#zelda's caretaker (impa)

[muses-of-the-memory]

Happy 26th Anniversary, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Today is the 26th Anniversary for...

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time!

This game was the debut of

Ganondorf, the King of the Gerudos,

Sheik, Zelda's Sheikah alter-ego,

and the Six Sages of Hyrule. Rauru, Darunia of the Goron, Saria, Impa, Princess Ruto of the Zora, and Nabooru.

This game had Link go on his adventure with Navi to save Hyrule, but to do that, he had to meet Princess Zelda to get the three Spiritual Stones,

confront Ganondorf, travel through time with the Master Sword being Young Link and Adult Link seven years later, and reawaken the Sages to assist him in defeating the King of Evil.

But after that, Zelda feeling like she's the one to blame, had to sent Link back to his own time, as Navi left completing her duty, and Link warned Child Zelda about Ganon's schemes to get the Triforce to rule the world.

Tagged by: @hoshi-neko-hikari, @bluemajingirl, @spirits-of-nature16, @the-world-hopper, @spirits-of-nature16, @themultiverseheroines, @man-of-fandoms, @manylegendsaretold, @nightmares-of-an-iron-helm, @gerudospiriit, @astral-multiverse

[pumpkinsouppe]

Here's my interpretations of all the OOT sages!! I have closeups of each sage and my thoughts behind their headcanon design changes below ^_^ (im alsooooo thinking of selling these as stickers if i ever figure out my silhouette)

Zelda

I headcanon Zelda is half Hylian half Sheikah with Impa being their aunt (mother’s sister, mother being full Sheikah and died when Zelda was young)

I also hc Zelda/Sheik as either transmasc or gender fluid depending on the interpretation of OOT I’m using, in this art Zelda is gender fluid and since I’m talking about sheik and Zelda a lot here I’ll just use they/them

Combined Zelda’s design with Sheik’s to make it more believable that they’re the same person this includes:

A skin color closer to Sheik’s concept art

Heterochromia, which is why sheik was hiding one of their eyes (and Zelda was forced to wear contacts or use magic to hide being half Sheikah post civil war)

Hylian pointed ears, another characteristic sheik had to hide (more info under Impa’s notes)

Lighter blond hair to be closer to Sheikah white hair

Sheik’s eye shape and eyebrows

Textured long hair, sheik would have a braid like in smash bros

Not pictured but if sheik is broad shouldered and muscular, then so is Zelda!!!!

Big forehead Zelda truther

Impa

Shares some traits with Zelda since I hc them as being related such as similar nose shape, eye shape, and skin tone

Textured hair styled into locs, tied into a short ponytail

Sheikah pointed ears, since Sheik hides their ears I thought it would be fun to have another different characteristic between the human races such as differing ear shapes. If Sheik showed their ears it would be a giveaway that they are not fully Sheikah

The rest is basically the same

Rauru

Rauru is perfect as he is all I did was give him spots on his skin to give him more accurate skin of an older person

Saria

So one thing I hc about Saria is that she was Link’s caretaker/mother figure in OOT so my main goal was to make her look childlike but have a more mature face

So I gave her rounder cheeks and made her smaller compared to everyone else and gave her larger eyes and a button nose but I also gave her some lines around her eyes to suggest age, I also gave her thinner eyebrows similar to a kid

I changed her eyes to brown bc I’m tired of all these blue eyed characters, there’s a severe drought of brown eyed characters in tloz

I gave her freckles

Her ears are also pointed upwards. I think the great deku tree did his best to make the kokiri look Hylian especially for link’s sake but he couldn’t get the ears right and they turned a little more animal-like since they live in the middle of the forest and are used to animals than humans. So kokiri look identical to Hylian children except the one difference is their ears being a different shape

Everything else is basically the same

Ruto

RUTOOOOOO ‼️‼️‼️‼️💕💕💕💕💕💕💕‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️💕💕💕💕

Her size is much larger bc why are all the royal male zora 20 stories high but not the female zora, she would be almost as tall as Darunia at this age

I changed her eyes to be like all the other zora, it’s weird all the other zora have full color eyes yet she has human eyes 😭😭 you can tell the Zelda team was terrified about being called monster fuckers by committing fully to making Ruto have all the same traits as other zora

I also gave her freckles and added more spots on her to give her more texture and bc I love the way the Majora’s mask zora look

I haven’t drawn her body so I don’t have itemized changes but I’d make a couple more changes, other than that she’s perfect. Only smaller changes were made to just make her more zora-like than the design the devs used bc they were scared of idek what. Women can be beasts and monsters!!!! Cowards

Nabooru

Nabooru had the most changes besides Zelda but technically Zelda was a mash of two designs rather than fixing all of the issues with Nabooru’s design

My goal was to make her look like an actual person rather than a caricature such as changing her over exaggerated nose to be a hooked nose, removing the white on her lips, etc. If there is anything I need to change about my new design for her please let me know, I want to keep her recognizable without using the harmful designs the devs gave her

I gave her a darker skin color and gave her moles

I toned her red hair so that it looks more natural

I haven't fully decided on her clothes but considering she's in the desert i gave her long sleeves esp bc the area you find her in has crazy sandstorms

I'm still deciding if i keep her yellow eyes or not, i like their contrast and how it matches her eyeshadow but also I want more brown eyed characters

Darunia

The one big change about Darunia is making him more animal like by giving him more of a snout and a dog-like nose. I don't like how Gorons are designed in games like twilight princess and the white lips they have in majora's mask so my main goal was for him to just seem more animalistic and non-human

i also added lighter color around his nose area to suggest age similar to a dog

nothing else changes other than that

[wizerdbattle]

Some notes for the magical girl AU fic:

This is heavily based on @snail-studios’s initial AU and art! I couldn’t help a lot of headcanons sneaking in, so this fic probably isn’t entirely canon to the original AU – and the liberties I’ve taken probably aren’t reflective of Snail’s intentions in the original AU, so come to me with complaints, not her. Thank you again to Snail for letting me write it!

