#puddlewrites

[puddlestories]

Traditional Complications

Four x GN (no gendered pronouns or description)

Idea: some head-canons on the different ways Hylian affection may be different to us humans, as well as a small fic: you and Four clearly like each other, however, due to the courting expectations in Hyrule, it may be a bit more complicated than you expected.

CW: mentions of injury but no description, courting expectations, lack of historical accuracy despite attempts /lh, inspired by other writers.

8.4k words; not proof-read

Starting off at the basics, it’s important to display what type of time period we would currently be in: it’s stated as part of the Zelda wiki that the series is most likely be set within the medieval periods within Western Europe, so I’ll bring details of this into the writing for some world building. Specifically, the courting ideas will be based on middle and late medieval periods.

For certain boys their jobs can have different impacts on their quality of life, for example, for Four, being a blacksmith would have held him in a respected position within his village, being extremely important to the crafting of tools and weapons. Living within the borders of Castle Town, he’d be considered as more of an urban blacksmith meaning a much more likely demand for guilds/ military needs, meaning more demand for, still, weapons, but also armour, though this would likely be more specialised- already seen by how Four focuses primarily on weapons and likely tools, though I like to believe his grandfather was likely armourer considering his respect from the crown themselves, paired by his son’s high position among the knights as a Captain.

Now, a captain of knights could be seen as either a Lord or a man promoted to his position, not necessarily a separate rank; within our medieval knowledge this would basically mean that this could be a similar pay grade to the other knights but increased respect within social circles, especially considering he has links to the crown, enough so that his son is even Princess Zelda’s friend. Whether Link’s father is a Lord or simply a knight, their household is certainly not struggling for money: Grandpa Smith would have been a skilled labourer and received what would be close to a payment when he stopped his service, especially if stopped due to injury, Father getting a skilled labourer’s wage for being a knight, and then Four earning both for whichever career path he chose, plus both if we follow my head-canons that the colours gain their own jobs and interests- Blue and Green definitely becoming knights, Blue possibly even following his father and becoming a Captain or even higher, training the new recruits.

Plus if we go medieval England then we can argue further about his Lordship, considering the title of Lord could be gifted to high-ranking military or was even used when gifting land to those who were trusted and in allegiance to the crown, aka the title of Lord simply meaning you were close with or served the crown, as well as usually owning land, for example the feudal system. This also adds reason for why Link may have possibly been able to become friends with Zelda, not necessarily for an arranged marriage as children but possibly a power alliance between the Lord and King, especially if the Lord was a trusted solider in a time of unrest. This also adds to the idea of Vaati creating chaos/ unrest and how the King had such military power despite the small size of Castle Town (also how Castle Town earnt its name of holding the King’s castle since other members of the feudal system where able to have castles), having military families in nearby or surrounding land, and how he had the ability to make Link such a wanted man, betrayal of the crown.

Before I get carried away with these ideas, I shall simply separate into sections of how being the son of a Lord (for simplicity), a blacksmith and a Hero may differently affect his levels and standards of courting, but more specifically the social expectations.

If Four himself was to be a Lord or high-ranked knight, then there is immediately an expectation among other Lords and Ladies that the person he was to marry would be someone able to help manage the land and possible settlements along that land, as well as other outward pressures that don’t hold as much meaning to you nor Four, such as social status and what your union could bring to benefit the land and family, something that is only a shallow reason among nobility for those who would want to benefit from your family or any possible children. Four’s actual family however is very accepting, his grandfather at least, a few issues stemming from Four’s attitude from his adventure creating a small rift during his early teens of attitude and teamwork expectations to become a knight also applying into his title, a young, very cocky lad spoilt with love who wanted to prove himself but expressed it the wrong way, however, those issues are fixed now- so if you met as children then his father would worry about his behaviour, however, as adults he’s very happy about his sons’ development and how you make them/ him happy, he understands the pressures and is willing to protect you both.

As a Lord, he would have access to a far greater amount of money, likely starting his courtship being taught to set an expectation of how he can provide and be a better man, to set himself higher than the rest, meaning you would likely be given very expensive gifts such as jewellery with large gems, dangling chains whether separate or as part of clothes, soft and rich fabrics such as purple dyed clothing and silks from distant lands, including many hand laced items such as laced sleeves or a smaller favour such as a handkerchief (plus although they weren’t too common in this time period, I’d love the idea of him commissioning a hand fan for you made of lace to match your nicest outfit).

If Four remained in his role as a blacksmith, taking over the business from his grandfather, some of the colours following in their father’s steps and becoming knights, then he would be solely free to do as he wished to pursue you within your own boundaries. He would be a very busy man fulfilling the requirements of the royal guard and private guild requests and commissions, but he would be able to provide you with a good and secure life, especially even in retirement later in life. As a smith, I see him taking days away from the forge as a blessing to be shared with you, taking you on many more nature dates and walks, exploring areas together and bringing you back rare of simply pretty flora or rocks that remind him of you.

As a Hero, Four would have many eyes looking over him and his actions, one may think he’d have freedom of choice having connection to the crown, but he is partially pinned- freedom of money and experience across Hyrule and connections but not time nor space from society. However, even with all his new-found insecurities and restrictions, especially if you’ve been together since you were young and saw his life before, he wants to prove his love and devotion to you, and shall show it every way, and every moment he can.

I’ve heard of scenarios of receiving a blade from your significant other as a sign of marriage or to begin a courtship and I can certainly see this being part of a custom but more in the way that you are given an object of significance, or protection. Now, wedding rings can hold this same meaning, signifying a union between you both or even simply showing someone’s wealth and ability to provide. Other examples of a gift may include: a hand-crafted gift for physical meaning, a gift showing how one may provide or have financial security such as demonstrating their land (e.g. a cow, or goods from a farm), providing material means, deeds for a house or upgrade etc. Other methods are forms of protection, such as a blade, enchanted item such as jewellery or a bounty from a monster etc. Basically, something that can provide the metaphorical or physical meaning of: I love you, I can protect and provide for you.

For Four specifically the idea of forging a blade specifically for you, with metal engravings and a custom sheath, crafted lovingly and with a lot of stress and perfectionism, is very fitting, however, I also see him acknowledging our human customs and trying his hand at silversmithing and trying to craft you a ring to the engrave though it would be a simple metal band, gems too out of his skill level but the thought very much there. Another act of strength and “look at me” energy from him, but not specifically as an offering of marriage or to begin the courtship is for him to kill many monsters during his adventure in front of you or to attempt to beat the boys at different skills, fights, and to basically flaunt himself etc.

Medieval ages were very religious, which I can, luckily, easily apply into Hyrule, whether casual faith or devoted religion through the fact that Hylia, Demise, the Triforce goddesses (Farore, Din and Nayru), and sages are very common legends and stories told throughout all of their history from Skyloft to the Wilds- statues, glass window art, paintings and stories passed among generations. In a way we could even believe that there are certain people who believe in smaller deities in comparison, for example the Fierce Deity and Majora existed so someone must have believed in them, even if eons ago, so there will be other, my main idea is that there would be people who see the stories of Hylia’s descendants and Heroes as deities, considering their stories are foretold through the ages as a prophecy, appearing in their time of need to save Hyrule, the same soul reincarnating, or the Goddesses bestowing their blessings in the forms of people or the Triforce etc. the story changing between each family or smaller group of worship circles.

I don’t personally see Four as a religious individual, especially not towards the Goddesses or any deity, but more so a respect towards previous heroes, especially the Hero of Men, a large stained glass memorial hidden away within a wing of the castle that once acted as a chapel or gallery, a place where he found comfort in his troubles, at the peak of when he had doubts and wished to prove himself. (A piece I love from the artist @kaenith for years)

Castle Town itself doesn’t have a chapel nor a statue used for worship, however, they do have sages and the Four Swords Sanctuary, so whilst it may not be a place for a wedding for others within the town, it may have been a place for the both of you, even if not a proper wedding then at least of moment of the day spent there due to its significance.

Now, slightly unrelated but because I love the head-canons of Hylian’s expressing affection differently, (especially this piece by @the-moon-files though please be warned it does have a NSFW section) so:

The idea of Hylian ears being extremely intimate is already an idea I’ve had and seen reciprocated throughout the fandom, just everyone wants to touch their elf ears and make these lads a mess, plus it links nicely into the fact that it is canon that Hylian’s believe that the shape of their ears is so that they can be sensitive enough to hear the whispers of the Goddesses, to deliver their message. Due to this they could also be seen as a religious symbol.

It’s already a massive demonstration of trust to give a vulnerable part of yourself to someone by allowing them to touch that part of yourself, especially if we get a little bit freaky of nibbling their ears but that’s far more marriage material, so to add a spiritual importance to that makes it even better, the fact you’re trusted with their literal gift from the Goddess themselves.

There aren’t too many situations where someone may accidentally touch another’s ears aside from fixing their hair or a hat, or any other item of clothing; maybe even washing their hair or face if you’re already close. So, with moon’s example of cupping their ears to protect from the cold, I’d like to add in those adorable earmuffs/ covers I’ve seen drawn, so instead you’re helping them adjust the fabric or tie their ribbon whilst their hands are too shaky from the cold.

Immediate bright red face, hands pausing for a moment, they know it’s an accident and considering your own different ears and the fact you’ve already shown many cultural differences, which I’ll also expand on, that it’s unlikely you know what you’ve done, especially if you give no apology nor general reaction; later on if you knew you’d ask permission to help and then apologise at even the slightest touch.

Another example of when apologies may need to be given involves when meeting with certain roles and titles, the most likely example being knights within towns or Princess Zelda herself when attending meetings with the chain as formal measures would be expected in front of the court when asking council of the princess to discuss the black blooded monsters. Meeting the princess and forgetting to bow, take a knee or place your hands in certain positions depending on the custom, especially avoiding eye contact as a sign of respect since for humans we are taught differently.

Linking back to our medieval theme, it also wouldn’t be too common to have certain casual touches without an established relationship, relationships including friendship, not just romantic, but it would be very funny if the others in the group believed that you both were courting and took you both on chaperoned walks to spend time together. Just imagine Time or Warriors, even Legend, walking slightly behind you both as you talk, trying not to listen but having heartfelt concern and dedication of wanting you both to be happy and work- this may even be during the group hikes, you both walking further back but always having someone else at the rear of the group, the others further forward to give everyone space.

When it comes to the other’s reactions within the group it all comes down to two scenarios: Four discusses among the group for advice about what to do and how to approach you and whether you like him, and then the other, Four tells no one of his wishes to court you out of either embarrassment or a wish to maintain a form of “dignity” (he’s just shy) and, therefore, they see your actions and assume you’re both courting and possibly trying to keep quiet about it, ensue the chaperoning and wingman-ship.

The afternoon sun filtered through the canopy of leaves overhead, casting dappled shadows across the worn forest path, small pebbles and trampled grass leaving only bare dirt in a man-made pathway through the trees, the occasional wooden stumps and parallel lines in the soil showing where carts had made space to travel before you. You adjusted the strap of your small pack, still a reasonably small size of a small satchel, but large enough within after some very helpful magical enhancements by Legend, feeling the weight shift more comfortably against your shoulder, the thin leather strap no longer digging into your shoulder. It’d taken you six months of daily talks and bonding with the men in front of you, one by your side and another behind to learn and acknowledge their titles as heroes throughout timelines, the trust between you all now solid, now the status bestowed upon you of being another key member within the group despite your lack of belonging to this world, only having been brought here by powers and circumstances out of your control. Traveling together on this sprawling quest, destinations unplanned and unknown to you all until brought upon you, you had found yourself among them, developing skills and knowledge valuable enough to warrant inclusion and importance, especially with the added advantage of applying knowledge of your own world into this, whilst advanced in magic, more medieval style land you’ve been place in.

Your gaze drifted forward to where the others walked in loose formation, Time led at the front, his tall frame and commanding presence a natural vanguard, ironically reinforced with a more sentimental reassurance of concern and protection by his wife's scarf fluttering at his neck as he consulted occasionally with Twilight beside him. Despite the warm sun, a cold chill had picked up as the afternoon progressed, not warranting many extra layers, but a small, simple comfort to the older man, similar to your own short, thin cape, lovingly provided by Four beside you- formerly Roc’s cape, though he said he held no need for it, your own comfort more important to him. Warriors and Wind followed, the former regaling the younger hero with what was surely an embellished tale of one of his conquests, if Wind's sceptical expressions were anything to go by at least, until Wind gained a smirk of his own chin falling over his shoulder as he told his own tales, the Captain’s face now scrunched at his brow. Unlike the others Sky, Hyrule and Wild walked together in a comfortable silence, the latter occasionally pointing out edible plants or animal tracks; Legend strode alone, slightly apart, his pink-tinged hair beautifully bright against the forest greens but he still held a smile overhearing the occasional comment from Wild or outburst from the two in blue further in front.

Then, behind them all, there was Four.

Four walked just a few paces ahead of you, occasionally looking over his shoulder to engage in a conversation with you, though it felt much more like checking in, which was very sweet, you’d see his eyes a familiar violet shade that seemed to shift hues depending on how the light caught it- sometimes you swore his iris would flash red, blue, green, or violet in quick succession, much different that his usual slow rolling wave of colours. His movements were measured and precise, his squire training and days with his father spent as a knight shining through in small ways, even in something as mundane as walking telling the story of his life and what different lives you both have led. There was something slightly different yet still mesmerising about his movements, only now noticeable to you after your previous discussions of his adventure and what it entailed for him physically, as though four different minds had to deliberately think and vote on the most efficient way to place each foot to maintain a steady gait and façade. Something was troubling him mentally to the point it was affecting his coordination, and it wasn’t due to a portal, the last one you’d seen being over six days ago.

Later down the trail came a different issue: behind you both walked Sky, who had drifted back from his conversation with Wild when he noticed the two of you falling behind, his presence was both comforting and frustrating, acting as a silent chaperone to interactions that never quite crossed into the territory you both seemed to be circling.

"We should reach the village by sundown," Four said, glancing back at you with those striking eyes that seemed to hold more colours than should be possible, before releasing a groan as he recalled a moment from earlier in the day “assuming we don't encounter any more of those moblins from this morning."

"I hope so," you replied with a laugh at his theatrics, quickening your pace slightly to walk beside him rather than your previous position of being slightly behind, "I'm not sure my boots can take another day of this terrain in their state."

Four's gaze dropped to your feet, more so to your worn leather boots, what should have lasted you years with the thick leather and skilled craftsmanship but instead where beginning to fray at the seams after a bad trip through Death Mountain the week previous in Wild’s world, the vast temperature difference wreaking havoc on your gear’s lifespan. "The stitching on the left one is starting to give way, I could repair it for you tonight, if you'd like,” his eyes twinkling at the opportunity to do something helpful for you, to prove himself useful even though he’d done far more than that each day, “I have some tools and thick thread in my pack."

The offer sent a flutter through your chest that you tried desperately to suppress, everyone was aware that Four's craftsmanship was legendary, quite literally pun intended, you’d be silly to deny such a thing, the grandson of a renounced smith who trained him, as well as his own work known across Hyrule, working with those of high status in Castle Town and even the crown personally. Having him personally tend to your boots would be both practical and, in a strange sense you couldn’t truly describe, intimate, in a way that made your cheeks warm- possibly it was the way that he’d offered so quickly to help you or the unknown vulnerability of him handling your footwear of which you relied on heavily for your travels, your comfort in his hands and a trust you shouldn’t need, stories of creeps tingling quietly in the far back of your mind, the information not needed here, this was Four, you trusted him not to even think of such a boundary crossing act, never mind enact it.

"That's very kind," you answered, perhaps a beat too late, caught up in thought and a slight daze looking into his eyes, “but I wouldn't want to impose."

"It's no issue, truly," he tried to reassure you without need, Four's voice was soft but certain, he began to speak again but hesitated, glancing back at Sky who was pretending not to listen to your small conversation, though his slightly reddened ears gave him away. "I enjoy working with my hands, it helps me think."

You wondered what thoughts needed sorting in that complex mind of his- more than once, you'd caught him seemingly arguing with himself in hushed tones, his expressions cycling through emotions rapid-fire before settling into composed neutrality when he noticed anyone watching.

"Then I gratefully accept," you said, offering a smile that you hoped conveyed just the right amount of appreciation without revealing the depth of your feelings, you still weren’t too sure on Hylian customs and didn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable, especially your first incident of trying to help Wild tie his hair and learning instead a lesson of Hylian affection, calmly taught to you by Time, Wild and Hyrule adding in his own ways of learning in his different Hyrule as a reassurance you didn’t do wrong, all the men very delicate with your feelings especially if you panicked and cried under pressure.

Four returned the smile, brief but genuine, before his attention was drawn to Legend, who had stopped ahead and was squinting at something in the distance.

"Hold," Time called back, his voice carrying without shouting, a skill you'd always envied though made a lot of sense when trying to command without alerting possible dangers, he gave you more light-hearted ammunition for dad jokes every day. The group halted, hands instinctively moving to weapons.

"There's a strange light beyond those trees," Legend reported, pointing to a shimmering distortion about fifty yards ahead.

"Another portal?" Warriors questioned, cautious, his dominant hand already on his sword hilt, the other rested light on Wind’s shoulder, the younger boy also ready to fight with his sword drawn.

Time shook his head as he approached, maintaining his site on the light in question, what now showed itself to be a strange pillar amassed in moss and brambles, with multiple different carvings, a small purple light coming from a thin stream of running water within. "Doesn't have the same aura. Wild, your Sheikah Slate might help identify it, it’s shown it’s knowledge, and your land has proven itself full of strange magics we haven’t seen before."

As Wild moved forward to investigate, Four unconsciously shifted slightly in front of you, not completely blocking you, but positioned such that he could move to protect you if needed. The gesture wasn't overt enough to suggest he thought you incapable, but rather born from instinct; you found yourself feeling touched rather than offended.

"It's Sheikah technology," Wild confirmed after a few, long minutes of scanning the object and consulting his slate, “though, it seems modified in comparison to the pictures in my databases, like it’s corrupted somehow."

"Like the shrines in your Hyrule?" Twilight asked.

"Similar energy signature, but twisted, the lights are usually blue for the Sheikah, orange when left inactive or stationary for too long from what I’ve seen, though some guardians were also orange,” he pondered in a mumble, finishing his statement with a nod, “we should approach with caution, either way."

You felt Sky move closer behind you, an intimidating presence when paired with the straight look upon his face, his hand now resting on the divine sword at his hip, a small light pulsing from within at his touch, the spirit within dousing the imminent area for possible danger, talking to the man. The three of you- you, Four, and Sky- had somehow formed a unit within the larger group over the past weeks; it hadn't been intentional, but traveling together had a way of revealing natural alignments.

"Perhaps I should take a closer look," you suggested, aware of your particular talents for magical assessment, or more so your ability to identify and feel which era certain technology came from, your current view obstructed by the shrubbery before you, the swirl of forest magic strong within the aged trees, unable to compare to the images you’d seen of the shrines at this distance, though, they didn’t need to know that part, you smiled. "If it's corrupted technology, I might be able to see what's wrong with it whilst Fi gets a closer radius to sense anything, too."

Four turned to you, his expression carefully controlled, an attempt at a mask of control, heroic bravery, courage, but you caught the flicker of concern in his eyes as well as a brighter swirl of red and violet directly around his pupil before settling back to their usual evenly mixed hue.

"It could be dangerous," he said, his tone measured.

"Everything we do is dangerous," you countered gently, you knew he was concerned, you weren’t meant to be in this mess of heroes, but you could help, and help you would, "but this is why I'm here, isn't it- my sensitivity to magical fluctuations? Let me be useful to you," you whispered, leaning slightly into his space to transfer the message.

Four looked like he wanted to argue but couldn't find a logical reason to do so. His protective instinct was battling with his respect for your abilities- he trusted you too, besides, you’d more than proved yourself and your knowledge during this adventure. "I'll go with you," he finally said, a compromise that seemed to satisfy the warring expressions that had briefly crossed his face.

Sky cleared his throat softly behind you. "I'll accompany you both. Three sets of eyes are better than two."

The implication was clear, he would maintain his role as chaperone, even in the face of potential danger- the customs around courtship in Sky's era were more formal than most of the others, and he took his self-appointed duty seriously. You'd never explicitly discussed your growing feelings for Four with Sky, but his gentle presence whenever you and Four were alone together suggested he'd noticed what neither of you had voiced.

As the three of you approached the anomaly with the rest of the group hanging back in strategic positions, Four walked slightly ahead, his four-sword drawn but not raised. You followed close behind, your hands ready to weave the protective spells you'd mastered, while Sky brought up the rear, the Master Sword glowing faintly with its divine light.

The corrupted Sheikah technology looked like a small, vertical shrine partially embedded in the earth, but veins of moss and malevolent purple energy pulsed through what should have been a calm blue light, the carved stone a light grey, bleached from the sun. As you drew closer, a sensation similar, but not exact, like static electricity raised the hair on your arms, like a wild animal approaching from between the trees, hackles raised, the low hum of energy acting as a sharp growl in your bones.

"There's definitely something wrong with it," you murmured, unsettled, "It feels, I can’t describe it properly but... hungry, like cramps of an empty stomach and danger beneath my skin, like I’m light-headed."

Four nodded, his expression intensely focused. "The corruption reminds me of Vaati's magic, when I was at the Four Swords Sanctuary, not the Wind Temple, more like, before he took Zelda, but different; more mechanical."

You knelt down, careful not to touch the object, and began to trace the symbols carved in the stone, your finger weaving through the air, roughly an inch or two away, the air between you thick with static, burning sharp at your hand. With practiced confidence, you began to trace your own sigils into the air, the thick static acting like a soft mould, your indents clear, the diagnostic spell was simple, taught to you by Hyrule, but would tell you more about what you were dealing with.

As your magic connected with the corrupted energy, several things happened at once: the purple veins flared brightly, a high-pitched whine emanated from the device, and a shock wave of energy pulsed outward; Four shouted your name and lunged toward you as Sky called out a warning. In those few seconds of panic at what had occurred and processing your environment and situation, you felt Four's arms wrap around you as he pulled you back, turning his body to shield yours as the wave hit.

In disorientating flashes, the world went stark white, then a void of black, and for a moment, you felt as though you were floating in nothing; then, with jarring suddenness, solid ground returned beneath you, and you found yourself sprawled on the forest floor with Four's weight partially covering you, his arms still protectively positioned around your shoulders.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice tight with concern as he quickly moved off you, though his hands remained on your shoulders.

"I think so," you replied, taking stock of your limbs and finding everything intact, if a bit bruised, though luckily no scratches, you didn’t feel like dealing with a foreign infection today. "What about you? You’re the one who had the brunt of a shockwave hit against your spine, that couldn’t have been good."

"I'm fine," he said, helping you to sit up, his eyes scanned your face intently, as if searching for any sign of injury or possible distress.

It was then, looking around at both Four to ensure he was okay, and at your surroundings to see if the others were okay, that you realised Sky was nowhere to be seen, in fact, none of the other heroes were visible. The forest around you looked similar but subtly different, the light a strange amber hue, the vegetation slightly off in colour and texture from what you could feel of the grass beneath your hands, fingers splayed through an almost velvet feeling.

"Where are the others?" you asked, a tremor of worry in your voice.

Four stood, offering his hand to help you up. "The device must have transported us somewhere, or some-when considering the nature of this adventure, though I’d certainly hope not." His grip lingered on yours a moment longer than necessary before he reluctantly let go to also survey your surroundings.

"Sky was right behind us," you said, turning in a circle, “do you think he was caught in the transport too? I don’t see why not."

Four shook his head slowly. "I'm not sure. I reacted on instinct when I saw the energy building, my only thought was to protect you."

The admission hung in the air between you, weighty with implication. In the absence of the others, particularly your ever-present chaperone, the dynamic between you shifted, becoming charged with possibilities neither of you had allowed yourselves to explore.

"Thank you," you said softly. "For protecting me.” You allowed yourself to suppress to a small blush and a smile to accompany it, you didn’t think he meant to say that part out loud, especially not in such a firm and commanding tone as he did- it was quite attractive if you could say so yourself, especially the dark blush upon his own face.

Four met your gaze, and for once, he didn't look away or temper his expression, “always," he replied simply.

The silence that followed was neither awkward nor comfortable, but expectant, like the pause before a lightning strike, Four took a small step closer to you, then stopped himself, conflict evident in his features.

"We should..." he began, then frowned, as if arguing with himself, “we need to find the others."

With a sharp nod, you agreed, though part of you wished to remain in this moment, suspended between what was and what could be. "But which direction? This forest seems similar but different enough that I can't get my bearings, do we return down the path we followed as a group, that doesn’t seem right, like we’d lose progress or that the others wouldn’t be there."

Four closed his eyes for a moment, and you could almost see the internal dialogue taking place. When he opened them again, they flashed distinctly green before settling.

"This way," he said with surprising certainty, pointing east, “there's a clearing not far from here where we can get a better view of the surroundings."

"How do you know?" you asked, falling into step beside him.

A small, mysterious smile played at his lips. "Let's just say I have different perspectives on the situation."

As you walked together through the strange forest, you found yourselves automatically matching pace, shoulders occasionally brushing, without Sky's watchful presence behind you, the space between you seemed to shrink naturally, as if you were magnets slowly overcoming resistance. It wasn’t anything against Sky, not that his presence wasn’t welcome nor appreciated as a friend, but sometimes, you just needed some time alone, some privacy, even if it went against the standard beliefs, a bit too intimate and private before your courting became official.

"You've never talked much about it," you ventured after several minutes of companionable silence, “the four sword, I mean, and how it affected you."

Four's step faltered slightly, you both knew it was a personal question, perhaps too personal, but the unusual circumstances made you bold, you wanted to know all about him. Wasn’t that the point of a courtship- to get to know each other in preparation for marriage? I f you were to love a man you wanted to love all of him, his positives, his negatives, his charms and his flaws- you wanted him.

"It's,” he hesitated slightly, trying to think of the correct words, what he considered correct, “complicated," he replied, carefully picking his way over a fallen log and offering his hand to help you across. "Imagine having four different versions of yourself, each with their own dominant traits, all trying to agree on every decision."

You placed your hand in his, noting how perfectly it seemed to fit, “that sounds overwhelming." You knew you could have your own overstimulated moments, the idea of a constant panic attack or stimulation episode being even too much to think about, to be in such disharmony with no solution or rest.

"It was, at first," he admitted, not letting go of your hand even after you'd safely crossed the obstacle, "people tell me of how they see us together: Red is emotion, Blue is temperament, Vio is intellect, and Green is... well, he's the leader, I suppose, the balanced one., but we’re far more than that, we’re people of our own, we all hold an important role but we also have far more behind us, what makes us, us."

"And how do you feel now?" you asked, genuinely curious.

Four looked down at your joined hands, seeming to notice for the first time that he hadn't released you, a blush coloured his cheeks, but he didn't pull away.

"All of them. None of them. I've learned to exist as a whole while still honouring their parts," his thumb absently traced a small circle on the back of your hand, “they're all in agreement about some things, though."

Your heart quickened. "Such as?"

Before he could answer, a familiar voice called out from ahead, a shout of your name, followed by Four’s, “praise Hylia, you're both alright!"

Sky emerged from between the trees; relief evident on his face, his tunic was slightly singed at the edges, and a smudge of dirt streaked one cheek, but otherwise, he appeared unharmed.

Four immediately dropped your hand, taking a small step away from you as if the stinging static had returned, the moment, whatever it might have become, had passed, interrupted.

"Sky," you greeted, ignoring the pang of disappointment, yet still happy to see him returned and mostly, hopefully, unharmed, “are you hurt?"

"Just a few scrapes," he assured you, coming to a stop before you both. His eyes flickered briefly to the space between you and Four, now conspicuously wider than it had been moments ago; if he noticed anything amiss, he gave no indication. "The others are just beyond that ridge. The device seems to have transported our entire group to, well, Time believes we're in yet another Hyrule, one none of us has visited before. Legend and Warriors believe it may have been a strange combination of a portal attaching to a similar magic field within that Hyrule, making it instead require activation, most likely the feature of the pillar itself, then into the portal, not simply forming as we would usually expect- it’s quite interesting really, I’ll tell you both more later, the others can add in too"

"Is everyone accounted for?" Four asked, his voice returning to its usual composed tone, though he was unable to hide the light darkened tone across the bone of his cheeks and tips of his pointed ears, lowering towards his collar and partially hidden by his straight hair.

"Yes, though Warriors took a harder hit than the rest of us, Wild is tending to him now." Sky gestured for you both to follow him. "Come, Time wants to regroup and form a plan."

As you moved to follow Sky, Four caught your elbow gently, holding you back for just a moment.

"We'll continue our conversation later," he said softly, his voice carrying a promise, then, louder for Sky's benefit: "watch your step here, the ground is uneven."

Sky glanced back, waiting patiently with that same gentle awareness that had characterised his chaperoning. Four released your arm, fingers lightly tracing against the cuff of your sleeve, but the warmth of his touch lingered as you made your way toward the rest of the group.

The ridge Sky led you to over-looked a vast, unfamiliar landscape, a sprawling field stretched out below, dotted with strange ruins that resembled neither the Sheikah technology of Wild's era nor any ancient civilisation you recognised; in the far distance, a mountain belched ominous red smoke into the sky, while closer at hand, what appeared to be a village huddled near a winding river, currently untainted by the ashes so close by.

The other heroes had established a makeshift camp in a defensible position along the ridge. Time stood surveying the landscape with his good eye, a small white mask cradled within his hand occasionally lifted to his face as he looked back and forth, while Twilight conversed quietly with Legend. Wind was helping Wild tend to Warriors, who sat propped against a tree with a bandage around his head. All looked up as you approached.

"Good, you're safe," Time acknowledged with a nod, “now we're all accounted for."

"Any idea where we are?" Four asked, falling easily back into the role of strategic team member rather than the more vulnerable person who had nearly opened his heart to you in the forest.

"Not exactly," Time replied. "The architecture of those ruins doesn't match any Hyrule I know. Wild thinks some of the plant life resembles species from his time, but further evolved."

"It's as if someone took pieces from all our worlds and stitched them together imperfectly," Legend added, his usual sarcastic tone tempered by genuine concern.

"The corrupted device," you mused aloud. "Could it have transported us to some kind of composite reality?"

"That's our working theory," Twilight confirmed, “the question is how to get back."

As the heroes began to discuss possibilities, you found yourself standing slightly apart, processing not just the bizarre circumstances but also the interrupted moment with Four, you were so lost in thought that you didn't notice him approach until he was beside you.

"Are you alright?" he asked quietly, his concern evident. "That was a powerful magical surge you were exposed to."

You nodded, not mentioning the fact he too had been exposed, if not to a greater level considering how he’d tried to protect you, but you wouldn’t mention it if he didn’t want you to. "Just trying to make sense of it all. I feel like I was on the verge of understanding something about the corruption before we were transported, like it was telling me something through physical feelings, it’s aura had an imprint of something I couldn’t grasp."

Four studied you with those beautiful kaleidoscopic eyes of his, feeling clear on his face, he never was good at restraining himself, you didn’t mind. "About the device, or about something else entirely?"

The question hung between you, layered with meaning, but before you could respond, Time called everyone together to outline a plan of action.

"We'll make camp here tonight," he decided, “then in the morning, Wild, Wind, and I will scout toward the village to gather information; the rest of you should try to locate any similar devices in the immediate area, they might be the key to our way home or at least to progress further."

As the group dispersed to set up camp for the night, you found yourself assigned to gather firewood with Four while Sky helped Wild prepare an evening meal. It seemed your chaperone was giving you a small measure of privacy while still keeping you within sight of the camp, a subtle acknowledgment of the unspoken courtship dance you and Four had been engaged in for weeks, if not months- you had an inkling of  suspicion that Four had possibly discussed this before considering you yourself didn’t previously know of courtships and rituals within Hyrule.

"Here," Four said, handing you a small knife from his belt as you ventured into the tree line, another shy sparkle within his eye, there was something you didn’t know, but you were patient “for cutting kindling."

Your fingers brushed as you accepted the blade, and neither of you rushed to break the contact.

"Thank you," you said, feeling the weight of words unsaid between you.

Four nodded, his expression softening, “we should stay within sight of camp. This place feels unpredictable, so to say."

