fanartfunart

[fanartfunart]

Quiet After a Storm

a canon-compliant alternate end/2nd chapter for Talking is for Liars - in which Link comes home after Links Awakening. (and therefore this is NOT the Linked Spirit AU ending lol. That would be The Windfish Slumbers Long. Ig take this as… if Rinku managed to finish LA really fast?)

Warnings: Temporary Canon Death discussions, nightmares, reality break, crying (ask to tag)

-

A knock came at the front door. The old retired knight sighed. He closed his book and pulled himself up. Another knock, more frantic. Then another and another-

“I'm coming! Don't knock my door down!” He creaked the door open.

A ghost stood in the center of the doorway.

It had to be a ghost. The young boy, clad in green, hair sea-frizzed, sun burnt, yet paler than he should be, had been missing for nearly a year. Lost to the sea.

The old man stood frozen, staring at him. The ghost stared back, eyes wide, as if he couldn't believe he was standing before him. Silence was deafening.

“Uncle,” The ghost finally giggled, in a manic and mournful way. He collapsed into a hug. His uncle gasped, wrapping his arms around the boy, brows furrowed.

“Link,” he whispered, like a prayer. Link's giggles turned into sobs. He tried to burrow himself into Uncle's hold. Uncle held him tight, struggling not to sob himself.

…

Link sat on the bed while his uncle fixed a quick soup. Something to set and forget. He dumped whatever leftover vegetables he had into a broth and threw a few pieces of game bird into the pot and let it boil.

Link hadn't said anything yet. His uncle supposed that was natural. When Link had gone on other adventures, he had kept up with letters. When Link returned home, he rarely needed to say much. But this time. Link had been silent and his uncle had so many questions.

Uncle washed his hands, drying them on a napkin as he sat down in front of Link. His hair was long. It used to obscure his left eye, sure, but now it dangled at his chin, putting his whole face in shadow. His face was salt-speckled and there was a hollowness to his cheeks. His eyes were focused on the floor.

“Link.”

Link stayed still, near frozen. His uncle wondered, once again, if he truly had let a ghost into the house.

“Link…?”

“I’m sorry.” Link uttered, voice a scratchy whisper. His visible eye flickered up to glance at him. “I didn't mean to worry you.”

His uncle looked at him mournfully. “Link, you're alive, that's a miracle in itself.”

His brows furrowed, looking down again.

His uncle shifted to take Link's hands, to check the truth in their warmth. “What happened?”

Link shook his head. “None of it was real…”

The mumbling didn't make sense. How could a whole year be fake? “What happened?” Uncle asked again, firmer.

The boy shrugged uselessly, making a half whine of a noise. “I- it wasn't real, it's fine it-” he stopped, a conflicted mourning in his face. It filled his eyes with tears and pulled at the edges of his lips to a wavering line. He tried to swallow it down, heavy and painful.

Uncle's heart squeezed. He grabbed the boy around the shoulders and pulled him back in. Into his arms where he was safe and alive and warm.

Link let himself sink into him, and the silence settled in all over again. Soft and patient. His uncle hummed, rocking him.

They stayed like that until the soup boiled over. Bubbling and hissing. Link seemed to regain a sense of life, lifting his body out of the hold to get up and snuff the fire.

His uncle watched him stare at the pot, fingers hovering at the edge.

“Go ahead, we can eat first.” Uncle said, smiling softly. Link grabbed a bowl like he was a starving man. He filled it to the brim, and quickly moved to fill another. One bowl was passed to his uncle. The other was drunk in a few quick gulps.

“Slow down! Slow down- goodness you're going to make yourself sick-” Uncle grabbed the ladle from Link before he could pour himself another bowl to drown himself in, frowning.

Link stared at the ladle. “…Sorry.”

“Sit.”

Link sat at the table without another word.

Uncle grabbed a spoon and placed it in front of him. He filled the bowl halfway, and set it in front of Link softly. He sighed as he watched him fiddle with the spoon.

“Should I send a letter to Princess Zelda?” Uncle asked.

Link shook his head around a spoonful of soup. He swallowed thickly, thumping his foot on the ground, “I should see her.”