I tried to structure this like the pilot episode for a show. Unfortunately, I haven’t watched as much magical girl stuff as I would have liked to, but I did use what I remember from watching Sailor Moon with my sister for this.

Link and Mipha are childhood friends and were previously neighbours. Sidon and Aryll get along well but aren’t as close.

I’m lazy so the school system I used is the Australian one. Rough translation is – Sidon is in primary school which consists of prep or kinder (a year below Year 1) to Year 6, and Mipha has just started high school which is Year 7 to Year 12. Sidon is in Year 3 and 7-8 years old, and Mipha is in Year 7 and is 12-13 years old. Hope that makes sense.

Mipha likely goes to a private school or a public school a decent distance from her home, hence the commute. She went to the same primary school as Sidon.

Link and Aryll’s Halloween haul is heavily inspired by @clockwise-works’s fic “Happy Poesfest Eve!!!” Modern AU (featuring Halloween) with very fun times, check it out!

I assume sherbert straws are a semi-universal thing but if you have no idea what I’m talking about, they’re these things. Plastic straw you eat the sherbert out of, pretty self-explanatory.

Also, since it’s summer in the fic, it’s either operating on southern hemisphere time – meaning Link has kept his Halloween haul for a month or two – or it’s in northern hemisphere time, meaning he’s kept it for almost a year. Whichever’s funnier.

Zelda’s mother is (evidently) still alive and her main caretaker, which greatly contributes to her cheery disposition. Most of her hobbies and interests are accommodated well by her mother, so she’s probably one of the most genuine versions of herself.

Urbosa and Daruk as well as Dorephan (and possibly one of Zelda’s parents) are teachers at the school.

Tulin and Aryll are Sidon’s age. Yunobo and Riju are a little younger than Mipha and Link.

There are SO MANY Australian-isms in this fic but I didn’t actually intend to set it in Australia… probably just in modern Hyrule.

The cold noodles that Mipha and Sidon make are Singapore style, according to my very brief research (I’ve made them before with family but didn’t know what they were called). I highly recommend them if you can find a recipe! I’ve never added lettuce but I think (hope) it would work. Peanut butter or some sort of peanut sauce, hoisin, soy and sesame oil are usually the sauces to season it with if I remember correctly. Very refreshing!

Sidon is at a rebellious age. Him and Mipha are very close but they bicker a lot now.

Every time I picture Ruta I think of the baby elephant made of pure light from The Good Place. Probably not her canon appearance but it makes me laugh.

Probably obvious but Ruta is an anthropomorphisation (<- no idea how I’m supposed to spell that) of Divine Beast Vah Ruta. Unfortunately she and Mipha don’t get along so well here.

Mipha is a lot more bad-tempered here than in canon generally, because she’s a good bit younger. I headcanon that she was a lot more rebellious in her youth in BOTW anyway.

I also think that like Zelda, without a destiny to fulfil, she’s allowed to be a lot more carefree and mess around. Also be mean! Let her be a little mean.

I had to study the art (this one) repeatedly to get the dress right 😅 it’s a very nice dress!

Laruta, Mipha’s alias, is actually pinched straight from the “Fisheye Lens” Model AU. I’m very unoriginal.

Wow I’m just dropping rec after rec here aren’t I…

I don’t bring it up but since Zelda’s house is wrecked she and her family are staying temporarily with Impa’s family :)

I haven’t watched Miraculous Ladybug in forever but the overly complicated love square or whatever it is is exactly the romantic dynamic I strived for here, especially factoring in the magical girl aliases (and all the magical girl aliases to come). Also there’s zero romance at all here as well, hope that helps!

I had so much fun writing this :))))) I would definitely want to write more!

I have LOADS of headcanons for this AU now as well as just general modern AU headcanons so… ask me about them? ;) Also I’ll probably post about them regardless because I love them.

[loz-furbies]

Oracle of Ages & Seasons Zelda

Nintendo can't make up their mind if the Oracles Link is the same one from ALttP or not and I suppose the same applies to Zelda. Personally I think that sure, let's give ALttP Link more adventures, but if I were to draw a compilation of all individual Zeldas I'd probably make ALttP and Oracles Zeldas separate characters since they have different enough designs. In the end I don't think it matters though and I seriously don't believe Nintendo cares either.

I played Ages first so this is based on her presence in Seasons linked game, not sure how different it is to the Ages counterpart.

Design

Speaking of character design, this is yet another time for me to bitch about the promo art and sprite not matching (fear not this will end soon as we move away from the pixel games). But seriously, why give her cute hair buns in the sprite if you're not going to use them! And more importantly that would be a unique Zelda design at least, because her actual look is one of my least favourites in the franchise. Like sure she's perfectly cute and there's nothing particularly stupid about the design either, but it's just so derivative. This is just the adult OoT Zelda design except in a younger art style and ALttP Zelda's cape. It's not an interesting or memorable look, and it also makes it harder for me to decide if this is a new character or not (and how to draw her). Like looks-wise it's clearly a different girl, but since there's grounds for the Oracle games to be ALttP sequels it's just so confusing.

Alright, moving on!

Character

This time Zelda does get a moment of being a bit more assertive than usual. She's told to stay safe during a crisis, but instead she shouts that she's going anyway and runs off to give a rousing speech to the villagers. But for the most part there's not much to Zelda outside her typical shtick of being the nice princess who gives exposition.

In the end credits we see every character once more, but Zelda's part is just that she looks at the stars alone at her castle while smiling happily, and while she looks cute, I don't get a lot out of that.

Role in the story

Story-wise Zelda doesn't get to do much. She's the one who sent help to foreign lands after she saw a vision of their downfall, so she takes a very active part in that, but it's all offscreen and ultimately her plan to evacuate the oracles doesn't even work. She then comes to visit herself, and her most notable contribution is to encourage the villagers. And sure I can take that, it's set up reasonably well that she becomes a symbol of hope to them (for GBC storytelling standards at least).

In the grand finale she gets kidnapped as usual, this time so that she can be sacrificed to revive Ganon, and there's nothing interesting to that.

