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ivymyers · 11 months

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Omg pretty please do a part two to broken. I need to knowwww, but I hope it ends in fluff bc my heart is fragile

Broken Part Two (Sidon x Reader)

Around 1,300 words so a little longer than part one.

(Link to part one: https://www.tumblr.com/ivymyers/719634738273452032/broken-part-one-sidon-x-reader )

Warnings: Physical injury, torture, Yiga Clan, sharks(?), tears

You sat Sidon down on your bed and took a few steps back. You didn’t want to witness his reaction to what you were about to tell him.

“I was behind the waterfall. The Yiga Clan held me captive there.”

A sharp inhale was heard from Sidon as you paused, barely getting the first words out. This was going to be a long night.

“They, well uh, had me tortured, I suppose.” You whispered this so quietly that Sidon hardly heard. When you looked over to see his reaction, you instantly regretted it. You could see his tears welling up. All this crying was new to you, Sidon has been so joyful for as long as you could remember, were you really this important to him?

“They started with the electricity.”

—---- (…)

You woke up with all your limbs bound behind your back. The last thing you could remember was leaving the stables and then…black.

Looking around at your surroundings you could see you were in a dimly lit room. The fire light was visible through the cracks of a wooden door across from you. You could feel the rope around your wrists as you felt the stone wall behind you.

You heard some whispers from behind the door.

“The girl, she’s the Zora prince’s lover?”

“Yes, I’m sure of it. I began following her after she departed from the domain.”

“Good. We need to use this chance to our best advantage. Is everything prepared?”

“Yes. This should work. We need to break her. It’s the only way to get through the prince’s cheery attitude.”

The door opened and with wide eyes you witnessed 3 Yiga members walk through.

“Why hello there little Hylian. When we finish with you, all of Hyrule will have heard your screams. The only way you are getting out of here is with an exchange, the Zora prince for yourself.” You shuddered at the thought of them getting a hold of Sidon.

“Tell us where he is and we’ll let you go. But if you don’t…” He grabbed your face and whispered close to your ear, “You’ll regret ever being with him in the first place.” he added “Better to quit while you're ahead.”

Without even considering your options for a moment you looked the Yiga member who had spoken to you dead in the eyes, “Not ever.” Sidon was literally your world. Not for a single second would you ever betray him.

“Have it your way then”

The Yiga Clan members began reading a list to you. “Electricity. Water. Sharks. Physical injury. We believe that these…weaknesses will affect Sidon the most. If we can get you to fear them, it would absolutely break the Zora Prince.”

So they started with the shock arrows. Zora’s fear electricity the most, therefore the Zora Prince would feel sick with what went down. One by one they rubbed them down your arms and back until burn marks and scars formed. They kept it going past your screams of terror and shed tears.

The water came next. Zora’s thrive in water, the thought of Sidon’s beloved fearing what he practically lives in would kill him. The Yiga members left you to drown over and over and over again. They continuously dragged you under until your vision went dark and blurry, until you were on the very edge of death itself.

It was now that they saw how broken you were. You didn’t fight back and you didn’t make anymore remarks in response to the insults they threw at you. You felt your heart crack a little more each day until the pieces all fell beyond repair. You couldn’t remember when you finally shattered, you just knew you had.

“Am I really going to die here?” How you longed for even a glance of your prince. The one you knew had already forgotten you with the amount of time that passed.

Then, as if your prayers had been answered, you saw him. A red Zora burst through the door. I had to be Sidon. You would recognize him with the blurry vision and how shaken up you were…Right?

—----

(…)

The reality of it hit Sidon so hard. You saw the fear in his eyes, tears threatening to make their way down his cheeks.

“My Pearl…wait- I found you though, on the road.” His eyes went wide as you confirmed his suspicions. “It wasn’t me was it.”

You looked away from his face, “No. It was fake. I’m not sure how but, they…faked a rescue four different times. To get my hopes up I suppose. I- don’t really want to talk about it.”

“Hey, you have every right to keep everything to yourself. I understand if you need a lifetime to recover, just know I will never stop being there for you-”

You cut him off by running into his arms. Despite your hesitance toward him, you knew he would never hurt you. The two of you stayed in an embrace for a long while.

“Love?” SIdon questioned softly. “How did you end up on the road?”

“Well. I’m not exactly done.”

—---- (…)

Sharks. Sidon was one, or resembled one you guess. So when they dangled you inches from the danger of real ones you knew the purpose of this attack. The scars from edges of teeth and near death from the sinister creatures would be there always as a reminder of the danger sharks pose. Or at least that’s what your captors said.

Last came the beatings. Over and over and over and over came the punches and kicks. The only thing you could do to prevent the pain was stay quiet, not let the tears flow. This was your only defense.

One night a storm hit, one so bad that rocks slid down blocking most of the cave's entrance. Without a clear way to continue, the mission was practically ruined and the Yiga left you there to die. You pushed and pushed until eventually the rubble fell a little faster and a little closer and broke your chains. Finally, after a day without food or water you pushed your way out from the small cave behind the waterfall and passed out on the path.

—---- (…)

You knew there was more, the little details, but you thought it best to spare Sidon more pain. This was a lot to take in, you knew he loved you, but you weren’t sure if any feelings left after you told him your tale of pain and torture.

“My love, my pearl. Please don’t hate me.” Sidon’s pained expression visible on his face.

“Why would I hate you? If anything I’m the one who should get the blame, it’s- Sidon I’m not worthy of you and everything you have given me. All these chances and how patient you are…why wait for me when you could have any of these Zora women?” “Stop y/n. You can’t put that weight on yourself. You matter to me more than anything ever has. During that time you were missing- it pains me to even think about what you went through- if anything at all the attack was targeted toward me. If it meant to frighten me then it definitely worked.” He glanced up at you, looking tired and pained by everything. Sidon knew he couldn’t change the past and it was eating him alive. Everything would be different now, how he wished he could get the old y/n back. He knew he would do anything in his power to help you for a fast recovery, whatever that meant.

“Y/n?”

“Yeah?”

“May I hold you?” after a pause he added “I totally understand if you need time and-”

“Always Sidon.”

You both spent the night clinging to each other, both getting the best sleep you had gotten in months.

---------

Hopefully that was something along the lines of what you wanted, thanks for the request!

lmk if you want some headcannons in the same general storyline for events that occur after this? Or I could do a part three not sure yet.

#fanfic #botw #x reader #sidon x reader #botw fanfic #requests open #requests #prince sidon #broken part two #zelda #legend of zelda #tears of the kingdom #totk

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best-of-brassbox · 2 years

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Hey! I just kinda reread your fanfic (i’m so glad you’re back and well :) !) and i was thinking about the whole "Curio being forced to join the yiga" situation.

The angst potential is just so interesting. Despite Curio’s dark nature, Link has always decided to "ignore" it (or at least try to) because he knows their magic didn’t make them bad, and, well, because he’s also attracted to them yk? Love can be so blind..

Ignoring the ugly side of Curio didn’t make him less of a hero and doesn’t threaten his role, because Curio’s intention aren’t inherently bad despite the highly questionable methods, and are actually rather pure if you think about it. Curio isn’t even threatening his mission (it’s quite the opposite, since their actively helping him) so what’s wrong with being by their side? I think he understood that really fast, given how quickly he slept by Curio’s side, being totally at their mercy. Link puts so much trust in Curio that it even shocked them.

But would it be the same if Curio was part of the yiga clan? No matter if they’re forced to join it or not, being part of the yiga means being against the Sheikah, swearing allegiance to Ganon and, of course, eliminating those who stands against him.

I’m sure Curio wouldn’t try to kill Link no matter what, but i’m not sure how would Link react, he would probably be torn apart in a confusing deal, because in that case, ignoring that part of Curio would actually put his role (his identity?) as a hero in danger. No matter his feelings, he still has a goal to achieve, a princess and a kingdom to save, could he really ignore all of that for Curio? (Which side does Link treasure the most?)

The Sheikah wouldn’t let that slide either. I’m sure they’re already really perplexed about their relationship, they’re even spying curio i think (is that what happened in chapter 19?). Best case scenario, they only warn Link but let him do what he thinks is the best. Worst case scenario.. this could fuel more disdain between the two clans and maybe even end with a gruesome battle, separating them even more. (And separating Link and Curio even more as well, given their current position)

Link would also probably feel regret and shame if he knew that Curio did put themselves in this situation just to keep him safe. And fall into a self-loathing spiral because he’s the one who ruined everything. He would be alone again…

(Man i love angst so much. I’m sure i’d be happy with whatever direction you go in with your fanfic, but ngl Curio becoming a yiga is so tempting)

In a relationship, "ignoring" someone's behavior you're not too sure about is a recipe for disaster. You've got to address it sooner or later, and putting it off only leads to explosive decompression. :) But hey, maybe you learn to embrace your partner's idiosyncrasies! Maybe Link can, you know, come to embrace that side of Curio... :) Maybe. Sorry to be so coy lmao. Thank you for writing such an extensive analysis!! I CAN'T SAY TOO MUCH HERE because you're touching on some important stuff, tantalizing possibilities. I'm so eager to just get to later plot stuff it makes writing the intermediate stuff hard, sometimes! And of course I can't confirm or deny anything, but let me say that I don't think you're going to be disappointed about where it goes. :) Thank you so, so much for writing to me!

#feedback #answered #curiosities

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deiliamedlini · 2 years

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Whumptober 2021- The Darkness I Know

No. 31 - Hurt & Comfort

disaster zone | trauma | prisoner

Fic Summary: After the world as she knew it was destroyed by the corruption of Malice, Zelda allies herself with her saviors from captivity: a disgruntled former governor, an alert paramedic, a cocky pilot, an excessively overt optimist, and a blind strategist. While the corrupted, malice-filled Yiga Clan looks for revenge on them, Zelda has to learn how important it is to find family in others... and how much more dangerous the stakes become if she fails to protect them.

Previous /Chapter Index

Link’s dream had become a nightmare within seconds. He couldn’t see blood, but he could smell the bitter, metallic tang tinting the air. Zelda’s name left his lips again and again, but it was a frantic effort with little to show for results. She didn’t respond.

He knew she was alive, because her bare foot kicked him again and again, and he could hear her short gasps for air.

