#the people in hateno where links HOUSE used to be that is now ZELDAS not remembering him

[ganondoodle]

even if i didnt love botw as much as i do, totk drives me nuts bc, similarly to pokemon, this series is so SO SO full of potential, they have so many games they can pull from, theres so many themes, characters and worldbuilding thats just left to rot, you dont need to connect anything with a chain to old titles, you dont need to bring back any things that already had their ending, but PLEASE harness at least a fraction of all this!!!! and they just refuse to do it beyond shallow references

totk jsut drives it all home to me, bc this isnt just the next game in the franchise, but a DIRECT SEQUEL no 10 years apart from botw, yet they cant even, they REFUSE to even keep the continuity with its OWN lore it established in botw together, and that, i think, is what truly makes me so insane (derogatory) about totk

it PROVES they do not care, they dont care to build on anything of the lore of old titles beyond references in form of amiibos or whatever, they dont even care to make a sequel to their most successful game in the franchise coherent with its own lore

botw established a captivating detailed world full of potential, while lacking in active storytelling, it had environmental storytelling, characters and ideas that were the perfect ground to build on-

and then they do away with it bc idk .. they want you to build mechs and make videos of it that go viral and thats all they care about or something

shiekah tech? forget that existed character being the character you know? act as if you are seeing them for the first time just like they are lame story? dont think about that just be distracted by the epic presentation of it lore the previous title established? forget that, all that matters is what is here and now beloved character from old games beign brought back? hes a new guy and has no background and no lore and just sits waiting for you at the end to have a flashy fight with references from old titles and their lore? just here for nostalgie bait, dont you remember? you LOVE this series, now give me 70 bucks for a glorified DLC that ruins what you loved about the series and makes you realize that nothign matters and nothing is interesting anymore

you are supposed to take it all at face value, to not think about anything, to see a character say something and just go with it, and forget it the second its over, be distracted by good music and pretty visuals, but dont think about, dont think about anything but what is directly said to you like you have no critical thinking skills, forget there was a game before this one, only the one you play matters, empty your skull and dont let yourself feel anything but what the game tells you to feel

if they dont even care to make the sequel to their most successful game actually build on the previous title, dont even care to keep their continuity of two games supposedly directly happening one after the other in tact- maybe they never cared, and all the meaning we thought we saw them build into their games was all accidental and meaningless

and that is absolutely soul crushing for fans like me to discover

its a game. its not a story, its not a world, its not themes, its not characters, its not lore. its a product made to make you pay money, not to make you think about anything.

[notgonnaedit]

Fading Scars

Summery: After the Chain meet Twilight's family and friends, a portal takes them to another Hyrule

Focus Link: Wild

A/n: Art isn't mine, it belongs to @gia-d

I really enjoyed writing this one. There's a reference to the BotW overworld music in there too. Takes place after BotW but before TotK

Master list

Wild turned in his makeshift bed as he tried to fall asleep. The day's events should've left him exausted. Playing with the children of Twilight's village, exploring as much as he could, but no matter how much he tried, the Champion couldn't find sleep.

He had been waiting for Twilight to return. The Rancher had left suddenly a few hours ago, and hasn't returned. Wild worried for his friend. What if the Shadow creature found him and hurt him all over again? Not being able to stand it anymore, Wild got pushed his blankets off, and walked to the door. He made sure to be quiet as to not wake his comrades, and opened the door and stepped outside.

Wild took a breath of fresh air. He found that the smell of grass calmed him. Maybe it was because it reminded the Champion of his own home; a wilderness that cried out to travelers like him to explore. 

Home. 

A sigh escaped Wild's lips as he thought of his own Hyrule. In his own time, Hyrule was undergoing restoration. Princess Zelda had wasted no time in preparing to fix the ruined kingdom. A small smile came across his face at the memories of Zelda seeing the house he bought.

The Princess had almost cried at the thought of living in Hyrule Castle again. So when Wild offered for her to stay with him in Hateno Village, she was overjoyed. The children of Hateno loved her, and Zelda had taken to teaching them about the local wildlife. Her new role as an educator earned her the name "Miss Zelda" from the kids, and "Flora" from Wild himself, stemming from Zelda's love of flowers.

The soft sound of footsteps turned Wild's attention back to the present. He looked down from where he stood above the ladder on Twilight's house to see Twilight and Ilia walking from the path that led to the Spring. The two were smiling, and upon a closer look, Wild saw they were holding hands. A small smirk played across the Champion's face when he saw them, he knew from the moment they were reunited that the Rancher and his friend had feelings for each other. It had confused him, though. From the way Twilight had talked about Midna, the Champion was sure that was who he loved.

"How long will you be staying for?" Ilia asked. They were in Twilight's yard now.

The Rancher sighed. "I don't know. The portal that took us here was random, so we might be here for a while, or a few days." In truth, Twilight hoped they could stay for a while, like they did with Malon. Not only did he want to spend time in his home, he also wanted to show his friends his world. He could show them the Resistance and how they were working to help Hyrule, or maybe even Snowpeak and take Wild sledding.

Wild watched Twilight and Ilia, hesitant to make himself known, but also uncomfortable with eavesdropping. Sure, he listened in on people's conversations before, but that was to get information on the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab.

Deciding on showing himself, Wild acted like he'd just walked out and yawned, a loud, drawling sound. Twilight and Ilia looked up at him immeaditly. "How long have you been standing there?" The Hylian asked.

Wild shrugged. "I just came out. Nice night, isn't it?" The Champion could've sworn his mentor's cheeks were tinted pink.

Ilia smiled and looked at Twilight fondly. "Yes, it is."

The Rancher's blush deepened at her words, and Wild jumped down from his perch, avoiding the ladder. 

Ilia looked between the two. "Well, now I know you're the same person. Only Link jumps off ledges like that."

Wild looked at his friend. "You told her?"

Twilight shrugged. "Kind of. She figured it out."

Ilia chuckled at them, and the Rancher and Champion couldn't help but join her. But suddenly, the earth seemed to hold it's breath. Twilight's senses were put on edge, and before them, a portal appeared.

"What is that?!" Ilia asked as Twilight stepped in front of her.

"A portal," Wild said. He turned to his mentor, who looked solemn. "You know what we need to do."

Before Twilight could answer, the door to his house opened, and the Chain tumbled out, all half dressed and bleary-eyed.

"What's happening?" Time asked.

Four gasped. "Another portal?"

The Links began to discuss among themselves and grab their things. Twilight did the same, saddling up Epona. As he secured their bags to her saddle, Ilia walked over to him. 

"So I guess this means you're leaving, huh?" She said softly. She stroked Epona's neck, running her fingers through the mare's white mane.

Twilight sighed. "Yes. And I don't know when I'll be back." 

"I'll tell everyone what happened, so don't worry." She said. Twilight took her hand and took a step closer. He moved in to kiss her, but Legend called him.

"Rancher, you ready to go?"

Twilight sighed. He looked down at Ilia and squeezed her hand. "I'll be back. I promise."

He let go of her and led Epona through the portal with his comrades.

                           ~~~~~

This time, the portal was more pleasant. None of them landed face first in the dirt, but rather a grassy plain. Wild looked around, wondering where they could be.

"That was much better!" Sky said. 

"This place looks like Hyrule Field." Four said looking around. Several of them nodded in agreement. There were ruins scattered here and there, and several broken automations that caused Wild to grab his Sheikah Slate.

He opened his map, and it was working again! They were in Blatchery Plain, just got west of Fort Hateno.

"We're in my Hyrule." Wild said, turning to the group. Everyone looked at him.

"You're sure?" Hyrule asked.

Wild nodded. "Yeah. Just over there is where I died."

"Uh, okay?"  Legend said. But Wild couldn't stop smiling. They were only a short distance from his house.

"C'mon," The Champion said. "We can go to my house." He led the way as he walked. Epona nickered at the wild horses.

"Whoa." Wind looked up at the wall of Fort Hateno. "What is this place?"

"Fort Hateno." Wild said. "It's where Hyrule made it's stand against the Guardians. A bunch of fleeing farmers held them back here."

"A bunch of farmers?" Twilight asked. "What about the army?"

Wild sighed. "They were at Akkala Citidel, but they were overpowered. They say that it wasn't until Akkala fell that Hyrule was truly lost."

"The Guardians you mentioned." Time said as they passed through the woods. "We'll we see any?"

The Champion looked around the road, keeping an eye out for Yiga. "You already did. All those broken machines out there."

"How did they break?" Hyrule asked. "You make it seem like they were unstoppable."

A small smile played on Wild's face. "Zelda. She unlocked her power there and destroyed them. But I helped a little bit. I managed to take a few out before they got me."

"What is your Zelda like?" Sky asked. 

Wild pursed his lips. Sometimes it was hard to describe her. After losing his memories, the Champion had to practically watch his old life, and with that the old Zelda. But she was much different now. She smiled more and laughed. She wasn't burdened by the coming of the Calamity. "She's very smart and kind. But she also isn't afraid to tell people exactly what she thinks.

By now they were walking under the Cliffs of Quince. They walked in silence for a bit, taking in Wild's homeland. It was strangely quiet, save for their footfalls and a few birds. It was nice almost, the other lands they'd been to seemed to be loud, and bold. Boasting their adventure with the sounds around them. But Wild's home was quieter. There were still sounds, but it's silence allowed them to really take in their surroundings. The ruins of a once boasting kingdom. They were walking through what was left, and the sounds around them seemed to know.

Soon they saw a tall tower that has the Sheikah symbol on it. Time looked up at it in interest. It seemed that in this time, the Sheikah were thriving, as compared to his own time when Impa was the last one. 

Up ahead, a windmill could be seen, and a few houses as well. Wind brought his hand to his forehead to block the sun. He was riding Epona to get a better view. "Is that your village?"

Wild nodded. "Yep. I bought a house there. They're starting to put wells in too."

Time grimaced inwardly. He hated wells. It was bad enough having to navigate the haunted well under Kakariko Village, but fighting that...thing. Very few things scared the Old Man, but Dead Hand was one of them.

They walked along the part between Ginner and Midla Woods until they reached the front gate. A man familiar to Wild but not the rest waved. He had a straw hat and a pitchfork. He smiled when he saw Wild.

"Hey, Link! You're back? The Princess is at your house. She's been waiting for you to return."

Wild grinned. "Thanks, Thadd. I'll see you around." He led his companions up the hill and to the right, crossing the bridge over Firly Pond.

"Nice place, Champion." Warriors said surveying the property. "But the Princess lives here?"

Wild nodded. "Yeah. The castle is still undergoing reconstruction, so she stays with me. I am her appointed knight after all."

He opened the door. "Zelda?" He looked around, but no one was inside. It was a small house, she couldn't be far. "She's probably out back." He walked behind the house, and found the one he was looking for.

Zelda was sitting on the grass with a notebook and pencil in her hand. She had taken up the hobby of cataloguing the wildlife around her. At the sound of Wild's footsteps, she turned around. Her green eyes were as bright as ever. "Link?"

Wild gave her a lopsided smile. "Hey, Flora. It's been awhile."

She stood up and walked over to him, giving him a hug. "Where have you been?!" Her royal accent seemed to incenuate her words. She looked over his shoulder and saw the Chain. 

Flora pulled away from her knight. "Who are they?"

Wild scratched the back of his head. "It's a long story."

                          ~~~~~

Inside, all the Links were sitting at the table. Legend was looking at the pictures on the walls, and Four was examining the weapon mounts.

"Fascinating," Flora said. "So you're all the same person, yet not. And even more interested, you're all chosen by the gods to save Hyrule."

"Well, not me." Wind said as he fiddled with his sleeves. "My sister was kidnapped by Ganondorf, and in order to save her, I had to undergo lots of trials. Only then did the gods recognize me as the Hero."

Flora smiled. "You're all so different too." She looked at all of them as she spoke.. "From what you told me, you're from the forest, you're a captain of the Royal Army, you're a blacksmith, a sailor, a rancher, a knight in a new kingdom, a traveler, and you're..." She looked at Legend.

The Veteran shrugged. "Let's just say I'm a Jack of all trades."

Sky looked at the Princess. "You're so different from my Zelda, but so similar at the same time."

Flora brightened. "Really?"

The Chosen nodded. "You're both strong willed and powerful. But you're also kind and forgiving." He sighed at the thought of his Zelda. He longed to be with her once again.

Twilight shrugged. "I don't really know my Zelda very well, but you do have the same air of leadership, Your Highness."

Flora chuckled. "Please, there's no need for formalities."

"You don't know your Zelda?" Four asked, to which the Rancher shrugged. "I've known mine as long as I can remember." The Smith thought back to his loud friend, how her father and his grandfather had been old friends.

"I've known mine since childhood as well." Time chimed in. "But we went our separate ways long ago. I still see her sometimes when I'm delivering milk to Castle Town, but that's it really."

Warriors rapped the table with his knuckles. "I never really knew mine. But when the war started, I fought along side her. She is a powerful ally."

Wind grinned. "My Zelda hates being called Zelda. She prefers to be called by her middle name and lead us through the seas."

"How about you, Traveler?" Legend asked his friend. "What's your Zelda like?"

Hyrule had to think about it for a moment. He had two Zeldas. One that was captured by Ganon, and the other whom he awakened from a deep slumber. The former know lived in Hyrule Castle and was repairing her kingdom, much like Flora. But the latter was living on a small farm run by her and Hyrule, having chosen to lay low and live the life of a commoner.

"She working on helping my Hyrule, too." The Traveller said, choosing the Zelda from his first adventure. "What about you?"

Legend shifted. "She's the ruler, and a kind one at that." He wasn't lying, but it wasn't the whole truth. The Veteran didn't want to get into the whole scandal.

"Well, it sounds like you have very interesting versions of me as well." Flora said.

Wild nodded. "It really makes you wonder if there are more of us."

The group was silent as they thought about that. Could there be more of them. More young men with a heart of a lion, and more princesses with the blood of the goddess?

The setting sun shone through the windows, casting a golden light on the group's faces, and even making Wild's scares dance. Legend moved up the stairs and observed more pictures, but one caught his eye in particular. 

It showed Wild and Flora in the middle, but both held expressions of surprise. There was a Zora girl who was thrown forward and just as surprised, and a bird man, a Rito as Wild and Wind called them, who seemed to be sqwaking in shock. A Gerudo woman was smiling playfully, and a Goron with a mischievous grin was pushing them all together.

"Who are they?" The Hero of Legend asked. They obviously held some significance in Wild's, and possibly the Princess' life.

Wild and Flora's faces saddned slightly at the picture. "Those were the Champions." Wild explained. "Like me, they were chosen to help in the fight against Calamity Ganon."

"Were?" Time asked.

Wild sighed. "They fell in battle, but they weren't as lucky as me. If I had been faster...

Flora stood and looked at Wild. "Link, you know just as well as I do that it wasn't your fault. You were protecting me, you were doing your duty."

Wild scoffed. "Yeah, and some job I did with that. Tell me, how long were you in the castle fighting Ganon while I slept?"

"Link–"

"A hundred years, Zelda." Wild said standing. "And how much longer did you wait as I ran around Hyrule, just trying to remember who I was. Not to mention how long it took me to free the Divine Beasts." He scowled. "I wasted so much time as you were on your last legs. Some appointed knight I am." He opened the door and left.

"Link–!" Flora tried to go after him, but the door was shut in her face. Twilight rose and rested his hand on the Princess' shoulder. Was he overstepping his boundaries? Maybe. But at that moment she wasn't the princess, she was a girl who needed comfort from someone Wild knew well.

"Don't worry, he be okay."

"How can you be so sure?" Flora sniffed. Wild had expressed very little to her, an old habit he was trying to break.

Twilight sighed. "A few weeks back, I was mortality wounded and was dying. He had a moment like this, but after some time alone he calmed down and was able to help the situation."