Relationships

Aside from the character design, the biggest reason to consider that the Oracle games are not an ALttP sequel is that Zelda doesn't appear to recognise Link at all and introduces herself as if it was the first time they met. I'm willing to chalk this off as video game jank and it's more of an introduction to the player (for example Impa and the animal companions who you meet in both Ages and Seasons also don't appear to recognise Link in the second game you play in a linked game). I think it also makes more sense for Link to be the friend of the royal family since the game starts with him just sauntering to the Triforce unimpeded.

Not that it makes much difference because Zelda and Link don't have much of a relationship, even if Zelda spends most of the game not being kidnapped this time. However the game does end with Zelda giving a little kiss to him (and him getting all lovestruck about it), and I think it's cuter if they have some history together already.

Impa is also in the game, but she and Zelda don't have much to do together outside the standard princess-and-caretaker stuff. Zelda doesn't get any meaningful interaction with Din or Nayru either.

[skyloftian-nutcase]

I choose to believe link just misheard impa which is why he said “huh?” And impa was just like “ well guess his memories are worse than I thought, better explain his entire life up to this point”

Technically I was paraphrasing, the actual dialogue options Link has are to be like “never mind” to stop the conversation or to say “Calamity?” Like he definitely heard her right but doesn’t know what she’s talking about 😅

Maybe Link’s just thinking she’s getting senile so he’s indulging her HAHA they’re both like “dang this person’s memory really does suck” and just side eying each other 🤣

Real talk, though, if Impa thought Link’s memory was genuinely that bad she’d probably have a Sheikah guard/caretaker following him all the time when Zelda isn’t around because poor boy wouldn’t even remember anything half the time

[sadnessisavegetable]

The Found Family Triforce Trio

I love having a ever so slightly different approach to the found family version of the Triforce Trio and the lore there. This is not canon, but I don’t think I mind that.

This version is one where Ganondorf was genuinely just trying to make conditions better for his tribe and on his way back to his rented room in town unwittingly stumbles across the little Princess and a small feral boy outside the castle after dark(they were trying to catch fireflies with varying levels of success).

Instantly, they’re all over Ganondorf because the fireflies basically fall into a trance and follow him until he dismisses them. (It was a simple spell he prefers using in my version so he can see better in the dark)

They love it. They love Ganondorf’s subtle charge of magic around him, they adore how gentle he is with them despite his frustrations with how those meetings are going, and the fireflies are definitely a plus because they now have a jar full of them.

The little Princess is scared of the dark and it’s too warm for a fire during that summer. Impa didn’t seem to know what to do, but Link sure did when he became friends with her. They were just having difficulties because Link isn’t very agile like Saria or even Mido.

So Ganondorf starts to show up to help babysit the Princess. Link starts following him back to the rental room, and Ganondorf lets him because Link is literally homeless at the moment.

Link has full access to the Fierce Deity power even when he’s a child in this version, and Ganondorf stares unflinchingly back at the Deity.

When the true colors of the King show, leading him to outright tell Ganondorf to his face that he isn’t helping because they’re brown, Impa firmly decides that Ganondorf is a better influence on the Princess than the King himself is and passes the honor of caretaker to him so she can resign out of spite and lead a revolution with the women of the Gerudo.

So when the revolution is about to hit the castle, Ganondorf grabs both and runs.

Link is mostly confused about the transition, but Zelda is alarmed. She doesn’t know what’s happening, why Ganondorf would rush them out so quickly, and why he’s not explaining even as they’re on a horse out of the city.

They go to the Lon Lon Ranch first. Ganondorf has a friend there (my oc, Bear) who will give them a place in the barn for a while with him because he lives in the loft. Ganondorf leaves them with Bear and Phantom, because he wants to help Impa raise hell.

There was only one incident where Phantom had to be overprotective and it was when some of the King’s most trusted servants came searching for Zelda. This is kinda what it looked like since Phantom wasn’t yet fully grown.

After that incident, Ganondorf made his ghostly counterpart. It was made specifically to protect Zelda and Link, and to make it easier for Bear to work the ranch.

We’ll see where this goes later on, maybe, but I definitely adore how it’s going.

[twin-chains]

It’s my birthday so here’s a random modern au loz idea I had at 2am:

Broke college student Link and his best friend pet cat Zelda

Zelda would be a golden British shorthair, very elegant yet mischievous when she wants to be, a pampered little cat

Link’s parents died when he was young so he went to live with his grandmother Impa from whom he got the cat in the first place. Him and Zelda have been inseparable since

He’s not based on any one game and his friends are all characters from different Zelda games

Impa is his paternal grandmother and Zelda’s original caretaker as I mentioned. She was probably some sort of martial artist in her younger days but has long since retired. Maybe she managed to pass down a little knowledge to Link?

Navi is his childhood babysitter, Link always found her annoying and nagging whenever she tried to help him. But he learned to appreciate her help only after she moved away

Ravio is an unlikely friend of his who likes to tinker with stuff and works part-time at a pawn shop downtown. He has a pet rabbit and bird

Fiala "Fi" Kovarova is his know-it-all RA who helped him navigate the strange new world of university life during his first year. She'd probably be either a history or anthropology major with an interest in swords and blacksmithing. She's surprisingly best friends with the weird theatre major Ghira

Link longs for his adventure and excitement in his monotonous life but has been stuck in his hometown forever. I think it’d be funny if Link was isekai-ed into Hyrule with his cat and just went through one of the game adventures. I’m going for Dorothy and Toto vibes tbh

Edit:

You know what, screw romance. Marin is actually gonna be Link’s little sister. She loves to sing, even off key, and always seems to get along with animals. He loved her so much. When they were young, their parents took them on a summer vacation to a place called Koholint island resort. Marin was kidnapped there and has been missing for years, it haunts him to this day.

Because of this, Link latches onto Zelda as a sort of “replacement” for Marin almost: a smaller person/animal he has to take care of and vows to protect with his life. Losing Zelda would be like losing Marin again, he’d be all alone.