Attuned to where she was, Link dove back onto the bed and threw himself at her.

He met with a large, imposing body.

Link wore loose clothes to sleep in, as did Zelda, but Ganondorf wore plated armor.

Zelda kicked Link again, trying to push him away, but all Link could hear was the sound of Zelda choking, small, short wheezes as she tried to breathe and was prevented from doing so.

But persistence was key, and he threw himself back at Ganon, only to feel himself slammed down onto the bed. A spring from the old mattress poked up into his back and he winced. But to his relief, he heard Zelda take a deep breath, just in time for two hands to wrap around his own throat, lift him up, and then slam him back down.

The bedframe shattered, splintering out with several cracks.

Ganondorf’s fingers were vices, and Link was sure his neck was about to snap, or his throat to be crushed when Ganondorf groaned and his grip loosened enough to struggle out of.

There was a crash, a thud, and then Zelda grunting.

Link scurried backwards to his side of the bed and reached out near the pillow. Ganondorf grabbed his ankle, and Link grabbed his staff.

“Zelda?” he called, holding it out just as Ganondorf pulled him back, earning a sharp hit to the arm with the staff. It hit metal several times, and he rolled out of the way when he heard the almost slow whoosh of something move past his head. “Zelda!”

She whimpered out a groan from the other end of the room, but sound was sound, and that was all Link cared about.

“Oh Goddess!” Mipha screeched from the doorway, her footsteps heavy against the floor as she ran away and then back again.

Link hoped that Ganondorf turned the second time, and sprang at him, moving his staff across his throat to try to choke the massive man.

He shot forward, throwing Link off after a few solid seconds. Link hit the ground hard, rolling into a piece of furniture.

Zelda turned to him. His eyes were closed, his forehead bleeding, his neck bruised. And Mipha in the doorway with her makeshift spear was the best she had. Zelda crawled over to Link, unable to get up, hardly able to breathe, and positive that if she didn’t stop the bleeding in her arm, she’d pass out or bleed out.

She shook his arm as Ganondorf ran from the room, chasing Mipha. “Link! Get up!” she rasped.

His throat gurgled out a noise, and she breathed a sigh. But it was short lived.

There was a shattering of glass in the other room, and Zelda staggered to her feet just in time for Ganondorf to round the corner again and grab her by the throat, slamming her hard against the wall.

“You little bitch! I should have killed you the second I saw you.”

Darkness surrounded her vision, but from the corner of her eye, she could see Link feeling around, moving.

“Regrets, regrets,” Zelda mouthed before a high-pitched noise of pain broke from her. He’d loosened his grip, and pinned her arm against the wall, holding tight over her wound.

And then, Ganondorf screamed, letting her go.

He stomped down, and Link groaned. Zelda watched her switchblade, now dripping with blood, fall to the ground from Link’s hand as he went limp.

Ganondorf grabbed Zelda and threw her to the ground where she landed just beside Link before he drew his large sword. He hardly had the room to maneuver it, but he held it over his head.

Zelda stared at Link. If that sword was coming down, she was not looking at it.

But it didn’t come down.

Instead, Ganondorf was pulled backwards into the hallway, and thrown into the main room. Zelda just caught a glimpse of Daruk and a flash of Urbosa’s red hair, so she took the chance to gather all her strength from sheer will, or through the Malice, to crawl over to Link.

“Okay?” she squeaked. There was more air than word, but Link nodded, unable to do much more. “Gotta go,” she tried. And it hurt to speak.

But she grabbed Link’s staff and pulled him to his feet, shoving it into his hands as she held him up.

The room was a disaster zone; broken furniture, scattered objects, things fallen everywhere. Zelda didn’t care what else was happening. All she cared about was getting Link and herself out of the small room. They had no advantage in there.

But as it turned out, they were no better in the main room.

Daruk and Urbosa were both attacking Ganondorf. They swung their weapons without mercy, but Ganon blocked each hit skillfully, dodging, parrying, anything he had in his toolbelt, he used. But he backhanded Urbosa just hard enough to stun her, and he grabbed Daruk by the throat, slamming him into the ground with such a force that the floorboards snapped.

Zelda pulled Link with her to try to skirt around the edges. Because though she loved Daruk and wanted to help, she wasn’t the fighter amongst them. Urbosa was already getting up once again.

“Mipha?” Link croaked out, finding enough strength through his adrenaline to help him stumble along as they ran for the door.

“Don’t know.”

She felt Link’s hand on her arm, smearing the sticky blood as he tried to hold her before slipping his hand into hers as they moved. “You okay?”

“Yeah.”

That was all she managed before she felt her grip on Link’s hand straining.

“Link!” She tried, but she was harshly yanked from him. None of her other senses worked until her head collided with the ground again and again and again, her body folding over itself until she finally stopped, sprawled out on solid ground.

“Zelda!” Mipha gasped, kneeling above her.

“Mi--?”

“Yes, I’m here. Don’t move. That was two flights you just fell down.”

“Stairs?”

“Stairs, yes. Shh.”

Zelda sat up, regretting it instantly with every nerve alight with fire inside her, and her stomach rolling. “Link.”

“Don’t move, Zelda.”

Suddenly, everything felt more painful, her dizziness increased. There was a new sense of urgency.

Because now, she was out of the picture.

Was Link alive? What was happening? Why couldn’t she move?

“Get off!” she hissed, realizing Mipha was holding her down.

“No! Don’t move!”

“Zelda!”

She pushed Mipha off of her forcefully to sit up at the sound of her name being shouted from inside the house. She couldn’t make out the voice.

She didn’t need to.

Ganondorf came flying down the stairs, and his eyes locked with hers.

She tried to scurry backwards, but it was useless, her arm gave out from the pain it was in, still bleeding everywhere. Her muscles ached, her bones cracked, her head spun. Add to that the residual mess she still felt in from the bombs she set off, she wanted nothing more than to just lay in the grass and accept whatever came for her now.

He ran at her, wasting no time.

Again, though, he didn’t connect with her.

Instead, Mipha jammed her spear into him, through a small gap in his armor.

He roared and swung his blade out.

Mipha screamed, unable to back away far enough.

“No!” Zelda rasped, trying to reach out but immediately collapsing. Her eyes continuously fluttered, unable to stay open completely.

Behind Ganondorf, she could see Urbosa and Daruk limping outside as fast as they could. But there was no Link.

Zelda’s hand slipped in the grass, and she found her face back against the ground, breathing in the fresh scent. It might even be the last time she could.

She heard sounds of fighting, of Urbosa and Daruk continuing their assault. There were banging noises that confused Zelda, but she couldn’t find the energy to muster a head turn. Her eyes were on Mipha, and her thoughts on Link.

“Daruk!” Urbosa shouted, met a moment later by a strangled cry.

Tears of pain and effort streamed down Zelda’s cheeks as she tried to get up onto her arm, at least to see what was happening. Even such a small movement sent her spinning, desperate to scream out with every pull on her muscles and rub against her bones.

She wished she’d stayed down.

Mipha and Urbosa were on the ground, as was Daruk, but Ganondorf stood over him with his sword lodged deep in Daruk’s chest, and his attention turned to Urbosa.

Zelda pushed herself up, taking all of her energy from the Malice in her. There was nothing left otherwise. And when she was off the ground, she could see one more thing.

Link had come out of the house, leaning against his staff before checking his path, then leaning again. He followed the sounds of Ganondorf’s feet in the grass, the unfortunate sound of squelching, the murderous giggling.

Zelda wasn’t fast enough to get to them first.

Link jammed his staff low against Ganondorf, driving it into the man’s calf, and then pulled out with a grunt, hitting Ganon in the chin.

Ganondorf struck out at Link, but his elbow hit the end of Link’s staff, giving Link enough warning to duck out of the way. The impact snapped Link’s staff in half, and he panted in absolute exhaustion.

“Link! Staff!”

Zelda hobbled at Ganondorf with reckless abandon, enough that Ganon grabbed her by the throat. She made noises as loud as she could so Link could find her.

True to form, Link was able to follow her every move, both physically, and mentally. She felt a splintered end of the staff in her hand, and with all the strength she had left, plunged it down into Ganondorf’s exposed neck.

He let her go, writhing for a moment before short, bloody gurgles came from his throat.

Zelda crawled to Link and grabbed his leg to let him know she was there as she watched Ganon try to pull the two splintered pieces out. Because at the same time, Link had understood her wordless plan. Because he understood her.

Ganon fell to his knees just before the heavy thud of a body hitting the ground. Zelda slid off Link, slick with blood and too weak to keep her eyes open any longer. Whatever fate had in store, she had to accept it. Link reached for Zelda, but he never made it, collapsing in a heap beside her.

