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#I was thinking about how link is still zelda’s knight in totk
rachelfc-art · 7 months
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By Your Side
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currantlee · 10 months
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Something I love about the memory of Zelda and Sonia in the German dub of TotK...
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(Translation: And your Link, too, is surely awaiting your return.)
Sonia uses the phrase "dein Link" ("your Link") here, which in German is a common phrase to indicate the belief that someone might have romantic feelings for another person. And the way Pauliner Weiner (Sonia's German VA) delivers this line very much indicates that she is indeed teasing Zelda a little here! Sonia ships Zelink confirmed!!
But wait. There's more!
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(Translation: May one ask who this Link is?)
Rauru definitely notices this too! His tone, as well as the use of the very specific article "dieser" ("this") indicate as much. If he was simply curious about who Link is in order to follow the conversation, he would more likely use the phrase "Darf ich fragen, wer Link ist?" ("May I ask who Link is?"). He is also teasing Zelda a little here.
Zelda's reply is also very sweet! While her first two lines are nothing special (she is essentially just recapping the events Breath of the Wild, as well as what led up to it), it gets interesting once Rauru reacts to her description, once again in a somewhat teasing manner (indicated by both the delivery and the language of the line):
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(Translation: Oh, a hero you say.)
To which Zelda replies with:
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(Translation: Link is the most steadfast and fearless knight who ever existed.)
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(Translation: Yes...)
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(Translation: He is so strong...)
That last line is pretty much the same in English, but Julia Casper (Zelda's German VA) does an amazing job making it sound like Zelda is not only admiring Link throughout this entire short monologue she is having, but like she is talking more to herself than to Rauru and Sonia, almost like she forgets they're there for a moment because she is thinking about Link. I really loved this little touch!
Also note that Zelda is not explicitly talking about physical strength in the last line (although she might be. It isn't clarified, leaving the interpretation of what kind of strength she is talking about up to the player).
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(Translation: ... and on top of it all, he has a good heart!)
This last part seems to be directed at Rauru and Sonia again. But we're still not done!
After Rauru remarks that Zelda seems to think highly of Link and that the way she's talking about her knight makes him want to meet him, Sonia agrees and delivers a final line that, once again, makes it very clear that the two of them are engaging in a little bit of good-mannered teasing in this scene (both from what's actually said here and how Paulina Weiner delivers the line):
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(Translation: Chivalrous, and full of gallantry...)
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(Translation: Don't make us so curious, Zelda!)
And then they all break out in light-hearted laughter.
All in all, I really love this scene! Huge respect to the German VAs, who did an absolutely stellar job (not just in this scene, but for the game in general - especially Julia Casper!).
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linktotheheart · 3 months
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I feel like so many people misunderstand BOTW/TOTK Link especially (Zelda too, but that's another topic entirely)
His lack of expressiveness IS a personality trait. It's a direct result of the pressure on his soldiers to be a perfect soldier, hero, and savior. No, he's not Skyward Sword Link, and never will be, because his story is completely different.
"But [other Link] hugged Zelda when he got her back!" and this Link maintained a respectful distance as his princess's subordinate - but ALSO out of respect for Zelda as a person, because she spent her whole childhood having her agency denied and he wants to let her initiate even something as simple as platonic contact whenever possible. He's being kind!
(And yes, I know that primarily only the "he is a knight and she is a princess" part is directly supported in the actual game, but I'll remind the people making comparisons that the dynamic was COMPLETELY different in their favorite comparison game, Skyward Sword. But also... look at the gentleness with which Link interacts with Zelda, the tenderness that he shows so few other characters - Mipha probably being the closest example. Look at the way he looks to her first to see what to do in every scene they're in together, unless he's protecting her from an immediate threat to her life. Notice how outside of that, Zelda IS usually the one to initiate any physical contact)
I also personally hate it when people describe quiet, not very expressive people as "lacking personality" because... my partner IRL is like that. If she expressed herself at all around most people, it's in a very flat, reserved way. I've seen how it hurts her that people treat her like she doesn't have a personality, like she isn't even a full person - and I know that's real life and Zelda is fiction, but come on, do you think all the people that aren't highly expressive and extroverted don't hear that about very popular characters and internalize it?
Being reserved is a personality trait. Being cautious and not impulsive is a personality trait. In fact, I'd even say just because you as an expressive, extroverted person see Link as a blank slate to project your own personality onto, doesn't mean he actually is or was even intended that way.
(I also think this is a very US-centric point of view, honestly. There's plenty of cultures where even BOTW Link would be considered at least close to average - Finnish culture specifically comes to mind, even if he's still slightly exaggerated in that regard as, y'know, a character.)
Idk, this is as much a silly little vent post as anything, it's not that serious, etc, but whatever
(and don't get me started on "oh Zelda got no agency in TOTK and she learned the powers she was struggling overnight". No, it's called a time skip, and just because she learned her powers before the 13th hour this time - which yeah, she would get them easier this time with a mentor who could actually use the same powers, and having already learned to use her light powers - doesn't mean it just "happened overnight". And... she didn't express agency? She was actively influencing the entire flow of the timeline, changing the actions of her ancestors by convincing her ancestors to act, learning to control her powers and fighting Ganondorf, and finally expressing the ultimate form of autonomy in choosing to sacrifice herself to save the world. Some of the criticisms of TOTK didn't even seem to play the same game. Just because a heroine isn't a pop feminist badass who *gasp* wears pants and easily and perfectly kicks every villain's ass, doesn't mean she "has no agency" and is being sidelined. Like, a princess engaging in courtly politics is neither powerless nor "doing nothing")
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thecagedsong · 9 months
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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.
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wild-dagon · 8 months
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Sometime I think about totk taking place after the Linked Universe adventure finishes.
Wild is 17 in LU. I don’t know if it’s official cannon but most works I’ve read have Wild join the chain around two weeks after his official quest ends.
So with that in mind Wild is with the chain at 17.
Totk takes place about 6 years after Botw. Making Wild and Flora around 23.
So let’s say Wild went on his adventure with the chain. Who knows how long it takes 1 year? Three years? Who knows but they all have to part ways when it’s over. Maybe the mailman can run in between timelines still but they can’t.
Wild’s back in his ear helping Flora rebuild. It’s going well and he’s as happy as he can be with out his family.
But then TOTK happens. The story goes as it does and it ends with Flora returned to her Hylian form.
Flora who has traveled to the distance past once. Flora who had 10,000 years + as a dragon to have her powers grow. Flora with a sacred stone of time.