[elegiacmarquise]

👑🏰Zelda of Hyrule - Concept art for some incarnations🏰 👑

Click below for better view and some infos about them!

a. 18 years old

The first princess born in 100 years, Zelda was raised by well meaning but overwhelming parents, thus living sheltered and highly dependent on the mother. Unfortunately, a phantom of Ganondorf who came from another version of Hyrule broke out into the castle. Zelda sent her help with the weak telepathy she had. Link, the only one who heard her, came to the castle. Together they fought the monstrosity, in vain. In fact when Ganondorf seemed defeated he immediately regenerated himself, mortally wounding Zelda’s mother and destroying Hyrule’s castle in the process. Without knowing what else to do, Link and Zelda fled towards Kakariko village, where they could be protected by Impa, Zelda's old caretaker. This Zelda is a shy and compassionate person who holds a great sense of duty but is easily overwhelmed by her feelings and is prone to not listen to her needs in fear of disappointing anyone. During the course of the story Zelda found a job by assisting Impa in her role as the village’s mortician and developing some meaningful friendships. Since then she gradually accepted her grief, enhanced her values, she developed her spirituality further, to finally help Link throughout his journey, thus defeating Ganondorf for good. b. 16 years old

The golden child of her family, as well Link's older sister, this Zelda is born in Hiruela, a small village said to be found by Link and Zelda of Skyloft, by a farmer family. When she was a child, she had a dream thanks to which she found a well which saved her village from a drought. Since then she was regarded almost as a deity and was sent to study in Kakariko with Impa in order to fully master her powers. Although she seems a cheerful, generous and brave person, her confidence is built on frail foundations: after many years she didn’t manage to control her magical abilities, as they seem to appear and disappear without any reason. She compensated for her lacking by mastering swordplay and languages, her true passions, even showing off these sides of her. It seems that some mysterious race from space spied on Zelda for a long time, looking for the perfect moment to take advantage of her weaknesses and taking her with them to fully experiment with her magic.

c. 80 years old

In a now tropicalized Hyrule, many millennia after the first game's events, Queen Zelda ruled peacefully for a long time. However, widowed and with her sons patrolling distant places in Hyrule, she felt lonely, until she found two abandoned newborns in front of her castle: an Hylian and a Gerudo she called respectively Link and Miregan, who she lovingly raised as her own. Zelda is a kind and protective person who can also be abrupt and strict. Unbeknownst to most, Zelda has an extensive knowledge of witchcraft, which she used to protect her kingdom in the past and to cover up the bad results of her culinary attempts. Unfortunately, when Link and Miregan were eight, the latter got sick and passed away shortly after. Since then many mysterious events are plaguing Hyrule and Link, willing to help his grandmother, left the castle to find out what happened there.

d. 25 years old 

Many centuries before the events, all Hyrule’s races united and revolted against the Royal Family, founding a republic in its place, giving life to an apparently strong government. This Zelda, known with the name of Gilda, is the legitimate heir of the Royal Family but she’s more interested in acting, as she’s part of a traveling company. After years of apprenticeship, she was about to debut as the protagonist of a play about a knight princess who, with her bow, would protect her kingdom. While her company was in the midst of the premiere, Castle Town was invaded by an army of monsters commanded by Vaati, leading everyone to flee, Zelda included, losing sight of her fellow actors. Zelda felt forced to collaborate with Link, a police officer with whom she argued before regarding the contents of her play, the one brave enough to find a solution to save the republic. During the adventure, Zelda playfully teases Link about his beliefs, especially after she revealed to him about her true identity. Nonetheless, she guides him where they could find the Aulos of the Stories, a magical instrument said to recall what happened in the places around before. However, it seemed to be cursed…

e. 40 years old 

The newly crowned Queen, Zelda is the daughter of the late King of Hyrule and Impa, taking proudly the latter’s heritage and culture. She rules her kingdom together with her husband Link, with whom she had two daughters named Linkle and… Zelda. She’s also the director of the major hospital of the kingdom. She rarely goes out of her castle, preferring to spend her time in her huge laboratory to experiment as an alchemist, trying to develop a fluid capable to create endless energy. While may appear aloof, she’s actually an enthusiastic person who loves to think about her experiments, admittedly her only interest. Lately Hyrule is afflicted by a terrible plague which was hurting each race in the same way, leaving the patients seriously debilitated and endlessly agonizing, without causing the patient to die. While Zelda stays in the City to care about her patients and her daughters, she now struggles night and day to find a cure, which she found the recipe but which ingredients are rare to obtain, being located in the most remote angles in the kingdom. So, she pleads with Link to find the ingredients for the medicine she would later enhance with her light magic, with the hope of strengthening its effect.

f. 60 years old

Formerly the Gerudo matriarch, Zelda left her role in the favor of the newly came of age Ganondorf, who leads the tribe with the same if not more charisma than her. However she still retained a certain authority there, as she now is the fortune teller, using her special cards to advise the king whether or not to engage in a battle or to conquer a territory. However one day they foretold to her not trust the king anymore, as he began to hold some dangerous ambition to conquer all of a now scattered Hyrule, an ambition that could cause her tribe’s destruction and a civil war with another Gerudo Tribe. Devastated by the prognostications, Zelda does her best to use her influence to change Ganondorf’s mind before and later outright lying about consulting the cards in order to keep him in his place. This Zelda doesn’t interact much with Link and is too old to fight but she perceives his good intentions, offering some food, a bed and some advice disguised as prognostics, in which she tells him some important information about Ganondorf and some treasures he hid around Hyrule. Her cards would later reveal themselves as the Triforce of Wisdom, passed from generation to generation of leading women.