And for a long time, all was simply quiet.

~~~~~One Year Later~~~~~~~~

Urbosa blinked as sand blew into her eyes. Goddess, there was always sand in Lurelin. Not that she expected anything else from an oceanside town, but even when she went further inland, it was still there.

She never particularly hated sand. In fact, she quite enjoyed the sensation, the warmth, the wriggle of toes sinking low into it, especially when it wasn’t wet. But there were still times that she wanted to be away from it all.

For the most part, it reminded her too much of home. Home before the Malice. And that was too much.

She leaned back against the tall, rounded stone that she’d picked out specifically from a mountain nearby. She’d smoothed it out from its course and rough sensation, and she’d worked for weeks to carve names into it before burying the bottom half of it deep into packed earth. The cliff she’d chosen as their resting place overlooked the sea. It was a lookout, and a way to finally relax. She knew they’d want to do both. They always tried to keep everyone safe in life, and in death, she felt it would have been no different.

The cliff was tall, like Revali. It was high above the village, soaring in the clouds when someone looked up from below. A lookout, a sentry, a first defense. It was perfect for him, because it embodied him.

But it wasn’t just for Revali. It was for Daruk. Stalwart, strong, immovable; this tombstone, this cliff, neither were going anywhere. They were firm and solid. Weighed down with integrity, and a force to be reckoned with. And for it’s height and width, it provided the town with a whole wall of cover, like Daruk would have.

The cliff was for her too. She’d lost a fair bit herself. Thought it hadn’t been her life, she’d lost the life she’d known, the friends she’d made, the family she’d found.

Once upon a time, she thought that work had fulfilled her, that leading was enough. And sure, she’d quickly come to lead Lurelin in the absence of a stronger power, but she felt less fulfilled than ever before, especially on days when she sat on the cliff to overlook the town.

She smiled at the scene below her. Sidon and several others from Kakariko had been found in the months following the Yiga’s defeat, and she’d worked to bring them back with her. There were still odd attacks, but their bigger threat came from Maliced creatures more than anything human.

And though there was relief in seeing Sidon again, it was laced with the painful knowledge that his sister would never be able to run and play with him again. He sometimes would go to ask her, only for his face to fall in realization that it just wasn’t possible. Her injuries from Ganondorf had been too severe.

“Chief Urbosa!” someone called. She rolled her eyes. She’d tried to get them to call her Governor, as a title she was more familiar with, but they insisted that she was something else. Something worth a different title.

“Yes?”

“You’re needed back in the village. There was an attack.”

“Yiga?” Urbosa said, hurrying to her feet and sprinting down the hill, her weapon already off her belt and ready. She wasted no time waiting for an answer.

There was a bloodied young woman clutching her stomach, and Urbosa had to shake the image of Zelda from her mind. The countless times she’d been in such a state flashed through her mind so distractingly at times.

And with a relieved laugh, Urbosa realized that the wound was a severed—but spikily armored—Lizalfos tail lodged in the woman’s hip area.

Not a Yiga.

Urbosa sheathed her weapon and turned to the women carrying the injured girl. “Do you know where our healer is?”

“Yes.”

“Then hurry! Were there any other injuries?”

One of the men in town waved his long-since-healed amputated arm around. “It got my arm.”

Urbosa shot him a dry look.

“Oh, no! No, my fake one! Not… that wasn’t a joke. The thing tore my leather strap and dragged the arm.”

She made a face. “That’s unfortunate. Do you still have a measurement card?”

“I do, yes.”

“Go get it. We’ll have you a new one engineered.”

“Thank you, Chief.”

“Of course. I’m going to check on… who was that? Riju?”

“Yes. She was brave, but no one expected it to just… well… the whole tail came off. It was unnerving.”

“And disturbing.”

Urbosa hurried through the sand and pushed the flap to the medical tent open. “Riju, are you okay?”

“Y-yes,” the young woman hissed. “Ridiculous injury!”

Urbosa smirked. She’d had her fair share, and she knew what the poor girl meant. It was a desire and drive to get back up that made it hurt to stay down.

“Mipha, how bad?”

Mipha looked up from where she sat and poked at Riju’s side. “Could be worse. We’ll get it stabilized.”

Mipha pushed herself to the edge of her seat with her hands. She still had trouble walking after her injury hadn’t managed to heal properly. The infection that had set in after lying in the grass for days with the others had made it particularly tricky to navigate. And even still, a year later, she couldn’t move with the same fluidity she once could. Sidon wanted to play, but he was content most days to sit by his sister’s side and cheer her on from where she sat.

Urbosa tried to take time out of her busy days to help Mipha with physical therapy to get her moving again. It was a vast improvement from where she’d been, but far from where she needed to be. With only her paramedic training, and no professional PT background, it was taking longer than anyone wanted. But the village had teamed up to find books, pamphlets with exercises, and anything they could to turn their medical tent into something proper.

Urbosa was in the process of creating a much larger building for medicine. While most huts on the beach were small and manageable, she wanted to build their own version of a hospital, even in these times.

“You’re okay? Or do you need help?”

“I’ve got it,” Mipha smiled. Whether it was the losses they’d suffered weighing her down, or the lingering misery from the injury, Mipha couldn’t manage the bubbly personality she always had. She could bring it to the surface on occasion, and she’d found happiness after a long time, but that naïve, hopeful girl had been crushed under the weight of countless loss, and it had taken a toll.

The only good thing to come out of it was that she’d finally begun to steer her luck. Kakariko had died from a Malice infection. Zelda had suffered from one. She’d held Link’s parents, and her friends. Malice had wrecked havoc on her life.

But, when one straggling Yiga had attempted to poison the village just after they’d all settled there, Mipha had been able to stop it using the techniques that Astor, of all people, taught her. And while she was still searching for strides in the field, she’d begun to train a few others so the village would never face a situation where they’d be at a disadvantage without her.

And it felt good to win.

Sometimes, Link could still feel it deep in his bones. The loss of Zelda, the feeling of emptiness beside him… it was too much. He felt cold at night, sweating despite the chills. And when he’d wake up in night with the crickets still chirping and the cool ocean breeze making its way into his small hut, he’d find himself curled into a ball, needing to feel something, even if it was just his own body. He needed something to hold. Something to pretend.

He could pretend her hands were wrapped around him. Better yet, he loved picturing her throwing herself on top of him, when he was entirely surrounded by her warmth. If he ran his hand through his hair, he could pretend it was hers.

But then, he’d imagine her being torn away from him by the heavy hand of a great nightmare. The power of Ganondorf had been too much, and he’d barely made it out alive.

Link would be left breathless, trying to find Zelda. Patting the mattress. Feeling around the floor, stumbling over to the hammock just to see if she was there.

He didn’t need his staff around his hut. It was small enough that he had the place memorized, but he’d still stumble or trip if he made it outside onto his small porch. He’d check his chair, he’d call her name. He’d reach for her in a desperate attempt to feel her, like he had the night she’d gone beneath the rushing river.

Link could only calm down when the nightmare was over.

A hand stroked his hair, and he couldn’t quite tell who’s it was. His brain scrambled, muddled, he felt the finger twist a strand around playfully, like Zelda used to.

“Shhh,” her voice would say. “I’m here.”

And it was only once his lungs allowed him his first gasp of air that he’d remember.

“Zelda?”

“I’m here.”

He rolled over and crashed into her. Their bed was small, and the beach was warm, so really, they needed an upgrade, but on nights like this, they were both happy to sweat it out to remember that the other was right there.

He pulled her against him, reveling in the feeling of her warm, clammy skin on his. He moved her hand away from him so he could run his through her damp hair, a choked noise breaking from his throat.

“Was it Astor?” Zelda asked gently, pressing a comforting kiss against him. She was a bit smushed, but she was against his chest. He’d feel her.

“Ganondorf.”

“He didn’t take me. I’m here, okay?”

Link nodded. “I know. I know. I hate that I know, and I can’t shake it, still. I can feel you. I’m on high alert around you. But I just… can’t make my brain understand. Do you think it will ever stop?”

“I don’t know, Link.” She pushed away from him so she could see him better. He reluctantly let go. “I still get them, too. Maybe… maybe it’s worse because of the Malice, since both of us get such strong nightmares?”

Link rubbed absently at his arm. “Maybe.”

It had taken time for Mipha, Link, and Zelda to recover enough to even consider returning to their plan. With Zelda still surrounded by the massive amounts of Malice in the city, she was able to bounce back first. She bore a nasty scar from where Ganondorf had struck her with his sword, and she wasn’t sure if she’d have survived without being able to draw on the Malice.

Link recovered next, though he’d been the first to break down at the news of Daruk’s death. His nightmares began first, and he’d been hard-pressed to find a full night’s rest anywhere after that. Everything haunted him. Every death that they’d faced since the loss of Kakariko hit him at once, and he’d taken a while to return to any semblance of normalcy.

He’d worked it down from the peak of it all, to just the memories of Zelda being torn from his arms as Ganon pulled her away, or her shoving him to safety, only to hear her blood-curdling scream of pain. Or sometimes, worse of all, he’d just feel the hollow nothingness of being lied to, of finding his bed empty once again after her promise to always tell him if she was going to leave.

He’d had enough of people leaving.

And he hadn’t let Mipha do the same.

Her recovery was the worst, her wound infected, her body barely mobile at first.

They all owed their lives to Urbosa, who kept them fed and safe for weeks until they could be moved.

At the beginning, it was Urbosa, but then, it was Urbosa and Zelda as the sole providers. They’d gotten closer, and Zelda started to feel the sentiments Urbosa had repeated again and again: this was her family.

Link had taken the Malice well, once Mipha was able. There was no need for the cruelty and mutilation that the Yiga inflicted, and Link was left with a small incision and a burning pain rather than an open gash and excruciating pain. After several tests, days alone away from the others, away from Malice, they found that it worked. Neither grew too weak to move, and it allowed the group to find safety away from the spreading Malice within the city.

It was still Mipha’s mission to figure out how to extract the Malice from Link and Zelda permanently. It wasn’t mixed into their DNA. They hadn’t become Malice. There had to be something, and Mipha was determined to find it.

But for now, it was enough. They went through periodic bouts of pain when the Malice got particularly bad, but for the most part, they’d been okay with the outcome. Because of the occasional pain she knew he still felt, Zelda hated to admit that she felt significantly safer knowing that she was able to lean on Link to stay alive in that way. She wasn’t beholden to the Yiga, or to a giant pile of goo, but she’d entered into a fully consenting partnership with someone willing to share her burden with her.

And looking at him was enough to remind her that she loved having him as a partner in more than just one practical, logical manner.

