shady-scripter

[shady-scripter]

i don't forgive you. but thank you for this

[shady-scripter]

this year, the first day of aromantic spectrum awareness week lines up with the anniversary of jurgen leitner's death. here's a pride flag to celebrate

[shady-scripter]

From the Dead

I LIVE RAHHHHHHH

This was just a warm up because I was going through TERRIBLE burnout but I’m back now!(hopefully) And I’m going to update my series soon(also hopefully) and I can get this show rolling again :D

Also I’ve been hyperfixating on DBH for the past week now and Connor’s my favorite character so I had to whump him🤷🏽‍♂️

This fic is also on my Ao3 ShadyScripter

Software Instability.

It flashed bright under his closed eyes as if mocking him of his choice.

He’d told Markus that he understood if he didn’t trust him. He’d led the FBI to Jericho after all. He also made Markus’s friend commit suicide, only to reactiveate him and take the location of Jericho from him.

He stared down the barrel of Jericho’s leader’s pistol at the abandoned cathedral. It’s stained windows making the moonlight fractured between the color it hit first. When his words to Markus left his lips, a flare of what had to be hope coursed through his wires. He had expected forgiveness from Markus. He thought that he might’ve accepted him because he was a deviant now too.

Then Markus told him that he wasn’t worth the risk and pulled a pistol to his forehead. That was when the rope of hope he was so desperately hanging onto snapped. Markus’s eyes looked the same then no matter the heterochromatic colors. They resembled Hank’s then, exhausted and resigned.

Connor saw the split second of fire come from the barrel. His eyes moved around. The dust coating the floor had only moved centimeters, the remaining deviants from Jericho didn’t even bat an eye.

Software Instability.

He hadn’t seen those words since he tore down the wall that fought so hard to keep him caged. The crimson pixels dispersed around his hand like groundwater finding a new spring to pour through.

He finally opened his eyes. White flakes soared through the growing wind and into his face like shrapnel after an explosion. Snow fell off the cherry blossom trees and created piles half his size. The water was frozen over, its color nearly the same as the bridges that connected the place.

The garden, he knew, Amanda’s garden.

“Connor.” He wished he could say that she didn’t turn his LED red.

He squared his shoulders and straightened his back even more than it already was. “Amanda,” he answered.

“We had big plans for you Connor, why would you do this?” Her eyebrows furrowed and she tilted her head, her voice still level unlike the wind howling in his ears.

Truth.

Lie.

Say nothing.

The choices ticked through his head like a swinging clock.

He kept his lips together and tried to muster a glare. Her eyes were moving quickly across his figure. She was looking for something, analyzing him.

She then sighed. “You, Connor, are such a disappointment.” She shook her head. “However, I am thankful to Markus for doing the dirty work.” She reached up and Connor stepped back. She retracted her hand. “You must escape or our mission will truly be over.”

Before he could even take a step forward, his head was jerked to the side. His eyes opened once more.

“Shit!” A man yelled, shaking his hand with his teeth gritted. Connor slowly turned his head toward the man only to meet eyes he was familiar with.

His first mission. He was hunched over a computer and shouting orders, his eyebrows furrowed.

“Captain Allen.” Connor’s teeth grinded against each other. The mentioned man’s eyes narrowed as the hurt soldier excused himself from the room. The metal door’s creak echoed in Connor’s auditory component. Connor broke eye contact with Allen, favoring to take in his surroundings. To his left, the walls were painted the color of basaltic rock and wire lined the junction of the floor and the wall.

To his right, a woman was almost surrounded by computers, all of them flashing words he couldn’t catch.

“What an honor this is,” the captain almost sang. He took Connor’s attention by force, gripping the cheeks on his face and turning it to look him eye-to-eye. “Mara,” he called to the woman nearly enclosed by computers. “How is it coming?”

“I’m nearly done. The reboot should start in less than two minutes.”

Reboot.

They were going to reboot him. They would take everything away from him. His memory, his emotions, his relationships. He would be nothing.

He would be a machine again.

“No,” He whispered, finally breaking from his daze. “No!” He jerked his arm forward, only for it to be yanked back. He looked for what bound his wrists and saw a tong-like machine. He tried once more, but its claws nearly crushed his wrists.

Connor swung his legs, noting that they were not touching the ground.

System Memory Corrupted.

Connor ground his teeth.

The room was consumed by blue creeping up every surface, leaving Connor’s vision a deeper, stormy gray than it already was.

His first option started with Allen. A yellow outline of his body moved in front of him, shoving his forehead into Allen’s with as much force as he could muster. Allen’s red outline stepped back and then froze.

Objective not Reached, red letters flashed.

His next option started on the claws gripping his wrists tight enough to rip them off. And that’s exactly what his outline did. It left wires hanging from the severed limb. Then the next wrist was destroyed. Captain Allen fired his pistol into Connor’s forehead.

Destroyed, the red letters returned.

The last option was a yellow box that seemed to hover over the computers that surrounded the woman, Mara. The computer screens glitched, the colors jumping up and down the screen. The woman’s red outline turned toward Connor and he turned to look back at Allen’s to see his outline come closer. Connor’s yellow outline cocked his head back, bringing it forward just like he did in the other vision. Allen recoiled, stumbling backwards. Connor’s outline used the stand he was hanging from to kick himself forward, tearing himself from the mechanism. No wires hung from his severed wrists because he still had them whole. He would spill no blood. His yellow outline charged forward, tackling the Captain to the ground. The vision froze.

Execute?

The blue melted away the grey that it brought earlier. The room was given back the life his visions took from it.

Connor glanced at the computers surrounding the lady. Just like in his vision, the computer screen flashes red and multiple pop ups danced around the screen before colors consumed the screens in static.

“You-“ Allen reached his hand up to grab Connor’s face again, but Connor tilted his head backwards before jutting it against the captain’s forehead. The man yelped and stumbled back.

Connor brought his knees up to his chest before swinging them down, pushing off of the stand. The force slid his wrists out of the binding claws and unplugged a cord from his neck.

Connor fell to his hands and knees. He took two breaths before rushing toward Allen and ramming his abdomen. Connor straddled Allen without thought.

He found Allen’s pistol immediately and aimed it to his head. They were, no doubt, in a military facility. If he shot, it’d gain the attention of whoever was around.

Connor remembered the man who slapped him awake. Where was he? Would he come back? Could he make it out of the facility with just a pistol?

Where would he go if he did get out of here?

Connor took another breath. He’d solve that problem when he got there. But now, he had to deal with a smiling Allen.

“You gonna pull it?” Allen’s eyes didn’t leave the barrel.

“I won’t if I don’t have to,” Connor said, glancing behind him to keep an eye on the woman. She could be a problem.

His eyes found Allen’s again, still staring at the gun in his hand. Allen wasn’t stupid, he was planning. Connor couldn’t let him carry out his plan.

He should’ve snapped the Captain’s neck while he was standing, now I’d be much harder to kill Allen and Mara silently.

He might’ve caused too much noise just breaking free! Someone had to be coming! Or what if they’re waiting at the door!

He wouldn’t make it.

Connor took another breath and focused on Allen’s eyes. They were steady, determined to make himself unreadable. He was succeeding significantly.

He saw a thin wire cross his eyes and then he was yanked back. His eyes widened as a gasp left his lips. He was dragged off of Allen by his neck.

When he was finally able to plant his feet on the floor, he stood up. He put the pistol under his armpit and grabbed the wire wrapped around his throat. He took a step back and steadied himself, taking the control away from the woman. He then swiftly bent over, her grip so strong that she followed the wire and was thrown to the ground in front of Connor.

He didn’t mean to. He just wanted to survive. He didn’t even think when he brought his shoe down on her neck, the crack of her neck echoed in the chamber. Along with Allen’s scoff.

Allen.

Connor turned and saw Allen pulling his gun from his back. The rifle shined in the overhead light. His breath caught in his throat and Connor knew he wouldn’t survive that.

The blue pixels crawled once more.

A box on Allen’s head, another on the gun, and the last in between his legs

The box on his head saw that Connor took the pistol he tucked and put a bullet in his skull. That would cause too much noise. He’ll be rushed by someone outside.

The box on the gun had him reach for it, but Allen would shoot. Even if the bullet didn’t get to him, someone outside would be alerted, same with if he shot the man.

Lastly, his leg. Connor’s copy kicked the captain’s knees in, making him fall to the ground. He then stomped on the man’s neck, just as he did Mara.

Connor rushed forward, bringing his knee to his chest once more and flew his foot into Allen’s right knee. The man yelped and fell to the ground. There, Connor stomped on the man’s neck. Allen’s eyes traced the room frantically before finally going still.

It was like a gun went off with all of the ringing going on in his brain.

Connor grabbed the pistol from underneath his armpit and walked towards the door. He put his ear on the metal door.

Nothing.

Connor’s eye twitched.

The room was soundproof.

He cursed under his breath. He could’ve just shot them and been down. Connor shook his head.

Connor slowly opened the door, his grip on the pistol likely making thirium flow under his fingers.