As you gathered fallen branches together, working in comfortable tandem, Four seemed to be gathering his courage as well. Several times, he appeared on the verge of speaking, only to redirect his attention to a particularly suitable piece of firewood.

"You were going to tell me something," you finally prompted, straightening up with an armful of kindling, embracing your opportunity of privacy one more, “before Sky found us, about what the four aspects of yourself agree on."

Four set down his gathered wood, dusting his hands off on his tunic before meeting your gaze directly, fingers lightly catching on his embroidery, eyes quickly darting down at realising what he did, quickly brushing of the remaining dust with hasty swats at the cloth.

"Yes," he acknowledged, taking a deep breath. "It's not... it's not proper, I know, and without formal declaration or," he gestured vaguely back toward camp, where Sky was visible in the distance, “without observation, but I can't keep pretending that I don't--"

A shout from camp interrupted him, Wind was pointing excitedly at the sky, where a strange aurora had begun to form, ribbons of light in unnatural colours, neon blues, greens, pinks and purples, weaving across the darkening heavens.

Four's expression cycled rapidly through frustration, resignation, and finally resolve. He turned back to you, and in a swift, decisive motion that surprised you with its boldness, he reached out and took your hand firmly in his, the dry callouses of his hands tingling against your skin.

"I don't want to wait anymore," he said, the words coming out in a rush. "When that device exploded and I thought you might be hurt, I realised how foolish I've been, following customs from a Hyrule that w aren’t even in anymore, customs changing everywhere we go, judgement for our actions no matter what we try- customs you aren’t even familiar with,” he bowed his head and shoot it vigorously, hair waving and bouncing against his cheeks. “So I'm asking now, without ceremony or chaperone: would you consider a courtship between us?"

The directness of the question, so at odds with the careful dance you'd been performing for weeks, left you momentarily speechless, Four's grip tightened slightly on your hand, his vulnerability evident in the tension of his shoulders. "I should have asked properly," he continued, misinterpreting your silence. "With gifts and declarations and, well, just anything you may understand, I know you said gifts were common in your culture and spending time and, and--" he began to stutter and ramble, brain twisting in a panic of what to say, what would be right and understandable- what would express what he felt.

Leaning forward, you slipped a hand free to cup at his face, lifting him to look into your own eyes, hair falling against his ears once again, with Four still blubbering and panicked, you leant forward further, nose running along his in a gentle caress, and gave him a soft, short kiss.

"Yes," you interrupted, finding your voice at last, slightly breathless from your uncharacterised confidence, “yes, I would consider it, more than consider it,” you stuttered now yourself, the gloss in his eyes and flushed face making you nervous, “I accept, and yes, before you question yourself, I know what this entails,” you smiled bright, stretching at your cheeks and crinkling your eyes, “I accept.”

The smile that bloomed across Four's face was like sunrise after the longest night, radiant and full of promise, for a brief, breathless moment, you thought he might close the remaining distance between you, again, courtship customs be damned.

Instead, he lifted your joined hands and, with deliberate care, turned your palm upward. From a small pouch at his belt, he produced a tiny object that glinted in the fading light: a delicately crafted silver ring, set not with a gemstone but with a lovingly carved coil of vines and small circles of fairies, wings glossy with shined metal.

"I made this," he confessed, placing it in your palm and closing your fingers gently around it, “months ago, I just knew,” his blush darkened even further if it was even possible, spreading down his neck, “I've been carrying it, waiting for the right moment, the proper time according to tradition, but I'm realising that in our line of work, waiting for perfect circumstances is a luxury we can't afford."

You opened your hand to examine the exquisite craftsmanship of the ring, imagining him trying to perfect it, the time and effort it took, the stress of the perfect gift. "It's beautiful."

"It's a promise," Four explained, his voice low and sincere. "That no matter how many parts make up the whole, all of me is devoted to this path we're starting down, If you'll have me, of course."

From the camp, Sky's voice called out, summoning everyone to dinner, Four looked back, then at you, clearly torn between propriety and the moment at hand.

"We should join the others," you said, slipping the ring onto your finger with a small smile and zero hesitation, “but Four," you called softly, taking his hand once more, squeezing it gently, “the answer is always yes. I'll have you, all of you."

The look that passed between you contained volumes: relief, joy, anticipation of what was to come, as you gathered up the firewood and began walking back to camp side by side, Four's shoulder brushed yours deliberately.

"You know," he said with a small smile, "Sky is going to be insufferably pleased with himself when he realises what's happened."

You laughed, feeling lighter than you had in months, “let him be. He's earned the right to a little smugness after all his patient chaperoning."

As you approached the camp, the strange aurora overhead cast everything in an otherworldly glow, the faces of your companions both familiar and transformed by the unusual light. You were stranded in an unknown composite of realities, facing uncertain dangers and an unclear path home.

Yet somehow, with Four's presence beside you and his promise literally in your hand, you couldn't bring yourself to feel afraid. Whatever this new world held, whatever any world held, you would face it together, no longer separated by unspoken feelings or traditional restraints.

Sky met your eyes as you entered the circle of firelight, his gaze dropping briefly to the ring now adorning your finger. A knowing smile touched his lips as he nodded almost imperceptibly, his role as chaperone evolving into something new: witness to the beginning of your journey together, almost like a blessing from a God himself.

Four looked at you one more time before you joined the others, his expression more unified and peaceful than you'd ever seen it. In that moment, you knew that whatever trials lay ahead, across time, space, or composite realities, the greatest adventure had already begun.

As long as you were together, all would be okay.

---

As always, thank you for reading, all criticism is welcome!

Fun facts:

I'm terrible at keeping to head-canons and bullet points, I simply had to add a small fic at the end, it was calling to me, plus despite many ideas my brain wouldn't focus enough to bullet point them all- massive respect to people who do bullet-points, and remember to check out @kaenith and @the-moon-files they're both great.

Also, RIP my old Tumblr which was basically all kaenith art and Four Swords content, o7. Apologies to everyone @ 'd in this, I apologise for the notification but I'd love to point out great people in the creative space.

Also, extra fun fact, I shall hopefully write another scenario with Shadow!

[puddlestories]

Body Swap AU Extras + Four/Colours Kissing- Head-canons

Four x GN Reader (no gendered pronouns or description)

Idea: some bullet-points based on my previous writing, some reasonings for what happened and some simple writings on an alternate scenario; featured are: the original writing, if you both kissed (as well as featuring the colours), and if you both hid the swap from the group.

CW: talk of allergic reactions (no actual harm caused); pre-marital kissing /lh. Just a small post as apology for part 2.

3.9k words; not proof-read

The original story:

You and Four were originally both stationed at the outer circle of the camp, Four attempting to buff a deep scratch out of his shield, engraved deep within the cosmetic detail and you sat watching, occasionally staring into space.

It was once Twilight and Legend went to patrol that you both began a small conversation, discussing different sights you’d seen along the way, occasionally asking questions as to certain meanings of plants or their uses as well as the popularity of areas to Hylians- Four explains that most people don’t really travel so most areas are okay to inhabit.

Camp had not yet been set up, waiting for an all clear from the two lads who’d left for safety reasons, giving the ability to quickly retreat- though obviously that didn’t happen.

Only a few tarps had been hung between branches to block the sweltering sun from you all; the open area causing a slight divide between the groups as the tarps became separated between different areas of trees

Despite the scouts not yet giving the signal of safety, people like Time, Warrior and Hyrule began to remove some armour- the weight too much after a long tiring walk, or the leather far too uncomfortable in the heat for Hyrule.

Exhaustion from walking and heat exhaustion, combined with the strategy of the monsters left the camp unaware of the severity of the impending danger, they’d fought with less equipment before and been in more dire situations.

The fight wasn’t easy, strong monsters combined with overwhelming numbers and a strategy to boot- they were victorious, but it took time, enough time for you and Four to become separated from the rest.

As for the others after the fight, Sky was able to have his wound wrapped and a red potion poured within to decrease the chances of infection, his wound needing stitches with the potion not being enough to fully heal him since it went too deep. Luckily enough it wasn’t positioned to hit any nerves, meaning that whilst he’d be out of commission for a week or two, he’d be approved to fight again once his stitches could be removed.

Wind was the worst injured, others mostly were just exhausted and with cuts and many bruises.

Wind having seen slashed through his gastrocnemius muscles, would have all of Hyrule’s remaining magic poured into him, as well as two red potions, him unable to stomach a third. The wound would take even with proper healing at least a month for all the muscle fibres to reconnect and he’d need daily stretches and physiotherapy to ensure he didn’t walk with a limp.

Though being younger he didn’t fully grasp the consequences, sometimes skipping his exercises and straining himself too much when the group was forced to move onward- he later walked with a slight limp the rest of the journey, ironically only fixing itself two years in when he broke his ankle climbing a slick rock in Wild’s world.

Now, differing from the actual chronological order here’s where we start skipping and getting to Four:

To start with, when you both swapped, Four awoke from the spell first, he was still extremely groggy and out of it, because of that he didn’t initially notice that Blue was gone.

Usually after a portal the colours become a bit muddled, each experiencing the transition differently, some becoming sick, others dizzy and some sometimes passing out.

Red was extremely dizzy, Green feeling like he wanted to vomit, their body lurching and curling forward, eyes tightly closed.

Vio was still only just waking up, and because of that, they originally thought that Blue was unconscious, that’s why he didn’t respond to any questions or mental probing.

Once they, saw you approach them, in their body and they realised the situation they immediately panicked, thinking about how this magic could possibly effect you both- he’d already been impacted by the magic of the four sword as well as the Minish, his shorter stature and separated mindset, the colours, it had changed him permanently; for that, he feared you’d both be stuck.

As soon as they discovered Blue was with you the fear doubled, this time it was a different fear.

Would you be terrified of someone who had multiple people within them, inside their mind- would you think they were crazy or dangerous?

What would happen to them, to Blue- would they lose a part of themselves, would Blue fade without the magic of the four sword, would they fade since they weren’t in their original body?

In an attempt to not fully panic themselves with unknown outer scenarios (that they had zero influence over), they focused on you, their surprise, you were okay with it,

You accepted them without question, a confusion fading into an uneducated understanding, one based purely on trust.

Just that moment shifted their understanding of you, placing you as a safe space, someone trustworthy with their entire being.

Their secret exposed without their consent, unable to plan who it was revealed to and how, no time for physical nor mental preparation- they were vulnerable.

They were vulnerable in a way others wouldn’t understand, placing them in front of you, placing them within your own personal space too, within your head; both of you being shoved into each other’s space and privacy with no intention to do so.  

However, you accepted them all, and it truly was them all, once Shadow revealed himself, Vio mentally kicking Green at the time he said that, still extremely out of it when they first saw you.

Shadow was a lovable menace through the dungeon, curling around your ankles as you walked, a cold breeze up your back and his dark fog stretching and shooting across the floor and walls as you went around corners acting as a look-out.

You struggled at times going through the dungeon, feeling separated within the body, struggling to control alongside Blue, but most times you both worked as a pair.

You both bonded through struggles, as well as the other colours through teamwork and guarding each other; the acceptance of his secret and greatest friend increasing your relationship from a friendship, formed by mutual understanding with you being misplaced into Hyrule and Four feeling separated from his family; unable to split around the others.

After the fight within the dungeon you comforted the colours, all overwhelmed with the situation, the possible loss of their brother and friend… someone they possibly consider as more than a friend, someone they want to know more.

How would they live without their other piece?

Would they be a broken puzzle and morn his loss, or would they all fade away, no more Link meaning no more colours?

You comforted them, wiping their tears and holding them close.

In that moment he could have held you tight, held you for longer, but he had to pull away, a small voice whispering about your possible discomfort, another stating about being vulnerable, not negative but if you’d want someone more stable, more masculine another voice whispered only to be shut down by the others. They were plenty manly even with tears down their face, besides, you wouldn’t think like that.

If anything you found them quite cute, you would say pretty but saying that to someone in your body did feel a bit weird, but despite your eyes (which you could admit sparkled in quite a pretty way in the orange glow of the fire rod) looking back at you, their mannerisms were very sweet.

During the fight with Link in the orchard, and Blue later merged back with the others that they all saw and heard about the ultimate trust you placed in them all, allowing Blue to take control, your lives on the line during the fight.

He wanted to return that trust placed in you once you were all merged back together, you protected them, accepted them, and they will protect you.

Returning to the forest, they were relieved that there was no immediate damage or side effects to either of you aside from your headache and his fatigue.

What he didn’t appreciate was the interruption.

If you did kiss (Four):

Your first kiss together would be extremely shy and awkward. (I love all other content regarding Hyrule having different courting rituals, so I’d love to write a separate post on that and all the boys.)

Four had never kissed anyone before, originally too proud as Link to kiss anyone, he was going to be a knight, he had to focus; then after the spilt they had been both far too absorbed in their work as well as far too insecure with their new development to engage with anyone else- their grandfather and father both knowing this and trying to encourage him outside at times and to maintain relationships.

The kiss was angled and soft, lips lightly brushing, the occasional push of lips from Four, noses bumping and chin brushing foreheads, his hair framing you both behind a thin curtain.

He was warm, lips chapped and his upper lip slightly thin, but lower lip plump and encased against yours.

His ears flapped lightly afterwards, a large grin on his face and bright red spread across his cheeks, ears and neck.

After the kiss he just continued giggling, lost in his own word, grin held tight on his face.

Blue:

To start, he has a slightly malformed hand, the bones within once broken from a forging incident, his hammer dropped onto his hand; luckily, he still has all movement, just hand cramps occasionally from strain where the muscles didn’t reconnect and heal properly due to a lack of proper medical care.

His injury relates to how he shows you his affection, acts of service and showing off occasionally, however he has to be careful of his hand.

He wishes he could hold your hand 24/7, but his muscles cramp if his fingers remain interlocked with yours for too long; he did try simply cupping your hands together but even that didn’t work, hands getting sweaty so he would wipe them constantly worried of grossing you out.

The type of guy to lift you up as he kisses you, height be damned, though not always possible with his hand.

Rests his hand on the back of your neck as you kiss, pulling himself up and you downwards into him.

I’m convinced he’d be the most likely to let you pick him up instead but you can’t say a word to anyone else.

To see vs to say is his ideology- if someone saw you both kissing he’d be the proudest guy around, chest puffed in pride that he has you and that you’re willing to kiss him, that you enjoy kissing him and love him.

Will praise you to the moon and further, Blue is lost in space.

However, if someone were to be told of you both sharing a kiss, even if just a light tease or remark from another in the group he’d become extremely flustered, eyes wide and glittering, cheeks puffed and ears wiggling.

He’s too cute really.

You’d eat him up if you could, well and maybe you did.

Deep passionate kisses and would kiss for an hour if you’d allow it.

Honestly, I’d place money to say he’d kiss you until he passed out if it was possible.

Green:

Another passionate kisser.

Most likely to learn what the term “making out” means, and will hold to that standard, honestly his favourite way to kiss you.

The more passion, the better, the more heat and movement the better- he’s got to show you his prowess and dedication to the task!

It’s like neither of you can stay still, stepping back, brushing the desk, back to the wall, his back to the wall, walking back across the room etc. just leading each other around, pressing into each other and the kiss itself creating a dizzying dance of movement.

Your first kiss I see him as someone who kept his eyes open, hands by his sides until a few seconds in, hands lifting but not touching you.

Poor boy was in shock that this amazing person who he has had the largest urge to court has kissed him?!

Yes, you had to kiss him, not the other way around, he would be far too shy to initiate anything with you- a brave honoured knight who can’t even stutter out his feelings, though he does make them quite obvious in his actions, allowing you to know to act first.

If you’re too shy to initiate, then the other boys are taking the lead for you both.

Tripping either of you (though they are most likely to trip Green instead, they wouldn’t want to hurt or embarrass you, their brother in arms though is a free sacrifice).

Setting up dates, whether planned together or on both your behalf, neither of you have the confidence.

During trips out around Castle Town or the local woods and hiking trails, no kiss shared.

The boys tried many scenarios, from different outfits planned for you both by stealing other clothes out of your wardrobes, to planning different dates and environments; they even involved other people such as restaurant owners or local shopkeepers to make comments to you both- a psychological attempt, to “plant a seed” Red stated.

Once there was a close call- Green falling onto you, knocking you both to the floor, his arm behind your head to protect you, chests pressed tight together, sharing each other’s breathe, and… your lips not touching.

Vio was one nerve away from walking over and shoving Green’s head down into yours /lh.

In the end, you both shared a kiss away from the others, likely after a knight dual that Green won, a shy reasoning of a reward for his victory.

Red:

A man who knows what he wants.

Zero anxiety and zero shame- judgement from others is nowhere near his radar, and even if the idea passed his mind, it was quickly brushed away with no care.

Definitely more aware of his surroundings; the most likely to kiss you in public or in front of the others.

If you’re embarrassed, it makes him feel even better, maybe even a bit risqué, though if you were ashamed, it’d hurt him.

All you need to do is tell him of your discomfort and he’d be more than willing to leave any kisses, especially the more feet sweeping passion at home, or at least as close to home as he can hold back.

Forest kisses, hidden corners, by the fountain, inside the forge, out front of the house etc. he does not care, all he cares for is you.

Known as passionate in his interests by the locals and seen as a valuable knight but this new side certainly reinforces and makes his label as a minx widespread and known by all.

Pulls you place to place hand tightly held by his own- if you’ve asked for more privacy, you only partially win, others won’t see your acts of love, but they will certainly know when they will occur, Red always pulling you away, the signs written far too big and bright for others not to know.

Especially after he came back one day, a massive dorky grin on his face.

Want a man who will sweep you off your feet metaphorically or literally? This is your man.

Always armed with a surprise bouquet of flowers where possible, a stray wildflower when out on the road, or sometimes even just brings a flower home from his walk to or from the knight’s training grounds on his days away from the forge.

Immediately blabbed to his grandfather the second you got together.

Laid on the floor on his stomach, feet kicking in the air behind him style, Grandpa Smith and Red having a gossip session, grandpa wildly excited to see his boy’s happy; he can’t wait to meet you.

Vio:

Someone others see as quite stoic and reserved, seen as the one without emotion or care, in reality he’s just much more reserved in comparison to Red and Blue, both the boys much more outward in their emotions.

He’s quite a romantic, originally thinking of himself as someone who no one would like, especially not romantically.

At times he’d go back and forth, questioning himself as to whether he was even interested in relationships, if he cared to talk to someone everyday and share so much time or possessions, whilst other times he craved affection and someone to be so close to, someone who would understand and accept him.

Definitely head-cannoned as autistic and possibly ace(sexual), and no, the autistic isn’t because he likes books and is smart, it’s in reference to his emotional understanding and experience.

Whether he is ace or truly someone just unsure of himself, that’s for him to decide, either way it doesn’t make him any different or take joy from relationships any less. He feels his autism doesn’t help his difficulty with his emotions and wants, feeling his emotions more “flatlined” and mellowed, but still there.

In a relationship with you he would always make sue to reassure you of his commitment and affection for you; you make him comfortable, to sit in silence together or to share interests and physical affection.

However, please do reassure him too, he gets self-conscious that he isn’t enough or isn’t pleasing you in this relationship, having read too many relationship stereotypes in stories, far too curious for his own good, hoping to see himself within books to prove he wasn’t broken.

Also takes far too many stories to heart, gossip from customers within the shop or even within dark corners of the library, harmless advice and good meaning discussions hitting a more negative space in his mind.

Kisses are always private but someone who will always brush his knuckles against yours in public and sit close to your side.

Likes to jokingly refer to them as smooches to see you smile, will passionate kiss you, head tilted and using his height to his advantage, standing below you and pressing upwards, preferably pinning you in place by your hips or lightly pressed against a wall- this man will stand on his tip toes if need be, he has no shame when it comes to seeing that adorable shine in your eyes after a kiss.

Shadow:

The epitome of a pigeon- seen as dirty trash by many but merely misunderstood by those who used and abandoned him.

He’s soft and sweet hiding behind a mask of cocky indifference.

Seen as unable to do simple tasks and always marked down to be an evil or unwanted presence, but despite his three sticks of a nest he learns fast, adaptive to everything he sees and is told- his actions may seem stupid or unneeded to others but he’s from a different place and had to learn and adapt to different threats and environments.

Admittedly a bit gullible, but you would be too if fed lied all your existence and isolated to a dark realm.

Fiercely loyal, and I do mean fierce, if anyone were to approach during any of your meetings, not just your kiss he’d growl and snap his teeth their way, eyes reflecting a glistening red.

He’s one to hold you close when you’re intimate, whether sitting and reading (to him, he hasn’t learnt his Hylian yet), or sharing a hidden kiss.

He has major abandonment issues and a big case of imposter syndrome, whether he deserves to be in your life; if he’s good enough.

Shadow claims that he’d kiss you in front of the others to assert dominance or as a “prank” to make them uncomfortable but the poor body is a bit too shy for that often, though he did do it once- the others teasing you both but he didn’t understand the sarcasm, stating he wouldn’t kiss you before your wedding, Shadow misunderstanding that as  bad thing, he kissed you, lips pursed and harsh against yours, a long peck, eyes scrunched tight. Afterwards he was panting from adrenaline and stress, glaring at the others with an extra huff of how he loves you and the others are simply jealous.

Regular kisses on the other hand, are often hidden away behind trees or in building alcoves, soft pecks and the rare long smooch, face completely flushed dark but maintaining a sly smirk- just don’t tease him, let him think he’s smooth (he is) and in control (he isn’t).

Alternatively, imagine if you stayed in the field but still got swapped?

If you both became swapped and only left at a distance with Four, then chaos would ensue.

You’d both originally be shocked, of course, but soon great ideas, and chaos, would ensue.

The idea shared between you all would be how long until others would notice, or what tricks you could both do and if you could pull them off in each other’s bodies.

The prank was Four’s idea- at least that’s what you’d claim as defence.

He’d take all the blame without question, finding the situation far too hilarious.

It was those tricks that left Four folded to the floor, a failed backflip, laughing loudly, voice loud and unmuffled. It was nice to see him so free and happy.

Honestly, it’d take a few days for the others to notice.

Four not as loud or boisterous in the group and you with your slight confidence issues of fitting in we’re always on to be the centre of attention.

You were both able to sit together and lay your bedrolls close, your previous friendship not raising any flags of suspicion.

It was only during the dawn of the third day that they finally realised, during dinner you were all eating a meal of meat and mixed vegetables, Wild adapting different bowls to the needs of others, placing fish for Wind and removing radishes from Warrior.

During this dinner it was when you grabbed a bowl with green peppers, taking a bite before Wild could turn around, only to send him into a panic.

Wild freaking out about upsetting Four, whether through a dislike of taste or texture would be a blow to his dedication as the group cook, his worst fear of a possible allergic reaction being the main catalyst.

At that point you both confessed, feeling awful for pushing Wild (he pushed himself, to be fair) to the verge of a panic attack, stating you were fine, Four commenting it was a hatred for the pepper, not an allergy to try placating him.

With the knowledge now spread around camp in the chaos, it was Legend who immediately moved to your side, gripping your wrists and twisting, eyes flittering over your body and locking to your eyes.

With Legend’s vast experience with magic and spells (and curses), he was able to share his findings with Hyrule and Time to find a possible cure or reversal spell to your ailment.

If you could say so yourself, the headache after was killer.

The magic, yes, but the lecture you received from the others for keeping it a secret was far worse- to be fair, they had a solid argument, what if you’d both gotten stuck?

All I can tell you with that, is that Four wouldn’t have complained.

---

Thank you to those who read my original post, thank you to those who liked/ hearted, and massive shout out to those who followed me and my friend Silver especially for re-blogging.

I will be writing some more simple ideas for romantic pairings, especially Four and Shadow, so worry not, there will be romance, hopefully actual good romance /lh.

[puddlestories]

An Unusual Situation (18+)

Four x GN/ Male Reader (no gendered pronouns or description)- Four is short, therefore Reader is taller, written from the pov of Four's body

Idea: during the duration of a body swap AU, cursed by a corrupted wizzrobe, you enter into a precarious situation, awaking with an erection, in respect for Four and embarrassment you hide away hoping for it to go away, but maybe Four can help.

CW: sexual content, sub-top Four, dom to sub Four, semi-dominant reader, blowjobs, no penetration, sexual acts within another's body- main warning: the reader's pov is written with a penis, they are in a body swap AU, please keep this in mind my fellow lads need more content.

8k words; not proof-read

When you first entered Hyrule you never thought you’d even experience anything too exciting in comparison to the games or stories, you’d probably just have to create an identity, find someone kind enough to let you stay at an inn or tavern until you could pay for a bed, work off that debt or trade a bed for chores and just get a start to a proper job to work your way forward. You didn’t know what the economy was like here, maybe you’d never afford a house, though your knowledge from your playthrough of Breath of the Wild gave you the idea that houses were usually built and not so much bought, probably passed down through families; if broke amnesiac Link could buy and upgrade a house then maybe you could too, if the wages were good enough to save, at least.

Luckily, or not so lucky depending on your perspective, you didn’t have to worry too long-term about finding a job nor checking out the housing market since you were discovered after a single month by a group of armed men, though not mercenaries one told you once, now known to you as Legend.

It was coincidence really, you’d found a lovely lady by the name of Emma who had allowed you to stay at her inn seeing as how you’d stated you had, quite literally, nowhere else to go, and she wasn’t so cruel as to let you be homeless, for a trade or you completing chores and tasks around the inn, that is. Since Emma worked the front desk as a clerk, you luckily didn’t have to interact with too many people, though you did have the occasional encounter whilst helping clean rooms or tightening room hinges or cleaning the windows, corridors and such. You really didn’t mind talking to people too much since it seemed most Hylians were quite private, or loners was probably more accurate, staying in smaller groups or alone, not many visiting the inn aside from merchants and the occasional adventurer travelling from town to town, apparently quite a distance one told you, the nearest town over a desert. Merchants were the ones most likely to talk, mostly trying to peddle their own wears from distant lands or of great powers, you doubted that, but they’d also tell you stories or give you ideas of how the economy may work, what was common to see and not etcetera. Adventures on the other hand were simply a nice conversation of what great sites to see, the names of towns and campfire stories of legends and folklore within Hyrule, sometimes even beyond when you met a young blond man, claiming to be on a holiday.

Your most interesting companion who stayed at the inn was a young lady, only wishing to stay temporarily whilst she also found a home, roughly in her early 40s though she held the aura of someone much older, with many years of experience, her hair a bright vibrant blue, though never said her name- this lady was the one who told you such interesting stories of Goddesses, villains and heroes, the stories captivating you.

You didn’t think you’d actually ever meet said heroes, especially not whilst they were visiting around Castle Town, on their way to a smith outside of the town’s borders, asking about monsters which bled black blood. At first, they’d only spoken to Emma, thinking she was the only one within the small building of the Happy Hearth Inn, until you’d stumbled around a corner having just descended the staircase, a large box cradled in your hands and rested against your chest the weight rocking you slightly backwards- this was your introduction to the chain of Links, especially to poor Twilight who you bumped into, eyes not able to peak fully over the large box in your arms. With a stuttered apology, the box only saved from falling by an extra pair of hands sliding underneath the cardboard, worn by farmwork, you managed to place down the box carefully, the new wood panels Ms Emma had ordered safe and unrattled.

It wasn’t even instantly that the chain recognised your significance, spending another week within town, two days at the smith and the remaining week walking around town for information and patrolling the nearby woods. They had asked you previously, not the same day as the box incident, you having ran away after a flustered apology to continue grabbing and moving boxes for the upcoming lobby reservation, needing new wooden floors and a coat of fresh paint. Instead, they questioned you on their seventh day in town, finding you during one of your errand trips to the market, a small woven basket of plucked apples and soil covered carrots within, yet to be fully stocked with produce.

At first, they spoke of the monsters, whether there had been any increased sighting or any that you had seen at all, even speaking of whether you had seen anything suspicious with any villagers or travellers that had passed through considering your experience within the inn. It was only after a subtle explanation of how you weren’t really from around Castle Town or had much experience in the area to know of the usual number of monsters nor knowing villagers well enough to give any judgement, that they asked where you were from. A partial normal curiosity and a slight suspicion combined, though no true harm or judgement of you. This is when you, unable to continue answering detailed in-depth questions, finally had to, more like accidentally, reveal of how you’d only really appeared in Hyrule due to an unknown portal that had taken you from your own world, the latter part of your own world only revealed due to further questioning and concern of wanting to help take you home if they were able.

With such an admission they return to the rest of the group at their designated location of the town entry by the bell just before sundown, politely asking you join them for their discussion, which later consisted of whether it was safer to bring you along with them through future portals. Mostly they questioned of whether you were simply (not so simply) dimensionally misplaced, an accident so to say, however so far there was zero evidence of that over their own year of travelling, most likely meaning there was no such mistake; that and whether an enemy would possibly hunt you down or whether they had already been trying and you’d simply slipped under their radar.

Either way, it was decided, with your permission and a thank you to Emma for her kindness and a warning of your departure, that you’d be leaving with them.

It only took six months for chaos to take hold. You’d been between worlds, seen beautiful sites, hiked all over Hyrule and formed a good friendship with all of your boys, and even something more with your closest companion Four, an interesting man to say the least. Yet it was with said man that you were now in an extremely strange situation, a situation which involved you both currently being within each other’s bodies, learning that he held a secret of having four other people within his head, pun very much intended apparently, as well as his friend who went by the, less of a pun and more of a statement, name Shadow.

Being within another person’s body was already chaotic enough, but returning to camp after a very cursed wizzrobe attack was another form of chaos, the chain going wild over the situation.  Naturally they asked many questions, how you both felt, what had happened, if you both were okay, and so on. After confirming that you were both okay and in good health despite the switch, all injuries being tret within the group from the previous battle and camp fully set up, did those with magic experience begin to search for a fix to your dilemma.

Legend, Hyrule and Time were your best bets at finding out what magic was used against you, whether it was a curse, or a corrupted spell was the first question they needed to answer to help the reversal process. A slight mention, overheard from Legend since he wasn’t actually talking directly to you, that a curse may make this situation more permanent did scare you slightly. It’s not that you’d exactly mind being in Four’s body, the man was attractive after all, but the idea of not being yourself anymore did scare you a bit. Though you had faith that the group would be able to help you both, even if it took time.

Though being in a different body did cause some issues:

If you’re a woman, then suddenly being in a man’s body is one way to quickly become dysphoric, but worst of all: needing to pee. You’d tried to hold it for as long as possible, but it was beginning to become apparent that it was going to take more than a couple days for even just the magic research before they could even begin testing spells themselves. Suddenly having different equipment where you need to sit differently, feel different as you walk, having to have a so lightly wider stance and the centre of gravity in your body being shifted is nothing compared to the embarrassment of that first night where you have to pee. At first you try be subtle, a want to ask but a need to not embarrass yourself, it couldn’t be too different you’d just have to… hold it, and that was the issue, maybe you could just pee and crouch, worth a try- until the captain called out to you that you couldn’t go alone into the forest so late, the sun due to set in about an hour; that was when you had to explain your situation. With his face darkened in a blush Four nodded in understanding, not saying a word, the captain simply chuckled and shook his head, telling you to return soon. You’ve never been more embarrassed over something so simple and natural.

If you’ve a trans man, the euphoria that you can have this experience, even if post-surgery just those slight differences of a biological body vs a produced and tailored one so to say. If the chain knows you as a man, as they should, there is zero embarrassment nor judgement here (they had protected Wild and Four previously from discrimination by those who were small minded, a very, very small few for being too womanly simply for their longer hair), then there would be no questions of you going into the woods, even if it takes a minute for them to process that you possibly don’t have the same parts in some cases. It just truly doesn’t click for them, it’s just natural. For all my trans women out there, it’s unfortunately just another day but a different outfit, unless you’re also post-surgery then it’s dysphoria all over again- hopefully the longer hair and shorter stature help you out a bit, being able to dress up how you wish, shop keepers not even turning an eye, also don’t even worry about Four’s smith muscles, there are plenty of buff women in Hyrule, plenty of farmers and working women- you fit right in and look lovely as you do.