She smiled, and as if he sensed it, he pulled her back to him. She tugged their single, light sheet over their head to block the sun that came through the wooden cracks of their little hut to remind her that it was actually morning. And with that particular delusion happily overriding reality, she reminded Link, in no unsure terms, that she was in fact still here.

Until they were rudely reminded with a bang, a burst of light, and Urbosa shamelessly walking into their single room. They’d jokingly referred to it as their loft, but it didn’t help any when Urbosa had lost all sense of shame around them after being their caretakers for months.

Link’s grip instinctively tightened, and his hand reached out for his staff. Zelda yelped and held the sheet up against their chin. “Urbosa!”

“Up, up! You’ve got a client, Zelda. And Link, you are scheduled to work today. So up!”

“I have a client?” Zelda scoffed. It was rare that people came to her for things. Normally, she simply made whatever they needed and then moved on to her next project.

“Lost his arm.”

“Oh, how terrible…”

“No, literally. A Lizalfos took it. You need to make a replacement for him. He’s grabbing the specs.”

“Oh!” Zelda exclaimed excitedly. “That’s… different.”

“It is. I figured you’d like the job.”

Urbosa stood their, waiting, and Zelda kept her hand on Link’s chest to keep him from getting up.

“Urbosa?”

“Hrmm?”

“Would you leave so we can change? We’ll meet you.”

“I don’t need Link with me. I need him to feed this village.”

He scoffed. “I heard you. I’m going.”

“You’re our best fisherman, Link. How that happened, with you growing up away from the sea, I’ll never know. But you’ve got the touch.”

“Thanks.”

“Urbosa!” Zelda laughed, shooing her away.

Finally, Urbosa held her hands up in defeat and headed out.

Zelda let go of Link and sat up, getting a much better look at both of their arms. She could feel the burn, the pain, the rawness of her throat as she screamed. And then it was gone in an instant, leaving her breathless, but pain-free. It hadn’t even been big enough for Link to notice, this time, and Zelda wondered if it was getting better, or just a fluke. One day, maybe she and Mipha could co-invent a machine to suck the Malice out for good.

“Don’t let her overwork you again,” Link said, rolling out of bed and feeling for his drawer of clothes. It was clear it would be a hot day, so he opted for shorts, no shoes, and a loose shirt.

Zelda grabbed a dress that would keep her cool enough while working, and still kept her covered enough that none of her materials were unsafe. “I’m jumping in the water later. I don’t get paid enough to work in this heat.”

“We don’t get paid at all.”

“True!” Zelda laughed. Not like they bought anything either. It was a small village still, and everything was shared freely.

She tossed a small bag over her shoulder and was about to head for the door.

“Hey,” Link said, holding his hand out to her. “I love you.”

Zelda took a step into him and kissed him. “Almost forgot! Have a good day. I love you, too! I’ll see you later.”

“Promise?” he asked out of habit more than anything.

Zelda pushed a strand of his hair back and took a deep breath.

If there was one thing she’d learned since the Malice, it was how important it was to find family in others... and how much more dangerous the stakes became when she failed to protect them. And she’d protect her family now, in whatever ways she could.

Bombs, tech, food, fighting, or offering comfort through the long road they were on as they all healed, Zelda nodded firmly enough that Link could feel her body bobbing.

“Yes, Link. I promise.”

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needs-to-stop-looking-at-yigas · 3 years

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S.....Sooga.....tiddie fucking........Heheheh

Simple, effective, genius. Let’s fucking go.

“Something tells me Master Kohga isn’t happy today.”

“No fucking shit.”

Kohga had walked back outside from his council with Princess Zelda. Ever since the defeat of Ganon, the Yiga and the royal family have been trying to work together. As in, try to bribe them to stop killing both the king and his daughter. Kohga didn’t HATE Zelda (Sooga often recalled the times he called her ‘a sweet gal’), but he still hated the royal family. This made him bring rather unreasonable demands to the table, and of course he was told no. This led to rather fierce tantrums on his end, but this was the first time he had actually stormed out of the hall. Sooga joined his master’s side, followed by the two previously bickering blademasters. Zelda tried to follow him, asking that he listen to reason. Kohga suddenly stopped in the hallway, pointing at both her, and Link.

“Look. I respect you guys, really. But your royal BULLSHIT has been affecting my people for TOO long! I was not taught my skills by my fathers mothers father, just to flop over the SECOND you want me to! I won’t!”

Kohga stomped his foot on the plush carpet floor, before grumbling angrily, turning to what he thought was the exit. Granted it was the library, but his point was made. Somewhat. Zelda tried to follow him, when Sooga stopped her in her tracks.

“Master Kohga is a proud man. You must let his anger take his course. Please, allow me to dissipate his anger, he will be ready to listen to you after, Princess.”

He received a nod from both little blondes. Sooga nodded at both Blademasters, making them stand by and guard the door. Sooga walked inside of the library, seeing Kohga standing there, forehead against a bookshelf. Sooga cleared his throat, alerting his master of his presence. That seemed good enough for him to pull away, and start his rant.

“I love how ZELDA just has to be a princess AND my friend! I’M more important than some stupid royal crap, right?!”

As usual, Sooga stood there, and nodded. He was ever an ear for Kohga, and Sooga never forgot a single rant of his master (upon his demands). Kohga started pacing back and forth in front of him, throwing his arms around and stomping around the floor.

“She acts like my cause is nothing! No one asks the Yiga clan, ‘hey, how much an ass WERE those royals from so long ago?’ They act like we do this stuff for fun! And no one takes me SERIOUSLY!”

That was enough for Kohga to smack a random book off a table. Even now, in having his little fit, Kohga was incapable of actually damaging someone’s property. Not because he was scared of punishment, but because he genuinely found the library to be Zelda’s personal stuff. He was grumpy, he was impatient, but he was incredibly kind, considerate. Kohga finally stopped, hopping up on a table, and folding his arms across his chest, grumbling something fierce. Sooga waited, just in case he wasn’t done, before he gave a small nod.

“Master Kohga. Things are changing for the better. Nothing about this has been, nor will it ever, be easy. But whatever does happen, you must know that you are respected, and you are revered, especially to us. I apologize for the disrespect you have been given. You deserve all of Hyrule, truly.”

That seemed to at least stop the grumbling. But Kohga was too upset to even LOOK at Sooga right now. Kohga really only wanted one thing; respect. It was something Sooga wished he could give his master more of. But, he already gave him all he had. This meant he’d have to cheer his master up by less...conventional means. Sooga hated royals as much as he did, but he wanted peace from them both. He HAD to make something work here. He knelt down in front of Kohga, and despite his nerves eating away at him, he knew what he had to do.

“Master Kohga, I would...like to help you feel better. May I?”

Kohga seemed confused on just what he meant, but he nodded anyway, clearly interested. Sooga nudged himself between his master’s legs, pressing his face into his big, beautiful belly, and his chest right up against his cock. Kohga took only a second to piece together what was happening, and he nearly roared in laughter.

“Sooga! I’m surprised at you! Here? Now?”

Sooga gave a soft nod, a bit in disbelief himself.

“You have so much tension. Besides, doing something like this in the very castle seems like something scandalous enough for you.”

“Hey. You’re making me sound like a pervert. I mean I am, but still.”

Sooga had a slight chuckle at that. He could already tell his Master’s mood had improved tenfold. Sooga pulled away a bit, helping his Master’s cock out of his uniform, lightly stroking it in his palm. He had Kohga’s full attention now, and even though Sooga had initiated this, he felt as if he had been seduced into it.

“So, what exactly were you thinking? Blowjobs? Handjobs?”

Sooga almost thought about doing those things, but he decided against it. Blowjobs meant his mouth would be exposed here, and handjobs alone wouldn’t remove this kind of anger festering in his Master’s heart. No, he needed something to wow him, something that let him be in control. So, despite how lewd it was, Sooga placed his cock right at his chest, and pushed his titties (he liked to call them pecs, but even he had to admit they were so large, ‘pecs’ didn’t really suit them) together. Kohga actually seemed to be at a loss for words, before suddenly snickering.

“You’re ACTUALLY serious. I get to fuck THESE puppies here?”

“I’ve told you before, my body is yours to command. Every part of me is entitled to you. And I’ve….well. I’ve thought about this before.”

“You like thinking about me, don’t you Sooga?”

Kohga was already getting hard for him. Sooga pushed and rubbed his chest together, nearly smothering his poor master’s cock. Even though Sooga was VERY familiar with Kohga’s dick, it still made him nervous, feeling the hot, semi hard appendage brush up against his skin, separated by just the thin clothing of his uniform. Sooga nodded, trying not to drool at the sight of his cock reappearing between his cleavage.

“I do. I very much do. I’ve always thought how nice it’d be, if you deemed my body worthy enough to satisfy you.”

“That’s what I thought you’d say. You’re such a good boy like that.”

Kohga actually felt like participating this time around; moving his hips a bit forward to really push his cock in between them. It wasn’t long before Kohga’s cock was twitching, smearing precum between Sooga’s massive chest. It made a wet, dirty sound, that when combined with Kohga’s moans of approval, made Sooga go mad. HE was making his master feel this good. HE was making him pant like that. Sooga would have preferred to go slow, but he knew Kohga. He liked quick, passionate movements, actions that made his partner seem desperate to please. It was why Sooga kept pushing his chest together quickly, it was why he even moved his chest from side to side. It was humiliating, but Sooga liked it. He liked it for not just the fact that it was making Kohga happy, but for-

“You work so hard for me, Sooga. When no one else wants to make me feel better, you’re there. You listen to me, you give yourself to me. You’re such a good boy.”

That. Sooga loved making him happy, loved being good and obedient. Kohga was endless in his praise, cooing them so sweetly, running his fingers across his scalp, and even pulling at his hair, just to really remind him who was running this ship. It was why Sooga was not above grabbing and moving his chest around as he was, like he was some kind of filthy little whore. Sooga had enough respect to not deem himself as such, but he had enough love (and lust), to be willing to do that for Kohga. Kohga grabbed at his hair again, making Sooga’s actions skid to a halt. Kohga was getting closer and closer, why did he-

“Stop, just for a minute. Look up at me with that pretty face. Just like that. Now, pinch your nipples. Nice and hard. Good boy.”

Sooga felt a bit of shame, actually finding himself enjoying the tight, firm pinches he was giving to his already sensitive nipples. But the way Kohga chuckled, the way he greedily gripped onto his locks? He didn’t regret a single thing.

“You like my cum, don’t you Sooga? You like it so much, you keep finding excuses to have it. The night after the party, the times I tried to punish you, and even the times you snuck into my room.”

Sooga suddenly felt tense. Oh no.

“M-master Kohga, I can explain-”

“I wasn’t done. I know you sneak into my room when I sleep. I know sometimes you just check up on me, make sure I’m safe, and you even cover me if I get cold. But sometimes. Sometimes you want to taste my cum so badly, you’ll sit there and touch youself to me. I’ve seen you there, pumping your cock and grabbing at your fat tits, just picturing how you could get it out of me. And the fact that I KNOW you’ve been doing that, just made you so fucking hard, didn’t it?”