g. 6 years old

The little princess of a fully industrialized New Hyrule, this Zelda was lovingly raised by Link, her babysitter and Impa, who also rules the place as a regent in place of her mother, who is said to have mysteriously disappeared some years prior.Zelda is an energetic and carefree little girl, with a pronounced tomboy streak and a curious attitude. She’s pretty fascinated by clockwork gears and the air, dreaming to pilot an aircraft one day. She always carries with her a korok shaped plush, which she claims to be gifted by her mother. One day, she also disappeared suddenly, leaving a message to Link in which she said she dreamed about her mother on the verge of dying. Link immediately sought for her and found the child crying in front of a mysterious statue depicting a beautiful woman covered by all sorts of plants.

h. 37 years old 

The Princess whose statue Link and little Zelda found in the cave, a statue which she uses to communicate with people. This Zelda renounced her title and her throne to meditate as a monk and trap within herself a seed in which contained the spirit of an evil sorcerer who attempted to possess the kingdom many years prior. She evacuated the people of New Hyrule from reality to a virtual world she created for the scope, letting them live safely while she let grow within herself the evil sorcerer's seed, fighting him alone in meditation. In order to concentrate better, Zelda rejected every part of herself she deemed distracting to her duty, sacrificing her humanity in the process. Unable to completely eliminate them, they assumed the form of the little princess, a testament of this separation. This Zelda doesn’t directly speak with her alter ego or Link until she defeats the sorcerer, after she can break her vow of silence. She instead communicates with them with telepathy.

[enchantedsword]

i couldnt choose between a fellow soldier bf or a stable/ranch hand bf so he got both and angst happened immediately

soldier bf: is about 2 years older was from a lower noble family theyve been friends for several years from meeting multiple times at balls/events, both joined basic training around the same time, they had also started courting shortly before. unfortunately he does die in the same battle warriors gets over confident and gets captured by cia, warriors of course doesnt find this out till hes rescued and zelda(she and impa being thenonly 2 that knew) informs him, he obviously blames himself for his arrogance that cost him his love, and gained him new trauma(guiltily hes relieved his love didnt have to see the aftermath of what cia did to him)

stable hand bf: he was the middle son from a small ranch family, he was drafted into the war about halfway though, when the war ended he decided immediately quit the army but did stay on as a stable hand to care for the horses, hes eponas main caretaker, which is how he and warriors meet and begin talking and eventually fall in love, getting either of them to confess however is an entirely different matter, the stable hand doenst feel he is good enough for someone of warriors status, and warriors has a lot of guilt for falling for someone else and a lot of fear about forgetting his old love and that something would happen to stable hand if it ever came out

[atimelesslullaby]

Now go home, @lockhart-investigations Regain your lost time! Home... Where you are supposed to be... The way you are supposed to be...

"You all must have been training hard this past week."

Only a week had been given as notice that the princess herself would be evaluating the new recruits. It was important for the safety of Kakariko Village. Impa watched over it often, but as Sage of Shadow, the woman who had been her caretaker since birth had higher duties to follow often.

Zelda was the one who held the seal, but without the other Sages, her own magical power would weaken. They were just as important as she was.

Zelda walked, her hair flowing in the breeze, she was the epitome of beauty. But the woman was also more than a master at magical ability. The piece of Triforce in her right hand aided with that. She felt it important to make sure to personally visit all who sought to work in any form of guardianship.

Maybe there was something she could teach them. Maybe there was something she could learn.

"Well now."

Her speech, and diction were both perfect.

"Who would like to face me in combat first? There is no better way for me to get a feel for how you fare in combat, and I pray you will not go easy on me because of my status. I insist, you give it everything you have."

[ao3feed-sidlink]

The End of All Things

The End of All Things

by MoonlightAndDust

“Link! Welcome back! It’s so good to see you safe and… sound…” he trails off for a moment, face falling minutely when he realizes Link hasn’t looked him in the eye yet. Hasn’t even really shown his face, his shoulders hunched and hood drawn forward like he’s trying to hide in plain sight. And his stance… he’s remarkably still, looking somewhere off to the side of Sidon. The Prince clears his throat and pastes his smile back on.

“We saw the signs of your victories in the sky, my friend! Congratulations!”

He reaches out to clap the Hylian on the shoulder, only for Link to shrink and — and flinch, almost violently, from the touch. Instantly Sidon knows something is wrong. Despite being very aware of the people watching their reunion like hawks, he can’t help his visible concern as he drops to one knee to catch Link’s eyes.

Oh. Oh no.

Words: 33948, Chapters: 3/3, Language: English

Series: Part 2 of Silver Filigree

Fandoms: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Categories: M/M

Characters: Riju (Legend of Zelda), Buliara (Legend of Zelda), Impa (Legend of Zelda), Paya (Legend of Zelda), Dorephan (Legend of Zelda), Bazz (Legend of Zelda), Gaddison (Legend of Zelda), Urbosa (Legend of Zelda), other side characters, Original Side Characters - Character

Relationships: Link/Sidon (Legend of Zelda)

Additional Tags: Gender Dysphoria, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Heavy Angst, Blood and Violence, More Graphic Than Canon, Trans Link (Legend of Zelda), Mute Link (Legend of Zelda), Past Relationship(s), Friends to Lovers, Psychological Trauma, Hurt/Comfort, Mutual Pining, Caretaking, Touch-Starved, Getting Together, Politics, Mild canon divergence, Biblically accurate Link, last night on earth sex, Mild Monsterfucker Behavior, Oral Sex, Vaginal Fingering, Loss of Virginity, Size Difference, Sidon Has Two Penises (Legend of Zelda), thigh fucking, Intercrural Sex, Biting, Painplay, Link has a Thing for adrenaline, And Sidon tastes like danger, but like, In a safe way, Other Trigger Warnings May Have Been Missed, Tears of the Kingdom spoilers, But it happens during Breath of the Wild, This is very rushed Im so sorry, no beta we die like the champions

From https://ift.tt/pGDVCu1 https://archiveofourown.org/works/47387305

[uneasedregrets]

@atimelesslullaby wanted a page from the Hero of Time's writings! ( still accepting! )

( hey fair warning this one is both dark and sad. I mean Time is generally sad but this one is actively sad. Warnings include: death mention and suicide implication, so if you're not in the headspace for that maybe don't click the read more. )

The following is a fragment that most scholars agree was written by the Hero of Time. The handwriting and diction match, though its curious separation from the rest of his claimed writing is a notable hang up. It was cataloged into the Hyrulean Royal Archives by that era’s Queen Zelda Elizabeth Hyrule, with an attached note: ‘For the me he saw all those years ago’. What was meant by this is a matter of debate, as the references made within the fragment do not line up with the historical Queen Zelda Elizabeth Hyrule the Hero of Time was known to spend the most time with. Contemporary journal entries make reference to finding it with the skeletal remains of the Hero of Time in the ‘cursed woods’, presumably modern-day Korok Forest.