In Four’s case, no matter your gender nor sex, this man was raised with far too many manners and a wonderful sense of responsibility to be a gentleman; in other words, for the first couple hours his hands were practically raised from his sides, avoiding touching any part of himself like opposing magnets. He later explained, once you’d asked nicely, that he simply didn’t want to touch you and make you uncomfortable, wanting to keep your privacy and dignity, a true gentleman not touching another without a great bond and permission (in this case, just your permission). It was very cute. With a sweet, cute peck to his cheek, you give all the permission he needs to be able to relax and act like a normal person, or at least as normal as possible, him refusing to do any weapon work aside from cleaning the blades, not wanting to scar or damage your skin with the possible chemicals and sharp blades.

Putting all of that aside, you both were able to continue on mostly as normal, a lack of surprise monster attacks a blessing to you both, though the others would sometimes plan quests out to sighted monster camps leaving you both in charge of protecting camp or to explore town if within one to continue to collect information or supplies.

That was what had occurred yesterday, the group had begun to set up plans to destroy a nearby monster camp, usually left alone but becoming too close to the town and surrounding farmland. Weapons were prepared and sharpened by their owners, the quality looked over by Four as he was able, arrows purchased from a local vendor and bow strings tightened, Wild and Twilight designated as their cover from afar, strategized to take out any monster lookout towers whilst the others focused on melee and magic. Preparations were made the night before to ensure everyone and everything was ready, as well as to ensure that the group could be well rested before the attack.

The next, and current morning, you and Four were to remain at an inn, the magic of your switch still in full effect.

The sun was still low in the sky, painted a deep red, darkened blue and fascinating purple, the colours wavering together, blending together in places and contrasting into a sharp line in others, the clouds laid in lace above. With the creaking of stiff joints, slight yawns and huffs, the dull zip of leather belts and slight clink of armour, the other men awoke and prepared themselves for the day ahead, already estimated to last late into the night, the camp close to the town but far from the inn deep within the borders. Far from their current position, it would take the group at least a few hours to travel to their required location, another hour of surveillance to ensure the plan was still applicable, then the ongoing battle- with that and the return home, they would be gone for almost a full day, the sun low on their return, possibly even the moon taking it’s place.

With concern for their, most likely, late return you had made the suggestion of them taking their camping gear along with them, a slight burden of extra gear but a good idea in case they were required to camp after the battle if the moon rose too high, or to even have to camp outside an extra day if the plan needed to be adjusted. Their safety was much more important than possibly any other time wasted; it wouldn’t be the first time that they’d had to sleep outside with a looming danger, but this time, they would have safety in numbers and weapons prepared for battle.

When they awoke to leave, at first you’d only half woken, still sleepy and eyes partially closed, watching them get ready was like a wavering dream, your head light and body heavy, only being able to remain awake due to the high pitch of the clinking armour. Once they’d all finally left, with one sleepy call of a good luck, you fell back asleep.

It was the second time you awoke that put you in this situation. Everything was normal, the silence of the inn, not many rooms booked the man at the desk had said when you all first arrived, Four’s small snores now much less harsh that he was in your body though still making you wonder if you snored, the slight scratch and pull of the blankets on your skin, having slept in just an undershirt and shorts, feeling far too warm but still obeying the most basic of Hylian decency standards for the other’s sake. It was with that pull of blankets and curling of your leg that you felt what wasn’t normal, your feet felt colder than usual, despite the thick blanket over them, and your crotch felt hot and tight. Another shuffle and you understood, you felt something press with the movement of your leg, as it rose higher to pull yourself in a sitting position you hissed with the delicate touch, the, now visible, bulge revealed from under the covers.

With a few ticks of time, brain whirling into a cohesive thought, you blanched in horror- you had an erection, Four had an erection, you were currently Four. You didn’t know what to do.

Did you touch it? It should go down on it’s own, right? Morning wood as some call it was completely natural for boys and men alike, was simply the body being weird, everyone has weird moments, there shouldn’t be shame in that. But by the Goddess you held far too much shame right now, shame stemmed from lots of silent panic. Luckily Four was still asleep, his bedroll two spaces away from yours, Wild and Hyrule having slept between you both.

Maybe if you were quiet, you could simply try go back to sleep and just hope it went away, though that plan quickly went out the, closed, window with shattering glory as Four began to stir awake, low grumbles and mumbles escaping him, shifting onto a shoulder to free the arm he’d been resting on to rub his eyes. That was your only opportunity of escape, you couldn’t get dressed or be in front of Four like this, he’d notice. So, you quickly leapt up, legs slightly numb but able to hold your weight, feet slightly stumbling towards the door of the shared bedroom, trying not to step on and slip on any of the remaining blankets or bedrolls and mats on the floor.

Outside the door you spun to press the wood back into its resting position, the small click of metal returning as the knob released, bringing you a slight comfort that you were now out of his possible eyeline, free form being perceived in any type of negative or even questioning light from the man you respected and like far too much.

Should it have been embarrassing for the man who was maybe, possibly, courting you, who you were current switching bodies with, having seen all positives and negatives of each other, physically and now mentally, to see you aroused, even if unwilling? No. This situation shouldn’t have panicked you so much as to run away, your feet carrying you into a small private bathroom, only a seated bench toilet within, a thin barrier of magic working to keep the tiny closet space clean and odour free, lucky you.

Now, someone running to the toilet early in the morning is probably not too uncommon, which is why no one really checked up on you for a while. In Four’s case he also only really recognised your absence once he’d fully awoken and gotten dressed for the day, his sword left tied securely to his bag and hidden within a wooden wardrobe within the room, once he had notice your absence it’d been fifteen minutes since you’d left the room, then an extra twenty passed as he thought you were maybe getting something to eat since you hadn’t returned from your supposed toilet trip.

After a full hour he went in hunt for you, checking the inn from the front door to the restricted attic stairs: the reception, lobby, kitchen, lounge area, dining area (slightly dusty on the counters), bedrooms (all thankfully empty except one, a young couple who stated they hadn’t seen you, having been in their room all morning), the washrooms, bathrooms and attic being sneaky as to not be caught by the owners if they were to show up. He couldn’t find you. The only room he hadn’t been able to fully check was a small, locked toilet area, having knocked earlier hoping to hear your voice but receiving no answer he left thinking it may be someone else. With his only remaining lead before he’d have to venture outside the inn, he returned to the door, which remained locked.

Another knock and he finally heard your voice, slightly strained and a fumble of words before you managed to compose yourself, “sorry, sorry, this room is occupied!”

“It’s okay, it’s me, Four,” he paused hoping you’d maybe unlock the door, you didn’t, “are you okay, you’ve been gone for over an hour, and considering my search of the inn you’ve been in there for at least ten minutes?”

With that information you froze, brain spluttering and unable to speak for a moment as you tried spin your words back into something comprehensible, something to make sense and make him go away. You needed him to go away considering the fact your problem had also yet to go away, if anything becoming slightly painful, possibly due to stress and your blood pumping hard within your chest. “I’m fine, I just really needed a moment alone.”

“In the toilet?” he retorted, you paused again.

With a laugh you continued on, “yeah, just felt a bit sick, probably ate too much yesterday, too much good food, you know?” You laughed again, extremely awkward, thinking maybe you could disgust him into leaving you alone, you knew he didn’t like the sound of someone being sick, learnt from a night three months into your journey Wind and Warriors both unfortunately coming down with an illness Time mentioned as Gerudo flu, something only seen within his and, apparently, Wild’s worlds despite the time difference, caused by a change in extreme temperatures, he said. That night was awful for everyone, Wind and Warriors confined to a small tent towards the edges of camp, hoping to avoid spreading the illness to those not exposed or resilient to it, especially keeping Hyrule far away within his own small one man tent used for medical cares among the group, owned by Legend, and now used by Hyrule as an isolation pod, not daring to risk him becoming ill, likely immunocompromised from his own world with the lack of vegetation, small settlements and larger monster populations. The two most effected had begun to vomit into the grass and bushes lining the forest, then confined to their tent where they continued into small buckets or pots, later to be deep cleaned and boiled by Wild. You still remember how the sound from the tent, even though muffled, still made Four shiver and gag- to be fair to him the noise also made you salivate, like you too were going to vomit, an uncomfortable feeling deep in your chest and throat.

Instead of a slight shudder and polite wish for you to be well like you expected, instead you had a slightly more aggressive knock to the door, Four’s voice coming through strong and commanding, “you felt ill and didn’t tell anyone, are you okay, what’s wrong, that Wild, I swear, I’m going to talk to him about what h puts in his food.”

You instantly objected, though regrettably couldn’t really come to Wild’s defence just yet in case it made him more determined to come in. “I’m fine, really, I’m not even being sick anymore, I just need some time to feel a bit better; plus, better to be by the toilet rather than accidentally vomit on the floor, right?” you laughed.

It was with a softer, but still firm in his tone, plea from outside that truly broke your heart and tested your mental strength, “please, please let me in, I want to help you, make sure you’re okay, then you can have your time, I’ll even bring you water!”

He was truly too much of a sweetheart for your own poor heart.

You opened the door, but just a crack, you wouldn’t fully cave just yet. “I’m okay,” you reassured again, the words slightly blurring with the number of times you’d said them, hoping they still hold meaning, “I’ll be out soon enough, why don’t you start on some food or some more of that embroidery you were working on? I’ll be there soon enough, just need some time to be a bit more presentable”- now that one wasn’t a lie, unlike the last.

“An hour,” he huffed out your name, “what’s actually going on? Never mind, you know what—” and with that, he placed a hand just above the handle of the door, and pushed.

Startled you were delayed to react, quickly pushing back against the door before placing yourself against it, the harsh force on both sides keeping the wood pinned, a larger gap looking into the small room, but not enough to push his way through.

“Why are you hiding from me, if something’s wrong then tell me, if it was something simple, you’d still be in the bedroom but no, you’re in here!”

With a final shove, human strength coming forth and becoming a challenge for even Four’s muscles forged from years of smithing, he powered through, a gap big enough he could leap forward and place his shoulder and chest within, forcing you to stop pushing, unwilling to hurt him by pushing the door into his body.

Now you wee both standing within the small space, you back pressed into one corner, quickly plucking at your shorts, still partially undressed and in your sleepwear, hoping it’d loosen the tightened fabric, hoping to disguise the bulge. With hopeless regret, you pulled the shirt further down at the front, only slightly covering, hoping it wasn’t too obvious that you had an erection, nor that you were trying to cover anything as then that’d just alert him anyway.

“Are you actually okay, what’s wrong?” he whispered in a harsh voice, like you were both now hidden within your own secret, like anyone was pushed with a ear to the wood of the now closed door.

You couldn’t answer, the throbbing in your groin and heavy pressure in your chest making you far too uncomfortable, your brain becoming blurred, unable to fully think of anything unless properly focused and strained, like reading a book but all the words except the one you were looking at was blurred.

Zero excuses were able to come to your mind, especially those which could make any sense given the situation, “I don’t know what to say.”

His eyes narrowed and lips pursed, stepping forward towards you, only one-half of a step needed to cross the tiny gap, pressing you backwards into a small toiletry shelf, suddenly empty as you accidentally knocked a small perfume bottle from the shelf, luckily landing on your foot and rolling to the side, now stationary against the wall behind Four. You didn’t even feel the pain in your foot, the throbbing overwhelming, like your entire torso was throbbing, an overwhelming heartbeat through your entire body.

You stuttered again, words jumbled and face flushing in embarrassment, Four pushing even closer until you were rested chest to chest, body slightly lifted due to the shelf under your buttocks, toes poised, the height gap slightly decreased. He placed his hands on your hips, palms warm and fingers gripping into soft skin.

Another press, hands running down your sides and one upwards towards your jaw, he reassured you, he wanted to help, “you can trust me, I love you, that means I want to help you, please don’t push me away,” he whispered into your ear, eyes lidded, face deeply flushed. Then, face darkening into a full solid colour, he felt it, his body in full contact with yours.

Face dark and eyes slightly wider, pupils blown wide, he mumbled a slight “oh,” looking down at your bulge, his ears slightly wiggled, Hylian traits coming through despite the swap, lowering and pulled back, the tips flushed.

“Is this why you’re hiding? Did you,” he paused for a moment voiced lowering, “did you do anything?” You knew what he was implying, something he wouldn’t say out loud, not yet, asking if you’d touched yourself. “Did something cause this, if so, the I definitely need to know,” he grinned, eyes swirling a deep green and violet, a sharp blue and red lining the edges in a thin halo.

“No,” you stuttered, trying to prepare yourself to defend yourself, “I just woke up, I didn’t do anything to it, it wouldn’t go away,” you whimpered towards the end as Four pressed even closer, leg raised slightly, the height difference assisting in his actions, thigh placing pressure against your crotch, the throbbing accompanied by a slight tingle.

“Do you know how to fix it?” He grinned wide and wicked, the look on your face, burning with lust and a bubbling desire within his eyes, your eyes, seeing that look honestly sent another tingle through your body, the absurdity of the situation turning you on, a twisting sensation in your pelvis.

You let out a puffed sigh, eyes closing slightly in pleasure, a steady rubbing against your bulge- it felt so good, sending a light warmth between your legs, head radiating into Four’s thigh. “You’re cruel, you know I wouldn’t touch you like that without permission. I trust you, the same as you trust me,” another signed breath, “I wouldn’t leave you exposed in such a way, such an intimate way,” you moaned lightly at the end. “But two can play at that game, mister.”

You ran you hands down his neck, first cupping his face a light kiss to his cheek, and then began to descend, his neck, shoulders, chest, ensuring to run his hands down the lines of your nipples encouraging a shiver, his waist, and then resting on his hips.

Leaning forward to his ear, nose brushing along the soft fat of his cheek, you spoke in a low tone, not yet a whisper but more of a grumbled question, a not so hidden tease, “do all Hylian gentlemen pursue their beloved like this? Do you all corner poor defenceless partners like this, hoping for a sexual encounter within a hidden corner?” You raised your hands back up to his waist, fingers rubbing at the line of your ribs. “What happened to that shy blushing gentleman who wanted to court me gently, to prove his worth? Who’s this charming devil before me,” you hummed, “what a naughty boy you are, to behave in such a way- what would the others think?” you hummed again, a bright grin on your face, hidden by the side of Four’s face lips and nose brushing his ear, cheek and jaw along his own cheek, feeling the heat within.

A small moan from Four was your sign, his head dropping forward onto your shoulder, hair mixing together with your closeness, textures mixing, the feeling intensified with your current rush of blood and hormones.

Pulling away slowly, gently cradling Four’s face, lifting his head to rest your forehead’s together, eyes locked, pupils dilated.

“I love you.”

“I love you too, to the moon and beyond.”

A sweet kiss, lips brushing together, hands gently clasped against cheeks, one sliding behind to cradle his head; his own hands resting against your chest and waist, directly on your pectoral, the occasional brush of his wrist on your sensitive areas jumping in your brain.

With a light squeeze of your chest, you let out a light laugh, securing the position of your hand that was behind his head. “May I?”

“Of course, do whatever you wish, I’m at your command,” he shivered at his own words, legs pushing together slightly, the muscles within his thighs twitching.

Continuing your previous task, you continued to rub a single hand down Four’s side, brushing inwards at his chest, brushing across hidden nipples under thick fabric, and sliding down, brushing along the lines of his pelvis, fingers brushing the tops of his thighs. “Take off your tunic and leggings. I can’t really say we’ll do this proper, but at least we can do part of it considering where we are,” a single look around the cramped space reminding you of the current situation and absurdity- was that door even locked; could someone even enter, the door likely to bump into Four’s back, pushing them back out, unable to open the door.

The though of someone seeing you both, you didn’t know what to think, at the moment you couldn’t really think anyway.

With a ruffle of fabric Four took off his out tunic, only a thinner plain shirt between you, but you paused his hands, simply lifting the fabric, “that other one was too tight, couldn’t get a good feel of you,” you smirked, grabbing a handful of his chest, feeling along his soft skin and perked nipples, overly sensitive with the now loose fabric creating a light brush with certain movements compared to his once pinned clothing from his fitted tunic.

The fabric of his shirt clung at his armpits and crumpled at the collarbone, a single hand holding it up, drooping lower a one side; you leant forward and accepted your prize. You took one between your lips, the skin of your lips slightly dry, but the plush beneath enough to compliment the texture, with a lick of your lips and a harsh suck, you latched onto his nipple, the skin pulling easily into your warm, wet mouth.

The sensation giving him ideas.

You continued your quest, thin skin trapped between pursed lips, only released with a wet lick and gentle nibble, the same treatment being given to the surrounding skin, his chest becoming bloomed with colour, the contrast against your skin obvious. Another squeeze of his chest, and kiss down his breastbone, you whispered sweet praises into his skin like a blessing; hands continuing to glide around his body, an occasional squeeze and caress on their path.

You felt so weird emotionally, the fact you were so turned on by doing this, yes, you were doing this act with the man you loved but were simultaneously enacting these actions towards your own body, looking withing your own eyes, despite the colourful additions. You felt so weird but so horny. This may have started from a non-sexual perspective but that didn’t matter anymore, your erection now burning hot and throbbing from sexual desire, any innocence now long gone.

You softly squeezed again at his chest, hands slowly brushing downwards, calloused finger pads running downwards, brushing lightly along his skin and down to his hips, grip re-tightening; small superficial scratches left behind, blooming a slight red-ish purple.

“Why don’t you help me out then?” You whispered, voiced lowered, almost whispering into his skin, eyes flickering upwards.

With a glance at your shorts, the fabric that was once previously covering you, now tousled and bunched above at your waist, the fabric underneath now slightly darker.

In a slow, purposeful motion, Four lowered himself to his knees, hands rested on your thighs tightening and lowering slightly to your mid-thigh, the motion extremely slow. With endued confidence, he moved forward, firmly planted upon curled legs, weight no doubt to become numbing, and placed his face close to your own body, focus laid upon a certain area.

“Help? I can certainly help,” he breathed a small chuckle, cheeks flush and a smug smile upon his face, “I can’t believe we’re doing this.”

You responded in a stable but soft voice, trying to keep your volume lowered, at least at first, the loveable gremlin below you, interrupting you, “I know, right, but hey, if I had to say anything crazy is normal with you Links. This though, is certainly something I wouldn’t guess,” gasping your words, the blown breath of concentrated air against your damp underwear creating an indescribable sensation that lurched up your spine.

This little minx was trying to get you even more riled up, if only he knew that you couldn’t possibly even get any harder, practically ripping out of your shorts. Instead of freeing you from the damp cotton, he decided to instead soak you further.

He rubbed his face against your crotch, his nose prodding and rubbing side to side in a mockery of an eskimo kiss, running along the curve of your covered penis, before moving into a long, slow, up and down motion along the sides, outlining the shape beneath. With a devious grin he pushed further, your sighs and wide blown eyes not enough for him- he needed more, he wanted you to react. In a, not so, guilty admittance, he wanted others to hear what was happening, with full knowledge that it was unlikely with only three possibly people within the inn, the couple he’d seen previous and the inn owner himself. He felt like he was truly discovering part of himself, eyes a deep green and red, another deeper, violet, part within enjoying the possessive act but to wish to keep you away from others, a blue in agreement, even to keep your sounds for themselves.

Emboldened with your pretty gasps he knew exactly what to do, a hungry lust roaring within him- he tilted his head further forward, nose nuzzling deeper into the fabric, lips parting, and tongue being released. He laid his tongue flat against the fabric, lightly pushing down into the resistance of weighted flesh, a slight bounce of what laid beneath, excitement clear; then he began to lap at the fabric, paying special attention to the already wet area, the precum from your swollen tip soaking through. Lapping and lapping, he continued to dribble, lower lip moist brushing into the cotton, a stream of saliva wetting his tongue, and therefore, the fabric of which held his attention.

Lifting a single hand, the other strewn behind you, clenched into a fist and rested into the connecting corner of the shelf and wall, desperate for purchase, the other moving onto the back of his head, cradling gently, feeling boneless and limp.

You whispered praises to him, praises about him, how much you loved him and his current actions, hand acting as an encouragement.

With an increasing amount of saliva and the pressure of his tongue increasing, greed growling from between his parted lips, a deep groan from his throat, he lapped at your crotch with an animalistic need, like he could possibly wear away the fabric. The warmth of his saliva and heat of his tongue piercing through, the thin cotton only masking the texture of his tongue, instead the brush and encasing of wet cotton creating a different sensation.

Slipping his fingers under the bundle of your shirt, he then proceeded to continue their path into the band of your shorts, the fabric of the band lowering easily, the lower sections giving more resistance glued with cooling saliva directly upon your penis, having to be peeled away, lowered and tucked into a bunched roll underneath the swell of your balls.

Your dick bounced from underneath, unrolled into your stomach with a jolt of your hips, the tip smearing cum on the lower V of your abdomen, the weight of the flesh bobbing back forward, solid and stiff in a slight arch, the tip burning bright and thick.

Without pause, he released a single thigh, his left hand coming to wrap around the girth of the weight, fingertips brushing together, nails slightly tapping.

A loud moan burst forth, your head tilting backwards, resting against the wooden backing of the closet space, unable to expect how sensitive you would be, the noise unfiltered.

Four simply giggled from below you, hand beginning to slightly tighten, sliding up and down the length, the residual wetness from his saliva and your precum assisting in his fluid movements. Constricting and releasing his hand in a rhythm, hand moving in a slow and steady pace, a build up to the main event, not wanting you to cum too early, even though he’d love to make you cum multiple times, over and over, but right now, he wanted to prolong your pleasure, and as such, he kept a slow pace to build up the sensitivity even further, but not enough to push you over the edge.

Tightening his grip again, hand rubbing slowly, thumb peaking out to massage the skin of your tip, he began his main plan and wrapped his lips around your exposed tip, tongue peaking into your slit, flicking down and wrapping around your skin, lips creating a light suction. Immediately your abdominal muscles flexed, head falling forward, hips pinning backwards subconsciously, primal brain taking over, attempting to move you away from the sensation, the tingling intensified.

Pumping his hand as he stuck and licked at the tip, your muscles spasming, curling your body forward.

Soon, as large dollops of cum leaked from your tip, white clinging to the ridges along the length, a thin sheen along the entire expanse of skin, he removed his hand, moving lower, fingers maintaining contact, lowering down to cup your heavy balls, the weight slightly stretching skin and radiating heat into his palm, slowly rolling them within his cusped hand.

With his desire now unrestricted, he leant backwards slightly, lips leaving skin with a small pop, before returning forward, lips parting further, descending down over the tip, down along ridged skin and even lower down the thick five inches to the sweaty base, musk thick, perfumed with the hairs surrounding. The action was too much, his ability to decent fully, even if with slow progression, was an overwhelming blessing, your body teetering forward, muscles tense, thighs lifting, a single hand pinning your waist, sweat stemming at your brow, hair sticking to the skin and that of your neck.

His tongue flattened, coating the underside of your cock with a velvet pressure. The dual sensation of his warm mouth enveloping you completely while his hand gently massaged your balls had your legs quaking, threatening to give out entirely. You gasped his name, the sound breaking into a whimper as he hollowed his cheeks and began to suck in earnest. His tongue flat against the underside of your cock, a deep pink and glistening with saliva- the warmth from his mouth engulfing you was a sight to behold, while his hand gently massaged your balls with precise movements. His tongue was flattened against the underside of your cock, a slick, pink appendage working its way up and down in a tantalizing dance. As his hand moved, you could see the flexing of his muscles and the way his fingers skilfully manipulated your sensitive area, his tongue, pink and slick, flattens against the underside of your cock, giving it a soft sheen. His lips wrap around the thick shaft, his head bobbing as he sucks eagerly, his hand moving in tandem with his mouth.

The scent of sweat and arousal filled the air as his mouth and hand worked their magic, it was intoxicating, a mix of musk and desire that only heightened the experience.

His warm breath mixed with the musk of your arousal, creating a heady scent that filled the air. The faint aroma of his cologne added a hint of sweet spice to the sensual atmosphere. The scent of arousal fills the air, musky and almost sweet. The smell of his shampoo and cologne that still clung to the fabric of your own shirt and the one he currently wore, still obeying to his own routine of which scents he would use, the scent mingling with the heat emanating from your bodies.

"Four," you stuttered, your fingers tightening in his hair, uncertain whether you wanted to pull him closer or push him away from the overwhelming pleasure. "I can't, I'm going to--"

He hummed around you, the vibration sending electric pulses up your spine. His free hand, previously anchoring your hip, slid around to cup your ass, squeezing the flesh there possessively. You felt his fingertips dipping between your cheeks, teasing but not quite breaching, just adding a slight teasing pressure.

The sensation had you bucking forward, a strangled cry escaping your lips as you pushed deeper into his throat. Four took it eagerly, not gagging despite your uncontrolled thrust. His throat constricted around you rhythmically, swallowing you down as if he'd been made for this purpose alone.

Your vision began to blur at the edges, pleasure building to an unbearable peak. The hand that had been braced against the wall now flew to his shoulder, gripping hard enough to bruise, desperate for an anchor as your orgasm approached like a tidal wave.

"I'm--" was all you managed before the wave crashed over you.

Four moaned appreciatively as you spilled down his throat, his eyes fluttering closed in bliss. He didn't pull away, continuing to suck and swallow through your climax, milking every drop from you with careful attention.

Your body trembled as you came down from the intense high, your legs finally giving way as you slumped against the wall. Four caught you easily, rising to his feet with a self-satisfied smirk playing on his lips, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, then gently tucked you back into your wettened shorts, no cloth nor water bucket or bottle available within the toilet room, only the still discarded perfume bottle.

"Easy there," he murmured, his voice slightly hoarse as he helped steady you. His hands were tender now, stroking your sides, your arms, and your face, the touch intended ground you as the aftershocks continued to ripple through your system, "I've got you."

Despite the sweat and stuck strands of hair, he pressed his forehead against yours, breathing deeply, sharing the same air between pants and small gasps. "Are you okay?" he asked, genuine concern beneath the badly masked smugness in his eyes, kaleidoscope shining bright in a swirling rotation.

You gave him a long, passionate kiss, no hesitation, unable to have done so in the previous position you were both in, uncaring of the taste upon his tongue, the fact also turning you on again slightly, a slight chub within your shorts again, Four’s own hands running wild.

"More than okay," you managed, your voice raspy, but letting out a chuckle you responded in a small whisper, "just give me a minute to remember how my legs work; not all of us are used to this,” you lightly flicked his forehead and proceeded to wrap your arms around his neck and shoulders, his own hands returning the favour, wrapping around your waist, securing you upon the small shelf.

“Well,” you whispered, voice still slightly hoarse, giving Four a quick smooch between your words, “this is certainly a good luck for walking down the public hallway,” you emphasised, “besides, who knows if the lads are back already?”

“Well, think of this,” you instantly knew you’d be better off shutting him up, another kiss, but he continued on, “if we’re stuck in here, I wouldn’t mind going again, I’d love to make you feel good, over and over,” he grinned bright and wide, “we have all night, a late night walk, some may say. Us, we may say.”

You grinned and smacked him lightly over the head. Your grin only slightly falling into horny embarrassment, the following causing you to become partially erect again: the shadow on the wall, the darkness parting into a light white, two beady eyes and a wide stretching grin.

This was going to be a wild night.

---

As always, all criticisms are welcome and thank you for reading! My first posted smut, only ever writing small drabbles for friends so we had to get a little freaky in honour of the first post.

[puddlestories]

FS Selkie Blue x Reader

Selkie Blue x GN Reader (no gendered pronouns or description)

Idea: a romantic scene between you and your magical lover. I wrote this a long time ago but am posting so it can be free in the world, I also have two full selkie fics that I wrote and am currently re-writing and expanding on!

Small drabble, so not under a read more cut; not proof-read.

"Blue please!" you squealed as he lifted you so suddenly into his lap. You wrapped your arms around his torso and spread your fingers out against his bare skin, so scarred, so tough yet so perfect- he truly was perfect and now, all yours. Waves continued to lap against the sand in smooth rolls pushing and pulling under the moonlight. The water was cold against your feet as you both laid there wrapped so tightly together nuzzling against each other for warmth. "I love you," he whispered "goddesses above, I love you." Warmth envelopes you so sweetly as he speaks into the skin of your neck, soft hands caressing through his hair, smoothing the locks and any remaining tensions. It was just you tonight. One. Bonded. Just you two together. The cape was smooth and slightly cold to the touch yet the emotions that were woven so delicately around you bloomed and coiled. A cape of smooth damp leather, a darkened colour yet sprinkled with white spots and gleaming in the light like the stars you saw in his eyes. A cape that was his. A selkie skin- Blue's selkie skin. It was a type of trust you would never have imagined in your mortal life, something so sacred shared so willingly with you by the man you love; "your man" you mentally preened. You'd heard the stories as a kid: fishermen stealing selkie skins to enslave the women of the sea as their wives like mere prize pieces; how they could never return to their homes and would cry to the waves. Right now, you wore fruit to one of those same treasures. Oh but you wouldn't dare lay claim, however, he still shared it, shared his lifeblood and most precious shard of his soul to you. A bond, marriage, a lifetime together. For the stories were true: any mortal who touches a selkie skin would tie their lives together and be bonded for life- and though this doesn't affect humans the same you still felt so honoured. You would hold him. Love him no matter the situation. Cherish him forever. And he would do the same. You had vowed it after all, to love, hold, cherish and so much more you could not bind to words- for he was yours and you his; you were married, bonded and tied together. He pulled you closer and breathed a deep sigh of satisfaction; wrapping the cape what seemed like impossibly closer around you both. You snuggled closer to him and smoothed his damp hair again. Just two together, one, on the beach hidden from the moonlight- finally, at last, he is yours and you are his- forever. "I love you too, beloved."

[puddlestories]

FS Selkie Romantic Head-canons

Colours + Shadow x GN Reader (no gendered pronouns or description)

Idea: some head-cannons on the boys as selkies as well as some more romantic scenarios with a Reader and how the relationship may be effected by their new selkie qualities.

CW: talk of death, no major character death.

5.7k words; not proof-read

The colours and Shadow are selkies.

Continuation from my selkie origin post, the colours became selkies through drowning, a broken heart plus water= round bouncy boys type scenario. /lh

Shadow, on the other hand, is a selkie due to the fact his form reflects Link/ the colours.

I do see Shadow as more of a changeling than a shapeshifter, transforming into different people (mostly Link and Vio during their adventure) rather than animals.

The change in their soul magic, split by the four sword elements causing a new permanent boundary that can be merged between them all to create Four, now with the addition of the water’s influence, salt water now permanently engrained within their magic like a ripple in a pond.

Imagine a cell, fluid, in this case, water, within, reflecting and rippling and a thick boarder surrounding, this is what their magic aura now looks like.

Adding onto the idea of the four sword elements having influence, Blue and Vio were accepted easily by the selkie magic, Blue the element of water and Vio earth, both of which are a balance to each other, our planet a balance of earth and water.

Red would have been difficult, fire not having a positive reaction to water, however, since Red went to the docks and into the ocean willingly, he opened himself up, made himself more receptable.

Green was a special case, he didn’t willingly die like Red, and wasn’t as easily accepted as Blue or Vio but the storm was his gateway instead. The storm and begin so deep into the sea helped to strengthen the pull of the magic, this combined with the fact in was the last of the remaining boys, the grief of losing the others drawing them closer.

Plus, I like to think that he did actually want to join his brothers, though not as violently, no one wants to feel pain, as referenced by the fact he was mostly held back by responsibility and his consideration for the feelings of others.

I also wrote in my post about how there were voices within the water, plus in an alternate draft I had the idea of actually seeing shadows or movement in the water to solidify the implication that his brothers were already in the water, as a way of acceptance. I also had the much darker idea of seeing his brother’s faces, Blue or Red bloated within the water drifting towards him but decided to give him a more peaceful ending.

I did also have the idea of writing how Shadow would die with Green, both within the water, Shadow tied to him with no other colours or simply to try help him despite having no corporeal form etc. but we’ll allow at least one of the boys to live, especially since Shadow already died once, we’ll give him a chance.

Now, this may be seen as a little angsty but after the actual selkie origin post I believe this isn’t as bad depending on your perspective: the boys have amnesia. To explain, the boys once they have become selkies are now much older, the time shifting away from Hyrule and towards more modernity, and they don’t remember their old lives as vividly as we would remember our own, childhoods as blurry as most people, only a few vivid memories, but their adulthood is also burry or is limited to a few selected memories and events.