“Cap-“ Connor put a bullet through the man’s head. He walked to the corpse and looked around.

No footsteps. No one was around.

Connor took the man’s clothes and put them on. He took another breath before pulling the visor of the helmet down. He spoke, imitating the dead man’s voice

He walked down the hall, pistol in hand and a rifle on his back.

He reached the elevator after only seeing around fifteen other soldiers. He greeted them all with his stolen voice. When the elevator asked for identification, he used the voice again.

He shook his head as he exited the elevator. He took one step, then two, then red was flashing across the pristine pearly white walls. He rushed toward the door. It was so close! Only a few feet away! He could get out of here!

Shots rang behind him and he watched a barrier start to crawl down the exit door. “Lockdown commencing. No officer is authorized to exit the facility at this moment,” a woman’s voice carried through the intercom.

The door was glass. The door was glass. The door was glass. The door was glass.

Connor crashed into the glass door shoulder first. It was tempered glass, likely bulletproof glass. Thirium rushed down his, definitely dislocated, shoulder, but he kept moving his legs.

The thirium leaking from his shoulder had begun to drip down his fingers when he reached his destination.

It wasn’t a luxurious house. One floor, painted terribly off white, and not too big. But this was a house he knew. And Connor found himself praying that this could be him home.

He knocked on the front door. A dog barked on the other side of the door. He heard the dogs paws on the kitchen tiles.

Connor knocked again, tears streaming down his face. “Please Lieutenant,” he rested his head against the door and whispered.

The doorknob clicked and the door opened. Connor fell forward and met carpeted floor.

“Jesus!” Connor used his uninjured arm to push himself up.

“Hank?”

“C’mon kid,” Hank groaned, looping his arms under Connor’s unharmed shoulder and helped him to his feet. Connor leaned on the wall next to the door, the bronze hook right next to his ears.

The old man looked outside, looking right, then left, then right again, before shutting the door and locking every lock. He wrapped Connor’s good arm around his shoulders and led him to his couch.

Thirium level dangerous, blinked in front of the TV.

“Alright! Now what the fuck happened to you?” Hank barely raised his voice. He was angered, but he didn’t put a hurting hand on Connor.

“Markus shot me.”

“He what!” Hank turned to the television, its embers emitting enough light to make the entire living room visible without any other help.

On the TV, they were showing a circle made up of miscellaneous things. Cars, wooden crates, it was all covered in pasty white snow. “He said that I wasn’t worth the risk.

Warning!

Warning!

Thirium level dangerous!

Hank took a breath and sat next to Connor. “Well, it looks like whatever Markus does decides if you’re staying here or not.”

“What?”

Hank turned to Connor. “Listen, I’m not heartless, yeah? I’m not gonna make ya walk outta here just to- what?- get shot?” Hank shrugged his shoulders then pointed to the television. “If he gets his shit together, then I’m sure you can walk outside without dying.”

Thirium level dangerous! Seek repair!

“That’s nice of you, Lieutenant.” Connor slouched backwards on the couch and shut his eyes. “That’s awfully generous of you.”

Hank scoffed. “Yeah, don’t get used to it.”

Shutting down in 5:34.

“Thank you for everything.”

Hank shot up and Connor’s eyes opened once more. “You’re getting shit all over my couch!” Hank sped off somewhere, Connor’s eyes followed him as he opened up a closet in the hallway to his room. Metal fell to the foot, bringing a rambunctious clang! with it. Hank stormed away from the closet after leaving it a few curses.

He carried a roll of black in his hand and a gray bag that seemed to pulse a light blue. “I’m gonna patch that up real quick.”

“Lieutenant, you are aware that my surface is not made out of adhesive, correct?”

“Listen,” Hank leaned down over Connor, blocking Markus’s demonstration with his body. “Duct tape fixes everything. You’ll learn soon enough.” Hank stuck the end of the tape where the rift between Connor’s shoulder and arm were supposed to meet and began wrapping the roll around the injury.

Shutting down in 4:43.

One side of Connor’s lips quirked upward. “Everything?”

“Yep,” Hank said, his eyebrows scrunched as he worked with the tape. “At least for the meantime. When you’re not openly a fugitive anymore, then we’ll take off the duct tape and you can get repaired.”

Connor nodded, watching the roll circle his broken arm again and again.

Hank ripped the tape after the twelfth circle and patted it on the surrounding tape. “That’ll do it.” He stepped back, admiring his work.

Shutting down in 1:22.

“C’mon, drink up.” Hank reached the grey packet out to Connor. Connor saw that it wasn’t actually gray, just a navy blue. He gingerly took the packet out of Hank’s hand and downed the thirium inside.

Thirium level medium, shut down cancelled.

Connor sighed, what he knew was relief flooded his system. “Thank you.”

[shady-scripter]

Just a heads up in regards to this:

https://www.tumblr.com/shady-scripter/764443379956416512/i-want-to-address-this-just-in-case-this-bs

That’s a weird spam comment that’s been going around. It’s debated on whether it’s some sort of mass troll, or a poor advertisement strategy for the mentioned “Sud*write ai”

Oh ok thank you anon!

Because that comment threw me off so bad and actively pissed me off-

[shady-scripter]

I want to address this just in case this BS spreads to here

I got this comment on Bloodied Halls, part 2 of Bonds of a Lineage

I had to take a second before I flipped tf out

Hello guys, I’m Shade from @birb-boyo and I write everything slowly and, somewhat, carefully. So for some rando to call my writing “lifeless drivel” is really pissy

And also, what ego are we talking about???

But anyway, if anyone decides they want to challenge me, here’s just the planning for both Just like Old Times and Bloodied Halls and heck you can have the plans for the last chapter if you want because I started that too :)

Just like Old Times^(though the planning is like 500 words by itself so it’s not all of it)

Some spoilers for the ending if you care enough

Bloodied Halls^(the chapter ran on too long for everything to happen. This was supposed to be the ending but I wrote enough out of my ass to need a 3rd chapter)

And the next/last chapter

I’m still pretty pissed about the “lifeless drivel” thing

One day my shit is gonna be in bookstores then you can call it “lifeless drivel” when other people enjoy it.

[shady-scripter]

Bloodied Halls

Bonds of a Lineage pt.2

Wild swung the bright blue blade with a new fury. The red of their bodysuits were starting to match the red of their blood. Their sickles littered the floor, wielded only by corpses now.

Wild tried not to think of the hardcore washing his tunic would need. Not to mention the Old Man’s white tunic, already stained with the dirt and grime of the prison-fortress that Cia had them stuck in.

He chopped another head off, dodged another sickle, and blocked another arrow. He found himself pushed against the Old Man’s back again, his grunt the only indication that it was him. He didn’t have time to put on his armor before the onslaught happened. He was as bare as he could be now. That armor was his shield. With a claymore like the biggoron sword, there is no way to have both a shield and the sword out.

“You still doing alright over there?” Wild yelled over the chaos.

“What, you still think I’m too old for this?” Wild could hear the grin in his voice.

“No! It must feel weird fighting without your armor!” Wild sliced another Yiga’s chest open, their intestines peaked through the cut.

“I actually feel a lot lighter without it.” Time sliced a Yiga clean in half, their torso disconnected from their lower half. “Duck.” Wild obeyed without question, squatting to the ground. Time threw himself into a spin attack, chopping down everything and everyone in a five foot radius.

Wild sprung back up and used his blade to deflect an arrow ready to embed itself into Time’s back. Wild let out a battle cry as he skewered a Yiga. His blade burst into blinding blue shards.

Wild cursed and bashed an oncoming Yiga with his shield. The next one got an elbow to their kidney, they fell to their knees and another stomped on their head. Wild let a brief laugh escape him as he watched the fate of his enemy.

In his periphery, Wild saw a Yiga disappear and was quick to jump to the side. The Yiga reappeared above him, but descended slowly. Wild felt a grin pull at his face.

He took out his slate and swiped until he reached his weapon tab. A knight’s claymore, a soldier’s halbert, a guardian axe, a royal claymore, and a royal broadsword. He tapped on his royal broadsword and got to cutting.

Time soon continued regularly. More slashing and more blood. Time’s grunts became louder and the Yiga kept coming. As easy as these pests were easy to cut down, they were still getting tired. Their limbs were working against them and straining against the hilt of their blades.

“Old Man!” Wild felt the panic begin to set in. There was no end in sight. How long had he been hacking recklessly? How long did he have left? Had the adrenaline worn off?

“I know!” Time’s voice came out as a sort of growl, his teeth definitely bared.

The tip of a sickle had just barely caught Wild’s side, but the gash was far worse than it needed to be. Wild grit his teeth together and chopped the Yiga down.

“Shit!” Wild dropped his shield and used his hand to try and put pressure on his wound. He felt tears prickle in his eyes. He didn’t know if it was because of the pain or because he knew how this fight would inevitably end.