The fragment appears to be part of a longer letter, though the parchment it was written on has not survived to the modern day as well as other documents. Attempts have been made to fill the gaps left behind, but for the purposes of this book we will replicate the manuscript while filling in individual words that seem obvious to most scholars. 

… I am sorry to have failed in the mission you sent me… to complete. My childhood was beyond [my] grasp. Navi had left… key to Kokiri Forest with [her]*. I searched for her [for] years, but she never returned. In my search I… matured heavily. Even if I could forget those months [awakening] the sages… haunts me too greatly†. Do people think of you as a hero? Only two people think me a hero for stopping him. No one else knows. A secret between us…

… knighted me, for stopping him and what she believes I did. The nobles didn’t like that. They shut up after I proved myself… army. I never grew close to her… we were. Impa is still with her. She… me, but [she] keeps… distance. Do the sages speak about me? None… in this era. Darunia and Ruto††… 

… Do you have a new hero? [I am] sure that you have… one. Not that you need one… capable on your own, with your…¶ training. In [my] nightmares, I see you… 

… Malon and I married… children. They reminded… us. Hope… minds, I taught them your lullaby… knows here. Epona passed away a few years ago. She’s buried… My last connection to what I experienced. Maybe that’s why I’m…

…I’ve prayed to the Goddess of [Time] to deliver this to you when I’m gone. If you ever read this, I’m already dead. I can’t tell you to remember me, but [I] can’t bear…

…I’m alone now… hoping… is painless…

…I want you to live for yourself. Do what’s best for you, Zelda. You made me…§

* What is meant here is a matter of debate. Navi we know from other sources was his fairy companion, though how that was in any way a ‘key’ to Kokiri Forest is a matter of speculation. Indeed, Kokiri seems to have first appeared in the writing of the Hero of Time. The modern day legendary koroks appear to have been named by one who was familiar with the Legend of the Hero of Time.

��This seems to reference his claim of time travel and adventures in Termina. Most scholars agree the phrase ‘what I saw in those years’ fits between sages and haunts, though we have no way of knowing for sure.

††This appears to reference the brief union between the Goron Chief Darunia and Zora Princess Ruto. Originally aimed at increasing the ties between Hyrule’s allies, the union eventually dissolved due to incompatibilities between the two. 

¶This is a particularly puzzling word. Most agree that this would refer to the training the daughters of the Hyrulean Royal Family undergo to awaken their magic. Some scholars, however, believe the word ‘Sheikah’ as the actual word. They point to Zelda’s caretaker in that era being implied to be a Sheikah, and the alter ego this Zelda he is writing to having claimed to be a Sheikah. Most dismiss this to be preposterous, as Sheikah are notoriously secretive when it comes to their techniques.

§This final word is a matter of furious debate. Some claim that, given what the Hero of Time claims this alternative version of Queen Zelda Elizabeth Hyrule did, it’s something negative such as ‘angry’ or ‘sad’. Others, using the whole fragment as context clues, suggest something more positive such as ‘happy’ or ‘complete’, as the tone of what survives is cordial. This line is also notable for gaining popularity in the centuries after its discovery in the Royal Archives; both in dirges and in romance. It is also referenced in several revenge tales.

[multiversal-pig-outing]

Hear me out Mipha but she takes after oracle of season Impa and fatter

counter point both zelda and mipha take after oracle impa but fatter. Because Impa was zelda caretaker and zelda use to have a lot of play dates with mipha.

[holdingmyworldsdestiny]

@eraoftime1 said: [ Adult Link] " Impa entrusted me with the job to protect you. She's returned to the sacred realm. " a pause, he's finally got a pair of Hylian Trouser and a Hylian Tunic but he's still got their hat on. " but I guess you already knew that."

"The look suits you."

Always the overprotective one. But she knew her caretaker's feelings were justified. More and more of those who sought the Evil King's return were popping up these days. In all fairness, she wasn't afraid. She'd been put up against scarier. But she knew better than to get carelessly confident, even with how powerful her own magic was.

Confidence could easily turn to arrogance. Zelda was wiser than that.

Which was why she made no fuss whatsoever about her caretaker entrusting the job to Link. The woman had been family to Zelda, all her life. From taking care of her as an infant, to singing her to sleep when a child. Teacher her the ways of the Sheikah when she was in disguise, and continuing to protect Kakariko as an adult.

"While there is little need for true concern at this present moment, the seven of us had to admit, the era of peace we are in has begun to waver. More of those who wish to cause turmoil. Caution is of the utmost necessity, all of the sages have returned to the Sacred Realm to maintain protection on this country.

The only reason I am not watching over the country myself from its sacred vantage point, is because of my deeper duty to protect this country. Both as the matriarch, and as a Sage. The fate of Hyrule is in our hands."

[shadowsoverhyrule]

Chapter 1: The Omen

The dawn crept over Hyrule, casting golden rays across the fields of Hyrule Field, where the grass glistened like emeralds kissed by morning dew. Zelda stood at the edge of the castle balcony, her heart heavy with the weight of her vision. She gazed out over the sprawling landscape, where the vibrant colors of nature blended seamlessly into the clear blue sky. It was a sight that had always brought her peace, yet today, it felt like a façade—an illusion masking the chaos that threatened to engulf her world.

