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sunset-peril · 2 years

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Saying Goodbye - Chapter One - When Courage Failed

...How?

How did it come to this?

She had muttered the exact same phrase to Link not even an hour ago... wait, was it an hour?

She had lost all sense of time since leaving Mount Lanayru, her only proofs that time had passed being the pants of each breath either she or Link took... and the growing heaviness of her body.

She looked down her bloodstained figure as if she expected anything to be any different than it had been for months. Her swollen stomach, five months with child, still rose and fell with her breath. The child squirming within did not rest, as if they understood that death was upon the trio even though no one had taught them its significance. She hurt, a sharp pain shot through her lower stomach with each breath, but she told herself to not mind it. Whatever pain she felt was no more an inconvenience in comparison to the wounds inflicted on Link.

He was cradled gently in her arms, gasping softly as his breaths shuddered out of rhythm. Blood gushed from his chest, neck and arms, spilling onto Zelda's white gown.

She held her face close to his, smelling the hiss of his blood. The scent made her airways close, Hyrule's sacred princess fighting for each breath. Her vision blurred with tears and tiredness, wishing this was all a nightmare so that she could awaken to find Link, her husband of only a few months, unharmed at her side. "You're going to be fine..." She promised, doubting the statement with every fiber of her being. Even her unborn child called out the lie, but she acted as if she believed in hopes that it would keep him alive.

Shaking, he lifted his hand and stroked her face. "Zelda..." His hand shuddered as he felt the curves of her pointed ear, just as he always had when she was distressed, a deep grimace etched onto his face. "I'm not... gonna make it."

"No! No... you're going to be fine!" She gripped his hand tighter. "Just save your strength... you'll see."

Link forced the best smile he could. "The one time I've got something to say... you don't wanna hear it."

"Don't leave me!" She gasped for air, clutching her stomach. "Don't leave us!"

"Don't you have that child out here, Zelda!" His voice was loud, louder than his dying state should have allowed.

Zelda had heard his demand several times since Ganon's revival. She was nowhere near her time, and the hell Hyrule had become was no place to birth a child, not to mention the swarms of Guardians still searching for them would terminate her on sight... especially if they found her in labor. Her hand gently began feeling the kicks inside her, anxiously analyzing her child's movements.

I shouldn't even be like this...

Zelda had no plans to start a family. The only plans she possessed were to marry Link (for she knew she loved him and was already engaged) and to continue uncovering alternate ways to defeat the Calamity (which was halted by her father partly as punishment for becoming pregnant and partly for still being powerless).

The child had been all Hylia's doing. It had been the only time Zelda had ever heard her voice. She said that it was time, that Zelda was to conceive right then in order to protect Hyrule's future. Had the Goddess not spoken to Link and Urbosa as well, Zelda would have thought she was going insane. Hylia promised it was the only way to restore peace to Hyrule, to ensure the Kingdom, for the last words Link or Zelda had heard from her were 'now go... and bring peace to Hyrule.' However, Hylia's demand only seemed to deepen the divides within the country, uproar consumed Hyrule Castle and its Castle Town after Zelda's pregnancy was discovered.

If Rhoam was pleased, then Link was a Cucco.

She had kept the child secret for as long as she could, but she became ill enough to require a doctor around her third month mark, a doctor that noticed her small baby bump.

Link protected her during the uncertain times like only a sacred knight could. He was never more than a pace away from his wife in any direction, to the point where Impa deemed his actions 'excessive and obsessive.' But he didn't rage. He walked right up to Impa, looked her dead in the eye and said, slowly and monotone "Are you advising to leave the Princess, who is the last descendant of Hylia and pregnant, unprotected?"

That whole area of the Castle fell silent for a long time. Impa and Zelda were the only ones who had heard Link speak up until then, so his devotion was awe-inspiring... and questioned. He didn't care, he loved Zelda and was happily married to her, it actually gave him pride that he was the Castle's sole suspect for the father of her child. He didn't want the kingdom to suspect anyone else. Hyrule's silent prince became a common figure among the people, accompanying his wife on journeys across Hyrule even though he had gained the ability to stop her. With the image they'd gained for themselves, it made sense that Link was laying in the fields, dying, within sight of Fort Hateno; one of the last two strongholds left in Hyrule... the only stronghold which would last the night.

"...tell 'em I love 'em, okay?" Link's eyes flicked to Zelda's stomach. "Tell 'em I died for 'em..." A few tears blinked down his bleeding face as he glanced back up. "...and their momma."

She felt his grip weaken, the light fading from his eyes. "Don't die... please... please don't die..."

"I'm sorry... I really am... but I'll be back for you... we're tied together forever." He reached up one last time to caress her face, a pained smile forming on Zelda's face as he marked her with a smeared, bloody handprint down the left side of her face; trailing his hand down to her stomach with great effort and rubbing weakly. "Take care of Momma for me..." He told their innocent child, smiling softly as his love for his family shone through his pain. Link gasped shallowly and glanced up at Zelda once more before his eyes looked out to the side, staring up at someone else. "Hey, Goddess... time to go?"

Zelda then felt his weight fall dead. Her knight, her husband, gone. She took a few gasping breaths as her scientific mind processed his death, then cried out in anguish and hugged his body, letting his blood soak her and her tears soak him. At the moment his life left, a horrible shriek sounded from the Master Sword, its light going out as it slipped from Link's palm and Zelda shielded her ears.

No... no... this can't be it.

She told herself he would come back. She knew this was true. Like every other Link before him he would reincarnate in some distant era to redo the fight between power, wisdom and courage... but if Hyrule didn't carry on, if Hyrule died this night, would there even be a fight to return to?

And even then, he would not return to her. He would return to her descendant, a granddaughter far down her line; a descendant of the baby kicking inside her body while she mourned. And he would be different. He wouldn't be hers.