Flora looked at the Rancher. While she may be older in years, 118 to be exact, the young man was still older physically and mentally. Not to mention he had spent months traveling with her Link. She let out a sigh. "I'm going to speak to him." She walked out the door.

                        ~~~~~

Wild sat at the summit of Ebon Mountain where Heartbreak Pond called home.

Heartbreak. That seemed to be the theme in the Champion's life. Doomed to fail and live with it. Sometimes Wild wished he had died a century ago, then he could at least be at piece with his friends. Or even his father and sister, who would have died by now anyway, even without the Calamity.

Wild didn't remember much of his family. Only his father's strong hands, and his sister's laughter. He had no recollection of his mother, but Zelda had found records at Hyrule Castle of each knight and their families. It seemed that his mother had died when his sister was only a baby due to an illness that swept over Hyrule.

Wild looked down at his gloved hands. Only his fingers showed, and the ones belonging to his left hand had scars on the tips. The scars. Each one a reminder of the pain he endured fighting for Zelda. His only goal to usher her to the safety of Kakariko Village. 

It was strange to think about how much he had changed since that fateful day a century ago. Once a silent, dutiful knight, loyal to his king, he was know a rambunctious wanderer, who didn't trust as much as he used to. Random travelers turning into banana-crazed assassians will do that to a person.

A sigh escaped his lips as he watched the sunset, and another sound was heard. Footsteps. Wild turned around to see Zelda walking over to him. Her blonde hair looked like a waterfall of gold and amber in the day's last light.

"I've always wondered what caused this pond to have such a shape." She said sitting down next to Wild. "I've heard of another pond like this on Tuft Mountain. Maybe I'll go and see it soon."

"It's nothing much." Wild said. "There's a few fairies that come out at night, but that's it."

Flora hummed. "It doesn't sound like nothing to me. I'd like to take up painting, and that could be an excellent way to start."

"The people of Lurelin might recognize you." Wild said. "You've mentioned how you want to keep a low profile."

"Then I shall have to wear a disguise then. How well do you think I can wear a false mustache?" She grinned at Wild, and he couldn't help but chuckle.

"Not very well." He replied honestly. "Not with that long hair of yours." 

Flora looked at him. "I've been thinking about cutting it. It gets in my way when we're traveling. We are headed to Faron to explore the Zonai ruins when you find out what's causing this mysterious portals. The climate there is humid and hot, so I don't know how well these locks will suit me. What about you? Have you given your hair any thought? It's rather long."

Wild felt his hair. The mane of gold reached down to his belt, but he didn't mind it. "I haven't thought about my hair in a hundred years." 

The centenarians shared a laugh. Wild looked down at his hands. "Flora, I'm sorry for my outburst inside. I just–"

Zelda put her hand on his. "Link, it's okay. I myself have felt the same way. But you must remember what Urbosa told you to tell me. "No one need carry blame." "

Wild smiled at her, stretching his scars upwards. "Thanks, Zelda." 

The two stared off into the sunset in silence. Wild turned to look at her suddenly. "You really think I should cut my hair?"

Flora chuckled, touching her fingers to her miumo as she so often did when laughing. "Well, it may help you sneak into Gerudo Town easier."

Wild gaped at her as she burst into laughter. "Fine. I'll remember that when you need someone to escort you to the Lost Woods."

She shoved him lightly. "I can navigate my way through the Lost Woods just fine, thank you very much."

Wild gave her the side eye. "Sure you can."

Now it was her turn to gape at him. "I can too! Honestly, Link, I'm surprised you even found your way through at all."

Wild smirked. "It was easy. Especially when you–" He stopped suddenly. "Oh, you almost got it out of me." 

Flora sighed. "It was worth a try. Why won't you tell me?"

"The Lost Woods is the only thing protecting Korok Forest." Wild explained. "I'll teach you when we go to get the Master Sword back from revitalization. It needs to be kept secret."

"I suppose you're right." Flora admitted. "You're counterparts..." She said changing the subject. "You seem to be close to the one you call 'Rancher'."

The Champion looked at her. "Do you remember the wolf that shows up randomly?" Zelda nodded, and he continued. "Well, that's him. Except younger. He didn't know me until this journey, but I know him because he helped me in this time, but he doesn't know that. Does that make sense?"

Flora nodded. "Yes." She looked out at the sunset. "But this whole thing is extraordinary. What could possibly be driving the Hero's Spirit together?"

"I don't know." Wild admitted. The sky was nearly dark now. The Champion looked over to his charge. She still had her hand on his, and he enjoyed the feeling. It reminded him that someone living remembered him, unlike so many of the people of Hyrule. Some exceptions were Kass, Riju, Yunobo, Teba (though he took some convincing), and the entirety of Zora's Domain.

But Zelda was there when it happened, when Hyrule fell. When he died. She has been with him since the beginning of his journey as a Champion, and Wild treasured that more than anything. He was her knight, and would give his life all over again for her.

[breannasfluff]

Lost Without You

Whump Rating: 2/5 TW: Depression

The shadow is defeated. A portal appears and the Chain knows, this is the final one. Tears are shed, promises and light-hearted threats are made, and everyone gives a last hug goodbye. Then, one by one, they step through the portal and vanish.

They were already in Wild’s world. He’d already gone through his last portal without realizing it. The blackness swirls, sucks in, and vanishes. The champion stands in the grass field, alone. The breeze blows through the grass, turning it into waves over the low hills. Far away, a wild horse whinnies. Then silence falls again.

Wild stares at the spot where his family vanished for a long time before finally turning in the direction of home.

Things aren’t the same after the journey ends. Link—no need for a nickname, now—goes through the motions. He helps Zelda, speaks with Purah, and tries to fall into the rhythm of life. The little house in Hateno, despite how he loved it previously, is too empty, now. Each corner is filled with memories of eight other boys and men laughing, joking, and filling his life with joy.

He can’t sleep in his bed without remembering times Wolfie curled up at his feet, or Hyrule crawled in and clung to his arm after a bad dream. The horse shed reminds him of Time, chewing on a piece of straw and telling ridiculous stories they couldn’t discount. With the old man, anything could be true.

Finally, Link gives the house to Zelda for her research and sets out to circle Hyrule. He’ll check in with the other races and towns. Maybe there he’ll find the meaning he lost. Yet each place holds the happiness of people moving on, while he is stuck in the same place.

Friends marry, break up, learn new skills, and build homes. Families change; growing and shrinking, yet never dying. Their lives are ever-churning onward. With each town, Link finds himself looking forward to the next less and less. He no longer has a family to visit. Well, it’s not a bad idea to travel the wilds. He’s often more comfortable there than anywhere else.

At first, it’s a good idea. The wilds are quiet and he falls into the rhythm of nature. There are no travelers out here and he can go days without needing to speak. After a while, he starts chatting to the air, telling his missing companions about his travels.

“There’s a fox mother in a den over there. I snuck up and looked at the kits. I think she noticed me, but I made sure not to get too close. Oh, some grasshoppers; I should catch them for making elixirs in the future. You know, I really cleaned out my stores making potions for everyone.”

The only answer is the wind. Link is quiet for the rest of the day.

The weeks blend together and he fully gives up on seeking out towns. Even traveling is losing its appeal. What’s the rush? There’s no goal; no people who need him to check in. He told Zelda when he left he’d be off the grid for a while.

What’s the use of a hero after the journey is over? He’d barely had time to settle after the first one before he was dumped into the Chain. Now, an eternity without his family looms. Each day, Link rests a little more. For each meal, he has a little less. He’s just…not hungry.

Slowly, he numbs to his surroundings. He takes an infrequent wash when he comes across a lake, but there’s no one to worry about. Link wakes tired and lays on his bedroll for hours, debating getting up and moving further. He collects less until he’s only depleting his supplies, not adding to it. Well, that’s easy enough to fix; he’s not hungry anyway.

Link doesn’t know how long he’s been out here. He could warp home; warm to a shrine or a town. Maybe he should be around people. But the idea of talking to people? Socializing? Keeping up the persona of a hero? It’s exhausting.

Mostly, Link sleeps. Maybe, one day, he’ll climb back into the shrine and they can suck the life back out of him. This body is on loan, anyway. Maybe next time, they’ll find a better hero to fill it with. Someone whose family is still around to support him.

Someone is screaming.

This is odd for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that Link is in the middle of nowhere. Someone could have encountered a rare enemy, but the scream is…excited? And raising in pitch and volume.

“Where is he?”

“The gem should take us right to him!”

“Do you think he’s underground?”

“What—where do you come up with these things?”

“Like a cave—wait, look over there.”

Huh. That sounds a lot like Wind and Warriors. Silly, because they are gone. Everyone is gone. Maybe this is it. His mind snapped and now he’s hearing voices.

Footsteps get louder and Warriors looks down at him in the grass, hands on his hips. “What in hyrule are you doing down there?”

Wind’s face pops into view, showing off straight white teeth when he grins. “Hey Wild! We missed—hey.” The smile fades, excitement seeping out. “Did something happen to you? You look, uh…”

“You look like shit,” Warriors finishes. He leans down, reaching out a hand. “You good? What happened?”

Link doesn’t take the hand, just stares at them. “That’s it,” he whispers. “I’ve gone crazy. Hallucinations.”

Wind socks him in the shoulder, much too hard to be a hallucination. “Get up! Warriors got a crystal! We need to get the others!”

“What…?” Link finally sits up, then stands. Woah, his legs are kind of shaky. Warriors grabs him, then hisses as his hand closes on a shoulder.

“How skinny are you? Wild, seriously, what happened?”

He transfers his gaze to the captain, slowly tracing over familiar features. “You left.”

“Yeah? Didn’t you have people to come home to?”

Link shrugs. “Not my family.”

“Wild? Are you okay?” Wind tugs on his tunic sleeve. “Did you miss us?”

“Yeah.” He closes his eyes for a long moment. “A lot. How—how are you here?”

The captain snorts and waves a gem on a chain. Took a while, but I got Cia to make a gem that will let heroes open portals. We’re picking everyone up to see how things are going.” He looks Link up and down. “You, my friend, are in dire need of some help.”

Link stares at his feet. “I don’t…know what to do anymore.”

Wind leans against his side, wrapping him in a half hug. “You rely on your brothers. We’ll get you back on your feet, okay? Twi is never going to let you out of his sight again.”

For the first time in a while, Wild smiles. “Let’s go see our family.”

[thecagedsong]

Okay, so I've seen a lot of complaints about the writing in totk, but I think the critiques are taking too narrow a view. Sure the arcs seem flat if you start from the point of Zelda and Link traveling below hyrule castle, but I don't think that's where you, the viewer, are supposed to start. You're supposed to start the story from the true ending of botw, and in doing so, the character arcs become not only beautiful, but complimentary and fulfilling. Spoilers under the cut.

Why should you start at the end of botw instead of the start of the game? Easy, because the game has to start in medias res, it's the nature of the game, but the story the game tells starts where botw leaves off.

They did this in botw. The game starts in the shrine of resurrection, but the story starts with Zelda's first journal entry/memory and the story is really about discovering your own fall and the rebirth that comes after destruction once hope exists in the light. The character arcs are about Zelda going from stubborn isolated powerless princess to conquering evil with the power of love. Link goes from the stoic knight that puts up with every expectation and falls to Link the amnesiac going at his own pace, at his own freedom, and succeeding.

The same way botw's story starts 100 years earlier, you have to start Zelda and Link's totk arcs from the true ending of botw. From the girl that had come to terms with her own powerlessness and sought to begin rebuilding from ash and the boy who fulfilled his one task, and is still choosing to use his freedom to help the dethroned princess rebuild.

The way Zelda is written is beautiful if you start from there. Because botw ended with her accepting that she had worth and duty beyond the golden power, and totk tells you how she showed that worth through service to her people. That girl that dreamed of being a scholar became a school teacher. That girl that had to fight so hard for her father's love and was convinced that everyone hated her own powerlessness? In her powerlessness she shared her knowledge with people and became loved for it. That girl who we left seeking the Zora, the only people that would remember her, when almost no one knows about the princess who was locked in the castle, is now known throughout the land. The girl that was missing for 100 years with only the sheikah remembering her, she disappears and the whole kingdom fights to find her.

The girl we saw walking away from the ruins of her home and her cage, listening to the distant goodbyes of her long-deceased loved ones, now has a home in Hateno where children run up to her house with just as much love screaming her name.

Now, in the middle of her arc, the start of totk, Zelda goes to confront the ghosts of Hyrule castle. In all her adventures in the time skip, Castletown and the castle are nowhere on the list. They are as destroyed as they were at the end of botw. BUT she has healed and grown, and is now strong enough, and ready enough to fulfill her duty, that she can return.

But she doesn't come back as it's princess, seeking to rebuild, she comes back as the archeologist, seeking to plunder its secrets. She hides the Champion's tunic there, (with a riddle involving light) and gasps in delight over all the archeological discoveries that had laid hidden beneath her feet all these years. She can handle the empty castle as a scholar.

But then she's in the past, and she's without Link, and she's meeting the people that established the kingdom she let fall to ruin. Zelda learns about the importance of being unified, as seen from her requests to the ancient sages, a central theme of totk. Zelda faces her own powerlessness when Mineru tells her there is no way back, and when Sonia begins to teach her control. Zelda immediately despairs over ever having the control and power Sonia wields, and it's the same frustration she had with her golden power when she was younger. But she asks for and accepts help this time (like she should have from Mipha in botw) and she gains control and power and it isn't enough in the past, but she knows how to make it enough.

Having united the sages, they watch her sacrifice in a sign of respect. The sheer ceremony of the moment is like nothing we've heard about what Zelda was like during the time skip. It isn't Miss Zelda the teacher that built a school in hateno, or Zelda the scholar that walked through Hyrule castle, it is once again Zelda the Princess making this sacrifice to swallow the stone.

It's meant to parallel the moment in botw where Zelda gets swallowed up by the Calamity. But you can see that she is surer of herself, centered, unafraid, and she does not ask Link to save her. She is not praying and looking back and asking Link to come save her. Instead, she tells him to save Hyrule. And it has meaning because she is also Zelda the scholar and Zelda the teacher and the thousand of other things we learn about her activities during the time skip. That is the hyrule she wants to save. That is the Hyrule she seeks to unite by asking the sages to bind their people to help Link in the future.

(She pressed the sword to her chest in a way that mirrored her stabbing herself, this time it is Zelda who died so that Link might live in the future.)

When Zelda tells Link that she's come home, you cannot say she has not changed from the homeless girl who had just learned to accept that her worth did not lie in birthrights and golden power. Zelda had learned her worth in the skills completely absent of any power, political or golden, but in the second half of her arc took up power and leadership again because that was what Hyrule needed of her. Because of the examples of Sonia and Rauru and because her fallen kingdom wasn't united and it needed to be. She is so much more complete than at the ending of botw, or even the start of totk. She has retaken the mantle of Princess, but she knows what it is about now and I don't know how else to say it if you aren't getting it.

Then comes Link, whose flexibility as the player has always required a less complex character arc, and probably deserves its own post, but I want to give it a quickshot anyway. Link leaves off botw probably still missing most of his memories, with the mastersword on his back, this time choosing to protect and walk with Zelda on her journey around Hyrule.

In the time skip, we learn that he sticks to her like glue. Princess Zelda and Link are perpetually paired by the people of Hyrule. Link barely even registers in people's memories without Zelda around, because he hasn't truly left her in all 5-7 years during the timeskip. He is known (again?) as 'Princess Zelda's loyal swordsman'. Is that a sign of him reclaiming some of his past life? Could be. What's important to learn about Link in the time skip is that he is no longer alone. Which is a big step from botw ending Link, who was always alone and had just begun traveling with Zelda again. From the rootlessness of botw, to saving Zelda, to making Zelda the place he always chooses to be, that's how Link's grown in the timeskip. He is no longer alone because he has Zelda.