Maybe Flora as she watched over all the prior ears saw some of the Chain and their adventures. Maybe she saw Lullaby and Time’s adventures with the Ocarina. Or maybe once she’s back she works really hard to master her time powers.
Either way she decides to surprise her knight with a trip. A trip through time.
Flora was always a little jealous that Wild got to meet and learn from other hero’s it’s her turn to meet other Zelda’s. She rationalizes trip to Impa this as an opportunity to learn how best to help her kingdom from the Zelda’s who came before. And if Wild gets to reunite with his family well that’s a bonus. (In reality this is the only reason they are going)
What have the others been up to during their time apart?
Has Sky and Sun gotten married?
To Time and Malon have kids yet?
Has Twilight found pieces of the mirror or has he moved on with his life?
What is a grown up Wind like? Has he established New hyrule yet with Tetra?
Does Four still travel or has he settled down and running his own blacksmith shop? What of Shadow?
Has Hyrule found peace or is he still being hunted?
Has Legend finally moved on from Marin (maybe with a certain merchant?) is he still adventuring or has he been able to let go and relax?
What is Warriors life like with no war? How will Cia handle multiple Links and Zelda? Traveling through time?
It’s so fun to think about. You can make it super slice of life where Flora is hang out with the other Zelda’s while the Links reunite. Or you can add a driving problem and plot.
You can make it so only Wild and Flora can move through time. But where’s the fun in that. Obviously not all the Zelda’s can travel but you can bet Sun and Tetra are all over this adventure.
I personally think Flora and Wild’s first stop is the period of Twilight to pick up their wolf.
What do you guys think.
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ofcowardiceandkings · 8 months
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companion piece of young Zelda
AAHH i finally finished something :'D
it actually took more thought to trawl through my feelings about Link as a child than Zelda but we got there idk man i just knew he exudes gremlin energy as a 17 to 20-something year old so he must have been a little demon as a kid gfkdjfkd
we're sort of looking at roughly 4, 7 and 10 years old here feeding sum pigeons, playing soldiers, and doing some baking !!!
more detailed Thoughts under the cut 💙
iiitssss customary ranting about my BotW/TotK opinions tiiiimeeee welcome my darlingsss jfkdjfkd 💙
like i said, this took more thought than Zelda, but we also dont know as much about Link's upbringing so thats fair
having said that, we know his father was a knight - a prominent one - and its hinted at that his family may have owned the Hateno house you can buy from Bolson. im not sure if i land on it being the family / childhood home or belonging to like a grandparent but i like to think Link spent time in Hateno as a kid (im a great fan of bumpkin Link with a country accent aight im a simple man). no mention of any OTHER family members, but imo i think his mother was still around and he probably had younger siblings !! he DID probably spend a fair amount of time in Castle Town just due to his father's job though, to be fair he probably travelled a little as a youngster a-la army posting yknow ... moving on tldr that explains why i've got a bunch of Hateno-esque clothing here aside from us sort of not knowing what the average joe Castle Town citizen from back in the day would have worn idk man its cute also
SO, pigeons !!! i'll definitely expand on this later when i go over more livestock now ive finished TotK but listen i wouldnt be in the least bit surprised if pre-Calamity Hylians had domestic pigeons for sending messages or just for hobby, so here's a first look at the Castle Town Carrier, the Hylian army's best flying friends. Link's just out here feeding his fathers' cohort's messenger birbs :3
stimky boy plays soldiers with a stick and a pot lid and a tub, classic and good, he was probably like ... actually tactically aware at this age though lets be real lol i bet it was annoyingly impressive
C A R R O T C A K E its a bit wonky, but i bet it tastes great :') id imagine Link probably spent a fair amount of time helping around the house and boy loves his food !! some people develop those skills early !!! i bet he was one of those people !!! any chance to get involved and learn how to make his faves and make them for other people yknow, food as a love language everyone HEYO (bowl there is chickaloo tree nuts, hazelnut analog eyo)
ghfjkdjfkd i said i didnt have much to say about this but oops
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kokiriofthevalley · 3 months
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My silly little Link headcannons
hii again I'm very bored rn sooo
again for Zelda, it's only the major ones, sorry obscure link fans
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also wtf is this gif I found 😭😭
Skyward Sword
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✯has the biggest crush on his Zelda bc they're so close
✯like it's VERY obvious how they feel about eachother
✯His fav flavour of ice cream is Oreo ice cream but he also loves toffee and vanilla too
✯He can talk but he prefers sign language (dialect of sign language may vary on preference ((like ASL or BSL or LSE, ect)) ) and talks to save time in an emergency in case the other person may not know sign, but DOES sign if they do
For this one, I thought about the cutscenes where he's explaining something (like the current location or condition of Zelda) to another character and we can see his mouth moving.
✯no because if video games existed in skyloft, i just know that he's playing stardew valley and papas freezeria. I can feel it in my BONES
✯Definitely woke up under his bed once and hit his head on the bedframe
✯him and Groose have insult battles but then they get ice cream together after
Ocarina of Time/Majora's Mask
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✯somebody get this poor boy a therapist and a hug PLEASE
Twilight Princess
✯it felt natural to him when he transformed using the Zora mask in mm, because both the models for adult link and Zora link are the same size
✯mute
✯i think he played the ocarina like a recorder (aka with no experience at all) and did each note individually and the magic of the ocarina of time was probably like "there is NO WAY that I'm letting this kid tarnish my reputation goddamit" and made the songs sound nicer after he had played all the notes
✯forgot once that he was a kid again and walked to Romani ranch to get some chateau Romani and was genuinely surprised when Cremia said no
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✯Had more of a genuine connection to Midna, but still had a friendship with princess Zelda
Wind Waker
✯felt a strange familial connection to the hero of shades when he met him and made link want to find out who the hero of shades was
✯does NOT like how short he is when he transforms into a wolf
✯Best poker face in history
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Breath of the Wild
✯Gives Aryll piggybacks when she wants
✯would gladly eat his grandma's soup for the rest of his life
✯His grandma gave him the recipe to her soup when he left to discover the new Hyrule
✯Has the most major and unhidable (that's not a word but who cares) side eye in the history of time
✯If the events of WW didn't happen, I think he would have grown up to be a cartographer or he would REALLY like making his own maps
✯sorry to get all angsty but I don't think he wanted to kill Ganondorf. I just don't. I don't think either of them wanted to kill eachother. I feel like Link feels guilty about it because it's so obvious that it was only self defense after the triforce was touched by king Daphnes and it literally drove Ganondorf insane
Tbh I'd go crazy too if something I had wanted so badly got taken by another person even tho I literally got SEALED IN ANOTHER FUCKING REALM FOR A LONG AMOUNT OF TIME for it
Again sorry for no totk for this one pls no spoilers
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✯Gets ambushed by Yiga so many times that he knows their names
*Yiga poofs into existence* "IM HERE TO KILL YOU LINK, IN REVENGE FOR MASTER KOHGA!!!!"