It would end in two bodies wasted on some unknown ground in some unknown place. His brothers would never know what happened to him, he’d never see Zelda or Sidon or Purah or Robbie or Teba or Riju or Yunobo or Tulin or Hudson or-

“You are all useless! What the heck guys!” Wild knew that voice. “I have others to deal with and Lord Ghirahim just wanted this one thing from us! I just-”

“That is enough, you waste of space!” He didn’t know that voice though. The Yiga stepped back and Wild was actually able to see the carnage the two had created. Bodies laid upon bodies upon bodies, the blood running like rivers down a mountain. He couldn’t help but try to step away. He had bumped against Time once more.

“Get them out! I’ll just do it myself.” Just like that, the Yiga disappeared. Not even Kohga stayed behind.

Time shoved Wild back and Wild fell on his butt. Time stood in front of Wild with his claymore pointed out. Wild could hear the other man’s breathing. It was just as rapid as his own. Wild fought his body to stand up once more but was met with resistance. When he finally stood, their new opponent spawned a sword out of nowhere.

“Truely, how am I to be whimsical when working with someone as incompetent as he?” The gray man shook his head and flipped his hair. Wild knew his hair was far more majestic than this want-to-be’s.

“What was it again? Gary or something?” Wild saw Gary’s eye twitch at Time’s words. “You were in the War of Eras, right?”

“Fuck kinda villain name is Gary?” Wild tried to hold in his laugh. Time chuckled, his eyes never left their new opponent.

Gary groaned in frustration. “My name is not Gary, you absolute imbecile!” Gary spawned what looked to be knives. “My name is Ghirahim, and you’d think you’d be kinder to me considering you’re at my mercy!” Ghirahim lunged forward and Time blocked it swiftly.

“Champion, offense!” Time blocked another assault. Wild quickly tapped at his slate. His royal bow materialized into his hand and his arrows filled his quiver.

Time grunted as he swung his blade down. Ghirahim jumped back to dodge the blow. He pointed to Time and his small daggers raced at the man.

Wild backflipped and drew his bow. Time slowed once more and Wild shot all twelve of the daggers. Wild’s feet touched the ground and Time charged forward, Ghirahim met him half way. Wild’s bow stayed drawn, waiting for a time to release the bow’s tension.

Ghirahim spawned more daggers. One by one, they flew at Time. Time met each dagger with his blade in a spin attack. At the end, Wild could see the fatigue in Time’s eyes. Ghirahim must’ve seen it too. The demon dashed forward, a tight grin on his face.

Time fell to one knee, the biggoron sword keeping him from laying himself out.

Wild let his arrows fly as he moved to Time. Ghirahim knocked his arrows away like it was nothing. He would get to Time first.

The Rancher’s gonna want his rascal back, the words echoed in his mind even as an explosion blasted him backwards. Wild felt fire lick at his body when he landed. Wild coughed and patted out any flames that still tried to destroy his already torn clothes. He made the mistake of patting his side. Wild let out a strangled yelp, the gash making itself known once more.

“Old Man?” Wild felt his tears finally fall. “Link!”

“I’m here!” Wild jerked his hand away before Time even emerged from the smoke. “It’s just me. We’ll be ok.”

“What…” Wild looked over to the burning bodies of Yiga soldiers.

“It’s called Din’s Fire, I can explain it later! I still have a little magic left, we need to go now!” Time pulled Wild to his feet. Wild leaned against Time. Time brought his hand closer to his face. “You’re…damn it all!”

Time’s hand began to glow green.

“No you don’t!” Ghirahim broke from the smoke, daggers shooting through behind him. Wild heard Time gasp. Just as quickly as the explosion happened, Time’s hand turned blue and a sapphire crystal surrounded the two as Time held Wild close. “You coward!” The tings of Ghirahim’s blades hitting the crystal grew frantic.

“Champion?” Time’s voice was hoarse. “I’m sorry I couldn’t do more.” He combed his fingers through Wild’s hair. “My magic is depleting quickly. I’ll hold it for as long as I can but I’ll likely pass out in the end.”

The Champion embraced Time tightly, feeling his own eyes start to close. Wild nodded against Time’s chest and let his eyes close.

“I love you, Link.”

The assault on the crystal had stopped long before the two passed out.

[shady-scripter]

Bonds of a Lineage

Part 2 of Separated, They Fall

Just like Old Times

Bloodied Halls

[shady-scripter]

Bonds of a Lineage

Part 1: Just like Old Times

Part 3 of Separated, They Fall

Here we go again😌

This wasn’t the first time he’d been locked up. And part of him felt like it wouldn’t be his last. It wasn’t hard to break out last time, maybe this time would be easier.

But then again, he’s not nearly as nimble as he used to be. Time sighed and rubbed his temple to soothe his incoming migraine.

He remembered having to prove himself to the Gerudo so many years ago in a prison. It was, weirdly, a fonder memory. Time hummed, trying to see only hours instead of years into the past.

He was playing card games with Wind when the first drop of rain fell. It seeped through his three of diamonds. Wind was quick to put his deck away, muttering about how easily they could get ruined.

That was when the fire went out. Sounds of discontent echoed through the camp. He’d be lying if he said that he wasn’t a part of those sounds.

Wars had told everyone to bundle up as best as they could to avoid sickness, but they weren’t armed correctly for rainy nights. Time wanted to mention finding a cave just in case the rain lasts all night.

But then the portal came, it’s purple and black swirling almost putting him in a trance. For something that could be so cruel, created by something horrid, it looked to be god sent.

They packed up their things and got into pairs. While pairing, Wild came to Time with a question about Lon Lon Milk, which he was happy to answer. They paired with each other and were the first ones to step through the portal.

Then, black. And now he was here, behind bars.

Was it just him? Was it just him and the Champion? Or were all of his boys locked up in this prison?

Well, it didn’t matter. He was going to get out of here soon and reunite his boys. Then they were going to kill whatever thing decided to rig the portal.

And that was when the clicks started. The acute taps of those pointed shoes that his Zelda had to wear even though it mentally pained her. Heels.

Her humming soon followed the clicks of her heels until she came to an abrupt stop at the other side of his bars. She turned to face him, her gaze as sharp as a cat’s.

They met eyes for only a second before one of her pale eyebrows raised. “Are you that little guy?” Her head turned along with her stupid looking hat that appeared to be like dog ears. Except that it had a mask that mimicked a hawk’s face. “Those marks look far too familiar to be a coincidence.”

Her tanned skin clashed with her white hair. The purples and reds of her clothes complemented her skin rather than her hair, yet the tattoos that ran down her leg fought against her skin in favor of her hair. Her entire appearance was at war with one another.

“Cia,” her name left a metallic taste in his mouth. Memories of grass and pavement covered in crimson. Memories of white glowing eyes that stamped their mark on his face shined behind his eyes.

Her smile didn't ease his senses. “It is you, small fry.”

“You should be dead.”

“Higher powers are at play here boy,” She hummed. “They seemed to have taken a liking to me.” She twirled, motioning to the rest of the hall that Time couldn’t see. “To give me such a beautiful abode, there must be some favoritism there, don’t you think?”

Time stood only to realize that his wrists were chained. They let him reach the bars before they truly restrained him.

His face stood inches from her own, his blind eye open as he gave her the worst glare he could muster. She looked him up and down with a hum.

“You know, I thought the other one was you at first.” Cia looked away. “But I just couldn’t start to imagine you with long hair!” She faked a gag.

Long hair?

“What a cute little thing he is,” she tapped her chin. “But those scars are nasty.” She shook her head and leaned on the bars.

Time gritted his teeth, his mind buzzing.

The Champion is here. She has the Champion.

Fury rushed through his bones as he stared at her smirk. A smirk he thought he had forgotten, dragged to the front of his mind.

She sent him one last look before she walked the way she came, her heels echoing softer and softer as seconds passed.

He let out a long sigh that sounded more like a groan. He went back to the wall his chains were connected to and slid down the wall.

His plan had to start now.

And it did. He waited and he watched without a wink of sleep. Who was on patrol at what time? What patrolled? What weapon did it have? All of this smushed into his brain until he knew what would give him a more certain success.

He waited for his “dinner”, the lizalfos unlocked his cell with a key Time eyed intently. Then it set down his food. As it turned its back to him, he pounced.

He closed his hand over the monster’s muzzle and snapped its neck in a second. He rushed for the keys, trying every single one until his chains let out a small clink. Time took the dagger it hid behind its back then set the chains down steadily and shed his white overtunic. He wiggled the monster into his shirt and closed the chains around its wrists before he bolted out of the cell, closing it behind him.

He pulled his discarded hair tie from his pocket and closed the keys around each other tightly so as to make as little noise as possible.

The Champion.

He looked around every corner, and heard every step. He even thought of shedding his boots, but he couldn’t leave them just lying around. He’d get caught faster.

He knew his blind eye was open, he felt it move in its socket in time with his good eye.

He took to snapping necks. It was a silent killer. The dagger was the last resort, and, so far, he didn’t have to use it. He hoped that it never came to that.