He has someone worth fighting for now, he has memories of someone precious, someone he scours Hyrule to find. Link's freedom in botw was about discovering himself, but in totk, he is using his freedom to do everything to go to her. HE HAS A HOME NOW AND ITS CALLED ZELDA. Investigating rumors, walking into obvious traps, asking everyone and their dog about her. The goal of the game is to find Zelda. Bring her back.

And then you learn about Zelda's transformation. You see her crying. He pulls each of her tears and memories into himself. And this time it's Link asking 'do you really remember me?'. He has to take up Zelda's role and bring the amnesiac back to herself, give her back her memories. The job's not done because he found her transformed, she needs her memory back, it's not done until she's back and knows herself.

This arc is coupled with Link confronting his own failures. He was at the height of his powers when the demon king Zapped him and he let Zelda slip through his fingers. He failed her, just like he did before. And the people that do recognize him without Zelda all ask him where she is, and he has to admit he failed to them too, something he didn't have to do in botw.

But unlike botw, where he failed and the solution was to get strong enough not to fail/be strong at the same time Zelda is, in totk, the solution is to unite with allies. Unite the tribes, accept their help, and only then is Link and crew strong enough to take on the demon king.

It is only when he also takes up the mantle of Rauru and Sonia and unites Hyrule into a single force, it is only when he accepts aid from the past and pulls their vision of hyrule into the future, that he gets Zelda back. Zelda needed to learn how to take up being a princess again for the sake of Hyrule. Link needed to learn how to unite Hyrule for the sake of Zelda.

And though I would have liked Zelda to be a little dragonish, or Link to deal with being an amputee, it doesn't bother me that much because their arcs weren't about that. I don't think it makes the stories bad writing.

But you have to start from the true ending of botw to get that.

[syndxlla]

best friends don’t look at each other the way we do

A low stakes, high reward and self-indulgent Zelink fan fiction. Canon-compliant. Takes place between both and totk

Chapter Six: This is Home

Read chapter five here

My masterlist

Song: Run To You by Leah Michele

Summary: Link is brought on to investigate a new strange monster plaguing the farmers in Hateno. He is faced with a new type of post-traumatic experience he doesn’t expect to have.

Warnings: canon-typical violence, suspense and horror, PTSD, squint and theres very base-line sexual content, GRAPHIC descriptions of animal mutilations!

Word Count: 3.5k words

Authors Note: I didn’t update for two and a half months and said “lemme give you guys the best chapter yet” (imo). Thank you for being patient with me. I restarted school, closed one musical, opened and closed a 30 performance long run of another musical and literally fell in love with a man 16-years-older than me in that time lol. Also I wrote this in one sitting and I’m starting chapter 7 now 🫡. Its unedited be nice.

Also please do not make fun of me for using a Leah Michele song for this chapter its so good and it works really good so just shut up. Kloveyoubye

The summer starts to get hotter. A week passes and nothing changes, neither of them ever address the hand holding, Link is fixing the hole in the roof and Zelda is reteaching herself how to fix a clock, an activity she originally learned at the age of seven. Everything is so normal, the sun starts to set a little later, and the fireflies have started hatching.

Link never really thought he would end up in a position to do housework. He tried to get Bolson to fix the hole before Link bought it, but it would take a certain number of wood piles and when Link went out to get them he got a little distracted. And by distracted he means ending the sandstorm in the desert caused by the Divine Beast. It just got put on the back burner, and now here he is, using basic tools to hammer in new shingles. He wipes his brow, his shirt off again. He takes a look at the hammer in his hand, thinking about the savage Lynel sword that same hand has swung.

The passage of time is weird.

Maybe he does want to go back to work. Going from Demon slayer to roof repairman in two and a half weeks is a little jarring.

He hears a groan of frustration from inside the house, and makes his way inside, where it's much cooler.

“Everything alright?” He asks, looking at the girl who’s hunched over the kitchen table.

“No, this is absurd.” She slams the machine on the kitchen table. “I can’t remember how to do the most basic thing in engineering ever.” She frowns.

Link chuckles and places a dirty hand on her shoulder as he walks past her. He moves to the water basin and wets a cloth that he wraps around his neck. “I don’t know the first thing about that stuff, so you have me beat.” He shrugs. “Man, what I would give for an hour at Lurelin right now. Or better yet a weekend at Tabantha. I bet the weather there is a comfortable 60 degrees.” He sighs. Trying to slyly put the worm in Zelda’s ear about a possible trip.

Zelda groans, “I agree. I don’t remember it getting this hot.”

“This is just the beginning, wait until it’s the midsummer festival.”

“A festival?” Zelda’s face lights up.

Link nods, “It’s something they started about thirty years ago. It’s right here in Hateno. People from all parts of the kingdom will travel for it.” Link drinks some water, leading against the counter at the hip. Zelda makes special effort not to admire how his obliques curved. “There’s music and dancing, it’s quite fun. I was invited last year as a special guest. The “chosen hero” or something like that.” Link shrugs.

At that moment they hear a sharp knock on their door. It startles both of them. Link moves to answer it, setting the rag and cup down.

“Dantz, what is it?” Link says as he opens the door to a distressed farmer.

“Master Link, so good to see you,” His voice is shaky, “I didn’t know who else to go to.” Link listens more intently, Zelda even stands. “Two more of my cattle have been killed. When I heard you were back in town I knew you could help me. I don’t know who—or what—is killing them, but it's not a moblin. It’s something darker.” He’s speaking a mile a minute.

“Slow down,” Link stops him, “When did this happen?”

“In the night, I came here as soon as I could. They were covered in something… unnatural. Please, Link.”

Link turns back to look at Zelda. “Stay here.”

“What? No. I’ll come with you!” She moves to him and Link stops her. If this is anything like what Cado saw at the castle, he didn’t want her to be anywhere near it.

Link completely turns around and puts his hands on her shoulders, “Zelda, you cannot.” He stays sternly.

“Why? You don’t have to baby me. I can help you.”

“Zel-“

“I’m better! Please don’t leave me-“ Before she finishes the sentence she’s falling back down, like she was going to faint again. She had gotten herself worked up and now her heart was weary again. Link catches her before she falls, her knees knocking together.

“Oh, Goddess.” Dantz says. “Should I help?” He asks and Link snaps, telling him ‘no’ a little too forcefully.

“Zel, come on, let's get you to bed.” He wraps her arm around his shoulder. “Dantz, I’ll be there within the hour. I’m sorry.” Link says in a calmer tone.

“I understand, Link.” He nods and turns to leave.

Zelda can’t get up the stairs and Link picks her up, carrying her up to her room. He places her in bed as she starts to cry.

“Hey, hey it’s okay.” He brushes her hair out of her face. She takes his hand.

“No. It’s not.” She replies. “Stop telling me it’s okay.” She groans. “It’s ridiculous that I can’t do anything without this happening.” It was the second time this week.

“I have to go help them.” His hand is held back by her, but she eventually lets it go.

He turns to leave her, pulling his green tunic over his messy hair, and getting ready for combat. He isn’t even anticipating a fight, but he wants to be ready. He puts his gloves on, and straps both his sword and shield to his back. He even gets his bow ready because he has no idea what it might be. It sounds serious.

It’s the first time he’s been entirely suited-up since the castle. He forgot how natural it feels. He forgot how much he felt like himself.

Zelda has gotten up and stands at the railing of the loft. “Be careful.” She says in a weak voice.

Link looks up at her, he wants to stay here with her and hold her and let her know that it's going to be okay. “Please rest.”

He walks out the door.

The cattle are lying dead in the corner of the pasture. Flies buzz around them. Dantz and Link examine the scene, a pit in both their stomachs.

“What could it be?” Dantz asks.

Link crouches down, getting a closer look. The gunk is a deep maroon color, almost like malice but thinner, almost like a glossy serum as opposed to a thick slime. Link takes a risk and touches a bit of it that was strewn across the grass, rubbing it between his fingers. It didn’t seem to hurt him the way malice did. He sniffs it, it’s rotten and foul. He gags almost immediately. Link wipes his hand off in the grass.

“I’ve never seen anything like this.” He admits. “And I’ve seen a lot.” This was only confirming his worst fears.

“The other ones that were killed were left like this too.” Dantz explains, “There isn’t even any meat taken out of them, only their eyes are gouged out.” He points out.

“Whatever is killing them is doing it for sport.” Link stands back up and folds his arms. “This is bizarre, I must say.” It was starting to be late afternoon, he still had a few hours of sunlight. “What did you do with the other ones that were killed?” Link asks.

“We tried to clean them up and butcher them for food. But the meat inside was rotten, like it was poisoned under the skin.”

Link hears a giggle from behind them and turns around to see the two daughters of the rancher watching them from behind a post. When he catches them staring they both hide.

“How old are your girls?” He asks.

“Siva is eighteen and Catli is sixteen.” Dantz replies. “They are my pride and joy, I can’t let anything bad happen to them.”

Link advances towards them, “Girls.” He smiles, charming as ever. They both sneak out from behind the post, sheepish and giddy. The older steps forward.

“You’re the hero.” She puts her hands behind her back. Link nods.

“Can you girls show me the edge of your property?” He asks, wanting to test a theory. They both happily nod and start to lead him, he notices especially how Siva looks at him as she walks by. She was very agreeable: long, dark and curly hair and alluring eyes. He follows them. They take him past the fence and through the forest, the younger chatting and asking questions about his quests and whatnot. He just smiles and nods, answering with basic “yes’” or “no’s”.

Link’s theory starts to prove right, he sees a set of two acorns on the ground, then a pair of two foot tracks, and eventually, at the end of the property, where two songbirds lay dead at the bottom of a tree, both covered in the same strange goop. Whatever this is, it’s looking for things in pairs. Like two sisters.

Link would never imagine putting these girls in danger, and would send them home in about an hour or two when it started to get dark, he just wanted to lure out whatever was killing with a pair.

He sat down at the base of a tree, and listened as the girls talked themselves up, clearly competing with one another for who can be the most impressive to the hero. Link decides to let them have their fun, it’s not like he was getting this attention from Zelda.

Zelda.

She’s all he could think about. He listens to the girls for a full hour, but doesn’t comprehend a word they’re saying because all he can do is think about the woman he left at home. He wishes he hadn’t left her home, she’s probably sad and lonely. Or maybe she isn’t, perhaps she’s enjoying some alone time. He doubted it, though. He was sure she was fuming at him for just leaving her, for going in such a rush. Proximity can cause problems, maybe this was good for them.

Link must have zoned out because all of a sudden the younger sister was gone, and he was left alone with Siva. This was dangerous territory.

“Where did your sister go?” He asks, clearly uncomfortable.

“Oh! I told her to go get her tapestry to show you! Of course.” Siva says in a tone that was a little too flirty for Link’s liking. She sits next to him, facing him. Link knew the look on her face, and he knew he should stand up and put an end to whatever was about to happen. “Because you know… now we’re alone.” She sighs and leans in.

Stop. Stop. Stop. He tells himself but doesn’t move, he lets her place her lips on his.

Link is not an experienced kisser. He’s had a few drunken nights in the last three years where he ended up in a Gerudo’s bedchamber or a stable-workers hideout, and while those were all agreeable experiences, he’s never actively sought them out. It was always nice to get the tension from his journey off, though.

Link makes the mistake of kissing her back, and she’s sighing into his touch and he’s pulling her in. Being alone with a woman he’s been in love with for three years and not being able to touch her or talk to her the way he wants to has left him with a lot of pent up energy, it felt good to get it out.

Link puts his fingers through her hair, and starts to kiss down her jawline and neck and she’s letting out the prettiest little sounds.

And then he starts to think about Zelda. The sounds Zelda would make, the feeling of her hair intertwined in his fingers, how her lips would feel against his…

Zelda.

Zelda.

“Zelda.” He sighs, and then Savi is pulling away.

“Hm?” She asks, and Link is dazed and confused, thinking with anything other than his brain. He doesn’t know how long they were kissing because suddenly it's much darker outside, and if Dantz caught them like this, Link would be the one hunted down and killed, not whatever monster is out there.

Link immediately feels stupid, this was a rookie mistake. He shouldn’t have let it happen.

“What?” He responds to her, and then out of the corner of his eye, he sees something run behind the tree. “Shit.” He jumps up. “You need to go. Right now.” He pushes her back towards the house. It wasn’t far, she’d be okay. “Please don’t tell anyone about this.”

She nods, also remembering their reason for being out here. She runs back home and Link shakes his head, trying to refocus. He sees it again, it’s fast, moving from tree to tree, but further away. Link grunts and starts to slowly follow it. He isn’t sure if it saw him. It’s tall, and it’s dark. He would guess it’s a Moblin by its size but it's much too fast to be a moblin. Perhaps a wizzrobe? But he could hear its feet on the grass. Link starts the stalk, prowling towards it like a predator.

He doesn’t think it knows he’s following, because he’s able to follow it halfway up Madorna Mountain before he accidentally steps on a branch that snaps loudly. Again, a rookie mistake. Link was out of practice, rusty. He silently curses himself for that. The beast turns around to look at Link, but he’s able to hide behind an oak tree. It was still a little light out, and the lights from down were getting smaller and smaller as they worked their way up the mountain.

Link stayed vigilant. It’s been a long time since he’s had to fight a new enemy, and he wasn’t sure how powerful this was going to be. It gets quiet, he doesn’t hear it move. Even with Link’s impaired hearing, he had a knack for the details, but not today, not now. A cricket chirps but it’s silenced halfway through its sound. The wind goes still. A cloud covers the moon.

He girds up, and moves from behind the tree to keep following it, but he’s met with a horrific sight.

The creature is standing there, about six feet away from Link.

It startles him. He’s met with a feeling of dread.

It’s tall, probably seven feet. It’s hunched down, a humanoid-sort of beast that looks like a shadow covered in the same maroon gloop as the animals.

Link freezes up, he is paralyzed with fear because he knows exactly what it is.

He knows who it is.

It opens its eyes, those awful, yellow, glowing eyes. He chuckles at Link and it fills his skull. It wasn’t quite human, like it was a pile of goo that was regaining its strength and slowly rebuilding itself into a human. Into a phantom.

They stare at one another, his laughter taunts Link. Link can hear his heartbeat in his ears. His palms start to sweat. He is met with the images of three weeks ago. The battle, the castle, the evil.

Ganon.

Or at least some form of him.

He doesn’t move, he just laughs at Link. The boy swallows, and he wants to run, but he rolls his shoulders back.

“Courage and Bravery are two different things.” Zelda’s words ring in his memory.

He grabs his sword.

The Master Sword unsheathes with a light ring, and it glows in the darkness.

In an instant, the monster is screeching and howling like a Lynel and melting away from the light of the sword. The pure power of the holy blade made the beast slowly melt into the ground, like an ice cube in the desert. It covered its eyes, and screlted into the forest, echoing no doubt into town.

Link walked closer to it, waving the blade, spinning it in his hand until the creature was completely put away.

Whatever that was, it isn’t very strong. It will surely get stronger, though. Link had a feeling this was not the end of it. It left behind a puddle of goop. Link’s stomach dropped when he realized why it was killing for sport and in pairs of two. It was probably seeking Him and Zelda. Unable to differentiate what living things were hylian and what was cattle or animals. The stealing of the eyes surely had something to do with it regaining its strength, but what?

How did it know to come look in Hateno already?

After sheathing the sword and thanking the Goddess, Link took a moment to bury the secretment. He still felt sick to his stomach. Why did he freeze up like that?

Maybe that final battle had more of an effect on him than he thought.

He heads home, explaining to Dantz what had happened and what he saw, sugar-coating it a little and just saying it was a ghost. Link wasn’t sure how long it would stay away for, but hopefully long enough he could talk to Impa about it. Clearly the Master Sword was protecting him. He made a special effort to avoid Savi.

When he gets home, he drops his equipment off, pulling his gloves and boots off and leaving it all in his little corner downstairs. He pulls his shirt off. He would sleep out with Epona again tonight, he would need to to avoid the nightmares. His Mare had that effect on him. The feeling of safety and home.