“You'll scare her half to death like that. We send a letter first.”

“…Okay.”

His uncle grabbed a piece of paper and a quill. Quickly, he scribbled 'Link is alive'. He stared at the paper. Unsure what else to tell her. “Anything you want her to know?”

He shook his head, gaze somewhere far off again. His uncle sighed, allowing himself a moment to focus on writing.

“I was trapped in a nightmare.” Link finally whispered.

His uncle looked up. It was unusual for Link to call any adventure he had something so plainly negative. He didn't know what to expect, or how much Link would be willing to explain. He waited for Link to continue, giving him a small encouraging nod.

“It- there was a storm that caught me off guard and I…. I fell into the ocean. Then… I think the Windfish saved me? I'm not sure. But whatever happened pulled me into his dream.”

“Ah.” He meant it literally. His uncle straightened, watching him. Link fidgeted, and swept some of his hair out of his face. He was silent for another beat. His uncle frowned, “…And?”

“There were nightmares. Keeping the Windfish asleep for ages. And I fought them all. So that he could wake and- I would be able to go- go home. But they're all gone because of me, I-” Link ran his hands into his hair, tugging.

“Oh Link, Link its okay-”

“I know what you’re gonna say and I know they were just a dream!” Link interrupted with a cry, “But it feels so real. Ganon nearly killed me again, I got followed by ghosts, I lost her, I-I'm surprised the Nightmares never tried to copy you!”

“Me?” His uncle stared, eyes wide.

Link froze. Then he gasped a sob and dropped his head against the table. Narrowly missing putting his head in his soup. His uncle pushed the bowl aside, reaching over to place a hand on his arm.

“Link…”

He mumbled something into the wood of the table, muffled and sobbing.

“You're okay, hey, you're here, we’re okay.”

“I'm sorry,” Link said into the wood again, louder, “I didn't mean- not like- I'm sorry-”

He needed to hug this boy again. He grabbed his arms and squeezed. It wasn't enough. “It's fine, what did you mean?”

“I killed you!” Link cried, looking up, eyes red with tears, face splotchy. He gasped shakily, “I had nightmares about it all the time, I can't believe they didn't know that-”

“Link that doesn't make sense-”

“…unless- that was the ghost-” He looked around the house like it held secrets, “That house felt so so painfully familiar- Nayru I'm stupid- How did I not notice it was an actual nightmare before-”

“Link, look at me.” His uncle commanded. Link startled, eyes snapping to his uncle. He would usually never outright demand the boy's gaze, but there seemed to be no other way to make him return to reality.

He squeezed Link's arms as he continued to stare, wide eyed. “I'm alive. You never killed me. I'm not a ghost.”

“Triforce.” Link whispered.

Uncle frowned. “What about it?”

“The only reason you're alive. Is because I, Zelda… We wished everything would- would go back to before Ganon…” Link let out a soft exhale. “Because you- the king- the soldiers I had to- I-” Link whimpered, curling in on himself in the chair.

…The dungeon. That rainy night. The ambush of mind controlled soldiers that halted his progress to help the Princess before he even truly started… He frowned. “Link… I told you to leave me. You did what I told you to.”

“You still died. Because I couldn't- I couldn't do anything.” Link cried, “And I did it again! I killed them because I had to save someone else- there was no other way, but I wanted- I wanted so desperately for there to be another way-”

“Come here- come here-” His Uncle stood. Link’s chair fell to the ground in his hurry to stand up. He threw himself at him, clinging to his midsection. His uncle wrapped him in his arms tightly, tucking Link's shoulder under his chin.

“You did all you could.” Uncle whispered, voice a low rumble, “I never wanted this to be your destiny, but you've done your best. You've always done your best.”

Link took in a shuddering breath and cried. His tears started quietly, but they got louder, and louder, until he was practically screaming his sobs into his Uncle's chest. Uncle could only hold him tighter, squeezing him and closing his eyes in an effort not to let the wailing affect him too.

Eventually, slowly, Link calmed, exhausting his already weary body. He stayed still, resting in his Uncle's hold.

His uncle brushed his hair back, “You should rest.”

“What if I get stuck again?” He whispered.