"oh hi jerry, nice weather eh?" -link
✯After he saved princess Zelda, he took a nap that lasted 4 ENTIRE days
✯not even the sound of kass' accordion could wake his ass up
✯very obvious but if he wasn't a knight, he would be a chef. Not sous chef. He would be head chef.
✯His hands are probably rough as hell from all that Hero Of Hyrule™-ing he has done
✯despite being able to lift heavy objects, his arms are still noodles
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toushindai · 2 months
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totk spoilers but are we ACTUALLY meant to think it’s poetic or flattering or triumphant that Rauru was like “oh YEAH? Well in thousands of years this guy called Link is gonna kick your ass”
How much has he even heard about Link? He must have had at least one more conversation about him with Zelda because the Master Sword doesn’t come up in the Zelda and Sonia tear, and by the King’s Duty tear Rauru’s just like oh don’t worry, if we don’t finish Ganondorf off I’m sure your bf can handle him. As I’ve said before, his “We rely on your knight” line rubbed me the wrong way starting with its appearance in the trailer, and it really does not feel less entitled after watching said knight (and that legendary sword he carries) very very VERY nearly get one-shotted by Ganondorf at the beginning of the game. And Zelda knows this! What does she feel watching her Better Dad Substitute sacrifice himself and simultaneously sic the evil bad guy on Link—a siccing which explicitly shapes Ganondorf’s attitude towards Link at the beginning of the game? At what point did she have the emotion of “welp. I know why Ganondorf knew Link’s name now.” The musical blending of the LOZ theme/hero’s theme with Rauru’s theme seems to suggest that it’s not an emotion meant to be had at exactly that moment, but I cannot watch Rauru sneer “remember that name” without yelling HE DOESN’T NEED THAT INFORMATION at the screen.
I played through the GSI in Japanese recently and Rauru did seem a touch less entitled to Link than I’ve been reading him—mostly because of the formal, polite, outgroup-equal language he used with him—but I still can’t get over the extent to which Rauru heard about Link a few times and decided, sight unseen, that he was going to clean up Rauru’s mess. My man what made you think that. What gave you the right to decide that. And how frightening to be Zelda and watch Rauru pin all the world’s hope on her beloved knight who Ganondorf absolutely fucking wiped the floor with. We see this worry in her in the Master Sword in Time cutscene! To what extent can Zelda’s transformation and before that her petition to the other tribes of Hyrule for Link’s sake be understood as a forced action due to Rauru’s conviction that Link could do this no sweat? Almost entirely, I feel—but does the game know that?
I just. Isn't it intentional? Doesn't it have to be? The fact that Rauru already needs the correction, once, that he cannot and should not face the Demon King alone. Then his melodramatic claim that Link has got this on lock. Then Zelda being like 😬 not sure about this actually and going through the whole process of talking to the ancient sages + draconifying for the sake of the Master Sword. Because Rauru absolutely set Link up to fail and Zelda is the one making sure Link has the resources, including the support of others, he needs to succeed. And the game is so much about community, about not doing things on your own.
And yet the way the scene is scored and animated and the way all the other characters talk about Rauru's sacrifice seems to treat this as a a moment of culmination, of triumph. I am getting such mixed messages here.
Understand, I’m saying all of this with an aching fondness for this poor self-deluded hypocrite. And also teeth-grinding frustration. I think he deserves to feel suffocatingly humiliated when Link almost didn’t survive Ganondorf’s attack and I also have tremendous sympathy for the shame and terror that it might be far too late to correct his mistake that he must have felt as he waited for Link to wake up. Both of those things. Hopelessly lonely man who found people to love him and built himself into a role he was never adequate for. I wish the game looked at this a little more. I wish I could tell if the game intended this at all.
(This is not the most intelligently written post but I assure you I mean every word of it.)
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aromanticannibal · 10 months
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Post-totk headcanons!
heavy spoilers ahead
ZELDA.
this woman spent millenia as a dragon she is going to have goddamn antlers.
so yeah, she keeps small antlers. they glow. big golden eyelashes too, eyes keep a strange glow to them
she's generally more eldritch.
I think she tends to have more memory issues after coming back. nothing too bad, but she struggles a bit sometimes.
Now Link- he does not just get back his arm. Amputate that man.
yeah so he loses his right arm from a bit above the elbow once Rauru disappears for good and takes his arm and magic back.
He gets phantom pains and all, sometimes he reaches for ultrahand and is just like. ah yeah
he takes it pretty well honestly. Purah and Zelda figure out how to make him a prosthesis and he wears it most of the time, but doesn't like it that much - he just would hate to get caught by surprise by monsters or the Yiga and fumble w/ his left arm.
Zelda and Link are always together after totk happens, but like. even more always together. And it's not just Link protecting Zelda anymore, she's protecting him too.
I think she gains a sort of very faint healing power from her time as the light dragon, so she tries to find ways to always be touching Link so he doesn't get too hurt
Mainly because he has the habit to just. not say when he's hurt, or when something's wrong.
The sages ask a lot about their ancestors, and Zelda loves to tell them and Link everything about her time in the past. She warns that she may not remember everything well, but they don't really care.
more than 100 years after the calamity started, some of the champions are starting to get forgotten - mainly, Revali and Urbosa. Daruk literally has his face carved in a moutain and the Zora live so long that most of them still remember Mipha, but Revali and Urbosa are really becoming more legend than anything. Link and Zelda make sure people remember them.
After everything starts to calm down, Link is forbidden from coming into Gerudo Town again, unless there's something happening and he has to come and protect the city, so Zelda visits often and tells him all about how everyone's doing. Riju sometimes comes out of the town and goes on walks with Zelda and Link.
Link spends a lot of time in Rito Village, telling the kids about Revali and how annoying he was- but mostly about how strong and skilled as an archer he was. He doesn't want Revali to be forgotten.
Sidon is so stressed lmao, Link visits him often. He brings gifts for him and Yona and spends time with them and everyone at the Domain. Sidon is very thankful for his friend.
Link hangs out a lot around Mipha's statue, just letting her watch over him. it's one of the rare places he feels safe enough to put his sword down and just relax.
