can’t stop it, can’t keep himself from getting out of his sleeping bag and climbing into the avatar’s lap. His logical mind screams at him to stop, reminds him that he will regret this forever no matter how the avatar responds, tells him that he’s stupid for fawning over Sidon when Princess Zelda is still out there somewhere. But, the part of him that loves Sidon, the part of him that’s so illogical, manages to win for long enough that Link has the time to throw his arms over Sidon’s shoulders and pull himself up to kiss the Zora.

It’s odd- bizarre, really. The avatar’s lips don’t feel like lips, rather like wind ghosting over Link’s own. Link doesn’t question it, though. If this is the only way he’s going to get to kiss Sidon, he’s going to relish in it; relish in the way that Sidon’s big hands thread through his hair, in the way that Sidon kisses him back and easily puts him on the floor of the cave- wait, what?

Link breaks the kiss to admire the position Sidon has gotten him into. He’s on his back, with one of the avatar’s knees between his legs. The other knee is beside one of Link’s hips, keeping him pinned. Sidon’s elbows are on the ground on either side of Link’s shoulders and his hands remain in Link’s blond locks. Link realizes that, if this were Sidon and not the avatar, he wouldn’t be able to get out of this position. 

The avatar opens his mouth, as if to say something, only to fall silent.

Link curses to himself.

The avatar can’t speak.

What would it say if it could?

…What would the real Sidon say right now?

‘Sidon’ leans down to kiss him again. Link kisses him back, only to feel one of those large hands slipping underneath his shirt and groping his chest. Link gasps and curls into the touch.

When was the last time someone touched him like this? 

Sidon looks up at Link, but it’s not him. Not really. The amber eyes that he’s used to, sparkling and full of so much life, are pools of emptiness. The blush that he imagined would be there, the big toothy grin, they’re both nonexistent. Reality slaps Link in the face. 

This isn’t Sidon. And whatever he wants, he’s not going to get it out of Sidon’s avatar. He has to get it out of the real Sidon. The hug, the kiss, neither of them are ‘true’ answers like he thought they would be. His theories, while probably correct, haven’t brought Link any peace. Not this time.

Link panics and scrambles to dismiss Sidon- no, the avatar- as fast as he can, before this situation gets any worse.

Almost as if he weren’t there in the first place, Sidon’s avatar vanishes into the cool night’s air in a flash of blue light. 

Link sits up and hangs his head in shame. 

Just what has he done…?

~

A week passes. Link desperately tries to keep himself occupied. He has so much to do that staying busy isn’t hard. He manages to find the fifth sage, Mineru, and defeat the Seized Construct with her help. Now, he has to find wherever the hell Ganon is hiding. Despite all of it, Sidon lingers heavy in the back of his mind. The other avatars circle around Link as he tries to find a good place to settle down for the night. 

Sidon’s, however, is noticeably absent. Link can’t look at him- at it- after what they did in the cave that night. So, he hasn’t used Sidon’s avatar since then. He’s too embarrassed, too ashamed, too… Too scared that he’ll push this further than he should.

Link sees a cave in the distance and feels heat consume his body from head to toe.

He doesn’t want to sleep in a cave ever again, even if it’s much, much safer than sleeping out in the wilderness. He thinks he’d rather sleep in a pool of gloom than sleep in a cave again after that night…

He raises a single hand up to his face, brushing his fingers against his bottom lip. Even if it was the faintest sensation, he swears that when he dwells on that kiss for too long, he can still feel the avatar’s lips.

The climate in Central Hyrule is at least decent at this time of year. As the night falls, it’s pleasantly warm with a peaceful breeze. The next blood moon shouldn’t be for a few more days and despite the gloom that lurks here and there, the area is more peaceful than it has been. Link lays out his sleeping back and gets ready to dismiss the avatars, only to hear heavy footsteps.

He braces himself for combat, placing a hand on the butt of his sword only to further tense up when he sees a blur of crimson red and bluish grey in the distance. 

Sidon…?

“Link!” Sidon calls out as he runs closer.

Link takes his hand off of his sword and stands there, confused, all while dismissing the avatars. Sidon is notably alone, running through the night with flushed cheeks and sweaty scales. He pants as if he’s out of breath from running for a long time.

“Link!” Sidon doesn’t hesitate to run to Link, practically collapsing onto his knees in front of the Hylian so they’re eye level. Link is too stunned to do or say anything, especially when he notices tears in Sidon’s amber eyes. As Sidon reaches forward and places his hands on Link’s shoulders, the tears fall from his eyes and down his cheeks. “Link, you’re okay-”

Link nods, furrowing his brow. Why is Sidon here? Why is he crying? Was he… Under the impression that Link was in danger? Before he can talk himself out of it, Link reaches forward to wipe the tears from Sidon’s face with his thumbs. 

“Link, my lo- I mean, my dearest friend,” Sidon starts. “My scouts informed me that you were spotted nearby, so I came right away!”

“What?” Link questions. He can’t remember the last time he’s seen another Zora, meaning that they must have been hiding from him on purpose if they were nearby. Why were they even sent this far out? Link can’t think of a good reason for them to be away from the domain right now. “Is there something going on?”

“No- well, yes- I couldn’t sense your location with my avatar for days!” Sidon explains. His voice is shaky with relief. He manages to stop crying for long enough to smile. “I was so worried. Thank Hylia you’re safe.”

“Wait,” Link pauses, struggling to process that Sidon has been actively tracking his location with the avatar to the point that he freaked out and traveled across Hyrule upon noticing that he wasn’t able to. “Why are you here? What’s going on?”

“Oh, w-well, um-”

As Sidon struggles to explain himself, which is already unusual, Link notices the blatant lack of royal guards. Normally, when he’s at the palace, Sidon is allowed some freedoms, but especially now that he’s king, the council would never let him leave the palace unattended. Link understands the need to get away, but for Sidon to leave with no protection… God, he could’ve been assassinated and no one would’ve had any idea.

“Where are your guards?” Link demands. 