Actual angst that no one can take away from me, is that Vio is affected the worst by both memory loss and nightmares, plus his curse is weaker, both an advantage and disadvantage. Vio is able to be away from the water for longer but when a seal his animal instincts are much stronger and took him many years longer than his brothers to communicate and gain a semblance of control- why, you may ask: because his body was buried on land, removed from the ocean and buried in his element, earth, surrounded by soil rather than the cursed water his fellow brothers rot in.

Shadow retains all memories of the boys and their lives since his perspective was already skewed, seeing outwards from the colours’ shadows, light blurring his vision and vision low to the floor distorting what he could see, audio also sometimes muffled- therefore, because he already had limited memories (no childhood) and a distorted view of reality, he kept his memories, though his behaviour became more intensified.

In this example, it means that he’s much more protective of the boys, as usual, but also begins to develop outside feelings, something he hasn’t experienced before, something that blossomed and rapidly exploded when they saw you- yes, that’s right, I’m making him a low-key yandere... and also ace questioning because I can.

Now, as for the actual romancing:

If you meet during Hyrule age years, then you meet through a trip into town, this is the time period where the boys are most likely to be spending more time in their Hyrulian forms, although this wouldn’t be the case in their own time period, seeing a dead man walk isn’t really a popular hobby, however, enough time has passed for those who knew them personally to pass away.

Within Hyrule the gifts and interactions would differ drastically.

Gifts would consist of pretty finds within the water, mostly within the ocean but limited to along the coastline, think of Hyrule being roughly ¾ landlocked. Although it isn’t very reasonable or manageable, it would be very cute for the boys to try and take old weapons or shields, some damaged and dumped, others simply rusted and lost to attempt to restore for you, especially those that still hold a glinting shine within the water. Weapons may be too far gone, but shields and jewellery are perfect gifts, shields buffered and undented, jewellery un-rusted and shined.

I believe that there are three main gifts that they have brought you. An old shield, not old in the sense of worn and unusable but old as in a relic or artifact, extremely rare and valuable rusted away in a higher area of water, lost years before during a lower terrain settlement. A hand-held mirror, a shard of the glass lost to time, the remaining cracks sealed together by coral that had grown across a corner, the rest of the glass perfectly useable, though the frame the main focus, a twist of leaves and roses at the top, hanging lilies of the valley down the sides and handle, once a pale white gold. An ornate belt, weaved links of gold, encrusted with the occasional ruby every three or so links, a simple overlapping pattern with a small but detailed carved buckle with a small scene of a young boy within a small sailboat, waves raised high- quite fitting really.

The boys within Hyrule still have a good mental semblance of men, though memories still blurred, so they’re able to maintain jobs, more likely to be physical labour jobs and fishermen, able to use their hidden abilities away from watchful eyes.

They partially own a house with their wages, an old house too close to the water, a vast distance away from the closest farmhouse, even further from the nearest town. The house is small and repaired by their own hands, their wages used for repairs and to maintain a small side enclosure of cuccoos and a single cow, greatly cared for and simply to help self-sustain themselves.

In other words, a wonderful live and situation to be in for a Hylian marriage… just saying, and yes, I plan to write much more detailed courting for Hylians.

If you met the boys during a more modern time:

Much more animalistic in their behaviour.

You’ve most likely met the boys within their seal forms; obviously not even realising that they are anything other than animals, selkies merely a folktale and not commonly known depending where you live, meaning most people, unless very interested in fantasy stories would look at a seal and think of it becoming a person- well okay, maybe a very unstable person too, unless I’m missing out.

They mostly live within the water during this time, no longer able to afford to maintain a house on a fisherman’s wage and the regulations on sustainable fishing varying by area, previously having a strong reliance on self-sustainability and trade.

Here is where Vio being affected differently helps out. Vio is able to venture further onto land and stay away from the sea for longer, meaning he’s able to research new laws, look at houses and building permissions, gain access to materials to build and discuss with groups around town, mostly farmers and fishermen communities of their options.

Possible idea of an older woman who sees what she assumes to be a homeless young man, looking sickly (having been away from water) with pale, cyanosed skin (selkie skin taking more vitamins and colour than his Hylian skin, as well as the blue colours simply being a slight selkie trait) so she asks him for assistance.

Now all Links, are not immune to the call of a quest, even as small as errands for an old, frail lady. So, she asks him to catch her a certain fish, then another, and another; she would fillet and cook the meat herself and invite him to join her each night, also offering a place to sleep, an offer he only accepted rarely and after knowing her for two years on his long stays away from the ocean.

The unfortunate relevance is that this lady had no family and was quite tight on her remaining funds, no longer able to weave silk lace, what had afforded her the house, limited by severe arthritis; now she had no one to assist her, until a young man took the offer, unknowingly allowing her main focus, her to help him. One day, she passed, a letter written in a neat cursive left by her bedside, a light dusk from where it had sat untouched for weeks; only found by a concerned neighbour who hadn’t seen her within her garden for a full week.

Within that letter, a house was left to Vio, and as such, with that, left to the group of colours, able to begin again and slowly merge back into society.

Whether you live close to the ocean or are simply visiting the area, it’s natural to go on a walk or want to see the views close by, whether the view is normal to you or a rare sight, the calmness would attract many people.

It’s here, on this beach walk or sitting enjoying the noises and/ or calm breeze that the lads see you for the first time.

Here we insert that you have common sense and do not approach or play with random wild animals, but they still enjoy the view of you or any cute or kind interactions you do, for example: spending time with a pet if you have one and have brought them, the former but with children if you have those, maybe simply helping out someone passing or an animal, going for a swim, sitting and drawing or meditating or anything you do, really. All you need to understand is that they are drawn to you, if you don’t see the connection then don’t worry, it forms later on through interactions.

In the end you will always be theirs, and they yours. It will happen in this reality and the next.

When you walk away, they all bounce along after you and softly nibbling at your clothes to try make you stay, in Shadow’s case, purely out of curiosity, this is the turning point as you decide to continue visiting the cute seals at the beach slightly scuttling away because, again, wild animals.

Despite this caution, the group all continue to bounce up the beach and follow you home.

Seeing someone followed by a line of seals is a funny thought.

Finally, what we want, selkie courting:

Red:

Red falls in love like it’s a fairytale, the moment he feels that spark, he’s all in; he’s the type to be daydreaming, doodling hearts in the margins of maps, Vio brings back from his trips into towns, a niche collection Red enjoys despite the issue of living in water, a small local cove hidden by a magic veil filled with their treasures before they gained the house, as well as doodling within the sand, humming when he thinks of you.

I also believe him to have a really nice voice, definitely the type who would make a lovely siren if in any other AU.

He tends to wear his emotions openly, this isn’t really too much of a secret to his brothers nor others from his previous life, but he is confident in these emotions, no one can put him down for what he feels, nor allow him to feel shame for being a man nor what some tried label as a “cry-baby”- now only Blue occasionally teases him with the name affectionately, always ready to be returned with the tease of being a “knuckle-head”.

So, his affection is incredibly obvious, blushing when you touch, but grinning like a mad man whenever you say his name, you might as well have asked him to marry you, although if you ever did he’s probably too far in his head and daydreams to notice; if he did realise then you guarantee there is still no words from him, though you are both definitely on the floor, tackled in joy.

Red is the type to bring seashells back from the beach because “it reminded me of you”, even if they’re cracked or plain, he still loves them and loves you. Might be a subconscious reassurance that he, and the others, are good enough, insecurities dulling their personalities or highlighting their flaws, shrunk down to a basic personality of the “emotional cry-baby”.

You love all their flaws, not broken but different and unique, without a few cracks you wouldn’t have your boys- literally.

He loves physical closeness: hugs, holding hands, forehead kisses etc.- he feels most secure when he can touch or be near the one he loves.

His bond as selkie partner would be full of wonder, your own fascination with his seal form inspiring him deeply, often asking questions about what it feels like to swim or dive deep into the sea, unable to do the same or at least live the same experience if you were to use magic, or, if in a more modern world, learn to dive with equipment.

He would be terrified of losing his selkie skin having read the legends about it being stolen, from a disgust before his death reading about terrible people, to a sudden real-life fear for his own partner, not like he distrusted you but the idea of losing it himself no matter how likely from forgetfulness or having a wrong sense of trust to someone. Knows you would guard it like a sacred relic if entrusted with it; he’d definitely cry at this show of trust.

Learns to enjoy it most when he can wrap you both up together.

The glamour of his selkie skin shows as a slightly oversized coat, in almost a short trench coat style.

He writes silly love poems inspired by ocean tides and compares their eyes and appearance to many cliché, but sweet, things such as the skyline, coloured shells, coral, tidepools and songs.

His favourite dates involve swimming together or just lying on the beach, curled under a blanket or his selkie skin watching the stars and waves; can definitely name at least twelve constellations.

If his partner ever gets homesick, if away from the sea, Red would help them return, even if it means being apart, because love, to him, is about supporting their happiness, even if it hurts him to be away from you, practically a second home to him, starved for your touch like he yearns for the waves.

“I don’t think I could live without you, you understand, right?”

Green:

Loves to take you on spontaneous adventures, leading you to hidden beaches eroded by the cliffsides, blue skies above you, the above land unsafe to traverse for others. Sometimes, he even drags you into the sea for impromptu swimming races, if you can swim, encouraging you to dive deep, even though you’ll never be quite as adept as he is.

If you can’t swim, he’s the best teacher, strong arms to keep you safe and secured, simply letting you enact the motions whilst he does all the work of treading water.

Green delights in sharing the beauty of the ocean with you, showing you how to read the tides, pointing out the glowing plankton at night, and even taking you on moonlit swims where the water sparkles like stars.

Green’s devotion is as vast as the ocean, a very cliché but much needed comparison. Once he’s in love with someone, he’s completely loyal and devoted to creating a shared happiness between you, and he makes it clear by staying close, protecting you when you’re in his territory; doing everything he can to make you feel safe and cherished- the same you do for him.

Green loves to tease you, splashing with waves or playfully nudging you underwater, though only if you’re a confident swimmer or someone not afraid of water, if so, he may still lightly splash you though only small sprays and always below your chest, more a tease than a challenge, though feel free to splash him back as violently as you wish; even jump and pounce on him. He can’t resist showing off his seal-like agility, performing acrobatic twists and turns within the water, an overdramatic response, just to see the look of amusement on your face.

Green is incredibly curious about your country and time period, what he can remember of Hyrule being so different from the glimpses he sees beyond the water, as well as the treasures he finds lost among the seabed. He asks endless questions about land-dwelling customs, human traditions, and ways of life, his fascination reciprocated by your own questions and curiosity.

When you’re on the sandy beaches together, Green wraps you within his selkie skin, with his arms then securing you within, like a cocoon of security, letting you curl up and relax together, feeling the warmth of both the setting sun and each other’s presence.

His selkie skin is slightly different than others, looking almost like a styled hood, if you asked a passerby, some may say they see an animal face, like a design print whilst other see a small, thin rim of fur on the edge of the leather, a textured cloak.

Every gift he gives you feels like pieces of his heart, small fragments of the ocean you share between the divide, each you accept feeding his confidence.

Green loves to sing for his partner, even if he’s not the best at it, it’s simply more for fun or to make you laugh, a lilting, melodic tune that echoes the rhythms of the sea. He’s never more in his element than when he’s singing under the stars, with the waves as his background vocals, zero shame in his less than perfect performance. You find comfort within his voice, even when you sometimes can’t understand the words.

Though deeply protective of his lover, Green understands the importance of freedom. He knows they cannot live in his world permanently, so he accepts that they must part sometimes- though every parting feels bittersweet, he always promises they’ll meet again, no matter what.

“You’re safe here, with me, with us.”

Blue:

Blue has a hard time admitting he’s in love, Link’s other emotional half, a fierce loyalty and embodiment of his instincts to prove himself and protect those he cares about; this then twists and unfortunately projects as a closed-off persona, unwilling to expose himself or his brothers to harm or possible heartbreak, staying in his comfort zone, and in this zone, includes his emotions and emotional capacity.

He might even deny his feelings at first, but his feelings run as deep as the sea his selkie family lives within, the deep waters having formed his new reality.

He’s protective, he knows this, sometimes overbearing, but it comes from a place of wanting to keep them safe, especially in a world where selkies aren’t common knowledge- especially in modern times where magic isn’t a common aspect of daily life, well known or even believed to exist by some; leading this to be greatly misunderstood.

He’s fiercely loyal, he would fight gods or dive into the deepest trenches if it meant protecting the one he loves.

His love language is acts of service, still shining through after his change, shown through acts as simple or complex as fixing things within his Hylian form, or staying up all throughout the night to keep watch during storms, even when within the safety of the house; including maintaining a secret place where his brothers can safely transform along the beach, later turned into Red’s little cove.

Pretends not to care about romantic gestures, tsundere coded in private without shame, we all know he just wants more kisses for being cute, but he secretly cherishes every shell bracelet, sea glass trinket, and salt-swept kiss you give him- your dedication to appeal to his own interests apparent.

You previously even brought him a metal chain bracelet with shiny stones within and metal engravings, hoping to replicate the metalwork gifts you were given previous, but unfortunately, it’s mostly kept to a table within the house, his bedside table to be exact so he can look at it daily, he didn’t want it ruined by the salt water.

Sits quietly beside you whilst you speak, no matter the subject, never interrupting, just soaking in the moment like it’s holy, even when silent.

Despite stating that he’s being more rational minded, he likes to believe in selkie legends and written stories that talk about how selkies for life bonds, how some seek out and love the unknown and strange, and hopes that one day that could be him, and that one day he could be happy despite his current state. A “guilty” lover of romance novels, he says in his defence, yet simultaneously reads them publicly with no shame.

Though, he also just wants someone to love him, not what he is, if being a selkie is what brings him a partner then he can accept that, but if they only want a creature and not him then you can believe he wouldn’t even need to both with them, his brothers already vetting from a distance- though luckily this wasn’t needed with you, though still regarded with a health level of distrust at first.

Asks his partner to tell stories passed down through their family, or those that interest them, using the moments to just know more about you and to learn more of the greater world and the changes over the years. Even enjoys when you read selkie stories at the beginning of your relationship, gauging your reactions- you both form a small reading club of all categories and talk of your favourite characters and creatures within more folklore or fantasy themed stories.

100% partakes in sailor gossip of old folktales within the area, one old man is his favourite, who he could even be convinced would be a selkie himself.

Has a selkie skin which resembles that or a thick woven blanket, perfect to be hidden within a bedroom upon a high shelf or as a throw- perfect for privacy and warmth.

May disappear into the sea for days or weeks, you wait, no questions, no guilt; just trust. When he returns, you greet him like he never left- something he appreciates greatly since he sometimes feels insecure, worrying he can’t follow them into the depths of the land, the same as they can’t follow him below, that they’ll return to the greenery for good- it takes time for him to believe they chose him fully.

One night, he swore under the stars that he’d never take their freedom away, not even for love and he meant it.

“We’re meant to be together.”

Vio:

Leaning into his portrayal in the FS manga, Vio’s love is quiet in words but intense in action, we would overtake the world for your sake, do anything you wished and make terrible jokes as he went. He expresses it in the things he does, the tea he travels far to purchase and shares with you to soothe your voice after all the talking you do, filling the silence for you both, the waterproof pouch he designed to protect the tea leaves he holds on his waist ready to be opened at your demand.

If you don’t like tea, I see him as bringing you fruit or fancy cuts of meat depending on what you are able to or like to eat, travelling as far as needed to secure the items or discover what social links he needs to fulfil the quest.

He has read every known legend about selkies and likely discovered a few new ones whether through their own experience or meeting new people, especially sailors, who have many stories to share, he never assumes they are true but some he can see repeated through scribes, artwork or even through his experience- he likes to discover what’s true for them and loves to share this knowledge with his partner.

Vio doesn't really feel large surges of emotion often, meaning he’s especially not one to fall in love easily, only ever happening twice, but when he does, it’s absolute; seeing their love as a pact, a deeply rooted bond beyond words.

Speaks softly to his partner, especially when they’re overwhelmed or homesick- the calm in the storm, the lighthouse guiding them back to the cliffs and beaches, welcoming those across land and sea.

He respects the liminality of their being, how they exist between land and sea in a different way that they do, appreciating the duality of your bonds and worlds, and honours that idea with space, reverence, and never clinging too tightly to your idea of freedom, his own able to be stolen from him too easily.

Vio learns selkie songs from old stories, adapts music he’s heard from towns, songs by sailors and whisperings of fellow ocean life, and writes them down in a journal, preserving their culture like a sacred text. He asks for your permission to share it with you, insecurity in his voice and musical ability, though wishing to fulfil his urge to prove himself and be able for you to experience any of it.

He worries, quietly, about what it would mean if they ever left the ocean for good, preparing himself for that, even if it hurts, because he values their autonomy above all else.

If ever given his selkie skin, you never touch it without asking; if he could he’d have crafted an enchanted seal around you both, hidden and safe from the world, a private moment between you both.

I see his coat as another large blanket, though slightly thinner than Blue’s, instead more shiny on the surface, the glamour unable to be any stronger, so he often has to leave it behind in the cove, guarded by his brothers when travelling away.

Vio would often just sit with them in silence, reading a book while they nap beside him wrapped in his coat, fingers lightly brushing through your hair.

When they’re far away, he writes them letters he never sends, and bottles them with wax seals, setting them adrift into the sea, hoping that if he were unable to ever see them again, that one might find its way back to them.

“Your heart is mine, and mine is yours.”

Shadow:

At first, Shadow would keep his lover at a metaphorical arm’s length, reluctant to let anyone too close. He is protective of his emotional state, fearing that showing weakness will make him vulnerable. But over time, his lover's kindness and patience wear down his walls, and he starts to let them in, though he still struggles to articulate his feelings.

Shadow's love isn’t loud or brash. It’s found in the quiet moments: watching the moon rise over the sea, sitting in silence together while he gently combs through their hair with his fingers after they’ve spent the day by the water, or simply holding hands in the dark- small moments to others but the world to him.

Shadow tries to court you the most suave way he knows how: seal noises, bringing you fish and pretty rocks etc. in his Hylian form he was already quite simplistic in his methods themselves with very complex reasoning behind it; add this to a selkie Shadow and this man is the definition of “please accept my rock and love me” /lh

Ironic, but fitting, is the most likely to bring you a cool rock that turns out to be a small geode or bring you lots of sea glass, got to stay with a mirror theme here /j

Unfortunately for him, but very understandable for both you and him when he actually remembers he is currently a seal, this fails, as you obviously can’t understand- you notice the other lighter seals seem to be laughing at the darkest seal, hands slapping their bellies, bouncing in place like a cartoon.

You find it cute and giggle, you aren’t a monster and have eyes unless you’re blind then I’m sorry, description= round with big black eyes, now you understand; the seal’s previously shifty, embarrassed, eyes suddenly turn to you, large and shining as if love-struck.

My gosh he has big eyes, they’re like beads, bigger two fingertips placed together that just shine even in the dark, it would be freaky it they weren’t on an animal which is basically a circle with arms.

As a selkie, Shadow is fiercely protective of those he loves, but his protectiveness is tinged with an air of distance. He doesn’t want to see his partner harmed, but he doesn’t want to be needed too much either, a lie of course, it’s more so that he doesn’t know how to be needed, only to be used by others and discarded. There’s a constant tension within him, a desire to shield them from the world’s dangers, but also a reluctance to hold them too close for fear of being rejected like those in Hyrule and even his own creator.

Shadow’s dark side, his tendency toward brooding and isolation, means that he sometimes feels he can’t fully share his life with another. He knows his otherworldly nature, previously his creation in the dark world and now his seal form, is something his lover may never fully understand. His love for them is genuine, but the idea of them being part of his world, to truly understanding him, sometimes feels like an impossible dream. Still, he craves that closeness, even if he doesn’t always know how to make it happen.

The ocean is simultaneously Shadow’s sanctuary, his escape, and his prison, too similar to the mirror he was once sourced from, but when he’s with his human lover, it becomes a place of shared wonder, not just solitude. Shadow takes them out into the depths of the water, allowing them to swim alongside him, and in these moments, he feels connected to you on a deeper level- the water, his new home, feels more like theirs when they are together.

Shadow keeps his selkie skin hidden, tucked away in a place only he knows; to give it to someone would be a monumental act of trust, and he wouldn’t do so lightly. If his lover ever sees his selkie skin or if he ever allows them to touch it, it’s because he’s finally allowed himself to be vulnerable with them in a way he never has before- his skin represents not just his new soul form, but the part of himself he keeps hidden from the world, that he has kept hidden for many, many years even before the incident.

Definitely has no glamour over his coat, at most he wears it like a hood or covering over his shoulders and hair, draping down his back.

Shadow is often overwhelmed by a sense of melancholy, being the one to have the most complete recollection of their life, even if distorted, and sometimes he’s afraid his human, not a monster nor Hylian, lover will understand his darker moods. When he’s feeling like a ghost of the ocean, distant and cold, he fears that their love will falter, but his lover always finds a way to remind him that they care, even on the hardest days.

Your support is unwavering, though Shadow’s pride sometimes keeps him from asking for it.

Shadow isn’t someone who can be around all the time. Sometimes he needs to retreat to the sea, to a space of his own, even away from the colours, overwhelmed by being around others, noise and simply having to be perceived, phantom judgement lingering over his shoulder, needing space to think and clear his mind.

He doesn't always explain why he pulls away, but you understand that it’s not because of a lack of love, but more so a different portrayal of emotional maturity, the only way he knows how to control his outbursts and understanding, it’s just part of who he is- a creature of the water, with a need for solitude, however, each time he returns, the reunion feels like a breath of fresh air when suffocating for so long.

Though Shadow can be aloof, when it matters most, he’ll be there. If you or anyone else is in danger, he becomes the most formidable protector, his darker side, the one he’s been hiding from them, becomes a weapon in their defence. He’ll go to any lengths to keep them safe, even if it means sacrificing his own comfort.

Shadow doesn’t speak of it, but the love he has for his human partner is fierce and undying, even in the silent depths.

“I won’t fail you, I promise you that.”

(Bonus) “Yandere” Shadow:

Crack idea: the colours all stack on each other to lift Shadow through your bedroom window, they are supportive of his courting, and you’re confused how this seal got in your house.

You cuddle into the pile with the seals or Shadow in human form after a date, turns the ending to crack as you realise the weirdness of being surrounded by the scent of the icy breeze, ocean salt, the fresh blooms from your window and… fish, lots of fish.

Shadow trying to stalk you but being a bad yandere, not being sneaky because he just wants to be close to you, being unable to intimidate you into a date since he’s all gushy and flustered (you still accept because he’s so cute); being clumsy and stumbling when he sees you when he was trying to stealth attack someone etc.

Shadow is fully capable of being a yandere, but he just gets so soft around you that he gets all dorky cute and “head-empty”- you give him an extra kiss for being so cute and he always goes bright red.

-

As always thanks for reading, suggestions and criticisms are always welcome.

No fun fact today, but I can tell you my current writing plans:

I did plan to write out a full scenario of the yandere Shadow, possibly a bit more serious and actual yandere.

I do plan to write about Hylian courting, with inspiration from other posts.

Some LU wing AU for my friend lost4pandora who created said AU, shall tag them properly once I write the post.

I have also received prompting from friends for some NSFW which I do have a few ideas for but they may be smaller posts, so you may see that in the future.

Plus I have gained permission for a small fic based on a comic by ovegakart for Link, Zelda and Ganon, so shall again tag properly once I write this as to not bother anyone.

[puddlestories]

Body Swap AU- Part 1

Four x GN Reader (no gendered pronouns or descriptions); (intended romantic relationship; open ending)

CW: Mention of fights and medical terms used for injuries, nothing too graphic (hopefully); I've never posted on Tumblr so this may look very messed up but I'm trying

Idea: Reader and Four are separated from the rest of the Chain and end up in a situation which leads to them being body swapped, what follows is how they try undo this situation and build their relationship.

8.4k words; not proof-read

To begin with you already knew it was going to be a difficult fight, you had all prepared yourself to the best of your ability, swords freshly sharpened, if two days ago is still fresh, and as much armour donned as time allowed for- Time in a cuirass and gauntlets but legs only protected by cloth, Hyrule who managed to equip his leather cuisse and greaves but not his tunic to cover. Lads such as Warriors and Sky were luckily donned in both their chainmail and multiple thick cloth layers, proven to be lucky when an arrow had shot straight towards them, others raised shields or dodged behind trees and those with shields themselves, whereas poor Sky was struck in the pectoral, hopefully not deep enough to reach his scapula considering he was still able to react, albeit slowly and recover to a defensive position.

Despite popular belief, these monsters were smart, infected or not. Monsters also wore a visage similar to armour and various cloths to protect themselves, however the main threat was they knew how the armour worked- plated armour was, whilst strong against many attacks, weak to slashes and bashes which could dent the armour inward and limit mobility, but good against arrows. Though in this situation, it wouldn’t matter too much if Time’s armour would be effective from arrows as his greatest weakness, even if fully donned, was his unguarded legs and fragile tendons around his joints. Chainmail was good against slashes but weak to arrows, that’s what the extra layers of thick cloth were to help against, not the arrow itself but to help decrease the penetration depth. These enemies knew and they showed that in their battle strategy. Well, what you could consider a strategy, they weren’t fully equipped with proper armour nor battle formations, but they weld good quality weapons and a vast array of them too. Archers and those with spears and crossbows approached towards those like Sky, Warriors and Wild, a larger moblin behind them, obviously meant to be the tank of the formation approaching far closer than the spearmen. On the other division of the campground, others like bokoblins marched quickly and lizalfos skittered low to the ground with larger broadswords and falchions, some weld maces, though luckily those were fewer and more scattered within the swarm. Time, despite his disadvantage and vulnerability to those with maces stood between the group and Hyrule, who was obviously more vulnerable to those with falchions, lizalfos able to move fast and low to the ground were extreme trouble once welding one handed weapons such as this. Wind, Legend and Twilight had been caught towards the edges of the camp, Wind the first who had been able to grab a weapon and buy time for others along with the latter two who had been the ones to spot the small army approaching the camp and had returned to warn the others.

At this time the group had been divided, and worse, divided to group at which they held a disadvantage. Legend and Twilight were able to push back the close ranged enemies but were, too, knocked back by those with range, spears and lizalfos spit struck through the air, gust of wind flapping off the tarps once used as tents and flickering the smoke of the smouldering campfire- others that met their mark flung Twilight’s shield from his grasp; another struck into Legend’s leg tying him with a heavy water bind, attempting to slow his movements. The two were metaphorically pinned to the edges of the campsite, backs towards their comrades and facing further into the forest, bokoblins, lizalfos and moblins instantly in a charge to surround them.

Not far away, though too far when in a battle to be able to provide support, was Time, Hyrule and Wind who had been earlier flung at the initial surge whilst attempting to reach his boomerang that had been pulled from his belt. Time stuck in a belt saw motion, his torso circling forwards and backwards with his feet taking small steps forward and hurried small jumps back, was attempting to disarm a trio of lizalfos, which too, joined his dance of forwards and backwards, all awaiting an opportunity for the other to slip, to make a mistake, an opening- currently it remained a tie, Time unable to properly swing his great-sword, both hands clasped on the handle but no space to unleash an arched swing. Small and restrained gabs and twists of his sword were not enough to knock back the monsters, especially those so quick and agile. Such close quarters fighting too limited Hyrule’s arsenal abilities, magic flickered between his fingers and along his blade, a lightning strike from above was not an option with his brothers so close to the targets, however, small stabs and jabs into the clumped crowds and connected enemies allowed a good distraction for the larger enemies as electricity licked between them and grabbed between close bodies, buckles and weapons; a more deadly voltage for smaller creatures. Wind though, held an advantage, his smaller frame darting between enemies, aware of the sharp flashes of light between clustered formed by Hyrule he kept his distance, but sashed around larger enemies, those with less agility and dexterity, less able to easily grab him. Wind repeatedly slashed at the legs and backs of larger enemies such as moblins and refrained from deeper piercing stabs, not willing to risk his shorter blade becoming stuck between the skin, cloths or simply slicked with the blackened blood of the enemy and losing his weapon. Roars of moblins grumbled and rattled loud across the field, bulging and skewed lizalfos eyes darting between both Time and the source of the sound allowing the former opening needed. A swing of a great-sword slashing through the air so smooth and swift left a trail of hazed white through the air, practically splitting each particle, and splattered red and black among the crowd and glittered onto the forest floor.

Warriors, Hyrule and Wild used a tree for coverage, arrows aimed in only their direction, larger monsters filling the sights of the archers slimming their open view to the trio. Arrows flew, some cut short with an untaught string flying too low into the ground, others, quite literally cut short, slashed and broken among the stomping of feet, cracked and splintered by metal plated shields. Sky guarded his chest with his shield and used it to bash away and stray enemies which tried approach the opposite side of the large tree though most avoided such a fate either through being struck by their own archer’s shower of arrows or being smart enough to avoid that quadrant of the now muddied and bloodied outcrop. Warriors and Wild were both the offensive force using a long bow and his borrowed fire rod from Legend by both Wild and Warriors respectively.

Importantly it was one part of this battle that summoned an unexpected change. The dirt became loose and a black mud of blood and crushed grass. Arrows laid cracked or deeply embedded within the ground, those not embedded upright later partially buried within the mud. Purple mist and larger shards of skin and bone flittered through the air, some dusted upon the floor, others drifting within the movement of bodies and the lightest breeze.

It was this breeze that was different- a slight crackle of electricity, not unlike that of an approaching storm or cold hands on warm skin and tussled textured blankets. This electricity wasn’t coming from Hyrule’s magic like one would think, instead it was focused with a small halo spun and woven above the group. Arrows slowed as a golden powder fell from above, warm and sharp on one’s skin, however the melee assault continued, less monsters still standing but those remaining filled with energy and an untapped blood lust. Woven threats shot skyward, pulled taught with energy and coiled into the coned cloak and small hooked feet of a wizzrobe.

An electric wizzrobe? No, that didn’t seem right- the cloak itself held a blue sheen along the white and gold fabric, almost hovering as if it wasn’t apart of the threads themselves but an extra layer, one not of cloth.

Even stranger was that the being continued to skip and hop above rings of gold and flickering sparkles or energy, skipping towards the edge of the forest and over the arrow littered quadrant and away from the heroes engaged in battle.

Sky hidden behind his shield, slightly learned towards the outer bark of the tree, scraped and torn from sharpened metal to watch the new monster. Arrows continued but in far smaller numbers. He looked from the wizzrobe towards the firing line and saw that the issue wasn’t a lack of arrows, if anything the bundles by their ankles showed far from otherwise; instead they too were watching the wizzrobe. The other heroes were close to finishing off the melee participants, it wouldn’t be long until the archers were attacked front on and defeated- so why were they not giving their all and now firing at the exposed heroes along the entire field? Sky looked on further, scanning the field: Twilight and Legend who had finally managed to join the other group. Twilight with a gash through his thigh too close to his knee, Legend scratched and bruises littering his face and legs, but healing and defensive rings doing their job to prevent and minor slashes, Time who’s trousers and armour were too covered in blood to see any wounds, Hyrule face flushed and panting from magic use, his fingers a greyed blue; then Wind, hobbling on a slashed leg with a deep pulsing gash through his gastrocnemius muscles which would definitely take a few months of therapy to be fully “right” again and smaller tears at his lower arms.

Where were you and Four?

To answer that, although unknown to Sky, you both were in the exact direction the wizzrobe had hopped and skipped with a taunt grin of teeth and twisted leather skin under a veil of fabric.

-

You’d been pushed back and herded by monsters, you knew this, the smooth movement of the herd interrupted by jagged bodily actions perking and prodding at your base instincts to avoid the danger in front of you. A tight but thin circle of bokoblins and keese circling above wouldn’t have been the biggest threat to you with Four by your side- you were new to this world still, even if some may believe you should have adapted more to the constant prickle of danger and lurking threats within your 6 months of being in this world. The true threat to your small duo (unknown sextet, or hexad if you prefer) was a large lynel at the opening of the hearding circle, although, strangely, it wasn’t attacking you, not with it’s full might at least, it had previously lurched forward and swiped at Four, awarding a nasty headwound for attempting to create an opening for you both.