Perhaps this is why Hylia demanded she conceive that night, so she could bear an heir, continue the bloodline, even though Link would die.

That goddess, who let all my prayers fall on deaf ears, now demands me to run through hell like this ?

Zelda was in no condition to run or fight, her pain was great and her child heavy and active... and obvious. Why would Hylia not have spared her grieving soul by having her go though such pain as one, two or even three months pregnant? Or arranged everything in the opposite way to where Zelda would have already birthed her child? Or even just not pregnant at all?

Peace, Your Grace.

Zelda lifted her head from Link's body. The voice was not her own and too formal to be her child... unless she really was going crazy.

There is still hope...

Her eyes, still blurry from tears, focused on the glowing Master Sword. The light had gone out when Link slipped away, but now it had returned.

He can still be saved.

Zelda's ears heard clearly, but her mind was still reeling from grief. "You mean... he can still be saved?"

Of course, Your Grace. Why would I say such a thing if it was untrue?

Zelda wrapped a protective arm around her stomach, preparing for the expedition she was about to take. "Wh-What must I do?"

Master Link must be taken to the Shrine of Resurrection, quickly. Only then may he return to finish his battle... and return to you.

"Princess!" Another voice, not divine or feminine like the sword, cried out from a distance. Two Sheikah soldiers bowed in front of her. "Princess, are you alright?!"

Zelda gripped Link's body and tried to stop the flow of her tears, giving the sword's orders to the soldiers.

The Shrine of Resurrection... quickly... before he is gone forever! These are your orders! Make haste and go!

The voice of one of the guards broke her train of thought as the other took Link's body. "What about you, Your Highness?"

She grabbed the sword and held on tightly, holding out her right hand to showcase her newly found power, its glow hiding her pain. "I'll be fine. Just take him now!"

The soldiers nodded and raced off towards the Great Plateau, Zelda struggled to ascend to her feet. Her body felt almost more burdensome than it had before, she pushed herself up using the remains of a nearby Guardian only to notice a spray of blood accompanied by the now-familiar shooting pain as she extended her right foot to the ground.

Your Grace... I have detected a rather large wound in your side, medical attention is advised.

It was as if the sword had told her 'Don't look down' while at the edge of a cliff. Zelda's focus immediately shifted to finding the source of the blood. The sword hadn't exaggerated about the wound, 'rather large' is exactly how Zelda would have described the laceration in her lower right stomach...

Wait. What?

Zelda grimaced at the sight of her wound, so close in proximity to her growing child. She had no idea when she had been wounded, but it suddenly demanded all her attention. Voices belonging to different people started yelling over each other inside her head. One of the only voices she could hear within the mental pandemonium was a nurse that had attended her wounds once after she'd arrived at a Central Hyrule military base wounded.

Keep your hands away from the wounds, Princess. If the wounds wish to weep, let them. A clean wound will heal quickly, a dirtied wound may complicate.

The words had not come while she'd been pregnant, but rather a year beforehand, when she'd still been uncertain towards her feelings for Link. She didn't remember who the words belonged to. It didn't matter.

Zelda chose to ignore them.

There was a battle to fight and a child to protect, such advice would not stop her blood flow.

Zelda picked up a familiar mechanical sound not far from her.

Guardians!

Zelda was certain she could smell her own panic. She was wounded, badly if looks didn't deceive, and exhausted from the escaping she'd already done. One thing was now different: she had awakened her sacred birthright. She could seal Ganon now.

Use your dress, Zelda! Hold the fabric over the wound!

Hateno Village was close, but any Sheikah working there would have left. She was also the only person left to stop Ganon: if she fled to the country village then the Guardians would only spread their destruction. She needed safety, even though all defenses had been shattered. She needed a place where someone she trusted could tend to her and her child... she needed Link, now more than ever.

She would head to the Shrine of Resurrection. No matter the danger, a Sheikah would be attending the Shrine and Link's mere presence, even though he was dead, might calm her. The location was also at a high enough elevation for her to plan an assault on Hyrule Castle; to stop the Calamity.

"For Hyrule!" A rallying cry came from Fort Hateno, where a village militia emboldened by the sacrifice of their prince raced towards the incoming enemy to protect what remained. A small herd of horses escaped from the fort, spreading out onto the burning plain. One, which bore a startling resemblance to Link's steed (who had perished earlier in the night), trotted up to Zelda.

His name is Vesper.

Zelda's head whipped around. "Link?!"

I'm here. I told you I would be.

Her lip quivered and her sobs resumed. "So this means you're really..."

Zelda. I'm here . You need to focus. This horse will bring you to help. Now's not the time for tears.

The steed named Vesper snorted as if he could hear the conversation, stepping forwards and nickering softly.

Zelda nodded and did the best she could to stop herself from crying, laying her hands on the steed. "I trust you with my life, kingdom and future." The statement was formal, as if it had been memorized for a ceremony.

Vesper's saddle had burned off in the chaos, leaving small marks on his underbelly where the hair had been burned. On top of his fresh wounds, Zelda was uncertain how she was even supposed to mount him without assistance. Taking in a deep breath, she used her uninjured leg to jump up to his back, rolling gently as she cradled her wound. She felt the steed's snout in her hair as she forced herself to an upright position. The child inside her squirmed from all the commotion, distracting Zelda from the world around her. "Shhh, shh..."

An explosion was heard nearby.

Sweet Hylia, the Guardians!

"Go, Vesper, go!"

Without even a whinny, the horse raced across the Blatchery Plain, avoiding the paths and any other places large enough for a Guardian to pass through.

...

Perhaps it was from the wind and landscape rushing by, but Zelda began to feel faint not long after departing for the Great Plateau. She thought she would hear Link's voice again, now that she was weak enough to hallucinate, but the gentle voice of her husband wasn't present.

She didn't know where she was... and in her state she wasn't even sure she cared. Her baby had quieted down for the time being, removing the last barrier between her and unconsciousness.

The road they traveled upon had possessed a slow incline for a while, lulling Zelda closer and closer to sleep until the ground suddenly steepened under them, prompting her to use her fading strength to look around her.

The walls of the Great Plateau were behind her, giving the royal a sudden burst of anxious energy. She was almost to help, the safest place that remained in Hyrule.

Vesper slowed for a few tense moments before stumbling to a stop due to his own exhaustion. He had raced across Hyrule for his rider and had served her well.

Zelda shared in his exhaustion, she stumbled off of his back and nearly tumbled to the ground. "Thank you!" She declared once she had found steady footing on the spongy ground. She rubbed the spent steed's snout tenderly. "I won't soon forget you."

Vesper whinnied with honor, then ambled off to recover his strength.

Zelda looked behind her, right side drooping down in exhaustion, and saw the cave where the Shrine had been built. It was not as far as she'd expected, but far enough that its distance struck her with weariness. For some reason, she felt herself searching the sky. "Link? Link?"

No answer.

"Link?!"

Though he had come to her in a much stronger state, her beloved was anything but there now.

It took much effort to reinitiate her movement, but Zelda was able to begin limping towards her destination. The fabric right around her wound was a deep crimson and dripping with her blood. The closer she got, the faster she forced herself to move, until she was running through the entrance.

And collapsing on the floor.

"Your Highness!" The blurry figure of Impa raced towards her.

Zelda took huge, gasping breaths on the floor of the Shrine, glancing down at her stomach before laying her head down and staring at the pool where Link laid.

Impa whipped her head around. "Purah! It's the Princess!"

Zelda felt a hand on her stomach, then heard a gasp.

"She's bleeding out!" Purah's voice reminded her of the Royal Tech Lab and the peace she felt when working with the same Sheikah tech that had now betrayed her. "We've got to stop it or we're gonna lose her!"

"...Zellddaaa?"

She reached out towards the voice, nearly crying his name. "Link?!"

"Bring her to him!" Impa pointed towards the pool, Zelda felt arms cradle her.

From her new vantage point, Zelda's weary body stretched out to look at Link. He was almost completely undressed, blood still spilling into the pool as the healing waters licked his wounds. His eyes had opened, though dark from lack of life, and focused on her.

Purah laid her down right beside him, head laying on the rim of the pool.

Link reached over to stroke Zelda's face, spilling liquid on her as his shaking hand brushed her skin.

The waters ran down her face, washing the blood off. Some trickled into her mouth and was ingested, she instantly felt herself sedated.

"You 'kayyy?"

Impa repeated the cleansing motion on Zelda's shoulders, taking care to not sedate her. "She's hurt real bad, you both are... we're going to get her patched up."

Link took a sharp breath. "No dyinnn', kay?"

A soft scoff sounded from Zelda. "Hypocrite."

"I knoooww." He reached out of the pool and somehow got his arm wrapped around her stomach. The effort made him raise his head, so he went ahead and kissed his wife. "Diiiddd yaaa missss meee?" His slurring had already become worse in what couldn't have even been a minute.

She made a sound of affirmation only to feel Link slump. Impa forced him to lay back in the waters, but Zelda refused to release his hand.

"Princess. Please. You're wasting precious energy trying to hold on. It's time to say goodbye."

The wounded couple locked eyes, eyes welling with tears.

To Zelda's now-disoriented mind, letting go was synonymous with betrayal, destruction caused by lack of faithfulness.

"You don't have to leave him behind. You just have to let him go."

Zelda looked deep in his eyes, blinking her tears down as she darted her gaze between husband and child.

Link blinked lovingly at her. "I'mm not goinnnn' anywherrreee. Youuu take careee of 'em."

She nodded, attempting to wipe her eyes on her bare shoulders. "I love you."

"Always."

A few tears dripped from Zelda's cheeks into the pool, a golden light flashing for a second for each one, before she leaned in and kissed his forehead, pulling away and sitting down on her knees. She released his hand and pulled hers to her chest. Her curves melted into each other, the gravid princess proving the helplessness of the situation as she clasped her hands together as if praying. She watched Link's eyes look softly at her one last time before closing. The cover of the Shrine's medical facility closed over his body, reawakening Zelda's loud acts of mourning. The princess' wails echoed throughout the Shrine of Resurrection, perturbing the conscious and the Shrine's environmental sensors.

Impa held her shoulders tightly, a few tears leaking from her eyes. "You've brought him peace..."

Zelda shoved herself out of her arms, but lacked the strength to stop herself and collided with the glowing cover of Link's pool. A soft grunt was heard from her on impact before her body slid off, smearing her holy blood onto the place of healing.

Death tried to invade him, but he was covered by life.

Purah brushed Zelda's side, watching her eyelids flutter and her eyes roll. Her breathing became erratic and sped up to the point where she was panting. The two Sheikah sisters shared a glance, eyebrows raising and frowns deepening before they both resituated Zelda in a more comfortable position. Sweat from exhaustion and distress covered Zelda's forehead, Impa brushed a bloodstained rag across her forehead while Purah examined her wound more closely, Zelda squirming away whenever Purah touched her in the vicinity of the laceration.

"Princess, hold still."

No.

"Princess, I've got to look at it."

Not a chance.

"Princess, quit moving so much you're going to make yourself bleed out."

Thanks for the concern, but no.

Purah turned towards Impa in frustration, shaking the blood from her hands. "Ugh. She won't sit still. She was hardly moving by the time she got here... but now she just won't sit still."

"She's in a state of panic. That wound's so close to her little one... and she's just lost the rest of her family... all in traumatic ways."

Zelda clearly showed her body's distress. Her pupils were noticeably dilated, her nostrils flared and her stomach rising and falling irregularly. She tried to squirm away before Purah continued her examination, but found she lacked the strength. Fear began to set in, she stared up at the two with a painfully vulnerable expression.

Impa kept a hand on Zelda's head, fingers running through her hair as she tried to mimic Link's soothing routine. Zelda displayed some confusion as she calmed, but grew weaker and weaker, exhaustion climbing, until she eventually lost consciousness. Impa sighed as she felt Zelda settle, looking softly at Zelda's bloodstained figure.

"Let's get you patched up."

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nolongerapileofashprobably · 1 year

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How am I supposed to cope with the fact that it is HEAVILY IMPLIED if not practically canon that Link and Zelda lived together post botw

Link can still sleep in the bed.

The table is set for two 🥹

Zelda had to have a separate room built for ‘privacy’ and Link’s hair tie and is found there. Why would she need privacy if she lived alone? Plus having to hide his new champions tunic in the throne room??? Can’t hide it in the house if they both live there

Zelda even states that Link hasn’t left her side since they were reunited 🥹 kill me I’m so fucking emotional about this

It’s referred to as ‘Zelda’s house’ but in Japanese I believe in her diary she just calls it ‘the house’ (again, I’m not positive but localizations have applied ownership where the Japanese version lacks it)

Symin says “oh! You’re back in town, link!” And then “if you’re here alone then Princess Zelda must still be missing” which implies Link does still live there and that he’s literally always with Zelda (which we been knew)

Remember that while the side quest for the house was optional, it would have been torn down if Link didn’t buy it. It’s still there. So it’s safe to assume that canonically, Link did the majority if not all the side quests in botw.

Like fuck this I’m so fucking upset Link spent years by Zelda’s side, is referred to as an ADULT, and now they’re separated AGAIN. I’m. Im fucking emotional. This is everything I wanted from the sequel which is a pretty clear indication that zelink are together like what the fuck Nintendo. What the fuck.

#can we just talk about how everyone who knows link legit goes ‘you’re back!! but wait… where is zelda’ bc they’re always together #link being a protector through and through is so goddamn precious #THE TABLE IS STILL SET FOR TWO #can we imagine link smiling at zelda and saying ‘welcome home’ after the great calamity is over #zelink #botw zelink #totk zelink #totk zelda #totk link #loz totk spoilers #totk spoilers #loz tears of the kingdom #loz tears of the kingdom spoilers

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essektheylyss · 5 months

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Life hack: if you start EXU: Calamity at 14:04:18 (2:04:18 PM) on December 31st, you can experience the finale of the Avalir fireworks extravaganza at exactly midnight.

And then, if you really wanna set the tone, you can kick off your year by screaming into a pillow for the remaining ten hours of runtime!

#critical role #exu calamity #listen everyone should watch calamity and if you haven't yet you absolutely should do this. it's a great idea.#you could maintain your sanity by timing new years with the final landing but #this is WAY more unhinged #also disclaimer for the record I take no responsibility for how youtube ad bullshit interferes with this timeline lmao

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huaenrose · 4 months

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⚠️ TGCF SPOILERS.

Crimson rules the land, Black rules the waters, White rules the heavens, and green rules a territory larger than land, water, and heavens combined: the heart of a child.

#tian guan ci fu #tgcf #heaven official's blessing #hob #four great calamities #hua cheng #he xuan #bai wuxiang #qi rong #guzi #mo xiang tong xiu #mxtx #poems

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spooksier · 7 months

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played that minecraft dress up game. did yall know they got yuri in there?

#art zone #totk #loz #fanart #totk zelink #totk link #totk zelda #totk tulin #totk rauru #totk sonia #SUCH a good game i had a great time the whole time i was playing it #actual serious totk pieces soon i just needed to get the funnies out #also um…headcanon time:#link’s namesign for zelda is the letter ‘z’ next to his temple so he doesnt forget goodby everybody #it used to be ‘z-princess’ before the calamity tho #yuri forever!#totk spoilers

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growingupgerudo · 1 year

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Some Zelda/Zelda AU/Growing Up Gerudo requests from Patreon, including GUG Midna and @anewcalamity Ghirahim!

-Junior

#legend of zelda #loz #tetra #Skyward Sword #Ghirahim #a new calamity #growing up gerudo #midna #Ganondorf #hyrule warriors #link #great fairy #artwork

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kruk-art · 7 months

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#tgcf #heaven official's blessing #he xuan #black water #Four Great Calamities #Black Water Submerging Boats

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149panda149 · 7 months

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TGCF: My theory on the inspiration behind the 4 calamities

In some of the oldest Chinese myths and legends, there are 4 guardian gods of the four cardinal directions - the green dragon, white tiger, crimson bird, and black tortoise, and each have a colour, season and element associated with them. I'm not sure if anyone has made this connection before, but I'm writing it down if anyone is interested. There are spoilers about the calamities' identity.

First, the 青龙（qing long, green dragon) --> Qi Rong, Night-touring Green lantern.

The qinglong's territory is the East, and its colour is qing, which means green, or turqoise. Its element is wood, and its season is spring. Closely associated with royalty and the imperial family.

Now, for the similarities with our favourite green goblin. "qing" is literally the colour in Qi Rong's title, and his colour scheme. Qi Rong has a habit of hanging corpses from trees, which may be his relation to the element "wood". He does not have any obvious coleration with the season "spring"- perhaps he was born in spring. He is royalty, part of the imperial family as cousin to the crown prince.

Second, the 白虎（bai hu, white tiger)--> Bai Wuxiang, White Clothed Disaster upon the Earth.

The baihu's territory is the West, its colour is white, element is gold/metal, and its season is summer. It is the king of all beasts, associated with disease and war, often used as a guardian symbol by soldiers.

On the other hand, Jun Wu's title, alias and colour scheme are all white, and has plenty of weapons that may be his link to the element of "gold/metal". I don't think he has anything to do with summer, but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. He is king of the gods, a god of war, and the one to spread the human face disease.

As east and west are considered a pair, the guardian spirits are meant to reflect each other. In Chinese poems and such, symmetry is important, and both Qi Rong and Jun Wu were princes, one becoming revered by the highest of gods, covered with masks and false identities, one becoming the object of disgust by the lowest of ghosts, using his real name and face. There is a certain poetic symmetry to it, don't you think?

To the second pair. The 朱雀 (zhu que, crimson bird)----> Hua Cheng, Crimson Rain Sought Flower

The zhuque rules over the south, its colour is red, element is fire, and its season is summer. It is the king of all birds, more powerful than even the phoenix, immortal and undying. As such, in many places it is also considered a symbol of life.

Now, to the most popular ghost king: Hua Cheng. The english translation of his title is "crimson", and his colour scheme is indubitably red and autumn-y shades. He also re-re-met Xie Lian in autumn ( I think - I mean, the leaves were all red in the donghua??), and has died again and again to return like the zhuque. He is the king of all ghosts, with a great determination to live(sorta? are ghosts alive??) for his love.

Lastly, my personal favourite, the 玄武 (xuan wu, black tortoise)---->He Xuan, Black Water Sinking Ships

The xuanwu, also called a tortoise, is actually the only spirit to be a combination of 2 animals, a snake and a tortoise. It rules over the north. Its colour is black( sometimes depicted as dark blue), element is water, and its season is winter. In earlier legends, he is considered a guide and guardian to the netherworld, of death and of long life.

Thus, to our poor indebted water ghost. He Xuan's name is "xuan", the same! goddamn! character! as the spirit! His title and colour scheme are all to do with the colour black, and he is a water ghost because he died because of the Water Master. He has been marked by death, yet survived and vowed revenge. This, and the fact that his house is called the Nether Water Manor, is probably his relation to the netherworld of the xuanwu.

To the pair of south and north. Both Hua Cheng and He Xuan have suffered and suffered again, yet Hua Cheng chooses to linger on due to hope and love, and He Xuan due to revenge and hatred. But hatred and love are two sides of the same coin. If Hua Cheng hadn't experienced the hatred from his childhood, he wouldn't have thrown himself from the city wall and met Xie Lian. If He Xuan hadn't loved his family, so much, he wouldn't have broken that hard after their deaths to lose himself to hatred and empty vengence.

Aaaaaand that concludes this essay. Keep in mind that this is a theory, and probably even isn't true, but if anybody wants a more detailed description of the guardian spirits, or to know more about the similarities between the mythical creatures of ancient china and tgcf, I will be more than happy to make a part 2.

Thanks for reading!!

#he xuan #tgcf #bai wuxiang #hua cheng #qi rong #four great calamities #heaven official's blessing #tian guan ci fu #black water submerging boats #black water sinking ships #night-touring green lantern #crimson rain sought flower #white-clothed calamity #shan hai jing #meta #tgcf meta

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eerna · 4 months

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the ancient hero armor set in TotK is like "so yeah the Hero from the first Calamity was actually not Hylian. he wasn't Zonai either. he was a secret third thing that has no name and the only other example can be found in weird statues in the Depths. HOWEVER he does wear Zonai clothes! but also Hylian body paint. no we will not elaborate further nor ever xoxo <3" insane absolutely INSANE

#did the first depths quest which made me go look at the statues again which made me go HEY. HEY WAIT. YOU GUYS LOOK FAMILIAR.#which sent me down the rabbit hole of trying to decipher the design. it has now been 48 hours i have redrawn it a whole lot of times and #added a zonai/hylian zelda to match. i've missed this sm #next up: trying to figure out architectural style development of post-zonai hyrule in relation to the great plateau #p sure the fabled hylian stonemasons just carved over fabled zonai era hylian stonemasons which is great #i don't remember what exactly that one area beneath the castle said abt rauru and the building. i think i will have to go to my old #save file to check it out. all to try and place when the first calamity happened <3 #totk liveblog #loz liveblog

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lycheeluv · 3 months

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Calamity set I did for "Unfulfilled" TGCF calamity focus zine. Print currently available on my shop !

#TGCF #heaven official's blessing #HOB #tian guan ci fu #black water sinking ships #crimson rain sought flower #green ghost qi rong #Wait what's... White plague ??#oh it's officially white clothed calamity #alright thats quite a let down #No name because no spoil #four great calamities

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yudol-skorbi · 3 months

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they deserve a whole good old 2000 romcom movie lovers to enemies to lovers where in the end after series of hilarious shenanigans they inevitably ride into the sunset but alas

anyway i finally watched exu calamity and enjoyed it enormously i am a different person now and i want to eat cement👍

#critical role #exu calamity #fanaart #sketch #loquatius seelie #laerryn coramar seelie #i am late at the party and i dont give a shit #it was great #i just started c3 #yay

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sunset-peril · 2 years

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Saying Goodbye - Chapter Two - Love's Final Song

Zelda shot awake, propping herself up on the cold stone floor of the Shrine of Resurrection until her breathing could keep up with such sudden, intense activity.

I fell asleep?! How could I have fallen asleep?!

"Oh! There you are, Your Highness, did you sleep well?" Impa moved from her bloodstained sister towards Zelda.

"How could you have let me fall asleep?! The world is literally ending!"

"You were exhausted, Your Highness."

"You fell asleep on your own, Impa soothed you a little after Link…" Purah sighed and gestured to the sealed chamber. "And anyways… you needed to be still while we patched up that wound of yours. Kinda hard to move when asleep, right?"

All their eyes swept over to the stitches in Zelda's lower stomach, a hastily closed wound that lacked any dressing. Some sort of fluid seeped out of the remaining slits in her skin, she tried not to mind it.

Purah's face bore an uncertain demeanor, she had little pride in the job she'd done. "How are you feeling?"

Zelda signed loudly, pressing her fingers to her forehead. "I'm not sure." She spent a few moments evaluating her newfound headache before shoving herself upwards.

"Princess! Please do not act rashly!" Impa attempted to hold her still, but she shoved past without a missed beat.

She grasped the tattered Master Sword from where she'd dropped it earlier and quickly evaluated the damage. "Hyrule grows closer to destruction with each passing moment. We cannot just stand by!"

"But, Your Highness!"

"No! This is my kingdom and I cannot allow it to fall!" Zelda gasped once for air and stumbled a little, eyes landing on the back of her right hand. "I was once incapable of such a task, and many perished because of it… but no more. I stand now, ready and willing. I only ask you would assist the survivors."

Although she noticed that Zelda was in no state to act, Purah nodded, aware of the princess' stubbornness. "Give us our orders and we will gladly follow."

"Purah, I task you with monitoring Link's recovery. I trust you with his life as if it were my own."

"Yes, Princess."

"And Impa," Zelda turned rather quickly to look her advisor in the eyes, placing a hand on her stomach to maintain balance. "I trust you to take care of the remaining Sheikah as I would. There's a chance… I may not return tonight."

Tears welled in the eyes of all three of them. "We'll be praying for you…" Impa assured. "...take care of yourself… and the little one, they're our best hope for Hyrule's future."

"I will… and thank you." Zelda wiped her eyes, looked once more where Link laid and headed out.

The burning landscape swallowed her whole line of sight as she headed out, more tears blurring her vision as she walked back into uncertainty. While Zelda couldn't see the Korok Forest from where she stood, she knew it lay between Death Mountain and the now Malice-ensnared castle.

The castle… Zelda's home…

What happened to Father? Is he alright? Did he escape when Ganon revived? Or… is he with Mother?

No, she couldn't let herself become distracted. As the last survivor of the six-person anti-Calamity team and as the last descendant of Hylia, Hyrule was counting on her.

The Sword was damaged, but she believed it would work in a pinch. Her powers were her main source of defense; hopefully, she wouldn't need her husband's weapon… for she was a weapon.

The wound in her side still hurt to place weight on, and probably would until it was all over. It was warm in the Shrine, at least where Link was, and her body was still cold from Mount Lanayru's freezing waters; she desperately wished to crawl back to his side and sleep some more.

That's what Ganon wanted her to do though. He wanted her to give into her exhaustion so he could send an assassination force to take her out before she finished procreating.

Zelda shook her head out, almost disorienting herself.

Don't think about it!

She was taking one mission at a time, so she had just one mission: return the Master Sword to the Korok Forest.

The forest was the only safe place for the sword, and the Great Deku Tree had advised her more than once before.

There was no horse now, Zelda would have to make the journey on foot just as she had with Link during the time spent calibrating the Divine Beasts. It had been quite a while since she had walked so much in a day, Link usually requested that she ride in order to not overwork herself. But she didn't need the horse, she didn't need to be sheltered. If Zelda was, in any case, a competent member of the Royal Family then she needed to traverse this wild land without such aids. She knew she could, as long as exhaustion and fears stayed away, and began the long trek down the trail she'd ridden up some time before.

Tunnel vision, yet heightened senses. Exhausted but filled with undeniable exhilaration. The moment's adrenaline caused all sorts of combinations Zelda would have never thought possible. She had no peripheral vision now, but she felt like everything that occurred around her could be felt on her skin.

Distance was shorter. Her mind functioned on one track only. The spoungey landscape brought relief to her aching feet, allowing her to jog.

Distances dropped exponentially. The Great Plateau flew by just like it had when she was riding Vesper. Monster encampments, their horns sounding as scout Bokoblins reported her to their respective squadrons, Moblins in turn preparing weapons and explosives to use against her to fulfill the desire that the Yiga had failed to do: to kill her prior to her child's birth, to permanently destroy the bloodline of Hylia while both were at their weakest… These things didn't distract her, they faded from reality before her mind could even classify them as such dangers. Old structures, large rock escarpments, they flew past without attracting Zelda's scientific interest.

Nothing mattered anymore except for returning the Sword and sealing Ganon. Not research, not the villages already going up in flames, not even Link and the baby.

The sloping entrance to the Plateau swept across her line of sight, speed increasing as gravity aiding her.

Black and purple lit up around her once she was on lower ground, red flashing on and near her person. Her instincts dodged, the entrance behind her exploded and crumbled.

At least the Guardians couldn't get to Link's body now.

From the intensity of the bleeding sky, the lakes seemed to be made of blood itself, nowhere was blue and pure, all red and corrupted.

She had to go north, no trails leading to the Lost Woods began so far south, but north was currently the most dangerous direction. Skimming the Great Plateau walls, she veered off in the direction of Lanayru by way of the road leading to Riverside Stable. Once she was there, she could cross into the Necluda providence and remain on its side of the river, crossing into Lanayru while using the water to hide her scent and keeping as great a distance from Hyrule Castle and the burning Castle Town as she could.

A red light blazed into her eyes just due west of the stable.

A Guardian had intercepted her. Another appeared on her back side, with one more closing in on her left. They were seemingly endless in number, and though she'd hoped not to encounter them, she was even more distraught to learn these forces of Ganon weren't traveling on their own.

With her right hand, she pulled out Link's sword, its light growing ever brighter, and felt her own power channeling through her left hand. Lunging forward with the sword, Zelda planned to create a hole in the armor where she could deal more damage, but was surprised when the sword's light became a weapon all its own.

She was thrown back a bit by the light's force, looking down at the sword in surprise after Malice was purged from the Guardians.

It's light was fully restored, glowing as brightly as it had when Link had used it at Fort Hateno.

Welcome, Your Highness, Princess Zelda. It is a pleasure to serve. The sword spoke with light pulsing. These are dire circumstances indeed.

"Huh?" Zelda muttered as her baby began to stir, now awakened from a longer nap than their mother's.

How could the Master Sword have responded to her? It did not belong to a descendant of Hylia, but the Goddess' chosen hero.

I wasn't talking to you, Your Grace.

One second.

Two.

Three.

Zelda nearly dropped the sword.

Fi wasn't submitting to her, but her child.

Her daughter .

Apologizes for the confusion, Your Majesty, it's a confusing time for us all.

"So Father…"

There will be time to count and mourn losses later… but now is time for our action against Ganon. Little Master does not yet have the strength to control the Sword of Evil's Bane, that power will flow through you until Master Link returns.

The image of a newborn princess wielding the sword struck Zelda funny. "You're kidding, right? People have died trying to wield this sword, and you're just going to hand it off to a baby?"

Little Master is the offspring of you and Master Link, Your Grace. Please do not doubt Hylia. But at the same time, do not fret, Little Master's power should not be needed after tonight. She is just, as your husband was named, a link. Now, if you are satisfied, it is not safe to remain here any longer.

Zelda nodded firmly. "Alright. Let us go."

Once again she set off, now a quick, purposeful walk since the sword was unsheathed. Zelda wasn't a lone fighter anymore, her daughter had been enabled to assist her. The result would be different than Link's, it wouldn't end in death.

Her mind wandered to both Link and the sword.

He had trained often in her company, and had taught her how to use a one-handed blade a long time before… he knew she wanted to defend herself, and respected that wish.

"Princess?! " A fleeing stablehand called out. "You're alive?! A militia soldier said that you and the Prince died at Fort Hateno!"

Her movement stopped. "Link slipped away there, during battle. I am, for the most part, alright."

His head lowered. "My condolences, Your Highness, now's a painful time for such a loss. You look wounded, do you need any aid?"

"My wounds have been tended to, good sir, the blood is mainly Link's."

"Ah, yes. You get somewhere safe now, take care of yourself." An explosion off to the north caused him to resume his fleeing towards Faron.

Zelda sighed and shook your head, brushing her hand down her stomach. "We can't go that way… we have to help your father."

No one else was encountered on the trek. While others may have been escaping, she had taken a path through the river to hide her scent from the monsters. Blood washed out of her dress as she trekked north through the cold waters, a symbolic train of death behind her.

Your Grace… Fi whispered as Zelda stopped to catch her breath on a sandbar about halfway between Riverside and Wetland Stables. While I admire your wilderness-like tactics, by my calculations, you are very weak. Continuing against this cold current might make you faint.

Zelda laid down by a bush on the riverbank and cried. "I can't…"

Your Grace. You are not safe here.

She curled up further against the bush, holding a hand on the ice-cold fabric that covered her stomach.

Increasing your proximity to brush will not increase your safety, Your Grace.

Even with such a truth, Zelda still curled up underneath the bush and sobbed, clutching all her limbs to her torso as if she was trying to protect her baby. "I can't do this alone!" She was able to function straight off the adrenaline from Link's death and the recent Guardian pack attack for a short while, but now her mental state had hit rock bottom.

Your Grace…

A blue light shone brightly right in front of Zelda, before fading away to show a blue, woman-looking figure with purple clothing and a two-toned cape. Her eyes were blank, the same blue as her body, but this didn't cause too much more distress. Fi bent down and touched Zelda on the head.

The faster the battle is fought, the faster you will be allowed to mourn. Please hold out for just a while longer.

"Huh?" Zelda glanced up at her with red eyes. "Fi?"

Fi's cape flew around Zelda to cover her eyes and temples, then a melody began to play from the spirit; an ancient melody predating even Hyrule, something like her own lullaby…

A song of a goddess.

Zelda's shaking arms rose to clasp Fi's shoulders as Hylian lyrics were whispered to her. Her breathing slowed into a more predictable rhythm but still shook. Softly, with a shattered voice, she repeated the lyrics as she heard them until her tears were gone and her voice firm.

Fi then removed the shield from Zelda's eyes.

It is an ancient one, the song we sang together. Your ancestor sung this song on a harp back in those ancient days. It is incredibly sacred as well, even her descendants have only been taught how to sing it backwards. She loved Hylia's hero dearly, as you do. You two are much more similar than the legends make it seem…

A small smile formed on Zelda's face. "Your words are encouraging…"

They are true, Your Grace. Now we must leave, it's not safe here.

Zelda finally nodded, then grabbed the sword and, along with Fi, began running towards the Korok Forest. Focusing on Fi instead of the burning world around her allowed the northern trek on the river's banks to pass as swiftly as her departure from the Great Plateau was. She avoided any Guardian that came into sight, spending great effort to afford a fight, only using the combined might of the Master Sword and her sealing power when a Guardian was relentless in chasing her, when it proved a great threat to her or her daughter's life.

After an exhausting dash through the infected central region of Hyrule, the mist of the Lost Woods enveloped Zelda's body. She looked around, trying to recall the correct path through the enchanted forest. However, after she saw that Fi was gone, her mind wiped itself clean and panic once again swept over her. She backed up while facing the western side of the entrance, almost jumping when she backed into someone… and a familiar rattling was heard.

"Oh! ...Princess?"

Hestu.

Zelda whipped around to be greeted by the kind Korok. "Hestu! I-It's surprising to see you so far from the forest."

"Shaka shaka-ka! We were told you'd be here, Princess, so here I came."

"Yes. I-" She held up the sword. "I've come to put the sword back into the pedestal."

"But why, shaka? The sword is forever bound to Mr. Her-oh no no no!" Hestu shook his maracas in distress. "Don't tell me something terrible's happened to Mr. Hero!"

She looked down at the sword, then began to choke back tears. "A Guardian shot him!" Zelda buried her body into Hestu as her wails defeated her restraints once again.

"Shaka, no! Don't tell Hestu such things! Hestu doesn't want to hear that Ganon killed Mr. Hero!" The two shared tears until it seemed that Zelda had finally cried herself out.

She had leaned herself up against Hestu, one leg pulled up tight and the other stretched out. "I need to return it…" She mumbled as she rested herself on his side, broken sword in between them. "...so it will be healed by the time the Shrine brings him back…"

"I will help," he replied, trying to stand up without knocking Zelda over. "all Koroks have pledged themselves to assist Mr. Hero!" He held out a maraca for Zelda to pull herself up with. "C'mon, Princess! The fight isn't done!" Hestu ambled off into the mist.

"Oh, Hestu! Wait up!" Zelda waved her hands as she failed to keep up.

"My apologies, shaka… I got excited." He waited for Zelda to catch up, then matched her pace.

The two stumbled through the cold Lost Woods for an undetermined amount of time, for the sky couldn't be seen through the mist and the Sheikah Slate had been left with Link. By leaving such a thing to be sealed with his body, Zelda felt even more like part of herself had died.

"You miss Mr. Hero, don't you Mrs. Princess?"

She had to stop moving, tightening one hand on her stomach as the other gripped the sword, in order to stop the tears. "Deeply already."

"I bet Mr. Hero misses you too. I bet he's up there with Hylia watching you right now." Without any warning, he raised his maracas to the sky and started yelling. "Hi, Mister Hero! We miss you!"

Zelda snorted indignantly. "Hestu!"

He stopped waving his maracas. "Oh. Sorry."

She clenched her fists and took a few deep breaths. "No matter. Let us go." She then half-stormed ahead of him, pointing the Sword's blade at the ground.

The party of two moved in awkward silence until a light green light appeared in the foggy darkness.

"Korok Forest!" Hestu declared with a victorious dance. "We made it!"

Zelda's teeth were still clenched, a frustration bubbled within. "Indeed."

"C'mon! Let's go to the pedestal and see Grandpa!" He charged ahead like he had done before, but stopped himself before Zelda could snap. "Oops! After you!"

"Princess Zelda… How good it is to see you well." The Great Deku Tree looked upon her weary figure with a new peace.

"If you believe me well… then looks deceive." Her eyes darted behind her and to the right.

Her husband was dead. Her kingdom burning. Her body wounded and weakened by forces both malicious and natural. How could she be well?

Although it had been a stretch of time since such a thought had crossed her mind, her mind wandered to the sword in her grasp.

She could end it here. With her weak body, she only needed one strike.

"Agony is deep in your voice. What has occurred today is a tragedy." The Deku Tree's words pulled her away from the dark trying to consume her mind.

Seemingly from nothing, tens of Koroks appeared around her, trying to offer the pregnant princess console.

She collapsed to her knees, a very painful collapse indeed, and held the sword's cold metal to her chest in a way mirroring how she'd clung to the fabric of her mother's formal dress the afternoon after she'd been buried.

In the same way she had as a child, Zelda was expressing her grief for her closest family member… both who had been taken from her in the time when they were greatly needed.

Tears did not fall from her eyes, they stayed and burned her, the chill from the damaged metal provided just enough relief for her shattered heart. Her face flushed red, normally she would be able to comfort herself by rocking, but she was incapable of doing so now.

A few of the Koroks appeared with a leaf blanket from a storage area within the Great Deku Tree, why they even had such a thing Zelda didn't care to know, and placed it over her shoulders.

Without even knowing it was coming, a song for Link softly began flowing out of her lips. The ancient melody that Fi had just taught her provided a base for her lament, though the new words didn't match her ancestor's.

She lamented that they were out of time. That her prayers were only answered after it was too late. That he had peace in death because he knew she'd see the light of tomorrow.

A light they had pursued all their lives. A light they had witnessed together. A light that was gone.

The last light.

The awakening of her powers was the last light Link saw.

He died in darkness.

But he was coming back. They had gotten him to the Shrine in time.

Now it was just a matter of time.

She rose shakily from her collapsed state, still on her knees but much taller, leaving the Master Sword laying on the pedestal. Her hands clasped in prayer, it was time to arrange the final pieces of Hyrule's future. "Your master will come for you." She assured the spirit of the sword. "Until then, you shall rest safely here." She paused for a beat to ensure her voice didn't break. "Although the Slumber of Restoration will most certainly deprive him of his memories, please trust me when I say that I know he will arrive before you yet again."

"If I may be so bold…" the Great Deku Tree interrupted, Zelda whipped her head up from her prayers, one hand falling to her side as she rose to her aching feet. "what is it that you are planning to do next, Princess?"

She kept her right hand close to her chest, blinking once before looking back down at the Sword. "The Master Sword… I heard it speak to me." She nodded once, as if to affirm something to herself, and brought both hands back to her stomach. "It seems that my role is unfinished. There is still something I must do."

"I sense there is great strength in your dedication."

Her hands twisted atop her stomach, anxiety and discomfort building within. "Great Deku Tree, I ask of you, when he returns, can you please relay this message…" Both her hands fell to her side as she stepped closer to the tree. "Tell him I-"

"Now then…" He once again interrupted. "Words intended for him would sound much better in the tones of your voice, don't you think?"

Her eyes fell from him, hands rising back to a stance of prayer, elbows hugging her sides as if she was considering something on her daughter's behalf. Waiting would increase the impact of the moment, and would better the chance of him remembering… She nodded once, a small smile on her face. "Yes." Her hands lowered to her child, eyes closing in a similar, yet different manner to her earlier prayer.

Your father will come for us… I promise little one… We'll just have to wait for him.

She held her pose until she felt the future Zelda kick inside, then lowered herself to pick up the Sword. She raised it high, as Link had surely done when he pulled it all those years ago, then with this memory in mind, opened her eyes and slipped it into place.

The power Fi had bestowed onto her unborn daughter rushed out of her, taking her consciousness with it as a golden light overtook her vision. Link's heartbeat, steady within the Shrine of Resurrection, echoed through her body as her knees buckled and she rolled to the ground, unaware of the Koroks now gathering around her body.

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