sarasalandhistory

[sarasalandhistory]

Peach just has a thing for nice, short guys with facial hair.

I really like the idea that Peach has a thing for Mustaches. Like Imagine Bowser had kidnapped Peach and he is asking her what he can do to change her mind about being with him. She lists the Obvious, like NOT kidnapping her, not attacking her kingdom, Not trying to crush mario. Him being evil, she listed a lot of it via his actions. Bowser simply dismisses it

"Fun Quirks, what else you got? What is the real deciding factor?"

"You dont have facial hair." She said without really thinking about it.

That comment caused Bowser Pause. Because... yea, he doesnt have facial hair. Is that something he can fix? Is that why Mario is more appealing to her.

Bowser immediately left to look in a mirror, trying to figure out if its possible

[sarasalandhistory]

A Quick Rewrite of Tears of the Kingdom ~ Part 2: How a Canon Zelink Would've Helped Both Characters

This is part 2 of my last quick rewrite.

As the title says, I genuinely believe that having an unambiguously canon Zelink would've helped the characterizations of both Link and Zelda in this game because now there's more stakes and not just resetting them back to 'Princess and Knight who might be more' because that was already done in BotW, and this is supposed to be a sequel to that game, so I want it to build upon the relationships that were presented there especially Zelink. BotW (and SS/ST) is what got me so into Zelink because of how natural their progression felt, where, despite being at odds at first, they reach an understanding, become friends, and then are willing to risk everything for each other. Heck, it's confirmed that Zelda is in love with Link and was probably going to confess to him after the Calamity, so it would be entirely logical to have them be in love, which raises the stakes for both characters. Link is confronted with the reality that Zelda, his shining beacon, might be permanently gone from this world, and Zelda has to grapple with the decision to be with the man she loves for another fleeting moment or choose to give him a happy future at the cost of herself. This, I admit, was touched upon, and there is subtext for those like me who look for it. However, having it on the surface would make for a more engaging story in the present and would address many other issues with how the story is told.

One of the main problems with TotK is admittedly Link himself, in that it seems like he hasn't existed unless the player is in control of him. I know that Zelda says that Link is always with her in her diary, and I genuinely believe this as well, but this narrative is muddled by the people of Hateno, Kakariko, and the Zonai Survey Team not recognizing Link even though he's been with Zelda all this time. It comes off as jarring, especially when you have sidequests like Eventide Island and Tarrey Town that Link canonically did, but then don't have NPCs like Bolson act like he doesn't recognize you. Heck, Masterworks confirms that Link did own the house Zelda now resides in before giving it to her, so Link would've canonically have to have met Bolson anyway. To me, this all seems like Nintendo not wanting to commit to a specific ship in case someone might be offended, while still hinting at it so as not to offend the other half of the population who do ship it. It's wishy-washy and honestly unneeded.

Just look at what Nintendo did to the other ships:

Mipha: It's confirmed with the memos that Mipha never actually gave the Zora Armor to Link and instead left it with her father so that means they were never actually engaged.

Sidon: He's going to be married to Yona.

Riju: Still a teenager and confirmed not to care about romance or love.

Paya: While not definitively sunk, she does grow close with Tauro and is nowhere near as hung up over Link.

The only other one you could stay is still in the water besides Zelink, thanks to the memos with Revelda(?), but even that reads in a besties manner vs romantically. On that note, someone make a jealous Link vs Revali fanfiction!

Back on topic, not having Zelink while sinking the others doesn't make sense if you're not just going to have them be canon, especially when it opens the door to new ideas and experiences while tightening up the narrative of where the heck Link has been and would give him more of a character that players can connect with rather than be a skin suit when he in all logic, should not be. Link has experiences, a life, and a personality without me in control, so that should shine through in how he interacts with the world around him and show that he has made an impression on Hyrule, along with Zelda. I want to feel Link existed in this world before I took over playing him. Heck, we see this done well in BotW through the diaries, the Zora, and the memories, where we know what Link was like 100 years ago, along with his relationships, and it tells us a lot about who he is and who he was without our interference. It made for a more engaging narrative and made us want to free Hyrule, because Link would. However, in TotK, we don't get that same impression, and the story's weaker for it. We know Link wants to save Zelda more than literally anything, even killing Ganondorf, but without context on how deep their relationship has become beyond a few choice NPCs and dialogue, I feel like an outsider looking in rather than being immersed in Link's primary goal. His lack of meaningful expressions in pivotal scenes doesn't help either. I mean frick, he doesn't even react seeing his father figure half-dead thanks to someone who was supposedly Zelda.