A failed attempt of using his fire rod to create a fire wall, merely a distraction and cover from the lynel, to then rush past the opening between it’s horse body and the nearest bokoblin. The fire wall was cast perfectly, thick and with slow movement towards the lynel itself to push it back but avoid sudden movements or bucking from the horse legs which may have hit you if you ran through the already small gap. Instead, it was too effective and the lynel too smart, as soon as the wall was cast the lynel stayed in position at the head of the circle and, as planned, moved to the side to see around the wall, however, despite it’s hulking size, it was fast, extremely fast and had positioned itself turned at an angle away from the wall giving more time and opportunity to grab Four as he swiped at the bokoblin. His sword has not even had a chance to form an arc nor thrust forward, instead it was violently tugged backward in defeat, still clasped tightly in his left hand from the force of the lynel’s blow.

Dark red melted into the white of his complexion, face void of colour aside from a thick ribbon of blood along the entire right side of his face melding to his skin, filling the lines by his eyes and slightly straying horizontally across his forehead as his face was scrunched in pain. You locked your hands tight around his biceps and had to place pressure on your spine and wrists to try pull him upwards, quickly you removed one hand and swooped an arm to curl around his back and under his armpit, a hand, again, curled with ashen knuckles from strain of gripping onto the dampened fabric. The blood was damp lower down his torso by his diaphragm, and soaked thick into the green cotton and golden embroidery. That stain probably wasn’t going to be easy to come out.

A silly thought that quickly passed your eyes in the gale winds of stress and heat building under your collar. Four would have to be okay to even worry about that; you’d both have to be okay- it seemed far too delusional to say that it would be okay.

What brought you back was the lynel’s gravely grumble, not a roar nor thrust of a blade, it was standing still. Static and a faint heat entered the air, a heat already there associated with the pounding of your heart and laboured breathes, but now able to be noticed alongside the crackle in the trees.

Another crackle, accompanied by an awful popping sound, like cracking joints; then a flurry of golden dust breezed past. Halo, curl, twirl, pop and pop. Breeze and repeat; breeze and repeat.

With a final pop, echoed around you like you were surrounded- even though you were- a golden halo pulled into taunt strings, and before you a wizzrobe appeared, face gaunt and speckled black, like the blackened blood was trying to spill from it’s pours. Over it bounced, light on the air and over the ring of bokoblins and keese, pitter pattering around the stationary lynel and coming to a twirled stop about six paces before you both.

It didn’t speak, nor make any vocal sound, just another pop of trapped nitrogen.

Until it did.

A garbled, wet, gurgling noisy emitted from low in it’s throat, within those few seconds you swore you saw a small cluster of bubbles pop at it’s curved mouth corners running slightly down the arch and unguided by any facial fat or structure. The wizzrobe let out another gargle, like it was drowning, and began to take tiny, pointed steps towards you. Sudden and with a flourish of expanding it’s cloak, the wizzrobe lurched forward, no ranged spell or attack, it simply flung itself forward- it was heavy.

Attempting to spin with the momentum to throw it off and shaking your body as much as possible without dropping the slumped man in your arms, eyes fluttering open with pupils blown varying sizes. Four in his unaware state managed to push the creature harder than you, despite his condition; with that it fell upon you both, no longer holding itself up. The monster was heavy upon you both, grasping and clawing at your clothes, ash fingers returning red from Four’s clothes. Dark spittle flew at you, turning your head to the side in an attempt to avoid the fluid that was freckled along your cheeks in a dirty unfound constellation of power and that same crackling heat. For minutes the fight, more like a floor-bound scuttle, continued, hands and bone sharpened claws flying towards eyes and plush skin- until it stopped. It stopped, with and unknown reason and lied limp, face almost fully black of spilled ink and black blood with eyes bulging and unfocused.

It was with great delay, that with a thrum and a crack of the wind that it flattened into loose fabric and began to unravel and boil, evaporating into a purple mist of small blue shards and purple power. Remaining low to the ground held in a low crab walk from mental and partially physical exhaustion, your elbows buckled, landing your back to the soil; it would be no time at all for the other monsters to approach, keese to knock you flat and the lynel to land the final blow to you both, that or maybe it would watch the bokoblins slowly beat you both to death.

No noise came: no footsteps, grunts, squawks nor flapping wings; even the air had gone still and stale with the dry electricity of the remaining shards lingering in the air.

Looking around, there were no monsters, yet you never saw nor heard them leave, yes, you’d been in a scrap with the wizzrobe, but you’ve have heard a small horde of monsters leaving or seen from the flashes of your surroundings given during your fight. There were no monsters- they wouldn’t have left without confirmation of your death, a Hero of Hyrule especially was not just left concussed. You truly would have looked around more, or tried to think more, but the heat in the air lingered, dry in your lungs and throat, and… you passed out…

-

At first, it didn’t feel like you were waking up, it was more a violent thunder in your chest and a hook pulling your head towards the floor; heart beating strong and loud behind your eyes and echoing in your temples. Your limbs felt wrong and hard to describe, heavy lead bones but static skin pulled and separated from the muscle beneath. The left hand smooshed and twisted against the floor, though not broken, wrist cramping and arm numb above the elbow, nerves pulsing from the ulnar to the tips of the fingers; the right static from the pressure of the torso- your body felt so separate from you within.

Pushing from the knees and twisting your torso, you attempted to push yourself upwards from the cold floor, the chipped and dry texture pressing uncomfortably into your cheeks and nose making breathing more laboured, any attempts from your mouth were dry and coated your throat with a fine powdered dust. Another attempt to push yourself up felt like it was assisted this time, strength pulled from your abdomen and twisted in your chest, another twist and pull, knees locked, and feet planted you managed to roll yourself onto a shaking elbow and splayed numb hand.

Finally, you peeled open your eyes, one easier to open that the other, a thin crust clumping your eyelashes. The area you were in was dark, not helped that your right eye was partially obstructed so you, aware your arms were still weak, leant forward onto your left forearm and wiped and grabbed at your eyelashes with your right, slightly wobbly, the metaphorical hook in your head still pulling. The floor felt cold and almost smooth, small cracks and rocks now joined by a small littering of dark brown clumps and a few loose eyelashes- you shouldn’t have been able to see them with the low lighting, a soft unknown glow emanating from an unknown area, like the middle of the room itself had an energy emanating; with that you pushed back with the strength left in your arms and sat back on your haunches, knees lightly spread to assist balance.

“Four?” Your words slightly slurred, luckily not from injury but exhaustion- you heard no response, so tried again, “Four, are you okay?”

A small shuffle sounded from across the room, you were now sure it was a room, what seemed to be dirty stone floors and that slight echoed reverberation of a sound in an empty room which, along with the fatigue, distorted your voice. Slowly, partially from caution, mostly from a lack of ability to move normally, you shuffled towards the sound, what you assumed to be Four. Logic told you that if there were any enemies in this area that they would’ve been much louder, far from a quiet shuffle and much less reserved as to not approach you as soon as you spoke. Still slow, but gaining a new confidence of how effective certain movements where you continued forward, palms flat on the floor, fingers slightly curled, and using your knees with the momentum of your swaying torso to propel forwards, stopping every few paces to avoid teetering forward too far and falling to the stone once again.

You called again, this time receiving a weak call of your name in return. Shuffling further and slightly faster teetering too far to the side, almost falling in your haste, you finally arrived close enough to the weak voice to hear the puffed words “where are we; where are the others?” You couldn’t respond. Instead, you swept a hand out to your right, ensuring to stay within a 45 degree angle of your torso to catch yourself if needed. You swept again, another pace forward, sweeping left to tight until you felt a mass, a body. You felt the woven cotton and a silky overlayer, a singular thicker belt around the waist, until you felt another strap, a thinner sternum strap, one used to carry a bag- Four didn’t wear a sternum strap, he wore a separate tied backpack for easier access to his scabbard, less chance of getting caught and tying his sword, he said once before- Four wore a Sam Browne belt. You called his name again, much less confident, your apprehension able to be easily plucked from your words; then you whispered for others “Wind? Hyrule?” They were the only ones you could think to wear a bag strap.

Instead, your initial call was confirmed, Four replied to you, voice still twisted, light and echoed along the walls, whispering back behind you like a phantom crowd “I’m here, hold on, I should have a light”, further small shuffles, the patting of leather and ruffle of cloth “do you have my fire rod?”

Like instinct, or the pulling of your phantom audience, your hand gravitated to your belt and wrapped easily around the broad handle of a fire rod, hooked nice and proper within a leather notch. Without words you handed over the item, no idea of why you would even have it, you didn’t remember him giving it to you, nor could you even remember having any hoops nor coils along your belt.

Answers were given quite quickly.

No sputter nor hiss or a flame was needed when the rod was within Four’s grasp, instead the gem of the fire rod lit up slowly as to not overwhelm either of your adjusting eyes. If you could delude yourself you would try convince yourself you were still adjusting- perhaps your cornea was scratched from dust, a painful injury but would effect your vision, perhaps you’d unknowingly hit your head in your previous tumble with the wizzrobe and were having visual hallucinations, or maybe it wasn’t your head trauma you were experiencing, but Four’s.

Before you, laid back on a singular elbow, pushing themselves to sit straight, their left hand firmly grasped around the fire rod’s handle, was you. At least what looked like you.

All you could do was stare, thoughts going through your head, some not even your own “are they okay?” came a voice within your own head, it possessed that feeling of disembodiment, a voice unaffected by the environment nor volume changing with their words “were they injured, I can’t remember after that stupid lynel attack?”

“Who’re you?” I asked aloud. My own eyes moved up to meet my own, suddenly widening as they met my own, met my body’s eyes. Unknown to either of them nor the voice the question was meant to be for the latter.

They spoke my name, the person before me, I didn’t answer, instead I looked down at myself, looked down at Four’s tunic, the green soaked with blood, their white leggings somehow untouched by blood nor dirt from the forest and reached to touch my head, his head, the blood now clotted and run dry. Two voices entered the conversation at a similar time, their words mixing together.

“The others aren’t answering, was the head wound that bad? Hopefully they’ll return soon I feel all fuzzy, like I can’t come forward fully to pilot.”

“What’s happening? You’re not Shadow,” their head dropped so fast, chin to their chest, their words perking the attention of the other voice too “why am I you, why are you me? What’s happening?”

“Shadow, what are they talking about, how do they know about--?”

I tuned them both out. I tried to make sense of it all: I was in front of myself, I looked like Four from what I could see and now there was a voice that I didn’t recognise, the deep baritone continuing to question.

“The wizzrobe,” I whispered, recognising the low honeyed voice that emitted from my chest “it did something to us, it didn’t attack normally though, no magic, not normally at least.” He paused. Four, it was hard to look at my own reflection and call him that at first, began to take deep breathes and his eyes unfocused as if deep in thought, then he agreed. Possible theories began to fall from his lips, occasionally interrupted by his own criticisms of logic or herding his own ramblings.

Only when I asked a strange question, one which, like the strength within my core, didn’t feel like my own. My lips moved and tongue curled words forced from between until I relaxed my shoulders, the words pronounced smoother but still with an audible strain, like I was struggling to breathe, “are the colours okay?”

“Colours?” I asked myself, more relaxed yet still breathless, the word falling easier in exhaustion.

It was Four who replied, albeit after a long pause, not the voice from within, beginning with a questioning twist to his face only to relax with clouded eyes and snap back to a strained horror “Blue?”

“I’m here, tell them I’m here” spoke the voice, Blue, Blue spoke to me soft and reserved, exhaustion and emotion sat heavy in my chest, I could practically see a man within my imagination, Four in a different coloured garb, a longer tunic, split down the left side and an extra belt wrapped above the usual, high on his waist, his head turned away. I fulfilled his request, and with that Four relaxed physically, shoulders drooping, body partially slumped and head falling forward; then he began to cry. Small tears welled in his eyes, only a few falling along his cheeks, trapped within the curve of his nose and dripping down into the crevice along the corners of his lips.

Despite the confusion I was still filled with empathy, wishing to reach a hand to them both, but was only able to reach out to Four physically, with choked words he spoke again, more of a ramble than a cohesive explanation. “I, gosh, it wasn’t meant to be explained like this, it wasn’t meant to,” he ran his hands across his face “during my adventure, you know I forged the Four Sword, forged from the broken Picori blade using elemental stones from across Hyrule. It started as projections, magical projections of myself that I could work alongside for short periods, within dungeons mostly; then it evolved, I harnessed those elements again after facing Vaati the first time” I refrained from asking about those specific words, the first time “and when I drew the blade from it’s seal it became the Four Sword, well, not became, it already was, I don’t know what to say, but we became how we are”

“We?” was the only thing I could say, not wanting to break his explanation considering his current struggle.

“Yes,” he laughed, soft and full of tears “we. My brothers and I. Four is us combined, he holds his separate being, but we are there with him, not at the front but we are till there for him, like a conscious voice that you may have, just more of us. We separated are Vio, Blue, Green and Red, though not necessarily in that order,” he laughed again, more heartfelt this time “you currently have Blue”

Without a pause of doubt nor embarrassment, possibly from the mental load of the information provided or just a subconscious expectation planted as a child to be polite, I spoke out loud, eyes slightly lowered away from Four’s, this was for Blue “well, at least it’s nice to meet you now, even if like this,” a nervous laugh as Four looked at me “hello Blue, but also, hello to you all, I’ll look after him, don’t worry.” You did feel a bit stupid but were set in what you’d said, you’d look after Blue, they must be terrified being separated like this, even if it would seem that Blue takes more care of you than the former. You let out a small gasp and exclamation of understanding, the sound reverberated back at you “your head, you hit your head, maybe that’s why Blue got stuck behind?”

Another exclamation, this time of approval and fellow understanding “you might be right” from the now known trio before you and with that an unseen but understood nod within your head completed the quartet. Well, it wasn’t really a quartet, with you it could be a quintet, though no, you were going further, there were six of you that you now knew or hoped to know.

“So, Shadow? When do I get to meet him, is he here?”

“Well,” his eyes flickered back and forth, an occasional pause between his words as if another was interrupting or adding to his sentence, “he is here, however just not the same way.”

“Not like Blue, nor the colours?” You added.

“No,” he shook his head in confidence “he’s more like, well, like that,” he chuckled, voice slightly lower with a hand thrown up casually and a single finger pointed towards your legs; pointed towards your actual shadow.

“I now see the naming theme,” you teased as a slightly white, almost grey arch stretched across the head of the shadow on the floor, a pair or smaller crevices also forming higher on the face- was he laughing? “Hello, Shadow,” you laughed as well, lifting your hand though angled towards your shadow in a mock handshake as you bobbed up and down slightly “lovely to meet you, sir” you finished with a dramatic bow of your head.

Light laughter filled the room, a lighter atmosphere wrapped tight and protected in the orange light of the fire rod- but heroes never get peace; in this situation you also aren’t given peace as a sharp screech pierces from another area, colliding with stone walls and bouncing needles into the room you were all in. Four managed to react in a quick spin, crouched and poised towards a thin, previously unseen corridor- the opening was so thin you both would have to traverse through sideways. At least that was when you were able to move properly, your bones remained heavy and skin a detached static, with a few moments of sluggish movements you felt cold coil around your ankle- Shadow was holding you, two small circles watching you, no mouth to be seen now.

“Are you okay? We should get moving” Blue asked, concern only slightly masked with heroic efficiency. Unsure if it would work I spoke within my own head, thinking and hoping he’d hear it, I spoke about my struggles to mobilise properly, that I felt detached and like I wasn’t fully able to move our body; with that thought  I asked for his help, after all this was our body now, thinking back to the strength I felt previous in my abdomen. After silent pondering Blue understood, the previous feeling of a phantom audience looming behind me was pulled away, string pulled taught as they looped through my arms and fingers, coiling around my legs and straightening my spine- it was like I’d been pushed forward and replaced into proper fitting clothes, Blue’s arms solid and strong around my ribs holding me steady. My strength returned in the same sensation of being relieved of a bad episode of pins and needles, yet a slight static remained on the edges of my skin, like I’d slip back within myself.

If we had the choice, we would have been smart and stayed in the room, possibly it would have done us harm and kept us cornered, on the other hand, maybe we would have remained safe and hidden from any danger, the small opening not allowing danger to follow. However, we had no choice- if we remained in the room in our current situation we’d die from dehydration, only my bag strapped to Four’s hip and only two water canisters within, that or we’d starve, I didn’t carry any food rations but we’d last at least a couple weeks if we avoided monsters, any danger would be our end, too weak to fight.

Locking our knees and pushing up with our hands and back we stood tall, back a little too straight and hands loose by our sides but we were managing to move much more efficiently. Together we all moved forwards- Shadow stretching across the floor as far as the light of the fire rod would allow, guarding and searching in case of a nearby threat, with his retreat up the wall as slight wisp of his torso, Four and I advanced forward towards the corridor, if not for the perfect corners and smooth sides of the stone it’s be considered more of a crevasse without the ice sheet, or a fissure within a rock. Stepping sideways, running our backs against the wall and chests almost brushing the other side, we continued. Due to the small size of the opening Four had to keep his sword sheathed, the blade safely cradled within the scabbard upon my back.

Emerging from the wall I unsheathed the four sword, tilting the handle towards Four, the blade itself lightly grazing the floor, the weight not something I know to expect but Blue supporting me and Four’s usual bodily strength compensating from years of swordsmanship. Four grabbed the blade from me, the handle slipping into his grip only to clang onto the floor, he maintained his hold on the hilt, but the blade fell, kissing the floor with sharpened teeth.

With a grunt he said “geez, this has never been so heavy, it’s like being a page again”, at least as a squire, back then he carried equipment often, he had the strength needed but in this body his wrists were strained and biceps compensating for his lack of brachioradialis and superficialis muscle strength in his forearms. “Here,” he tried to hand the sword back to me “you’ll have to wield it, I don’t have the strength, you go melee, and I’ll cover you with my fire rod.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll show you the form to use, you just focus on speed and power, we’ll do this together” Blue reassured me, and ironically the other colours echoed a similar sentiment “Blue, are you able to pull yourself forward?”

Reassurance emanated from us both, explaining we were working together “it’s almost like wearing the same clothes- like a partial split” can an additional comment, unlike before it didn’t feel forced, I was so relaxed and accepting of Blue that it was almost as if I spoke myself despite knowing otherwise. Four nodded in understanding.

“If I could protect you I would, which is why I’ll be right by your side, okay? I may not be able to wield my sword, but I can use my magic to guard us both,” he reassured “a hero’s duty” he added quickly, eyes flickering.

I could feel Blue grinning but with a look that didn’t match within his eyes “Hero’s duty includes going and seeing what that sound was, right, guys?” Shadow flickered on the floor, bouncing between Four and I’s feet. It felt wrong to call him Four at the moment considering it was technically Vio, Green and Red, but that was also a bit too much “may I call you Opal? You know, reflects different colours and rainbows from one piece, it doesn’t feel right calling you Four, it’s like excluding Blue yet also, not like I’m seeing you three, you know?” I plucked at Four’s hair in a slight anxious shame, easy to play with laid by his pointed ears awaiting possible judgement.

With a grin they clasped a hand around my shoulder, lightly squeezed and turned so we could begin traversing the rest of this area we had entered, and to find the source of the noise- a strange but accepting acknowledgement.

Another shrill shriek echoed beyond the veil of darkness, the glow of the fire rod remained a safe blanket, encasing you both in warmth and safety, yet simultaneously limited your visual range, the danger hidden in the darkness beyond, not yet revealed by the light.

Thumping, but not heavy, footsteps continued to echo from what seemed another room over. The group continued on, the walls no longer parallel, turning outwards to welcome a large room, the fire rod’s light no longer reaching the sides. Opal stopped and increased their magic input into the gem, a small sputter of fire released from the flashed increase of heat and magic, another small flame flickered, more controlled but still hovering around the gem- anymore energy and it’d definitely burst forth into a hazardous fountain. With each flutter and burst of flames the aura of light dilated and constricted, like it was breathing. Then we saw a silhouette, then three, then five; only one of the figures was moving, very small thumping steps, hardly moving even a foots worth of distance. The figures were tall and lanky, extremely thin legs, longer than their torso which puffed out into a fat oval, thick arms also protruding hanging low to the knobbles of their knees at their sides. It’s head turned slowly wrapped and constricted in bandages and what seemed like tight leather skin, pulling taut like paralysed muscles and uncut burn scars- the creature looked like it was struggling to move.

Then with a piercing screech the fire rod light went out.

I couldn’t move, Opal made no sound, and neither could I but Blue immediately began to plan- we couldn’t move not due to fear but because our muscles were locked and pain flooded as if the muscles themselves were torn- as soon as we felt we could move we needed to position ourselves and our sword.

The fire rod burst to life again, all magic flow returning at once creating a full burst of flames, they ran and fluttered away from the main stream, getting closer to another creature, that no too began to turn towards us. With each shriek the light burst in and out, the lights flashing, vision obstructed, and eyes dilated too far, it was from darkness to blinding light.

The creature kept getting closer, each moment of movement allowed Blue to enter a defensive stance, the plan changed from offensive to defensive considering it’s unlikely we could have time to attack when the monster had the ability to paralyse us. Oddly enough, he entered what he called a “fool’s stance”, not directly ready to attack but allowing for a strong counterattack if the creature came too close. He remained in a resting guard as the creature shuffled forward, no longer screeching, perhaps thinking we were still paralysed or defenceless- if it could think that far at all, we wouldn’t know. Seven paces away it lurked, body flung forward and legs lagging behind, one leg stretched forward and straight whilst the other bent to provide power to the attack. In that moment, Blue struck, quickly raising the sword in a long point guard, he pushed the hilt upwards and used his back leg too to offer the same power.

Thrust forward he stabbed the sword deep through the torso of the monster, blade sliding through the thin bandages and rotten leather easily, the blade caught among the breastbone and ribs twisting and turning to gain leverage, and air pocket between and a snap of bones freed the blade once again, using the momentum of pulling to place his leg forward and band backwards, creating just enough distance to avoid it’s flailing claws. The distance allowed another swift slash aimed higher this time, aimed towards the throat. A swift slash, a leap forward and another bend backwards; the creatures head fell to the ground.

Simultaneously as our enemy began to turn to dust the others approached, one awoken from the fire rod much closer than the others and approach deceivingly quickly. Opal was already prepared, a molten blast shot straight to it’s target, the creature was undeterred but still effected, the bandages were alight, returning the attack, licking and clawing at the skin beneath, at least what skin remained. Leather skin remained resistant to the lighter flames on the bandages, but with another direct blast began to melt, the epidermis gave way to the dermis, the vulnerable skin and fat beneath melting and bubbling within.

The monster continued on, fat bubbling within the torso and legs creaking with pops of nitrogen, small shuffles becoming staggered strides as skin gave way to movement as it sagged and peeled away. Fat burning fed the fire, the heat increasing as remaining skin began to ash and crisp, subcutaneous tissue and muscle exposed and blackened. Bones revealed yet it continued on, lurched at Opal yet far too weak, magic or not, with an almost non-existent muscle mass, easily pushed away and skull stomped beneath the weight of a heavy boot and body weight, cracks and crunches echoed out, shards and ash sprayed across the floor.

Three more of the creatures approached.

Opal prepared themselves and began to circle the fire rod, flames and sparks danced above us circling in a close distance, a partial barrier but ready for a charged attack- just enough energy to guide their direction and maintain a weak barrier, even if all magic flow was stopped during the enemy’s screeched attack. Blue, close to Opal’s side yet slightly in front, on a diagonal at the right-hand side so as to not block either man’s range of motion. Entering us into a high vom tag stance I focused on placing my body weight and energy into the oncoming swing, the sword placed high above our heads maintaining leverage, but we had to time the strike correctly, if not the position would tire us out too quickly.

Two approached from the left, another from the right; two shrieked. The fire barrier maintained itself although quite weak, one from the left and another from the right began to herd themselves to the middle of the barrier, the second from the left continued forward, passing through weakened fire. Another bright blaze from Opal and a quick position change from Blue, my arms felt like pure static, I wasn’t holding the blade and I was beginning to slip, less energy each second; Blue was having to carry me too much, he was forced forward so far that there wasn’t room for us both.

With a spike of static and stabbing pain of needles and peeled skin, we swung the blade in a downward arc, the blazing monster staggered back and tilted to the side, only to continue forward. I pulled our legs back, our torso slightly keeled forward, Blue’s grip on the sword turning our knuckles white but the blade drooped with us.

Opal leapt forward, danger literally hovering too close, he had to either maintain the barrier to keep the other two away or attack the creature closest and allow the others to advance.

The spinning wall of fire grew thicker, orange bursting out from the coil, flickering towards the cloth drapes of the two figures, bone thin legs shuffling back and forth, heavy torsos leaning forward towards the fire. Their torsos twist back, shoulders tilting their bodies, their legs remained straight but their upper bodies slumped sideways, chest faced forward to the flames, but bodies creased at the hip, the jutted bone of their pelvis shifting the lower rib beneath the skin. One let out a scream, pitched lower with a grating hollow bass, diaphragm, or whatever was inside squished between ribs and pushed forward into an extended abdomen by the pelvis.

The noise sent a chill through Opal’s body, down the muscles of their back and looped around under their arms to radiate through their chest then tingling into their arms at rapid speed. Luckily for the group the altered pitch and volume of the scream avoided the previous paralysis effect, Opal shivered again, despite the sweltering heat of the fire ring around them- the creatures were watching.

The previous two defeated monsters showed no signs of black blood, though they didn’t seem to show much sign of anything, one slashed and headless with another burnt to ash; it showed they had muscle and skin layers, bone and most likely organs beneath that too thick skin, but no blood, none they’d seen.

They kept staring. Black, wide iris, no white of the sclera to be seen within deep, deep sunk eyes- the eyes were so deep it almost seemed like not only did they have no nose cartilage, that was clear to see, but that the nasal and lacrimal bones were gone or damaged, or perhaps the shadows simply fell too deep defying the bright flame before them. They weren’t that delusional; the thought wasn’t even comforting. Did they know something? The monsters from the forest had seemed smarter than usual, but Four had attributed that to them being black blooded- these monsters weren’t showing outwards signs of intelligence, per say, but they were acting different; it would’ve been far too easy to paralyse you both, not at the start of the fight, you’d been even numbered with a delay to one of the enemies, but now they could’ve paralysed you both and attacked.

Nothing felt right, something was deeply wrong, and it didn’t help that he was stuck maintaining the barrier whilst you and Blue were struggling.

 Towards the other side of the circle, you and Blue continued to maintain yourselves. Four’s body didn’t lean any further forward than previous, you no longer felt your skin, the static layer completely fizzled out, yet you still felt the digging of his thick buckle jabbed into your stomach, only a slight roll of fat protected the metal from sliding into the curve of your breastbone. If you could be more concerned, you’d have unlocked your knees, the risk of restricting blood flow to your head too dangerous of a prospect during a fight, but right now it was only your locked knees that prevented you both from buckling to the floor- an even worse scenario.

Blue yelled in your head, more a cry of concern and stress than anger, “are you okay? I feel you slipping backwards but I still can’t take full control, what’s happening?”

He tried step back, dragging their legs in sluggish movements tied down by another’s feet, strings not taught but loose and wrapping around, tying your ankles together. He called your name again, more desperate and rising in volume shouting over the gap of your detachment.

“I’m okay,” you slurred out loud, Opal’s fingers twitched in you direction unable to look over and break focus, “I can’t feel our hands, or arms,” you continued adding on small areas of concern “just need to focus, the flashing light disorientated me a bit too much.” It wasn’t really an excuse but a reason, or, well, maybe a slight excuse, you felt like you were reassuring yourself rather than responding.

The body fought with you, mentally dizzy and being pulled side to side, gravity strong against your conscience. You struggled to feel anything, at times you’d get a hint at the cold static and muscle torn numbness from before only to lose the sensation again. Waves pounded back and forth, pins pushed in and out, energy struggling to return to your limbs. With great effort, you pulled out the metaphorical needles from your skin, knuckles white and joints stiff, strings looped and pulled, all tangled and knotted, you threat the needle, thick and blunt and forced it through your skin. Elastin and collagen separated, cells giving way, skin pooled around the edges, pulled taught at the point, until it gave way. Threadbare string tore past, electricity coiled again, your fingers puppeteer inwards, nails pushed into your palms.

The creature stood above your bent form, eyes unseeing, yet so aware, staring through a fogged glass. Sharpened bones raised, fingers craned with an arm hung low, and swung outwards.

Claws grated across the floor, deepening grooves within the stone, pebbles hopping away. It wasn’t a flash of light but more of a reflection, glass shards flickered bright on the floor a deep red in the blackened scry. Shadow flickered across the floor, pulled thin and swung violently with the twist and turn of the fire rod, the shadows should have doubled, one darker behind us and another split to the side following the rod’s gleam, but Shadow himself remained unwavering, his form moved and constricted in different ways, his dark presence remained unchanged.

With another shock of energy, strings frayed and knotted, you pulled taught and united. It lacked power, but with the assistance of Shadow the monster fell low to the ground, still hunched and clawing at the man in the shadows. Sword held over your shoulder, blade held at a diagonal, slumping slightly backwards rather than straight, you released control of your body weight to gravity, feet planted firm and back bolted, the sword arched forward and cleaved into the creature’s shoulder. With this revelation Opal released the barrier, a charged fountain of magic constricting around the two remaining monsters, fire burning bright, a deep glow remained within the gem of the fire rod, magic depleted from Opal’s body, yet the gem remained bright with the forged heat of a newly formed blade. Dark hands clawed at the face of the one on the floor, skin falling in ribbons and burning into purple dust among all three. Our own trio moved slowly around the walking fire pillars, slow shuffles and emanating dust, until they fell, far from our retreating feet.

---

Thank for reading, all feedback is welcome, have a fun fact about the story for your troubles:

The story was originally meant to have Four and Reader separated and focus first on the bond between Reader, Shadow and Blue which would have then opened the next step of a relationship with Four overall- learn and bond from within approach

[puddlestories]

Crumbling Dungeons and Lost Hope- Idea

Link & Implied Character (could be another Link if implying AU as in the tags, or could be implied as x reader, I wanna expand on this idea as a longer fic so please do let me know which you'd like to see, maybe even comment which Link you'd like if that's your choice!)

CW: other character referred to as "beloved" once, implied character death

Idea: trapped with Link during a cave in, a dungeon mission gone wrong, the old architecture no longer holding around you.

Small drabble, so not under a read more cut; not proof-read.

They both laid there, as still as the rocks around them, hope crumbling and slipping from between his fingers, a plea leaving his dry, cracked lips, "please, oh please wake up!" A lone man continued to speak, voice cutting out in sections and coughing occasionally with the thick dust within his lungs and throat, all moisture robbed from his mouth making it difficult to speak- it was already difficult to breath anyway.

Tears made paths on their dusty cheeks, black and grey already smudged across their skin, previous tracks blurred along with the ceiling which had collapsed blocking all other paths in site and leaving the two covered by debris. Each direction was either piled stone in chunks and slabs or was simply looking into a dark void, space tunnelling to the side but no light able to penetrate the cavern created around them, the air pocket a small arch they resided in, the gap to their left dangerous territory, not worth traversing, the stone above practically creaking and groaning under the increasing weight and unstable rocks, larger slabs tilted into a V, very slowly grinding against the floor, soon the cave inwards- there wasn’t likely to be an exit through there anyway, plus he couldn’t pull them through with him. It was difficult to breathe with all the dust thrown into the air, and difficult to see with a lack of light, the dust acting as a fog, thick and encasing.

"Wake up, kid," he pleaded again, voice stretched thin with tears "we've got to get you home."

More rocks crumbled around them, only desperate sobs and the harsh rain of chips and pebbles falling from within the jagged walls and down between small gaps within the rocks to the floor, the channels too small for even a hand to fit. Harsh, dry sobs increased in volume and frequency as Link cried and pleaded inaudibly, voice breaking with the strain of how hard they cried and continued to cry, the weight of the situation pushing down from above, the stone cracking and splintering in places, their fate known yet denied by animalistic preservation. He cradled their smaller body yet gripped onto them protectively, curling around their frame. He knew he wouldn’t be able to get either of them out of this situation, the other boys hopefully safe outside and away from this situation, most likely already attempting to traverse the area, pulling rocks and shifting larger boulders where they could, any attempt to reach them both- it would work. Link knew that no one would be able to help, not in time at least, he knew they would try, that at least brought a sad melancholic smile to his face. Eyes closed tight with a blind childish hope he wouldn’t have to see what would happen, lack of light or not, maybe if he didn’t look it wouldn’t hurt as much; maybe it wouldn’t be real.