Tulin is SUCH an excitable little bird child. He loves hanging out with Link. They're siblings I'm deciding right NOW
Link shows Zelda his dream house in Akkala and she just loses it. Link. Link you put my paintings around? Link you out our favorite flowers here? Link you got a bigger bed for the both of us? Link our horses are here? Link I'm Going To Marry You
They move here and make the house in Hateno a safe house for everyone in the village and every traveler that might come. They place travel gates near both houses so they can still go to the school.
They get married because I said so-
Back in the King's time the wedding would've been really big and public and annoying, but Zelda isn't having it. She does make a public announcement that they are getting married, but the actual wedding is a small thing (lol small).
They get married under Satori Mountain's cherry blossoms, and invite the sages, Yona, Purah, Impa, Paya, a lot of the kiddos they met in their adventures, etc. they wear flower crowns too. Link cries. Zelda cries. Everyone cries.
Link doesn't really become King because the second Zelda goes yeah you're kinda legally King now he just goes EW. NOPE.
So Link stays the Queen's knight, they're just yknow. wed.
Hyrule is rebuilt! Nothing bad happens again! because I cannot have these babies hurting again
I think Zelda learns how to fight cuz like. Come on this girl is definitely going to want to explore the Depths and Link is not going to let her go in there without a sword.
She's going to love Froxes. like so much. They're Frogs Link!!!! They Are Frogs
She finds she's most comfortable with a bow and gets a strong golden bow made for her (not the bow of light but something similar, way less powerful) and a shield cuz like goddess pls use shields people
edit after finding the dusk bow and that one person in the notes said she should get the dusk bow she gets the dusk bow
omg they build cities in the sky. They make big ass stairs.
anyways pls add on if u got headcanons for post totk.
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pielcanala · 8 months
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Love Story (Taylor's version)
Pairing: Any link (but written with BOTW and TOTK mind) reader(gn)
Genre: Romance!!
Word Count: 1k+
. .  •   ☆  .  °  . •  ° : .  * ₊  °  .  ☆
Link was young when he first saw you. Barely an adult when he had first accompanied Zelda to her birthday ball; the night he met you. Laughter and music filled the room as he stood there next to the princess. Zelda noticed you right away and pointed you out to him. 
“ That’s (Y/N) (L/N). Child of the Baron (L/N). “ She paused before continuing. She looked at Link to see if she had his attention. Instead, she saw him staring directly at you. She awkwardly cleared her throat as she continued.
“ If I were to be honest… I’m not very knowledgeable about them. Perhaps it would be a nice change of pace if we got to know them better. Don't you agree, Link?” 
Link simply nodded his head in response. He had been captivated by you in a zombie-like way. Maybe it was the way you awkwardly smiled when you greeted people you didn’t seem to recognize or the way you tucked in your hair whenever you listened to other people talk, or the way you played with your rings when you got nervous. How could someone possibly be so normal and yet so lovely? How could you possibly distract him so much that he forgot who he was? How could he possibly forget that he was the Princess’ Knight and you were the child of a common Baron? 
“ Well, I’ll be off to my Fathers’ chambers. My father insists we still do the Father-Daughter walk together. You already know how he is, Link. “ Zelda frowned a bit as she walked towards the stairs just outside of sight. The first time he was ever so distracted around the princess; the first time he had ever misheard Zelda. He had never let these types of emotions run free before; had never even indulged in something as simple as a crush before. He just stood there, like an idiot, before pondering what he should do next. 
You weren’t stupid; you knew you had caught the eye of the princess’ knight. He had been gawking at you since the moment you got here. 
Link was like a legend in high society. He was a man, who just at 13, had out-skilled both of his older sisters and his own father. His swordsmanship and his discipline were unmatched even at such a tender age. There were rumors, of course, as there always were. Rumors like he was secretly a part of some villainous clan, or he wanted to become king, or that he was Zelda’s lover. 
The last one caused everyone to become aware of his little stunt at the party. The famous knight in Hyrule's history (who was supposedly Zelda’s boy toy) eyeballing some girl at the ball of the year? 
It was strange. As a Baron’s child; you never really got attention from someone of such high rank. Even the royal family had barely started to recognize your family. The only reason why you even came is because your mothers’ business had been somewhat lucrative; barely affording you an invitation. 
You quickly hurried off to an isolated balcony. You regretted your decision immediately as it was starting to snow; the castle warmth no longer shielding you from the cold. White covered all of what you saw from the castle’s balcony. Behind you, you heard footsteps. Quickly, you turned around, only to be faced with a familiar person. 
“ My Hylia, it's cold out here! (Y/N) (L/N)! ” A younger girl walked towards you as she quickly covered herself with her jacket. You walked towards her; meeting her at the entrance of the balcony. She swiftly placed her drink on the balcony’s handles before briskly giving you her hand. “ Care for a drink? It’s positively delightful! It's Silent Princess tea, ever had it? ” You shook your head and nervously accepted her outstretched hand. she handed you a drink as she picked up hers and brought it to her lips. You recognized her from your own birthday ball; she was the daughter of some viscount down south. Unluckily, you had no idea what her name was. 
“ I think Sir Link has taken an interest in you (Y/N)! Do you know how many girls would kill to be you right now? “ She smirked as you nearly choked on the tea. It’s not that you weren’t interested in him. In fact, you had liked him since you were younger. But it was a silly celebrity crush; you never thought it would go anywhere. You turned bright red just thinking about it. You looked down at your tea and turned to face the outdoors. 
“ I’m sure he was simply on duty and surveying the area. He is currently on standby after all- “
“ But I’m not seeing Princess Zelda or Sir Link anywhere? ” She cut you off as she looked back at her. You looked to the center of the room and she was right; they weren't there. 
Before you could even blink, She quickly disappeared as she giggled and said something about your ‘boyfriend’. You didn’t even have a lover; sending into a confused state as you walked to the edge of the balcony. You sipped on your tea as the snow peacefully fell. 
You liked being by yourself; it felt like you could breathe again. But then your thoughts started to run wild. What if Link actually liked you? What if he was in love with you? You smiled to yourself as you let your wildest fantasies run rampant in your mind. Link would propose in front of you to everyone and whisk you away on a passionate honeymoon to the ocean, or he would fight for your honor in some war and give you all of the jewelry you stole because he thought you would like it? You gushed over the thought of someone as important as the Link liking you. You smiled so brightly as you turned around to rejoin the party. 
You nearly fainted when you realized a young man was actually walking towards you. More specifically, your celebrity crush Link, was walking towards you. You didn’t even notice the Princess and the King walking down into the party together. That could only explain how Link slipped away from the crowd without stirring too much drama. You chugged down your tea as you nervously looked away. 