As she closed her eyes, the memory of her vision flooded back: a being of darkness, its form swirling like a storm, a hunger that transcended mere mortal understanding. Aetheris. The name echoed in her mind, resonating with dread and urgency. She shivered, feeling the chill of its malevolence wrap around her heart like a vice.

“Princess?” a soft voice called, breaking her reverie. It was Impa, her loyal caretaker and protector, stepping out onto the balcony. Impa’s face was etched with concern, her wise eyes studying Zelda carefully. “You seem troubled. Is it the vision?”

Zelda nodded, her throat tight. “It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, Impa. Aetheris seeks to invade Hyrule. I could feel its darkness, its intent to consume everything in its path.”

Impa’s brow furrowed, and she stepped closer. “We must take this seriously. If Aetheris has truly awakened, then we are facing a threat greater than we’ve known. Have you spoken to Link?”

“I was just about to,” Zelda replied, a spark of hope igniting within her. Link was not only her friend but the Hero of Time, the champion destined to fight against evil. If anyone could stand against the darkness, it was him.

As she turned to head inside the castle, Zelda couldn’t shake the feeling that time was slipping away. Every moment wasted was a moment Aetheris could grow stronger, its tendrils of shadow weaving deeper into the fabric of Hyrule.

The grand halls of Hyrule Castle echoed with the footsteps of the guards as Zelda made her way to the throne room. The towering walls adorned with tapestries depicting Hyrule’s rich history reminded her of the struggles her ancestors had faced—wars fought, sacrifices made, and victories celebrated. But this was different. This wasn’t just a battle for territory or power; it was a fight for the very essence of their world.

Entering the throne room, she found Link waiting. His presence always filled her with a sense of calm. Clad in his signature green tunic, his blonde hair catching the sunlight, he stood tall and resolute, a sword strapped to his back. His blue eyes met hers, and a warm smile spread across his face.

“Zelda!” he exclaimed, stepping forward. “You look troubled. What’s going on?”

Zelda took a deep breath, steadying herself. “It’s Aetheris. I had a vision of its awakening. It’s coming for Hyrule, Link. We must prepare.”

Link’s expression shifted from warmth to concern. “Aetheris? I’ve heard whispers about it from the sages. A being of pure darkness. What do we need to do?”

“We must seek the counsel of the sages immediately,” she replied. “They will know how to combat this threat. If we can gather the Celestial Stones, we might have a chance.”

Link nodded, determination etched on his face. “Let’s go then. We don’t have a moment to lose.”

The sun hung low in the sky as they made their way to the Temple of Time, a sacred place that held the key to Hyrule’s past and future. The road was familiar to them, a path they had traveled countless times, but today it felt different—charged with urgency and foreboding.

As they walked, the air around them shifted. A heavy mist began to roll in from the east, shrouding the fields in an eerie veil. The once cheerful chirping of birds grew silent, and an unsettling stillness fell over the land. Zelda felt a shiver run down her spine, as if the very essence of Hyrule was warning them of the darkness approaching.

“Do you feel that?” she asked, glancing at Link.

“Yeah,” he replied, his brow furrowing. “It’s like the land itself knows something is wrong.”

Zelda nodded, unease settling in her chest. They pressed on, their pace quickening as the mist thickened. The trees lining the path swayed ominously, and shadows danced at the edges of their vision.

Finally, they reached the Temple of Time, its ancient stone structure standing resolute against the encroaching darkness. The temple was a place of power, a nexus of time where the past intertwined with the present. They entered, greeted by the familiar sight of the ornate chamber filled with light and ancient inscriptions.

At the center of the room stood the Master Sword, its blade gleaming as if imbued with its own light. Zelda approached it reverently, her heart swelling with the weight of destiny. “Link, this sword has always been our greatest weapon. We must wield it with wisdom and courage.”

Link placed a hand on the hilt, his expression solemn. “I’ll always fight for Hyrule, Zelda. No matter what it takes.”

As they prepared to summon the sages, a burst of energy surged through the room, and the air crackled with magic. The light coalesced, revealing the figures of the sages—Rauru, the Sage of Light; Darunia, the Sage of Fire; Ruto, the Sage of Water; and others who had stood against darkness throughout the ages.

“Zelda, Link,” Rauru intoned, his voice deep and resonant. “We sensed a disturbance in the fabric of time. You have come seeking counsel.”

Zelda stepped forward, her heart pounding. “Aetheris has awakened. It seeks to invade Hyrule, and I fear it has already begun its assault. We need the Celestial Stones to stand a chance against its darkness.”

The sages exchanged worried glances. Rauru nodded solemnly. “The Celestial Stones are powerful artifacts, each tied to the balance of light and darkness. They are hidden across Hyrule, protected by trials that test the hearts of those who seek them.”

“Trials?” Link asked, his brow furrowed. “What kind of trials?”

“The trials will challenge your courage, wisdom, and strength,” Rauru explained. “Only those pure of heart can claim the stones. You must prove yourselves worthy.”

Darunia stepped forward, his fiery spirit shining through. “I’ll guide you to the Stone of Dawn, hidden in the Great Plateau. The first trial awaits you there.”

Zelda felt a surge of determination. “Then we will not waste a moment. We will face these trials together.”

The sages provided them with guidance, marking the locations of the Celestial Stones on an ancient map. As they studied the parchment, the weight of their task settled upon them. The Stone of Dawn lay within a temple on the Great Plateau; the Stone of Dusk was hidden in the Gerudo Desert; the Stone of Stars rested in the Faron Woods; and the Stone of Night was deep within Death Mountain.

After gathering supplies and blessings from the sages, Zelda and Link set out once more, determination guiding their steps. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a fiery glow across the land as they ventured into the unknown.

As they crossed the bridge over the River Hylia, the rushing water roared beneath them, a reminder of nature’s power. Zelda glanced at Link, who walked beside her, steadfast and strong. She couldn’t help but feel grateful for his unwavering presence.

“Do you think we’ll be able to find the stones?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Link turned to her, a confident smile gracing his lips. “We’ve faced countless challenges before, Zelda. Together, we can overcome anything. Just like we always have.”

Zelda nodded, his confidence bolstering her resolve. The landscape transformed around them as they approached the Great Plateau, the sun setting behind the cliffs, casting long shadows that stretched like fingers across the ground.

As they reached the base of the Great Plateau, the air grew still, charged with anticipation. The temple lay before them, an ancient structure overgrown with vines and shrouded in mystery. Zelda’s heart raced at the thought of the trial ahead.

“Remember,” she said, turning to Link. “We must stay focused. The trials are meant to test us. If we falter, we may not succeed.”

“Don’t worry,” Link replied, his tone light but serious. “We’ll face whatever comes our way. Together.”

They entered the temple, the air thick with dust and the scent of ancient stone. Sunlight filtered through cracks in the ceiling, illuminating the intricate carvings that adorned the walls—stories of heroes past, of battles fought and won.

At the center of the temple, a pedestal stood, and upon it lay the Stone of Dawn—a radiant gem that pulsed with energy, reflecting hues of orange and gold. It was breathtaking, a symbol of hope amidst the encroaching darkness.

But before they could approach the stone, a powerful voice echoed through the chamber. “Who dares seek the Stone of Dawn?”

From the shadows emerged a figure—a Guardian of Dawn, a majestic creature with wings that glimmered like the morning sky. Its eyes held wisdom and power, and its voice resonated like thunder.

“Only those pure of heart may claim the stone,” it declared. “You must prove yourselves worthy through the Trial of Light.”

Zelda exchanged a determined glance with Link. “We’re ready,” she said, her voice steady.

The Guardian raised its wings, and the temple transformed around them. Light flooded the chamber, and the walls shimmered, revealing a vast expanse of sky and clouds. They stood upon a floating platform, surrounded by radiant light.

“Your trial begins now,” the Guardian announced. “You will face illusions of your greatest fears. Only by confronting and overcoming them will you be deemed worthy.”

As the words echoed in the air, the world around them shifted again, the sky darkening as ominous clouds rolled in. Zelda felt a familiar tug at her heart—a fear of failing her people, of not being strong enough to protect Hyrule.

Suddenly, she stood in a shadowy version of Hyrule Castle, the walls crumbling and the land in ruins. She could hear cries for help, echoes of her subjects calling her name. Panic gripped her as she saw monstrous figures advancing toward them, darkness swirling around their forms.

“Zelda!” Link’s voice broke through the chaos. He appeared beside her, his expression resolute but filled with concern. “Stay focused! This isn’t real. We can’t let it control us.”

Zelda took a deep breath, grounding herself in the present. “You’re right. I won’t let this fear consume me.” She focused on her love for her kingdom, the people who depended on her. Drawing strength from that love, she faced the shadows, channeling light from within.

With a fierce cry, she unleashed a wave of energy, dispelling the darkness and restoring the castle to its former glory. The shadows evaporated, revealing the beauty of Hyrule once more.

As the vision faded, she felt a surge of strength. “I did it,” she breathed, relief washing over her.

Link smiled, pride shining in his eyes. “You faced your fear and emerged stronger. Now it’s my turn.”

Suddenly, the sky shifted again, and Link found himself standing in a desolate landscape. The weight of the Master Sword hung heavy in his hands, and he could hear the whispers of doubt echoing around him. Shadows loomed, taunting him, reminding him of every moment he had ever failed.

“Link,” he murmured to himself, “you’re not alone.” He clenched his fists, focusing on his memories—Zelda’s unwavering support, the friends he had fought alongside, and the bonds he had forged.

“I will not be defeated!” he shouted, charging forward, his sword gleaming with light. With each swing, he cut through the shadows, shattering the illusions that sought to break him. The darkness evaporated, and he found himself back on the floating platform.

The Guardian of Dawn watched them, its wings spread wide. “You have both proven your worth,” it declared, a hint of approval in its voice. “You may claim the Stone of Dawn.”

Zelda and Link approached the pedestal together, their hearts racing with anticipation. As they reached for the Stone of Dawn, it pulsed with energy, radiating warmth and light. Zelda felt a connection to it, a promise of hope that filled her soul.

As their fingers touched the stone, a surge of power coursed through them, intertwining their destinies. The stone transformed into a glowing orb, enveloping them in light. They shared a knowing glance, a bond forged in the crucible of their trials.

“Now, we must gather the rest of the stones,” Zelda said, determination igniting within her.

With the Stone of Dawn in their possession, they stepped back into the temple, the Guardian watching them with pride. “You have taken your first step toward restoring balance,” it said. “But your journey is far from over. Trust in each other and the strength of your hearts.”

As they left the temple, the sun shone brightly overhead, illuminating their path. They had faced their fears and emerged victorious, but they knew that the trials ahead would only grow more challenging.

Yet, with the Stone of Dawn in their hands and the strength of their friendship guiding them, Zelda and Link felt ready to face whatever lay ahead. The battle against Aetheris had just begun, and they were determined to protect Hyrule at all costs.

Together, they would rise to the challenge and reclaim the light from the shadows. The journey had only just begun, and the fate of their world hung in the balance.

[atimelesslullaby]

@query-bot said: Have you had a vision lately?

"Truthfully speaking, I cannot say for sure. I have learned an important lesson, not every dream is a prophetic vision. Though I carry royal blood, even I can be wrong about something, or someone."

She knew it in her heart, that she wasn't perfect. As badly as she wanted to be. As badly as her father had wanted her to be. The only one who had never held her to a standard of perfection was her caretaker, Impa. Impa had always told her it's okay to make mistakes, princess or otherwise. Maybe it was just part of Impa being softhearted towards her, as the woman could be fairly cold towards others.

She loved that woman. Impa was an older sister. Her caretaker since birth, and just because Zelda was an adult now didn't mean she didn't need her older sister.

"Recently, I have been having a reoccurring dream. It involves me, on a grand adventure in Link's stead, to keep Hyrule safe. I am not currently sure of what it means, I must decipher it if it continues on, as it may mean Hyrule is in danger. We will simply have to see how things go on."