“Not here. I sent the scouts away after they reported your location to me as well,” Sidon confesses rather sheepishly. “I may or may not have snuck out. Lady Yona is covering for me back home. That being said, what is going on with the avatars? I’ve been able to feel where you are almost every day since I gave you my vow… This is odd.”

Link winces.

Sidon was unable to find Link’s location, and thinking better of Link, assumed that it was some sort of malfunction. Link wants to lie to him more than anything, but he just… Can’t. His conscience aside, he needs answers. They need to have this talk. And if it goes poorly, he can leave, and they can both pretend that it never happened.

“I dismissed yours.”

Sidon’s eyes go wide.

“Did I do something wrong? My dearest Link, I-”

“No, no, it’s nothing to do with you, I-” Link interjects. “I did something stupid.”

Sidon waits for Link to explain for a ridiculously long amount of time. Two minutes, maybe three, pass by. Link can’t find the words to explain his actions, let alone his logic behind them. Thinking about it in depth, the way he tested Sidon’s avatar was actually quite violating, even if it’s not technically a person.

Sidon pulls away and sits down on the ground. Link sits by his side. Silence, again, and then Sidon is placing a hand on Link’s back and asking-

“Are you alright?” 

“I’m fine,” He answers. “I, uh, I hugged your avatar. Sorry.”

“And? That is fine,” Sidon, bless him, continues to see the best in Link. He practically beams with affection and rubs Link’s back. Link’s skin burns at the contact. Now, with everything that’s happened, with the avatar, and tonight, Link realizes that the hand on his back was never platonic. He has his answers. The hard part is going to be giving Sidon an answer of his own. “The conditions you travel in must be lonely. I’m honored that you wanted my avatar as your company.”

“Right…”

“I came out here to make sure you were well. It seems you are fine, but why did you dismiss my avatar over a… Hug?”

“It’s not-” Link clams up, squeezing his hands into fists and placing them in his lap. How does he tell Sidon about how he found out? How does he confess his feelings? He’s never done anything like this before. Hell, he’s never felt like this before. “I’m not…”

“What is it? There’s something you’re refusing to tell me,” Sidon frowns, shaking his head in disapproval. “Honestly, it’s dangerous of you to dismiss my vow for so long. The Link I know would never act so foolishly, especially with you searching for Ganon. If you would’ve found him without me by your side… I don’t even want to imagine it. So, what is it that’s important enough for you to have dismissed me? Was it the wedding? I knew something was off, but you wouldn’t tell me-”

Link sighs.

“It made out with me,” He mumbles, and then clarifies- “The avatar, I mean.”

“Made… Out?”

“Kissing,” Link covers his face with his hands. Even through years of being defeated in battle, doing embarrassing things for his job, being in uncomfortable medical situations due to injuries, and so much more, he’s never been this humiliated in his entire life. “We kissed.”

“Oh,” Sidon whispers at first, and then yells. “Oh!”

Link clasps his hands together and bows his head. His bangs cover his eyes to spare him from having to look at Sidon.

“I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry? I’m sorry! Why, I don’t know why my avatar would do such a thing! To violate your autonomy like that, what a heinous-”

“Sidon,” Link cuts Sidon off before he can finish the guilty, apologetic ramble Link knows he’s about to go on. “I… Kissed it first.”

Sidon tilts his head in that oh-so-curious, oh-so-adorable way that Link fell in love with all those years ago.

“Excuse me?”

“The avatars- they, um, they act like you would in most situations. I figured that out. So, I tested it… Tested you… By kissing it. And it kissed me back, and I’m sorry.”

“But why?” Sidon whispers.

Link can’t tell if the man is horrified or merely confused. 

“Long story,” Link murmurs. “If it were the real you, would you have done the same thing?”

“My dearest Link,” Sidon’s eyes fall shut as he reaches over to place a hand on Link’s knee. It’s so warm, so strong, so reassuring. Link would kill to melt into his touch right now, but he can’t bring himself to do so without hearing the answer he needs said out loud. “You must know the answer to that by now.”

“You think I would’ve done any of what I did with the avatar if I knew? I need to hear it.”

Sidon reaches forward to hold Link’s face in his hands once more. He tucks a loose stand of hair behind Link’s ear. Such large, strong hands, yet so gentle, they caress Link’s cheeks and handle him like he’s something to be cherished. Sidon leans closer, leans further down, and rests his forehead against Link’s.

“Then, I’ll tell you the truth… I’m in love with you. If it were me rather than the avatar, I still would have returned your affections, and quite frankly, I’m jealous that that thing got to kiss you before I did.”

Link shrugs, averting his gaze to the grass beneath them.

“You still can… Kiss me, I mean,” He tentatively offers, and much to his surprise, Sidon doesn’t hesitate.

Their lips are connected again in an instant. Link reaches up, grabs Sidon's cravat for purchase, and kisses the Zora back. As much as he loved that kiss with the avatar in the cave, he loves kissing the real Sidon much more; loves the sensation of Sidon’s gentle hands cradling his face, of Sidon’s thumbs stroking his high set cheekbones, of Sidon’s soft and solid lips tenderly moving against his own, of the real Sidon. By the time Link pulls away, he’s breathless. But before he can say or do anything else, Sidon is speaking.

“Please, come home with me,” Sidon pleads as he stands up and pulls Link to his feet. “Just for tonight, so you can rest and so I can know that you’re safe. Then, in the morning, when you’re well rested and fed, resume your search.”

Link nods, and with that, the two are walking side by side and hand in hand back to Zora’s Domain.

[doomed-era]

was listening to calamity ganon fight music this morning and my god i love botw grrrr

[mistresslrigtar]

I’ve been trying to word this correctly all day but - I enjoyed I Belong to You a ton. I was a radio DJ in undergrad/grad school and even though it was half a million years ago, the whole thing was a perfect capture of that vibe.

Im curious - was the band based on an actual band? I know lyrically they leaned on a lot of Muse but I’m not familiar with the dynamics of its members.

Also- the spicy stuff was really, really well done and fantastic as first time smut writing. Was there anything you read to help inspire you style wise? I’m asking this from a technical aspect as good smut writing can be really tricky and I’m interested in the process from anyone who does it well.

