#which meant Rauru and his Temple of Time were built between Skyward Sword and any other game

[skyloftian-nutcase]

Have some Babysitter Fierce Dadity snippets because why not

The fierce deity was sprawled on the floor on his belly, head propped on a fist that dug into his cheek. His eyes were settled on the little wiggling bundle in front of him as Navi tried to crawl and instead flailed her arms while grunting. She pushed on the ground to elevate her torso a little after failing to actually move anywhere, and Fierce extended a hand towards her.

His finger got within a hair’s breadth of her face and then he gently booped her on the nose.

Navi squealed in absolute delight, rolling onto her back and giggling, and Fierce’s smile glowed nearly as brightly as his eyes.

XXX

Navi usually fell asleep with humming. The fierce deity could oblige with some tune or another, dredged from vague memories mixed with those of his little hero. Sometimes Link and Malon recognized the tune, other times it was completely foreign.

Today, though, no tune would satiate the little infant. Nor would food. Fierce rocked her gently and decided to speak to her gently instead, at first with words of assurance and care. When the little baby's attention was latched onto the soothing, smooth voice rumbling over her, the cursed deity switched tactics and started telling her a story instead.

"There, there, little one," Fierce soothed, pacing in the nursery, his head bowed over the infant. "I would offer to tell you a story of your father and his many adventures, but I imagine he will be the better author of that narrative than I. Instead, I will tell you of the hero I know of, the original Hero of Time."

Navi watched Fierce with fascination as the deity gazed off into the distance, eyes looking beyond the walls of the house. "Long ago, the world was fresh and new. Life was just blossoming, and the people were in close connection with the gods. A goddess who could manipulate time, called Hylia, was tasked with protecting a piece of the divine, the Triforce.

"For many years there was prosperity until a demon king, a god of chaos and malice named Demise, tore from the earth with his armies. A bloody war was fought for control of the world. But Hylia held out hope. She sealed the darkness away until her chosen hero could defeat it."

Here, the deity paused, sighing. "I never met this Hero, but Hylia had the utmost faith in him. She always looked so... relieved and happy when she spoke of him. But there was a weight to her words, a knowledge and guilt that permeated her. She always hoped she wouldn't have to rely on his aid. But... given what I've learned of the situation since then, it seems that it did indeed fall to him. Legend says he traveled across time itself and became known as the Hero of Time before your father took that mantle and claimed it for himself."

"I'd never heard of the original legend."

The fierce deity turned to see Link standing in the doorway, his eyes fascinated and wary at the same time.

"When I first took the Master Sword, it was said that I truly looked like the legendary Hero of Time," Link commented as he walked into the room, his gaze falling on his daughter. His face softened as Fierce handed her over to him, but then he looked back at the cursed deity. "I spent years wondering who that original legendary hero was, and whether I had lived up to his legacy. Wondering whether I would be viewed the same, if..."

Link swallowed and looked away. "What was he like?"

"I don't know," Fierce answered honestly. "But Hylia trusted him. I'd like to meet him someday."

Link's gaze snapped back at the fierce deity, confused and surprised. "You can do that?"

Fierce's smile, gentle and reassuring, turned melancholy. "Someday. But you are the Hero of Time, Link. And your legacy will live on forever."

XXX

Malon yawned and stretched as she slowly tried to wake up. Padding downstairs, she sniffled a little as the lukewarm spring air was filled with pollen. She saw a silhouette shaped like Link sitting on the couch in front of her, his back to her, and she heard Navi cooing.

My, aren't we up early, she mused as she rubbed the sleepiness out of her eyes. She was surprised, she could have sworn Link was still in bed when she got up.

Tiptoeing to stand behind the couch where her husband sat, she leaned over him, running her hands through his hair and sliding them down his neck to wrap around him. Bending over, she kissed him on the cheek. "Good morning--"

She froze. A flustered painted face watched her in return, his cheeks redder than she'd ever seen them.

"Not Link." Malon choked out.

"Not Link." Fierce confirmed, eyes wide.

The two stared at each other awkwardly, both steadily blushing more and more until Malon shot up to stand straight again while Fierce stared ahead pointedly.

And then Malon laughed. "I won't tell Link if you don't."

Fierce practically shriveled into the sofa, making Malon laugh even harder.