Link had to restrain himself from speeding up as he saw you turn to him with such a beautiful smile. His expression changed slightly; His eyes softened. Link noticed right away that you didn’t have a jacket, even though it was snowing. His breath fogged as he opened his mouth. 
“ Are you cold? “ He asked. 
“ Oh! Um no. No not really! “ You skittishly laughed as you rubbed the back of your neck. “ I’m used to it since I spend a lot of time up north. Wh-What about you? “ Great. Your teeth chattered as you tried to make small talk. Not only is your childhood crush talking to you but you embarrassed yourself in front of him. Before you could chastise yourself more you heard a small chuckle. Link swiftly covered his mouth but his giggles were only slightly muffled. 
Link walked closer to you, before stopping right in front of you. Before you could question him, he leaned down. You hitched your breath as time suddenly slowed down. It was as if this was the only part of the universe that was still normal. It was as if this moment was the only thing that mattered. 
“ Are you sure? “ Link muttered into your ear. 
“ yeah um… yes i’m sure. ” you whispered back. You stared at his eyes. Had anyone ever looked at you so gently? 
“ Für Elise will be playing soon “ Link stepped back as he offered you his hand. He smiled down at you as you blushed. You held his hand in yours and smiled back. 
“ I’d love to dance with you, Sir Link. “ 
. .  •   ☆  .  °  . •  ° : .  * ₊  °  .  ☆
This is a little bit of OO!link haha 
I had a lot of fun as i really like taylor swift. 
Thank you so much for reading and i hope you guys liked it!! 
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luna-lovegreat · 5 months
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Wild's apology
Since I really love proper apologies and taking account for actions, I MUST rant about Wild's apology because there are so many details making it... good. Just good.
First panel face, he looks uncertain. Hyrule said the little guy wanted to talk to him, but he doesn't know if it's only one little guy
We have the best opening line we all love, hoping he can imitate Zelda's diplomacy. Wild did not- his apologizing varied wildly from Zelda's, and I think that's a really good thing
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His Zelda's diplomacy is a royal style, seen in totk memories. When diplomatic, she uses formal words and straight posture, with her hands at her side or clasped in front. She doesn't need to say it's formal, since that's assumed. Wild did not imitate her exact style, but he kept the end goal of peace.
This whole first panel with him showing such tension, hoping with all his might it goes well, resolving to act the best he can to fix it... yes
There's something really telling about Wild's face walking in. He looks angry. With everything we've seen of his actions after twilight was injured, it's clear by now that when Wild's scared, it comes out as anger. All the previous yelling was because he was scared.
Since Wild's face looks angry walking in, after deciding to imitate diplomacy? I think he was terrified.
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One thing I love watching in people is how much the smallest body parts can show their thoughts. Hands can tell a lot about how someone's feeling. When Wild starts talking to Four, his hands show he's being open.
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Arms down at his side, palms up and hand reaching out. That hand and arm position shows vulnerability- he's literally opening his body to be open in his words and feelings.
And he's says "I know why you wanted to see me", which, well
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lol
Still, he came in immediately speaking to work to patch things up. The words "I'm ashamed"... admitting you're wrong is hard. Even harder is discussing the feelings that come with it.
Moving on, Wild's moving ahead to apologizing.
Wild is not royalty, and neither is four. Truly imitating Zelda's diplomacy with royal posture and attitude would have been weird. What they are is warriors, comrades who win battles together. And four works with the captain, who certainly sets an example of military respect. This is where him not exactly imitating Zelda's diplomacy is better, since he is not a princess.
He's a soldier in this moment. We don't know how much he remembers of his initial knighthood, but his soldier diplomacy kicked in here. He's basically standing at attention in the side view. Four is much shorter than him, but his straight posture and forward facing head (not looking down) shows absolute respect regardless of height. He outright states it's a formal apology.
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Awesome. It's not polished or perfect, there was a pause before the rather awkwardly phrased statement about initiating. But awkwardness makes it real. His face still looks fairly angry here! I still interpret it as fear.
His hands are straight at his side, then formally on his chest. He can't be the perfect knight anymore- instead he's awkward and unpolished. But he's doing diplomacy the best he knows how, even if four absolutely did not care about a formal tone.
Moving on! Four's listening.
Wild loosens up here. There's only so long our wild child can be formal, so he's not unnaturally pausing and trying to phrase things formally anymore
Hand placement: the hand behind the head is the Link pose we all know, where apparently it's a part of the hero's spirit when feeling awkward.
His hand goes from behind his head to held up in the air when saying "look, I'm sorry for shoving ya" I honestly like to think of this as pulling the apology from behind his head lol. Thinking for words "now where did I put that apology?" Finds it and holds it up "look! I'm sorry. It was just in the back of my mind."
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His hand then goes down to his side, and he's open again. Palm out, he's putting him out there.
His word choice matters. "ya"
"Honestly, that warranted an all out brawl" ... good. He's saying his actions were wrong- that he deserved anger towards him. Saying "all out brawl" validates fours actions. It warranted an all out brawl... that says that to wild, what four did was ok. All of it sucked, but it's ok.
My favourite line. "Thanks for going easy on me." It's important in so many ways for humility, showing respect, and how four could have done more, blah blah blah anyways I like it because I can imagine he says that and then the purple part of four just grins like "yeah I totally could have beat you up glad we're clear on that". I mean Four has done nothing but manically cackle when someone mentions his secret, so I think he probably had a devilish grin inside when Wild said thanks for going easy on me.
It's an apology and it's awkward! Awkward pauses, awkward faces. Hand behind the head, "ya". It was awkward. He kept going, showed sincerity. He struggled ahead, forging his way through (no pun intended), because it. Matters. To. Him. Being a person who can take responsibility is great and he cares about it. But the real reason is because four matters to him, and they have come so far. The amount of care it takes to just keep going until it's resolved shows a gold heart.
There's one of my favourite parallels between this update and a previous one in his explanation after apology. In his explanations... his face is the same.
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And this gets me so much. Look at this guy and his past. He was a perfect silent knight. Losing his cool or expressing emotion or fears was not even an option. And now he can mess up- which is terrifying. But look at how vulnerable his face is, how much he's allowing himself to feel in order to properly express his want to fix things.
And then he offers four his hand. If offering someone your hand and taking it isn't the sincerest form of love... this is so sweet. His face is so open, really wanting to (re)connect with four.
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They shake hands and the apologies are over, they move on to shiny metal. "Oh."
And overall this is incredible. People can admit they're wrong and apologize, anyone can say words. But to have facial expressions, posture all the way to hands, and connotations of words all showing honest sincerity is far more than most can ever hope for.