Sooga nodded, even though there was slight shame in it. He meant no harm by his actions, honestly. It was just, hard to resist such temptations. Kohga chuckled, giving a small shake of his head.

“Well. I don’t mind. I don’t mind one itsy bitsy bit. You know why? Hmm?”

He paused, for dramatic affect, before a devilish snicker came from his lips.

“Becase as much as you love taking my cum, I love, just as much, giving it to you. Now, rub those titties together for me, and earn my load.”

Sooga was back at it again before he could finish his sentence. He rubbed his slick, hot tits together, putting as much enthiusm and speed against his head as he could. Kohga was right; he wanted his cum, and he wanted SO much of it. He wanted to earn the right to be covered in it, earn the right to sport it across his features like a medal of honor. And as he heard Kohga grumble, as he saw his fingers dig into the table, he received just that. Spurts of cum came from his Master’s lovely cock, decorating his tits, and even dribbling down to his stomach. It was hot, creamy, and absolutely perfect. Kohga gifted him with a plentiful amount, and Sooga was almost sad when Kohga seemed to finish giving it to him. He even kept pressing his chest together, hoping to squeeze out more from him. Even as Kohga sat there, in the midst of a cooldown, Sooga found himself unable to stop. It wasn’t until Kohga snapped his fingers, that he finally put a halt to it. Kohga grinned, lightly flicking the other��s forehead.

“You love doing all the hard work for me. And I love that.”

“Love it enough to re consider the princess proposal?”

Kohga sighed, before giving a small nod.

“Yeah yeah...for YOU, I’ll go back in there, give it another shot. Not that you’re making me.”

“Of course not, Master Kohga. You’re merely kind enough to heed my plea.”

“Hey...don’t you start talking like that. You’re getting a bit too smart, Sooga.”

He could tell his Master was most amused. They spent a good minute cleaning Sooga up, and after Kohga got himself a fistful of that ass, they both came back outside, just in time to catch Zelda and Link about to leave.

“Princess, Goldilocks! Listen, I talked a bit with Sooga here, let’s try the whole meeting thing again, yeah?”

Zelda’s excitement was palpable. As Kohga joined them both back to the meeting room, the Blade masters looked at Sooga, bewildered.

“How did you make him change his mind?”

“I do not ‘make’ our master do anything. I merely took a load off of his mind.”

A big, BIG load off of his mind.

#asks #kohga #sooga #lemon

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gpow13 · 2 years

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New Post - "Lycoris Radiata"

Sophie!!

I am so so so happy I got to create this for you! It was a blast to write, and I have zero regrets. I really love the painting with Warriors and the tree and the sunset and the red spider lily, and I just HAD to write that out. Not only is your art amazing but we're very close friends and I always wanted to write something for you. I hope you enjoy the fic!! (below the cut)

Happy Belated Artist Appreciation Day! And thank you so much @seekingseven for organizing this wonderful project <3

Lycoris Radiata (Complete, One-Shot, 16.1k words, Graphic Depictions of Violence)

Fandom: The Legend of Zelda & Related Fandoms (Linked Universe)

Summary:

Warriors never liked the color red. To him, it only reminded him of the war, where several of the Hyrulean army turned traitor and he was forced to kill those he once called his friends. Since that day, he had always hated traitors.

But when Warriors and Four get captured by the Yiga Clan, their secrets are spilled. How does this forever change their relationship?

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Main Relationships: Warriors&Four

General Tags: Extreme - Please Read the Warnings on the Fic, Gift Fic for @celadonbi , Inspired by Art, Warriors-centric, Four-centric, Angst, Violence, Hurt/Comfort, Humor, Crack, Flowers, PTSD, Blood, Injury, Choking, Morally Ambiguous Characters, Eventual Fluff, & More

Chapters: Oneshot

#gpow's fic updates #linked universe fanfiction #angst #violence #hurt/comfort #humor #crack #tw: blood #tw: choking #tw: ptsd #LU Artist Appreciation Day 2021

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silentprincess17 · 3 years

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Sometimes Things Have To Get Worse Before They Get Better

This is essentially a darker, heavier alternate take on Memory #7 - Blades of the Yiga. I wanted to write a fic with a competent Yiga Clan. (Yes you read that right). It is very angsty in the beginning and then becomes fluffy (hence the title!)

Summary: Link and Zelda have returned from Vah Naboris with Urbosa and have spent the night in Kara Kara Bazaar Inn. Link wakes up and finds her missing.

Cue the angst.

This story is complete and I will post each chapter daily on here but you can read the whole thing on AO3

Rating: Mature (Graphic descriptions of violence) Pairing: Link/Zelda (Zelink) Characters: Link, Zelda, The Yiga Clan, Master Kohga

Chapter 1: Everything goes wrong when you don't have breakfast

Link was having a bad morning. He’d missed breakfast, a cardinal sin, and now he was anxiously darting around the Bazaar, weaving between the trees, in an attempt to see if he could spot a glimmer of blonde hair or a flash of a blue shirt.

She just had to run away. Again.

He sighed. It wasn’t that hard to understand why she constantly gave him the slip, even if he wished she didn’t. He knew it wasn’t fair of him to think such things, especially when he knew it wasn’t really him, she was running from, rather it the sword that was strapped to his back. It wasn’t him she was frustrated with, it was herself. And the sword symbolised how he was apparently fulfilling his destiny and his side of things, whilst she struggled endless with the stone-cold Hylia and had nothing to show for it. Essentially, the sword meant destiny and fate had already set out a predetermined plan for her, and she was currently set for failure. So yes, he could understand why she felt the need to escape what was surely a suffocating sight every day- the boy with the sword that has it all sorted, geared and ready to go, whilst she stumbled in the dark, Hylia’s Divine Blessing evading her.

If only she knew how much he struggled too. He didn’t just pull a sword out a rocky pedestal and boom morphed into Hyrule’s Saviour. He’d trained long and hard too. And frankly, he had felt compelled to draw the sword, it hadn’t been something that was in his control- if he had a choice, then he would also choose to just leave it be in the Lost Woods. It sounded naive and foolish now, but he hadn’t anticipated what the consequences would be when twelve-year-old Link had jumped up and wrapped his hands around that cursed mauve handle. Mostly, the thing he regretted the most about pulling the sword was that he’d effectively doomed them all. Did he want to be the one to basically foreshadow what was now surely coming? No. Another was that it had put a timer on the Princess to find her powers, and he didn’t want to cause her such anguish at being unable to unlock supposed birth-right sealing powers that she clearly didn’t have and didn’t know how to obtain. But… there had been a hidden consequence, one that he couldn’t for the life of him have predicted- when he released the sword from the pedestal, it didn’t just end with him now possessing the mythical legendary blade, oh no. He’d also obtained a whole wealth of memories, memories of past lives, past successes, past failures, and he’d lost whatever childish innocence he’d had then. And it crushed him, having this soul that apparently was doomed in this endless fight, and now he had to live up to them. He had to live up to these past Heroes and by Farore he had no idea if he’d be able to.

Every word that had come out of the Princess’s mouth at his blessing ceremony had cleaved him in two. All those past disastrous events that happened in Hyrule, and all the lengths his predecessors had gone to save the country… Adrift in time indeed. IN TIME. How was he supposed to do the same? And it made him fearful. And he was not easily frightened. He liked to think he was a little bit brave, he would run headfirst into any sort of challenge, be that eating rocks, defeating hordes of monsters, including Lynels, or even redirecting errant guardian laser beams but when he thought about what those Heroes had gone through… He certainty didn’t feel very brave when it came to imagining what exactly he’d have to do, what trials he would have to face, in line with theirs.

He finally finished strapping the sword properly to his back, he’d ran out as soon as he realised she was missing, and he tried to find any distinguishing patterns of her boots nearby. It was a useless venture, because sand shifted, constantly, and as a result any tracks were lost pretty much as soon as they formed. He sighed, deciding to do another very quick run through the Bazaar in case anyone else had spotted her, or she had come back from the baths maybe. He was clutching at straws, he knew it, and he felt that familiar churning feeling in his gut that something was wrong, but he decided to keep calm and check again just in case he’d missed something.

He sighed, even before Urbosa told him how the Princess’s behaviour was in fact coloured by the sword, he could have guessed. One of the biggest signs was that she always looked at it, instead of him. He only wished to tell her that he was just as lost as she was, because yeah sure, everyone Impa stated that he had the Sword that Seals The Darkness. Okay, but how did it do that? How does one go about killing darkness? Monsters he knew. Monsters he’d trained for. But darkness? And the thing that frightened him the most was that most of the past Heroes had fought a man. A power-obsessed, strong-willed and formidable opponent, but still, fundamentally, a man. None of them had fought this… Calamity equivalent that he seemed to be up against. Hence why he was uncertain, and fearful even, if the sword would be enough.

Not to mention how much it pained him that the arrogant idiot bird had managed to find his greatest insecurity, but that was neither here nor there.

But in truth, every time someone mentioned how he was their savour he wanted to cry. Perhaps she didn’t realise that whilst everyone had pinned her as a hopeless case and a lost cause, he’d been saddled with double the expectations to succeed. So much pressure, so many eyes, that he’d all but gone silent. Every word spoken could be misconstrued in some shape or form. Nothing he said was ever safe from scrutiny, so to continue to play the perfect, composed Hero that he was supposed to be, he decided to stop talking. What he wouldn’t give to explain to her that these praises that were lavished on him made him feel sick. Made him feel suffocated. Made him like a liar. Because really, he felt like a failure too- he had no plan other than maybe try and hit the darkness with the sword and hope that works. And the foreboding feeling he had that he hadn’t yet faced the supposedly impending huge trial that most of the other Heroes had, and they had all done said trial well before they obtained the Master Sword. He felt unworthy of it, somehow. All he’d done was train hard, fight and try to eradicate the plague of monsters in the land. He hadn’t travelled through time, he hadn’t transformed into a wolf, he hadn’t lost his sister, or his best friend. Hence why he was dreading meeting Ganon. There was a catch somewhere. He could feel it.

He exhaled heavily, sweat starting to build on his brow. This was why he wanted to tell Zelda that she wasn’t alone. That he knew what she was going through. They were a pair in destiny, fate… even souls after all. But she hated him, his very being, and probably wished he didn’t exist- no correction- she wished the sword didn’t exist, then he wouldn’t have pulled it and wouldn’t have become a direct comparator for her success. It all felt futile sometimes, and he wondered why exactly he was in such a melancholy mood this morning. Probably something to do with not eating.

She wasn’t in the Bazaar. He’d now checked over every stall twice. And Link felt rising trepidation. Of all the places for her to run away, she’d chosen the desert. She’d chosen where the main dissenters of the Royal Family lived. She chosen the one place where it was highly probable that there would be an assassination attempt on her. And he wasn’t there to protect her. Link could freely admit to himself he was scared. What if he didn’t find her in time, what if – No. He had to think positively. And then his eyes fell to his Champion’s tunic, embroidered, as it was, by her hand. Goddesses above, how would he present himself back the Castle if he’d actually lost her this time? And in such a worrisome place too. A stone settled in Link’s gut, as he desperately racked his brains, replaying last night’s events trying to remember if she’d dropped any hints as to where she was going.

He drew a big fat blank.

In the name of Din, where else could she have gone? She had been silent on the way back from Vah Naboris, probably reproachful that he’d managed to find her, yet again. And he had, admittedly, found it suspicious that she’d remained mum, accepted going to the Bazaar, and sleeping in the Inn, and leaving to head to Goron City the next day without a single word of dissent. He should have known that she was planning something.

And now, it was starting to get hot, as he quickly ran off towards the path, wondering if she’d gone back to Gerudo Town. But she’d already said her goodbyes to Urbosa last night... Link sighed, the heat already causing his tunic to stick to his back. It was a desert after all, one couldn’t expect it to get cold during the day, and he hadn’t had time to fill in their canteens, and oh for the love of Farore could he at least get a single sign as to where Her Highness had deigned to grace her presence at. He didn’t want to be beheaded for incompetence so soon.

He saw a small cloud of sand rise in the distance. At this point, it could be a mirage and he was seeing something that his mind had conjured in desperation at trying to find the missing Princess.

And then he saw a flash of red.

And his blood ran cold, despite the heat.

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loruleanheart · 3 years

Text

Desired Fate, Chapter 10

Read on FF.net

Read on AO3

The atmosphere around him had become much colder and darker as night descended on the Gerudo Highlands. The prophet stirred. Everything hurt, but there was also the headache that only intensified when he tried to reason with what had happened.

It had to have been a dream… A very terrible and ridiculous dream… Yes, a dream… Not a prophecy...

His mind couldn’t accept that Hylia herself spoke to him.

Yet, If it hadn’t been real, then how had he survived Sooga’s attack?

Hylia… That vile goddess had turned his whole world upside down, her ways more bewildering to Astor than even the Yiga Clan.

The conflicting thoughts had been tormenting to begin with, now they were only magnified to an unbearable intensity. As devoted as he was to the Calamity he was only mortal, and he didn’t want to perish over what he’d so blindly followed for too long. But the alternative would make him a failure in Calamity Ganon’s eyes, and wasn’t the Calamity the only thing that mattered?

She had known everything… Every thought and emotion no matter how deep or repressed, she had laid it all bare, and it terrified him. He feared his thoughts of the princess and his potential to be disloyal to Calamity Ganon.

That wasn’t the only thing he had to worry about. The Yiga Clan was almost certain to make another attempt on his life, and they knew the location of his hideout. The prophet gave a frustrated groan and turned to leave the Gerudo Highlands before a potential ambush could be devised by the clan.

He began to wander northeast aimlessly, only having a vague idea of where he was going. Eventually, desert cliffs gave way to lush green fields.

He could see Hyrule Castle’s silhouette in the distance, and he began to feel jittery, nearly breaking into a burst of insane laughter. He tried to focus his thoughts on how ironic it was that he and the princess now had the Yiga as a common enemy. Anything to not have to think about what was revealed to him by the goddess. It couldn’t be true…

Oh, I’m sure that would go over well. The king would be so thrilled… The prophet thought facetiously.

He gave Hyrule Castle and its surrounding town a wide breadth, also avoiding villages or other areas where people might congregate.

As he rounded the perimeter of the Lost Woods he couldn’t help but notice how visible the back of the castle was from this vantage point. Which window belonged to the Princess? The castle’s wide moat separated the ground he stood from the castle, but still, it was breathtaking to be so close.

The Lost Woods was much the same way. It was surrounded by water, with only one foot-path going in. The pink flowering top of the Great Deku Tree could be seen at the center of Great Hyrule Forest, and Astor thought back to that fated day he crossed paths with the princess before that great, imposing tree. Somewhere, within those woods was a much more mysterious place he had only seen in visions - that place where the Silent Princess flowers grew rampant, and he was intent on finding it.

oOo

“No matter what it takes, you must awaken your power before the Calamity returns.” King Rhoam’s commanding voice filled the castle’s sanctum.

Zelda looked down, gathering her resolve. If the Calamity was going to rise on her 17th birthday, as newly uncovered images from the broken Guardian indicated, she didn’t have much time left.

Whatever it takes? What is that supposed to mean? I’m already doing everything I can.

She bit back her protests, one more time, ever the good, obedient daughter. “Understood.”

“I sense you have become complacent regarding your duty,” King Rhoam said, becoming colder.

Zelda slowly looked up, at a loss. She could sense Impa’s sympathetic gaze on her, and she wanted to cast a glance back at the advisor in shared exasperation but thought better of it. “I - I’m sorry father. Please believe me. I’m trying my hardest. I really am -.”

“No more, excuses, Zelda! From this moment on you are to have nothing to do with the childish hobby you’ve been carrying on with Sheikah technology and you are to devote yourself fully to unlocking your power. You must be single-minded in this crucial duty. Or perhaps it is your poor attitude that is interfering with your training.”

Zelda flinched internally, but it barely showed on the outside.

“Yes, I understand… I will try harder.”

The King’s expression hardened and he raised his voice. “No, you don’t try! You do it! You are going to the Spring of Courage immediately, and Link and Impa are to accompany you, do I make myself clear?”

The Princess held her head high as she headed to her chambers to change into her ceremonial white gown. As soon as she was out of sight she let out a big huff and nearly broke down, but somehow held herself together.

She took her time getting changed, disconsolate and a little bit spiteful to have been humiliated in front of her friends.

The gown was pure white and was designed with the goddess Hylia as inspiration. It was a small consolation to feel closer to her ancestor by donning the dress and royal heirlooms.

She fixed her hair, undoing her braid and brushing it out. She put on the gold bracers and tossed her hair to one side to fasten the gold Hylia crest necklace passed down in the royal family for countless generations.

As she languidly moved about her chambers, her mind raced with thoughts of hopelessness. She had already trained at the Spring of Courage and Spring of Power in the past, and both had yielded no results. All that remained was the Spring of Wisdom on Mount Lanayru, and she would only be permitted to make the trip up the mountain when she reached the age of 17. But with knowledge of the day of Calamity Ganon’s return she knew it would be too little too late.

Before she left her chambers, Zelda paused to look at herself in the mirror. She gave a sharp exhale. All of Hyrule was believing in her, leaning on her to save them... or at least that's how it felt. Zelda wasn’t unaware of the fact that she was the subject of mockery among those who were aware of her unfulfilled duty. And although those closest to her were doing their best to support her, a void remained.

The worst was coming. She knew it. If only she had someone to brace herself against for when the Calamity would inevitably rise and consume everything and everyone she loved.

Zelda rested her forehead against the mirror and closed her eyes, holding back tears one more time, unsure how much longer she could hold on before she gave out.

oOo

Astor found himself in that mysterious place. The one seen in his visions as of late, particularly when the princess drew near to him. It was an ethereal and dark forest, hidden away within the Lost Woods much in the same way as Korok Forest. Perhaps it was the goddess who led him there and allowed him to find it, although Astor wasn’t sure if it was real or illusionary.

Moonlight peaked down through the tops of the trees, the blue and white Silent Princess flowers seeming to glow in its light. Was it always night here? It was clearly a refuge for him.

He took an uncertain step forward, looking around. There was a small spring of clear water.

He thought of the princess and how she would likely go to the Spring of Courage and Power soon. Let her try, the prophet thought. She wasn’t going to be unlocking that power anytime soon. He could envision her visiting one such spring, her shoulders bare, her dress clinging to her form as she stood in the water so focused on unlocking the power that evaded her. That jittery feeling came back in full force.

Kill her… You’ll be in control again…

No, no… I must stay as far away from her as possible, lest the goddess’s prophecy comes true…

He wasn’t sure which one was Lord Ganon’s will. His trust in the Calamity had been so compromised he couldn’t discern Ganon’s or even fate’s design any longer. There was a part of him that wanted so much to remain faithful to Lord Ganon. He didn’t know how else to exist, even knowing that to remain loyal would end in regret for a prophecy unfulfilled and his own death.

The prophet held his head in his hands. He hastily disrobed, leaving his clothing in a haphazard pile, signaling his mental disarray. He got into the small spring, completely bare save for the circlet he wore with the Malice Eye. Many bruises from his earlier fight marred his pale skin.

Thoughts and feelings he might have easily shoved away before were becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. No, it was downright impossible after the goddess’s parting words, and his thoughts of the princess were running wild. He could feel the distance between himself and the Calamity widen further, and he panicked.

He slid under the water’s surface, holding his breath as long as he could. If Hylia was merciful maybe he’d drown and in death, those vexing feelings would stop plaguing him. The urge to take a breath was increasing, and he came back up, gasping.

Astor relaxed a bit, resting his head on the edge of the spring and stretching out into a comfortable position in surrender, hoping this place was indeed illusionary and that no one would stumble upon him in such a state, not that travelers typically explored these woods for fear of becoming lost.

This place was so… otherworldly… so beautiful. Astor wondered briefly if Calamity Ganon could even ‘see’ or perceive this place.

And at last, he confronted the goddess’s prophecy with a clearer mind, although wavering between doubt and resent. How could it come true? He had acted with such cruelty toward Princess Zelda, why would she ever look at him with anything other than disdain?

Astor had once been very disciplined in his mindset towards the princess and his plan to bring about her demise, but he was out of reasons to fight what had been repressed. His thoughts of her lingered and then intensified. He yearned to embrace her, to touch her, and ached to feel her hands on him. He was paralyzed by the thought, but he couldn’t deny how exquisite it would be to give in to those feelings if the opportunity ever arose, despite knowing he would continue to resist out of fear of losing himself.

The desire to have her was increasing to a point of no return and Astor knew he would have no peace until he could, at the very least, see Princess Zelda again.

#Astor #Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity #Age of Calamity #HWAOC #Zelast #Vaguely a Valentine's Day chapter #I feel like I'm really stretching that T-rating #Hylia take the wheel

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oceansmelodysblog · 3 years

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'Until my last breath'

Zelink reversed roles AU fanfiction

Chapter 2

“The laws don’t allow us to take people inside the castle to give them refuge but we can definitely find work inside the castle for Nebb’s family members. Is there anything else I could do for you? ” James and Zelda stood in front of the bridge to the castle as they discussed about her conditions to work with him.

Meanwhile, Ragnar and Link hunted down the aggressor who threatened her life. The people of the festival enjoyed their time and danced light heartedly to the music.

Yet, in the dark corners of an abandoned street, Link pushed the man against an old façade.

“Do you work for someone?!” Link grabbed the man’s throat and lifted him from his feet with one arm.

“No, Sir. I am alone! Please let me down, “ the man could barely speak.

“Link, we better check his body for any evidences. He won’t tell the truth even if you threatened him.”

Link turned his head aside and thought about it. Ragnar had his cold sinister look in his eyes and Link knew he had an idea in his mind.

He threw the thief roughly to the ground and Ragnar ripped off the thief’s clothes. He never hesitated to rush into action.

Ragnar grabbed the man’s arm and pulled him to his feet. He trembled because of the cold but he also trembled out of fear, he knew of their ruthless reputation.

“Like I thought, this filthy rat is one of them. He wears their mark on his back like a farm animal. He’s just an underling but they came far too close to the castle for my taste. I would like to kill him but then we might lose a chance to track them down., ” in front of Ragnar’s face hot steam from his mouth surrounded him and gave his ice blue iris a mystical feeling. Thoughtfully he crossed his arms in front of broad chest, leaving the man freezing next to him.

“Yes, I agree brother. Though it’s not likely of them to attack healers. He must be an abandoned one and furthermore has to thief for his own survival. It may just be an inconvenience, but I believe he needed the rupees to redeem himself in the Yiga clan.” Link had his cold calculating look in his eyes and analysed every inch this man’s face for any reaction. He saw how nervous he became as Link spoke.

Link’s eyes sparkled immediately as his sharp mind saw an opportunity.

“Makes sense to me too, sharp senses as always. I guess we can’t kill him yet.”

“Y-yes! Yes! Y-you’re… right! P-p-please don’t kill me!” The man was trembling as his body felt frozen. He tried to warm himself up by wrapping his arms around his chest. He didn’t dare to try to escape them, too great was the fear to be killed.

Ragnar abruptly turned his head to him and pierced his eyes into the thief’s soul

“Shut your mouth, you filthy rat. No body told you to speak, unless you tell us anything you know about the Yiga. Until then, you will freeze your arse off. “

“L-l-look, I-I-I c-can’t even i-i-if I w-want-t-ted t-t-to.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Link had a feeling that behind his statement lay some truth. It wouldn’t surprise him if the Yiga cast a spell on their henchmen to secure their secrets.

And as the thought shaped into a deduction, Link exchanged a meaningful gaze with Ragnar.

“I-i-i-it m-m-means th-th-that we can’t be-be-ca-use th-they...use... I c-can’t s-say...use...u-use... SEAL!”

He screamed out the last words while his whole body shivered with the cold. But as soon as had he said it, his head twitched spasticity, his pupils twisted and rattling noises came from his throat. He cried out his last breath and collapsed right after.

Link and Ragnar watched helplessly and in shock as the thief lied motionless on the ground.

Link and Ragnar knelt in front of the man and exchanged regretful looks, thinking about the cruelty of the Yiga.

„At least in death he is a free man. Come on Ragnar, we’ll get him a decent burial. ”, said Link.

He wrapped his cloak around the bare body and heaved it onto his shoulder.

„When we’re done with his funeral, we must report to Father immediately.“ Link marched through the deep snow under his boots, far away from the castle walls. It cracked in the snow as he had to raise his knees more and more to get through the high snowpack. Sweat ran down his back, his breath became heavier, and his muscles burned. Ragnar noticed the thick vapor from Link’s breath, an indication of the immense strength that he had to mobilize at the moment. Without a word, he lifted the body from his shoulder and carried it the rest of the way.

Hours later, the brothers reached Lake Kolomo near the Forest of Time and buried the corpse among the trees.

“Link, I’ve thought about it and I think we should only tell father about the Yiga once we have found out more. He is never satisfied with half-finished business.“

Their hands were flushed and stiff from the snow they laid over the grave. It was time to return to the warmth, so the two broke up and left the man in the grave alone, but under the protection of the forest.

------

“Your royal highness, thank you for everything. I do have some other requests too, regarding my master and my father. I am in depth for my education since I tried to pay it all on my own but the payment wasn’t high enough, not to mention I often didn’t even receive it, to pay off my loans. If I work at the royal castle I want to be payed with a suitable salary for my hard work. I want to help people around Hyrule, that’s why I will need the salary to buy better equipment, medics and explore new methods to heal. I also want the freedom to leave the castle whenever I see the need to gather herbs, ingredients, make new flora analyses or look out for unhealthy people. In the matter of my father, I do not want my father to know that I would work in the castle. That’s all of my conditions, your royal highness.”

James thought about it while scratching his beard, not knowing if it was possible to give her the freedom she wanted as his father controlled everything and everyone. For better or worse, she had to go to the king and speak to him. about it if he decided to be interested enough. Anything that didn’t matter to him wasn’t worth his time.

“May I ask who your father is, gracious healer?”

“Yes of course you may. He’s the commander of the third legion of the royal army, Rhoam Dejardin. Your royal highness.”

James‘eyes widened as he drew in a sharp breath. ‘Now I understand why she doesn’t want to have contact with her father, he’s just like my father!‘ James thoughts flashed back and forth in his head as he put the pieces together.

“I see! I guess we both have awful fathers then. Don’t worry I will make sure that you can stay away from your father. And about your loan, as the prince I am able to pay it for you, just say a word. But if you still want to pay it on your own, we will pay you even more than the royal healer gets. Because we need a healer that is independent and solely serves for the people and not the King’s moods. Please accept my offer to be a healer for the purpose of science.”

Zelda smiled at the speech of James. But she immediately realized that he was sweet-talking the other conditions while ignoring the most important one. Her freedom.

“Your royal highness I am pleased to hear all that. But I won’t accept the offer until All of my conditions are fulfilled. Please enjoy the rest of the evening, I have to go back to my stall. ”

She walked away without looking back, into the direction of her stall. James tried to hold her off by reaching an arm to her but she was already too far away. For now he would have to deal with his father. He sighed in defeat, he didn’t like it at all. He wanted to keep her in secret, out of the range of the eyes of his father but sooner or later his father would have know about her. It was better to ask him to work as an independent healer. Hyrule needs her desperately.

James had seen so much suffer in his travels and explorations, the defeated knights who weren’t able to fight anymore, the despair and illness in the corners of the kingdom, all of them needed a healer who would only serve the people and not the King.

‘But how am I supposed to tell that to my father? I probably should ask Ecberht about this.’

- - -

The Festival of Lights ended with the first rays of the sun and Zelda was busy dismantling the stand alone during the coldest hour of the day. She had sent little Nebb home just before midnight and shared her salary with him again. The old doctor was long gone and left the rest to her. She cursed inwardly for not accepting the offer, but her principles had to come first. Otherwise she would approve of being exploited again. Gritting her teeth together, she went to the remaining instruments and bandages that were lying around. Her hands were already icy burns and were stiff from the cold when she noticed a shadow out of the corner of her eye and the next moment she felt warm hands on hers. When she looked up, sea blue eyes stared into her eyes. She quickly pulled her hands out of his and put some space between them.

„Your royal highness, it is a pleasure to see you again.”

“Please don’t be so formal with me when nobody is around. I thought we would have become closer after the dance. And now you’re greeting me like a foreigner.” Link wasn’t sure if she was interested in him at all. She had something special that made him drive to her, but he couldn’t tell what it was. He wanted to protect her, be at her side and watch over her.

“I accepted your hand because I would lose my face if I didn’t. If we normal folks ever deny a request of a royal family, we get abandoned by society.” Now her eyes were as cold as the freezing temperatures, staring up into his own eyes.

She couldn’t afford to be called a concubine of a prince while trying to be accepted in the world of the healers.

Link didn’t know all of the circumstances despite interacting with people outside the castle. ‘I definitely have to change that!’

“Please don’t interact with me furthermore I don’t want to be called a concubine of yours. Even though they have a far better reputation than a female healer from the streets, I don’t want to be seen as that. I work hard and try to help the suffering people. Please, your royal highness if you look for a girl to have fun with, I beg you to look elsewhere.”

With that said she grabbed the last remaining and walked away. Her heart raced and her body trembled, but she wouldn’t let him know that. She couldn’t even explain it for herself why she reacted that way towards him but decided to not give it much attention.

Link looked after her until she disappeared in the dark street.

“Brother are you alright?” Ragnar had helped his knight comrades to secure the area as they arrived and now was approaching him with his arms full of food, left behind from the festival.

“It’s nothing, I am just tired and exhausted. Come, let us go home.” Ragnar pressed a baked apple into his hand and Link smiled in return. A good old apple would be a good distraction of his pity thoughts.

- - - - - -

The next day arise and the brothers Ragnar and Link woke up with pain in their backs and legs. Link looked around and realized they fell asleep in the study room, they were so tired that they weren’t able to reach their bedrooms. Link must have been fallen asleep while he studied about the Yiga clan, his back hurt from the sitting position and even his neck felt stiff. He heard his brother snoring from the ground and slowly stood up to look for him. Ragnar fell with his stool to the ground, his arms wide open spread while one of his legs hovered on the stool while the other rested on the ground angled. Link smiled at this view, it was funny to see his younger brother, who looked always scary and insane, now like a clumsy big teddy bear. Link walked around the table and kicked the tip of his toe against his brother’s rips.

“Hey! Wake up dumbass!”

“Mmh…fuck off and lemme sleep…”

“It is past midday, wake up!”

“nah, try to wake me up in an hour or two.”

Ragnar muttered more unintelligible words while Link slowly lost patience. It was unusual for his brother to sleep so much. Link decided it was his job to get him back on his feet. Link breathed in and out deeply and rammed his elbow with full force into the abdomen of his brother, who cried out in pain and threw up shortly afterwards.

"You ate too much before you fell asleep, am I right?“

"Thanks, I needed that.“ Ragnar gasped from the exertion he felt from the gag reflex.