(Like- my approach to smut is identical to how I approach combat- does this make sense without coming off weird?)

(And did I see there’s a sequel on the way???)

Tysm for the ask! So cool that you were a DJ!

First of all - yay! I was really hoping to capture the college vibe of the late 90s. It’s loosely based on my own experiences in grad school (I studied opera/music theater performance), so I’m glad that came through in the writing. ☺️

The band started as a ‘what if’ there was a band with Ganon on keyboards (a la OOT), Link guitar, Daruk drums, and Revali the lead singer. I didn’t have a plot. It was supposed to be a one-shot where Link and Zelda hook up. But I brainstormed while on vacation, listened to hours of different alt rock bands (at first I thought I’d use Radiohead) on the road trip and discovered Muse. I wasn’t familiar with their music until last summer, but nearly every song I heard sounded zelink coded so, there you go. Muse became Hyrule Warriors.

As for the smutty parts, (tysm for the compliment 🫣) I approached those scenes similar to what you said you do - they’re choreographed just like a fight scene. I start with A and map out how I want to get to B. Then I fill in the rest - thoughts, feelings, sights, sounds, tastes, etc. I also write my dialogue first for any scene throughout my stories. It helps me stay on track, and I really like writing conversations. I think sprinkling it in, even during a sex scene is important, because it’s natural if you’re comfortable with your partner. Obviously, I’ve read quite a bit of smut, too and I also researched and read a few articles on how to make it believable and titillating. After all, that’s the goal, right? 😳

I’m working on the sequel as we speak, and have three chapters roughly written! It’s tentatively called Love is Forever (cheesy, I know) and the soundtrack will be a mix of Muse and Radiohead songs this time around. I have a snippet scheduled to post this Wednesday for WIP Wednesday 😉

For anyone who’s interested here’s a link to I Belong to You.

[gojixyz69]

Why I love Bowser vs Eggman

I talked about this matchup a bit in my old posts heck I recently talked about who would so go and check it out, anyways the point is this is my most wanted Death Battle matchup and also my favorite matchup in general and today I'm going to talk about it. Remember this is just my opinion so if you disagree that's fine, now let's talk about it.

Connections:

Both Bowser and Eggman have a lot of connections and those are... both have a asistant/second in command who use there abilities to replicate there foes (Bowser Jr framed Mario as Shadow Mario and Metal Sonic framed Sonic in SH respectivally), both want to use power of extremely powerful gems (Chaos Emeralds and The Dream Stone respectivally), both have an army that they rule with an iron first, etc.

There are more connections like how they teamed up with there archenemy to fight a more powerful enemy (Dark Star and Solaris respecitcally) and how there companies are rivals, so yeah there are connections and more.

Debate:

To get out of the, Bowser would win and if you want to know why I talked about in a post whitch was litereally at the time I'm makings this, yesterday. To put it simply Bowser is stonger, more durable and has to many powers for Eggman to handle like transmutation, sealing, etc.

Animation potential:

If I had to explain it with a few words it would basically be this

https://www.deviantart.com/mrnoma/art/Bowser-vs-Eggman-set-up-and-death-1001223189

Basically Bowser vs Eggman should start like Ultron vs Sigma where it's an army battle but there the main foccus and the death should be more lile Black Adam vs Apocalypse with the loser seeing there Kingdom/Empire chrumble before being executed, whitch in this case would be Eggman whitch if that's the case then Bowser would either stomp Eggman's face like Apocalypse did to Black Adam or you can have him throw Eggman to the Death Egg and destroy with his fire breath. But if you think Eggman would win then Eggman would grab Bowser and burn him alive after showing that he conquered his kingdom. As for how the fight would go you can have Eggman using his giant machines fighting Bowser in his giant form, heck you can have Dreamy Bowser fight Nightmare Eggman, there's so much you can do here.

Banter potential:

It's pretty good, you can show there egotistic side while also showing how much of a force they can be, you can have there goofy moments as well.

Music potential:

Now this is where we get to the juicy stuff, Brandon Yates already made a commission track for the matchup called Hard Boiled Fury whitch you should listen to it's pretty good and if you know both Brandon and Therewolf made commission tracks for matchups that eventually became episodes of DB, for example and the recent one theres Deciphering Discord and Discordant Decipher by Brandon, both are amazing track with Discordant Decipher being better than the og, so imagine Hard Boiled Fury but better and potentially with lyrics, that would be amazing to listen to.

Solving problems and update:

Death Battle had Bowser and Eggman, with Bowser fighting Ganon and Eggman fighting Wily and while Eggman vs Wily was good the problem is that it's old it happened in Season 1 since then there's new material to use for Eggman. As for Bowser his episode was unfortunatelly bad, it has mans problems whitch I sugesst watching a review of it but to put it simply they did Bowser dirty in his own episode and it's old not as old as Eggman's but still old. So this matchup would fix it while adding new stuff for both.

History:

Now this is where I talk about the main reason why I love this matchup, both Bowser and Eggman were part of my childhood with Bowser being my favorite villain and Eggman being entertaining and also my favorite scientist, so you can see why I love this matchup it's a fight between two of my favorite villains who were also in a way my childhood.

So yeah that's my thoughts on it, overall I love this matchup it has a lot of potential to be a great if not a perfect episode and I would happy if it finally happened in Death Battle.

[andmaybegayer]

Last Monday of the Week 2023-10-09

Somehow bionicle is in this one

Listening: I looked at the date on my oven yesterday and it was 08-10 and I was like hey isn't that Bionicle Day. The answer is no, because it's Americans and Bionicle Day was the tenth of August. Anyway turns out that this year some fans got the original voice of Vakama to do a tribute video? And also Cryoshell dropped a new song.

Cryoshell is one of the funniest bands I know. They had little success until they got contracted in by an ad agency to do music for Bionicle, they did Creeping in My Soul for the Voya Nui arc in 2007 and ended up getting contracted in basically every year after that to whip up some music for Bionicle. They remain to this day extremely closely associated with the Bionicle fandom, like, you know, releasing their latest track on Bionicle day.

They are, and I mean this in the nicest way possible, and with all the love in my heart, the Evanescence we have at home. Bionicle had just saved Lego less than a decade earlier and the media effort around Bionicle was very well designed, which included making the perfect AMV soundtrack for 13 year olds to set their stop motion Bionicle fight scenes to. Of course I don't know anything about using a webcam and extremely dubious stop motion software to produce extensive Bionicle fanvideos. What are you talking about.

I am going to leave it here but there is so much to say about Cryoshell. Seriously just go look it up. Their music is actually very good if you like that particular symphonic metal alt rock style that was so emblematic of the 2000's.

Reading: Ended up on a research dive about small towns, because I now live in a country with a lot of small towns. Attempting to do and find a comparative anatomy of how small towns are administered around the world and what drives their success or failure. There is a lot of stuff from the Trump years when he apparently made some gestures towards the idea that people should just move out of doomed towns.

As always in the USA, housing affects everything, both in that homeownership ties people to their towns and that moving to a new city requires paying often prohibitively expensive rents. There are a lot of conservative blogs taking on this question and doing some dubious interpretations of mostly good data.

I am teasing at the thread of "limits of local government in small towns" which seems to be leading somewhere but it's still not well supported. There's a lot of factors.

Watching: the Loading Ready Run 20th Anniversary Subathon is on until this Friday. Since I was mostly watching during American night I caught primarily their watchalong of old videos, which is cute but not exactly that novel. I do like LRR.

Making: More 3D printing, trying to get the hang of modelling off a photo to make a nozzle adapter for my vacuum cleaner. Also made a little stand for my temperature and humidity sensor so I can see it when I'm sitting down or standing up more easily.

Playing: Beat Breath of the Wild finally. It was so long.

The final fight was kind of anticlimactic, between the assists you get from the divine beasts and all your power-ups I feel like I didn't have to puzzle it out as much as I did for some of the blight Ganon fights. I have kind of accepted that I just don't like the endings of most video games.

I did first go around and do the Champions' Ballad DLC quest because I stumbled into it, it's a nice set of little challenges plus some vignettes of the champions to help characterize them some more. I kind of wish you could walk around the world post-endgame and like, talk to some of the people you've met and see what they have to say. Eh.

Tools and Equipment: I have been storing my butter at room temperature the past few weeks, because it makes it much easier to spread. Modern butter is both very high fat and pasteurized so it won't go off for well over a week even if you just left it out, but the main concern is rancidity, which can happen quite quickly.

My Pro Tip is that you don't have to store the whole damn block. Euro butter is 250g blocks and I cut that into four ~60g cubes that I keep in a sealed plastic container in the cupboard one at a time. Just top it up as you go. I think American sticks are like 100g so you could cut it in half. South African butter usually comes in 500g so you'd have to cut that in like eighths.

[kokomiin]

I’m gonna need a while to collect my thoughts and cope with totk being over before I make a proper post about it but

Ganondorf in this one may be my favourite? It’s hard to choose. But it felt like they gave him many of his previous incarnations best traits. We got to see him be the manipulative Gerudo king again in a certain way like he was in OoT, he turned his intended execution back around on the sages like he did in TP, and they reallyyyy like giving him this sort of Japanese samurai motif like he has in Wind Waker. His boss fight phase one and two music has that kind of instrumentation very heavily, even when they bring in the Calamity Ganon theme there is still a shamisen playing subtly in the background.

I also really loved how much it really feels like that same Ganon from BOTW, his overwhelming presence in the world through the gloom and that repeating leitmotif in the ost that is associated with him from the beginning of the game, and the dragon part… I never even considered he could do that, but it felt like the logical step up from him refusing to give up on reincarnation in the previous game. Anyway I’m going back to listening to the ost and being sad…

[cloudninetonine]

*awkwardly walks on in, downs coffee thermos down in one go like a shot, leaves note, salutes, passes out for three days* Ello ello, hopefully existence is treating you well and you're having a nice (insert time of day here)!

Honestly thank you very much for listening to me ramble about Lora and Fia/Seraph, I think about those two waaaaay too much, too many theories in the brain xD, and yeah decided to try this off anon thing, let's see how it goes, thank you for your patience!

Corrupted Player with unsettling Ben Drowned situation singing the Song of Healing in reverse my beloved-

I have a vague outline shambling around in the vague approximation of a story if that helps? It came to me in a bout of insomniac frenzy, basically it involves Player getting Isekaied yet again to Lora's Hyrule, meeting Candance and then Lora, an impromptu duet with dance involved (going back and forth between Farewell Wanderlust, The Calling and The Horror and The Wild by The Amazing Devil, one because the songs are amazing, two because I feel Lora's voice and the male singer's fit, and three because I think Player deserves a chance to go absolutely off about their frustrations in musical form if it's very far in during Player's Aid as a treat) because Lora realizes they don't know how to fight there and the quickest way is to basically throw fuel in the dramatic theater kid fire and impromptu duet-fight with them, plus he'll probably have a blast having a singing and dance partner for once so it's a win-win, shenanigans ensue as impromptu Disney Prince mode activates, and then either Candance comes back in with Operetta and start teasing him like "Hylia darn it Lora again?" While it finally hits him what he just did, poor boy is probably very flustered and apologetic the whole time (though it's funny if Player is just like "New favorite Hyrule, can we do it again?", Because that was a main character moment and they could do with some Theather person shenanigans and hijinks, plus they actually fight well here! Rhythm games served them well!) While Operetta/Zelda and Candance start to figuring out their situation, or, for comedic shenanigans, The Chain eventually gets Isekaied there (because let's be honest the mission the Chain is on is basically a mix of Isekai and Time Travel Shenanigans with many extra steps to places they know Dink basically just threw them into the most convoluted road trip ever), accompany Candance and Lora's Zelda back, and basically walks in on the duet and more shenanigans ensue honestly I haven't gotten that far yet insomnia did most of the job, I can either tag you or send it here once it's done, choice is yours *shrugs*. Also, he can likely hear the background music, and if Player can as well shenanigans ensue, I will not elaborate today because Tumblr has this little thing called character limit and I don't want to bother you much with my insane rambles xD.

Some things on Seraph/Fia because why not? It's basically the condensed version:

I absolutely agree that they erased his character, but they also did so to the other champions and Una because he probably tried to aid his Ganon so he wouldn’t be corrupted along with Una, but failed and that brought forth the Calamity and it’s Malice as an unwitting catalyst to it, because you can’t tell me that this man wouldn’t have seen his shield brother slowly being driven insane and would not try and do something about it. My main theory is that him and Una tried to separate Ganon from Demise’s curse, maybe like how Dusk gave up part of her powers to help Midna way back when, but it instead trigged the curse like some sort of freaky kill switch, and when he died it wouldn’t give up during his initial defeat, so instead it corrupted and reanimated his body into what we see now in TOTK, which led to Seraph/Fia and the Zonai likely sacrificing themselves to hold it back after they finally got it and the body pinned down and cornered and Una coming in to finish the job for now (Could be how the Luminous Stones came to be, lots of people think it’s what remains of the Zonai’s souls or magic), there’s evidence Malice has existed for as long as Sky’s Era in Zelda (likely a remnant of Demise’s power from his initial rise to the surface, it’s likely that dark water in the Ancient Cisterns basement that does damage to you like how Malice does, you can also find cursed enemies there and which other era has the highest amount of Malice in the air and a lot of cursed, reanimated enemies? Wild’s.), And it clearly corrupts, reanimates enemies, learns and evolves, it’s very likely that the Blights we fight in BOTW is just the Malice corrupting Sheikah tech due to how animalistic they, Guardians and it’s fellows Calamity Ganon (Boss) and the Divine Beasts act in game (heck the only reason the Beasts likely weren’t as aggressive as they could have been was because the Champions were doing what Flora was and holding it back). But it wouldn’t have had reason to react like that unless something was really wrong with it’s vessel like say, Ganon acting off the usual script, since most of the time Ganon just seems to get more and more mindless as time goes on from Demise’s curse (as we see in Legend’s and Hyrule’s branch and the beast forms in Time and Twilight’s), it wouldn’t have had reason to give up on reincarnation unless something was seriously off. It was Demise’s kill switch, a way of ensuring Hyrule, Hylia’s Reincarnation and the Spirit of the Hero would suffer in case his physical reincarnation couldn’t or wouldn’t do it.

Honestly these videos probably explains it much better:

https://youtu.be/oJwllSGUWvY

https://youtu.be/YUaKoAFs1H8

https://youtu.be/aXPny2cjOLY

I kind of feel like that would make him and Una feel honestly guilty and responsible for it, guilt for failing to help a friend, responsible for the Calamity and honestly seeing what Wild and Calamity went through later (because honestly Calamity’s timeline can only really exist because Wild didn’t succeed at first) would probably feel like a Lynel’s kick in the gut. To probably match the sucker punch Wild and Calamity would give him because “WHAT DO YOU MEAN THAT WASN’T EVEN THE ACTUAL ORIGINAL GOODS?!”

... Now I kind of want to see them react to this possible theory, just out of morbid curiosity. I feel like the possibility would hit both of them like a truck.

Also probably would have custody battles with Twilight over Wild and Calamity, I will probably elaborate it on another ask plus the possible mythology connections. And the fact Wild's arm got corrupted in the TOTK trailer gave me the awful possibility that Seraph/Fia's situation is a Pure Vessel one.

And that’s that for today, writing this while having a pounding headache and in need of a nap so I’ll finish this up for now. Been having kind of having some awful few weeks lately so I hope you’re doing good and thank you for putting up with all my crazy ramblings and headcanons!

-A Very Awkward Summertime Musician

Hi again Summer!

First off I would fucking love to read the fic if you write it! You can tag me in it if you eventually write it out!

Second, the idea of Seraph/Fia using Wild as a vessel is incredibly disturbing and I am indeed loving the opportunities that come with it! 👍🏼

[game-boy-pocket]

Well. I've lost count of the times I've finished this game. I keep telling myself I've gotten all the enjoyment I can possibly get out of it and I should stop replaying the vanilla version of the game. I tell myself "play a randomizer, or at least Master Quest, or better yet, play something new!" and I never listen to myself. I think playing Banjo Kazooie the Jiggies of Time gave me the urge to revisit the source material yet again, I actually put Banjo on hiatus to finish this so I don't explore any areas with Banjo before I get to them as Link.

I'll say this is still one of my favorite climaxes to any game ever. Yeah it's very standard stuff with the hero storming the tower to foreboding music, fighting the bad guy, escaping a crumbling ruin with the princess, and then slaying a giant beast with thunder and lightning in the background, and then the whole kingdom celebrates like the end of Return of the Jedi or something. But it's just done very well and is always a treat to go through, even if Ganon himself is fairly easy.

I don't need to go into detail about this game, everyone knows it already unless they're avoiding it on purpose or just flat out don't like Zelda. I think it's good reputation is well deserved, I know there's been a lot of people who think otherwise but nuts to them.

I will say I'm not exactly playing the vanilla version of the game, I haven't done that since the 3DS version came out. I'm actually playing Ocarina of Time Redux, which just makes the game a slight bit closer to perfection by mapping the ocarina, iron boots, and hover boots to the D pad, speeding up the rate at which Link pushes blocks, giving the bunny hood it's Majora's Mask abilities, adds an on screen prompt for stone of agony for people who don't have a rumble pak, and not stopping the game when you get a skulltula token. Only change I don't really appreciate is that you get a heart container on the fist try for Dampe's grave digging tour, but I could see why people would be okay with that. There's Redux versions of Majora's Mask and Master Quest as well. I'm using an older version, newer ones update Link's model and I would prefer not to.

[draagu]

holy shit I just beat tears of the kingdom that was an experience to say the least

major spoilers because I can't just not ramble about how much I love this game

first of all, the art direction??? the style of the game?? don't get me started bro

I LOVE all the designs for the characters and the dragons and the ohh my god

THE MUSIC. I LOVE THE MUSIC. THE LEITMOTIFS. THE BOSS MUSIC. AAUAUSGDGUEHDSJHRHSNFJRJFHSJAJFUEJFJRJEHEH. gonna be listening to the ost daily don't mind me

the Ganon fight?? oh my god. I only had two gloom heal foods because I had barely any sundelions and just wanted to beat the game and god was it not enough

still managed to do the whole thing first try though so uh, victory??

I could not parry Ganon for the life of me, or flurry rush but I pulled through I think

was left with like 2-3 hearts on the dragon fight ough

the dragon fight though aushsgaas, I was spoiled on it because of some art I saw but man that didn't matter at all, still amazing. I'm glad it was more chill compared to the rest of the fights! just like dark beast Ganon ^-^

the ending cutscenes waa

it was beautiful, very happy for Zelda and link :D

it's just ,, wa, I cannot put into words the experience I just had. I loved it. I loved every last bit of it

forever and always, tulin best boi

[skyloftian-nutcase]

Me: K, let's see, writing prompts... *Music that I listen to for Imprisoning War blorbos comes on* Me: Wait-- Brain: Hero of Power with guardian weapons! Princess Zelda staging a coup!! The Triforce Trio fighting Ganon!! Me: BUT I--UGH FINE

[reikunrei]

rules: post the names of all the files in your WIP folder regardless of how nondescript or ridiculous. let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them and then post a little snippet of it or tell them something about it! and then tag some people, if you want!

i was tagged by @antisociallilbrat​ and this got me to actually go through some of my wips bc some of them are SUPER old and forgotten about, but i still think they’re super fun and maybe i’ll do them one day!! so might as well share :3 (i’m gonna censor the ship names and stuff so it doesn’t get into tags)

“2 trans kings” - listen, i don’t come up with titles for things until i’m like 90% done so Most of them are just bullshit like this lol. this one is an atla zu/kka fic where both sokka and zuko are trans and in gay love with each other. that's it lol

"post calamity fic" - a reva/link fic where they fail in defeating ganon, but the champions survive and work for a decade or so to prepare to fight again.

"stand by free!" - a stand-by-me-inpsired free! story that actually exists in my head as a comic

"You and Me (Just Like Kindergarten)" - now we're in "things i'm actually working on" territory. this is my by/ler high school musical au!

"Molt" - creel/arke fic where instead of having powers, Henry is just trans.

"unnamed creel/arke porn zine" - not a fic but it's my zine idea that's just 40 year old man yaoi. possibly in 2 parts!

tags are open for anyone! this was fun hehe i forgot about a lot of my non-ST wips i had lying around in messy bullet point lists

[darkandgloom8]

Dancing in Disguise

This was a story I got from the AI I’ve been working on and holy shit I love it.

In the vibrant halls of Hyrule Castle, preparations were in full swing for a grand celebration. Zelda, the ruler of Hyrule, had completed the arduous task of rebuilding the castle and Castle Town, along with new paths to facilitate easier trade throughout the kingdom. The festivities also marked the fifth anniversary of the defeat of Calamity Ganon, a momentous occasion worth commemorating.

However, fate had a mischievous plan in store for Zelda. Just days before the party, she fell ill and was confined to her chambers. Determined not to worry anyone, especially her loyal subjects and friends, she sought the help of her steadfast companion, Link. Although initially reluctant, Link couldn't refuse Zelda's request, knowing how important the celebration was to her and the people of Hyrule.

Zelda, with her weakened voice, guided Link through the process of transforming into her likeness. She taught him how to tame his wild blonde hair into an elegant bun, secured with a braid that reached his shoulders. Link sighed, feeling a mix of awkwardness and amusement as Zelda insisted on applying makeup to make him truly resemble her. Finally, an illusion ring was placed upon his finger to conceal his battle scars, and a necklace altered his voice to match Zelda's melodic tones.

As for the attire, Zelda's gown had to be adjusted to fit Link's more slender frame. The dress, a resplendent blue ball gown with a sweetheart neckline and puffy short sleeves, accentuated his lithe figure. Its skirt gracefully cascaded to the floor, dragging slightly behind him as he moved. Adorned in Zelda's finest jewelry, including her crown, Link marveled at the weight and beauty of the regal accessories. Completing the transformation, he reluctantly slipped into a pair of blue heels, which caused discomfort but enhanced the illusion.

With a final glance in the mirror, Link marveled at the uncanny resemblance he now shared with Zelda, albeit an inch shorter. Taking a deep breath, he joined the party, ready to fulfill his role as the stand-in princess for the evening.

Throughout the night, Link skillfully navigated the conversations, careful to maintain his disguise. However, Prince Sidon, the charismatic Zora prince, seemed captivated by "Zelda's" presence. Unaware of the charade, he approached “Zelda” and asked him for a dance. Link, fighting back nerves, smiled graciously and accepted.

As the enchanting melodies of the music filled the air, Prince Sidon and "Zelda" glided across the dance floor in perfect harmony. The vibrant chandeliers cast a soft glow, illuminating their elegant movements.

Caught up in the moment, Prince Sidon couldn't help but feel a familiar warmth radiating from "Zelda." He had long admired the hero of Hyrule, Link, for his bravery, loyalty, and unwavering spirit. Unbeknownst to him, his heart had formed an attachment to the very person dancing beside him, hidden beneath the guise of Zelda.

With a slight melancholy in his voice, Prince Sidon shared his feelings with "Zelda," unaware that he was confiding in the object of his affection. "Zelda, my dear friend," he began, his eyes shimmering with a mix of hope and longing, "there is someone I hold dear, someone who has captured my heart. I wish I could share my feelings with them, but I fear they are not here tonight."

Listening intently, Link, as "Zelda," felt his heart skip a beat. He had always admired Prince Sidon, his charisma and genuine nature drawing him closer. Now, to hear Sidon speak of his affection for another, Link's emotions danced between joy and apprehension.

Maintaining his composure, "Zelda" offered a gentle smile and placed a comforting hand on Prince Sidon's arm. "Dear Prince Sidon, love can be both a wondrous and complicated thing. Sometimes, the person we desire is closer than we realize. Have you considered that perhaps your heart's desire is not as far away as you believe?"

Prince Sidon's eyes widened in surprise, pondering the words of wisdom bestowed upon him by "Zelda." "You… you mean to say that my love may be closer than I think? But who could it be?" he questioned, a mix of confusion and anticipation coloring his voice.

"Zelda" allowed a small twinkle of mischief to flicker in his eyes. "Prince Sidon, love has a way of surprising us. Sometimes, it hides in plain sight, right under our noses. Perhaps the one you seek has been by your side all along, offering their support and friendship when you needed it most."

Prince Sidon's gaze softened as he absorbed "Zelda's" advice, his heart stirring with newfound hope. He glanced at "Zelda," admiring the familiar features that mirrored Link's own, yet failing to recognize the connection.

"Thank you, Zelda," Prince Sidon said, his voice filled with gratitude. "Your words have given me hope and courage. I will search for the one who holds my heart, even if they may be closer than I realize."

As the dance came to an end, Prince Sidon bowed respectfully, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Zelda," he said sincerely, "I am grateful for your presence tonight. Your advice means more to me than you could ever know."

"Zelda" curtsied gracefully, a soft blush adorning his cheeks. "It was my pleasure, Prince Sidon. I am honored to have shared this dance and conversation with you."

With that, Prince Sidon bid farewell to "Zelda" and ventured off into the crowd, his heart filled with renewed hope and the resolve to find the one who had captured his affections.

As the night continued, Link, still disguised as "Zelda," couldn't help but feel a mix of exhilaration and anticipation. The realization that Prince Sidon had reciprocated his feelings filled him with a sense of euphoria. And although he maintained his role, Link's thoughts raced, already envisioning a future where they could be together openly

, without disguises or secrets.

In the realm of dance and disguise, hearts intertwined, unaware of the delightful twist that lay just beyond the veil of their charade.

As the night wore on, Link found himself enjoying the company of the other guests, engaging in conversations that shed light on their experiences and perspectives. The princess persona allowed him to see the kingdom through Zelda's eyes, gaining a deeper understanding of her responsibilities and the people she served.

The celebration continued in full swing late into the night, with merriment filling the halls of Hyrule Castle. Link, under the guise of Zelda, played his part flawlessly, all while holding onto the secret that lay beneath the layers of his transformed appearance.

As the grand celebration drew to a close, the guests bidding their farewells and retreating to their quarters, Link, finally relieved of his disguise as Zelda, made his way back to the chambers where the princess had been resting. The weight of the evening's events settled upon him, a mix of excitement and relief flooding his veins.

Entering the chamber, Link found Zelda sitting upon a plush chair, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Link!" she exclaimed, unable to contain her eagerness. "How did it go? Tell me every detail!"

Link chuckled, settling himself in a nearby seat. "Well, Zelda, it was quite an evening," he began, his voice filled with amusement. "Prince Sidon approached me, thinking I was you, and he opened up about his feelings."

Zelda's eyes widened, a mischievous glimmer shining within them. "Oh, how intriguing! And what did he say? Did he confess his undying love for you?" she teased, a playful smile dancing upon her lips.

Link's cheeks flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and amusement. "Well, not exactly," he replied, trying to hide his own excitement. "He spoke of his affection for someone he believed wasn't present at the party. I encouraged him to consider that perhaps this person was closer than he thought."

Zelda leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "And did he realize it was you? Did he put two and two together?" she asked eagerly.

Link shook his head, his smile widening. "No, he had no idea. He saw me as you and poured his heart out, unaware of my true identity. But it gave me hope, Zelda. Hope that he might feel the same way about me."

Zelda's eyes softened, her voice filled with warmth. "Oh, Link, I hope with all my heart that he sees what's right in front of him. You deserve happiness and love after all you've done for Hyrule."

Link reached out and took Zelda's hand, a tender expression crossing his face. "Thank you, Zelda. Your support means everything to me. And I have to admit, it was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking to be in your shoes for the night."

Zelda's laughter filled the room, a sound of pure joy. "I can only imagine. You wore the role of princess quite well, my dear friend. You truly surprised me with your ability to maintain the act."

Link chuckled, a sense of contentment washing over him. "Well, I couldn't have done it without your guidance. You taught me how to be the princess, after all."

As the night grew quieter and the world outside fell into a gentle slumber, Link and Zelda relished in their moment of respite. They talked about the trials they had faced, the progress they had made in rebuilding Hyrule, and the challenges that still lay ahead.

Their conversation was filled with laughter, reminiscence, and genuine connection. In that private sanctuary, the weight of their responsibilities lifted momentarily, allowing them to simply be themselves.

In the midst of their heartfelt exchange, both Link and Zelda found solace in knowing that they were not alone in their struggles. They had each other, united by their shared experiences, their unwavering bond of friendship, and now the blossoming hope of something more.

As the night waned, they bid each other goodnight, knowing that the next day would bring new challenges. But for now, in the stillness of that intimate space, Link and Zelda found comfort in the simple pleasure of being together, grateful for the moments of respite that allowed them to be their true selves, free from the weight of their titles and duties as for a moment they pretended they were teens again and actually talking to each other unlike how they actually acted before.

[shoebillstork]

Listening tk th dark beast Ganon fight music always makes me want to throw up from how much I love jt

[waddei]

@qhostlybee @tuva-404

WEll i want to preface this by saying that this game is infinitely fun for me. i highly value exploration in videogames and totk delivers on that above all else, that being said i feel like all my enjoyment as been from that exploration factor while the story delivered disappointment after disappoinment.

i finished the regional fenomena and the Hyrule castle crisis today so spoilers below

after 4 lackluster Dungeons all featuring the boring divine beast "four terminals to fight the boss" structure i went back to purah and headed to Hyrule castle.

i was really excited to finally find out tf was going on with Zelda, and the whole puppet thing was a welcomed twist! i loved the cutscene leading up to it too with the repaired sanctum and Zelda's disorienting movement.

i was really hoping that we'd get to fight her here, it wouldn't be the first time Nintendo made us fight a possessed/Zelda Puppet (it's actually happened 2 times if I'm not mistaken, Twilight princess and spirit tracks)

but it would have been such a cool battle! we know she's been partially responsible for all the trouble around Hyrule and getting to fight her after all of that would have been a perfect capping for that plot point!

what does the game do instead?

it makes you fight like 8 phantom ganons all at once.

it's not a challenging fight either, they removed his gloom effect for this one so hes just A very slow very annoying to fight enemie.

to say i was disappointed would be an understatement.

still, i fought them, beat them, whatever. the sages show up out of nowhere, idk how but I'm not too bothered by that cus at least i get to see my son tulin again

this left a massive sour taste in my mouth and combined with how terribly boring the water and fire temples where (wind temple too but the colgera fight literally saves it for me) it made me once again miss the old linear stories and worlds.

i mentioned the dungeons before so I'll go over then one by one in the order i did them.

i started with the wind one, desperate to get anything close to revalis gale (that tulin delivered btw, we love him in this house)

the dungeon itself was.. inoffensive. the climb there was cool, the puzzles where those shitty one room shrine looking ass all puzzles but they where fine and the boss absolutely stole the show. colgera upped my expectations for this games music and boss battle Game that i should have known was unrealistic. it was such a bombastic cinematic battle i loved every minute of it and immediately listened to the soundtrack again once i was done.

next was the water dungeon, again desperate to get anything like miphas grace. which i didn't get! Sidon's sage ability is so terribly useless outside it's dungeon and his avatar is so big i ended up turning him off almost immediately.

the dungeon was atrocious too, it's open design failed completely to evoque anything but the tutorial sky island for me, this only made it's disconnected puzzles all the more infuriating to deal with. this one was SO BAD i stopped doing it midway through and just went to the gerudo one. i did finish it later tho and the boss was another disappointment. it felt like a comedic mini boss in a good Zelda dungeon. it literally reminded me the deku toad in twilight princess lakebed temple (and made me miss when Minibosses where a thing)

the gerudo one was fine, i love riju her ability is decently useful although annoying to activate and the dungeon was the more traditional feeling one out of the bunch which is good. the boss was fine i guess ,nothing standout, altho i liked how you awake it at the start and fight it at the end that was cool.

fire now! i never cared about the goron quest cus i don't really like yunobo but the whole Zelda selling them crack thing was really intriguing so iwas decently hyped up for it, yunobo says "goro" a bit too much, no other goron does this it's just him and it makes him really obnoxious. the exterior of the dungeon really set my hopes high for it but the rail travel gimmick got old really fast and i ended up climbing up most walls and completely ignoring most of the puzzles

the boss was just a gloryfied talus idk how you where supposed to use yunobo on that fight but i didn't use him at all.

i talk alot of shit about the puzzles here and for one reason specifically. they where clearly created with the same mentality that shrine puzzles where designed with WHICH IS BAD FOR A LONG FORM STRUCTURE LIKE A DUNGEON!!!

anddd it's also bad cus i hate shrines now. having played botw fairly recently ( with two games between which just so happened to be ocarina of time and Majora's mask) i got tired of shrines pretty quickly. I've marked and activated plenty of shrines for tp spots but I've barely done a third of them. I've got shrine fatigue and it doesn't help that i never found them to interesting to begin with.

I've been running around with the bare minimum of hearts i can bare and 2 stamina upgrades

and all of this hurts me to say cus I've been playing this game nonstop since it came out!

don't even get me started on how the Zelda story is done , the memory stuff all over again is so lazy. but whatever

does it show I'm a twilight princess girlie?

I've been having lots of fun with tears of the kingdom but if i dare speak my true thoughts in this game i will surely be burned and killed

[cloudninetonine]

Feel free to ignore this

However! another thought along with the music thing. Do you think that if Player had the songs downloaded onto their phone, they could play songs from Legend of Zelda that would effect the world?

So like, perhaps it's the notes themselves so if they get played, by anyone, they have that effect, or do you think it's linked (hah, pun) back to the instruments themselves?

And then what about songs from the towns and such? I'm just imagining a broken mechanic of the songs causing people to teleport to that location, so playing the Kakariko Village song outloud for the world itself to hear would send them there or maybe it would just invoke that sense of calm that the village provides.

Which would be cool all on it's own, if playing the song would invoke the emotions that the location that plays the song or the event that plays the song.

(Not me now thinking of accidentally playing the Guardian's Battle.)

Anyway, I don't know if this makes any sense but I think the meme possibilities of either one of those would be brilliant.

-Fruit Anon

I WOULD NEVER IGNORE YOU FRUIT 😤

I would like to think the songs would affect the world around them yes! But not assively, so I would say leaning more towards the atmosphere or feelings of people around.

I think it would just happen if the notes were played, maybe The Player somehow bags themselves a ocarina (because they're in Hyrule, it's the only thing that fits) and teach themself the songs and then its starts.

They play Kakariko theme and suddenly the entire group is just...relaxed. Maybe they were discussing battle plans, maybe a fight started out between two or more of the boys, Time is just grumpy and it's effecting the whole moral of the group then suddenly everyone's just fine. It affects everyone that listens, even the Player feels themself react and they find out "Hey, I'm magic!"

The Player plays any enemy music tho and their anxiety shoots right up, the group is tightening their hands around thiir weapons, they're glancing around more carefully, perhaps moving faster so the Layer decides maybe its best not to use any of that. (I feel it could actually summon monsters who are nearby if they arent careful)

I also like to think the Player is the only one who can do this, after all no one else have ever heard this sort of music except for them. A bard could play it but it just wouldnt feel the same, it would feel like somethings missing but when the Player does it? It feels perfect.

But there is ONE thing I cannot stop thinking about:

The Legend of Zelda Opening Theme

The Song of the games.

And what does it do?

Well, it feels everyone with courage of course! The Player feels as if they can fight any enemy, they can traverse any terrain, hell, they could face Ganon with the biggest of grins on their face!

Playing with the music of the game just sounds so cool.

(The Player play Ravio's theme and not only does it aggravate Legend, the guys also shows up and The Player finds that they have a new way to torture Legend)