Zelda was asleep, snoring lightly in her bed. He stayed quiet and went to sit at the table, grabbing a baked apple to silence his rumbling stomach. Guilt washed over him as he remembered what he did today. Savi came onto him, but he knows he shouldn’t have let that happen. He was ashamed of his conduct.

The laughter of the phantom rang in his ears. Flashes of its grin and glowing eyes projected in his mind. He felt ill.

Link disassociated. He sat at the table for three hours and it went by in minutes.

What snaps him out of it are the screams of terror he hears from upstairs.

His mind immediately jumps to the worst possible situation. He grabs the master sword and sprints upstairs. He sees nothing but a scared girl, crying from a nightmare.

“Zelda, what is it?” He asks, setting the sword town and running to her. He kneels by her bed and takes her hand. “I’m here, what’s wrong.” He whispers.

“You’re here?”

“I’m here.”

“B-but. The guardian, it got you. It killed-”

“It was just a nightmare, it wasn’t real.” Link reassures her. “I’m here, breathing, alive as ever.”

Zelda shakes her head, she’s clearly so traumatized that she cannot differentiate dream from reality anymore, she probably thinks him saying that is the dream.

“Here, feel.” He grabs her hand and places it against his chest where his heart is. “Feel that?” He asks, “Bum-bum. Bum-bum.” He whispers. “That’s my heart. Its pumping, it's beating.” Zelda sobs and he pulls her into his chest. “It’s okay, I got you. I’m here.”

He holds her for a moment and then stands up, “I’ll get the stool if it will help you sleep.” He turns to go.

“Stay with me.” She asks, tears wetting his collarbone.

“I’ll be right here, I’ll grab the stool.” He says.

“No, stay with me.” She says, and gestures to the bed.

“What?”

“Please. I cannot sleep without you by my side. I’m too afraid I’m going to lose you again.” She sniffles.

“Zelda I can’t-“

“Why?” She asks. “Because of decorum? Because I’m royal? Because you don't want to get caught?” She picks up her hands ‘None of that matters anymore’ she signs.

Link nods, “Are you sure?”

“Please.” She pleads.

Link moves back to her, trying to control his racing heart. Zelda scoots over to she’s closer to the wall, and Link carefully crawls into the covers of the bed. There wasn’t a ton of room, there would be no way for them to lay in the bed without being in full contact. “Is this okay?” He asks as he pulls the covers up.

She nods.

“Hold me?” She asks.

Link looks at her and it takes every ounce of his self-control not to kiss her. He nods and lays his head down, his chest facing up. He pulls her into his chest, wrapping his left arm around her shoulders and his right arm over his stomach to her waist. She tries to control her breathing, and it gets easier as their hearts begin to sync up.

Link wants to cry too, because this is the safest he has felt in a hundred and three years. This is the most at home he has ever been. He mentally-pinches himself because he’s sure he’s dreaming. But he doesn’t wake up, in fact, he starts to fall into the deepest sleep he’s ever had.

Every muscle in his body starts to relax, his eyes get heavy, and the scent of the girl on his chest fills his dreams with images of fairy forests and gentle ocean waves and the time of day when the sun moves into twilight.

This is home.

[underyourspellfics]

Post-Calamity Life

There will be spoilers for the end of BOTW and mild spoilers for TOTK Please, I just love them both so much and they deserve a break from the constant tragedies and heartache ;-; Zelda x GN!Reader x Link

||General||

• They are so incredibly grateful to have you by their side, both during the nightmare that was the Calamity and now when things have settled

• Perhaps it is the trauma that surrounds the both of them from having lost so much during the Calamity, but they rarely ever leave your side -- they want to make sure you’re really there, that you’re not going to disappear if they blink

• Regardless if you had been apart of the fight 100 years ago --and survived thanks to Purah’s youth serum-- or if you only joined the fight in recent years, they are both so appreciative of all that you have done

• Because of the destruction all across Hyrule, and especially of the castle, it was quickly established that Zelda would be staying with Link

• And you of course

• It doesn’t matter how far you lived before, they would both be very insistent on you living with them in Hateno

• If you didn’t want to leave your previous residence behind, Zelda would enlist in Robbie and Purah’s help in instating a way to quickly travel between the two

• Lots of domestic bliss

• It feels strange for the three of you to have settled into a comfortable homelife after so much death and carnage and ruin --so foreign that the encroaching fear of something shattering the peace lingered constantly-- but slowly but surely you all are learning to enjoy the moments you share

• Link does far more than he should around the house

• House repairs and maintenance, cooking, cleaning, etc.

• It's mostly busywork

• He was so used to doing things on his own, and having something to do constantly because of his travels and destiny

• But now that peace has somewhat settled and returned, he feels he has to make up for his lack of work

• You and Zelda do your best to help him, in hopes that you can show him that he isn’t alone anymore

• Zelda’s strong suit doesn’t lie in cooking --she understands the concept but executing it doesn't always end in favorable results-- so she usually takes up cleaning up after meals

• She also loves to do the shopping

• It gives her a chance to get out of the house and actually interact with her people more closely, and it gives her a chance to experience something she would have never if her life in the castle remained

• You do your best to help where you can, either by helping Zelda or Link with their own chores or filling the gaps that still need to be filled

• Mending clothes in one such chore you’ve designated yourself

• How many pieces of clothing did Link obtain that were covered in cuts and tears?

• How many times did Zelda or Link nick their clothes when it snagged on something?

• Healing was another big task you’d taken upon yourself

• Link doesn’t even notice half of the minor injuries he gets anymore, so he’s grateful when you see them and help him tend to them

• They love to give you small gifts, usually things they find while traveling across Hyrule

• They want you to know that they’re always thinking of you

• Cuddles are a MUST

• The two are far more touch starved than they would like to admit

• They just want to feel you close to them, it helps solidify that you’re really there for them, that this isn’t all just in their head

||Zelda||

• Gardening has become one of her main hobbies, and she invites you to join her often

• Although she mostly grows various flowers and medicinal herbs --for your potions-- she has picked up a few tips on growing vegetables from the Hateno locals

• Despite how all other attempts at domesticating the Silent Princess have failed, she has managed to successfully grow 3 that have sprouted intertwined

• She views this as a sign that the three of you are meant to be together, because of the legend about swearing your love on one

• She loves to take you on her excursions across Hyrule during the restoration process

• Especially when visiting the various stables and helping to take care of all the different creatures across the land

• She named a Dondon after you ;-;

• She loves to go out riding with you across Hyrule, it gives her an excuse to take in the scenery you

• The children of Hateno ask about you constantly, expressing that they’d wish you’d visit more whenever Zelda stopped by to teach

• If she has just fallen asleep or is in between being asleep and awake, she is a light sleeper

• But the second she’s out like a light, she sleeps like the dead

• It's actually kind of terrifying

• Her nightmares are not as frequent as Link’s, but she has a much more difficult time waking from them

• You’ll have to call out to her and shake her awake to free her from her own tormented thoughts

• She’s unable to get a word out over her hiccupy sobs, and she just clings to you until she’s able to calm herself down

• She is so incredibly grateful of you helping her through these moments, and she does her best to make it up to you the next morning

• She is a morning person and enjoys getting out to see the sunrise whenever she can

• Her affections are far shyer than Link’s

• This is mostly due to her upbringing, where she was supposed to refrain from expressing too much lest she give enemies something to use against her

• But she’s learning, slowly but surely, that it doesn’t have to be that way

• Because she wants to express herself, especially when it comes to her feelings of you

• Her favorite thing to do is to link pinkies together, it’s a way for her to know you’re right beside her no matter what you two are facing

• If you have it, she loves to play with your hair, no matter how long or short it may be

• She would love it if you played with her hair too, braiding and styling it how you please

• It gives her such a comfort, and she could fall asleep in your arms from how soothing it is

• She loves to read to you, even if you have no idea what she is talking about

• She just gets so excited about her findings on anything and everything and wants to share it with you as soon as possible

||Link||

• On the days where Link doesn’t have anything to do, he’ll follow you around as you do your daily routine

• Your presence is enough to put him at ease, and it’s enough to remind him that you’re really here, that you’re not going to up and disappear

• His affections are much more subtle than Zelda’s, although they are not as shy as hers

• Gentle touches on your shoulder or against the small of your back, grabbing your hand and intertwining your fingers, leaning down to press feathery kisses to the crown of your head

• He isn’t the best with words, so he puts all of his love and affection into his actions to show you how much he cherishes you

• He is so touched by how gently you treat him when you are treating his wounds

• The way your fingers ghost across his scars and how you utter such comforting whispers as you clean him up

• He recalls how kindly Mipha used to treat him and the others during the time of the Calamity, and he’s so incredibly grateful that someone else treats him with the same gentleness and humanity

• He can thrive off only a few hours of sleep, but there are days where he’s so exhausted that he can sleep through an entire day if given the chance

• It doesn’t matter if you were a fighter or not during the time of the Calamity, he’s going to teach you to fight

• He just wants you to be able to defend yourself should something ever happen, and there are days where he has to leave to help fight off any remaining monsters that linger across Hyrule so he wants you to be able to stay behind and keep things safe

• One of his all time favorite things to do with you is to go out riding horses

• It feels so freeing, just to be out in an open stretch of field and to be racing as fast as possible, feeling the wind whip through your hair and across your skin

• His memories may be scattered due to having been asleep for 100 years, but that doesn’t stop the nightmares from tearing through his mind every night

• He is such a light sleeper, both due to his rigorous training as a royal knight and because of his own anxiety and paranoia of being attacked at any moment

• He tries so hard not to wake you or Zelda on his worst nights, and he tries to slip out as quietly as he can to try and destress

• His main way of working through the stress and panic is training

• He has been known to work himself to near exhaustion just trying to chase his demons away

• If you do wake during the night and find him out training, sit with him

• He may not open up about his nightmares, at least not right away, but having your presence is enough to still his racing thoughts for even a moment

• There are nights where he can’t handle it all alone, the stress and pain and fear catching up to him all at once

• Those are the nights where he craves your presence the most, just to hold you and cry into your shoulder and allow himself a moment of vulnerability with one of the few who he trusts so dearly

[chicxxonaa]

Have some Zelink fluff(?) hehehe

(slight spoilers for ToTk)

“Are we soulmates in every universe?”

“We don’t have a choice.”

I lost you again, Zelda.

…

After a hundred years in deep sleep.

Not even feeling a wake of consciousness.

The world I knew was overruled by nature.

The places I knew before were not the same.

The homes I’ve seen, destroyed, different.

The people are different. They don’t know me.

No one that I knew was here.

There’s Impa, and her clan.

The people of Hateno. The Rito. The Gerudo.

The Zoras and the Gorons.

Travelers, merchants, good people.

But no one that I knew.

Revali, Daruk, Mipha, Urbosa. The king.

They were gone.

You were gone.

But not anymore.

…

It’s been a peaceful three years.

Slowly, everything has been restored in new ways I couldn’t imagine.

The people love you. Their Princess.

I was anxious, scared actually. Of placing you in the position of Princess. A leader. You must’ve been so tired, so much energy, and time keeping the evil at bay.

I didn’t want to put you in a place where you’d have to stretch yourself thin anymore than you were.

But, the one lesson I always seem to forget that you have taught me time and time again, is to never underestimate you.

You placed yourself in that role you swore you could never uphold. And you became the person who brought up the whole kingdom out of such a dark rule.

And I followed in return. I’ll always follow you.

I’m your knight.

I’m the one who will follow you to every house, every village, every forest, every mountain, every desert, every corner of Hyrule. I will follow you, protect you, watch you and let you know you’re not alone.

You were never alone.

You’re never alone when we are exploring a large and dark cave, knowing danger lurks inside.

You’re never alone in the places you loved to travel to, to discover, for research or to simply to gaze upon and admire.

You’re never alone on nights when you couldn’t sleep because of the nightmares you’d have of that fateful day. And it was hard for you to go back to sleep.

Because I will be there.

With either a weapon in my hand, or my arms open for embrace. I will be there for you.

…

The night before we began our exploration under the castle rubble, our supplies were packed, and all of our equipment was ready for the day to come. You slept next to me, a gentle hum of your voice every time you’d gently breathe. You were asleep, but I couldn’t close my eyes again.

I had a dream.

I saw you, and I saw myself.

But we looked different.

First you and I were on large birds, in the sky.

Soaring without care in the world.

And then we were young, in a castle. You gave me such an odd instrument. But it played beautiful music

Then we changed again. We were at sea. What a vast sea it was.

Then we were under a blanket of twilight, only to be pierced by your light.

We changed again, and again, and again.

…

I understand now.

This life, our life, is a cycle.

That you and I are doomed to repeat over and over again.

To stop a malefic doom that none of us conjured.

We are here, together, because we don’t have a choice.

But I don’t care.

I don’t care if I die, and come back once again as the hero.

I don’t care that I’m linked to this chain of a spiral that will not cease due to a curse that has been placed thousands upon thousands, upon thousands of years ago.

I don’t care, because you’re here.

We don’t have a choice, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.

In all of the lives we’ve lived together, you were happy with me. You smiled at me. In every version of you, your gracious smile never changed.

And my love for you, never changed.

It’s a curse I’m happy to carry, as long as you’re with me.

A curse that has blessed me beyond measure.

…

Now we are separated again, you’re in a place I can’t reach you yet.

I only see your figure above so distantly. You’ve become a part of the sky. Your tears hitting the earth. Staining the land with your memories. You must feel so alone…I’m so sorry.

I lost you again, Zelda. And I’m so sorry.

But, I will be with you again. No matter what it takes.

You’re meant to be with me. My silent princess, my Zelda.

I will always save you.

Until the ends of eternity.

…

[natdrinkstea]

Zelda 3 - L + un

so this one isn't writing as much as it is a little thought exercise @haijinks and I use to keep each other occupied and it is What Would Our Perfect BOTW/TOTK follow-up look like?

putting this under a cut :) it's long :)

our basic premise so far (Nintendo you can pay us $10000000 to use this) is that it's about five (maybe ten?) ish years post totk and link is visibly older! late 20s, early 30s, less boyish and more of a Real Adult. He's still getting used to having Both Arms Again, but in general everything is Normal now? Rebuilding after the Calamity is near finished, Tulin and Riju are all grown up (😭), and in general everything is chill. until! inciting incident! don't freak out, but Ganon's once again trying come back. BOO! but in my vision his soul or whatever is a sort of shooting star, a meteorite slowly falling from the sky directly towards Hyrule castle. (Imagine a huge ball of white-red light hovering above the castle throughout the game. UGH. isn't that COOL).

Guess Link is back at it again!

Because I miss them, Link has to go on a little cross-country journey, Zelda in tow, to attempt to convince the Sages/Champions to- you guessed it- BRING THE DIVINE BEASTS BACK! and he has a little quest in each region similar to botw where we get to reprogram each divine beast to aim its laser towards the Ganon Meteor. in these little quests we get to see how the last fifteenish years have really impacted the people of this world- two world-ending catastrophes that close together have got to leave a mark. how did Tulin and Riju manage growing up in Revali and Urbosa's footsteps, and having to save the world so young? Is Yunobo cool again? Is Sidon still hot?

our idea for the Gerudo/Naboris quest specifically was that just before the time this takes place, word got out about the existence of a young gerudo who (gasp!) is a boy. this isn't necessarily bad, but after ganondorf everyone's a bit on edge. so, zelda and link go to check it out, and learn that this kid's totally normal, just a bit desperate to prove his worth after being Hidden In Shame for so long. it'd be sad and about generational trauma or whatever

other things of note:

-> ZELDA DOESN'T DISAPPEAR IN THIS ONE! She actually travels with Link for some of the more plot-heavy portions of the game! I think she maybe provides some cool mechanic or something, like the memories in BOTW but if they weren't pictures. Maybe she's just a walking sheikah slate/purah pad lmao. AMD SHE CAN BE HELPFUL IN COMBAT. somehow. we haven't figured it out. can you summon her like the Sages? who knows

-> similarly, Zelda was fucked up big time by the Dragon-ing and I think another main quest has something to do with the fallout of that. maybe her cool powers are fucking up, or she has scary nightmares about being a dragon again, or visions or smth. idk man. wouldn't it be cool though.

-> link gets a third set of cool new superpowers. no ideas for what those would be

-> you can sit down whenever you want in this one

-> MY BIGGEST NEW ADDITION: because totk introduced the sky islands and the depths as new areas, we have ... drumroll.... two new divine beasts!! that's right, in the last few years people have made these areas hospitable and that means they need a giant robot animal too. to fit in. In my heart the depths beast is a snake, with the mechanic being that it's coiled around a huge stalagmite and you can rotate it up or down from the map. the sky one is a dragonfly!!!!!! and maybe it flaps its wings in a fun way! who knows!

-> you can decorate Link's house in Hateno however you want. just because I want to

-> nothing about shrines yet! I'm thinking maybe a weird mixture of the botw and totk ones? but we're not totally sure.

-> At the beginning of the game Link decides he is Retired and puts the Master Sword back!!! By the Deku Tree! so you have to get it back! but it's different this time somehow. somehow. we don't know everything.

send ideas if u have them!!! this is basically fanfiction

[wouldyoustilllovemeifiwasawyrm]

Hope

Linktober 2023 Day 23: Child/Children “Welcome, everyone! Thank you all so much for coming to see me this morning! I know we’re all going to have a wonderful time learning together.” Zelda began, smiling brightly at the students. “Back when I was a kid, Hyrule had lots of schools, at least one in every village. We learned about reading, writing, mathematics, science, history, literature, music, and many other exciting subjects! What are you all most excited to learn about?” Sefaro’s hand shot up immediately. He hardly waited for Zelda to call on him before he answered. “I wanna learn how to fight monsters!”

The light of mid-morning shone on the multi-colored structure on what had once been a lonely hill at the edge of Hateno Village. Red, green, and blue paint covered the modular structure, contrasting shutters at the sides of every window. The flag of the royal family flew proudly over the bell at the top of the schoolhouse, marking this as the first of the princess’s political endeavors. Having returned to her beloved Hyrule, finding that the state that her people had fallen into in her absence had much degraded since she left them, Zelda took it upon herself to correct her mistakes one project at a time. She commissioned Bolson for one final project before he retired: the first Hylian school.

Link followed his beloved princess up the winding road from their shared home, carrying twice as many books in his arms as she carried in hers. A sack slung over his shoulder bounced on his back as he walked. Though they had stocked the school with as much as they thought was necessary, she spent most of the previous night in a tizzy, gathering up more and more knowledge from Purah’s lab and her own private collection. Where she intended to house all these books, Link couldn’t hope to guess. But, knowing Zelda, she’d pull out a miracle in the end.

As she stepped up to the double doors to knock, they swung open, revealing Symin. The research assistant-turned-schoolteacher smiled brightly upon seeing them, ushering her inside. “Come, come in! I was just setting up the paints for today’s lesson!”

Link stepped inside behind Zelda. The new structure smelled of fresh paint and lumber, mixed with the fuzz of chalk in the air that tickled his nose and made him wrinkle up his face to keep from sneezing. Zelda took the books from his arms one at a time, finding some place to put them all among the already-stuffed shelves in the corner of the room.

“Well, I think we’re just about ready.” Zelda announced. She shook out her hands, trying to release some excess nervous energy. “Are you two ready? I’m ready. I am so ready.” Despite her declarations in the affirmative, Link doubted Zelda’s veracity in those statements. She started to pace in front of the door. “Symin, you’ve got the lesson plan I made, yes?”

The teacher nodded. “Yes, Princess. All three copies you made for me.” One to have. One as a back-up. Another as a back-up to the back-up, just in case. Zelda would not rest until she was certain that they were prepared with a lesson. Link had to stop her last week from writing out a fourth copy.

Zelda shook out her hands again, then stuck them into the pockets of her skirt, evidently becoming conscious of her habits. “Good, good. And Link, you’ve got the snacks?”

Link removed the sack from over his shoulder, showing her the contents within. Apples and wrapped bread buns, baked the evening before. The innkeeper had prepared these for him, as Link wasn’t much of a baker himself. He wasn’t sure how many kids exactly they had to feed, so he went ahead and ordered a dozen. Whatever the kids didn’t want he would gladly finish off himself.

When Zelda had inspected every inch of the schoolhouse, including rearranging the colored pencils for the third time that morning, all was ready for the first day of school.

Now they just needed kids.

Symin checked the small timepiece in his pocket. “Almost eight. One of us needs to go up to ring the bell. Link, could you-?”

Without waiting for Symin to finish that request, Link was already out the window. He grabbed hold of the molding on the side of the schoolhouse and hoisted himself up. His fingers and boots found purchase on the rough wood and small ledges. Sticky lizards could climb up surfaces even more difficult than this, and he hoped one day to match their skill. He shimmied up the side of the building and onto the roof. The shingles clinked together as he darted across the rooftop toward the cupola. He hopped over the small railing, landing in front of the massive bell. Eight o’clock. Eight times.

His palms pushed against the hard, cold metal of the school’s bell. As it swung away from him, the clapper slammed into the rim of the bell. A deep BONG shook the air and the bones in his chest. The bell swung back. BONG. That’s two. Link shoved the bell again, the sound nearly filling up his ears and muddling his brain. BONG. BONG. BONG. BONG. How many was that? He couldn’t recall. The bell was too loud to count. One more shove ought to do it.

As the final swing rang out, Link noticed something odd about the bell. It had a wheel beside it, which turned back and forth when he pushed on the bell. His eyes tracked the wheel’s rope downward, through a hole in the cupola’s floor. He grabbed the bell, stilling it from swinging another time. His ears still ringing, he dropped down to peer into the hole through which the rope threaded. The rope dangled down a few more feet, the knotted end hovering a few feet over a platform that looked suspiciously like Symin’s loft.

Link hopped back up, tossed himself over the side of the cupola’s railing, and slid down the roof, the bumpy shingles jostling him all the way down. He stuck the landing from the second story, bending his knees to take the impact better, and brushed the dust off his pants. He turned and gave a very concerned Symin and Zelda a thumbs-up.

Symin pointed up to his loft inside. “I…I meant someone needed to pull the rope…to ring the bell.”

Link followed his direction. Sure enough, that same rope dangled on this side. “Ah. That would have been easier.”

Luckily, none of the children witnessed Link’s dangerous behavior. The first boy arrived with his sister. Link remembered this one, having spied on Purah’s lab and originally prompting Link’s curiosity in that direction. Azu’s older sister, Ivee, led the boy in by the hand.

“Good morning, Princess.” Ivee greeted, giving the princess a respectful bow.

Zelda returned the greeting with a nod of her head in return. “Good morning to you as well, Miss Ivee. Thank you so much for bringing your brother here!” She knelt in front of the boy, who hid behind his older sister’s leg, his dark eyes scanning every visible corner of the school. “Good morning, Azu!”

The boy finally looked at Zelda, taking a moment before waving to her. “Good morning, Princess.”

Zelda smiled brightly. “You can call me Miss Zelda.” She held out her hand to him. “Will you come inside and color with me?”

The boy glanced up at his sister, who nodded and prodding him forward with a pat on his back. Azu took Zelda’s hand, following her into the school. With that, the first student entered the Hateno School.

In total, four children entered the Hateno School: Azu, Sefaro, Karin, and Aster. Miss Zelda stood at the front of the classroom, her hands folded neatly in front of her.

“Welcome, everyone! Thank you all so much for coming to see me this morning! I know we’re all going to have a wonderful time learning together.” Zelda began, smiling brightly at the students. “Back when I was a kid, Hyrule had lots of schools, at least one in every village. We learned about reading, writing, mathematics, science, history, literature, music, and many other exciting subjects! What are you all most excited to learn about?”

Sefaro’s hand shot up immediately. He hardly waited for Zelda to call on him before he answered. “I wanna learn how to fight monsters!” This declaration was met by a resounding concurrence from Azu, who added that he also wanted to learn how to fight anything, not just monsters.

Zelda faltered a little, her smile dropping for a moment as she readjusted. “Ah, no monsters today. But I have an exciting lesson planned about the animals in Necluda!”

A second hand shot up. Aster. “Are monsters animals?”

As the school day closed, Link picked up and reshelved the displaced books and materials. Someone had shoved a fistful of grass between the pages of an account of Hyrule’s history, which he found quite impressive, as he didn’t recall seeing any of the children actually pick up that particular book. Symin swept out of the dirt from the front room, a small dust cloud falling back outside where it belonged. Zelda brushed the chalk markings off the board. Or, she had started doing that, until she set the eraser onto the ledge, the job half-finished.

“Zel?” Link asked as he put the last book away. “You alright?”

Zelda raised a hand to her cheek, trying to hide what he could tell even from behind was a falling tear. “I’m fine.”

Oh no. Link weaved between the desks, joining her at the board. “What’s wrong?”

Zelda shook her head. “Nothing. It’s nothing.”

“If it was nothing, you wouldn’t be upset.” Link reminded her. He took her hand in his. “I can’t help if you don’t tell me.”

Her emerald eyes swam with unshed tears as she finally met his gaze. “What if this whole thing was a mistake?”

Link tilted his head. “What do you mean?”

She took a shuddering breath. “The school. Trying to establish it, trying to teach these kids. It’s been over a century, Link. What if Hyrule has lost its ability to support a school system? What if the Calamity destroyed this part of Hyrule’s future? You heard them, Link. The kids don’t want to learn science or language. They want to learn how to fight. That’s all they know! They’ve had to survive in a cruel, dangerous world for a hundred years! How foolish can I be to really think that would change with the destruction of the Calamity?”

Link held her hand as she sniffled pitifully, his heart cracking at the sound. He wanted to refute that, to tell her that it wasn’t true, that of course Hyrule could go back to what it was before, the Hyrule she knew, but…could it? So much had changed. He didn’t even remember the Hyrule that once thrived here. Only a handful of people remained who recalled the way things were before. As much as he wanted to offer words of comfort, he had none to give.

Zelda pressed her face against his shoulder, letting go of his hand to hug him as she cried. “I feel like such an idiot!”

Though he could offer no encouragement, he hugged her back, stroking her long hair that cascaded down her back. He’d let her cry for now, since he didn’t know what else to do. And when she regathered herself, as she always did, he’d follow whatever orders she gave next. If she wanted to give it another shot tomorrow, he would accompany her. If she wanted to call the whole thing off, he’d support her in that too. But for now, he would hold her and let her cry.

A small shuffling outside the door drew his attention. A small body dashed up the long path back to the school, their tiny legs carrying them as fast as they could run. A piece of paper clutched in their right hand fluttered in the breeze.

“Miss Zelda!” The child called.

Zelda lifted her head and wiped her tears, quickly plastering on a smile before the child got close enough to see her cry. “Yes, Sefaro?”

The boy jogged up to the steps of the schoolhouse. He hopped over the threshold and ran over to her, throwing his arms around her legs. “I forgot something very important!”

Zelda stared at the boy a moment, taken by surprise at his return. “Yes? What did you forget?”

Link scanned over the desks and shelves. None of the bags and coats that the children had brought with them remained.

Sefaro released Zelda. He held up his piece of paper for her to take. “I forgot to give you this!” When Zelda had taken the piece of paper, Sefaro gave her a big grin and turned to run back out of the school, waving as he called over his shoulder. “See ya tomorrow!”

Zelda flipped the piece of paper over, staring at it in shock. Over her shoulder, Link could see the drawing. It wasn’t very good, but it was probably better than what he could have done at that boy’s age. Zelda’s face smiled up at him, Sefaro and Azu on either side of her, holding her hands. A handful of white and blue flowers dotted the background.

Symin hung his broom back up in the closet, finishing the last of the cleaning for the day. “What did he give you, Your Highness?”

As if in a daze, Zelda walked over to the bookshelves. She grabbed a tack from a small box on the shelf, pinning the drawing to the blue-painted wall. When she was satisfied that it was good and stuck, she took a step back to observe it. A ghost of a smile returned to her lips. “Hope.”

[achoshistor]

[totk] alternate dimension???

HAHA ok i simply can't go without writing this down but this time i will try my best to omit all spelling errors to preserve readability... tbh i wouldnt read this if you havent finished the geoglyphs

[spoilers!!]

ok im gonna be honest i've only finished botw and totk so this is gonna be moreso why the alternate timeline from botw is plausible in comparison to the actual placement of the timeline bc thats too much thinking and its been like a million bajillion years since i read the historia.

ok so firstly zelda doing different things in the past is def why the line would have changed from botw to totk but why was zelda the one who went back in time?? In botw the divine beasts are literally analogous to the current sages which is basically

vah rudania/daruk = yunobo

vah naboris/urbosa = riju

vah ruta/mipha = sidon

vah medoh/revali = tulin

that covers all four but what about link?? link gets his own divine beast (master cycle) too so why is zelda the sage and not link?? besides i heard this mentioned somewhere else (i forgot where) but link has the ability to literally slow down time when hes drawing his bow or looking through the scope and he can pause time with the menu but idk if thats actually canon LOL. either way link can also control time like zelda. But speaking of divine beasts the 4 helms can be found in totk as well but the item descriptions call them zonai while the general look of the pieces is clearly sheikha which is weird cuz whaaaat?? also idk maybe nintendo just wanted a way to explain amiibo gear but this just suggests that the divine beasts themsleves are also zonai of some sort. Ik people are saying they dont mention the divine beasts at all but impa and i think like one or two other npcs mention them meaning they are still here but zonai somehow which doesnt make sense in the context of botw.

also aside from the divine beasts theres some other things of note too: firstly, your house in hateno which zelda STOLE 😭😭liek man i paid good money for that sign... 3000 rs.... this is p minor but why would she just take the sign away unless it wasnt already there?? I mean ok maybe link wanted to live with her

[zora arc spoilers]

anyways point two about yona... tbh i thought she was ganondorfs spy or something at first because she came out of nowhere... im assuming she's muzu's daughter but we saw no sign at all of her in botw... maybe the devs hated sidlink that much lolol. In all seriousness tbh her appearance does seem to point to a shift in the events of 100 years ago unless she's not from hyrule which seems unlikley seeing that sidon grew up in zora's domain according to the botw dlc.

[zora spoilers over]

ok last thing... the bottomless swamp is gone!!

like whaaat theres a pond there now

I'm like 99% sure this is just because they needed a body of water that you can drop into safely but its also the only pond on ground thats actually got the lily pads from the sky in it which is interesting. I don't think they added any other new bodies of water aside from this though. Lorewise though it makes no sense at all that they removed that whole giant skeleton from here in a few years and even if they did iirc the ground around it was crackly and dry. Lanaryu/Zorana used to all be a desert and they said it took hundreds of years for it to become fertile so its kind of nonsensical that this area would only take a little while...

overall i think this is probably just nintendo trying to make it so that totk can be standalone but man it cant be that hard to write coherent lore

[winterspellsfrozenkit]

About Link’s ships

Okay, I’ve been deep in the TotK hole because oh my goodness the LORE of this game, but I’ve been seeing the old discourse pop up about Link and Zelda’s relationship, who Link loves, etc., and I’m gonna explain it using the scene where Demise curses Link in Skyward Sword.

Okay, so we know that the ones who share the blood of Hylia (Aka the Zeldas) are cursed to fight Demise’s hatred and Link’s soul is forced to come back to Hyrule every time a version of Demise’s hatred pops up. So what does this have to do with Link’s affections?

Let’s get into why Link’s name is Link. Miyamoto has given many, many reasons on why Link’s default name is Link, but the important part is this: “I said the name Link came from his role as a connector, but Link is you, the player.”

Every time you play a Legend of Zelda game, you (as the spirit of the Hero) are coming back to stop whatever incarnation of Demise’s hatred, be it Ganon, Ganondorf, Vaati, Malladus, etc. is afflicting Hyrule. Zelda will be there because she too is bound to the curse, but the player is the spirit of the Hero. Therefore, whoever you ship Link with is canon to YOUR Link. Personally, I always ship Zelink, so that’s where my Link will have his affections go. 

If you wanna ship Link with someone other than Zelda, have at it. That’s why TotK makes Link’s old house now stated by the people in Hateno as Zelda’s while you can build another one in Tarrey Town (which I hate the outer aesthetics of as I don’t like the building block look with no windows....), so you can still decide who your Link likes, etc. 

[abyssal-cryptid]

Even more Tears of the Kingdom thoughts (SPOILERS)

I cant figure out how long after Calamity this game is set. It's got to be at least some years, everyone else has changed but Link and Zelda

Link and Zelda have lived this time together in Link's house in Hateno <<33

Their Well holds Zelda's secret room

Also yes every well in this game has something so my favorite thing rn is just jumping into wells

Zelda had a school built to Hateno because she loves kids

I hate how so many people in this game who should know who Link is dont know him

You mean to tell Ive been living in Hateno for years and no one recognises me

Zelda is still referred to as princess which implies she hasnt allowed herself to be crowned queen

Ive spent like three hours just strolling in Hateno

I did get the camera and my enjoyment of the game has increased tenfold

HATENO TECH LAB HAS A RUINED GUARDIAN I REPEAT HATENO HAS A GUARDIAN REMAIN

Im so excited I missed seeing these everywhere

Purah's room has drawings of them and the divine beasts

You can just pick up the koroks who need to be reunited w their friends with ultrahand and carry them wherever they want to go. They also roll down hills

Me @ the forbidden ruins in Kakariko: "Let me in, let me innnn"

SIDON HAS A FIANCE

IM SO DISTRAUGHT

THEY SAW US SHIP LINK AND SIDON AND WENT "none of that here is his gf"

HUDSON HAS A DAUGHTER <<33

This game has cheese. I can die happy now

I am taking the elevator up every time I see a falling rock

Went to Akkala Citadel Ruins. Was looking at the views. SUDDENLY EVERYTHING GOES RED AND HANDS ARE CHASING ME WHAT THE FUCK

The way they dont let my boy have his long hair out on any fits is criminal. Could have tweaked the armor sets that much

Why is Zelda appearing everywhere and being an evil menace??? Zelda tf is going on w you?? Arent you supposed to be in the past

They looked at me, specifically, loving side quests more than my life and going "we have to give them more" and this is a good day

There's a golden horse???

Also I heard Yunobo is a dick in this??? Not my boy :(

I go to the Zora tower and there is a man nearly dead

ALSO OH MY GOD WHY DID ZELDA ATTACK KING DOREPHAN

Man was dying (Lets hope this doesnt age poorly because I dont think I could handle it)

So its been like five years at least since BOTW ended and like. Why does no one remember me and also where did all these new people come from that didnt exist here couple years ago?? Where were yall?? Having tea??

Kilton has a little brother <3

I should get back to the "first" main questline as in the Rito are dying in a blizzard but there's pretty flowers and mayoral elections

Did I already mention they did not nerf bows? They didnt and I love that, archers for life

Also I lost Hestu again and I need more inventory

I am afraid to venture into the Korok Forest

Stables are so fun. You get points from first visit, staying the night, registering horses etc AND THEY GIVE YOU REWARDS

I got the Traveler's Gear for General (my baby boy horse)

I found Big Horse and named him Babylon

Also saved this one guy stuck in a cave

Starting to get to a point where enemies drop 15-30 fuse power parts and life is getting easier

Ive activated like 20 shrines since I last did a bunch. I havent done them because what if I have to build vehicles (bad)

I miss cryonis

Havent done much in the sky tbh

I want my champions tunic. I however dont feel like going to the castle

Where the fuck is Ganondorf

I could always see him in BOTW I dont like this

I am kind of disappointed they didnt change the looks of old armor sets. HOWEVER. Cece's hat is all Im going to say. I wonder if I can wear that to Gerudo town

Im still a one shot to so many things

The Zora are dying (their water is turning into mud)

Gorons have malice pink eyes so dont trust theyre doing too well either

Barbarian armor fits so well with Link's messy long hair

Im still kind of shocked that the sheikah tech is just gone

How do I get into Hateno tech lab

Some of yall are actually building vehicles? Im avoiding that like the plague

Still salty about Sidon

I get taken for a little while and he gets engaged

His fiance did refer to Sidon as "my best friend"

The quote went "Im Prince Sidon's... oh forgive me. I am your best friend's fiancee"

She us cute but still

ALSO THEY MOVED MIPHA'S STATUE TO THE TOP OF PLOYMUS MOUNTAIN

THE ZORA'S DOMAIN STATUE IS NOW OF LINK AND SIDON

Why cant I marry him

Sidon carries Mipha's trident now (sobs)

When you meet him he goes "Its good to see you my friend" so happily

"By the way... I hope you know that I am truly happy to see you again after such a long time apart, my dearest friend"

I sobbed

He loves us so much

Just go visit him

Sidon wont marry me and Sonia and Rauru are married, cant a man find some love in Hyrule

[ginger375]

LUtober

See the full collection on AO3.

Day 27: Bonfire

Hateno decided to hold a harvest festival once the Calamity was finally defeated. The first festival was a tiny affair; just the townsfolk gathering near the communal cooking pots and setting up a decent sized bonfire. People brought out baked goods and snacks to share, and a few others played some music.

Wild had attended with Zelda that year, it was her first real outing with other people and was the perfect sized crowd for a woman that had been locked away with a monster for a century. Wild had baked apple tarts, which were a huge hit amongst the townsfolk.

Then word had gotten out to the rest of Hyrule.

The second year saw more Hylians showing up, coming along in wagons with food and other wares to sell or trade. Some came from Lurelin with salted fish that would keep well over the winter, while others came from Kakariko with vegetables that would do the same. They set up along the main road and Hateno residents were thrilled to share their own harvests with their neighbours.

Zelda was much more at ease that year, Wild had been pleased to see. She even dragged him up for a dance or two around the bonfire, which lightened his heart as he spun and laughed with her.

“Thought you said this was a small festival, cub?”

And now, here he was with his brothers, where he warned them it was just a small event, only to see it had taken over the entire town.

“It used to be,” was all Wild could say to answer Twilight as he stood at the town gate, mouth hanging open in awe.

“This is so cool!” Wind exclaimed. Lanterns lined the street over stalls featuring everything Hyrule had to offer – Rito were there with down quilts and warm winter clothes; Gerudo had handmade jewelry and clothes; Gorons saw the opportunity to sell raw gems; Zora had ornaments carved from luminous stones; Hylians and Sheikah took care of the food.

“Let’s go drop our stuff off at home first,” Wild said as he led the group past the first few stalls. “Then you can all go nuts.”

“It all smells so good,” Sky said as he drifted towards a stall selling pumpkin pies. Warriors pulled him back to the group before he went too far.

Upon crossing the bridge leading to his house, Wild could tell Zelda wasn’t home. The lamps were out, but still warm, so she couldn’t be too far. Wild walked through the house, seeing if there were any clues to her whereabouts. So wrapped up in his search, he missed everyone dropping their stuff and running back out the door.

Twilight put a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s go find her, yeah?”

Upon getting down to the main thoroughfare the size of the festival was even more prevalent. Wild was stunned at the number of people.

“Any idea where she might be?” Twilight asked, looking at a table with bags of honey roasted chickaloo nuts.

“If I know her, she’s probably at the bonfire,” Wild said as he bought one for each of them. They continued up the street, munching their treat and taking peeks at the wares on display.

The closer they got to the bonfire, the easier it was to hear the music. And not just a couple random instruments; there was a full band this year and people were taking the opportunity to let loose and dance.

Wild looked around but couldn’t see any sign of Zelda. Maybe he was wrong and she wasn’t at the festival? Maybe the crowd was too much for her and she was hiding out at the lab up the hill? He thought perhaps he should head up the hill and check.

That is until he heard a voice scream “LINK!” The next thing Wild knew a body was running into him with enough force to knock him to the ground. Fortunately, he managed to save his bag of nuts from spilling.

“Where have you been?! You’ve been gone for months and I thought I’d have to dance alone tonight but now you’re here!” Zelda cried into his shoulder. He hugged her back and looked up to see Twilight trying not to laugh out loud but failing miserably.

“I’ll tell you everything once you let me up,” Wild laughed as Zelda climbed off him. He got up first and helped her to her feet, which swayed a bit once she was up. “Have you been drinking?”

“Pumpkin ale! It is delightful, you should have some!” she declared before turning to Twilight. “Who’re you?”

“I-I’m, uh… you see...” Twilight stammered, rubbing the back of his neck. Zelda walked right up into his personal space, looking up into his eyes as if he held the answers to the universe.

“Oh my word,” Zelda breathed as realization dawned on her face. “Are you really?”

“Uh, yes ma'am,” he said quietly.

Wild wrapped an arm around Zelda’s shoulders. “Leave him be for now, Zel. You can pick his brain later,” he leaned in to whisper in her ear, “along with the others.”

“There’s more?” she questioned as Wild nodded. “Alright, dance now, questions later. Let’s go!” She yanked Wild off to dance with her around the bonfire.

Twilight smiled fondly and shook his head. Their little group was in for a barrage of questions from the inquisitive princess, but for now, he deserved a pumpkin ale.

[transskywardsword]

Spider Meet Fly/Fly Meet Spider - Chpt 2: Where Am I?

a totk au where link and zelda switch places, focusing on fixing plot holes found in the memories and giving ganondorf actual characterization

read all of spider/fly on ao3 here

The pillow under Link’s head was warm. Sheets were one of the few things Zelda splurged on—after a century of semi-awareness and half consciousness inside the gut of the Calamity, holding it at bay with sheer will and love for her people, Link thought she deserved a few fine things, including sheets far nicer than anything else that could be found in their shared home in Hateno. Silk sheets, frequent time spent adorning her golden mare’s mane, and trips to Hyrule Castle’s decrepit library were three of Zelda’s few demands now that she was free of the Calamity, and Link was happy to help provide them for her. So what if it was hard to find time outside of rebuilding efforts to pamper that ugly gold horse, or if slipping into the royal library was a pain in the ass, or if silk sheets were more expensive than they had any right to be—seeing Zelda’s face at peace, free of worry lines and stress, made the effort all worth it.

Link turned his head further into the pillow. The pillowcase must be new; it didn’t smell like Zelda yet. The movement hurt, his head pounding in time with his heart, and his mouth tasted like ash. His body was heavy, sore, wrong all over. What trampled him? The feeling of a pain elixir dulling his senses clung to the cloudy edges of his brain. He never used pain elixirs, felt they clouded his mind too much, leaving him vulnerable to attack.

Link’s eyes shot open. He never took pain elixirs. Ever. Someone had drugged him. What had—the mummy below Hyrule Castle. The Master Sword, falling— Zelda! He bolted up and struggled to stand, only to tangle his legs in the silk sheets and tumble out of the bed. This wasn’t his home in Hateno. The bed was too high, and unlike the simple pine box that housed his mattress, this bed was intricately carved and inlaid with jewels. Link struggled to his feet, vision blurry. He felt lopsided and wrong, like someone had taken his body and twisted it up into positions it should never be, and couldn’t seem to untangle the sheets from his legs. He reached to grab the sheets—no. No, that couldn’t be right. Only one arm reached, the other arm twitching uselessly at his side.

Not his other arm. His other stump.

Link gagged, choking on air, drugged brain struggling to make sense of the sight before him. His arm… his arm…

Suddenly, green stone claws were upon him, attempting to free his legs and hoist him up. Zelda, where was Zelda? Link kicked the stone robotic creature in front of him, rising to his feet with significant trouble, only to fall as his legs gave out from underneath him. His stomach rolled, head pounding, and the sheer exhaustion that clung to him combined with the pain elixir left his head too fuzzy to think and his body too heavy to move. The robot-thing in front of him grabbed his bicep, attempting to pull him off the ground, and Link felt bile pool at the base of his throat before forcing itself out, his diaphragm spasming. Red and black poured out of him, burning his esophagus and leaving him woozy and shaking. He slunk to his knees, sweat dripping down his face, and the robot clawed at him again.

“That’s enough, construct.” A soft voice called from the doorway, “You’re frightening him.”

Link spun to the door—or, he tried to, the sudden movement leaving him dazed as he slipped back to the floor in a slumped pile. There were quick footsteps, the feet bare and the gait gentle but concerned, and suddenly the holder of the voice was kneeling beside him.

“Fetch us some water, please,” The voice said, and Link struggled to look up at whomever was talking.

“Don’t strain yourself.” It said, a gentle hand reaching forward and brushing the sweat soaked hair from his brow. “You’ve been through quite the ordeal.”

Link finally managed to roll over to look at who was speaking—it was a woman, with dark skin and brilliant, white tattoos, and golden twists that cascaded down her back nearly to the floor. She was dressed strangely, with clothes unlike anything Link had seen outside of Zelda’s history books, dripping with opals and diamonds. She reached forward and Link snarled, baring his teeth. The woman retracted her hand.

“I’m sorry.” She said, voice soft, as if speaking to a cornered wild animal. “I didn’t mean to startle you. The construct was simply concerned you hurt yourself—they aren’t the most socially aware creatures. Forgive them.”

Link didn’t move, and the woman gave him a gentle, placating smile. “It’s okay. My name is Sonia. And could I ask what your name is?’

Link raised his hands to sign and demand she take him back to the castle, voice locked firmly behind his teeth, only for his stomach to shrink with dread. He couldn’t. His left arm was gone, his left arm was gone, his dominant hand, his sword hand, his, his, his—

“I’m sorry. When we found you, your arm was beyond saving, covered in some strange substance that seemed to be sapping the life from you. This was the only option.”

A mortifying sound of distress forced its way through his teeth as his brain scrambled to understand the new information— his arm, his arm, his arm…Zelda. He needed Zelda, needed her guidance, her smile—

Oh Goddess, what if she was still down in that cavern? What if that thing got to her? He was supposed to be her protector, and yet here he was, alone.

“Z-E-L-D-A” He finger spelt with his one good hand, “W-H-E-R-E  Z-E-L-D-A?”

“Who is Zelda?” Sonia asked, reaching for him again, and the ugly sound he couldn’t seem to stop making turned to a snarl. Where was she? Why were they keeping her from him? He needed her, didn’t they realize that? She was too important to be left behind, too precious, too, too, too—

“Z-E-L-D-A, Z-E-L-D-A, Z-E-L-D-A—“

“Sir, I need you to breathe. Breathe with me, please—”

“Ah, finally, you’re awake.”

Link head jerked to the doorway of the room; a strange goat like creature dressed in regalia stood there, head almost brushing the already lofty arch way, arms clasped in front of him. Link was dimly aware he should be more taken aback by a goat-man, but frankly he couldn’t bring himself to care on top of all this shit. The creature’s left arm glowed with a ghostly light, and Link sucked in a breath. He knew that arm. That was the arm that held the mummy in place. “You gave us quite a scare. Your wounds were severe—we are all relived to see you escaped death.”

“Rauru!” Sonia chided. “Some tact, please.”

“…My apologizes,” the goat man, (Rauru?) said, “Forgive my tone. We were worried.” He spoke softer, kinder, and he knelt beside Sonia. “May I ask your name?”

Link swallowed. Names had power—was it safe to give them access to his?

“L-I-N-K” He signed finally, and Rauru nodded.

“A strong name.”

Now that the panic had subsided some, Link took a proper look at the goat. Unbelievably tall, dressed in finery, with wide, long ears dripping with jewels— he was impossibly familiar, but the cloudiness in Link’s skull from the pain elixir made it hard to sort through why that was, much to Link’s growing frustration. Tall, fine, long ears. Tall, fine, long ears. Tall, fine, long— Link’s eyes grew wide. Tall, fine, long ears. The weird goat thing from the carvings… that was a Zonai, wasn’t it?

Zelda needed to see this.

“Now, Link, who is this Zelda?” Sonia said, standing. She offered him a hand, and hesitantly Link took it, allowing himself to be hoisted up. The woman let him back to the bed and helped him sit.  

Link swallowed. He couldn’t sign one handed. If he had the Purah pad he would be able to use its text to speech function, but for all he knew the pad was in the bottom of the cavern, forgotten and smashed to pieces. He bit down a growl of frustration and raised his one good hand.

“P-R-I-N-C-E-S-S”. He finger spelt, and the Zonai man stroked his chin.

“A princess?”

Link straightened, jutting his chin forward. He didn’t like the Zonai’s tone, somewhere between thoughtful and disbelieving.

Sonia settled on the bed next to him. “Can you speak?” She asked softly, and Link swallowed. His throat still burned from throwing up whatever the fuck that red shit was (Was it gloom? Had that been inside him?) To tell Sonia he ‘couldn’t’ speak was an blatant over simplification that didn’t explain how only sometimes words came, how with those whom he loved and who loved him back he could help coax the sounds out from behind his teeth, how sometimes emotions helped him spit them out easily and sometimes they strangled him into silence, how speech was a complicated thing he would never fully be able to understand and how now, surrounded by strangers in a place he didn’t know, having just vomited up gloom and being sans an arm, there was no way a single sound was going to come to him.

Instead of communicating all of that, he shook his head.

“What about sign?” The Zonai asked, and Sonia show him a soft but withering look.

“Not sans one arm, can you?” She said, more of a statement than a question, eyes back on Link. Link’s stomach rolled. One arm meant no more signing, didn’t it? At least, unless he wanted to finger spell everything from now into oblivion. Once again, communication was stolen from him. What the hell was he supposed to do now?

“Construct—” Sonia called softly, and the green stone robotic thing that had been hovering behind the Zonai moved to attention. It didn’t look anything like the Sheikah robots Link had seen over the years, more organic and less mechanical, moving with a surprising grace as it moved to Sonia’s side, its stone parts gently clinking against each other. “—Fetch us some paper and a pencil, quickly.”

“Of course, Mistress.” The construct chirped, before gliding out of the room with far softer, quieter movements than any guardian scout. Sonia shifted on the bed, giving Link space but still close enough to reach out to, should he want to. The Zonai cleared his throat, and once again Link marveled at his height. When Zelda got here, she would be flabbergasted.

If she’s okay, a cold, cruel part of him hissed, giving as how you abandoned her down there.

Link clenched his… fist. His fist. Singular. No, he did not leave her there in that cavern, and even if—if!—he had, his princess was brilliant and capable; she would find a way to escape. They would find each other again, just like they always did. Link and Zelda, Champion and Princess, Farore and Nayru, Hero and Hylia—they always found each other, over and over, no matter what. Calamity could not keep them apart, and neither would that fucking mummy.

The thought of the mummy, of it’s dusty, ashy voice and malice eyes, made Link shudder and Sonia’s eyes grew concerned.

“We found you near the sacred healing spring upon the Great Plateau,” Rauru said. His name tickled something in the back of Link’s brain. That section of his skull was reserved for the Before, before the Calamity and dying and awakenings of power. Maybe Zelda mentioned it to him, a hundred and five years ago?  

“You were very injured, covered in some strange substance that was…” Sonia started, and Rauru stepped closer, laying a large, clawed hand on her shoulder.

“It was sapping your strength, feasting on your soul” He finished, “We feared you would not survive, even with it cleaned off you, and for a while, we were concerned it had entered your bloodstream. It had eaten into the very bone marrow of your arm. There was no saving it. I am sorry.”

“Had there been any other option, we would have taken it in a heartbeat,” Sonia said, and Rauru nodded. Link took a steadying breath and finally, finally, allowed himself to truly look at his arm—or what was left of it. Bandages wound from his shoulder to his mid-bicep, where the skin and bone abruptly stopped, slick and sticky with salve. The base was rounder than he’d thought it would be, fleshy instead of bony when he brought his hand to it; there was no feeling when he touched it, and Link’s eyes widened in alarm.

“Pain medication,” Rauru said as he watched Link begin to pinch and prod at the flesh with more aggressive movements. “That’s why the area is numb. Our surgeons are the best in their field and saved much of your nerve endings. You should be able to feel once the medication works its way out of your system.” He leaned forward and Link jerked back, ready to lunge should this thing try to touch him, but instead Rauru extended his own, glowing arm, covered in in intricate raised designs. No, not designs—

A prosthetic.

“Believe me when I say I understand the shock you’re feeling, but you are in good hands here. I pledge on my name that no harm will come to you.”

Link wanted to snort, to laugh in his face and insist that the Zonai’s name meant nothing, but there weight of the man’s voice gave him pause. It reminded him of five years ago, standing on top of the Temple of Time as the Old Man begged for his aid. This was the voice, the promise, of a king. Link found himself unable to break Rauru’s gaze. It held him fast, and Link felt his guts somersault. There came the twinkling of stone on stone and Rauru moved back, breaking the moment. The construct was back, this time with a writing tablet. It handed the materials to Sonia, who handed them to Link. He held the stylus gingerly. He was never the strongest writer—Zelda had been trying to supplement his education, which had been previously neglected as soon as he pulled the Master Sword at 12, his father and the rest of the commanders in the army far more concerned with training him into oblivion and back than they were teaching him maths and letters.

“Where is Zelda?” He wrote, holding out the board for Sonia and Rauru to see. Sonai’s face stayed soft and open while Rauru’s brow furrowed.

“Is that a friend of yours?” Sonia asked. “We only found you at the sacred spring, no one else. I’m sorry.”

Link’s stomach dropped. “No, she was with me. We were traveling together, she was right next to me when we were—” Link’s stylus hovered over the wax for a moment. “When we were separated.” He finally decided on. A vague answer, but a safe one.

“That’s an old name,” Rauru said. “Usually most find it in poor taste to name their child after Hylia’s first vessel. She must have quite eccentric parents.”

Link frowned. Sure, Zelda was an old name; every princess born to the royal family of Hyrule since… since… since forever had named their first-born Zelda. But varieties of the name were common. It was considered good luck to give the name to your first-born daughter, just like Link was for first born sons. Even if the average mother might not name her baby Zelda explicitly, Dela or Zelie were a dime a dozen. The name was everywhere, in and outside of royalty. That made no sense.

“Of course, she’s named Zelda. She’s the first-born princess.”

Rauru nodded. “As you’ve said. And where are you both from? I’m sure a country sorely missing their princess will be beyond relived to hear you are safe.”

Link straightened his back, chest forward. Something about Rauru’s tone, though clearly intended to placate, felt patronizing. “Zelda and I are from Hyrule. I serve as its protector, and Zelda does as its leader, as is her right as the first born of King Rhoam Bosphorus, the Crown-Princess and Savior of Hyrule.”

Sonia glanced at Rauru, whose brow furrowed as he brought a hand to his chin, twirling the fur there with his glowing fingers.

“Well, that’s interesting…” he said softly. Link tilted his chin up further, daring the man to call him a liar. “Given how, last I checked, I am the first king of Hyrule, with Sonia as my queen.”

“The first king and queen of Hyrule?” Link wrote, though the tone of the words was far less polite in his head. Did this man think he was an idiot? Then again…

Then again, those murals had said that a Zonai and a Hylian established the first Hyrulian royal family. And here was Rauru, very likely a Zonai, and Sonia, who looked… off, not quite like the Hylian’s Link knew, but still distinctly similar. Like the Hyrulians he knew had evolved from her, with her longer ears and sharper teeth and strange proportions. Could they be serious?

What he would give for Zelda to be here. Chosen by Nayru, she seemed to have an impossibly perfect knack to tell someone’s truth and motivations. Link couldn’t even say hello to a stranger.

“You founded Hyrule.” He wrote, and Rauru smiled, the first real one he had shown since entering.

“We did.” He said, placing a giant, clawed hand on Sonia’s shoulder. “A joint effort that I’d say I’m rather proud of.”

Link nodded slowly. King Rauru of Hyrule. Rauru of Hyrule. He racked his brain, trying to find where the name’s familiarity came from.

Rauru… Rauru, Sage of Light… Rauru the Owl Spirit? Then there was the ancient Rauru settlement where a Hero of Hyrule took shelter against Ganon, millennia ago… Link flipped through imaginary pages of the history books Zelda had shown him, had ranted and raved about, straining for any sign of the name. Rauru, Rauru, Rauru—

Rauru was an ancient name that had fallen out of practice, outside of monasteries and nunneries. A name tied to magic, to light, religion, sacred power. Rauru, the first…

Rauru, a name dating back to the first king of Hyrule. Link swallowed.

It couldn’t be. There was no way this was real. He hit his head and was dreaming.

Well, it wouldn’t be the first time you found yourself outside of time, a part of him argued.

Yes, but I didn’t travel through anything while in the Shrine. I just… waited. As a corpse. I don’t think I’m a corpse—and I a corpse right now?

“Am I dead.” Link finally settled on writing, and Sonia’s eyes went wide.

“Oh, heavens no, child!”

Link couldn’t help it. He began to laugh. Because this was just fucking hilarious. Countless millennia in the past, with Zelda awol and Goddesses knew where, without a fucking arm—this was priceless. Fucking priceless.

Rauru and Sonia looked to each other, obviously concerned, but Link couldn’t seem to stop laughing. His throat hurt, his head pounded, the pain elixirs were turning his brain to mush, his best friend was in the bottom of a pit millennia from now with a murderous mummy. It was perfect, all just fucking perfect.

“Link, breathe, please. It’s alright,” Sonia said, reaching for him, and Link couldn’t stop himself from folding under her touch. “We’ll figure this out,” she promised, running a hand through his sweaty hair. “It’s alright.”

“Actually, Link, there is something we must discuss,” Rauru said. Sonia glared at him over Link’s head.

“Now is not the time—”

“It could help us better understand—”

“He’s hysterical—!"

“The secret stone—”

Link turned to the side and promptly vomited up more gloom. Surprisingly, or maybe not so, his head felt much clearer once he was done hacking up red, and Sonia sighed, rubbing his back. Link decided he liked Sonia. Knew better than to trust her, but he liked her.

He looked to Rauru and pulled himself out of Sonia’s arms, and nodded, asking the Zonai to go on.

“When we found you, you were holding a secret stone— I believe it is what saved you from death.”

Link’s grow furrowed, and he slowly drew out the teardrop shaped stone on the tablet. “This?”

“Yes!” Rauru said with surprising intensity. “Exactly that. How did you find it?”

Link bit the inside of his cheek, lowering the tablet.

“Ra,” Sonia said gently, “I think he needs his rest.”

Link shook his head. “I can tell you.”

The question was, how much. Link was reminded of a story Zelda told him, back in the Before. A Hero who traveled through time to save the world from a beast, a pig-creature that ravished Hyrule named Ganon. A precursor to the Calamity, no doubt. With a magical flute and the Master Sword, the Hero saved Hyrule, but by meddling with the past, he nearly destroyed the future.

Could Link accidentally do the same? If these people were the founders of Hyrule, then were they Zelda’s ancestors? Could he prevent her from ever being born if he misstepped? Could he destroy Hyrule before it even started? He needed to speak to Fi. He’d been getting better at communicating with the sword, even if the mental link was still confusing to navigate, and if anyone knew the story of the Hero of Time, it would be her.

The Master Sword!

Link looked wildly for it, patting himself down—he was almost naked, Farore above, what was up with people and stripping him? –and panic began to claw in his throat. The sword, the sword! Shattered beyond belief, unable to stop the mummy’s gloom, a mere toothpick against the creature’s power--

“What are you looking for?” Sonia said gently. Link sprung from the bed, side stepping the murderous vomit, and began to look wildly around the room.

“Link—”

“S-W-O-R-D,” He finger spelt frantically, “S-W-O-R-D, S-W-O-R-D—”

“Your sword?” Rauru asked, looking pained. “The one with the purple hilt?”

Link nodded wildly.

“It was in…poor condition… when we found you,” Sonia said, reaching for Link. Link moved back. Fi. That thing had killed Fi. That monster had killed his fucking sword!

“Construct,” Rauru said, and the robot perked up. “Go fetch Link his sword.”

The robot twittled out a reply and then was off. Link dug the heel of his palm into his temple. He should be handling this better, he knew he should be, but the Master Sword was as much a part of him as his own damn arm was, and now he was missing both!

Sonia sighed, giving up on corralling Link back to bed.

“Let’s start with the sword.” She spoke. “It’s a fine blade, that much is clear, so for such a break to occur—it must have been quite an opponent.”

Link nodded, and her and Rauru looked at him expectantly.

“Do you really think I’m from the past?” Link wrote, and while Sonia nodded, Rauru furrowed his brow.

“I believe something magical is afoot.” Rauru said, and Link nodded.

“Where I’m from, Zelda—the princess—and I are rebuilding. A creature decimated Hyrule five years ago and we’re finally making progress. There was a new problem emerging, though. Strange substances that were making people ill, even killing some. We went to investigate below Hyrule Castle, but we weren't alone. A mummy. It woke, destroyed my sword, and then—then I woke up here.”

“A mummy?” Rauru asked, and Link nodded again.

“Perhaps a gibdo?” Sonia suggested.

“Maybe. I’ve never seen a gibdo so intelligent before. It spoke to us—it knew our names.”

“Still,” Rauru said, clasping his hands together, “a mummy lends itself more to the desert. We might ask for a council with the Gerudo. For all we know, if this mummy can nearly kill you and send you all the way here, then it could be a threat to us as well. I won’t open my kingdom to threats while it is still in its infancy.”

There was a soft clinking as they construct floated back into the room, Master Sword in its claws. Link’s heart crumpled. The sword was unrecognizable as the thing of glory it once was, the hilt dulled and blackened, the blade chipped and scarred. Fi…

The sword had only just started speaking to him, and he had lost it already. The Deku Tree would never forgive him. Link brushed a hand over the blade; it was too dull to cut his fingertips, he realized with a feeling of despair. The Master Sword was too dull to slice his fingers, let alone cut down the mummy.

“Would you like some time alone?” Sonia asked as Link turned the Master Sword over in his hands. He nodded numbly.

“We’ll figure this out,” She promised. “If you like, we can take you to the sacred healing spring soon and we can start the search for your friend and the mummy.”

Link looked up at her and her painfully earnest face. He nodded again.

“Then we’ll give you some peace,” Rauru said, placing a hand on his wife’s shoulder. The construct left first, followed by the king and queen, and then Link was alone.

No Master Sword, no Hyrule, and no Zelda.

Fuck.

[tobiasdrake]

There's a lot more we could say about Rauru and Ganondorf, but for right now let's put them on the backburner and talk about Princess Zelda. More specifically, her relationship with modern Hyrule.

Throughout Tears of the Kingdom we are shown that basically every NPC adores Zelda, to the point where when Ganondorf's puppet of her starts talking people into being self-destructive no one questions it, and even once they are helped they still don't question it.

But... what has she actually done for Hyrule to warrant that (and don't say sealing Calamity Ganon)? From what we see, the most she did was get the school in Hateno built, and set up all those little memorial stones in the middle of nowhere (also, I get the thematic reason for putting a Silent Princess on each one, but that inadvertently implied that she no longer cares they're endangered).

So... what's the story here?

Also, side note, but do you think Zelda kicked Link out of his own house? And if so, where has he been living?

The same people who came up with the imperialist propaganda narrative also theorize that Zelda has Hyrule under her thumb, and everyone is only pretending to love her because they're terrified she'll turn her sealing powers on them if they upset her. In a nutshell, they think she's also a dictator.

This is just monarchism.

People do what she tells her because she's the Princess. She was born with the Divine Right to Rule, a special quality from which monarchs derive their mandate. According to the myth of monarchy, the royal family is bestowed with special leadership virtue by God, that makes them the wisest and fairest and most just of any of us.

And writers eat that shit up.

In The Legend of Zelda, the Divine Right is quite literally the spirit of the goddess Hylia, passed down through reincarnation within the royal family. The royals are literally mortal incarnations of the creator goddess, blessed with her wisdom and sacred power.

[cosmetichorror]

Too old for this

TLDR Link(Wild) is 44 and gets dragged on an adventure with a bunch of other Links and he’s not pleased.

To say he was too old for this would be an understatement. Link has lost everyone, died more times then he can count, fought every monster at least twice, defeated Ganon twice, and now Hylia wants to send him on another damned adventure. Yeah, quick question. What, how and why the hell?

Do these other Links seriously expect him to go along with them?

It all started one sunny morning. After the defeat of dehydrated Ganondorf a good twenty-five years ago, he was determined to settle down. About fifteen years ago, he gave his house in Hateno up to Zelda and built himself a little cottage out in the forest of spirits on the great plateau, far away from civilization. While, yes, Link was happy Hyrule was returning to its glory days, that doesn't change the fact that he hates crowds. And when Hateno became too much for him to handle, he decided to go live the one place that only those who could fly could reach. Robbie and Purah did an amazing job destroying the stairs to the great plateau, it's not climbable unless you have great stamina- like he does- or if you have the sheikah slate.

For a while Link moved around everywhere, trying to find the perfect place where no one would bother him. He lived in the lost forest with the great Deku tree for a while, but there were too many Koroks. The beaches were good, until people started flocking to them. Near the great fairies were cool, but people started going there too! The great plateau was really a last resort, but kind of poetic in a way. This was where it all started, and he was sure this would be where it all ended. By all means, he intended to live out his life in that old cottage he built from the ground up, but of course he couldn't get even that.

The sun rose early that morning, birds chirped and squirrels ran about. It was a perfect morning. Link got up with a stretch and went to make his morning cup of tea (he gathered the herbs himself) and added in honey (that he also got himself). Really, the only things Link didn't get himself was all the furniture. (He commissioned Bolson his finest furniture and took it up here with the sheikah slate)

As he drank the hot, yet not too hot tea, he reminisced of his past. He brought animals up here with him using a fine mixture of octorock ballon's and planks of wood. Some chickens (his sister loved them. That is all he remembered of her), a beautiful dog (what would Daruk think?) and his beloved horse, Epona (I miss her)

Over the years, each one passed on, and he gave them all a propped burial. (He'd be lying if he said he didn't think about using the shrine of resurrection on them. But that would be just cruel of him. They don't deserve to go through what he went through)

So now he lives alone. It's not so bad, Zelda comes to visit him every week to check up and make sure he isn't dead yet. The silence was terrifying at first. It wasn't right to not be surrounded by the noise of all his critters (I miss them) but he learned to live like that. It took time, but he's made it this far, and he's been through far worse. All it takes is time.

After he finished his tea, he got up and put on his hylian tunic, trousers and cloak and went out with a bow and some shock arrows. He walked to the nearest pond that was full of hylian trout. (A whole lot of things are named "hylian", he wonders what the other races think of that) knocking a shock arrow in the bow, he aimed carefully and shot. A wave of electricity shot out from the pond, sending some sparks his way. He doesn't hesitate to jump in and grab all the fish. This should last breakfast and lunch.

Hyrule is coming back to an advanced civilization, new technology was being invented everyday, like things called "stoves"

Call Link old fashioned all you want, but he just prefers the old cooking pots. It gives him a sense of nostalgia, bringing him back bit the early days. Back when he wasn't sure if you could eat bokoblin guts and bugs, back when making an edible dish made his whole week. Now that he's an amazing chef, he doesn't really have that same feeling of euphoria after cooking a good meal, but that doesn't mean it's not enjoyable. It's just not the same. The smell of roasted fish fills the air, making his mouth water. One thing he can never tire of is the smell of a delicious home cooked meal.

Another thing Link learned in his journey is ideal hearing. He could hear a twig snap from a mile away, and right now, he hears seven- no- eight people? They're talking to each other about... something. Okay, his hearing may not be as good as it used to, but that is to be expected with age. He quickly stands up, placing his half raw fish on a plate so it won't burn, placing it on the window sill before running off in the direction of the voices. He had a bit of a limp, but despite that he was still fast. One question was on his mind- how in the three did so many people get up on the plateau? Are they professional climbers or something? When he gets close enough, he can eavesdrop in on the conversation.

"This place is familiar. Time, do you think...?"

"Could be, pup. If what you told me is true, then we may have a new member."

"God I hope there's a way off this stupid lump of earth."

"We'll be fine Vet, stop your bellyaching."

"Hey, no fighting!"

"Well excuse me, but being here has me on edge."

"He has a point for once, we haven't seen a single person or exit."

"Well, maybe our visitor knows a way off this place?"

Link winces from his place behind the trees. How was he spotted that easily?

"Visitor?" One of them question.

Link sighs and walks out from behind the trees. "I believe that visitor is me." He says, his voice rough and grainy, either from age or disuse, maybe both. The group eye him wearily, he supposes he may look a little threatening.

He has long since abandoned his old blue hair tie, instead letting his slightly tangled hair go free. His hylian clothes were still soaked from when he jumped into the water. He was covered in scars, most notably the large burn mark that goes from his left ribcage all the way up to his face. And most noticeably, his arms. One arm had a hand with only four fingers (he can thank the yiga for that) and the other- how could one describe it.... It looks like it had been burnt to a crisp, then adorned with golden lining. While that hand has all its fingers, his nails are look unnaturally sharpened, even though it's very much natural. (He tried shaving it down, but they just grew back just as sharp)

"How did you get here in the first place?" He asks, his eyes stone cold and his scratchy voice unwavering. "We climbed, but now we're lost." The oldest one says. He has golden hair, bares silver armor, and he's got a scar right over one of his eyes. He appears to be the same age as Link, if not a bit younger,

He narrows his eyes at them. The yiga were almost completely destroyed a decade ago, but then again, he wouldn't be surprised if a few rouge ones came back to take the rest of his fingers. "You sure about that?" He has a right to be suspicious, the yiga have gave him more then his fair share of scars.

The scared man nods. "Positive." Another with scars and a wold pelt steps forwards, eyeing him up and down. Something about his eyes sparked nostalgia in him. "We haven't introduced ourselves. I'm Twilight, this here is Time, Legend, Hyrule, Warriors, Wind, Sky, and Four," he points to each one in turn "and you are?" A few alarms went off in his head, so he took some time to asses this. He had shock arrows on him, good, that could buy him enough time to run back to his house and grab a weapon. The only ones he feel he has to worry about is Time, Twilight, and Legend. The rest he could probably take. Time and Twilight look strong, but Legend is covered in strange magic, and so is Twilight. But then again, Hyrule's magic feels like... fairy magic? That can't be right.

"Link." He responds. The others look between each other, and Sky steps forward. "And are you by chance a hero?" Sky asks. Link thinks for a second, before nodding. Is he being smart? Absolutely not. But if it's his time to go then it's his time to go. He's not afraid of death, he hasn't been since Vah Ruta, and not having Mipha's grace won't stop that. "Link, this may be hard to understand, but... our real names are also Link, and we're hero's from the past. O-or future! We don't know your placement yet. I am the hero of the skies, the very first Link that we know of, and forger of the master sword." Sky says, unsheathing the master sword and holding it out for Link to see. Link stares wide eyed. it's really her, isn't it? She looks... and feels so new. Surely this is all a dream. "You can touch her, if you'd like. She doesn't bite!" He jokes, but the burn scars on Links hands from his first two times pulling her would like to disagree. Carefully, he reaches out, placing a hand on her sheath. A chime fills his head, one he only heard in his first final moments all the way back at fort Hateno. "Welcome, hero of the Wilds." She speaks, her robotic voice devoid of emotion. He yanks his hand back as if she burned him, not taking his eyes off the sword. "Hero of the Wilds, huh? Nice to meet you, Wild." Sky says. The others seem pleased by this.

"Wild, huh? I wonder if you'll live up to your name." Legend speaks. Twilight won't take his eyes off of Link- Wild.

"What do you want from me?" Wild asks, eyes still wide in shock. This is a lot to take in, after all! "We're chasing a being far stronger then anything we've faced so far through portals. These portals take us to different time periods and worlds, it's how we got here." Wild doesn't like where this is going. "We need you to join us and help us take down this foe." Wild thinks for a few seconds, this would mean leaving behind everything he knows with a bunch of past reincarnations of himself. Really, the answer was clear.

"No."

Wild turns and begins to walk away from all this bullshit. "Hey, wait!" The others just follow after him. "Look, I know you don't want to join us, believe me I didn't want to join either, but we don't really have a choice." Legend explains.

"There's eight of you already, you don't need me." Wild replies, not looking back. Sky speeds up as to walk closer to him. "But we do need you! Even with eight of us, we're still struggling! We need more fighters, and you're-" Wild turns around, glaring daggers at all of them, even the little kid Wind. "Then IM not who you're looking for! Go find another Link! Stop by here ten thousand years ago, there was a really good Link then! I'm not a fighter anymore, I'm rusty, and I'm old." Sky goes to speak again, but Link interrupts him. "Look, if you came by here twentyish years ago, I probably would have agreed. But the thing is, I haven't fought a thing in over two decades. Monsters don't spawn up here anymore. While your whole adventure thing sounds fun, I'm just not cut out for it anymore." Sky once again goes to speak, but can't make out a syllable before Wild interrupts him once more "I've been dragged through hell and back by the scruff of my neck on multiple occasions. I lost a finger, I lost my arm, I lost my family and friends, and if I go on this adventure I just know I'm going to lose my life. I may not be afraid of death, but I promised myself I'd die out here on this plateau. And I'm not one to break promises." He says, before walking away once more.

"Wild, Link, please understand that if it's Hylia's will, then it will happen. She'll find a way to bring you with us, she did the same with Legend and Warriors and it wasn't very pleasant." Sky explains. "Then Hylia better be knocking on my doorstep and dragging my out by the hair or else I'm not going." Wild replies. Legend rolls his eyes "At this point she just might." He mumbles.

Wild continues to walk all the way to his little cottage in the woods, ignoring all of their attempts to make him join. "Wait, are you injured?" Hyrule asks, probably noticing his limp. He sighs in response. "No, I just have a limp. All the more reason to not join you." He responds. A few years ago he had a nasty fall, breaking his leg in a few places, he hasn't been able to walk right since. Hylia, if he could still pull off that gerudo outfit he could probably get a message therapist to fix him up. it doesn't take them long to reach his cottage "Hey, this is your house? It's super cool!" Wind says, walking up to block him from entering. "But please, we need you! It's for the good of all hyrule!" He begs. "Move it, kid. You're twenty-five years too late." Wild responds, taking him by the shoulders and pushing him away.

"Wait, please listen-!" He slams the door on them so hard the pictures on the wall shake, and one particularly old one rattles a bit too hard and falls. Wild gasps and runs, skidding to a stop and catching it right before it hits the ground. He lets out a relieved sigh. He checks over it, making sure nothing broke. It was the only thing he had of the champions now. When he moved out of his old home in Hateno, he and Zelda agreed the champions weapons would be better in the hands of others. Revali's eagle bow went to young Tulin, who has recently mastered Revali's gale with much practice and help from Wild. Urbosa's scimitar went to Riju, and her daybreaker shield Zelda kept. Mipha's trident went to Sidon, and Daruk's boulder breaker went to Yunobo. In the photo, Daruk smiled brightly in the background, Mipha and Revali are falling forwards, looks of surprise forever plastered on their faces. Zelda is leaning back to avoid falling over as well, and Wild is in the process of falling as well. A small smile creeps up on his face as he reminisces about that day. He stands up and puts the picture back on the wall.

The bittersweet moment is interrupted by knocking on his door. He groans and walks to his room, ignoring them completely. He doesn't care what they say, there's eight of them already! He's forty-four years old and tired, he'll only slow them down. His bones ache and his scars burn when it rains, what about that says "adventure material"? Hylia's a clown if she believes he'll go along with this stupid plan of hers. He's been through enough, hasn't he? What if he dies? He's all Zelda has left! Impa passed on shortly after their second adventure, Robbie following after. When Purah fixed her de-aging rune and turned it into an aging rune, she only lived for another week before death took her too. He's the only person from before the calamity she has, he's all she has left just as she is all he has left. At least if he dies on the plateau she can rest easily after a proper burial. If he dies out there, he may never get a burial. Zelda may never even know he's dead! What if she lives out the rest of her life waiting for him to return? The mere thought makes his heart ache. He's not afraid of death, he's afraid of leaving his best friend.

A few hours pass, and the other Links don't leave. They try reasoning with him, but it all falls on deaf ears. He really wishes they'd just give up, he's starving and the fish he was cooking earlier are too raw for him to eat. Sure, he might have been able to eat raw fish when he was nineteen and be fine, but he's in his mid forties now, he just can't do that anymore. Oh to be young and carefree again.

Then, a strange, pulling feeling tugs at his chest. The others start knocking on his door even more. "Uh, Wild? You miiiight wanna come along with us. A portal has opened." Wind announces. "Good, time for you to go. Bye bye, see you never." He responds, plopping down on his comfy blue chair, it's the same shade as his champions tunic. He can't fit into it anymore, but it still hangs proudly on his bedroom wall. He reaches over and pulls out a book, deciding to read the strange feeling in his chest away. "Look, if you don't come with us, Hylia will still find a way to take you with us, it'll suck. Trust me, I'd know." Legend yells out. Wild ignores them, not even gracing them with a response.

"Your funeral." Warriors tells him from the other side of the door, and distantly he can hear them walking away. He lets out a sigh of relief, it took them long enough. Minutes pass and the tugging feeling only gets worse, until eventually it's exhausting to breath. He stands up on shaky legs and begins to walk outside for fresh air. One step after another, until one foot doesn't reach the ground. Is that a... portal? Well, shit. Wild is sent tumbling through a colorful portal, a similar feeling to teleporting via sheikah slate, just stronger.

Wild lands face first in the wet sand, his gasp only lets him inhale sand and sea water. He chokes and coughs, and soon enough he feels someone patting his back. After a few agonizing minutes, his airways are cleared. He wipes the tears from his eyes and looks up at whoever was patting him. It's non other then the hero of legends, Legend. "Told ya it wasn't pleasant. Should have just came with us when you had the chance." He tells him. Wild glares at him. "Oh fvck off, you." He replies. "Language." Time interjects. Wind laughs. "Oh please, let the old guy swear! I promise it's nothing I haven't heard before, I'm a pirate after all!" He announces. Wild sighs. "Where am I?" He asks.

"Welcome to Outset island! You're in my hyrule!" Wild groans. "This is how I die." He mumbles, struggling to his feet. Hyrule walks up, helping him off the ground. "I'm fine." He tells him, brushing the sand off of him.

Wild looks around and groans. "And of course, no weapons, no armor. Just dandy." Legend chuckles. "Once again, we warned you. Hylia's a little shit." He tells him. Isn't this great? Zelda was supposed to visit him tomorrow, she's gonna be worried sick! When will he be back? He needs to get back home! "Hey, you okay?" Wind asks.

"Obviously not." He snaps. Was that mean of him? Yeah, but he can't help it! This is the most stress he's been under in decades! He's not a fighter anymore! He has no supplies, he has zero idea what's going to happen, and he's on a random beach! What if these other hyrules have large crowds? Just the thought makes him anxious! And he's gonna need to be around eight other men? He's already feeling claustrophobic. How in Hylia is he going to manage?

Well, the only way out is forward, he supposes.