Head pressed flush into their chest, cotton now scratching against his sensitive skin, a lack of burning warmth or movement from below, constricted in fabric, he whispered a final sentence that his quivering and stressed voice would allow.

One final plead.

"Don't leave me here alone, I can't do it without you..."

One final sob. One final shudder. One final forced, shaky breath.

...and the crumbling sheet of stone which made up the last of the ceiling collapsed, finally encasing them both, claiming all life within the previously abandoned dungeon; with the final rush of trapped air and thundering noise of elements colliding, the room was finally ground into quiet. A faithful companion not leaving his beloved's side, after all, 'till death do they part.

[puddlestories]

FS Selkie Origin (Intro)

Colours x GN Reader (no gendered pronouns or description)- written with no reader in this part, but an introduction to the selkie aspect)

Idea: a search for moon pearls creates a series of events of which alters the boy's lives forever, whilst others try make it through, another has a completely different idea, an idea involving a legend of selkies.

CW: talk of death and drowning, unfortunate spoiler.

8.9k words; not proof-read

The breeze was strong that day with a biting chill which reminded Red of the blizzard he traversed back during their original adventure on his search with Miss Fairy. The sand was much less stable than the frozen caves as it moved beneath their feet moulding into an imprint of their worn leather boots with each step along the beach.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t say that he’d enjoy the beach anymore, it was ironic really, he was still fine with snow and storms, especially when at home with his family, but the beach was somewhere he couldn’t bare to be. Luck for him, there was a pier further off the bend, the darkened wood splintered and rotting in places, connecting straight to the rocky soil of the coast, the area abandoned, once used for large fishing hulls, now the area left for a population period, only cargo boats seen in the distance towards the beach pier and town-side dock.

The sun still stable, though low, in the sky, hovering a distance above the coastline, he could practically lift his hand and cup the sun between his grip and the gap of the wavering orange, the reds and deep blues of the sky mixing around his fingers, the still sun strong against his skin. If not for the splinters in the wood below him, he knew he’d easily fall asleep, the rush of the waves, heat of the sun and the creak and groan of the weakened wood, poles remaining stable and rooted deep below. Though it wasn’t deniable that he was dozing off, head bobbing as if tied to a fishing line; eyes blurring in and out of focus- vertigo taking hold in a faint cradle.

"It has to be here somewhere, I'm sure of it" muttered a deep voice occasionally clicking their tongue paired with gravelled grumbles, tired, entering the late hours of the day and despite a previous full night of sleep, or so he’d say, his rigid four insomnia gifted hours fulfilled, the time passing in a coiled pattern, slow in the moment yet slow in retrospect- it was nearly time for sundown, still a couple hours before midnight.

Further along the stretch a shorter man turned and scowled, "how sure, Vi? We have been searching for hours now!" He grumbled again, the bags beneath his eyes seeming to darken further along with the sun the longer they stayed on the beach. They would only have roughly another hour to search, eyes flickering to the sun’s position waiting for it to dip any lower, having to take into consideration their journey back to the trail and then home, plus they’d now need to go to the pier a small distance away to collect Red, who he could see was laid back, legs dangling. He chuckled a little, his brother was definitely sleeping, whining earlier of staying awake all night to crochet a new project he was on, insisting that he had a time constraint with Green’s selected birthday approaching, the day of their knighting ceremony.

Blue hoped they’d be able to go home soon too, wanting some warm food and a good relaxing hour in his bed before sleeping, those last few pages of his current book awaiting him in those drowsy moments. Vio’s determination wasn’t a surprise, he was fully prepared to have to wind his brother down, there was always tomorrow, his determination blinding him in the moment from outward environmental changes, blind to the dwindling time and basic idea of being able to return to the beach- it wouldn’t vanish overnight, they may just have to wait until noon for the tide to retreat, the ocean growing more rampant over the past couple weeks as the moon entered it’s perigee, it’s orbit growing closer.

"I'm telling you, Blue, I've been researching and reading about the moon pearls for months now- the books I've read, along with my previous research, means that they're likely produced from plants. If my theory is correct--" "only a theory?!" "--then the plants will be found along the coasts blooming near the salt waters."

The rebuttal slipped from his lips though no aggression intended, simply loose from exhaustion. Another huff could be heard, forceful and deliberate, clearly meant to be dramatic and audible. Despite the noise, Blue continued down the coastline occasionally brushing through the sand and pulling away seaweed in search for the desired flora and it’s budding fruit of labour- Vio smiled, his brother could scowl and act tough but after all those years he still couldn't hide his care in his actions it seemed.

The search continued onwards into the last weaning hours, and continued afterwards into a blanket of approaching darkness, both men losing focus on the time and sun’s position, lost in their task, until the sun was merely draped along the horizon, less than a quarter remaining awake, lulling down beneath the waves and stretching that last mile of deep orange. It was with that fire-like glow that Vio noticed it, noticed them, pastel blue, gleaming so softly. There within the darkening water, a shallow basin of sand, sat small, budded spheres mostly hidden within a tangle of long black capsules- moon pearls, their unique gleam of shimmering iridescence revealing their true nature, setting them apart from any sea glass or regular pearl, though he thought for a moment, he wouldn’t mind bringing Blue a pearl gift one day as a thank you for his effort, he believed he’d enjoy it, a rough yet sensitive guy with such a delicate gift brought another more delicate smile to his lips.

With a grin he walked closer, water splashed upwards at his sudden harsh entrance and seeped into the thick white cloth of his leggings staining them a light grey, clinging into a transparent film around his calves and joints where the fabric didn’t pool with the water weight and remained tight to his skin. The sea floor curved downwards at the bank, so he stepped forward carefully and reached out. Unfortunately, he was not close enough.

Deciding the water was not too deep, he stepped down into the basin, the sand dark and sinking his boots further, the leather encased, and then pulled, a suction forming around his feet

Vio sucked in a rapid breath. A shuddered exhale followed. The water was much colder than he expected, that was for sure.

Still determined he reached forth again for the stem, fingers stretched forward, torso tilting forward, feet remaining planted in place but only grasped water. Leaning forward even further brought him closer, teetering dangerously, feet unable to shuffle forward further to balance his weight, his other hand lowering down to brush the sand, an attempt at an anchor, to brush the pods but the pearls were still hanging away from him- they swayed in the current mockingly.

Another laboured step forward, entire body requiring reposition, dragging his feet out the sand, now laid atop the sand, weight shifting with the tumbling current, sand kicking up with the motion. The water pushed forward too, the pearls finally swaying into Vio's fingers, with a quick push forward he curled the orb into his palm. A victorious smile and shuddered breath left him, deep relief at his success and discovery, more research ideas already entering his mind, or at least they would if he wasn’t so cold, thought pushed into the back of his mind and filed away for later; now he just wanted to get out and home, sitting in front of the fireplace and changing out of his clothes sounded too good at that moment.

Then it happened. With a step forward, shuffling his feet to find purchase in the sand, he unknowingly stepped forward into a riptide, the rolling water hidden by dispersed sand and up kicked debris.

The sand tilted and caved under the soles of his boots, and slid down the steep bank, rolling into the foam of the waves that surrounded him. Loose feet tumbled and kicked against the sand finding no purchase, no grip; no stability.

With a quick rush, his head went under the waves- no time to breathe. No time to yell.

The water rolled and coiled around him, pounding against his flailing limbs, and pressing the air out of frozen lungs. Bubbles filled Vio's ears, it felt like water had flooded his brain, pain encasing him, no air to breathe, no room to think, and no time to scream; the water sweeping him away in a rapid harsh motion, strength unwavering tossing him around in a death spiral, body flipping around and slamming into the sand bank, fingers sometimes finding the air above the water, but no relief to fix his position to swim upwards, or downwards; to break to the surface.

In that moment he had no control, but if he could, he’d have wished to have gone quietly, simply swept into the waves and dragged away to sea; if he had to die, he’d have wished his loved ones wouldn’t too.

Nevertheless, the water forced itself apart as a second body entered the fray, Blue surging forward towards his brother, unknowing of the hidden danger of the riptide, the darkening sky hiding the signs of the water’s movement. With blind hope and emotion, his fingers clawed at the water trying to grasp the other, but with one gulp, the riptide swallow him too, dragging them both far out into the water, Vio falling unconscious from hypoxia, unable to reach back to his brother.

Even with all hope, Blue couldn’t see him, ripped away, water sharp in his eyes, darkness encasing him, it was too late, the water too strong. The ocean too deep.

The water clasped onto them and pulled against their weight, their clothes soaked and growing heavier, their limbs weakening with exhaustion and their lungs filling with water. Bodies too heavy and the surface too far.

Cold, now pale, fingers brushed through the foam, clenching and stiffening into ice. The sun now hidden beneath the horizon, unwilling to witness such an event, as two men, mere boys to many who loved them, too young for such a fate, laid beneath the waves in a deep sleep and stretching that last mile of the deep dark waters. That fire-like glow smothered and suffocated. Lured to the ocean as the last remaining light of their eyes was, too, consumed whole.

If it was possible, he would have cried.

---

Receiving the new was difficult, that’s the only word he could think to use.

Red had been awoken later the next day by the sun in his eyes, finally peaking around his shield of thick hair, back sore from stiff wood, light, superficial cuts to his arms and a nasty splinter too. It was with extreme confusion that he sat up and looked towards the sky- the sun was high above him and the sky a light, perfect blue.

At first, he believed he was still dreaming, a false awakening, since he knew his brothers would never leave him, they wouldn’t even leave him sat alone at the table without saying where they were going or asking if he was okay- so where were they? Sweeping his gaze along the quiet, sandy beach, crawling his eyes further up along the pebbled ground into the transition of the dirt and grassy hills- they were nowhere to be seen. He turned back to the water, a waning hope that they were still searching in the water, possibly camping overnight- though why would they leave him on the pier- or perhaps he’d been far too sleepy and imagined the night had progressed farther than it had- but again, it was morning and had at least been into the afternoon before he’d gotten sleepy.

Lifting his feet onto the pier, leggings and shoes slightly damp from the splash of waves overnight, he began flexing his muscles, legs dead from the awkward position. Powering through the sensation of needles and static in his legs, he rolled onto his knees, forcing himself onto his feet. Running along the beach, occasionally stumbling across loose piles of sand or hidden holes, he ran for a solid half an hour, knight endurance training coming into use, up and down the length of the beach, even peaking around the wall of rocks towards the left curve of the beach, the cliffside blocking the rest of the way. In both directions, his brothers were nowhere to be seen, dread pooled in his stomach, the urge to vomit bubbling into his throat, tightening around the rock of discomfort lodged in his oesophagus.

Against all logical sense, Red returned home, puffing with exhaustion, running and speed walking when too tired back home, muscles in his legs burning with lactate. He burst through the door, the lock not positioned, he hoped that meant they were home, Vio had the spare key after all, though there wasn’t much of a reaction to his loud entrance, no looks from the boys in the kitchen, or a yell from Blue or Green through the window to the back garden or upstairs from the bedrooms. So that’s where he searched next, starting on the second floor so as to not miss them if they were to move from a room, he searched the upstairs hallway, just one long stretch, from front to back: Vio’s bedroom and study, Blue’s bedroom, Green’s room and study, the bathroom, and then his own room. With no success he moved downstairs, the open kitchen was easy to see as empty from the bottom of the stairs and doorway, turning the corner, the living room was open and empty too, moving into closed off areas he searched the downstairs toilet, knocking first of course, their father’s old study and the forge. Finally, he moved outside to the garden and shed.

Noone.

It was only with a dejected stumble and a stressed groan, that Red returned into the house, stumbling forward into a slumped seat on the living room sofa, thick woven blanket sliding down on one side from the force, folding onto Red’s hip, the other half pinned by his thrown back head. After another groan, and a wet hiccup, attempting to hold back tears, the door opened, a light creak, the top hinge needed oiling, on Blue’s to-do list for this week, he shot up, running on unstable legs, throwing himself around the corner and collapsing onto the unaware individual who’d entered the house.

“What’s wrong, Red?” They exclaimed with a shocked shout, thrown back against the still open door, both now on the floor, Green sat partially out the doorway with Red seated atop his lap, legs wrapping around his waist, hands clenched around his back, tears pouring fourth.

It took three attempts, with coaching and encouragement from Green, patting and rubbing his brother’s back, “they’re gone, I can’t find them.”

“Find who?” Green whispered, an unknown lingering doom following him from the knight’s quarters that early morning and along the walk home, his eyes moving into the quiet house- a house of which if anyone knew the boys, was never quiet, always mumbles or talking, hammering or the crackle of fire from the forge, the rhythmic steps from the floor above.

Red simply continued to cry, his chest heaving harder, struggling to breath, transitioning into hyperventilating, Green continuing to hold him close and encourage his breathing to slow, or at least to breath at all.

“Green, I can’t—Vio, Blue, we were—we were at the beach—I can’t find them,” his voice breaking at the end, sobs continuing, words gasped and forced out between each struggled breath, “I can’t find them.”

With a desperate attempt of reassurance and reasoning Green continued to comfort Red, confusion settling upon his shoulders, going through similar reasoning, where would they have gone, why would Red be home alone, but perhaps they’d gone out, he hoped. He hoped for something he couldn’t believe in with confidence, and later, when Red finally calmed down enough to speak, he explained how he’d been alone on the beach, Green becoming increasingly worried, assuming previous he’d been home alone, all possible scenarios and explanations falling through his shaking fingers.

It had been a few days with no return of the others, imagination going wild, hoping for word from Zelda that they had been sent on a monster hunt or rescue without word, the letter sent remained unanswered. Both boys cried, one in the other’s arms, a terrible feeling suffocating within the house, the other within the confines of their room, throwing themselves into work as much as possible, paperwork unfortunately, despite all unwilling to leave the other again.

It was expected, a possible scenario, but far from expected to become reality, his brothers were found deceased, it was something that should have never happened. They were all heroes, and some continuing to pursue full-time knight hood after their adventure, others simply maintaining their training, it was expected they’d one day fall in a battle, or die much later in life from age or disease, but to be told they’d been found within the water was far, far from a scenario in his overactive imagination.

The three knights who’d approached the door where all holding their helmets to their sides in respect, two of which Green knew, having trained alongside their squadron and worked alongside his father during missions, the third was young, freshly knighted from last fall’s ceremony, he assumed, his face not familiar. All spoke their apologies and sympathy, heads bowed. It was the younger of the two that Green recognised, a young man in his late 30s with a dark beard and longer hair, Artura. The man went on to explain how they’d been found by a fisherman who’d gone out around the cliffside to test the levels of fish in preparation for the later months when fishing would resume to ensure sustainability and the health of the ecosystem, it was in one of the large cast nets, designed to catch and release fish without trapping fins or harming scales, a softer refined rope, that it pulled on a heavier weight. A portion of the net was floating, something that shouldn’t happen, Green knew what was coming. Net ropes tied to the rails, the fisherman had withdrawn the net, heaving the mass onto the deck and unravelling the netting, he saw something abnormal, not just a show, as apparently those weren’t the rarest, it was the bent hand, fingers poking out the woven diamonds; he had found a body, the trapped carbon dioxide and fluid causing the body to float within the first days of decomposition.

Those words hurt Green, a metaphorical stab to the heart, yet the pain so real, to refer to one of his brothers as a body, he knew why logistically, they had been unidentified until now, but it still hurt. Artura continued on with his small tale, recounting what he had been told, words chosen carefully, yet still far too harsh and ridged: setting aside the fish trapped along with the corpse, the fisherman looked at the clothes, the face- though far too bloated, tongue inflamed and pushing outward, skin slimy from decomposition of the skin, he would never say that to the them- and with the unique identifiers of a small round broach holding a now tattered cloak, torn from rocks on the ocean floor, and the pattern on their clothes, they had found Vio.

With this news, destroying those remaining in the household, permission was granted from the King, the entire bay was to be searched, all boats to be aware of any nets or traps within the water, as well as extra boats deployed with the sole purpose to sweep the sand beds.

More days passed, turning into weeks, the gases of decomposition guaranteed to now be released, decomposition quicker in water, amplified further by the salt water, as well as skin and tissue eaten and pecked at by ocean wildlife; as the days passed, they knew he wouldn’t be found in good condition, that is if they were ever found. With the lack of buoyancy of the body, Blue would have sunk within the depths, making him harder to find.

As weeks passed with no discovery of their brother, ships and nets continuing to be sent out by order of the King in Zelda’s honour, hoping to find her friend and the country’s hero, the Smith household began to fray.

With their father pulled away on a long-distance, cross-country mission by the crown, despite attempt to bring him home the situation required his experience, no other captain able to replace him at that time, those able out on other missions themselves, that left the boys and grandpa Smith to act as support and mediator as the fights began. At first, both lads were simply grieving and heart broken, thrown into their own coping methods, Red abandoning all creative projects aside from baking, comforting himself with food and time with either Green or his grandfather when he was available, where as Green began to isolate himself after a while, the constant presence of Red, the inner conflict in his head and the fact his father couldn’t be home was too much. Zelda did try to visit at times to coax Green out of his room, but with her increasing duties of multiple squadrons out on missions, outrage and panic of whether the Four Sword Sanctuary’s magic would hold with two heroes gone, and plenty smaller issues that had continued to add up.

Smith spent the majority of the week with the boys, mainly Red due to his clingy nature and Green’s distance, but the others days, beginning at three days a week and slowly becoming five days a week as orders in the forge piled up with no one else to complete them, he had to be away working, unable to give his full attention to them both.

It was when their grandfather was away at the main, larger forge closer to town, that they began their first fight; it wasn’t intentional, they were both just to bottled up, both brimming with different types of emotion, clashing together due to a lack of communication.

Green snapped first, it began as an inner conflict, the fact he wasn’t there with them all at the beach, maybe he should have convinced them not to go, though he knew that would be an impossible challenge with Vio once he was determined to do something; then even more ridiculous he though back to their adventure, if he’d never used that moon pearl in the dark world temple then maybe Vio wouldn’t have needed to search today, maybe if he’d helped in the research, even if useless, they’d have searched a different day and the tides would be different. Maybe, just maybe, he’d have had some impact and been able to avoid this all from happening, whether a past action or a recent action, maybe he could have stopped this all. Yet with his inability to properly grieve and receive support and comfort, his brain began to twist this conflict outwards, ink bottles broken, books thrown and chair leg snapped as it was thrown across the room. What if it was Red’s fault? He knew it was wrong, but his brain filled itself with harsh hypnotising whispers, what if he sent them home when he got tired, what if he helped search so they left earlier or brought them home together; what if he never fell asleep? In a twisted way that he couldn’t explain, it was because he hated himself so much in that moment that he began to blame Red, because he was so useless that he couldn’t have any impact, that maybe if it was Red’s fault that he could actually have an effect, have had a chance to save them all if he’d just taken that day away from the barracks.

With the bubbling storm, no amount of outward rage calming his emotions within, he eventually exploded. It was early one morning, Smith had left for the forge, knocking on Green’s door to alert him, and later, once he’d heard the door close, Green stepped out of his room for the first time in a few days, to make food in the kitchen rather than having lunch and dinner left at his door. Due to the early hour, he didn’t expect Red to have been awake, having hear their grandfather knocking and Green leaving his room, with that he left his own room seeking comfort from his brother, not just about the others but about the fact he hadn’t seen Green and was becoming concerned.

At first, Red simply snuck down to the kitchen, not wanting to disrupt Green, but he couldn’t hold back, stepping forward to talk. What he should have done was ask how he was doing, ask if he was okay, he obviously wasn’t, but to use the sentiment, or to ask if he needed anything, instead he made a mistake.

“What’re you doing?”

Green turned and let out a light sigh, slowly turning to Red before looking back towards the empty bowl in front of him, no energy to actually light the fire nor move from the counter as planned.

“Dad isn’t going to be home for roughly another month, a letter came a few days ago. Blue still isn’t home yet either…” A sharp crack emanated from the kitchen, a chip falling from the bowl in front of Green, a long line running up the side. Instead of falling quiet at the action, Green’s head bowing down to the counter, hand moving away from the bowl, a small line a blood down his palm unseen to Red, he cupped his face and eyes. “They’re still looking though, they go out in pairs now for three-week periods, the boats are due to come back this week so—”

“Shut up!”

Red fell silent, small tears budding at the corners of his eyes, Green didn’t look at him, keeping his face covered.

A loud harsh sob fell from Green’s lips, dry and peeled from stress picking away at himself, turning towards Red in a fast fluid motion, a small coat of blood smeared on his cheek, diluted and running down his chin and neck with fat tears.

“He’s not coming home! They aren’t going to find him, Red, it was a miracle enough they found Vi. They shouldn’t even need to find him,” his voice lowering with his last sentence; it was with Red’s stuttered reassurances that he snapped again, “they wouldn’t need to find them if they weren’t on that beach, if we didn’t need that stupid moon pearl and especially not if we’d seen what had happened, if I’d been there I could’ve maybe, I could’ve—” he sobbed again, knees locking and torso falling forward slightly, shoulders hunched.

“They will, they’ll find him! There’s nothing you could have done, Green.” Stepping forward he placed his hand on his shoulder.

Silent Green stepped back, slapping Red’s hand away, “yeah, you’re right, I couldn’t have done anything, but you,” he sobbed harder, falling to his knees, torso finally collapsing in on himself, “you could have done something, you were there, if you didn’t fall asleep then maybe you could have.”

Silently crying, Red knelt down at his brother’s side, “it’s not okay, but we will be, we’ll be okay.” Unknowingly he was right, neither of them had enough experience with water nor were strong enough swimmers to have the ability to get out of a riptide, they both had strength and endurance but to be able to pull out two unconscious men the same size as them wasn’t a chance with a high enough percentage that they would survive, the possibility of all four of them perishing that day was clear to them both, clear to Green and Red, they knew yet still felt extremely guilty for not being able to change anything.

-

Though maybe they would meet again, after all, haven't you heard the stories? A very specific tale.

Red had searched everywhere, Vio’s room, his own bookshelves and the local library, even travelling down the hills to Castle Town to search their greater library to try find what he wanted. A book of spells and legends, though most importantly, how legends may be real or what they may be based off in real life; from tales years ago of diseases, extinct animals and simple stories morphed through time there was one entry that he held dear during his mourning process. An entry that his brothers had all read together one night during a sleepover, during the first week back home after their adventure, when they were still all jumpy with fresh trauma. With a lantern turned onto a low stream of oil and oxygen to keep the light low, Blue scared of the dark after his experience with the Poe, all huddled under one blanket, Red gaining bad memories from the cold and all cuddled together, whether a toss leg or intwined arm for Green and Vio, not wanting to be alone, they read a story together. It was late into the night, the moon shining through their window onto the two mattresses tossed and pushed together on the floor, piles of blankets folded together, they found the story of selkies.

Lost souls at seal, formed into the appearance of a seal, in this particular story, it was stated as the lost souls of those who drowned at sea. Although feeling silly and childish, Red clung to this story after the discovery of Vio’s body, hoping both his brothers had gone to sea to be reborn, not wanting to think too hard on the detail of lost souls- where they lost as their bodies where not found, lost as they didn’t like how they died or lost mentally in a struggle in life? The first option meant he couldn’t find Vio again, the brothers separated as Vio was buried within the sanctuary grounds in honour. The second gave him hope but simultaneous sadness, he didn’t want them to be in pain no matter how likely it was. The third was troublesome, too many aspects and factors he couldn’t control.

Red knew, he knew all too well. Desperation chilled his heart and filled his lungs with water. He couldn't breathe between his heartfelt sobs- so full of pain yet burning with hope.

He knew the story, he’d read it daily, multiple times some days, the ink now smeared in places and the pages crumpled from his tight hold, smushed to his chest in a hug as he cried, or fallen to the floor on nights he cried himself to sleep.

Blue's room had felt so empty when he'd slept in his bed, felt so cold with no strong arms to hold and comfort him after a night terror, no scolding voice to hide his brother's affectionate gaze in tired eyes.

Vio's room had felt so empty when he'd sat at his desk, too bright with the curtains left open after Green's concern for his brother's eyes reading too often in low light, before he became isolated to his own room, too quiet without his brother's muttering, telling him stories and information about his latest project as they sat shoulder to shoulder.

He missed his brothers.

Though it was during one of those silent nights that he wandered aimlessly within his sibling's room. It was one of those nights he found the book on folktales again- it was a coincidence really, it laid partially open in an upside-down V, pages folding against the wooden floor wedged under Vio's bed. Red thought it must have been a book Vio was reading at night and dropped before he left for the beach, that day.

Shaking fingers clawed at the leather cover and tightened against fragile paper. He took the book with him back to Blue's bed and curled himself within cold sheets, book firming in his grasp.

Red didn't read often, used to his brother's deep voice threading words into such beautiful pieces for him, but tonight, tonight he would read the book his brother last read and sleep in the place his other sibling slept. Where they could never sleep again.

Red learnt the stories. Desperation bleeding penned ink into a burning hope, a suffocating hope. He knew it was silly. He knew it was childish. He didn't care.

He decided he’d fulfil his role in this tale, mind twisted deep into a spiralling depressive desperation, he’d bring his brothers back, or at least he wouldn’t have to live without them. They were one, created from Link and evolved into their own entities, they were meant to be together, it was fate. He would fulfil his fate, Green would understand, he told himself.

Each day, each night, he told himself it didn’t have to be that day, the ritual repeated every night after the third month of waiting, the third month of agony. It didn’t have to be today, if you were going to do it, why today, why tonight, can’t it wait until tomorrow? Think about it, the opportunity won’t leave if you wait a night, just wait at least one more day.

Green would understand.

Grandpa Smith would understand.

Father would understand.

He was going to make it okay. Silently leaving his bed in the middle of the night, tucking the blankets and cleaning the floor, moving any clothes to his basket by the door, the finally, finished crochet hammerhead shark for Green completed and left neatly on his pillow with a note. Then he changed his mind, socked feet turned back, grabbing the plush, it was instead left by Green’s door, awaiting the morning. Downstairs he passed the kitchen and walked to the door, slipping on his leather boots, the soles still dirty, not cleaned the night before, adjusted Blue and Vio’s shoes on the rack, brushing the light dust on the toes, and he walked out the door. Unable to lock it behind him he hoped it would all be okay until morning, the crime rate low in Castle Town and even lower so far up the hills into the forest.

He walked along the green of the grass, took shortcuts through trees and bends, until he arrived at his destination, over pebbles and a small hop over the sand onto old creaking wood. By the time he reached the end of the pier, his journey reaching its end, the moon was low again, reaching the early hours, the day soon to begin, grandpa Smith soon to wake up, to begin his routine, wash his face and make his way past Green’s room. Would he know what the plushie meant or would he wait until after he’d eaten to check Red’s room? He searched before he even began his routine, a sinking feeling in his heart. Would he care when he found his room empty, whenever he checked? He was filled with a terrible panic, the second he found the house empty awakening Green, both going different directions, alerting the guards the first moment they were able.

The breeze couldn't chill him as deeply as his frozen heart, rotten wood straining under his weight, groaning with the roar of the tide far behind him now, waves crashing around the wooden poles. Gaze solid and piercing the ocean, he allowed that ice to fill his lungs, water to roll from beyond to embrace his entire body. Firm wood was now absent beneath worn leather boots, cold water bled warmth into his skin, needles puncturing deep but mental comfort a thick blanketing shield, and wrapped cloth softly around.

Finally. A warm embrace. The deep rushing of water whispering tales within his ears; waves wrapping warm and strong around him.

Red knew, as he lulled gently, he'd finally sleep alongside his brother's tonight.

They wouldn’t mind, they’d understand.

-

After that night of searching Green returned to his room. Instead of searching like some others would believe, he returned to his room, broken.

The door hadn’t opened in five days, lunch trays left untouched, only two of five dinner trays taken in, one not even finished. Green knew what had happened, not that his brother had gone to the ocean, but that he was gone forever and not returning.

Behind the door, Green sat in the dark, cross-legged on the floor of his bedroom, his back pressed against the wall beneath the window. He kept the curtains closed. The light bothered him—made everything too real. The silence, though, wasn’t any better. It let his thoughts echo loud, like voices bouncing through an empty house.

Three brothers.

He had lost three brothers.

His heart was shattered to pieces, guilt from Blue and Vio still strong, yet he tried comfort himself that there was nothing he could do, but Red brought a whole new crushing wave of emotion- it truly was his fault. He’d probably seen how awful or useless his brother had been and left; he truly was the worst.

Four brothers all meant to be one were now separated beyond veils far out of their control, he truly couldn’t live on like this, yet he couldn’t bring himself to end it either, weight crushing upon his shoulders.

His grandfather had lost his grandchildren, his father losing his children, even worse that he was forced away by duty unable to properly grieve, even if he was surrounded by support from his squadron,  his closest friends who has battled together, grown with together and been in the worst situations, the men he trusted most, he wasn’t home, he wasn’t with his father or remaining son. Instead, he was out in a field or forest clearing, temporary barriers hoisted for defence and tarps tied across the space for shelter- he wasn’t at home in familiar comfort, now quiet, lonely comfort of his remaining family.

His father, still attempting to be strong for the both of them, sent letters, his penmanship slightly shaky despite the many attempts at writing in his neatest script, the occasional smudge of ink from a tilted hand or fallen tear, the paper lightly crinkled as it was left to dry before sealed into an envelope. He tried reassuring Green that they could all work through it all, that it was difficult, but time would help, that he remembers losing Green’s mother and their older son that Link never met, lost young before his own birth. He knew the pain of loosing family, and that hurt Green more, he’d lost his family once and now it had occurred all over again, they were his sons, he should have never lost them before he himself passed, he should have only had to consider his father’s passing, not this.

He must have written to his grandfather and Zelda, too, or so he convinced himself, their genuine concern felt undeserved, appearing at his bedroom door. His grandfather returned more than daily, sometimes just sitting outside the door, lightly knocking and talking to the boy within, conversations about anything, the garden, him cleaning the house, what he’d cook later, customer interactions, and so on; he never mentioned the other boys, not in reassurance, nor even on search progress, for Red nor Blue. He returned at least twice a day, even taking time away from the forge, for lunch and dinner breaks, using the smaller space attached to the house to remain close by for emotional and physical emergencies and comfort, eating his meals outside the door too in an attempt of company. Maybe he would appreciate it, and he hopes his grandfather knew that he did.

Zelda also turned up to his house, at least once a week, at times knocking loud and proud at the door greeting his grandfather, sometimes in the company of a guard or two, metal plate armour clinking along with heavy footsteps in the corridor below; then others she’d be let in voice hushed and exhausted, only a light, almost inaudible to Green, knock heard, having most likely snuck away- it made him emotional.

He was so happy everyone would come out of their way to spend time with him and show how much they cared, but it twisted his gut that they had to disrupt their own schedules and plans to attend to him.

It almost felt like he carried the burden that he couldn’t let them lose another loved one, that he had to appear strong to everyone, especially the public, expecting a hero. The quadlet had won over a portion of the public in different sectors, in support of the group once seeing and leaning of their skills and personalities, others still stuck in their ways, rejecting the new and the use of magic, some would even say cursed magic. The part that hurt the most was that people no longer expected Green, they expected Link.

Just one hero.

Just Link.

-

Being here felt sickening, only months of therapy and support of his family and Zelda keeping him standing, it was only because of them he’d even made it this far towards the location, finally pulled away from overworking himself.

The ocean was a bittersweet place for his family. Blue found peace in the waves, sparing against Green after a long day of knight work at the castle within the shallow waves, a battle between brothers being swept and knocked away with laughter and shallow waves of resistance. Vio exploring the shorelines for different species of plants and aquatic wildlife he read about, some more complex from deep within the castle archives compared and studied against the new books within the library; pages still with the fresh scent of ink, leather still shined and filled with flowery scholarly words. Red mixed between running alongside Vio, collecting shells and rocks more for their aesthetic than research purposes or pulling scarred fingers through the sand, shallow tunnels of water and mindless patterns to be washed and smoothed again by the ocean as the tides rose once dark.