There's my favourite parallel in the progression in this update, the two times they took hands.
The first time is Wild offering his hand after apologizing, and this is where we get the last remnants of a formal soldier apology. Standing straight, arms straight towards each other.
Later on they take hands again, this time as friends connecting beyond making up.
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...
Making mistakes and hurting people doesn't make someone unlovable. Working to fix your mistakes makes someone lovely.
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that-bad-b1tch · 23 days
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A knights honor
Yandere!totk x knight reader
Description: As a royal knight it is your sworn duty to protect those around you and the royal family until the day you die. So why are you suddenly in the past during the imprisoning war with people wanting you as their protector even though you sworn the protect the one who carries the goddesses power.
Warnings: Cursing, gore, possessiveness, A little smut not full blown smut but like making out, and death. Also reader is gender netrual! But it will talk about masculinity.
Adults do not interact meaning do not follow or repost. (Commenting and liking this post is fine)
A/n: i made this because I was annoyed with little totk fanfiction there was and how their were none actually with reader being taller than Ganon or as a knight from the future like zelda 😮‍💨
Words: I dunno man I don't take track of this type of thing 🗿
Chapter 1- The awaking
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You don't like this at all. Traveling down the dark and narrow path of the cave gives you chills. Your hand clutching the very sword that managed to survive during the age of calamity and when you fell alseep for 100 years along with the hero link.
Though it feels awkward because 1 you are walking down a path that feels weird. It felt like it was slowly dragging you down without knowing. Zelda the princess who survive Ganon was egar to do this after finding out that the muck or something you don't really recall what was making the villagers sick. So as a friend and knight you went along with Link who as ever was quiet about this but you could tell he was weary of this also.
Your eyes were focused forward ignoring zeldas excitement as she held the sheka slaight. Suddenly Links master sword bursted into light. You tensed and swallowed meaning that links sword is detecting danger. Zelda looked worried and gripped on your forearm.
Though you didn't notice since you were to busy looking ahead and trying to find the danger Zelda squeezed on your arm admiring how much muscle you have for being a women. You were actually tall taller than a average hylian and taller then a gerudo women. So you were possibly the tallest women Zelda has ever met and the strongest to almost matching links strength.
Both Zelda and you flinched once hearing something scream like it was dying and noticing link was gone. Swallowing your salava again you jogged down with Zelda who followed. Zelda noticed link and went ahead of you to see and ask if link was okay which he was and it was just a simple bat according to him.
Zelda nodded her head and turned it only to awe at what's ahead of her. Her eyes sparkled as she put the sheka to camera and rambled about something. Your eyes moved also and looked at the designed in awe also admiring the detail and time that person who made it took. Although you were interesting in everything you still had that gulch wrenching feeling like something bad was going to happen. Like.....something is supposed to happen.
Yet agian you shook it off thinking it was just you bring paranoid and ventured forward with link and zelda in the front rambling about something but you didn't really care since you were busy trying to ignore the feeling that came back once again. Once hearing zelda gasp softly you looked forward only to make your heart drop when seeing a pit. A very VERY deep pit with a green glowing light that swirled around gently but it was at one single spot whole the red looking smoke danced around everywhere.
"Zelda I do not think it's a good idea to go down there" You said finally speaking during this whole time down here. Zelda looked at you with a caring but determined look. "We must y/n we need to find out what is causing the people to become ill." Zelda said with a determined tone. Link sighed and shook his head knowing that y/n was right since he too had a feeling something bad was going to happen.
Zelda turned and continued walking down the path along with link. You grumbled about how this was a bad idea but followed since you didnt want to be left behind at a place like this. The steps of you, link, and zelda were echoing around the hallow place. Your hands sweated slightly as you finally made it down the final step and was walking down the crumble path.
"What is that?" Zelda suddenly asked. She stopped and slightly moved back once seeing the thing. Your eyes and even links eyes widened seeing a mummy of a man. His hair a deep blood red. His skin for some reason a deep brown color not normal for a decaying mummy. Yet your eyes were focused on the hand thar slowly fell to the side making a gem of some sorts fall off the hand and roll to zelda. Zelda knelt to the ground and hesitantly took the gem off the ground her eyes were focused on the gem them gasped softly when seeing the gem was glowing a golden color.. Your eyes once again snapped towards the mummy when hearing the sickening sound of joints and bones cracking. Zelda flinched and yelped softly once hearing the sound also and stood up, clutching the stone tightly.
The mummy rose up slowly making you flinch at the cracking sound. The mummy soon fell limp and making you hold your breath.
There was dead silence before the mummy snapped its head towards the three of you. Red stuff then shooted out of the mummy like it wad a command and shot towards the three of you more specifically zelda.
Zelda screamed but link managed to block the red things attack while you used your shield to block the up coming attacked that were coming towards you. Grunting you pushed away the red stuff and moved towards zelda protecting her with your sword and shield. Your eyes widened seeing the red stuff destroy links hand. It was coming to fast and you didn't know bit the red stuff then attacked you but not your body but almost half of your face making you scream and clutch the bleeding side.
"Y/n!" Zelda yelled with shock and worried tone. Your eye looked over and gasped seeing that the master sword shattered into pieces and flew everywhere. Including to the mummy.
"Link!" Zelda then called out links name once seeing the damage the red stuff had did to link. Your eye widened was a peice of the master sword grazed your cheek like the top of the shattered sword did to the mummy.
"Was that the blade that seals the darkness? A blade that shatters to easily against my power cannot save you from me." The mummy finally spoke as it slowly rose up looking at the three. Your eye spewed out blood making your hand painted with blood. You took shaky breathed whole looking at the mummy that was now finally at its height and looking at zelda.
"Zelda" It rasped ignoring the sheer fear that held in zeldas eyes. The mummy then turned to link his tone lasing with hatred. "You, that carries that fragile sword...are link" It hissed out. Links face hardened as he breathed heavily and clutching his whole wounded arm with the handle that was once the master sword.
Its rotten and olden face then and finally noticed you. "You........" It rasped his tone calming for odd reason but you didn't care. Clutching the sword you finally put your hand down revealing the eye socket that held nothing anymore. The eyeball shrunken and gone so now that right eye socket was hallow but still spewing out blood as the red stuff slowly crept around your eye.
"Raru placed his faith in you" It hissed out like that name made its blood boil with anger like that name was a name of an enemy. "And that was all ypu can do?" It responded his voice lacing with dissapointment like it was expecting something.
"How do you......know our names" Zelda managed to say her grip on the lighten touch was tight since she felt shame because she couldn't do anything to help y/n and link.