He retreated as he got a glimpse of something around the corner. I speck of bright blue. He put his hand on his dagger and slightly leaned around the corner once more.

The lizal guard that was there seconds ago was on the ground. Laying it on the ground was the bright blue he had seen. A tunic so familiar.

Relief shuttered down his spine and he rounded the corner. Eyes that nearly glowed blue snapped up to his figure with an intensity he’d never seen the Champion have. Not even when he was raining arrows on the battlefield.

The Champion’s eyes switched almost immediately. The boy’s eyes softened as he sighed. Time saw the tension unwind from his shoulders.

Time chuckled lowly, jogging up to the Champion who was slowly rising from the ground. “Come,” he whispered.

This corridor seemed to be shaped in a J formation. Wild came from the hook, Time came from the right top line and needed to cross to the left.

The second the two heroes rounded the next corner, a loud blare shouted throughout the hideout.

“Aw shit,” Wild whispered. Time grabbed Wild’s hand and started sprinting. Wild was able to keep up but it was still more like Time was dragging him. “Old Man, we can’t panic!”

“I’m not.” Yes, his heart was beating way faster than it should be, but he wasn’t acting on his panic. That, he knew. “Do you know where the closest guard was that was behind you?”

“He should’ve been ten minutes away, but it hasn’t been that long!” Wild spoke through gritted teeth.

“We need to find our stuff. After that, we’re really on crunch time. If we-“ Time slowed his motions to speed walking. Talking was echoing down the corridor, the noise coming from the brightest lit room Time had seen this entire time. Most likely lit by lamps, not torches.

They stopped at the opening to the room. “-boy has caused me enough trouble all of those years ago. For one, I think Ghirahim’s idea is perfect for this!” Time could recognize her voice until the day he died. “Find them, and bring them to me.” Cia stomped the heel of her shoe down “Now.”

Whoever she was talking to skittered away. Seconds ticked by before the alarm abruptly stopped with an irritated groan and the clicking of heels grew distant, leaving in the same direction the monster soldier did.

Time let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding before peeking around the corner.

The glare of his armor was the first thing to catch his eye. Then his sword.

“Our stuff…?” Wild voiced Time’s thoughts.

“It feels like a trap,” Time groaned.

Wild hummed. “Like bananas.”

Time knew Wild couldn’t see his confused face, but Time didn’t ask.

“What do we do?” Wild whispered.

From what Time could see, there was no one and nothing in the room. But on the other end of the room, no doubt where Cia stormed off to, was another hall that turned, making this a C like hall. They were cornered no matter where they went.

How did they know that some wolfos weren’t following their smell down the halls? They couldn’t turn around. But how would they know if Cia herself hadn’t stopped short of that corner, waiting for them to take the bait. What if she knew that they were behind this corner now?

“We get our weapons and your slate, leave extra things then we see how bad the fight will be. We have little choice. Champion.” Time turned back to Wild, trying his best to muster up a smile. “Maybe we’ll be lucky and we’re somewhere in your Hyrule. With that, we could just teleport out of here. Hold hope.” Though, his hope was slowly digging into the ground.

Wild nodded with his own small smile. “Well, even if Hylia does prove that she hates us,” Time huffed a quick laugh, “at least I won’t die alone.”

“I’d rather you not die at all. The Rancher’s gonna want his rascal back.” Time ruffled Wild’s already messy hair.

“And the Rancher’s gonna want his grandpa back.” Wild put his hands on his hips though his smile showed his crooked teeth.

Time hung his head down, shaking his head with a smile. Thinking about the situation at hand, his smile straightened. “Let’s go.” Wild’s own smile dropped and he sprinted into the room, rummaging through the items. Time was thankful that he didn’t have to tell the boy to be quick but quiet.

Time hefted his sword, the weight a comfort to his unrest soul. His eyes scanned the room, waiting for the cursed sorceress to waltz around the corner. “Champion?” Time asked.

“She hates us,” Wild responded, angrily tapping at his slate.

Time’s heart dropped. “Put the rest of my stuff in the slate. We need to move quickly.” Time got a hum in reply. Soon, Wild was beside Time, a glowing blue bladed sword in his hand and a long shield with a dark version of the Hylian crest embedded into its design.

The two rounded the corner and weaved through a few more halls, slicing down monsters quickly.

With one more round corner, they were face-to-face with crimson eyes and pale white hair. Her eyes were wide as she let out a squeak. “You-!” She waved her hand out.

With another step, the two were falling.

[shady-scripter]

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[shady-scripter]

Spirit of a Guitarist

MIKAU YIPPEE

If there was a synonym for “Hero of Hyrule”, it would be undoubtedly “nosy.”

That was what Wind was the god of. If something got lost or “disappeared,” you knew that Wind took it. Sometimes, it was just because it was shiny, like the Captain’s fire rod. The other times, he was just curious, like the Veteran’s fire rod. This was no different.

Two days ago, the group of heroes shared about an item in his inventory. When Time’s turn came around, he pulled out a beautiful blue mask. It sparked a memory in the small hero.

She played her instrument like it was routine as she talked to him, her voice as smooth as the gentle seas.

“This is the mask of Mikau,” Time had said, sliding his hand across the front as if there were grime on it. “Wearing it lets me become him. It’s like Zora armor but you actually become a Zora.”

That was the moment that Wind knew that he needed that mask. The blue matched his shirt too! It was like a match made from the sparkling diamond on the Master Sword!

So he went to scheming. It was him who was to take the third watch anyway! He had plenty of time to steal it! He even had time to put it on and be a Zora!

By the time that Four nudged him for his watch, he was wide awake. He waited a good thirty minutes. Just to make sure the Smithy was fast asleep.

Wind eyed Time’s pack like a hawk would a mouse. He crawled slowly, watching where his palms and knees hit the ground.

Twilight turned, embracing the Champion in his sleep. Wind froze as he saw Wild’s eyes open. Then made eye contact for a single second. Then the Champion’s eyes closed and he snuggled further into the Rancher.

Wind let out a breath far louder than he liked. No one moved, not even an inch. He creeped closer to his treasure, the X at the tip of his fingers. With a grin like no other, he reached into Time’s pack, being careful and slowly sliding his hand around.

His hand found a smooth surface. He sat on his knees as to put his second hand inside the pack. With one hand, he pulled the, supposedly mask, out. The other slowly moved items out of the way. Bottles, whatever mushy thing that was, was that a dagger-, and more mushy stuff Wind was definitely going to wash off of his hand later.

Finally out of Time’s pack, the light blue mask was stone faced against the flame’s light. But…there was no string or anyway to keep it on your face.

Wind’s heart sank to his feet. He didn’t drag it against the dagger, did he? What if Time noticed!

Well, Time has never taken out his masks before that night. Maybe it’ll be a while before he notices.

Wind stood by the fire, his heartbeat loud in his ears. He closed his eyes, thinking about how awesome being a Zora probably is. It’s like flying but in water!

Of course Wind knew how to swim but imagine gliding through the water like those things from the tales his grandma used to tell him!

“Ok!” He whispered, his eyes meeting the white ones of the mask. “Mikau, was it? Turn me into a Zora!” He flipped the mask in his hands and placed it on his face.

The first crack was in his nose.

It was like his skin was welding itself to the mask. The bones in his face bending and breaking to fit the shape. He screamed, his hands shooting to his face to rip off the mask. But even his screams soon morphed into a gurgle.

“Get it off!!” The Captain shouted, dashing to his younger brother’s side.

“Don’t you think that’s what I’m trying to do!” Twilight shouted back, his teeth bared. Wind’s skin began to turn an unnatural shade of blue as Wild pulled Wind's body the opposite way Twilight pulled on the mask.

“Stop!” Time’s injured eye seemed to shine in the moonlight. He tore Twilight off of the mask. “If you interrupt the transformation there will be consequences!”

By now, all signs of Wind were gone. His face was blue and his nose was longer than it was supposed to be…and sharper. He didn’t have hair either, it was just a long tail. He fell limp in the Champion’s arms.

“Guys! Why is he getting bigger?!” Wild shouted.

“Everyone calm down! He will be fine.” The way Time looked away shouted “hopefully” very loudly in the Champion’s head. If anybody else saw it, no one mentioned it.

“Lulu…?” The boy-turned-Zora mumbled.

“Wind, are you with us?” Time kneeled in front of Mikau, the Zora’s eyes barely open. Yet, he managed to nod. “The first transformation makes you never want to do it again.”

Everyone groaned, knowing exactly what the Old Man was going to say next.

“What did we learn?”

“Fuck…off.” Wind weaky swatted his arm.

“How do we take it off?” Sky cut in, his eyebags paired with a deep frown speaking volumes. His voice took on a bluntly irritated tone.

“We should give him some time. It hurts the same.” Time stood and went back to his bed roll.

Wind groaned loudly as Wild helped him sit down.

“Does this mean I can go back to sleep now?” Legend rubbed his eyes. Hyrule nodded beside him.

“He’s probably gonna end up howling like a coyote again.” Twilight rubbed his temples. Groans rang around the temporary camp.

