As a dragon blessed with the ability to take any human-like form he wished, Armok was typically Rhoam's first choice as a scout when traveling. He was able to quickly change guises based on what manner of folk were likely in the former king's path, a convenience that hardly needed stated.
Yet he returned with an interesting report this day. As Rhoam made to return to Lookout Landing, Armok informed the former king of a man in... curious garb. Wealthy garb that did not befit any who existed in this time save for Rhoam himself– as the king's traditional robe and crown had traveled through time with him. Armok reported a man in a long blue robe with gold trimmings, and white boots and gloves with similar effects.
It did not feel to Rhoam as a trap, but he felt it wisest to send someone more knowledgeable with magic; Gateni might have an idea of how such a curiosity could exist, with further inspection and perhaps a conversation. And... it couldn't hurt to send Raven as well. For good measure, and Gateni's protection; it wouldn't do to send her alone to what could very well be an... adversary.
So the fire mage and the king's best walked down the southerly road in the direction of the Great Plateau together. Armok had sighted this individual by its great gates leading downward, after all.
I really don't get all the hate for king rhoam. Like, was he a superb father? No, not really. But he was also a king who knew that he and his kingdom were on the verge of an inevitable apocalypse. You expect him to be acting all fine and dandy while knowing that he and everything amd everyone he loves could be completely wiped out in a single moment? Like cmon guys.
botw fanfic idea: when link dies during the calamity, he turns into a spirit, just like the rest of the champions and king rhoam.
the difference, however, is that he is not restricted to the shrine of resurrection, the way the champions are to their divine beasts.
what does he see in the hundred years before he wakes up and forgets it all?
does he visit the champions in their divine beasts, or ever sit down and talk to rhoam?
can he take on a semi-corporeal form the way rhoam does, and does he choose to?
does he see his friends impa, purah, and robbie grow up?
does he realize this second chance at life and hope to wake up soon to rectify his failure or does he hate it, wishing the responsibility can fall on someone else because he just wants to be free?
does the memory loss when he wakes up come as a blessing in disguise, providing him some semblance of liberty before the sword calls to him?
does the memory of his spirithood ever come back to him wholly after some time in the wild or just partially, like a dream?
My personal headcanon for king rhoam is that he secretly or deep down approves of Link as a future son-in-law, and even sees him as the son he never had in a way, but doesn’t outwardly show it.
That is until Link wakes up on the great plateau, and he has to guide him during his first few days. Maybe the old man says something cryptic that Link doesn’t immediately understand, but falls into place as his memories return.
I’ve been going back and forth between working on this chapter and Growing Up Gerudo fandub Episode 5. (I swear, it is coming before 2023! Haha!) Today is July 9, 2022. Been dealing with a summer cold. Luckily, it seems to have passed today. :) After many bowls of soup and cups of coffee and tea.
I’m thinking I may need a new website for ANC, soon. Thinking about creating it through Wix. I’ll need some extra money for that, though, so if you feel like donating, please do so at: ko-fi.com/faithapril . :) Or if you just want to buy me some coffee so I can have energy to draw. I’ve become very fond of a coffee brand called Bones. My favorite flavor is Holy Cannoli. :d
[Sing to the tune of "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miserables. Warning: foul language.]
There was a time when I was mean
They had gossiped too much
And their words got to me
I yelled at Zelda on a bridge
Link looked at me sidelong
And since I am confessing...
I was a dick.
Then it all went wrong...
I fucked things up in times gone by
When I was king and still was living.
I fucked things up and then I died
I fucked ten-thousand-year-old planning
The prophecy caused me to stray
The guardians were excavated
Maybe I needed to get laid
Or maybe zooted or just wasted.
But instead I wasted time
Micromanaging my daughter
And her short appointed knight
And politicized her prayers
I made her talk to great big stones
Made her get pruny in cold water
Fucked up her childhood and her home
With reprimands and travel plans.
So now I haunt the great plateau
Where I just set apples on fire
I'll teach Link how to use his scope
And be a meat and seafood frier.
I fucked things up and now I'm dead
And flaming, floating, and bemoaning
The total douchebag I had been
Once Link glides off, I'll fucking leave.
Chapter Summary: "Calamity Ganon has awoken, and now all of Hyrule must face it. The battle for the future of Hyrule begins, though victory may already be beyond their grasp."
" King Rhoam, " Kohga's voice is as oily slick as one can imagine, the smile beneath his mask just as insincere. What in the Calamity's name could THIS guy possibly want with him? Ugh. What a drag. Suppose he doesn't have much of a choice here, y'know, needing to play nice with the Hylians and all that— still, he hates it. Every bloody second of it. And now THIS ?!
He grits his teeth and inhales slowly through his nostrils, reminding himself that he's not doing any of this for the damn Hyruleans, but for his people.
Kohga lifts a hand to glance at the nonexistent timepiece that doesn't adorn his wrist before lazily drawing his gaze back to the monarch, attempting a far more amiable tone this time around: " I suppose I have a moment or two to spare. "
Rhoam did not, thankfully, roll his eyes at the contempt in Kohga's voice, but maintained a staid and proper tone in his voice. "I wanted to better understand the terms of this tenuous alliance between yourself and my daughter." He had not been present when Kohga had approached Zelda, after all. "Although my daughter has told me of her own perceptions regarding you and your people, I often find it best to use my own senses to gather what I would learn."
Blue eyes flicked to maintain a gaze at the mask of the inverted eye. Yes, Rhoam was at a disadvantage for that mask, but he would not risk anything by asking Kohga to remove it. Even if one set of eyes was not visible to him, he would maintain some semblance of eye contact. "Is this agreeable to you?"
If I had a nickle for every time the dude in the tutorial section of a Zelda game turned out to be the King of Hyrule I'd have two nickles, which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice.
100% Nintendo verified canon: the entirety of Zelda's extensive emotional damage from Rhoam's shitty parenting was undone by this single extremely dad reaction from Rauru