Speaking of the Princess, Zelda, while I love her to death, does come off as more static in this game vs BotW, where we saw her maturing and learning to become more compassionate through her relationship with Link until her love for him finally saved Hyrule. Now, I know Nintendo says that Zelda's trying to understand what she should do for Hyrule's future and how she learns about leadership and sacrifice from Rauru and Sonia, but honestly, I never got that. Zelda has already been acting as Hyrule's leader in the time between BotW and TotK, and doing everything she can to rebuild Hyrule. The people love and respect her for it, which I love, but why does she need to learn from Rauru and Sonia when she's already been doing it very well on her own? Also, Zelda did sacrifice herself for Hyrule's preservation 100 years ago and was willing to sacrifice herself for Link, so why does she need to learn what she already knows? Wouldn't it be more interesting to go into how her past affects her personal relationships, and how seeing how happily married Rauru and Sonia are, helps her with her trauma over whether or not she should take the next step with Link? Heck, this would make the draconification scene more heartbreaking because Zelda was finally able to decide that she wants to be with Link forever, and now to give him his future, that's a dream that can never be.

Now I know what you might be saying, "Well, how would you fix it?"

Simple.

Zelda and Link are a couple, but they're only dating and have been for years by now (At least 2-3). However, not everything is peaches and cream with them, as Link wants them to take the next step (ie, marriage), but Zelda is afraid of the prospect, which sets up their character arcs in the game. For Link, he knows he loves Zelda with all his heart, and he knows she loves him, so why not just get married? Link isn't a jerk about it, but he doesn't fully understand her hesitation and what being her husband would mean in the grand scheme of things for him and her. Zelda is still the Princess of Hyrule, and her husband would need to be a king, not just a knight, which is a reality Link is forced to grapple with when she goes missing and he takes on most of those duties now that she's gone. Link is the one who will have to step into the role as Hyrule's leader and learn just what that means. I'll get into how later on in story but that's his arc for this game.

As for Zelda, we learn her fear is not rooted in Link but her past. Love and marriage were not things that mixed in the old royal court and Zelda had learned to resign herself to a loveless marriage united by duty and expecation, not romance. However, in this Hyrule she's able to happily be with her beloved despite his social status and have the freedom she was denied growing up being able to research, learn, and develop to her heart's content, but that expectation of what marriage should be vs what she knows about it still remains, and this is what created the conflict between her and Link because she just came back and still wants to know as much as she can before being forced to be queen which would be the likely result if she married Link. Effectively their relationship is stuck in limbo at the beginning of the game, and Zelda has no idea about what she should do. Her loving Link is never a question to her, but is she being selfish by keeping him with her but not marrying him, even when he wants to? Are their wants too different to be compatible? Zelda doesn't know, and this is what she learns about in the past with Rauru and Sonia. I'll get more into them in a seperate rewrite, but to be short Sonia in this rewrite was Hyrule's ruling queen after being thrust into the role after losing her older sister who was first in line, and thought she'd never be able to be the Queen her sister was meant to be but Rauru through love and encouragment helped her through her anxiety, and let hr believe she could do it. This teaches Zelda that marriage is not a cage when two people love each other very much and seeing them together helps heal that part of herself. Unfortunately, Ganondorf and you know what happens next. However, an addition to this is Zelda actually does learn how to get back to the future but knows that if she did it that way, the Master Sword would still be destroyed and Ganondorf infinitely more powerful, which leaves her to grapple with her decision: go back to Link and spend the last few months they have to gather before Ganondorf destroys everything or become an immortal divine dragon but be forever parted from Link. In the end, she chooses the latter because while she does want to marry him now, she wants him to live a happy, long life even if it's without her. Basically Zelda's story is one about healing from trauma and selfishness, and realizing that tomorrow is never a promise.

With these character arcs for the main leads, I genuinely believe that doing it this way showcases more of TotK's theme of connection, love, community, leadership, and sacrifice than if they were just implied.

Now do I think Nintendo would ever be this obvious with Zelink. No. I don't, but I think a story like this would create so many more stakes and moments that would make TotK stand out as among the best Zelda games. Now, Zelda's arc could be included in AoI, but giving Link an arc like that on the surface instead of in the subtext would've been wonderful.

But honestly, at the very least, let people know Link as at least the Princess's Hero/Swordsman.

Anyways, what do you guys think?