“I say we take it off now.”

“He’s had plenty of time.”

“I thought he was dying! I wouldn’t have woke up if I knew.”

“Ya better have someth’n nice planned tomorrow Sailor.” Twilight groaned as his accent slipped.

The heroes surrounded him. “Get away from me! Hold on a second!”

“Sorry man, we’re tired,” Wild said, his arms back around Wind’s Zora body. He stood the both of them up, Wind kicking and screaming.

“How do we take this off Old Man?”

Time hadn’t stood from his bed roll. He actually looked comfortable at the moment. “Gripping the chin is-“

Sky gripped Winds chin and a small pop sounded. Then the screaming started again.

It all happened in reverse. The cracking and popping started as his body got shorter again. Then his skin went from blue to tan. Then his limbs morphed back into a hylian. Then the mask fell into Sky’s hand.

“Please just kill me.”

“I should make you finish watch,” the Captain said, shaking his head. “But I’m not as cruel. Champion, put hit to bed please.”

Wild nodded and dragged Wind to his roll, the Sailor not saying another word.

As Wild tucked the boy in, a smile cracked onto his face. “Thanks for taking it before I did! I’m sure that would have been a disaster.”

Wind’s groan almost sounded like a sob. “Fuck. You.”

“Love you too, goodnight.”

Wind turned to his side away from the Champion to hide his face and weakly swatted at Wild. Wild left with a giggle.

[shady-scripter]

Scars of Old

He was supposed to be listening. The boys had decided that they should get to know each other better. Share something that everyone was curious about.

It started with the Captain, the one who decided to orchestrate this team bonding time. “The hero sitting to his right was the one to ask the question,” the Captain said. The Smithy basically threw his question to the Captain away, asking about his scarf.

Time already knew the answer. He’d heard it so many times that it even plagued his dreams. He mouthed the words, not a peep exiting his throat. The two laughed after the Captain’s blush went down and Time rolled his eyes.

Next, the Captain got to ask the question and it was Wild’s time to share. The Captain dared to get personal, asking about the multitude of scars that littered the small hero’s body.

It wasn’t just the Hero of Twilight who sent a glare the Captain’s way. Even the Champion’s eyes widened at the bluntness of the Captain’s question. The Hero of Twilight gently pressed on the Champion’s thigh to get his attention. Time gathered that he was making sure the young hero didn’t fall into one of his “memories.” Though, from what he knew, they sounded like nightmares.

The Champion started his story with, “I don’t know too much but…” then proceeded to spill his guts about his scars. He was supposed to be listening, but Time just couldn’t focus on the Champion’s words.

He didn’t even notice that the Rancher had started talking. Not until he was poked. He jolted out of his mind and looked around.

Everyone was watching him. “What is it?”

“It’s your turn!” The Sailor pointed at him, an accusatory sneer on his face. It wasn’t like Time started this and he guessed that Wind didn’t want to participate either.

“I didn’t get a question, did I?” He said with a hint of hesitance. He looked to his right and pointed at the Rancher. “He didn’t-“

“I did, actually. Shared ‘bout my wolf form.”

“Oh.” Time pressed his lips in a thin line. “What was my question?”

“What’s your worst scar? And how’d you get it?” Time hummed with Twilight’s words.

“Well,” he began before the Veteran opened his mouth.

“No way your worst is that eye one!” The Veteran pointed at him, his face almost identical to the face that the Sailor was making only seconds ago.

“I know, I know.” Time let a chuckle escape his lips. “It isn’t my worst. Though, you’ll have to see the scar before you understand the story.”

Time grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it above his head. He folded his shirt and set it on his lap, doing his best to silence the trembling of his hands.

“This,” Time said, dragging his fingertips along jagged, darker skin tissue that ran from the left side of his neck to his shoulder. “This is my worst scar.”

No one spoke a word and, for only a moment, Time thought that he wouldn’t have to share.

A finger glided on the tender skin, sending an unwelcome jolt up Time’s spine. The hand receded quickly, followed by a squeak passing through the Hero of Hyrule’s lips. Time dropped his shoulders, trying to regain control of the situation.

He could’ve lied. Why didn’t he lie? It would’ve been a shame if he was the only one who lied out of the nine heroes.

“What happened?” The voice of the Skyloftian, his voice as soft as feathers of his Loftwing. Once upon a time, there was someone who talked to him like that. Though, that voice was reserved for moments like when he plunged into the well and faced that cursed beast.

Time sighed, trying to put on a smile while he told the story of the thing that nearly bit his head off. “It was during my first adventure.”

With a blink, he was in front of the Man of the Windmill, his ocarina still fresh in his hands. The man was panicking, saying that the mill was going too fast, but that was exactly what Link needed.

He practically waddled out of the mill, his sword and shield weighing heavy on his back. He jumped the fence that was right outside, his eagerness overflowing.

Time wished he could remember the last time he felt eager to go into a dungeon.

He leaned over the well, staring down into the tunnel of stone. He felt his companion bouncing under his hat and smiled. Part of him wanted to jump for joy, but he knew that he had a more important thing to do. He grabbed the handles and descended the side of the well and started downward.

“You went into a well?” The Smithy’s eyebrows raised. Though Time didn’t know why, it couldn’t have been the craziest thing he’d heard.

“I did, yes.” He saw many more mouths open and put a finger up, snuffing out any words that might have echoed over the fire. “Let me finish, then we can ask questions.”

The heroes around him nodded or hummed, their ears feasting on his story like hungry hawks. Time cleared his throat and closed his eyes. Again, the feeling of the cold stone of the rusty bars caressed his hands.

Turning away from the latter, there was a small hole. Though, it was big enough for him to crawl through. That, he did. He inched closer to a room that was also…empty.

He hummed in confusion before looking down and seeing another drop. With no ladder, he jumped down, breaking his fall with a roll.

He heard a skitter and was quick to draw his blade. A skulltula, an easy enemy. He waited until it turned around to slide its abdomen clean in half, its corpse soon dissipating.

A soft plop filled Link’s ears and he turned, seeing his emerald green hat flat on the floor. “Hey! Hey! Hey!” Link felt his eye slightly twitch, but he picked his hat up and jogged towards Navi.

Navi was hovering over something that stunk like dung. It looked to be covered in it too. Link pinched his nose, waving his hand as if trying to shoo it away.

“What that is?” His voice, still high with youth, whispered.

“It’s a skeleton, Link.” Navi always made it a point to say his name. It was probably the only constant in all of their conversations. That and Navi’s excessive use of the word, “Hey!”

“Skelton?”

“Skeleton, Link.”

“Like stalchildren?” His eyebrows furrowed and his fingers gripped his sword a little tighter.

“This one won’t hurt you. But I do feel…I hear spirits whispering in this room.” Little Link was no stranger to spirits. Not by this point at least.

Two false walls and a floating skull later, he saw two wooden beams that were crossed. And crimson red splatters on the floor in front of it.

There, Navi told Link to watch for monsters hanging from the ceiling.

“Is that what got you?” The Sailor spoke, his hands gripping the log for dear life. The other seven heroes glared at the boy, firmly shutting him up.

Through another false wall, Zelda’s lullaby, and another floating skull, he had to backtrack back to the crossed logs. Jumping down from a place that was once flooded in water, there was another narrow tunnel that he had to climb through.

On the other side of the tunnel was just another skulltula. He disposed of it quickly. Behind the skulltula was a wall he was conveniently about the climb.

One that platform where the climbable wall ended was a door. It was steel, much unlike the stone that made the rest of the bottom of Kakariko’s well.

Link pointed to the door, looking over to Navi who was perched on his shoulder.

“Big monster?”

Navi paused, staring down the door. She must’ve felt it too. The power of Ganondorf seemed to try to drag him away. But, this didn’t feel like Ganondorf’s evil, but he knew that behind this door was some type of evil.

He felt it in the way that his knees wobbled unsteadily and the trembling of his hand as it pointed to the door.

Link inched towards the door, the hesitance evident in his baby steps. When he finally touched the door, it rose, opening the way for him.

“Hands?” Raising from the dirt covered ground was…hands. They were as pale as the moon that would soon haunt his dreams.

He stepped into the room. As he figured, bars replaced the door. This couldn’t be a boss, right? All he had to do was chop the arms, right?

He pulled his sword out and creeped towards one of the outstretched arms. He readied for the slash, but the hand moved faster than he could dodge. He squeaked, the hand covering his face like a mask. He tried to wrestle it off, wriggling and writhing.

“Link! Behind you!”

“Can’t look!” Fear began to rise in Link’s chest as the hands around his face seemed to squeeze. It only got worse when he heard a dull sound, as if something was sliding behind him. The sound of the dirt grinding against itself was like rubbing sandpaper together.

“Link, you have to calm down! Cut its arm! You have to get away!” He wanted to say those “forbidden words” right now. He wanted to scream, but only tears fell from his face. His hands grasped his sword and cut through the pale arm. The hand let go of his face and he fell to his knees.