Yet the mummy ignored Zeldas question and shot out the same red stuff and moved it so now it was blasting upwards. The place crumbled as rocks were falling once the triangle peice was moving upwards. "Zelda, link!" You yelled moved zelda away as you used your upper body to push rocks away from the three ignoring the burning and painful feeling that was happening on your right eye.
The ground shook violently. You used tour sword for support while link knelt down finally feeling the intense pain. "Link, y/n!" Zelda called out but screamed when the rock under her fell making her fall. Your eye widened as you immediately jump and holding Zelda closed as you fell. Link soon then jumped and tried catching the bothof you but couldn't. You shut your eyes tightly as you felt wired rush through you and zelda expecting a impact but didn't. There was then a bright light coating you and zelda and made both of you suddenly dissappear.
Before you fell into unconsciousness you saw a small part of a little forest but fell into a darkness. Not knowing that a certain two people noticed both you and zelda unconscious.
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atwas-meme-ing · 8 months
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Meme by Z0MGedELR1C on DeviantArt
Definitely one of my favorite characters, and I have to disagree with the description of him as "cowardly." At least in some aspects.
No, he's not your classic hero like Link, bursting into deadly dungeons without a second thought and eventually duking it out with the Evil Demon King at the end. But he's not like one of those cowardly characters who claims to be a hero. Instead, he calls himself a coward- and then proceeds to tell his own princess just how wrong she was.
That took guts.
Ok, so, Link is *ahem* "linked" to Zelda, right? That's the way it always works- whenever Ganon rises, in any form, Zelda is supposed to seal him away, and there will always be a Link to rise up to defeat Ganon. But also, in every instance, Link isn't just the hero that defeats Ganon. He's also Zelda's knight. In many cases, he stays by her side even after the battle with Ganon. Like, Toon Link stayed with Tetra after Wind Waker. Adventures of Link, it's the same Link from the original Zelda, still protecting her. BOTW, AOC, TOTK- he's not just a knight who protects Zelda, he is assigned as Zelda's own, personal knight.
I presume something similar happens in Lorule, that Ravio and Hilda are connected just as Link and Zelda are. Hilda is a princess desperate to save her kingdom. Ravio understands that, but he also sees that she is turning into the same kind of people who destroyed Lorule's Triforce in the first place. And Ravio clearly cares about Hilda. He kneels before her, like any obedient knight. He apologizes and calls himself a coward. He shows great humility. But he still tells her she was wrong.
Ravio's journal says that he knew Yuga was playing Hilda for a fool. But she wouldn't listen to Ravio. Ravio knew he would have to fight both Ganon and Hilda. I don't know if Ravio would have stayed to fight Ganon or run away. I think he might have tried, for Hilda's sake. Mmnn... or maybe not. In any case, he COULD NOT go up against his own princess, the person he was sworn to protect from the darkness. And that was the actual reason that he ran away.
But part of protecting her would also be to protect her from the darkness entering her own heart, would it not? And besides, he was supposed to be both Hilda's knight and the Hero of Lorule- where was he supposed to draw the line between those two? Obeying Hilda might have saved Lorule, but he would have to destroy Hyrule in the bargain. What kind of hero destroys one world just to piece his own together?
She wouldn't listen to him. And he couldn't bring himself to fight her. And, despite being greedy, lazy, and cowardly, he has morals. He couldn't watch an entire world be destroyed just to save his own.
Ravio's smart. He knew there had to be a Link in Hyrule. And even though Link is connected to Zelda, he wouldn't have a connection to Hilda like Ravio did. Link wouldn't be so torn when it came down to the moment when he would have to face Hilda and possibly destroy her.
And in the final moment, just as Link was ready to start thrashing Hilda's scheming butt, Ravio jumped in between them and faced the princess that he was sworn to protect and obey and tell her, no, this is wrong, you are wrong, you have to stop before you become like the people who destroyed this place.
I just... really, really like Ravio, okay? He's cool. He's pretty heroic in his own way. Fighting monsters is one thing. But standing up to someone you care about and telling them they're wrong, and doing so very gently and humbly and yet firmly? That's a whole 'nother level of bravery, imo.
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roy-dcm2 · 9 months
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Ruminations on the King of Owls
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Suddenly, after Tears of the Kingdom the appearance of owls throughout the franchise has been re-contextualized. Rauru, the first King of Hyrule, was also called the King of Owls, so we should reconsider the Owl as a symbol for the King of Hyrule. In addition, we also know Rauru’s power as the Sage of Light was to eliminate evil. Then there’s also the fact that the ruins found in Faron (which might be older than the Zonai) also used the Owl as a symbol for Wisdom.
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The first notable appearance of an Owl was the Owl from Link’s Awakening, and it was just part of the dream of the Windfish, but it did impart wisdom to the Hero and guided him a few times to help uncover the truth, so it does represent Wisdom. You could say that the Windfish itself is passing on wisdom to Link via the Owl, and if Link hadn’t defeated the Nightmare, they’d both be trapped in never-ending slumber until the end of their days.
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The most famous appearance of an owl is of course, Kaepora Gaebora from Ocarina of Time. People were convinced that KG was an extension of Rauru from Ocarina of Time, but it just as likely that KG is the spirit of the first King of Hyrule himself. The ancient tablets found in Tears of the Kingdom tells us that King Rauru did have a sense of humor, which aligns well with KG’s strange behavior. (Better than OoT Rauru.) But for that to be true, we’d have to accept  that King Rauru took some time to play as an owl in OoT in the middle of waiting for the timeline to reach the events of TotK.
Alternatively, KG could be another Sage of Light / King of Hyrule (neither OoT Rauru or TotK Rauru) that chose to help guide the Hero of Time.
(Maybe its one that died during the Hyrule Civil War right before OoT. Maybe he's Link's father! Oh, wait, it's supposed to be an ANCIENT Sage, nevermind.)
KG also appears in Majora Mask where he’s clearly a different Owl than the one from OoT, and only helps out the hero a few times in his journey. In both games, he still representing wisdom.
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However, I have to mention Link’s shield in Majora’s Mask. The first shield that he carries is adorned with the image of an Owl. So very strange, I never thought Link was so fond of KG, but when you think of it as a symbol of the King of Hyrule it makes sense. Link did save the Kingdom in OoT, (essentially eliminating evil)  it is likely the Zelda’s father awarded Link with that specific shield.
(Suddenly, the MM shield is a lot cooler.)
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In Twilight Princess, not only were there Owl Statues hiding special runes from the City in the Sky (How that relates to the Zonai is a theory for another time), but you should also notice that the Hero’s Shade is wearing a set of armor that has an owl for a chest plate. It could mean that this former knight was a personal guard for the King of Hyrule. Or this is the official armor of the Knights of Hyrule.
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Finally, I want to take a brief aside to talk about the Zonai’s third eye and the Sheikah’s “Eye of Shadow.” I had considered that maybe the Sheikah had adopted the third eye as their symbol because it was (in a way) King Rauru’s symbol, and he died protecting Hyrule. But, considering that the Sheikah likely predate the arrival of the Zonai, this is likely not the case.
It is more likely that the Sheikah eye is “the Eye of the Gods” and the fact that Zonai have three eyes is just a coincidence.
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nightmaremonarch · 6 months
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i think most link’s would be flat earthers. here’s a game by game analysis on whether or not that link would be a flat earther
edit: this is based on a mix of their education, experiences, technological advances, and relative historical period... most of them definitely would have the resources to tell the earth is round! but they got the triforce of courage, not wisdom ^_^
skyward sword link - mf lives on a flat floating rock. of course he’s a flat earther. probably thinks the earth below is a big ol floating island too
four swords and minish cap links - grouping them into one because they’re in similar periods. while technology would be advancing i assume it’s probably similar to medieval-premedieval so i think they’d be flat earthers
(edit: i became aware that there were still ways to learn the earth was flat premedieval era but that doesn't change my view... both will still believe the earth is flat.)
ocarina of time/majoras mask - ….he’s my favorite. i wanna be nice. but he’s probably a flat earther. dude has had no formal education. they probably think the world is infinite or smthn…
twilight princess - it would probably be similar to like. gothic to renaissance era. so people in this era probably know by then… that the world is round……. but not link. he sees a map and assumes that’s the shape of the world.
four swords adventures - our first round earther! he absolutely knows the world is round! probably has a formal education too
altp/ooa/oos/la link - bro’s gone everywhere. he’s NOT a flat earther 🙅🙅🙅 VEHEMENTLY defends the round earth.
albw/triforce heroes - different timeline version of the previous link. he is NOT a flat earther!
og link - now. you may be thinking. why would he be a flat earther if they previously had the technology to know that the world is NOT flat? well. legend of zelda is full of WEIRD historical development and WEIRD technological resets (see: the mess that is botw)… and this is one of those cases. he is a flat earther.
ww/ph - “the world isn’t infinite ocean????”
spirit tracks - not a flat earther!!! brother is an ENGINEER. he’s formally educated. they’ve reached an industrial revolution in hyrule and education would have CAUGHT UP.
botw - “why am i separating botw and totk?” because botw link FORGOT EVERYTHING. he thinks the world is flat and infinite.
totk - got in a discussion about it with zelda post botw.
link: (looks at map) how come sailors don’t fall off when they reach the edge here
zelda: ……..pardon ?
needless to say, he’s now a round earther!
FINALLY:
hyrule warriors - “no, wind, the world is not an infinite ocean.”
(formally educated knight, world is round)
thank you for reading.
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gale-gentlepenguin · 11 months
Text
Totk Ficlet: Pity
(An alternate take on a scene in Tears of the kingdom. Spoiler warning)
The Demon king felt himself drop to one knee. His eyes burning with rage at the man in front of him. The young blond hylian with eyes looking right at him. The other sages had finished the last of the phantoms and were gasping for breath. They were tired, as was the demon king. The only one still seemingly with energy was the wielder of the sword that seals the darkness
He was so sure that this swordsman was not a threat to him, he was so sure the time to conquer hyrule was now, yet somehow, this hero and his group of new sages were not only matching him, they were winning.
“How? How are you doing this!?” The demon king roared.
The swordsman stood silent, his blade remained drawn and shining brightly.
“I am the Demon King Ganondorf! The one that will throw this world into eternal Darkness. How can you stand against me!? Tell me Link!”
That was the first time during the fight that he called his name without disgust or dismissal. He called out the Hylian’s name with Rage and begrudging respect.
Link’s expression shifted, not showing his intense focus he once had. His expression started to fill with something the demon king could not believe.
“What is with that expression? Where is your focus? your anger!? Your hatred!?”
Link was not one for words. The pressure of being the hero chosen by the master sword left him with little to say. But in this moment, Link was not looking at the Demon king of Hyrule, nor the king of the Gerudo.
“I saw what you’ve done.” Link spoke. His voice steady, the sudden words made the demon king and the other sages take notice.
“For many reasons I should hate you. But, seeing what you once were, what you are now…” Link paused, taking a moment to think of the right words.
The other sages were surprised, Mineru especially couldn’t believe the words. What was the hero feeling?
“So hero, if you don’t hate me. What do you feel?” Ganondorf asked with a mix of amusement and frustration that didn’t seem feasible to feel.
“I think the word is… pity.” Link answered.
The word hung in the air of the dark abyss.
Ganondorf felt as if he had been slashed by the very blade the hero was wielding.
Pity?! He pitied him? The demon king!? The one that made Rauru so desperate that he was sealed away!? The one that killed Queen Sonia? The one that would plunge the world into darkness! The hero has pity on him!?
“You Pity me!? Me! The most powerful being in all of Hyrule! The master of darkness! The demon king that rivals the gods! You pity me!? How can you come up with such a ridiculous notion!?”
“You’re alone.”
The quick response left the area silent, only to be broken up by giggles.
Everyone looked to see the young Rito, Tulin trying to stifle his laugh but failing.
“Sorry, it’s just pretty funny. He can summon monsters but not friends.” Tulin answered.
The comment caused Riju to start chuckling, in agreement with the Rito.
“I refuse to believe a pitiful monster such as this was once a Gerudo.”
Soon Yunobo and Sidon joined in with Hearty laughter.
“He really does seem kind of sad when you think about it. The Demon king that has to make his own servants.” Yunobo pointed out.
“Well said Link. This Demon King fails to understand what it means to be a king.” Sidon exclaimed with a flashy smile.
Mineru, who was dumbfounded by the turn of events ended up letting out a fit of chortles. This was unexpected. Truly Zelda was right when she said her Knight was special. Only Link could lose his arm, and see the horrors of the Demon king and point out the one thing that would strike him so fiercely.
The demon king felt his blood boil at the laughter of the Sages. Did this Swordsman just mock him!?
He wanted to strike him but he felt his body ache. His body was already at its limit. But he did know one thing he could do. He didn’t care if he lost himself in his hatred. There is one thing he would not be. He would not be pitied by a damn sword swinging nobody.
He pulled the sage stone from his forehead. He would end this.
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