[sarasalandhistory]

my hopes for the switch 2 direct today

- customizable home screen

- zelink kissing totk dlc

-

[sarasalandhistory]

My main reason for not shipping Miphlink is that Mipha was already an adolescent when she met four-year-old Link, and they saw each other as family for the majority of his life. I know she only started to crush on him when he was older, but Aonuma comparing Mipha to Link's mother gives me the ick with this ship, even though I love Mipha as a character.

Honestly, I wish they hadn't done the whole thing of her falling in love with him and kept it a familial bond, since that's what I loved Mipha for. I thought the relationship with her family was the best part, and seeing how she continues to inspire them to this day, despite the grief they feel over her death.

I have only ever seen people talk about Zelink having a "power imbalance" in referral to BOTW Zelink. Which is odd, isn't it? Zelda definitely isn't Link's superior, because Link can blatantly ignore her demands to leave her alone. Zelda's entire arc with Link is going through a "we're not so different you and I" story. One can make the argument that Zelinks like Twilight Princess, OOT and ALBW have WAY more potential to be a "power imbalance" than BOTW does, so why does BOTW always get the bad rap? (Hint: it's because this version of Zelda isn't a flawless courteous princess, and because she was mean to Link one (1) time that means she's clearly got the power to abuse him and she's a horrible bitch actually /s)

[sarasalandhistory]

Besides Zelink Crumbs, this is the main thing I want to be in the ZELDA NOTES.

Seriously, where was Link if he wasn't there? I know with Zelda, but shouldn't he know all this?

I know on a meta level it's for the player's benefit and to allow them to know where to go next, but it's still weird since Link supposedly lived in this world for 5-7 years before the games.

My Pet Peeve about Tears of The Kingdom

This will sound weird, but I don't like how people in Hateno don't acknowledge Link and act like they've never seen him before when we know they have.

Everyone acknowledges that Link and Zelda are usually together and that he's most famous for being Zelda's swordsman and knight versus the hero of Hyrule. We know Zelda mentions in her diary how Link usually accompanies her. It's also implied by her wanting to hide the Champion's Leathers in the chest in Hyrule Castle vs the Hateno House that Link's around enough that he could find it, and it wouldn't be a surprise anymore.

Heck, even the Masterworks book says that Link was the one who originally bought and owned Zelda's house, and only during his solo adventure did he decide to find a new home, so clearly Link had to have been living close to Hateno or in the Hateno House.

Now, some could argue that he was living at the Reconstruction Hub/Lookout Landing, which I would actually think is quite fair with recent information. Heck, I even headcanon that Link spent half the year in Hateno and the other half at Lookout Landing before the events of TotK, but the thing is, in-game and in the book, this is never said or even implied when it would help clear up a lot. Link seems somewhat confused when he first enters, and most of the volunteers are actually new arrivals who came after Link and Zelda went under Hyrule Castle; if he did live there for long periods, then why would Zelda hide the Chamption's Leathers somewhere he could easily find it.

As for Lurelin, this one is easier to forgive why they don't recognize Link since Lurelin is somewhere you may or may not run into in the first game, and it's implied that Zelda came alone and would meet up with Link after dark or they were both in disguise. Still, it would've be nice if there was some reference to Link as maybe the princess's swordsman or that there was someone with her.

Now I have my headcanons about Link being generally unrecognizable to the average Hylian by either choice or sickness. Still, it would've been nice if there was the ability to have that option so people recognize Link for being the Hero or knight he is.

An easy solution to this is either to have Link mentioned in passing, as I stated with the Lurelin quest, or have the Champion's Leathers or Tunic of Memories be the thing that lets people in other places recognize Link. The latter was actually suggested by someone on the Linked Universe Discord, so kudos to them.

I think these ideas would've fixed many issues, so we still get the necessary exposition for the town, but it won't feel like Link just doesn't exist until the game happens.

[sarasalandhistory]

How I Would Rewrite TotK

I had some problems with TotK when I played, but I overlooked some issues with the story and plot because I liked the game. After replaying it recently, I did realize there would be things I would change if I could, and these are them:

Firstly, I mentioned in a recent post that my major pet peeve is that people don't know Link in Hateno, Lurelin, or around Hyrule, but logically they would. Masterworks confirm that Link is a well-known figure, and Zelda mentions that he accompanies her as her guard across Hyrule. That is my first change. Either people know Link off the bat, or there is a reason Link isn't recognized outside of Lookout Landing. This could be as simple as a dialogue option with Purah that could say that 'until things are more handled, it would be best that people don't know that the princess's knight is back.' They have something like this with Traysi, who mentions that Link shouldn't cause a scene by telling Penn or anyone who he really is while working for her. Also, included the option being recognized thanks to the Champion's Leathers. Link wore his old tunic so much, it wore out, so we can assume that was his main gear for years. He's not wearing it, it'll be hard to recognize him if you aren't friends. Simple.

Be more clear about Link and Zelda's relationship at this point. I ship them, and I can tell they're in a relationship since we have Zelda's heated looks and Link outright saying he has someone special to Ashai. Heck, it ends with him bridal carrying her to a field filled with forget-me-nots. In the last game, Zelda is stated to be in love with Link and Link wants to defeat Ganon to see her smile. Why are they still teasing us? This is the last game with this iteration of Zelink, and they took a torpedo to every other ship in Wilds Era (RIP), so why not be open about it? Don't tease, just do. God, this is why I'm doing a visual novel based on this pairing.

Make the past more in-line with what was built up in BotW. Rauru and Sonia could still be king and queen, this could even be the founding of Hyrule, but make it overly confusing. You can just have the Zonai be the reason, the old Hyrule became a technological giant and that's why they were so important. Make the Secret Stones more of their own, like having them be Hylia's tears. Also, just say that Sonia was a descendant of Hylia instead of just hinting at it. I would also make Ganondorf responsible for the missing Sheikah Tech.

And that was the main things I would change about ToTK

[sarasalandhistory]

My Pet Peeve about Tears of The Kingdom

This will sound weird, but I don't like how people in Hateno don't acknowledge Link and act like they've never seen him before when we know they have.

Everyone acknowledges that Link and Zelda are usually together and that he's most famous for being Zelda's swordsman and knight versus the hero of Hyrule. We know Zelda mentions in her diary how Link usually accompanies her. It's also implied by her wanting to hide the Champion's Leathers in the chest in Hyrule Castle vs the Hateno House that Link's around enough that he could find it, and it wouldn't be a surprise anymore.

Heck, even the Masterworks book says that Link was the one who originally bought and owned Zelda's house, and only during his solo adventure did he decide to find a new home, so clearly Link had to have been living close to Hateno or in the Hateno House.

Now, some could argue that he was living at the Reconstruction Hub/Lookout Landing, which I would actually think is quite fair with recent information. Heck, I even headcanon that Link spent half the year in Hateno and the other half at Lookout Landing before the events of TotK, but the thing is, in-game and in the book, this is never said or even implied when it would help clear up a lot. Link seems somewhat confused when he first enters, and most of the volunteers are actually new arrivals who came after Link and Zelda went under Hyrule Castle; if he did live there for long periods, then why would Zelda hide the Chamption's Leathers somewhere he could easily find it.

As for Lurelin, this one is easier to forgive why they don't recognize Link since Lurelin is somewhere you may or may not run into in the first game, and it's implied that Zelda came alone and would meet up with Link after dark or they were both in disguise. Still, it would've be nice if there was some reference to Link as maybe the princess's swordsman or that there was someone with her.

Now I have my headcanons about Link being generally unrecognizable to the average Hylian by either choice or sickness. Still, it would've been nice if there was the ability to have that option so people recognize Link for being the Hero or knight he is.

An easy solution to this is either to have Link mentioned in passing, as I stated with the Lurelin quest, or have the Champion's Leathers or Tunic of Memories be the thing that lets people in other places recognize Link. The latter was actually suggested by someone on the Linked Universe Discord, so kudos to them.

I think these ideas would've fixed many issues, so we still get the necessary exposition for the town, but it won't feel like Link just doesn't exist until the game happens.

[sarasalandhistory]

from this incorrect quote by @rosebloom431

weege is smitten!

perhaps an extension to this post as well 😉

[sarasalandhistory]

Yes of course Princess Daisy, this is just a bit of friendly competition and you are definitely not trying to show off for anyone in particular.

[sarasalandhistory]

Princess Daisy's capabilities as a ruler being disregarded because she's loud, hotheaded and emotional, leading her to be perceived by many as immature and impulsive.

Luigi's capabilities as a hero being disregarded because he's awkward, nervous and emotional, leading him to be perceived by many as weak and pathetic.

Both of them recognizing the value inherent in each other's feelings while simultaneously seeing the strength and potential in one another that they are unable to see in themselves. Do you feel me?

[sarasalandhistory]

You would think Luigi would understand Daisy by now.

Daisy: *stops kissing Luigi* what do you think you’re doing?

Luigi: what do you mean?

Daisy: your hands!

Luigi: they’re on your waist?

Daisy: I know! What am I, a nun? Put them somewhere useful.

[sarasalandhistory]

We got more Daisy!! Every Daisy fan is screaming of happiness right now

Pics of Princess Daisy are from the new Super Mario Wonder game coming out this year on October 20

[sarasalandhistory]

Thank you Charles Martinet for giving us such a magical childhood / adulthood with your talent. Best of luck on your next big adventure! ♥

[sarasalandhistory]

Tears of the Kingdom: Lore I Made Up for  Zonai

Spoilers!

Zonai Lore:

The Zonai arrived after the Great Convergance, an event that merged all the timelines together which slowly created strife and conflict within the Old Kingdom of Hyrule, and settled in in the Faron Region. Even then they were masters of magic and technology, however they weren’t always so benevolent. In the distant past, they were worshipped as gods even though they weren’t and took advantage of it. The most warlike of them wanted to invade the rest of Hyrule and rule it. However there were those who knew they weren’t and tried to live peacefully with their neighbors and even forming deep bonds with the Hyruleans while sharing and spreading their technology. 

Eventually, these viewpoints, those that want to conquer Hyrule vs those who want to live in peace would reach its head when the Hyrulean Royal Family fell and the Zonai fell into a period of Civil War that seemed to be without end due to their advanced technology. Eventually, though the warlike half won out over the peaceful side and they were driven underground with three Secret Stones into the Depths where they slowly rebuilt their civilization for the next 1500 years continuing to perfect their technological advancements.

On the surface, the warlike faction then began to plan for trying to take over Hyrule using the remaining Secret Stones they’re ancestors said to have passed down to them. However without their common enemy anymore, backstabbing and corruption slowly took over until they slowly wiped themselves out. Some even committed the forbidden act of Draconification in an attempt to gain more power but since their hearts and intentions were impure they were felled and the 4 remaining secret stones seemed lost forever.

Underneath meanwhile, the Depths proved to be quite a challenge slowly over the course of a thousand year the harsh environment and the lack of people caused their population to drop dramatically until there were only two Zonai left, Mineru who was a young girl who was chosen to be the Sage of Spirits and her brother Rauru the new Sage of Light named for a past one.

Zonai worship the three great dragons as the three golden goddesses who blessed their ancestors with their own spikes that were reforged into the Secret Stones. However, the tribe of the Depths also came to worship another god, the god of spirits, the Great Bargainer who is willing to grant blessings in exchange for helping him with ferrying the souls of the lost to the next world. They didn’t really worship the goddess Hylia until Rauru married a descendant of hers int the form of the priestess Sonia.

They mainly worshipped the goddess Farore (one version of the origins even say they’re descended from her) and thus created a series of dangerous endeavors to prove their worship to her including the gliding contest that young Zonai warriors would perform as a rite of adulthood. 

As a mark of adulthood, Zonai would chop off their tails.

Were they descended from the gods? No one is actually quite sure. Even the Zonai themselves are not sure. Some believe that they evolved from strange creatures that inhabited the ancient cities in the sky. Some believe that they come from a tribe of Hylians who perfected their magic that managed to ascend to the skies using the winds. Some believe that they are descended from the first people of Hylia who remained behind while their cousins populated the surface. Perhaps, it was the goddess Farore herself that granted them their blessings. Or perhaps they evolved from nothing and just been secretly hiding just under the surface before rising to the heavens.

[sarasalandhistory]

Luigi: I am both horny and terrified...but that’s how I always feel around Daisy.

Headcanon is that Daisy would drop kick anyone that tries to hurt Luigi. (With Luigi thinking it's scary and hot)

I really hope his slushy tastes good.

[sarasalandhistory]

Hop on for a crazy and amazing cruise aboard the Daisy Cruiser originally from Mario Kart: Double Dash!! announced for the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass Wave 5 for this July 12, 2023! 🌼🛥️☀️

[sarasalandhistory]

Daisy: Sorry, Pea but I’m stealing Luigi to be my husband.

Mario: Don’t worry you can just have him.

I would like to sincerely apologize for making you guys all wait this long for a part 2!

Things are going on at home which have caused me to take my time away from social media. But I am back now!

Well, this was definitely a little interaction that sat in my mind for a while!

Plus. Green eyed Daisy. It’s just a what-if Headcanon. Green does go well with Orange after all!