Now it was more than just the sand washed by the waves. Waves he almost imagined his brothers within Blue never retrieved, body rotting and becoming one with the water, pieces flaking, clothes floating and animals eating his flesh, he had become part of the ecosystem. Despite no official confirmation Green believed Red was with him too, never found after the night he disappeared.

No footsteps followed him in the sand. No voices calling out or disturbances within the waves- it was not quiet though. The lack of footsteps didn’t always mean he was alone, he knew this was unique for his family but it brought the small comfort that despite only hearing the waves and harsher winds in his ears, he wasn’t alone. Green’s shadow twisted and coiled around his legs as the sun weaved between clouds and shined across the sand and along weathered rocks. This changed the further he walked down the beach. Sand was kicked up and trenched in lines down towards the ocean as crates and barrels were rolled and dragged through. Perched at the water stood a large crusader ship, decorated like a mare with ribboned strings and crossed banners, white sails shining bright for the royal family. She rocked slightly in waiting, calm yet rearing to sail along the country boundaries and fly toward the horizon- a month journey, one-way to a neighbouring country to Hyrule, royal matters was all he knew, at least that was all Zelda had told him, insisting he was needed to keep her company and defend her, she also threw in, despite the small squadron of guards for the ship and her actual lack of meetings written within her journal. Green knew Shadow wouldn’t be the most enthusiastic if he could criticise, being incorporeal was a barrier enough, being confined to a boat for months would’ve had him floating along the wooden beams- the thought alone made Green chuckle.

This was needed though.

With determined pestering from the princess and slight blackmail of being placed on probation from his guard captain position (decided by both Zelda and his father) and even any forge work from his grandfather swayed Green into accepting his place by the princess’ side. The hero. The chosen knight.

Previously a shared title.

His brothers may have been supportive and promised to write in an effort to promote him to travel but now he relied on the pestering of others. He felt rude thinking of it as “pestering” but after weeks of isolating himself to the forge and house he knew they meant well. “For your own good.” He knew it was true, he needed to go outside; he just wished it wasn’t the ocean.

Before Green even stepped up the wooden ramp, he already felt the tightening of sea sickness in his gut. Stomach tight, head rolling, and eyes squeezed shut; a deep breath and up he stepped.

Leather boots on weakened, waterlogged wood, the pale blue water glittering below, he felt even more sick. Another breath. Another step. A higher pitched voice called from the railing above: the princess. Waving a hand towards her knight and beckoning forward, “I almost believed you had abstained, sir knight,” her voice light but words pointed, “a voyage cannot begin without all aboard, no?”

A sharp nod and hand to heart, “apologies, m’lady. We may sail, no?” The light tease earned a soft giggle. The princess turned, eyes softer and soul lighter, another beckon and further onto the deck they traversed.

Below the boat thrust forward as hands pulled ropes and chains from within wrapped sails and watered lows; the crew bustling with swift calculated motions, actions completed in sequence. It was finally loud again, no empty bedrooms and creaking doors but voices, footsteps, and loud hollers across the deck. The ocean may have looked empty and more isolated than those wooden plank walls but with the sharp ice clawing along his feet and echoed whispers running along his back, he knew.

Lonely in a crowd but never alone, never lonely, with claws and ribbons in his shadow. It’d be a long journey; he knew that too. A long time to heal and think but there, right there in the shade of the mast, he wouldn’t be alone. A hero is never alone. A shard of a mirror will always return to the sand it was forged from, smoothed, and weathered among the waters once more.

It hadn’t taken long into the journey until the sea had turned against them.

Waves heaved and crashed against the hull, sending shudders through the ship’s frame like a wounded animal trying to stay upright. Lightning split the sky above, illuminating the now pounding rain in sharp bursts of silver, while thunder roared like the fury of Hylia was unleashed. The ropes tied along the railing and high above to the flag poles snapped in the wind along with the waxed wood creaked under the pressure.

Green could barely see through the deluge, but he didn’t need to. He felt it, the panic, the weight of the storm pressing down on them, and the danger rising around it all. With great haste he ushered the princess towards the cabin of the ship, set up as her quarters for the journey, now to be used as a refuge.

The crew ran around, back and forth along the deck, staying close to the centre of the deck, grabbing flailing ropes, securing sails tied within the nets above and securing all cargo that was above and below deck to create an equilibrium against the hulking waves, not to test the strength of the waters and the possibility of the ship capsizing.

With a rush and a yell of a young captain, who had to prove himself, authority he directed Zelda across, closing the distance towards the awaiting door, until a large wave curled and burst against the side of the vessel, unfurling across the deck, slickening the already battered floor, another rush sweeping at their tumbling feet, the ground unsteady beneath them.

With another lurch of the ship, Zelda slipped within the rush of water, body thrown sideways in the momentum of stumbling feet, Green’s hand of safety torn from her back and pulled in the retreating water. With another tumble, now far too close to the banister, she fell down into the high rise and fall of the dark waters, only a crack of lightning revealing her peril.

If the world could pause in that moment, it would still feel like only he saw her fall.

"Hold on!" he yelled out of instinct, unheard between the yells of the crew, thick rain and thundering from the clouds above, diving toward her without care for himself.

But her hands were already slipping through the railings, her scream was swallowed by the thunder; without thinking, without hesitating, Green lunged forward and leapt after her, into the dark, screaming mouth of the ocean.

The water was a shock, ice-cold and violent, it hit him like stone and pelted him time and time again, even the first few feet below the cracking surface- his breath was knocked from his chest as he plunged beneath the surface. For a terrifying second, he couldn’t see her, just the churn of white and dark, the sound of his own heartbeat pounding in his ears. Then a flash of dark fabric once a light pink tainted by the water and darkened by the lack of light around them, an outstretched hand, bubbles escaping a mouth trying to scream. He wanted to tell her to hold her breath, not to panic but she had already been placed at a disadvantage, Zelda was smart, she knew that struggling would harm her in the long-term, but as she’d been thrown and smacked across the banister and water’s solid surface the air had been stolen from her lungs leaving no air to hold for buoyancy or survival below the surface.

He kicked hard, extreme effort to fight between the strength of the water’s claws dragging him back and forth, circulating the water from above, with the rush of a downward wave, cutting through the water until Green’s hand found her arm, he pulled her close. She struggled at first, not against Green but to try assist him to correct their movement, to face upwards towards their salvation, to struggle for purchase against their momentum, arms flailing, he helped steady them both, wrapping his arms around her waist and kicking toward the surface.

Above them, the storm raged, but he could see the shape of the ship, a ghostly silhouette rocking against the sky. The weight of his own clothes dwarfed by the boulder of Zelda’s gown; weight amplified by the water latching to be woven within.

After a few minutes of struggle, vision darkening at points until cracks of lightning pushed through, they surfaced together. She gasped, choking on rain and seawater, Green held her above the waves with all the strength he had left.

"Grab the rope!" someone shouted from above, their voice only heard as if an illusion due to the now visible outline of two figures above leaning over the wooden bars, both seemed to have rope tied around their torsos and an extra rope hung between them ravelled around the openings in the carved wood. He couldn’t tell who it was but he thanked them mentally none the less.

Ropes dangled from the side of the ship, swinging wildly, Green pushed Zelda to grab the rope first, coiling the rope around her wrists after he failed to tie a knot around her waist with the pushing of the waves. Arms reached down, and the princess was lifted, first by her waist, then her arms and onto the safety of the deck. Turning over her shoulder, exhausted and held tight by a member of the crew, her eyes met Green’s for a single heartbeat, wide with fear and overflowing with gratitude.

But before he could reach up to follow, something tugged at his leg.

At first, he thought it was a drifting rope. A loose knot from the ship, trailing behind like a forgotten anchor tail, but it moved. It wrapped around his ankle, then the other, until it coiled and tightened as he struggled.

He thrashed, reaching toward the ship, kicking hard. The water spun, waves crashing above him. A second line, or something that felt like a rope, sensations dulled in the cold, battering water, twisted around his thigh. Panic surged in his chest, heavy and hot. He twisted, trying to see if it truly was it rope, or a form of extremely long or loose seaweed, maybe even a lost fishing net. The ocean offered no clarity, only shadows and twisting, blurred motion.

The surface began to drift farther away, he reached up, but the water pulled him down; his body drifted, his eyes forced shut, stinging with salt and sore from strain, the sea turning silent and still, the lower he drifted, the colder he became and the more dulled his senses, save for the low hum of what wasn’t thunder, but what seemed to be voices.

As if the ocean itself was remembering him.

-

As always, thank you for reading and criticism is always welcome. For this piece I'd love for it to be a transition into some x reader head-cannons (therefore the tags) but those will be posted in another piece.

Fun fact:

Alternate (original planned) ending: the ship enters a storm, and Green is thrown overboard trying to take the princess into the cabin or dives into the ocean and drowns when lifting her onto the ship after she fell. He can see the shadow of the boat above, the darkness of the sea below and the reflection of the water around him which disorientates him. Instead of being able to swim to the surface either a loose rope from the ship ties and drags him or long foliage from the seabed traps around him when he flailed when disorientated. The shadows begin spinning showing that Shadow desperately tries to save Green but is unable- as he loses consciousness, he sees multiple “masses”/sea creatures circling him, it is implied that these are his brothers turned to selkies.

[puddlestories]

Body Swap AU- Part 2

Four x GN Reader (no gendered pronouns or descriptions); (intended romantic relationship; open ending)

CW: Mention of fights, nothing too graphic (hopefully); I've never posted on Tumblr so this may look very messed up but I'm trying

Idea: Reader and Four are separated from the rest of the Chain and end up in a situation which leads to them being body swapped, what follows is how they try undo this situation and build their relationship.

7.5k words; not proof-read

The stone walls pulled forward into the light of the fire rod, waving and bending within the limited light. Your feet dragged slightly against the floor, struggling to lift them after your tiring ordeal, ironically you weren’t physically tired, just very lightheaded and slightly disconnected, held tight and pulled to attention by Blue- you were mentally tired, holding onto the threads connecting you both was mentally challenging.

Standing straight and curving your lower back slightly to create an equilibrium between the gravity pulling at you and the weight of Four’s body.

A heavy, but secure and comforting weight returned to your lower ribs, straightening your back and holding you steady. “Are you alright, after, well, you know?”

“I’m okay,” you reassured, “I’m okay” you repeated again, both times out loud so Opal could also hear. Opal continued to face forward, looking at the wavering walls to find the exit, though most likely just another room, despite his attempted aloof behaviour, their eyes flickered over to you, looking you quickly up and down, eyes snapping back up to yours. Their ears twitched the smallest amount, unable to express fully like his usual Hylian ears, but it was enough, you could see what they tried to hide, a slight redness to their ears and darting eyes with a scrunched nose to try pull their face back into a neutral expression, lips still twisted slightly downward. “I’m okay, truly” you reassured again, confirming your suspicion Opal slightly turned again, muscle pulling in their neck preventing further emotional distance.

More confident steps forward, the body feeling more like your own, and placed a hand on his shoulder, a firm, confident aura around you, protective but logical- you reassured again, Blue’s words unspoken but concern clear for his brethren. Opal eyes, rainbow reflections, looked at you again with a slight downturn.

With a few minutes of time, Blue maintaining his hand’s tight squeeze, Opal returned to his baseline except for the tears, eyes returned to doe ovals holding slight tears; they nodded, hand reaching to squeeze our own, and instead of turning to continue on, we embraced each other; the fire rod hung low at Opal’s side, knocking lightly to his knee, the light dim but remained a steady brightness.

“I’m scared,” they whispered, almost like a tied tongue of echoed voices emanated deep from his chest, and muffled straight into your shoulder “we’ve never been apart like this before,” the statement not directly aimed at you but inclusive, providing you more context to their actions “we’ve been fully separate, the swords separating us into different bodies, only a lingering presence of our connection in the sword gem itself. Here is different, too different, in our headspace we’ve always been together, yes we may have space, others coming more forwards than others, some thoughts loud and others quiet depending on the day and scenario, but now, now we feel empty, we’re still here but a space is empty, not quiet, well yes quiet but it’s not the right word,” he stumbled “it’s empty and wrong.”

Your throat closed up, phantom rocks piled in your hypopharynx, unable to swallow and tightness with each breathe. Blue pushed forward again, struggling to speak, despite his greater control of the body’s limbs and movement coordination, he struggled to speak; with great effort you attempted to assist him, tongue pushed forward and flat to unblock the pharynx, and the larynx trembled and contracted, air pushing from your lungs.

“We’re going to be okay,” he garbled, “we’ll all be together, again, we’ll look after each other.”

With a wet laugh Opal gripped the cloth of our tunic, scrunched between his fingers, nodded, and laughed again, face rubbing into your shoulder, “we’ll look after each other” he repeated, eyes shining bright.

Slowly, with great hesitance and fingers twitching, they pulled away but stayed close for a few moments longer, head hung slightly to look at Four’s face, an almost melancholic look in his eyes- you couldn’t tell what he was thinking. A dark pool laid across Opal’s feet. You cooed softly and lifted a hand to their bicep, “I’ll look after you all, I promise, we can fix this,” your hand raised up to his neck, in a moment of subconscious confidence, an attempt at comfort, your thumb grazed his jaw, the pad of your thumb rough, now wettened by fallen tears “it’ll be okay.”

Embarrassed you pulled your hand back slightly, only for a mixed flicker of colour and a hand to lightly graze yours slightly moving your fingers back to the softness of their cheek- you wiped their tears and lightly poked at their cheek, unintentional from the guided movement. One last soft look between you both, reassurance and slight embarrassment from your side, an unknown tension from Opal, what you assumed to be an almost grief response to the physical but not lethal loss of his brethren, an ambiguous loss.

Once again, you both separated, this time a distance greater than your chests brushing against each other, Opal once again raised the fire rod, the brightness increasing with only a single spark, the walls visible once again.

With another small shuffle of your feet, you both finally turned to progress, a smile, almost a smirk, on Opal’s face, unknown to you your Hylian ears expressed your flustered awkwardness, wiggling slightly and pointed backwards.

Journeying further, the hallways seemed to be too straight, too long- as they progressed further, the walls began to enclose, more proportional corridors to what one would expect for a small group to traverse, but with these different corridors you all noticed symbols on the walls, Blue’s pattern recognition going haywire, attempting to translate the meaning or link the symbols to anything he possibly knew, some symbols scratching at his brain more than others.

The air was thick, an unknown tension within the air, a presence felt far into the darkness and turns of stone- an unknown and unwanted presence, except, it felt like you didn’t belong, like an intruder in another’s house. It would be expected, perhaps you were approaching the boss room as Opal had called it in a passing attempt at small talk to fill the silence, except, you couldn’t explain why, it felt much different, not like approaching an enemy, but compared to entering a stranger’s home uninvited despite an open door. Entering a space that was not yours but pulled by a responsibility that was not your own, a duty to ensure safety and peace.

“Ever since we awoke here, it feels as if we were not meant to be here,” head spinning to check the darkness behind you both, then returning to look at you, eyes sharp, “obviously we aren’t here of our own volition, we were transported, possibly brought here.”

You agreed, and made Blue’s now growing concerns known, “Blue is concerned that he recognises the symbols on the walls, some are too eroded to recognise, and others carved deep but not recognisable to him, but a lot of them, he is concerned he recognises. Any of you guys recognise anything?”

Opal nodded, iris’ swirling, “Vio doesn’t know where the patterns are from, but Green has had the same concern, they feel far too familiar.”

The response made you nervous- transported to what seemed like a dungeon, but the recent fancy markings making you doubt that, plus why just you and Four, separating a hero from the rest of the group made sense, it made him easier to eliminate, but then you backtracked on your thoughts again, if they wanted him dead they had plenty of chance back in the forest and that didn’t even answer why you were here. You both had been pushed away from the rest of the group during the fight, both unprepared, you without a proper weapon and having to share Four’s fire rod and a small dagger you unfortunately lost in the struggle as he deflected any blows from harming you both, practically curled into each other you were guarding each other that closely. You knew you were an easy target, not made to carry or wield a weapon, unarmed in comparison to a swarm of monsters, especially vulnerable to a lynel attack, the latter applying to you both since Four’s shield was abandoned back at the camp. They could’ve killed you both in the forest, there had to be a reason for you both being separated from the group, the monsters had practically held you both hostage until that wizzrobe appeared, and then you were both left vulnerable when unconscious.

Why were you alive? Plus, there was the added question of how you all became entangled in this mess with Blue being separated from the other colours. The leading answer you believed was that it was the wizzrobe, infected and not attacking normally, perhaps it was just dysfunctional or maybe it was a combination of hysteria and corruption, that altered a spell- but such a spell from a wizzrobe, infected or not, seemed well above their magic capability, you’d seen the effort Legend and Hyrule placed into magic and the extensive knowledge, preparation and practice needed for certain spells.

What you could only compare to a mental knock brought your attention back, the debate of your purpose here unspoken, the possibilities shared between you all already- the air grew thicker, a new stale smell becoming apparent.

“I don’t like this,” Opal stated in a low tone “an extremely ancient place, the old mummified monsters earlier and this strange feeling; it’s like…

Deja-vu” Blue stated at the same time, Red clearly pushing forward in the moment. “It reminds me of—”

“What, what’s wrong?” you questioned, Blue silent and Red stumbling back from the whiplash of being pulled back into the headspace, all three colours in control again. Blue insisted that you tell the others to brighten the area; complying, the fire rod burst to life, plenty of sparks and a swirl of flames emitted from the gem.

Through the barrier of darkness was a large room just beyond the end of the carved corridor, what seemed like an artificial moonlight emitted from above, the room coated in shadows but enough light to reveal the structures within.

A circle of square cut stones, some sunken in the floor and others uprooted by shifting dirt and sinking, compacted dirt. Small pillars stood erect in a grid, much larger columns overshadowing the smaller spires, tapering only 8 feet above the ground, the columns thicker than the average man’s wingspan towering far higher than the light of the fire rod could reach without a burst of flames shot high above, even then you doubted it’d reach the top. In the centre of the circle was a raised platform, an empty pedestal, surrounded by flowers, overgrown grass and other various flora.

The main aspect of the room that left you and the colours speechless was a detailed carving on the wall behind the pedestal paired with a large sculpture. Swirls carved in a square shape and curved around an arch, the border to a large, upturned eye, the same style of square carvings curved into the eyelid. Behind these carvings was a large sculpture, what seemed to be light rays beaming from above and framed by large attachments with swirl spires; finally, between those spires were 4 blades, sheathed into the swirl carved arch.

“No, that doesn’t make sense, this is the four sword sanctuary, the sanctuary is outside, not in a dungeon!” Opal exclaimed.

You felt Blue nod, his image forming in your mind; you remained speechless looking at the large sculpture.

“Yes, yes, that actually makes sense,” Opal piped up again, much more energy in his voice “I was right,” Green then, you recognised “the carvings were those of the Palace of the Four Sword, although the sanctuary and temple aren’t connected, though the palace didn’t have a layout similar to what we’ve traversed so far” the others added on to the end.

“Today has certainly been an experience” you laughed, receiving a chorus of laughs in response, others distant and echoed.

With a leap you spun around, back-to-back with Opal, the fire rod still burning bright now aimed forward and slowly sweeping side to side, the four sword held solid in your grasp, leather gloves tightening around the wrapped handle.

“So dramatic” two hissed, another giggle echoing through the room.

You both moved again in a slow rotation, to the side, the empty pedestal began to glow, another eye symbol made itself clear. Voices taunted from around the room, words twisting around pillars, hissing through grass and poisoning flowers, “you’d think they’d know by now,” another chanting agreements in the background “you’re meant to be here”, “not meant to be here” another chimed the voices mingling, the first continued “do you want to leave?” it cooed.

A thundering loud crack reverberated around the room, and with it, the centre pedestal sent three thick bolts of light, splitting the room, with another crack although much quieter small branches broke from the light, reminiscent of ribbon lightning. “Only three, huh? Ah,” they sighed “not like it matters, there are five of us.”

They cackled, a dark fog rolled along the light boarder before rising and shaping into a young man- a young man similar, but not exactly like Four. He stood slightly taller, possibly two or three inches taller, but held far less muscle in his arms, hair cropped at the back and a long fringe framed his face and slightly covered his left eye. The clothes were the most different, a longer tunic, the hem brushing on his knees with a silver trim wrapping along the edges and up over his shoulders a separate thread along the lower cut torso and arching down in a curved V, a white undershirt with a high collar underneath, sleeves puffy with cuffed wrists.

As if to show their diversity, another two appeared by either side of the first. The left had a shorter fringe and more of a parted hairline to frame the sides of their face; their nose had a more obvious crook than the others, their tunic itself was also cropped to their hips and had a high collar with their undershirt having no collar and instead cropped sleeves. The right had longer hair brushing against their shoulders, it seemed to be a little longer on the left side and uneven, their tunic longer but split on one side, however the slit was within the fabric more easily described as a window allowing for more movement to crouch and bend but ensure the fabric wasn’t too loose, their sleeves also cropped but maintaining the high collar of the first.

The figures seemed unstable, releasing whisps of fog and their legs wavering. “What’s wrong?” the left cooed.

Another chuckle sounded from behind you, the two in front remained silent, stood straight and unwavering excluding their wispy forms, like a mockery of soldiers or statues.

Looking behind, you saw another man, this one with a cropped fringe but a longer ponytail resting down the side of their shoulder, draping an inch or two down their chest; their tunic was identical to the first except their sleeves were rolled to their elbows, their arms crossed revealing a burnt and slightly malformed hand. He had a slight colour to him, or to his tunic, his form much more stable without the wispy effect the others shared- the tunic had a dark blue tint, the white sleeves still prominent.

You whipped around again, looking at the others, still stood still but much more formed and stable than before, a tint of dark red, deep green and an almost invisible purple, from left to right.

“Oh no” you sighed in exacerbation.

“Agreed,” came the reply from your side “this certainly hasn’t happened before, well, not like this” he attempted humour as comfort, you did laugh, just still tense from the knowledge you’d be in your third fight of the day- you were exhausted, you were both exhausted.

Your muscles were tired and strained, yet biceps burning as you tightened your grip of the four sword, Opal stood behind you, slightly leaning back, putting a portion of his weight onto you, also physically exhausted, your body not used to so much in a day, no one should be really; you could have ran marathons and lifted 200kg weight but all the mental and physical strain of today was too much for your body, not assisted by the fact his magic supply was running low from the previous fight as well as having to provide light all the time you’ve traversed the palace.

“How rude,” the green figure chuckled again, much less distortion to their voice, a softer deep trill revealed to their voice “to aim a weapon at someone introducing themselves.”

“Not much of a friendly introduction,” your companion hissed, emotion thick in their voice.

Purple shook their head, hands rising in different motions “Vio’s right, that may have been a bit threatening, but we do love the dramatics,” he turned to the side, a slight darkening to their face “plus it may have been a while since we’ve seen people” he mumbled.

“Now that is true,” Opal replied, a small smirk unrestricted on their face; Blue laughing within. “You said five, is Shadow here?” you added.

Mutters and a low tutting noise answered at first, “well, yes, there is a five, however our Shadow got stuck in a mirror stuck asleep until he’s awakened by the demon king once more. The fifth isn’t actually part of the four sword ritual, poor guy just got stuck here and,” he tussled the hair on the back of his neck in embarrassment “it was more an intimidation tactic, strength in numbers and all.” Seeing the look you gave and the parting of your lips, Red, you assumed since the purple one was called Vio too, continued on “his name is Link, he’s not ours though, not a projection or formation of our Link before the split, he told us so much about a different time after us and how he entered the temple.”

“Just out of curiosity, could you reform into Link?” Opal asked, “you look like if I was younger but, also not; my grandfather would have killed my if I cropped my hair like that when I was still a page, at least at knighthood it was more expected,” he laughed, shoulders relaxing and weight increasing on your back. With his unknowing reassurance of relaxing around the figures, you sheathed your sword, hands cramping slightly. Turning slowly, you held his shoulders and kept him steady, so he’d now be leant on your chest instead.

They all shook their head, “it’s understandable to ask, but no, we’re different to you, we can feel you have Minish magic imprinted on your soul, we never had an adventure like that, that was a separate person we looked up to greatly: The Hero of Men, though I suppose you now share that title.”

“How exciting,” another chimed “but now you’re in a situation which has occurred due to your magic, the magic of the four sword ritual to be precise, why you were brought here, I can’t tell you, but I can say that whatever dragged you here wanted the pull of your soul. Obviously, that isn’t as easy now since you can all separate and reform, unlike us, so instead of grabbing one thread they needed all four- you can already see how that turned out.”

“Wait,” you and Opal both interjected, you fell silent and nodded at them, allowing them to speak “you’re saying that something wanted us here, of which you can’t say, and so it tried pull my soul here? That doesn’t explain anything about the monsters in the forest and their strange behaviour. Plus why were we all pulled and—no, that makes sense,” he turned to you for a brief moment, looking into your eyes “it couldn’t split us, only pull so when we accidentally separated it had to keep up and try regain it’s hold on Blue, but in doing so we slipped too, creating this mess,” he began to mumble a bright Violet obviously present “but that doesn’t explain the body swap.”

“Not to interrupt, but the latter is likely an answer you’ll find later when you search for this being or reason, again, we’re sorry that we can’t help more. This place is the result of a paradox.”

“Is that why the sanctuary is in the Palace of the Four Sword?”

“Indeed, the sanctuary is currently only here because you’re here, the place shifts to the major event for each of us: the palace where we were pulled from death and formed as shadows to fight a hero, the sanctuary for you where your adventure began, an irreversible effect on your body and life. If you didn’t know the timeline was split, this formed a paradox: for the hero to fight us, we must be brought back here or at least or projection similar or in some resemblance to the four sword wielder, however, in other timelines no hero enters the palace, perhaps the palace fell or was sealed away, or maybe they just didn’t need our sword.” Green and Vio shrugged, Vio waved his hand in dismissal. “Well, that’s a good thing really, not for us as we can’t rest but that the seal of Vaati remains strong and unbroken despite no checks since our souls remain tied and, therefore, complete the seal.”

Blue coughed with a small glare at Green, “well if someone didn’t get sidetracked, he’s tell you that the actual paradox is more simple: one timeline the palace doesn’t stand or isn’t known of, another we must be here to fight the hero, however, the actual paradox is that a version of us does live, our counterparts didn’t die so young- it happens to all of us, some of us live and others die, too many timelines to count really- but that means both must occur in this case. We must both live and be defeated in the palace to remain for the next trial. In our case,” he sighed again “we didn’t get our trial completed since the other Link was also defeated here, again, it had to happen to one of us. Were we happy, no, but we also don’t blame the lad, he’s young, but he does blame himself, that’s why he’s hidden way in his own area of the palace.”

You looked at the boys, glancing back and forth… and back and forth; their words becoming muffled in your ears in confusion as to the relevance of the conversation taking place before you, Blue mentally pat you on the head in understanding, you both reflecting inwards, brains metaphorically twisted.

“You need to fulfil the trial,” you heard, “this place was only created because of how alternate timelines work” Red looked directly into your eyes, you became a little flustered, hoping they hadn’t seen you both not listening properly “some one needs to complete the trial for everything to right itself, that likely includes you both leaving.”

“It just doesn’t explain why us, shouldn’t it be the same Link but a different line of events, like a junction or web?”

“I agree,” Opal stated, “it shouldn’t be us, shouldn’t be me since we’re so different, plus if anything it shouldn’t be me for the fact it reverses this fight, it wouldn’t be four versus one, but four versus four, or at least it would have been with just the four swords.”

Vio smiled, hand raised to his naval and held close, fingers and wrists twisting in precise motions; it would have been Shadow who helpfully interpreted for you if he could vocalise, instead it was Shadow to Blue who then interpreted for you. “Aside from your friend, it is closer to the original fight now that, yes, there’s two of you, but since your colours are split between bodies your limited to just you. Though you are right it shouldn’t be you, whatever brought you here greatly messed with that fact, and is likely the secondary reason for your split, as mentioned before.”

“We also weren’t in your nor Four’s regular timeline, we were between worlds with a group of other Links” you piped up.

Vio gaped into an o, lips parted whilst Green hummed and nodded, armed crossed. “For that reason, of you also being the wielder of the four sword, we want you to complete the trial, reversed as you worded it. We give our blessing but everyone who forms this space must also give this blessing, that’s the light you see amongst the cracked stone- we,” Blue laughs again, flushed “we got a bit excited.” They all show some form of embarrassment, scratching their necks, turning away or shuffling their feet.

“Find Link, find him and complete the trial, win the battle and gain the final blessing.”

With a rush of wind and leaves, the cracks in the floor expanded further, shooting across the floor, colliding with the pillars and each other. Soon enough a bolt cracked under your feet, though, despite the open ray of light, you didn’t fall and remained on unbending, unseen ground.

“Good luck, sorry we couldn’t get to know you more!” with that, other remarks of the same concept echoed forth, voices becoming distant as the walls fell away into darkness; with the stone eroded away, the light burst forth, encasing you both.

After a sharp rush of light and bubbling darkness, separating into a rolling boil like oil and water you both emerged within a small expanse of grass and trees, a small incline to your left and five large trees with a canopy of leaves above you, some partial rays of light peeking through into a small patch of flowers below. It was after seeing a bright, shining, red orb among the flowers beneath the main tree, that you looked above within the leaves- the trees were apple trees in full bloom and bearing fruit.

Four of the trees lined among the edges of the space, a non-uniform shape of grass fading into a dulled light, not as harsh against your eyes but not comfortable to look further outward- you turned back to the green and speckled reds. In the centre of the space stood a tree, the trunk resting on a small incline, not as high as the one to your left, the roots of the tree craning down into the lowest point of the space.

Opal linked his fingers with yours, palms apart but lightly brushing. You both stepped forward together.

As you approached the tree, nothing changed, not until you walked slightly past; you felt a presence behind you. Turning slowly, hands now interlocked together, you and Opal faced a young boy under the tree, head bowed, the shining apple now dulled and waxy, cradled in his hands. Long oversized sleeves of a greyed peasant shirt brushed against his knuckles; brown baggy trousers hidden beneath with both only secured by a thick black belt, buckled to the side under his ribs.

Dirty blonde hair, parted into a thick swoop, resting on thick blonde eyelashes greeted you; as he lifted his head, heterochromia eyes moved to yours, pupils dilated. Dark blue and green turned over your shoulder and focused upon the holographic shine of the four sword’s gem. His lips parted but no words made their way to your ears, instead, what you did hear, was the echo voices from the light beyond: a gruff, deep voice of an older man, as well as the higher pitch, voice bouncing with movement of a child- no recognisable words or patterns able to be heard, the conversation limited to the beyond.

The light of the void shifted, grey shifting to a deep iridescent orange; as the sky darkened to an early sunset the apple within the boy’s hands began to darken to a blackened, wrinkled skin. Shifting along with the environment, the voices increased in power despite a lower volume of hushed whispers, the man spoke soft but firm, an unheard order to his tone, whilst the child had a gravely of sleepy ignorance, slight sobs echoing through the leaves and the sun sunk into it’s resting position.

Lips clamped shut, sucked inwards, he shook his head, hair clumped at the tips with tears drooping down to his cheeks. Biting the rotten apple, tears fell, and Link advanced.

With the knowledge of the original trial on your mind, you relinquished directive control to Blue; you unsheathed the blade from your scabbard, adjusted your grip and became an assistant to pilot Four’s body, the colours shining through.

The trial begins.

The sun hung low in the sky, rays speared through lush trees, branches heavy with ripe apples; air thick with the scent of earth and sweet blossoms, underneath the sickly-sweet smell of rot laid thick above their heads, peeking below the leaves in a dusting mist. Link’s weighted steps left imprints of his boots within the soft soil of the orchard, soft clumps sticking to the leather as he propelled forward; only the creaks of leather, thumps of thick soles of rubber and the rustling of the leaves above were the only sounds within the orchard, the void quiet aside from the occasional jingle of chainmail or sob of a child.