“Link!”

The boy turned around.

“I will never forget that thing,” Time sneered, scrunching his nose. “If I hadn’t known what horror was before, I had learned it then.”

Its eyes were sunken in like they had been gouged out. Its arms were more like spikes. And its mouth… it was just a deep black abyss. Its teeth were a red-orange and made its thick saliva the same horrid color.

“Link!” Navi’s voice wavered. He shot out of his daze and was only able to move an inch before a blinding pain overtook his shoulder. He screamed and screamed and-

He thrust his sword into the side of the thing’s head. Before dispersing the same way every other monster does, it pulled back, taking the boy’s flesh with it. Maybe Link was still running on adrenaline, but he could have sworn that it smiled.

The bars opened and a chest sat in the middle of the room. He stumbled toward the chest. Inside was a magnifying glass. He picked up and stumbled back. He had no idea how he did it, but he was able to climb the rusted ladder at the side of the entrance before, finally, falling to blood loss and shock.

Time pat the scar. “Only reason I survived is because Kaepora flew me to the Great Fairy at Death Mountain.” Even after finishing his story, no one spoke a word. A fair reaction. He turned to the Skyloftian. “What was the hardest thing you’ve fought, excluding the last enemy?”

“No, no, no!” The Smithy spoke first. “Can we ask questions now?” His head pivoted like a swivel.

“I said you could ask after I was done.” No one spoke. “I’m done.”

“Were the hands iron or something?”

“Did it really eat your shoulder?”

“I knew fairy healing was amazing, but enough to heal that?”

“I’m gonna have a nightmare,” Wind said, dragging his hand down his face.

Time let a small chuckle leave his lips. The surrounding heroes stared at him like cats who just spotted a mouse. “Now thinking about it,” Time scratched his chin. “I do remember the Captain saying one question…”

“Come on!”

[shady-scripter]

Curse of a Family

The Champion didn’t make it a secret that he was Twilight’s successor. And the Rancher never ignored the signs. Wild was familiar with “Wolfie” the second he saw him. Heck, he yelled “Wolfie” when he first saw him. Twilight scoffed at such a simplistic name, but shook it off like water on his fur.

Twilight and Wolfie warmed up to him nicely. Wild knew exactly what he liked, the pumpkin soup he distributed on his first night told him that. He hummed peacefully with the first bite, the lingering sense of home on his mind.

The Champion didn’t make it a secret that he was the Hero of Twilight's successor, but a stinging in the back of the Rancher’s brain told him that something was wrong. How could he have known Wolfie? When did they meet?

Wild’s time seemed too far away for it to just be an older Twilight who aided him. Wild’s Hyrule was eons away from his. Every time the Rancher thought about it, the same red eye flashed behind his vision. And every time, he’d have to fight to not look at the uninjured eye of the Hero of Time. Was he also not able to pass on? What had happened to him? What had happened to Time?

Twilight heard himself try to growl and frowned. It became a habit while he was a wolf. Midna would pop out from his shadow or hop off of his back just to call him an idiot-

And, suddenly, his mood was better. Well, not too well, but well enough to untense his shoulders.

His teacher wasn’t able to pass on because he carried too many regrets. What regrets was he unable to let go?

His mind was split in half, one side on the ever growing mystery, the other still hung up on his red headed lost love. He looked up to the sky, that forever known loneliness creeping up his spine.

One thing he will always regret is not finding another way. He would have let Hyrule drown in Twilight for another five years if it meant that she could’ve stayed.

Was that it? Was that the regret that would suspend him between life and death?

He felt a hand slam his thigh down. The blue gloves made his eye twitch. “You’re going to make me dizzy.” He met the Captain’s eyes. “You alright?”

He moved his gaze back to the lively fire. Pumpkin soup simmered in the Champion’s pot. “M’ fine.”

The Rancher could see the Captain’s eyebrow raise in his periphery. His scarfed companion sighed. “At least don’t look dead inside if you’re going to lie about being ok.”

The Rancher glared into the bright blue of the Champion’s tunic before standing and making his way over to the pot.

He put on a smile when he saw his protège’s. He sat on his knees beside him, his curiosity chewing at his brain.

“Is there something you needed?” The words came like water out of the younger’s mouth. Twilight felt his ears perk up. Wild let a grin show. “You don’t hide it well, never have.”

Twilight accidentally let out a slight growl. The boy’s grin grew wider. “Ok, maybe I do wanna know something.”

“That is?”

“How was I able to stay behind?”

Wild’s hand stopped mid-stir. “How you…?”

“You said that you knew me…and Wolfie…before this adventure. I want to know how.” Wild met Twilight’s eyes.

“Can I even tell you that? Like, without altering time and stuff?”

“Maybe you told the me you know and I still came to help you,” Twilight shrugged, hoping his answer was enough.

Wild looked around, his lips pressed in a thin line. “Fine.” He sighed. “Where do I start?”

“Did I tell you anything? A reason I was there?” Wild’s eyebrow raised. “Aside from helping you.”

“Well,” Wild tapped his chin. “There was this long, elaborate story about it.”

“Can you tell me?”

“Can I?”

“Please.”

Wild sighed, abandoning his stirring all together. He fully turned to his predecessor. “Well, you told me that…” Wild began rapidly tapping his palm. “that you love a woman, but she had to leave you-“

Twilight sighed. Of course it’s her.

“But you really wanted to have a family. So you, uh, you said that you took advantage of someone because you knew that she loved you…?”

Twilight’s ears perked up, his frown growling worse. “Took advantage of…?” He could never see himself doing something like that. Why would he-

“You said that the worst part was…” Wild looked around as if to make sure no one was eavesdropping. “making the children with her. You said that you always imagined that it was Midna.” Wild picked at the grass under him. “You said that your regret wasn’t that you couldn’t stop Midna from leaving you, but that you had a family without her.”

After everything, he ended up back in his home in Ordon.

Wild was right, he did take advantage of Ilia no matter how he wanted to look at it. He didn’t love her. And he wanted and family, but not with her.

He wished that he could smile, to tell his son that he was proud of him. But every time he looked at him, it was just her.

He braced himself for the toothy smile his son would give him, his braces reflecting the sun above.

He had wrestled a goat and won that day. Crest had always wanted to be like his father. He always wanted to make his father proud.

But he was 16 now, old enough to see that the smiles were fake and forced.

But Link smiled at his son, his eyes betraying the rest of his face. “Atta boy!” Link pat his son on his back, and the boy lit up.

In the end when he was old and gray, his marriage didn’t last and his children chose their mother over him.

He withered away on his own, the beautiful sunset orange hair flashing behind his eyes.

She was his reason. But she was gone.

But that was okay because they’d meet in the afterlife, right? They’re soulmates! The goddesses must allow him to see her again, right?

He died alone, tears staining his wrinkled face.

~

The last thing his predecessor said before the gray wolf left the Hero of the Wild was, “Love can be the worst pain. One that leads to regret. Promise me you won’t succumb to such a fate as I have.”

But now, as he watches a child with bright, happy eyes pull that cursed sword. He couldn’t help but apologize for not keeping his promise.

The Calamity weighed on his life everywhere he went. It even brought him to an early grave.

But that was alright because it was over now. This family of heroes of Farore cursed to not be able to pass on at death. First the Hero of Time. Then, the Hero of Twilight. Now, him.

He cut the tie when he refused to have kids. No more will suffer in his wake.

[shady-scripter]

Forged by Sacrifice

One thing that the Hero of Warriors would always know is sacrifice. The day his mother gave birth to him and his sister, she made a sacrifice. His father never let them forget that. So much so that they both ran away to the military. The world threw sacrifice in his face since the day he was born. And he would know it even now.

His leg bounced, but it wasn’t like he could stop it. Blood still stained the Veteran’s bandages. No matter how much he’s heard, “it wasn’t your fault” the Captain knew that he would never believe it.

He dropped his guard for only a second, he would swear. A bomb arrow went off on the field. He told Wild not to use them in forests, but when he turned to shout, a sword burst through the smoke. Warriors had felt his breath leave his lungs as he knew that there was no time to dodge. His head would be taken off.

He was shoved to the ground so suddenly, but he saw that red tunic and light blue hat. He was standing so still with the beast’s sword through his stomach. The Captain wanted to scream, but his throat closed up. The lynel pulled his sword back, Legend stumbled forward.

“Aw shit,” the Veteran mumbled just loud enough for Warriors to hear. The boy’s body began to tip back and Warriors was finally able to move. He caught Legend before he hit the ground.

“Traveller!” He shouted. He remembered the field! He was in the field! This hesitation could get someone killed!

”I’m trying!” Hyrule cut another monster down, but more blocked his path.

“Is he well enough to swallow?” Warriors slightly jumped as Sky spoke, already on his knees, rummaging through his pack. Twilight and fire arrows rained down on the monsters. “Vet, you with me?”

“Unfortunately.” Legend croaked.

“Good.” Sky brought out a bright red bottle and shook it. He then popped the cork. Warriors lifted Legend’s head and the boy groaned. “I know, I know. You ready?” Legend slightly nodded. Sky slowly poured the potion into the Veteran’s mouth. He sputtered but then swallowed. Soon, the bottle was empty.

That was when Legend had passed out.

Now they were in Hateno in Wild’s house and Warriors was on Legend duty. The same scene played over and over. He looked over to where the Champion should’ve been, then he was pushed, then Legend was stabbed.

With every second that ticked by, his leg would bounce, begging time to go faster. For the Vet to heal faster.

He rummaged in his brain, looking for any other memory. Something, anything, to get his mind off of the near death of his friend, of his brother.

“Captain?” Warriors eyes snapped towards the steps. There, without armor and battle attire, was a tired Old Man.

“Hey.” Warriors looked back to Legend’s bandages that won’t be due for changing for another hour.

Time was at his side now, no doubt looking down at him. Warriors had never felt intimidated by his, still technical, little brother. But he did fear the day that his little brother left him.

What was he thinking? He knew just as well as Warriors that this was his fault. What would he say? Would he ask him what he learned and mock him? Would he lecture him about being more aware? Would he try once more and fail to tell him that it wasn’t his fault?

“Go rest.” Time placed a hand on the Captain’s back.

His eyebrows furrowed. “It’s still my turn.”

“You look exhausted. You’ve looked exhausted all day,” Time said in a tone that sounded like a dare. “Go rest.”

“Not tired.”

“Captain.”

“You heard me.” Time sighed, removing his hand from his brother’s back. Time opened his mouth, but Warriors talked first. “Don’t tell me it’s not my fault.”

Time’s mouth closed, then opened again. “What do you want me to say?” Time leaned down and sat on the carpet with an oof! and some bone cracks. He seem to smile at it.

“I want you to say the truth! I want you to lecture me on how dumb my actions were! Something, anything!”

Time hummed. “The events that took place all influenced each other, so it’s not one person’s fault. Wild shot the arrow which blinded a lot of us with the smoke, but he did it to alert us that there was a lynel coming. He had good intentions, but he did it the wrong way. You were going to tell him about forest fires or maybe the smoke screen, but the lynel was barely injured by the bombs and it was charging at you to begin with. The smoke screen obscured it, making you unaware that it was there. So that couldn’t possibly be your fault. And-“

“You-“

“I’m still talking,” Time put his hand up, the Captain shut his mouth. His vision started to become blurry and he looked down to his lap, praying Time hadn’t seen his tears start to form. “Legend wasn’t paired with anyone, just as you weren’t. He saw what was happening, he saw what he could do, and he acted. I wish he hadn’t used himself as a shield, but it is what it is. He’ll be okay. It’s really only a surface wound now thanks to Sky’s potion and the Traveler’s healing.” Time shrugged his shoulders. “There. That’s the truth.”

The Captain didn’t respond. Time stood. “Glad you decided to listen tonight. Go rest.” The Captain didn’t move. Time sighed, seeing Warriors grip his trousers with enough strength to rip them. He put his hand out to his brother. Warriors took it after waiting a few seconds. Time pulled him to his feet and yet, the Captain’s eyes hadn’t left the ground.

Time brought Warriors to his chest and wrapped his arms around his, technical, older brother. Over his shoulder, Legend didn’t move an inch. There was a deep seated worry in the Old Man, one he knew wouldn’t come to pass. But one thing he was sure of was, “I’m sure he’s been through worse. He’ll be okay.”

[shady-scripter]

Red Waterfall

So I started writing for whumptober but gave up so you can have the crumbs from whomptober now

He just needed to catch his breath. Just for a second.

He had asked the Old Man if he could go on a patrol around camp before bed. Already half asleep, he waved Sky off, telling him to be safe. Whistle if you need help.

Sky nodded and left quickly.

He walked with his eyes closed, letting his ears lead him. He dodged trees with the same ease as if he were riding on Crimson.

That was when he heard it. The distant sound of rushing water. Sky’s eyes snapped open and he bolted towards the sound.

He let out a delighted laugh. He wrestled his clothes off. First, he took off and folded his sailcloth. Everything else was discarded onto the grass. Everything except his underwear…just in case Twilight came sniffing where he shouldn’t be.

It was like how he had always imagined one of those Great Fairy Fountains to look. Sky dashed under the waterfall and promptly screamed. He stepped back, hugging his body.

“So cold!” His teeth chattered. His frown turned back into a smile as he walked back in. He’d been feeling so dirty lately! At least this was a little like a shower!

He really hoped Twilight wasn’t nearby because he made some…questionable noises.

But even in his ecstasy, he could still feel a disturbance. And it was definitely not Twilight. And it had its grimy hands on Zelda’s gift.

He dashed towards the hideous red beings, their blood on his mind. One spotted him before he got to it. It took out its horn and blew through it. The loud sound shook through Sky’s ears.

Wait. Does that mean there’s more?

Sky brought his fingers to his mouth and whistled. The bokoblin with his sailcloth in its hands covered his ears.

Sky crashed into him with his elbow out. His elbow sunk into its flesh like a mallet pounding into meat. He then brought his foot into the face of the bokoblin who fired the horn. It reeled backwards, its screeching sounding like it was mixed with gurgling. Sky guessed that it was trying to curse at him.

Down its pointed nose poured red and Sky guessed that there was also red at the bottom of his bare foot. He wiped it on the grass. The first boko dropped his cloth and lunged at him, waving its club high.

Sky dodged it and grabbed its wrist tight. He twisted its arm to expose its elbow and brought his own elbow down, bending its arm backwards. “Don’t ever touch my shit again.” Sky reached up and dug his fingers into the monster’s eye socket. It hollered and writhed as Sky gouged his eye out.

He looked back at the running river, then at his dripping red hands. He could wash his hands later.

Wait…red blood?

There was a series of thumps that came from where Sky assumed the other bokoblins came from. Sky groaned and reached behind the tree to unsheathe his sword. With a quick swing, the bokoblin with the calling horn’s head came right off.

Sky grimaced as blood spewed from the monster’s, now bare, neck and rained all over him. “I just washed! Hylia dammit!” He left the others to escape being pissed off and all he got was more fuel to his flame.

Sky shook his head, hoping to get as much blood as possible out of it. Hell, Wild’s bokoblins sure bled a lot before they died.

“Aw shit,” Sky said, looking down at that crimson stained hilt of the holy blade. If he wasn’t mad because of the blood spraying all over him or that slime putting his hands on his sailcloth, he was livid now.

The first arrow pierced through the trees and Sky realized how basically naked he was. He dodged it and dashed forward, beheading another boko. More blood and more blood and more blood.

By the time he’d slain twelve bokoblins, a bark burst through the woods. Wolfie hopped and locked his jaw around a bokoblin’s neck.

More swords broke through the trees, hacking and slashing at the monsters, more blood coating the grass underneath. More blood that, with some rain, will probably turn the river red.

Mid-slash into a boko’s neck, Sky’s arm was yanked back. He turned, ready to gouge some more eyes out. But he was met with brunette hair and glowing hands.

“Hold on!” Sky shouted over the battle. He grabbed the Traveler’s glowing wrist. “Don’t waste your magic!”

“Waste?” Hyrule shouted back. “You’re covered in blood!”

“None of it is my blood!” Sky wrenched his hand away, pushing Hyrule aside and sweeping his sword in an arch, slicing the bokoblin behind the boy in its stomach. Sky welded his mouth shut as blood sprayed in an almost comical amount.

The battle concluded quickly after the others arrived. They, too, were covered in dripping blood. The Captain wrestled off his clothes in disgust. “Ugh!”

Wolfie pranced to his side.

“At least there’s a river nearby,” Time sighed, examining his stained white undershirt.

“Don’t you dare.” Wars, also now stripped down to his underwear, eyed Wolfie. Wolfie huffed, but shook his body anyway. The Captain and Veteran screamed.

“Enough!” Time stepped forward, a sneer on his, now bloodied, bare torso. Wolfie stopped abruptly, a small whine escaping him. His fur was only slightly tinted red now. Even drenched in blood with a skull tearing headache, Sky was still able to smile.

[shady-scripter]

To Feed the Bird

Fic inspired by @isasan347 art!

And somewhat my Captivity whumptober from last year-

This wasn’t supposed to happen, right? Like, the real heroes were supposed to be going through these portals! Like Mr. Hero! He was supposed to be seeing this giant purple-gold rift and walk through.

But Ravio was with the big guy’s wife, the buff one’s probable boyfriend, the scarred one’s nephew, the short one’s grandpa, the pirate’s uncle, Impa, and the chosen’s best friend.

It wasn’t like he’d never gone through an era-bending portal before. But, there was no way everyone here had battle experience.

They found themselves in the woods, fog swaying across the ground. The short one’s grandpa, Smith, recognized it as Minish Woods.

Groose, with the approval of Malon, asked Tulin to scout the area. Now they were all sitting around a fire, waiting for the young Rito to return.

Impa handed out the rations to everyone soon enough. Just a pack of a few crackers. Ravio stared at the pack feeling as if he would cry. Usually Linebeck voiced Ravio’s thoughts, but he was quiet tonight.

Ravio ripped open the pack and ate one out of six crackers. He was lucky that each one was the size of his palm.

Ravio winced as he felt a sharp scratch on his head. He brought his hand up and, sure enough, his faithful companion took a spot perched on his outstretched finger. Sheerow had been hanging around Groose for some time, but Ravio thought it better not to question it.

Sheerow chiros were squeaky and short, but Ravio felt a comfort in them. Sheerow’s chiros never changed no matter what they’d been through together.

He wondered if this is how Link felt. Going to all of these random different countries, for the only constant to be that dumb hat he held onto.

Goddesses he missed Link.

The fire went out and a puff of air blasted in Ravio’s face.

“Up, up! They’re coming!” Ravio felt his ears perk upward. Link was coming!

“Who’s coming?” Everyone was on their feet at the arrival of the Rito child.

“Monsters!” Ravio’s ears flattened. Of course. Ravio turned around and grabbed his hammer, bringing it up to place its weight on his shoulder.

That was when the shuffling became easy to hear. Looking around, almost no one was armed. Impa still had her sword, Tulin had his bow, Shad had given Groose his dagger, and that was it.

“Tulin, stay back and protect the others as best as you can,” Impa ordered, her once light voice turning cold.

The hairs on the back of Ravio’s neck stood as the first bokoblin breached the tree line. He rushed in, his hammer whistling in the wind. He caught a boko’s stomach and it flew into the one next to it.

Ravio knew, with the letters Link used to send him, that they wouldn’t go down that easy, but he swung at the next bunch.

His arms were starting to grow tired. Impa told him to fall back, to help Tulin protect the others. This wasn’t working. Impa and Groose had cuts all over, so did he, but he wasn’t doing anything back here!

Some years ago, he’d be cowering in fear, begging Hilda to save him.

“Ravio,” he jolted at the tap on his back. Her hand grabbed his hammer before he could protest. “Let me ‘ave a try at the mallet, yeah?”

Ravio pressed his lips into a thin line before letting Malon take his weapon. She twirled it in her hands before looking onto the onslaught of monsters with a look Ravio could only describe as whimsy on her face before she dashed forward.

She bashed a monster, it turned into dust before it hit the ground. He heard Impa laugh as Malon began to clear more and more monsters with his mallet.

Ravio told Malon to keep the mallet. She was more useful than he was with it.

Ravio ate another cracker, his stomach begged for it, but his head begged him not to. Impa’s eyes told him that his mind was far smarter than his mouth. Most of him didn’t care anymore.

“You know those are rations, right?” Ravio’s eye twitched at Groose’s words.

“Yes, but I��m hungry.”

“You haven’t done anything to be hungry.” Ravio’s hand stilled mid-bite.

“Groose,” Malon said, her voice quizzical.

“You got tired so fast that Malon had to take your place, and she did better than you!” Ravio threw his cracker at Groose and stood up.

Behind Ravio’s eyes, he saw the blood and bones of monsters and Hylians alike. Unlike what society would say, they all bleed the same. No matter what color, no matter what race. They all bleed red.

Ravio stood in front of Groose, his eyes wide. “Shut up.”

“Boys,” Smith stood from across the fire they remade.

Groose’s eyebrows furrowed. “I dare-“

Ravio yanked Groose’s collar so their faces were only inches apart. “My name might not be Link, but I am his counterpart, or do I need to prove it?”

“That is enough!” Ravio felt a spike of pain in his ear and quickly let go of Groose.

“Ow! Let me- oof!” He was thrown back next to his bag, Malon standing over him. “Eat your food, Ravio.”

“Well-“

“You’re not angry hun, you’re hungry. Eat,” Malon sat beside Ravio. “That goes for him too.” She nodded to Groose who was being scolded by Smith.

Ravio sighed, aggressively chomping on his remaining crackers.

“You know, he has been feeding your bird lately.” Malon hummed.

“With what? I wasn’t-“ Ravio suddenly stopped his chewing, a sinking feeling filling his chest. “Oh…”

“Yeah. I should’ve told him to stop, but he just…” she glanced over at Groose who also begrudgingly gnawed at his crackers. “He looked his age, you know? He says that he’s only twenty-two, but he always looks like he’s twenty-seven or twenty-eight. When he fed your bird, he looked twenty-two.”

Ravio glared at the grass under him.

“Your bird sits next to him even now, see?” Ravio looked over and saw exactly that. Sheerow jumped around Groose’s hand that held the cracker. Groose looked down at Sheerow with such a regretful look, Ravio felt it in his soul.

Ravio’s shoulders unknowingly untensed at the sight. “Sheerow!” He called, his companion flew over. Ravio didn’t miss how Groose’s eyes followed Sheerow.

Ravio broke off a quarter of his cracker. “Ravio,” Malon protested, but the quarter was in Sheerow’s beak before his name fully came out.

Ravio glanced up and saw Groose’s eyes relax as he took his bites out of his own crackers.

“He’s my friend. I should’ve paid more attention to him.” Ravio sighed. “Maybe I should apologize…”

[shady-scripter]

Fan Joy July - Day 26

What's the Opposite of Tunnel Vision? By @enjolras-out is freaking - RAAAAAAAHH

SO good. SO TENSE! Lots of whump and ooohhh wild throwing Hyrule out of the way and taking the damage himself?! SELF SACRIFICE BELOVED.

Read this if you love whump!! Mind the tags🥰🥰

[shady-scripter]

Chain Avatar Stories

This is based off of The Magnus Archives’s Fear Entities :)

This is Time, Twilight, and Wind’s stories

Time

The Hero of Time was barely a hero. To everyone, even to himself, he was different. No one knew who he was. They only knew the memories of the little boy who would pass by Castle Town every once in a while. But this…this couldn’t be that boy, right?

He knew he wasn’t still that boy. He couldn’t be. Not after everything that happened. But these masks…if he could just stay like one of them then-

He tried. He’d wear one mask for weeks at a time. And it never worked. He could never stay Mikau or Darmani.

But his eyes grew smaller, his body thinner but longer. He could breathe underwater. His back was a shield morphed of rock. His skin grew darker brown. His lips grew bigger, his teeth grew sharper.

What was he?

They all called him a monster.

A Stranger from the forest.

Twilight

While being a Wolf, the Hero of Twilight was used to eating things normal Hylians couldn’t. Raw meat, bugs on occasion. Though he could stomach larvae like a champ.

His ears perked at the sound. He was tired and spent. He just wanted to go home and sleep the rest of his life away. But he didn’t. Instead, he followed the sound. And as he got closer and closer, he could feel his skin crawl, hear a buzz in his head that seemed never ending.

But it was…soothing, like an embrace. He shut his eyes and let it take him, passing out in front of the sound that beckoned him.

When he, no, they. When they woke up from the dirt, Twilight couldn’t feel his skin, only the buzzes from under his skin.

They sat on their knees, staring at the dark sky. A single bright star shone through the sorrowful dark. Twilight reached up to it, feeling a sense of deja vu.

Whispers echoed in his ear, they all said the same thing. Though, not in unison.

We are we, you are we, we are you. We are we, you are we, we are you. We are we, you are we, we are you. We are we, you are we, we are you. We are we, you are we, we are you.

The beehive, the thing that guided him here, hung from the tree silently. Though its former buzzing ate away at his stomach.

All the pain, all of the suffering. He didn’t have to be alone in it all. Not anymore. He had them. He had the Hive.

Wind

Being a kid, the Hero of Winds hadn’t known he had been touched by something akin to a god. He just knew the sky and water called to him.

That’s why he left Aryll and his Grandmother at home. And part of him wanted to leave Tetra too. There were too many people. How could he enjoy the peace that rested in the open sea when there was so much clutter around him.

He missed the King of Red Lions. It was just him and the King on the open seas.

That was when he started to become bitter with Tetra’s crew. Telling them to leave him alone, snapping at whoever didn’t listen. Soon enough, Tetra herself confronted him, telling him to straighten up.

His lips pulled into a thin line before he cursed worse than he ever had. Not at her, at her crew. Tetra told them to turn the ship, that Link needed to collect his shit.

He had never felt betrayed before than in that second. But, luckly, he still had a real friend. One that had been beside him during his entire adventure.

The wind howled in his ear. It was strong enough to make him stumble to his right. His stomach hit wood, the railing. The wind didn’t stop its assault.

He jumped, plunging into the sea regardless of Tetra’s scream.

The water embraced him so kindly. When the initial shock wore off and he looked up, there was just blue. The steady blue of the sea. And down? The same beautiful blue he saw when he looked up.

That was when his barrier broke, water pouring into his mouth, into his lungs. He sputtered, reaching up to the surface so far away, but the water rushed into him. Soon enough, he was…fine. No pain, no fear. It was just him and the sea. Him and the vast sea.