“I'll be here to help you find a way back this time. If you do.”

Link nodded. His uncle guided him to the bed, and sat there as Link nestled into it.

“…Has Zelda been okay?” Link whispered.

“Just well enough.” Uncle said softly, “We can talk to her tomorrow.”

“She thinks I'm dead, doesn't she?” He sighed, eyes cast down low.

“…No, she's always been full of hope.” Uncle whispered. He sighed, brushing the hair from Link's forehead and kissing the sun speckled spot. “She'll be overwhelmed with joy. …As am I, to know you're here and safe.”

Link smiled, just a little, as he closed his eyes.

[fanartfunart]

Talking is for Liars

Summery: Despite the opening paragraphs- it's not about rosalink. It's about Rinku (post oox, pre la) and their Uncle. Where neither of them are good at talking about what they actually want to talk about.

Warnings: Link is a romantic sap, kissing, embarrassment (significant amounts lol), angst, canon temporary character death, nightmares, lemme know if I should tag anything else

---

Rosa kissed his lips at the threshold of the door. His Uncle was watching, waiting for the goodbye to end. He could feel his impatient eyes on him. Link trailed softly away, barely taking a half step out of her space.

Rosa must have noticed the reluctance because she yanked on his tunic to crush their lips further together. Link's knees felt like jelly, bending to keep their heads closer to level. He felt as if he was about to collapse into her. He almost wanted to, to be closer in any way possible.

The subrosian's covered hands grabbed his cheeks and her tongue dipped into his mouth. Link let out a soft muffled noise unbidden. Something between a whine and a sigh. He loved her, he loved her, he hated goodbyes, he wanted to be with her all the time- his Uncle cleared his throat. Loudly.

The pair startled, stumbling apart. Link's mouth suddenly felt very wet and cold. He tried to dab at it as subtly and politely as he could… Rosa grinned. Probably pleased with how pink she had gotten Link's cheeks to become. Link tried to subtly brush a finger against his cheek to test their warmth.

His Uncle chuckled. A low rumbling that Link nearly mimicked out of embarrassment. Uncle shook his head as he placed a hand on Link's shoulder. He tugged him back a half step. As if Link was going to run away or something to chase her- Link tried not to roll his eyes.

“Well Rosa, it's been a pleasure to meet you and have your company. But you better get going before you miss your way back home.”

Rosa sighed, “Yeahh. Well, like, thank you for having me. I'll see you again soon Link!” She winked, “I'll be waiting to see your next letter.”

“Mhmm” Link mumbled, gaze finding their way back to her lips. Maybe if he offered to walk her to the portal he could get another kiss- “Ah-mm. Lemme-” Link shifted to follow Rosa, but his Uncle's hand clamped further against his shoulder. “Door…” Link amended awkwardly. 

Rosa laughed softly, waving, “Such a gentleman. Thank you.” She winked. Link closed the door slowly, straining to watch for her until she vanished from view.

“She's enthusiastic.” Was Uncle's verdict.

Link flushed brighter. He looked intently at the floor. He could still trace an echo of her touch on his lips… if only he could have snuck one more-

“...Do I ah…. Need to have a Talk with you about… girls?”

Link looked up, eyes wide. He shook his head frantically.

“Just know you-”

“LA LA LA-” Link started, covering his ears and turning away.

His uncle sighed heavily, sitting down at the table. “Link.” He huffed. He was getting serious…. that's not good.

Link frowned, dropping his hands from his ears. 

“You can talk to me about anything, okay?”

Something about his tone made his stomach swoop. His mind immediately pulled an image of his Uncle, dead, leaning against a wall. Blood pooling and smeared on Link's childish hands. That was certainly not the topic. But regardless, it remained. Stuck.

Who would ever want to talk about that.

“I know,” Link lied, as easily as breathing. They had this specific back and forth on many things lately. Link had been wondering if his uncle found a parenting book that gave him this phrase.

You can talk to me about your parents- If you had a nightmare you can just tell me about it- you can talk to me-

Link always lied. He hated lying, but there was no other option for responding. Talking about it felt like being thrown to the rapids without a raft. Telling his uncle ‘No, I can't’ would break the old man's heart. Link worked hard to make sure that heart remained beating.

Uncle smiled, “Okay, good. You just- …I don't want anyone to hurt you, okay?” 

The monstrous shape-shifter had looked like his uncle, dying all over again, when he walked into that pyramid. His attacks sharp and painful twice over.

“I know how to protect myself.” Link whispered, brows furrowed. “I'm not a child anymore.”

“I'm not saying that-” Uncle sighed, “I know how resilient you are. But you also care a lot about what everyone else wants and- it's wonderful and it makes you such a kind soul. It's just…” His uncle fiddled with his hands, “Rosa seems lovely, but she also seems… pushy. And if she ever makes you feel like you have to do something you don't want to do….”

Link groaned, loud and dramatic.

“I want you to be able to tell her no, and if you can't, then please, by all means, use me as an excuse? Okay? I'm fine with being the bad guy for that.”

His uncle could never and should never be the “bad guy”. The man was all he had left of his family. He didn’t want any lie or an excuse to make his uncle seem less than he was to anyone. 

But Link knew an attempt at helpfulness when he saw it. He huffed and sat on the bed, crossing his arms. “Okay. Thank you, whatever.”

His uncle sighed in relief. The expression on his face seemed to betray lingering concern, but he smiled regardless of the look in his eyes.

They were both quiet for a moment. Which wasn't unusual (if anything, all the talking his Uncle was asking for was what was unusual,) but this silence stretched out awkwardly. It felt like his Uncle was waiting for something. Link thumped a leg against the wood floor anxiously. “I… Nevermind.”

“Hm? No, what is it?” 

I'm drowning in nightmares. I have endless nightmares of you dying all over again. I have nightmares where sometimes Rosa or Zelda or Ralph or Nauru or Din and even you- are screaming for me to save them and I'm always too far away. I have nightmares where Zelda is vanishing right in front of me and you're behind me, like a ghost or a demon, judging me for being unable to move, to stop it. Would you hate me for letting you die? For failing Zelda? Would you judge me? If you knew everything? 

Link swallowed, frowning at the ground. “Do you hate Rosa?” He said softly instead. Because Rosa was who they had been talking about. Because it was as close to asking if he hated his choices or not as he could get.

“No, no I don't. None of this is really about Rosa.” Uncle said, laughing softly, “I'm actually hoping her personality will get you out of your shell a bit more.”

He nodded softly. “So you just don't trust me,” he whispered without thinking. 

“What? No, no.” His uncle stood, crossing the room to sit next to Link. His weight made the bed dip, forcing Link toward him just slightly. Link scooted back, curling up his legs against his chest as he did so.

“Link. I believe that whatever you do, you'll be amazing. I trust your judgment. I just worry. It's my job to worry.”

“I'll be fine. You don't have to worry about me.” Link whispered. It felt like a lie regardless of the facts. Bitter on his tongue.

“I will regardless…” Uncle brushed some of his hair away from his face. Tucked behind an ear. The curtain of hair fell back into its place quickly, returning to obscure half his face. Uncle smiled softly. Almost mournfully. He hummed, “Why did you dye it again? I thought you were going to let the pink come back.”

He shrugged.

His Uncle sighed, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and pulling him a bit closer. Link closed his eyes and allowed himself to lean into him. Strong arms embraced him. 

“I'm sorry,” Link mumbled.

“Whatever for?”

He shook his head, trying to keep the tears pricking at his eyes from falling. From soaking into his Uncle's shirt and ruining everything. “I dunno.”

His uncle sighed softly, holding him close. Link made sure to take the opportunity to listen for a heartbeat.

[fanartfunart]

I hope all of your plot holes are resolved and your work in progress turns into a finished work *throws glitter at you*

[fanartfunart]

theres truly no better feeling on here than when someone leaves a long paragraph in the tags pointing out details you intentionally included in your art. YES !! PLEASE POINT IT OUT OTHERWISE I WONT KNOW IF PEOPLE NOTICED!! YOURE SO COOL!!!!!

[fanartfunart]

[Image Description: A 9 paneled colored page for Linked Spirit Legend of Zelda AU. Panel 1: Hope tilts his head at Hero, who appears as young Hope, leaning on Wolf Link. "How did you know he was a knight?" "I just know. You were a Hero since childhood..." Panel 2: Hero appears as Glider, with short hair. They look to Glider, with a sympathetic look, "You were a very loyal knight." Panel 3: Glider looks back at them, a soft look on his face. Panel 4: Hope grabs Hero's Spirit, dragging them from the scarf, "Will you STOP shapeshifting!" Hero shouts "AK" Hope continues, "Especially my face! Off limits!" Panel 5: Hero appears as Twilight Princess Link, exclaiming, "I cant control any of this!", gesturing at the air. Wolf Link pushes Hope back with a paw. "Excuses" Hope grumbles. Panel 6: Glider looks on tiredly, "If you care so much. You train them. You clearly have similar magic." Panel 7: Hope stares, flatly. Panel 8: he looks down, brows pinched. Panel 9: He looks up again, "You can talk in sentences?" Glider responds "You can say nice things?" End ID]

masterpost

First-

Timeline 1- Era of the Wild: Previous (48) - 49^ - Next (50)

Timeline 2- Era of the Four Spirit: 35.2

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Actually ya know what I can just find out directly. Which graphic novel/comic pitch would you be more likely to read? (It's more of a which should I focus on more/first question than an "only one will get made" question. Fyi.)

1) A teenage archer and his sorcerer friend are scouts exploring the woods when one of them is kidnapped. The teen falls into a post-apocalyptic cityscape and meets a strange girl, who helps him navigate the dangers of this land while finding a way back home and rescue his friend. (After the Fall- genre: fantasy-adventure, post apocalypse, nature themes/solarpunk-ish)

2) Wishing stars are thought to originate in Ancient Greece, where people believed a shooting star meant a god was watching... A Greek soldier is near death, but when he sees a star, he prays for aid to return home. The Star answers, and a young celestial goddess is able to prevent Death from taking him, but he is now trapped in the limbo of Dreams. The star guides the way, but there are still trials to undergo. (Soldier & the Star, genre: Fantasy-adventure, Greek mythology, romance (not garenteed, tbh), mental health topics.)

[fanartfunart]

One fun feature of making Ordon my EoW Link now is this:

[Image Description: a toony lineart 4 panel comic for the Linked Spirit AU. Panel 1: Echos Zelda walks beside Link, saying "I wonder why the sword makes me look like you. But does seemingly nothing to you." Link looks confused. Panel 2: "Several Years Later" Ordon looks bored, looking at Hero's Spirit. "huh" he mutters. Panel 3: Hero is compared to Swordfighter Zelda, with "Same Glowy Colors" Panel 4: Ordon looks surprised and mortified, "Was I accidentally Possessing the Princess?" End ID]

Will say, love that they did not explain why the sword made Zelda look like Link. I ASSUME it works in a similar way to echos ngl, BUT it's just so much funnier to make this connection especially for this au.

[fanartfunart]

hey uh new type of ao3 spam comment just dropped. (I know it's spam because the fic they left this comment on . doesn't have chapters. lmfao). Report this kinda comment as spam and don't take it personally it is literally recycled bullshit

[fanartfunart]

End of Chapter 4- Lost in the Woods

First|| Part 1|| next-> (coming eventually)

[fanartfunart]

[Image Description: A 7 paneled colored page for Linked Spirit Legend of Zelda AU. Panel 1: Everyone sits or lays around a campfire, except Sky, who stands further off, back to them. Hero lounges on Wolf Link's back. Panel 2: Hope grins, hands behind his head as he lays on the ground, "I missed sleeping outdoors. The hard ground under your back, the air, the dirt-" Panel 3: Hero grumbles, "I don't." Looking to the side. Panel 4: Hope leans up, grinning, "Are we Dirt Buddies?" Hero's Spirit raises an eyebrow, lightly amused. Panel 5: They look down, "I grew up on the street." Panel 6: "I miss the barracks beds..." they lament. Panel 7: "Soldier?" asks Glider, brows pinched. Ordon looks at them curiously. "Kni- ah.... Squire." Hero says haltingly, their face partially changing to Sky's and partly to Glider's, "Not as far up as a lot of you, yet..." They say. End ID]

masterpost

First-

Timeline 1- Era of the Wild: Previous (47) - 48^ - Next (49)

Timeline 2- Era of the Four Spirit: 35.2

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I always liked the anime illustrations in the original NES Zelda manual, and it saddened me to find out these weren’t actually part of a real animated promotion for the game. So I decided to take those illustrations and re-create them as if they were!

Enjoy this long-lost VHS promotion for the Legend of Zelda on the Nintendo Entertainment System!

Voice narration by Streamy McDreamy

Animated in Procreate and Procreate Dreams.

View this video on YouTube here.

[fanartfunart]

[Image Description: A set of digital drawings of a personification of Spring. She has floor length curly brown hair with flowers and leaves in it. She has feathers on her ear. In the largest drawing, she wears a flowing pink and blue half skirt over green tights, with a pink top lined with branches and is barefoot. She has a blue line of fabric that flows from her hand and around her neck loosely. She skips, the ground under her feet green and growing flowers, with patches of melting snow. In the smaller drawings labeled "Flowers in hair represent feelings", she is drawn with two emotions: Cheer, wearing yellow flowers and a pink tulip in her hair, and sadness, with a pink flower and white bell flowers. In the bottom right drawing she is screaming, wearing a similar floral dress, with dark clouds and lightning above her.]

Ah capricious spring... You're always one of my favorites.

[fanartfunart]

knowledge long forgotten

got really into reading item descriptions on this playthrough. anyway did you know the silent princess is one of the only raw materials with a cooking effect to not explicitly list that effect in its description

[fanartfunart]

[Image Description: 2 artworks of a cave, mirrored in each drawing, with a riverside entry and water above it, highlighted by a moon glow. In the first image, a greek columned gate made of ivory tusks opens to a starry night with a dark tree and poppies in the background. A black winged creature (oneiros) wearing greek armor leans out of the gate, birdlike talons clawing on the edge. Above flies another, which wears a blue dress. The second image is a gate made of horn, with a gentler looking oneiros, wearing a wreathe of poppies, a red tunic, and holds a poppy in his hand. Another oneiros flies overhead, mirror to the first image. End ID]

"For two are the gates of shadowy dreams, and one is fashioned of horn and one of ivory" -The Odyssey

The Land of Dreams is a part of the outskirts of the Underworld. The Gates of Dreams are a where creatures of dreams, oneiros, or children of Nyx or Hypnos, such as Morpheus exit into the mortal realm. The gate of Horn is where Prophetic or True dreams come from, and the gate of Ivory is where False dreams exit.

[fanartfunart]

if you’re a Link, you have three weaknesses:

- a beautiful blonde, who is the other half of your whole (triforce):

- a redhead who will inevitably become close to you, romantically inclined or not:

- a purple doppelganger of yourself who will just start Doing Things and be an absolute weirdo. and. ahem. well:

[fanartfunart]

[Image Description: A 8 paneled colored page for Linked Spirit Legend of Zelda AU. Panel 1: Smith taps a red lever. Panel 2: The Spirit Train's canon fires, canonball clashing into the ocean. Panel 3: Engineer holds his hat over his face, grimacing. Next to him, Smith looks excited "Sweet!" Panel 4: Smith looks at the control panel with a thoughtful look "Could use some fine tuning though." Panel 5: Engineer leans on the panel in front of Smith "Don't touch." Smith pouts, "Oh, sorry." Panel 6: Engine puts his hands on his hips, "Who are you and why did you portal onto my train?", then mutters, "normal people wait at train stops..." Panel 7: Smith grins, holding a thumbs up, tail wagging slightly, "I'm the Hero Link!" Panel 8: Engine squints at him. He grins brightly. "...So you're here to steal my identity...?" Engie asks. "HA you're funny!" Smith says. End ID]

masterpost - pages masterpost

First-

Timeline 2- Era of the Four Spirit: Previous (34.2) - 35.2 ^ - Next (36.2)

Return to Timeline 1- Era of the Wild: 45 - 46 - 47

[fanartfunart]

please wait while he travels across your dash, he's on a very important mission