Link started with a wide swing, a simple knight’s blade manifesting, Blue raising his sword to grate across the offending metal, he stepped back as Link then thrust his own blade forward poised and aimed towards Blue’s ribs. With a powerful sweep upwards, Blue attempted to disarm his opponent- his sword gripped tightly in his hand flung back, his wrist snapping back to a righted position, pain thrumbling up his arm, the blade catching the light as he shifted, eyes flicking nervously from one adversary to the next. Opal stood to the side, feet parted and remaining at a distance, with a flicker of is shadow they looked beneath their feet, a twirl of dark fog laid a small but thick shard of black glass at their feet, slightly longer than Opal’s palm; with the shard now acquired, thick edges protecting his palm but running lines of blood down his fingertips, and magic depleted, he placed the fire rod to the side of his belt- it wouldn’t be of any use here, he needed to get closer.

Link gave a step back, before another lunge, this time towards Opal, although this was thwarted and intercepted by Blue, blade long enough to cut through the air between them. His sword, once freshly forged and polished, now chipped and scraped, though still snapped it remained sharp enough to cleave through skin, as though it had borne the weight of countless failures. He had embodied himself into a prisoner of his own guilt, a soul trapped by the memory of a failed trial- one that cost him his life and condemned others to suffer the consequences. The orchard he knew had been vibrant with life, now left unknown whether it was attended to in his absence with his uncle’s absence, seemed to mock his torment, a paradise of growth that he cannot touch, a world he cannot save.

He couldn’t save his uncle, couldn’t avenge his uncle; he couldn’t pass the trial in the Palace of the Four Sword, couldn’t free those trapped, couldn’t help anyone who needed him. Any successes in his life overshadowed by his larger failures, what he used to chain himself, punishment for what he considered failures, denial of fate and probability.

It wasn’t his failure, just the toss of a die with many faces, many Links, many actions, though the die rolled onto him by no action of his own.

His heart pounds as he meets the eyes of the damned, forced into a fate he had no way to control- forced to fail; forced to die- his movements sharp and precise, but his eyes flicker with hesitation. They don't want to fight him. They don’t want to harm him- but they must.

They must complete the trial for the good of everyone involved, you all hoped that the dungeon would collapse, the light which struck through and emitted from the Four Sword Sanctuary bringing hope of the possibility to you and the colours.

"Link," Opal probed softly, his voice breaking the stillness like a leave drifting into a pond, a ripple and a lingering presence. "We don't want to hurt you. We need to stop this, for your sake."

But Link couldn’t shake the gnawing belief that he deserves this fight, that he deserves the torment; his death was his own fault, his death that bound him here. His guilt churns, a constant storm inside him- his grip tightens on his sword, as though the steel could somehow sever the bonds of his own soul.

"You don’t have a choice," Blue added, nimble fingers readjusting against the sword hilt, his voice strained with the weight of the unspoken truth. "We don’t want to fight you, but we have to, you understand, even if you can’t express it right now."

The words hang in the air the miasma growing thicker, the mist above descending lower, the barrier thinning as the smell of rot grows stronger as Link’s turmoil uncoils, but they only deepen the turmoil inside Link. His heart ached with the weight of their dilemma- they don't want to fight, but they have to, and he, too, feels the urge to give in, to end the cycle of guilt and failure., but something within him refuses. He has to fight, even though he knows they only want to help him; to help them all.

He can’t stop.

The trial was an attempt at redemption, to be victorious, to defeat a great evil and save everyone he loved, those who remained; it was possible he knew that his defeat would free them all, but a greater force took hold, this fight would continue until someone was defeated, though this time there was no great evil, only boys scarred and bruised by adventures and trauma no praise could fix.

Blue moves first, cautiously, not to misstep, a fragile understanding but impossible truce powering his next actions. The four sword swung in a low arc, blade tilted horizontal, aiming to disarm, to disable, not to slash nor harm the younger boy in any way, remembering the painful snapback of his wrist previously. His face is filled with compassion, but his sword told another story. Link meets the blow, his own weapon raised just in time, the clash of steel ringing through the orchard, sparks flew, thunder but no lightning.

Opal moved, fast and nimble, to Blue’s side, the shard tinted with small droplets of blood, dark glass flashing with a quickness that matches the swift wind brewing around them, a storm forming between the trees, and rustling the apple blossoms, some small buds floating down from the branches above. A thwarted feign, an attempt to distract, but Link saw it coming, he pivots, but the goal remained complete: his foot catching on a gnarled root beneath him, and for a moment, the orchard feels too vast, too open, the trees looming like silent witnesses to his inner battle.

Link’s sword clashed again with Blue’s, a dance of steel beneath the swaying branches, Opal darting around the two, shard held tight and cutting through the air, small jabs towards Link to control his movement direction, limit his swing positions, limiting his power, a few slashes nicking at Link’s clothes and skin. They strike again, this time low, trying to disable Link’s legs, the strike is clean, the movement fluid, but Link twists away, his body betraying him as his mind churns with doubt. Can he really do this? Can he face them, knowing that the key to their freedom, and his, lies in his defeat- another failure?

"Please.”

Link’s eyes flicker over the orchard, at the apples hanging heavy on the trees, ripe and ready for harvest, yet untouched by the turmoil that fills his chest. The orchard’s stillness contrasts the chaos of his heart. If he gives in, will it all end; will the curse finally break, would they all be free?

The weight of his guilt presses down on him like the heavy air before a storm, and for a moment, his sword lowers, a flash of surrender in his gaze, then Opal strikes, not with a killing blow but a careful jab meant to disable, to incapacitate him, and with that Blue’s blade grazes Link’s side, he stumbles back, pain radiating through him. He is so tired, so exhausted by the endless torment, yet he cannot stop.

"I’m sorry," Blue murmurs, more to you than Link, though both mutually deserved the apology, he didn’t want you to see this, none of them did; as his sword swings again, no longer to disarm or incapacitate, nor to hurt him, but to end the struggle, he hoped to create a swift end, a clean wound, a clean swing. His movements were careful, trained from years of knight experience, power held like a forging hammer, but each blow pained him mentally, fighting someone they couldn’t consider an enemy, the guilt weighing upon their shoulders too.

A mutual suffering, neither the same but both each could relate too: the pain of failure, the pressure of heroism, but the harm that must be caused to do what is right, to hurt someone when the greater good, their good, requires it.

For a moment, Link could see the same regret in their eyes- the same sorrow that mirrors his own. They don’t want to fight. They want to save him, to release him from the curse that binds him. And yet, they must.

Both sides forced to fight.

With a final, soul-crushing breath, Link steps back, his sword lowering completely. The fight drains from him as though his soul is too tired to keep struggling. The orchard around them wilts, browned apples falling to the yellowing grass, the sweet scent of fruit and flowers now mingled with the bitter taste of sacrifice, the cycle of life to begin anew, the plants to rot and be born anew. For the first time, he allows himself to collapse- not in defeat, but in acceptance.

Opal reaches out the hand devoid of blood, and in that fleeting touch, there was no victory, no loss, only the silence of the orchard, where light began to bloom from bare branches and burst through dead grass and around tree trunks. As the final embers of the fight die down, the sun finally begins to set.

With a pushed, laboured breath, Link curled to the floor, hair covering his eyes, the sunset highlighting the gloss of his dimming eyes, tears pooled in his eyelashes. “Thank you” echoes the voice, many voices of different tones and pitches, some repeating and others leaving with each gust of air, the wind spiralling around, lifting the leaves out of the boarder of the grass.

With another lightning crack of light, the tree split, Link fading into the light. Within the burnt, split stump rest a thick compartment, roughly six inches long by one inch wide- a sword pedestal; with the sun finally setting the sky shifted a rainbow of colours, reminiscent of a holographic aurora borealis, and with the dancing of the lights, the eye symbol of the Four Sword Sanctuary pedestal was revealed within the bark, a soft purple and blue shimmer.

Looking at each other, eyes searching each other, you and Opal approached either side of the stump, Opal’s hand laid over yours as you both lifted the blade, then slowly lowered it down into the crack, a bright blue light escaping from within, wrapping around you both.

-

A sharp stabbing pain emanated in your chest, collapsing down onto the ground, grass tingling against splayed fingers, fingertips coated with a light red. You flipped your hand to see two parallel lines running horizontal across your fingers; your head radiated with heat, a dep throbbing in your temples, but it was quiet, your head was quiet.

“Four?” you called, head still hung in pain.

A hand rested against your back, hot skin burning through the cotton across your shoulder blades. Turning quickly, head snapping sideways, neck straightening with a harsh wince, you turned to look at him, and there he was knelt on one knee next to you, his other hand reaching forward to lay across your abdomen, steadying you.

“We’re back together, and I think we’re in the same forest from before, it’ll be okay” he soothed you, hand rubbing along your back raising higher to cradle the back of your neck. You leant backwards laying into his hand and legs, eyes closing until sheltered by his torso, sensitive to light with such a strong migraine. With a small peak through your eyelashes, you looked up into his eyes, swirling with colour like a spinning colour theory palette.

Leaning forward, abdomen flexing at the angle and back arching, Four leant down to rest his forehead against yours “your head hurting?”

You laughed “like you wouldn’t believe, is this how you feel after a split?”

“Luckily not, but it is how we get after a portal, you’ve unluckily gone through both at the same time, but we’ll look after you, just got to find the rest of the chain first.” He nuzzled lightly against your nose as he spoke, eyes glazed blue, colours still rippling; you hummed at the feeling, a nice distraction from the pain in your head.

“I was worried, you know, about how you’d react to my, our, secret; I feared you would be scared, judge us or reveal us to the others,” but the look in your eyes and small smile told him otherwise, your reassurance solidified this “we were so scared for our brother to be away from us, that he’d be in danger, that we’d all be in danger. Thank you, truly, for looking after us all, you have no idea what this mean to us- to be accepted without question, though I’m sure you do have questions.” He let out a small, huffed laugh, your own smile growing wider.

You had always liked Four, from your first introduction into the world he had been there, though distant, he wasn’t one to judge you directly to you face; he helped you at times with your adjustment, teaching you culture norms and fixing small mistakes without judgement- the others helped of course but Four was always a constant presence, a reassurance of commitment and solidarity. It wasn’t difficult to admire him, his maturity, skills, dorky personality and vast array of emotions and opinions- now explained and even more adorable to you thinking back on interactions to try see if you could spot the colours within their actions- he was Four, and that to you, was perfect.

Hand lifted above your head, elbow bent at your hip, you held out your hand for him “one last comfort?” you whispered, voice slightly hoarse.

Smiling, he lifted his left hand from your neck, lacing your fingers together, the other hand resting on your clavicle, thumb slightly rubbing at your tussled collar. “I’ll take care of you, got to return the favour after all, looking after me, after us. May I?” he whispered towards the end, eyes focusing between your hand and eyes, pupils dilating at the sight of your smile.

Nose shifting, brushing against your cheek, he kept his eyes locked to yours, eyelids drooping; your chin lifting and eyes lidded.

“Are you both okay?” Yelled a voice, the rumble of multiple boots thundering towards you both. A gleam entered your eyes as Four’s ears flickered and dusted a light red, well, until another, younger, voice asked why you were both keeled into each other; then the redness overtook both his ears and cheeks, you swore you could see it radiating from beneath his collar, you were close enough after all, and leant forward wasn’t exactly hiding his chest from you.

You grinned again “what a day it’s been” you cackled, the new arrivals looking confused and asking questions about injuries and your previous whereabouts, looking back at Four, a soft gaze before closing your eyes again “and none of it makes sense.”

A deep chuckle rumbled through his thighs into your skull, a slight wince, a flustered hand waving apology, and a pull of your still linked hands.

It’d been a day, but your time in Hyrule had been an array of experiences, and trying to explain the events of today and answer the question of what happened and why, was an experience you’d leave for a different time. Now a secret, you felt a cold coil slightly up your trouser leg around your ankle, two secrets, kept between you.

You couldn’t wait to see where this goes, and for that, to him, you were perfect too.

---

Hello all, thank you to everyone who read my first post, as always criticism is always welcome- I do apologise for the terrible ending, my brain turned off but I did try; this post has been ready for a couple days but I was sitting looking at it. To make up for all the ideas I couldn't add and to make up for the bad writing I do plan to make some one shots or head-cannons of this situation too or added scenes for the relationship development.

This story was inspired by a post from @librarygarten (hopefully this works and doesn't harass you, still learning how this all works).

Fun facts:

I had the idea in the palace fight for it to activate by placing the four sword in the empty stone, I wanted to keep this idea, however skipped the fight as I thought it better to have a more transitional information scene before a fight, then moving towards the solution.

I did have a different (in my opinion, great) idea for the small “romance” hint scene when wiping the colour's tears, but I forgot and still can’t remember so I unfortunately serve you this generic rubbish, I still tried though, after I lost my idea, my brain turned off.

[puddlestories]

What are Traditions?- Head-canons

Shadow x GN Reader (no gendered pronouns or descriptions); currently hinted at a reader, will be introduced in the next part.

Idea: Shadow will have always been raised differently and held to different standards in the Dark World, but how does this effect his understanding of Hylian culture and romance?

CW: slight canon divergence for Vaati's lore, hinted violence but no descriptions, ideas of romance and misunderstandings.

2.4k words; not proof-read.

How Shadow was raised under Vaati’s reign, Vaati slowly becoming poisoned from his own magic from Minish to a mage.

Vaati was once a Minish, a creature known for trying to spread happiness and assist people, whilst living their own separate lives from the Hylians some may share residency with.

Vaati was once a forest Minish, meaning he would have helped to leave rupees and other gifts within the grass to try make Hylians happy, however his curiosity led him into a situation of where he became transformed into the wind mage- he was once a good person, now corrupted by the power of his cap.

Vaati no longer remembers who he once was.

Whilst it’s likely Vaati himself simply went off to continue his expansion of power, such as his abduction of the shrine maidens and Zelda, his search for the Picori blade and elemental stones, he was also likely taken advantage of by Ganon, seeing as how Vaati has no specific end goal nor guidance, having to re-find his place as his new role after having lost his previous memories, influenced by the cap which shares none of his goals.

Perhaps Vaati started off with some memories and simply the cap increased his own urge for power and pushed him further, slowly pushing boundaries, meaning he may have been nice or even kind to Shadow as a child, then slowly becoming more poisoned and losing his former self causing him to possibly mistreat Shadow or imply brush him off as an underling to control. (Perhaps even how Shadow knew that the dark mirror also sourced Vaati’s power within his monster form, a previous sign of trust and loyalty to each other.)

Shadows possible affection for Vaati turning to hate at his mistreatment, or still holding a very small, and very deep feeling for the previous version of Vaati- this change from a good relationship can even skew Shadow’s understanding on relationships, toxic actions or even that no good relationships last forever, a point which may also be reinforced by Vio’s betrayal at the Volcano.

How Ganon’s control over Vaati effected Shadow as well, from the palace atmosphere to Vaati’s direct actions against him.

With the original creation of the Palace of Winds, it already held an eerie atmosphere, even before Shadow’s creation.

Originally the palace was a place to try find solitude, removed from his previous community of Minish, not by their will, but by Vaati’s “own” (the cap’s influence), it acted as a place to try discovering himself and become his own, new person. Therefore, the palace already felt quite lonely, stale and bland, not meant to be how it was, as if it wasn’t his own creation.

After Shadow’s creation and as the cap continued to gain influence over Vaati, the atmosphere also shifted, now a different type of isolation, no longer lonely but rejected into isolation, a sharp static in the air of tension and pressure, the requirement to succeed, to become better, the pain of failure clear in the winds.

Being raised to believe Ganon as the all-powerful leader.

Every living being within, even some outside, of Hyrule’s boundaries knows who Ganon, or Gannon depending on the time period, is. He’s a man known through legends, told as a warning of greed, caution of war, or simply to scare children into behaving.

All monsters know of Ganon, he is a legend, not always positive, more like a folktale, he could never show up in your lifetime, but someone once told his story and knew of him, maybe you could see him one day, and would you want to?

Ganon himself is the tale of conquering Hyrule, an all-powerful being able to summon monsters, a skilled swordsman and mage, wielder of the Triforce of power, the man who defeated heroes (even if that was only true in certain timelines, we can’t always trust stories) and took princesses etc.

No matter what the stories or those around you may say, Ganon is more so in God in the sense that he acts more as a figure of an empty threat, simply pressure- in many timelines, especially that of Four Swords, he is sealed and not the imminent threat, people act on his behalf and uphold him as a powerful figure, despite the fact he couldn’t actually do anything, whether that was because he was sealed or not as powerful as stated depending on his situation.

During Shadow’s time within the Dark Realm, he wasn’t aware of this fact, he was still under the influence and authority of others, unaware of the rest of the world, Ganon doesn’t control Shadow, he may control Vaati but in a way, Vaati still has free reign, he can disobey Ganon, he is sealed and has no control, he simply controls through past power and influence.

It’s during the fight with Vaati, after losing the chance of being able to be free that Shadow has his realisation, he doesn’t have to be controlled by others, they may have influence and factors against him, but he can still disobey and try find his own way.

Why would one believe they can forge their own faith (pun intended) when they’re simply a tool for others, who could disobey a God who controls all, a hero and princess wouldn’t be able to stop an army and unlimited Goddess blessed power?

Taught of how Hylians were terrible, and Link was living the life he should have, how he would watch from Link’s shadow and slowly have those images twisted and ideologies reformed to hate Link- why was he the hero and have a loving family when Shadow didn’t?

Ganon believing the Triforce was destined for him, that he was meant to be in control, the Triforce of power corrupted through generations of hatred- the fact two parts of the Triforce are gifted to two Hylians doesn’t help the ideology of Hylians possibly being good.

People are just an obstacle, the royalty of different races are simply occupying his territory, he’d destroy them all to take back the land he is owed, his fate, no one is given mercy.

Link and Zelda from past generations are the main source of hatred, not just as Triforce wielders but also because of their previous battles, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a reincarnation, a descendant of the royal family paying for your great grandmother or just a random boy from a small town, you must pay for the past.

Hylians are greedy, taking the land, the Triforce, and in Shadow’s case, or at least what he was raised to believe having whispered over and over again, taking the happy life that should have been his.

It is the fault of Hylians, of the princess, of the Hero, of Link, that they are forced to reside in the Dark Realm, in this decrepit castle, rotting away and suffering under Ganon’s reign (the latter not his fault nor mentioned, you can’t disobey); it’s their fault that Shadow can’t be happy.

How those in the Dark World were forced to fight for their life.

The Dark Realm itself wasn’t exactly bustling with life in the same way that Hyrule was, but they were similar, parallels. Rather than fields of crops, towns and an established society it was more so a patchwork quilt- the main fabric was rotten and corrupted, the castle and surrounding lands corrupted under Ganon’s power and reign, the outskirt mountains abandoned and not sustainable for wildlife, but in small patches there were groups of monsters living in small communities, tiny farms and hunters, crops not producing enough in the soil, not enough magic remaining in the Earth.

Monsters within the castle are forced into a terrible standard of living, a lack of food or grounds able to sustain flora or wildlife, not enough animals to hunt, all retreating further away to the outskirts and small forests.

The best chance of survival in the castle is to be someone of power, which also ties together with being one of Ganon’s main men.

You could only survive if you too, killed others and fought for your own safety, proving yourself as a threat, if not other monsters may try dispose of you to try open that position closer to Ganon.

Ironically, many are aware that it isn’t good to be so close to Ganon’s side, a terrible man who is more than willing to dispose of you once your use has depleted, simply a means to an end, not a person that can continue afterwards- it isn’t a good situation, if you’re useless or a failure you die, if you succeed and push too far you are useful to complete his goal but too much of a threat to Ganon’s own power; this may also tie into why Vaati himself is also tied to the dark mirror, without it he was already an extremely powerful mage, it is simply a weakness that outweighs the benefit.

How Shadow was only created as a tool against Link, not meant to have a greater purpose- how this impacts Shadow, before realisation, knowledge but denial, to post-adventure, then contemplation within the mirror until his revival/ recovery.

How having to fight for his survival impact his courting ideas, e.g. instead of Hylians hunting boar or game, he hunts monsters, instead of romantic dinners he steals good food and wine for you, how he stays awake all night to guard you as you sleep etc.

Typical courting for Hylians= gifting of symbolic objects that represent protection or how one may provide, traditional dances, tapestries or blanket weaving (usually passed down through families and added to at the birth of children or just before the marriage for those who may not have children), finding specific flowers that hold meanings, tying ribbons around each other’s wrist as a bond symbol, sharing each other’s surnames (names hold power), writing poetry or songs etc.

What Shadow thinks is traditional= gifting of blades/ weapons, teaching of a specific magic spell or a magical bonding, sharing a scar (to mark each other’s skin in the same area, whether via a blade or a bite etc.), sharing clothes and food, making food, proving strength to others and showing your virility to be blessed under the light of the moon when dark magic is at its strongest, to gift a shard of himself though more so literally giving you a shard of the dark mirror etc.

Hylian standards vs Shadow’s twisted version and the rationale behind his actions.

Shadow seeing relationships through Link’s shadow vs secretly reading stories found from books lost within the castle and how this also skews his standards and beliefs of how things work.

Now, I’ve mentioned this before, but I love the idea of Shadow finding books, whether post-adventure when he lives in Hyrule, sneaking around to read them where no one can see, or whether he finds discarded old books within the Palace of Winds or the castle in the Dark Realm.

The actual reason for his secrecy isn’t that Shadow thinks anyone will judge him for reading, though he may not have been allowed previously and had to hide them for that reason, but more for the fact that he has a not-so guilty pleasure of reading romance novels. Though I do also find it a very cute idea that he can’t read Hylian and is having learn in private, likely embarrassed but simply wanting independence.

It’s quite easy to assume and see within his own actions that he takes advice from his books, which isn’t a very good thing, he has very traditional ideas of romance from these books from traditional giftings of flowers to knightly duals and sneaking through windows which doesn’t help him understand what is normal- yes, he reads those very cheesy drama romance books.

On the other hand, when he was younger, he would watch through Link’s shadow and, although it was distorted, he was able to see some of the world, or at least where Link went and his experiences. He saw Link’s relationship with his grandfather, the fights with his father, the lack of his mother and the harsh standards placed against knights, meaning he didn’t see too much of romance, but he did gain a slightly toxic or avoidant mentality of relationships, including those platonic.

This idea is backed up by how he was with Vio during their adventure, the fact he proved himself and his worth through large acts of violence and power, the fact he expected those large acts in return as an act of devotion.

Including the idea of Vaati once being nicer to Shadow also adds the element of relationships being transactional and surface level, the fact that someone would be so good to him only to turn and change, to use him and hold no affection, the fact he’s a tool for Ganon, the fact that Vio used him to find out his weaknesses, the fact Link’s father pushed for him to be a better knight (something no necessarily bad but skewed by Shadow’s own experience and the fact that he wasn’t able to experience the good times that outweigh the bad etc.).

In a small way, that at first he denied before he met Link, wishing to hate him as per Vaati’s/ Ganon’s orders, he thought of how he and Link were similar in the fact that he didn’t have the family in the story books- he didn’t have a mum and dad, yes he had a loving family but it was still different, and to Shadow, and many children locked in doubt, different is bad, making it nicer that they were the same in this sense. Later, when he wished to be friends with Link, to grasp his opportunity at love, friendship, family and some sense of normality, he clung again to that similarity in a positive way that if Link was different and loved, then he could be too- Link fought with his father and yet they still loved each other; he had a chance too.

---

Thank you for reading, I did have a small drabble of some old work posted last weekend since I was very busy but got a bit too self-conscious and deleted it. This weekend have some head-canons in preparation for another small fic (if it stays small) which won't be released next weekend as I celebrate my birthday but instead the week after... hopefully. /lh

As always criticism is welcome and my inbox is always open!

[puddlestories]

Fractured Beginnings

Shadow and Vaati

Idea: Shadow's creation was something Vaati wasn't sure about, something deep within him rejecting the idea of bringing another being into his mess, but the lure of power says otherwise.

CW: altered canon (head-canons available in previous post), implied childhood rejection, implied character death but no description, accepting yourself, Link being a bro etc.

Short drabble so not under a read more.

The tower groaned under the weight of the storm, outside, winds howled like grieving spirits, inside Shadow waited, silent in the storm’s rage, quiet within Vaati’s presence. He sat cross-legged on eroded cold stone, a small wooden box in his hands, within, sat on a thin pillow of velvet: a single green rupee, polished to a gleam- a gift, once, he remembered.

He had been smaller back then, not by much- Shadow was never meant to grow- but his dark eyes had been wide, glistening bright with newfound wonder, his steps unsure. He remembered the day Vaati had conjured him, not with malice, but an unsure, guilty wonder.

“I wonder,” Vaati had said then, ruby meeting garnet, “what the Hero’s shadow might dream of, if given a mind of his own.”

He’d smiled, a real smile, not the cold, curled sneer he wore now.

Those early days were quiet, peaceful- Vaati would show him how to shape illusions, how to slip through cracks of light and maximise his abilities, as well as how to listen to the whispers of magic in the wind- some admittedly more useful to his own purpose than others, be he grasped every opportunity to prove himself, to spend time together, though only for the praise, of course. They would walk the forests, and Vaati, still shorter than his final corrupted Hylian form, still holding to his Minish roots back then, the full power of the cap not yet digging deep roots in his entire being, would hum while scattering rupees into the grass.

“Magic isn’t always for power,” he had said with a melancholic smile, eyes lidded and shoulders falling slightly forward, his tailored tunic not allowing a dramatic slump, the threads taught, “sometimes, it’s for delight, surprise, the joy of an unexpected treasure.”

Shadow had believed him in his young, easily impressionable years, brain still attempting to form his view of the world, to understand, still simply a child placed at a large disadvantage.

Then came the fangs of the cap, replacing his nerves, controlling his actions and removing the shine from his eyes.

At first, Vaati simply stayed in his study longer, then the humming stopped, and then came the hunger: for power, for control, for something that even Vaati himself couldn’t name. He grew taller, thinner, his bones pulling at skin, walking on his toes, bones shattered and pulled apart, grew older physically and emotionally, though not in a positive way. The smiles vanished, replaced by orders, missions and punishments.

Shadow learned to disappear when Vaati grew quiet, he learned that silence often came before storms.

Tonight, he was called again- a familiar chill laced the corridors as Vaati approached, violet robes fluttering like torn clouds, lightning crackling in the wake of his striding steps.

“You didn’t complete the task I gave you,” Vaati said, not shouted, just stated with a lack of both emotion and tone, his face portraying no emotion either. However, his words crackled with restrained magic.

“The shrine maiden escaped,” Shadow said, “she was only a teenager, a child, she wasn’t worth--”

“She was mine,” Vaati hissed, his eyes, once soft like spring skies, now burned violet within the swirling ruby red, a vortex of hatred screaming within, “your purpose is not to think,” he snapped, hair flipping into a wild clump upon his shoulder with the dramatic fling of Vaati’s head, snapping to face Shadow who was subconsciously hunched lower away from his verbal firing line, “only to obey.”

The words struck harder than any spell, and they still burned a small part of him deep within his core, even after all the time that had passed since that moment.

Shadow stared at the box in his hands, the little dulled green rupee within it, a relic of a time he now wondered if he’d simply imagined it- was Vaati ever kind, or was that, too, just another illusion?

“I remember when you used to smile,” Shadow said, voice low, speaking to the still wind, unusual for how high he was, sat upon the edge of the highest balcony upon the Palace of Winds.

Vaati’s expression twisted, pain, possibly, or just irritation, “that part of me is gone, just as you should be, if you can’t serve your purpose.”

Silence. Then:

“I didn’t ask to be created,” Shadow whispered, expression unmoving, plucking the rupee between two scared fingers, running coarse fingers along buffed, smoothed edges.

“And I didn’t ask to be betrayed,” he snapped back, though the harshness of the words were known to be more of Shadow’s own twisted self-doubt, though now aware, Vaati’s actual words simply blunt and uncaring for Shadow’s response.

With a flick of his hand, Vaati turned away, cloak snapping behind him, “you’re dismissed.”

Shadow remained, legs twisted slightly into the banister, legs dangling, long after Vaati vanished, the storm outside had long faded, instead concentrated internally. A softer wind blew now, threading through broken, long abandoned windows.

He looked down at the box one last time, and then, with trembling fingers, he closed it. That night, long ago, Shadow left the tower, he took nothing but the clothes on his back and the green rupee tucked deep into his belt like a hidden wound he couldn’t stop touching.

In the years to come, he would tell himself that Vaati had never been kind, that love was a lie, and that the only truth was betrayal.

But sometimes, when the wind whispered through tall grass, he would remember a day in the forest and a Minish’s smile.

And it would hurt all over again.

Yet here, and now, the ruins of the old tower still stood, though time had worn them smooth.

Stone crumbled beneath his boots as Shadow stepped into the remnants of the place he once called home. The wind blew gently through broken arches, no longer howling with rage, just present, as though it, too, had softened with time.

He stopped in what used to be Vaati's study, the window once draped in dark purple velvet, was open to the sky, moonlight poured in like a quiet blessing, the only available light, with stumps of wax long melted and warped into the wooden desks and crooked shelves.

For a long moment, Shadow stood still.

He didn’t know why he had come here, curiosity, perhaps. Closure, maybe. Or some echo of the child he used to be, drawn back to the place where he’d first learned to use his magic, and where he'd first been told he was nothing more than a tool.

He reached into his cloak and pulled something out, holding no visual importance nor flair to the regular individual.

A small, wooden box.

It still opened with a soft click. Inside, the green rupee lay exactly as it always had, though now gleaming faintly in the moonlight, slightly shined with a damp cloth on lonely nights of nightmares- it held an energy, not magical, nor powerful, just... kind, in a way he could never describe, simply the cool touch of the moon after a long walk with good company, the cold of the wind through his fingers.

He smiled.

Not the crooked, guarded grin he used to wear like a mask, but a real one- small and hesitant, but genuine, because for the first time, he could look at this thing, not as a relic of pain, but as a memory of possibility.

“I used to think you were the only one who saw me,” he murmured, as if the wind could carry his words to whatever remained of Vaati’s spirit, “but maybe I was wrong.” He knelt and set the box gently on the floor, among the moss and rubble, he didn’t need it anymore. “You weren’t a god,” Shadow said quietly, a prayer for acceptance of himself, not forgiveness to others, this was for him, “you weren’t even the worst monster I’ve faced, just another who was broken, and I let your cracks define me.”

He stood.

“I’m not your shadow anymore.”

He turned, and there was someone at the edge of the ruins, a figure in green, waiting patiently- Link, arms crossed, eyes steady, he didn’t speak, he didn’t need to.

Shadow walked to him, and together, they left the ruins behind.

As they passed through the tall grass at the forest’s edge, something shimmered near Shadow’s boot. He stopped, knelt, and picked up a rupee- a green one, not worth much to anyone, but something small enough to bring a smile to those who needed it- a symbol, an ironic symbol of generosity and kindness.

Link chuckled deep blue eyes swirling with colour, “lucky?”

Shadow turned it over in his hand, then tossed it back into the grass with foggy eyes, “maybe,” he whispered, voice crackling through the tightness of his throat, “maybe it’s just someone trying to make someone else smile.”

Link tilted his head and nodded forward, a small question without words nor pressure.

Shadow shrugged, foot dragging circles into the loose soil beneath at the grass boarder, “someone did it for me, once.” He looked away into the tree canopy, eyes distant but shoulders squared with feigned confidence, the emotions still raw and confusing.

They walked on, the moon trailing behind them like a guardian.

For the first time in his life, Shadow was more than just a creation, more than a reflection, more than the leftover thoughts of a corrupted mage.

He was someone who had chosen to grow.

Someone who had become something greater.

---

Hello all, thank you for reading, criticism is welcome as always! Just a short drabble since I'm busy this weekend and onwards, I have decided it's better to space content so it seems like I'm gone for less time not like y'all would miss this bad writing /lh so hopefully the scheduled post works.

Fun fact:

I know that Shadow wasn't necessarily created before Vaati breaks the Picori blade since this was when he discovered Link's existence and heroic attempt to save Zelda, therefore, leading to further interactions, but for the sake of head-canons of Vaati's influence in Shadow's lie and him going from good to bad, we can excuse this fact.

I currently have many drafts and ideas for a full fic (Shadow x Reader) meaning there may not be a post next weekend or even the next, depending how I cut up the pieces as it is extremely likely to be a multi-part fic, however, I shall add a poll below related to this: