#botw ficlet

[metamatronic]

Champions Resurrected AU / Prelude 1: Mipha

i was gonna post this on AO3 and I still might if I write more, but here’s a brief written retelling/continuation of the Mipha & Sidon reunion comic (warnings: canon typical violence? just in case)

The crackling noise that shook through Zora’s Domain that morning was mistaken for thunder at first. Zoras chatted amongst themselves, puzzled over lightning in a cloudless sky. Even King Dorephan, who had lived long enough to experience nearly every natural oddity that occurred near the Domain, leaned forward on his throne to peer into the vast blue.

“There, Father! Do you see it?” Sidon, always eager to abandon their discussions on politics, pointed toward the falling beam as it cut through the sky. “A falling star during the day. How rare!”

“I doubt it,” Dorephan rumbled. “I’ve seen many falling stars. I’ve never seen one like that. Something is strange about it.”

“Your Majesty, we are under attack!”

Sidon only winced a little at the sharp voice, before straightening up on instinct. He watched his father shoot his advisor an amused look as he rushed in.

“I doubt that as well, Muzu,” Dorephan chuckled. “If so, our enemy’s aim could certainly use some work!”

“Your Majesty!” Muzu cried, wringing his hands. “Please, consider the possibility at least!”

Sidon tuned out the conversation, walking out to the balcony and watching the dazzling light as it descended. Now that he was really looking, it had a faint blue glow to it that seemed to be dimming as it approached the ground. Its movement was strange, bobbing through the air like it was adjusting its course. A Rito, perhaps?

Sidon certainly hoped not as he watched the light plummet behind the rocks and into the Bank of Wishes. He hadn’t met many, but from what he’d heard, the Rito weren’t particularly keen swimmers. His fins itched as thoughts of warbled squawking and the charging of Lizalfo shock arrows plagued his mind.

“I will go investigate,” Sidon said, loudly enough to cut off whatever tirade Muzu had been in the middle of.

“Sire! Surely you’re joking!” Muzu said. “You cannot be so reckless! Ever since you took on Vah Ruta, you’ve been acting as though you are invincible, insisting you handle things yourself. If you keep acting as such—”

“I am very fast and very capable. I will be back if it is anything too dangerous, I assure you!” Sidon said with a grin. He was already stepping backward towards the edge of the balcony. “You have my word.”

“My Lord!” Muzu cried as Sidon winked, before leaping gracefully off the ledge and into the waters below.

By the time Muzu had made his way to the balcony, the only trace of the prince was a slice of red cutting effortlessly through Ruto Lake.

‌▲ ▲‌ ▲

Mipha groaned, opening her eyes and immediately regretting it as she was buffeted by the fierce wind. As she grasped uselessly at her surroundings, every nerve suddenly sparked to life as she realized she was falling. Fast.

Her right fin was pulled open by a gust and she spun with a yelp, being tossed violently through the air. It reminded her of swimming down a waterfall, the dizzying feeling of the current and gravity pulling you relentlessly toward the sharp rocks below.

“Always keep your eyes forward, my dear Mipha,” her father’s voice echoed, pulling her back to her youth when she’d foolishly closed her eyes and nearly missed the lake below. “The most dangerous thing you can do is let your fear steer you.”

Prying her eyes open, she extended her fins and clumsily straightened herself. She felt a wave of nausea hit as the faded blues of distance gave way to the vibrant greens and purples of the earth below. A long leap off a waterfall, she told herself, that’s all this was.

Mipha bit her lip as she took in the surroundings. Even from this height, she could recognize her home, even if the sight brought her little comfort in her current situation. She was positioned over the Zora River now but could feel the wind knocking her around. Even a few feet off target could spell the end, and Mipha was already more acquainted with death than she ever wished to be.

With a shaky breath, she pulled her arms to her sides and flattened her fins, picking up speed until the world blurred. The wind whistling past her was nearly loud enough to hurt but was soon muddled by the familiar sound of rushing water and bubbling air pockets. She opened her fins quickly to slow the pull downward, relenting only when the pull of gravity faded to the gentle current of the river.

When the bubbles finally cleared, Mipha found herself upsetting close to the rocky bottom of Zora River.

She could still feel her heartbeat everywhere, behind her eyes and at the ends of her fins. She fought the tears pricking her eyes, shaking as the adrenaline slowly filtered from her system.

It was only after she’d allowed herself a moment of reprieve that it clicked.

She had a heartbeat. She could see the small bubbles pushing around her as she moved the water around her. She was here, alive.

“How is this…” Mipha stared at her hands, unmistakably solid, and forgave the tremor in her voice. “What happened?”

A warm light had descended into the depths of Vah Ruta. Mipha had known instantly what it was—could feel the warmth of Hylia even through the coldness of her spirit. She briefly said her goodbyes, before capturing the light in her hands and fading away.

In all honesty, Mipha hadn’t been certain what would come after that. But hurtling toward the ground at high speeds had not been it.

“I should…what should I do?” Mipha waded anxiously back and forth beneath the turbulent current. “Should I return to the Domain? Would that cause some sort of issue? Perhaps I should return to Vah Ruta…”

Despite her fondness for her Divine Beast, Mipha couldn’t suppress the shudder that ran through her at that. Surely after committing one hundred years to her tomb, the Goddesses would forgive her stalling her return a bit.

“I’m not even sure how much time has passed since Link’s victory over Ganon…” Mipha mumbled quietly. “For all I know, thousands of years have passed. Perhaps I’ve been reincarnated? Though I don’t think one usually reincarnates as an adult. Or with their memories, for that matter.” Even passing fish seemed to eye her warily as she fidgeted in place. She groaned.

“Oh, just make up your mind, Mipha!” she scolded quietly, squishing her face. “Right, then I’ll return to the Domain and ask around. Surely someone will be able to fill in the details.”

With that, Mipha propelled herself upwards into the main current, pivoted around the bend, and smashed headlong into something.

It was large and red, but that was all Mipha could make out past the stars in her eyes. The direct hit to the nose had shocked her system, leaving her nearly blind in the water. Dazed, she pushed upwards until water gave way to cool air. She shook her head, which only served to worsen the ringing in her ears.

Thankful at least that her sight returned, Mipha blinked and almost doubted her newly restored vision. A Zora nearly twice her size was treading water in front of her, rubbing his nose and saying something Mipha couldn’t quite make out.

“…a…logies, I must h… let the cur…nt…rry me too quickly. Are you injured? I can help you back to the Domain if you are. Again, I apologize for…” The large Zora trailed off as he looked down, blinking owlishly at Mipha.

He was familiar in a way that pulled deep at Mipha’s soul. She could see the lines of others—parts of her father, her mother, even some of herself—but it was the way his eyes lit up with an almost childlike hope that solidified what her heart already knew.

“Sidon?” She asked.

Sidon’s face split into a blinding grin.

“Sister!” He swam forward, before jolting to a stop. His eyes snapped behind her, and it was as they widened in horror that Mipha heard the charging of a shock arrow being knocked.

Spinning, Mipha reached for her trident and was met with empty air. Frantic, she launched a weak spray of water at the Lizalfo before being yanked away. She heard the arrow loose, then the sickening thunk as it embedded into skin.

She looked up at Sidon, who was hunched over her protectively. He winced, undoubtedly from the arrow lodged in his shoulder, and turned to the Lizalfo with gritted teeth.

“No!” Mipha cried. She pulled Sidon underwater, doing her best to ignore the pained yelp as she tugged on his injured arm to urge him lower.

“If I hadn’t struck the arrow with water and activated the shock before it hit you, your injury would be much more severe. We must dive deep enough that the shock radius won’t hit us if he fires again.”

“It’s just one Lizalfo, Sister!” Sidon said, but she could hear him hiss a little as he swam. “I promise, I’ve handled much worse!”

“There is never just one Lizalfo, Sidon,” She chided. “This should be deep enough. Let me heal you.”

She swam behind him, frowning at the scars that littered his body. “I need to remove the arrow before I can begin. I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright,” Sidon says, his smile strained slightly with pain. “It’s not the first time that this has happened.”

“That is what concerns me,” Mipha said quietly. She yanked the arrow out quickly before pressing her hands to the wound, pooling her energy into her palms. “I have no doubt you have defended our domain bravely, Sidon. I’m so incredibly proud of you. I only wish I could have been there to heal you and protect you from harm.”

“Sister…” Sidon said quietly. He moved to turn, but Mipha tutted at him and he stayed still, tilting his head down to stare at the riverbed below.

“It has undoubtedly been difficult since your…since you failed to return from Vah Ruta,” Sidon said. “But your unending kindness and devotion have been a beacon of hope for our whole kingdom. None more than me. You may not have known it, but there was never a moment you weren’t with me.”

He tilted his head to the side, peering over his shoulder as Mipha worked. “If I may ask, Sister, how is it that you’ve managed to return? Not that I’m ungrateful, I assure you! But…”

“In all honesty, I’m not sure myself,” Mipha said, quietly lifting her hands as the last threads of her healing magic settled into Sidon. “One moment I was aboard Vah Ruta, a spirit, finally content to move on knowing the war was won and our people were safe. Then, the next moment, I’m hurtling toward the ground, several thousand feet in the air. I’m at a loss for explanations.”

Sidon spun around quickly, eyes sparkling. “That glowing comet in the sky, that was you? That is amazing! Extraordinary!” He grabbed her hands, smiling wide. “This must be a gift from the Goddess! Payment for your hard work and sacrifice, no doubt! No one would be more deserving than you!”

At that, Mipha paused. “Do you think…The other Champions, would they have also…?”

“Perhaps so,” Sidon said, scratching his chin. “I can’t say I’ve heard anything, but admittedly I don’t keep very informed on foreign affairs. Perhaps someone else in the Domain has heard something? Or…!”

Sidon snapped to attention, smile glowing impossibly brighter. “I’ll send for Link! Surely he’ll know, as well-traveled and sociable as he is, and I have no doubt he will be thrilled to see you again! Perhaps we could even call the engagement back on!”

Mipha sputtered bubbles at Sidon’a grin. “S-Sidon! There is—was never any engagement! Link and I are friends, th-that’s all!”

Sidon frowned, looking thoughtful. “But I was positive the Zora armor was for him. It looked like a perfect fit!”

“Oh, you found that then?” Mipha said, voice pitching up an octave. “That was, erm, well it was a rash decision really. I thought better of it, hence why he never found out about it! So really, there’s no need to tell him it was even made!”

“Ah, so you didn’t end up confessing anything,” Sidon said, nodding. “Your diary entry was unclear, so I wasn’t sure whether the two of you had made proper arrangements or not. Poor Link remembers very little from that time, unfortunately, and even showing him the passage didn’t seem to help.”

“You…You read my diary?” Mipha mumbled in disbelief. She then swayed a little, realization hitting her. “Link read my diary?!”

“Yes?”

“Did…Did anyone else?”

“Father, Muzu, and a very talented Rito bard named Kass.”

Mipha made a noise like a tea kettle and Sidon looked immediately abashed, glancing away. “Er, I do hope that was alright? Father said you likely wouldn’t have minded, and I wanted so desperately to preserve your legacy.”

“Well, then I have a few words for Father,” Mipha huffed. “Reading a girl’s diary, really! How uncouth.”

She swam past him before turning, holding out a hand for Sidon. It felt a little silly now, offering to guide a Zora so much larger than herself. He must be about her age now and had clearly grown into a capable warrior. But in those eyes, Mipha could only see her young brother, still anxious to speak to others or swim too far from her side.

If Sidon took offense to the gesture, he showed no sign of it as he took her hand tightly. But then he let go, swam beside her, withdrew his trident—Mipha almost thought it was her own, but reconsidered when she noticed how large it was—and set it horizontally behind his back. He tilted his head toward it, but Mipha simply stared in confusion.

“I imagine falling from the sky was a harrowing experience, and I cannot begin to think of how taxing being revived from the dead must be,” Sidon clears his throat, eyes drifting to the side. “Allow me to carry you back. It will be easier to dodge enemies if we travel together, and I assure you I am capable. I am one of the fastest swimmers in the Domain, after all!”

Mipha stared at him a moment more before his action clicked into place. She’d done the same things for him when he was young—using her own trident as a handgrip for a much smaller Sidon as they traversed the waterfalls. Muzu had worried endlessly about it, convinced that Sidon would slip or that his grip would falter and he would go coasting off the side of a cliff. But she’d insisted that she trusted Sidon’s strength and courage, and her father had agreed to allow her to continue.

Now, Sidon swam nervously in front of her, offering his trident to her in the same gesture. She felt her heart swell, seeing that even after all these years, he hadn’t forgotten their time together. She smiled, tears threatening to spill from her eyes again as she dove behind Sidon. He turned to look, smile faltering for a moment before Mipha set a gentle hand on his shoulder.

“Forgive me, Sidon. I was overcome with emotions. I trust you, and thank you for your kindness.” She tightened her hands around the trident, and the feeling of cool Zora steel beneath her hands for the first time in a century sent a chill through her. “I’m ready when you a—re!”

Mipha bit down a yelp as Sidon shot through the water at near-blinding speeds. It took her a moment to adjust, and even the familiar Zora River left her speechless as it whipped by. She now had no doubt her brother was the strongest swimmer she’d ever met—it was as if the water itself was pushing him forward like a jet stream. It was exhilarating, almost like learning to swim all over again, and Mipha couldn’t contain the joyous laughter that pulled its way out of her.

She was here, really here, feeling the water on her scales and the cool metal under her fingers. She could see the fish and plants move as they swam by, could see the trail of bubbles in their wake. When they broke the surface of the water, cutting effortlessly up the falls of the Domain, she gasped, taking in the view.

She was with her beloved brother, in her beloved home, and she was alive.

[demiboydemon]

What if Link and Zelda got engaged pre-TotK? They get engaged at the Lover’s Pond and it’s a beautiful and magical moment.

They decide to have a small wedding in secret, with just their closest friends. They don’t want it to be a big thing for several reasons (don’t want to use their money for that when Hyrule still needs rebuilding, don’t want the attention to be put on a wedding instead of said rebuilding, don’t want Link to have the pressure of being king put on him yet, etc.)

They’re so excited. So happy. They pick out fancy clothes, they send the invitations, they decide what cake to serve and what songs to dance to.

The day is fast approaching. Then news comes that something is coming from under the castle. They go to investigate. Zelda falls. Link fails to catch her.

Imagine the devastation he feels when she disappears right before they were supposed to get married. Imagine how tears fill his eyes when he looks in their closet and sees the dress she never got to wear. Imagine the cake arriving and him leaving it to rot because she isn’t there to eat with him. Imagine him looking at the vows they never got to say, sitting on their table as if nothing is amiss. Imagine him looking at his ring and knowing its match is in the past with his beloved.

Imagine him sitting on the light dragon on the day they were supposed to wed. The day they thought would be the happiest of their lives. Imagine him sitting upon her head, running his hand through her mane as he sings the songs they never got to dance to.

[riddlemearose]

Fixed my technical issue lol.

Twin Stranger officially has escaped ficlet containment and is working its way towards being a multi-chapter fic. You can read it on AO3 here.

Twin Stranger Summary: Link doesn't know what to make of Wild. None of the Champions do, but Link is confident that he's struggling the most. Because as odd as it is to see little Sidon now tower over Urbosa, nothing can compare to the weirdness Link feels when he looks at Wild; the stranger who looks like him but wrong. A.K.A. Mid-quest, Wild ends up in Age of Calamity. No one is happy about this.

Chapters: 1/3 (Firstcomer)

Relationships:

Champion & Wild

General Tags:

Age of Calamity Timeline

Angst and Hurt/Comfort

Miscommunication & Lack of Communication

Temporary Character Death

Bittersweet Ending

I'm still a bit uncertain about posting if I'm being completely frank, but I'm going to anyway as a thank you to those who reached out yesterday. Your kind words and your support means a lot to me <3

[alliumtriquetrum]

The Silent Princess

The Silent Princess, trapped in her little pot, must grow beyond the little space she was given. That is what she was told she must do, by her caretaker. He gives her everything he knows she needs, yet she is still confined to the pot. 

The poor Silent Princess. Her roots stretch past the soil that holds them, unable to be contained by the ever shrinking room she has in her pot. The caretaker does what he can to help her. He pushes her roots back into the dirt and covers them, for a flower cannot bloom if its roots are exposed to the dangers of this world. 

It is not enough. 

One day, the pot is shattered. She is too late. She is helpless. Still, her roots spread through the open earth, and she blooms. 

The horrors she must now face may silence her. 

But she is free.

[marblewrites]

May I Have This Dance?

YOTP25 January Prompt: "May I have this dance?"

Tags: Link/Zelda (BOTW/TOTK), mutual pining, fluff, dancing, non-speaking!Link potentially bad writing (let me know if I missed anything)

Word Count: 990

A/N: I know this is being posted in February, but I finally gained the confidence to post it as my first fic! Constructive criticism is encouraged and appreciated.

Ao3 Link

Zelda glanced back at Link as she rode her horse - a nervous habit she had picked up recently – and he was still there, he had that same focused expression as he followed closely behind her. Just before the two arrived at the entrance to Rito Village, the princess began to feel the crisp winds nipping at her skin through layers of clothing. 

Shivering, she tugged the reins in her hands, urging her horse to slow down to walking speed as the path ahead of her narrowed. Moving onto the bridge made Zelda tense up, keeping her eyes forward. She could feel the slight sway of the bridge below her, the way her horse stepped more cautiously. Soon enough, though, it was over.

When she and Link stopped in front of the long stairs up to the village, he helped her climb off of her horse before tying them to posts. Then, Zelda gave him a nod and a small smile before beginning her ascent. The walk was quiet, save for a few soft sounds carried by gusts of wind.

Suddenly, there was a new sound gracing their ears.

“Is that an accordion?” asked the princess, eyebrows furrowing as her step paused, making Link come to a stop behind her.

Link tilted his head and nodded when the princess met his gaze, curiosity etched onto his own face as well. Zelda continued to walk, straining to catch a hint of the song being played.

Finally the two reached a landing with a few Rito inhabiting it. Sure enough, when Link and Zelda turned, there was a large blue Rito, playing an accordion as some of the others watched. There were a few kids excitedly listening while the Rito closed his eyes and swayed to the song.

It was a welcome sight, and an even more welcome sound. Zelda stepped closer, causing Link to do the same, and just listened for a moment. Her eyes closed and she smiled to herself, sighing contently.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she asked, already awaiting Link’s answer by the time he looked her in the eye again.

He shrugged and nodded, his lips curling up at the edges. Link watched Zelda close her eyes and begin to sway along with the tune, taking in the way her blonde hair followed a few seconds behind the movement, making her look like she existed in slow-motion.

Then, his eyes were widening as Zelda held out her hand to him. “May I have this dance?” she asks playfully, and Link couldn’t help the way his smile grew as he gave her a confused look.

“Come on, we can have fun every once in a while!” she insisted, reaching down to take one of his hands in both of hers. Then, she pulled him just a bit closer to the source of the music.

Link was stunned, a puff of air leaving his mouth. Zelda’s other hand was on his shoulder, making him shake his head before placing his on her waist. Zelda found herself wondering if the knight had ever had the opportunity to dance with someone.

Judging by his panicked look, she could certainly guess. She gave him a reassuring smile and moved a foot, nodding for him to do the same. That’s when his focused look came back, his eyes cast down to follow her steps.

Zelda chuckled and guided him as they swayed slightly to the music. “There, you’re getting it!” she encouraged him, giving his hand and shoulder a small squeeze.

Link looked up at her with a surprised smile, shaking his head and giving her a soft squeeze before pulling his hands away from her for a moment to sign.

“I don’t think I’m very good at this.” he told her with a slightly amused expression.

“Oh, that’s nonsense!” she replied, waving a hand at him. “I think you’re doing fine.”

She offers her hand to him again, and he gives her a playful roll of his eyes before accepting it again. She’s grinning as she continues their little slow dancing session, watching as Link tries to concentrate.

“You’ve got to relax a little bit, Link.” she tells him, tapping her fingers on his shoulders. “You’re all rigid.”

He looks up at her and tilts his head with a quizzical look. “How?” he asks, removing his hand from her waist to sign before returning it to its place.

“Just… loosen up. Focus on me.” she advises with a patient smile.

He nods curtly, trying to concentrate on her face. Almost immediately, he missteps and stumbles slightly before giving her an awkward laugh. The sound makes her beam, and she chuckles.

“There, just like that.” she says with a sure nod of her head. “Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.” she adds.

That makes him really laugh, his eyes closing as he nods. When he looks at her again, she’s wearing a fond expression and shifting slightly closer to him. He feels warmer, even in the cold air that breezes through Rito Village.

The two continue to dance for the remainder of the Rito’s song, just enjoying each other’s presence. Link can’t help but notice the small details of Zelda’s face now that he’s so close to her.

She has specks of brown and blue mixed into her green eyes, a few brown strands mixed into her blonde hair, and her cheeks were flushed from the cold air. He can’t help the affectionate look on his face, and when he focuses back in on the full picture of her, he notices that she’s sporting the same expression.

Once the song is done, the two share a lingering gaze before finally pulling away.

“See, that wasn’t so bad was it?” she asks him with a smile.

A smile grows on his face too, and he shakes his head. “Fun.” he signed simply, feeling his heart swell when she laughed.

She looked beautiful right now, he thought.

[iridescentgleam]

The Burden of a Golden Soul

There are days when he aches with the rain and wails with the wind that he wonders what the point of it all is. He mourns with the earth in his kingdom, cries over its ruins, and curses himself for being alive to see the other side of the Calamity he failed to slay the first time when he knows there were so many people out there who died by its hands. People he could have saved if he had just been a little stronger, a little faster, a little more knowledgeable. Why is he the one who gets to live on past death? What gives him the right to live a life free from worry after the Calamity was defeated? His negligence was responsible for entirely too many casualties. His hands are weighed down by so much blood that, some days, it feels difficult to move them at all.

But then there are days when he stands atop a peak with cold air biting at his cheeks, staining them the color of Wildberries. Days where he’s deep in the Gerudo desert, his feet sinking with every step he takes, and he looks back and all he can see are his small footprints amongst a sea of undisturbed sand. Days when thunder crackles in the air around him, his hair dripping water into his eyes, and he can taste ozone on his tongue. It reminds him that life is still beautiful, and he can breathe in a little deeper through his lungs that day. Because life did not end with the Calamity. Why should his?

[lightmotif139]

LoZ Short Story Collection

I forget if I've posted this before, but if you need to read some short miscellaneous Legend of Zelda ficlets, I have a collection here all based on writing prompts that a friend gave me. (I have other LoZ stuff on AO3 too, but this collection is specifically just prompt-based ficlets.) More stories may be added to this collection at unspecified times in the future. Enjoy, if you're in the mood!

[aiyexayen]

mini ficlet ask game

hey i'm in the mood for some short writing exercises this month to limber me up as i get ready to work on some larger projects. here's the deal:

send me asks with one or more of the following-- - characters - ships - tropes - single word prompts

and i will write a ficlet <250 words about it.

[arilssyrups]

Opened

Here's a little Zelda ficket I wrote as a writing exercise inspired by today's reading! (Catholic)

I forgot how fun it was to just write without an outline. I hope I find the motivation to do this again :'DDD

Also, little storytime. I wrote the beginning of this in my computer class and planned for it to just be something I'll continue when I have computer class again. I got obsessed.

Ps: I'm not very religious but using the Bible as fanfic prompts makes my writing feel very sophisticated ;) (Also, I love referencing religious things in fics, especially in stuff like Zelda.)

Enjoy!

12 October 2023

Luke 11: 5-13

A prophet once said, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find.”

Zelda supposed she was the exception to that divine rule.

Since childhood she had asked, seeked, begged for just a drop of Her divine power.

Silence. Silence till this day.

Cold seeped into Zelda's skin, accompanied by the numbness of kneeling for hours on end. In spite of it all, she didn't dare to look up, to open her tear crusted eyes and see Her.

For Her smile would always be colder than any spring’s waters.

-

Goddesses, she hated him. She hated him with all her soul, body, and 'supposedly' Goddess blessed blood.

Everything he asked for was given, everything he seeked was found, everything he did was praised, everything he failed at-

Well, he never failed at anything.

Perhaps that was why She never answered Zelda's prayers. She wouldn’t listen to someone who despised her darling boy either.

Though, that begged the question of how She knew Zelda would hate him before they had even met.

-

They were like night and day.

Zelda couldn’t decide who was which, but the juxtaposition was clear to anyone who even thought of the two of them.

She was emotional, disobedient, and the patron saint of failure.

He was calm, collected, and greatness incarnate.

Maybe God and shriveled up old crone would be a better comparison.

Someone needed to bring him down a peg or two.

The thought was the reason why she cherished every moment she had of him lacking. They were few and far between, and even lacking was a bit of a stretch. Every moment where she was able to catch even the slightest whisper of emotion on him. Any furrowing of eyebrows, squinting of eyes, tilting of head.

They filled her with a sinister kind of happiness.

She didn’t even care if Her Divine frowned upon her for it-

"-ighness, princess."

Zelda blinked the dryness from her eyes, the Sheikah Slate warm in her palms. She tightened her grip on it for a moment, its dull corners failing in waking her up fully.

"Are you alright?" Despite the questioning tilt in his voice, the concerned nature of his words, his face remained maddeningly stoic.

Zelda nodded in answer.

Every door he knocked would be opened.

[once-upon-a-doctor-who]

Because I'm on my bullshit and it's 4am, have some feels!

------

Urbosa could hardly believe just how strong her little bird had gotten through all the trials and adversity she'd faced.

Her need to become stronger, her desire to help and protect everyone, all while hiding her own sorrow and heartbreak.

Urbosa tried so hard to help her see past her flaws, no matter how minor they seemed, and would always offer a reassuring word and a shoulder to cry on. They sat upon Vah Naboris, Zelda curled up at her side, Link standing a few feet away, his eyes scanning the horizon looking for any threat that would sour this moment of peace.

Irbosa gently brushed her fingers through Zelda's blonde locks, the silken strands sifting through her fingers like the golden sands of the desert, falling away until they came to rest against her shoulders, gleaming in stark contrast to the blue of her traveling clothes.

She looked so much like her mother. So much like the woman Urbosa had loved like a sister, had held close as a friend. She would never tell Zelda that she was the last person to have held her mother's hand before she had passed from sickness in the quiet hours before dawn.

Instead, she was content to fill the role of mother and protector, guiding Zelda as much as she could, taking care of her when her father couldn't. She was content with that. Her own daughter was training to take her place when the time came, and with the threat of the Calamity growing ever closer, her training had intensified, and Urbosa's heart swelled with both pride and worry.

Should she fall, she would leave two daughters behind. A thought that her heart couldn't take. She gently shook her head to will the thought away, and focused her attention back on the young woman beside her, her fingers gently returning to golden locks as Zelda slept soundly against her side.

She would need to return to the Castle soon, to resume her training to awaken her inner power, but Urbosa wished to be selfish just this once and keep the exhausted teenager close to her for just a few minutes longer.

[josnhoes]

Hello! I just stumbled across your Self aware loz au, and I loved it! Do you have anymore ideas for ficlets for it? Oh! May I ask for the reader meeting Sidon? ( the timeline isn’t clear but I think it’s after Botw?) if not Sidon then Revali if it takes place during totk?

So my time frame for the series is post botw pre totk. Though I can't wait to explore Ganon's feelings on reader. Because there would be many.

Content warning: none.

Meeting Sidon had been big on your list of things to do. Link had told a bunch of stories of the fish man. And while you were still struggling with a heavy fog in your mind, you were ready to explore. Zelda had been hesitant to allow that. The fog was more a mixing of emotions and lives. She said it was a self protection from remembering being a God and adjusting to being back. She wasn't wrong but more it was like the you from your world was being turned into a God, not remembering it.

Regardless Zelda and Link knew if you wanted to go you would, they couldn't stop you. You were the high God. The progenitor. They had no right to make demands. So instead they went with you. Link was excited to introduce you to everyone. His silence had become less common since your arrival.

The domain itself was far more grand in person than it had been on the screen. Feeling the cool air and stone brought a sense of tranquility. The group had been swiftly approached by the prince who happily called for Link. And you smiled watching the *large* zora lift Link into a hug. Huh...you never realized how big the Zora truly were before.

Sidon was simply excited, he'd gotten the letter informing his people of their arrival. With the rumors of the return of the progenitor floating about he figured Link and Zelda would be looking into that themselves. Even his father had sent some troops out to find out more.

So the shock he felt when you were revealed to himself and his people weren't as big as they should have been. Though he supposed he should have noticed, with your round ears and ethereal glow you seemed to have. It was only there if you weren't really looking directly at you.

Sidon the first night didn't get to speak to you much, his father and people had called for a celebration and things had gotten very busy very fast. Though he was glad it was a good thing this time. But he observed you from a distance and felt himself feel *shy* about approaching you directly. Even as a guppy he hadn't felt *this* shy. Though he never had a God in the domain before.... at times Link had felt divine with the sheer strength he had. But that was just him bragging about his bestie again.

He promised to himself that tomorrow after you'd rested he'd approach you himself. Maybe if he charmed you enough you could be convinced to stay longer! Wins all around.

[itcantbe]

itcantbe's Legend of Zelda fic master list

Tumblr-only stories:

sifting through the system for the piece that knows my name: (BOTW Zelink, rated T) Breath of the Wild sci-fi AU part 2

Difficult People: (BOTW Zelink, rated G) this is the worm crackfic

Save Yourself: (BOTW Retail AU, rated G) a Black Friday calamity

Ring A Bell: (BOTW, rated G) Zelda recovers a memory

on ao3:

The Legend of Kink: Spicy One Shots and Drabbles: 18 chapters, rated E and M. Mostly zelink.

Elixirs & Engagements: Rated G, 9 chapters (complete). BOTW Regency Era Zelink Romance AU

Sweet Little Lies: One-shot, post-calamity zelink, rated G.

you snooze you lose, rated E: BOTW/AOC miphzel/zelpha/mipha x zelda

one in the hand: rated E. BOTW zelink one shot, originally chapter 11 of "The Legend of Kink."

Under the Boardwalk: 5 chapters, rated E, complete. Modern/Theme park AU written for Zelink Week 2021.

All My Past and Futures: One-shot, rated T. Canon divergent zelink AU.

Now Everything Is Easy ‘Cause of You: one shot, rated M. Post-calamity zelink.

there are many things I would like to say to you (but I don’t know how): rated T. Written with Nendil for Zelinktines Month 2022. Featuring artwork by @aquaticpal!

Whumptober 2021: rated T. Seven whumpy zelink stories, some connected, some standalone.

The Book of Divine Pleasures: incomplete. rated E. At one Link/Impa chapter for now. May never be completed.

Every Time I Itch I Wind Up Scratchin' You: 2/2, rated E. It's the sex ants fic as seen in "The Legend of Kink." Includes original artwork.

Dread: rated G. Robbie/Zelda ficlet written for a rare pair prompt.

Wild: rated M. Dead dove zelink thing published for Whumptober 2022. I might finish it some day.

Creating a Champion: Series, rated T. Baby's first fanfic! A series of one-shots exploring what "resurrection" can mean and what really makes a champion.

nasty side account:

if wishes were fishes: 4 chapters, rated E. an entire mess of kinks but primarily oviposition. includes zelink, miphlink, miphvali, zelimpa, zelinkpa and link x lizalfo.

the queen's ambassador: rated E. Two chapters (for now). filthy zelink.

[hylian-twink]

heyyyy, so i know i’m supposed to be working on my magnum opus botw retelling but what if i told you i had a 23k word ficlet where link is pregnant with sidon’s kid already finished?? would anyone want that? just wondering hehe hypothetically…..

[riddlemearose]

For the wip ask game:

We've Been Trying to Reach You About Your Magic Sheikah Weapon's Extended Warranty

& You're taller, how fucking dare you? 🤭

Lmao I knew those two would interest someone. They're currently both ficlets, bc I can't seem to get them over 1k.

'you're taller how fucking dare you' started as a literal joke I sent to a friend in early December last year. The premise is that Wind was in Hyrule Warriors pre-LU (he would've been 12-ish, so between Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass). Time - then Mask - would be like 11 and Wars would've been 16-18. Then cut to the start of Linked Universe. Can you just imagine how mad Wind must've been to see Time not only now older than him, but older than him by like 15 years? He must've been furious.

“Warriors!” A new voice calls. They both turn to see a man, older than the Captain with shiny plate armour and interesting tattoos on one side of his face that Link can't quite make out from a distance, striding towards them. “Oh boy.” The Captain – Warriors, Link guesses, though that’s a pretty shit name if it’s really what he’s going by – mumbles under his breath, then waves the man. “Over here, Time. I found him.” Time’s face brightens – who’s picking these names they’re horrible – as he smiles, stopping beside them. He looks at Link and his smile turns smug. “Tune! I told you I was going to be taller than you.” What? Link’s nose scrunches up. What the fuck is that supposed to mean? Warriors smacks a hand to his forehead with a near-silent groan, but says nothing. Link peers up at Time's face. Shit those tattoos are very vivid. And familiar. Why… does he recognise them? Wait. Wait. Link splutters and points an accusing finger at Time, furious. “Mask?! When did you get old?! WHEN DID YOU GET THAT TALL?!”

As for We've Been Trying to Reach You About Your Magic Sheikah Weapon's Extended Warranty, I recently learnt that you can rematch Maz Koshia in BOTW! So naturally all I could think about is how much Four would absolutely hate the One-Hit Obliterator with his entire body and soul.

The whole thing is silly and I think I started writing it at like midnight or something bc I cannot for the life of me remember how I wanted it to end. This is literally all I've written for it lmao.

Things had been looking bad right up until Wild, who looks as though he’s on the literal brink of death, bursts into the room and smacks the monster with a strange, glowing pronged weapon. It crumples under the hit and explodes into purple smoke. “What.” Wind says flatly. Wild wobbles violently to one side but manages to catch himself against a wall, breathing heavily. Twilight squints at him through the bars of his cell, then squints harder – this time at the weapon. “Wait, is that—” “Yep!” Wild answers with entirely too much cheer for someone who looks inches away from dropping dead. He pushes himself upright and staggers towards them, pulling a ring of keys from the Sheikah Slate. “How the fuck did you convince him to give you that?!” The emotion in Twilight’s voice might be described as ‘awed’, if awed could be served alongside a liberal dose of bone-deep exasperation. “Turns out Maz Koshia’s still around, for some Hylia-damned reason.” Wild explains brightly. He fumbles with the lock three times before Four snatches the keys from his hands. “Thanks, I cannot see straight right now, like at all.” He seems oddly baffled by the round of concerned noises that echo across the dungeon, but shrugs it all off and continues describing his latest bad decision without any remorse. “Anyway, yeah, he’s still around and apparently ‘an evil being resurrecting and strengthening monsters beyond what is normal’ is a decent reason to loan it out to kill said evil being. Conditionally, of course.” Time, heaving a sigh, looks reluctant to ask yet can’t stop himself from doing so. “Conditions such as?” “I don’t die, naturally, and also beat him in another fight later.” Wild nearly pitches face-first into the ground, utterly undermining his triumphant tone, but instead collapses onto Sky, who looks world-weary in a way he rarely is. He slings one of Wild’s arms around his shoulders, practically holding the Champion upright. Four, hucking the keys to Warriors, almost vibrates as he eyes up the weird mutant trident-looking weapon Wild’s still holding onto. It glows faintly and thrums loudly with energy. “What is that?!” “This,” Wild flips the weapon with a grin – and really, given how horrible he looks, Four is actually mad at how easily he pulls that action off – “is the One-Hit Obliterator. No, I have no idea why the Sheikah monks made it, don’t ask. But! This thing is stupidly powerful, hence why I had to make a deal to use it.” “One-Hit Obliterator?” Four stares at it and mentally screams.

[lily-alphonse]

"There Is No Me Without You" by Lily Alphonse

Zelink Week 2024 Day 6: Sealed Fate

Rating: Teen

Words: 242

Mysteriously, Hylia does not save Link this time. But someone does

SPOILERS FOR TOTK, Light Angst, Bittersweet

Yeah I'm using more lyrics from Achilles Come Down for my titles, I will not be stopped. I noticed the goddess is way more involved in guiding Link in BOTW than TOTK. It seems to me like TOTK is really more a story of lovers fighting to stay together across time, instead of a holy war like the last game.

So what if this also meant Hylia could not, or would not, revive Link this time?

Once more since this is a shorty I will include the full ficlet below the cut, or you can check it out on AO3

Created for Zelink Week 2024 @zelinkcommunity

Read Other Days Here

The children of the forest were the first to realize something was wrong. 

When he was struck down, Mr. Hero did not wake up. They could not feel the beat of his heart. Hylia did not restart it for him this time.  

They reasoned perhaps they should bring him to the Great Deku Tree. 

They dragged him out of the cave. The Moblins did not bother them; their mission accomplished. 

But once outside, they heard a great dragon’s roar and scattered; fleeing into the trees. 

The light dragon came down. 

The koroks had never seen a dragon land, but they did have legs to walk on. 

They thought the dragon might try to eat him. 

She brought her giant face so close to his body. 

Maca thought they should do something. But what could they do? 

But she did not eat Mr. Hero. She laid her great head on his mangled body and closed her eyes. A golden glow wove around them like wind-spun pollen. 

When the effect died away, she opened her eyes and lifted her head. 

The hero was fixed. The koroks felt his heart beat through the earth. 

The dragon left. A flurry of iridescent scales pushing off into the sky again where she belonged. 

The koroks waited hesitantly for her enormous body to snake away. 

Link shot up in pure panic, gasping for air and looking around frantically. 

Like he was waking from a nightmare, he screamed. 

“Zelda!”

[faroreskiss]

the mailman in LU? yeah. hurt no-comfort linguist reader somehow gets a letter from their world. contents of the letter could be up to you, or it could simply be the stereotypical notice that someone they cared for has died. really puts it into perspective that they’ve been gone for over 2 years (if you count the time they spent in BOTW’s world)

Oh my Hylia anon, thank you for this request, it really gets the juices flowing. And no comfort? Damn, the dark side is really calling for you, eh? This ficlet is here to ruin the Isekai!Reader inserts.

There is Hylian in this ficlet!

I'm making it extra dark by placing this on a time where the linguist reader is still NOT able to communicate so expressively with the Chain in Hylian.

This can still be read stand alone.

Realities of being an Isekai!Reader. Is that even a genre?

For anybody wondering, "The Power of Understanding" the Cheat Sheet is here, the main fic is here.

CW: Hurt/no comfort. Not proof-read, mention of death, dark basically. Maybe don't read it at night.

Ended up longer than I thought.

Ao3

The Void / The Power of Understanding Short Story

Spending time with your favorite heroes, hell, even being involved with them romantically to an extent, was amazing.

Of course, only if you didn't count the fact that you could get killed any time, attacked by a random monster and suffer a horrible death.

...Or the fact that you have been away from anybody you have ever known in your life, for over two years.

At some point, you accepted the fact that you were just going to be living the rest of your life humbly in Hateno, in your little cottage. Before that, it had been terrible for a while, right after the honeymoon stage ended. The depressive episodes, sobbing at night, the nightmares, the guilt. In the first year, you were barely able to function due to your grief. Even when Link and Zelda were there for you.

You felt guilty, even though it wasn't your fault that you had been thrown in there. You felt guilty that you enjoyed it sometimes, going for hikes in the morning, hanging out with Link, decorating your cottage, learning a new language, playing the scholar. You felt guilty you didn't try hard enough (if at all) to get back to your world. What could you have even done?

Then your mind had been occupied, busy with trying to build a life for yourself, trying to communicate with people in the post Calamity Hyrule. Then, you settled in, just started to have a new routine to your life. Time has passed fast, oh so fast. And these people didn't even have the same calendar system over here. You didn't even know when your birthday was in the Hylian calendar!

Later, you had been thrown into yet another world and met the rest of the Links. So much for settling in, huh.

You usually actively tried to push the thoughts of your loved ones in your world away. At some point, it became second nature to you. The world here was different enough, not a lot of reminders.

Except when you saw the Sailor with her sister... Or Rancher with his adopted family perhaps. The Old Man with his lovely wife Malon. You still pressed on.

_____

You just departed from the Lost Woods and a sense of rejuvenation courtesy of the swarm of fairies you came across, after the boys killed the huge moblin.

It was a bit before Wild's era, you were guessing. The existence of the Captain really confused the shit out of you. You assumed he was also on a merger timeline or something, like Wild.

Then, your attention was drawn to a lanky individual with an exceptionally prominent nose and a rather comical hat. Could that be the postman once more? The mystery of how he managed to consistently locate your group, deliver letters, and then depart as if it were the most ordinary task continued to boggle your mind. Yet, given that you had ventured across various dimensions more times than you could count, you opted not to dwell on it extensively.

You were more curious about how he was able to read all those different scripts from different eras in the first place. Or how Links could sometimes tell which one belonged to which hero. Not like some of them were that different...

"Hireulu!" he greeted your group, holding only one letter in his hand this time.

As lost in thought as you were, you couldn't have missed the next thing you heard:

"(Y/N) tiyu? Ti riemun nia kubela."

He... had a letter for you? The others also seemed a bit perplexed. Nobody in your era wrote letters that much anymore. You silently held up your hand. He gave the letter to you, and as the boys were trying to somehow talk to him, he already rushed away, shouting "Hilay su aduerin!" You smiled. You knew at this point that it meant "Goodbye" in a sense. "May Hylia protect you" was the literal translation of it.

Sounded almost similar to the story behind the phrase "Goodbye" in English. God be with you.

Seated by the roadside, you carefully examined the letter in your hands. Strangely, a wave of unease washed over you. It had been ages since you'd last encountered something written in Latin script that wasn't written by you.

While curiosity tugged at your thoughts, it also stirred memories you had long sought to bury, bringing forth a flood of thoughts you'd rather avoid.

Wild sat next to you, he had curious eyes as the script looked quite unfamiliar to him.

As you started reading the letter, the blood drained from your face. You were only in a few sentences in, yet you knew exactly what it meant, and who it was. You dropped the envelope to the floor, it got stuck in the grass.

No.

"We lost her. After three days in bed, on her fourth she became one with the earth."

More than two years ago now, when you were first whisked away from your world, she had only recently been diagnosed with a sinister disease that affected the communication between her brain cells, making her forget things. But she was okay. Even though the doctors said they were slowing it down significantly, the end was inevitable. She would end up forgetting the most basic body functions towards the end.

But she was okay.

She had been the most badass person you had ever known in your life.

She would ride horses and scare off the corrupt shepherds in her time. Even though she was denied education above basics, she had been a fierce advocate for it. She had always been a fierce, strong woman. She planned everything.

Including her death, it seemed.

You remembered how she would say she wouldn't want to be bedridden and taken care of for months on end. How she even bought a place in the graveyard around 10 years ago, which caused a huge family drama. She even told her children what to announce once she died. What to wear.

As you read the rest of the letter, tears were streaming from your cheeks, yet your expression was still neutral. You weren't sure if you deserved feeling sad.

Were you sad because you lost her? Or were you sad for your own parent who lost a parent? Were you sad for yourself because one day you would have to do it also for a parent? For a loved one? Or were you sad because once again you were reminded of the bitter reality of mortality? Or were you sad because you couldn't even bid her a proper farewell? 

Even if you were still in your world, you weren’t sure if you could make it on time for her funeral anyway. According to the traditions you were raised with, it had to happen within 24 hours. You lived quite far away already, and this had been one of your primal fears.

Not being able to spend enough time with them, not being able to say farewell.

Wild (and everybody else) noticed the tears streaming down your cheeks, and said something as he put his hand on your shoulder, only lightly pulling you to him. You were frozen, you really weren’t in the mood to try to understand anything.You didn’t move a millimeter. 

Everything came back, everything you tried to hold back. You wondered what they thought, did they think you were lost, kidnapped, dead? What about your partner? How were they doing? Your sister? All the other loved ones? How were they feeling?

Too much. It was too much. It was crashing down upon you. You were scared, the guilt was too heavy. Your vision was blurry. You were rocking yourself back and forth as you pulled your knees to your chest, mumbling to yourself. You held them always back, but it seemed like your defenses had finally given in. They broke. You broke.

You were in a void, where the only sound you could hear was your heart beating as if it was going to escape your chest and the screeching sound ringing in your ears. It was hard to breathe. You felt sick to your stomach. Your hands and feet felt as if ants were walking on them. Cold, but also too warm. You were shivering,

You couldn't hear the sound of the boys chattering, trying to figure out what to do. How some of them understood exactly what was going on, but for the moment how confused they were. The Rancher was mumbling something to your ear, something soothing maybe. Wild’s hand was still over your shoulder, but you did not feel it anymore. 

The void was the only thing that embraced you.

You wailed in pain.

_______________________

The Sailor picked up the envelope from the ground noticing there was something sticking out of it. It was a... picture? Black and white.

It felt really brittled and old in his hand. It had some text he didn't understand. Two relatively young women were in it, smiling. To him, it looked like weird clothing, but they gave off a fancy air with how they posed.

One of them really looked like you.

He put it in his bag for now, to give it to you later.

01/01/1955