“Now get up, we still have a lot to do. Do you remember? The Yiga clan? Provide evidence for our father? Get up you looser, we going hunt for Yiga.“

After they freshened up, they visited their brother James, who was in the middle of a conversation with their eldest brother Ecberht. While Link and Ragnar wore a basic Hylian armour, today Ecberht wore a ruby red royal suit with sapphire blue and golden accents, which meant he would go on a diplomatic business sooner or later. James wore nor royal suit but instead dark trousers and a brown coat with golden buttons and white silk scarf, his favourite outfit when he worked on his natural sciences.

“Good afternoon brothers.” Link said politely while approaching them.

Both immediately interrupted their discussion and turned their heads to them. While James looked confused, Ecberht had a devaluating look in his eyes.

“Where have you been all day? Both of you were no where to be found.” James reached for the arm of Link and then Ragnar to greet them.

“We’ve been doing researches about a case we want to learn more about and therefore stayed up all night. What have you two been discussing about?”

“What kind of case do you talk about?” asked Ecberht suspiciously, “I hope for the sake of your lives, you’re not doing anything reckless again, without the permission of the King.” Link and Ragnar exchanged meaningful looks, they knew they had to be cautious around Ecberht.

Then, Ragnar clears his throat and sweet talked his eldest brother, “Don’t worry, we don’t want to bother father with our case as long as it’s nothing to bother for.”

Ecberht raised an eyebrow and looked suspicious between them, he knew they were up to something dangerous and therefore would need to watch over their moves. He decided to remain silent and ask one of the Sheikah to spy on them.

James felt the tension between his brothers and cleared his throat.

“Well apparently, the woman you danced with yesterday is an exceptional healer and the daughter of commander Rhoam Dejardin but refuses to depend on his reputation and military rank. “

Link and Ragnar widened their eyes. They couldn’t believe what their ears just heard because nobody knew commander Rhoam had a daughter, let alone even a child. Link was confused why he would never mention her.

“She refuses also to serve for the royal family if it means to desert the people in need. That’s why we need her even more. For the sake of Hyrule, we need a selfless healer in our ranks. I would be glad if we had another genius for our science section as well.”

Link was glad that his brothers saw the same potential in her he did, but it disturbed him that he found out about her background through his brother who just met her and immediately wanted to claim her. Link frowned and tried to clear his mind. Then, a big question appeared in his head as he tried to understand why she wasn’t here yet.

“There must be something off if she isn’t here yet. What is it?”

“Well…she wanted the freedom to leave the castle whenever she saw the need of her help or for doing researches on new herbs… She wanted to work with me only under strict conditions…”

“What are her conditions? Except roaming freely around,” asked Link truly curious.

But then, Ecberht had enough and busted out. ��I already told you James! This is not going to happen! The audacity to demand such thing is unbelievable! Not even the own sons of the King can do whatever we want, and this woman thinks she was exceptional? No way I am going to allow her to do that. You give the conditions not her. Who does she think she is? Goddess of Hyrule? By Hylia! I am surrounded by idiots!”

Ecberht was about to leave but surprisingly Ragnar hold him off and squeezed his arm. “If James and Link believe in her abilities, I am going to do the same, as you will do the same as well. Understood?!” Ragnar had his insane look in the eyes again which made Ecberht shiver. He never realised how terrifying his younger brother had become.

Ecberht freed his arm from the tight grip of his brother and felt the pain still roaming in his muscles. “Alright then, I will help you to get her on board. But mark my words, no ones except us, the royal family, is allowed to make conditions.”

James and Link barked in laugher as they already knew how determined Zelda can be.

“You idiots stop laughing! What’s so funny!? “

“You will see for yourself, when you meet her.” Link said and winked at James who couldn’t stop laughing at the imagination of Zelda and Ecberht discussing.

“Hmpf. I will talk to the King and ask him for permission than she may come. See you in two hours in the Throne halls.”

- - - - - - -

Zelda was nervous to meet the King. It was her first time and she only knew him through stories. While escorts guided her through the castle she looked at the surroundings to distract her from her useless thoughts. After a while she felt exhausted by the walk through the halls of the castle which were strategically formed like a labyrinth. But then her heart flattered seeing a familiar face. It was prince Link who waited for her in front of the throne halls. He smiled at her generously despite her harsh behaviour before. The escorts left her side and let her alone with the Prince after he told them to dismiss. She was happy to see him but didn’t want to show it, by politely greeting him. “Your royal highness. “ she said bluntly.

“It’s good to see you again, gracious healer.” Link flustered at her sight, even though she wore a similar dress like on the festival of lights, this sand coloured dress let her shine brighter as the sun. She smiled at him trying not to look in his eyes for too long. Link realised he stared at her. He cleared his throat and lend her his hand. The memory of the festival flashed in their minds as Link hold her hand the same way back then. Both smiled at each other at the memory and immediately put the stoic mask on as the huge hallway doors opened.

Zelda let out a breath she didn’t knew she was holding and walked along the hallway. The three brothers of Link were standing next to Throne facing each other while Link escorted Zelda to the King. Zelda gulped as she saw the king in full sight. Several feets away from the throne Link stood still and left her side, joining the side of his brother Ecberht.

Now she was all alone facing the terrifying king in front of her. His clothes weren’t as glamorous as expected, in fact the King looked more like a commander who was about to lead a whole army. His almond shaped eyes pierced through her eyes into her soul, looking for the darkest memories of hers. She reminded her to avoid a direct eye contact and lowered her gaze. But then King Selim raised to his feet and approached her.

Link looked nervously as his father stood directly in front of her looking down on her.

“I demand you to look in my eyes. I heard of your request and want you to tell that in to my face.”

Zelda looked up and met the gaze of the King. The colour of his eyes reminded her of honey, changing the colour with different angles of incidence of light. His hair was black as the feathers of ravens, his facial heather grey and his skin tanned from all the cruel battles fought for Hyrule.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I want my masters servant to be able to work in Castle to let him gain more salary to provide his suffering family. I want to be payed for a suitable price for my works for the royal family. I want to be acknowledged as an independent individual and not as the daughter of a commander. And most importantly, I want to be able to leave the castle whenever I need to gather herbs, explore better methods or see the need of my help of all folks in need. No matter the rank or the race, I decide through the rank of the emergency.”

King Selim stayed silent and didn’t lower his gaze from her forest green eyes. But Zelda bravely encountered his terrifying glare and lifted her chin.

But then, all of a sudden King Selim began to smile.

The brothers who remained silent all were shocked by this view, seeing their father smile for the first time in their lives.

“Miss Zelda Dejardin, I declare you the title of a royal healer with the ability to serve the people of Hyrule, independent of your heritage and the crone.”

All brothers widened their eyes and Ecberht gasped for air. Link and James looked more than satisfied, while Ragnar looked amused at his eldest brother.

“Therefore I shall allow you to bring your masters servant as your own servant, while both of you will be privileged with everything you need.”

The King’s smile became wider and heartily as he spoke and signalled with a finger to the servant to bring him his contract.

Meanwhile Ecberht threw his hands above his head in unbelieve about what his eyes just observed. His brothers clapped their hands as a sign of respect and honour.

With the unique Tughra on his ring he pressed the top of it into the melted candle wax. A bright smile decorated her face as he handed over her the certificate which he placed in her hands with both of his.

“This certificate shall give you permission to enter every small corner of Hyrule and gives you security in wars. Keep it close to you, miss gracious royal healer.”

With that said Zelda bowed politely to the King and walked away from, only turning her back to him as she reached the doors.

Link followed her with her eyes even when she already disappeared, he glared at the closed doors and smiled brightly.

While Ecberht couldn’t still believe what just happened, his mind could find the answer, therefore he bursted out and asked their father the important question everyone in the hall was eager to know the answer.

“Your Majesty, please tell us what made you give her so much privileges?”

King Selim approached his oldest son, putting his hands behind his back, looking down on him with a sly smile. Ecberht saw the small sparkle in his eyes and had a good idea of what was going on his father’s mind.

“In her eyes lies the sun that will guide this rotten land out of the darkness.”

The King walked away from him , back to his throne as he dismissed them.

For the first time in his life, Ecberht didn't know what to say.

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babblingbranches · 3 years

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Age of Calamity: What Could Have Been

So the changes brought to the timeline by Age of Calamity as produced some... understandably mixed reviews. I still like the game and don’t regret getting it, and I understand that strictly following the original timeline would’ve screwed things over gameplay-wise like how it would’ve rendered four whole characters unplayable and completely absent from the game, and half of the cast that remained would’ve been killed off partway through the story making them unplayable as well. Also, some parts of the story would have to be added in and stretched out as everything involving the modern champions would be cut out. All that said, there are still some things that were established in BotW I would’ve liked to see expanded upon here.

For starters, nearly everything concerning Link and the Master sword. I get it from a gameplay perspective. You don’t typically give your players one of the strongest weapons of the game in the very first level, but how they handled it whacked off a good chunk of Link’s character, and he didn’t have a lot to spare to begin with. In BotW, Zelda wrote in her diary how Link admitted he felt he should silently bear the burden of being the perfect hero in front of other people, and Mipha wrote how he used to smile easier but has changed. It might’ve been tricky with a silent protagonist, but they could’ve managed it by making him more expressive in the beginning when he didn’t have the sword and gradually become more stoic and somber until he resembled the silent knight from the memories. He was much more expressive in AoC than in BotW, but if they pushed it then dialed it back at the right places, they could’ve recreated that character development.

Speaking of Zelda and the memories, changing when Link got the Master Sword meant also changing up their dynamic. I know I already said this in a post before, but I’ll reiterate anyways for people who haven’t seen it. In BotW, Zelda meeting Link when he already got the sword meant she met the silent knight and hero of destiny before she met Link. Having it the other way around in AoC means she didn’t have same resentment towards him to work over and try to better herself. Zelda no longer putting as much effort towards apologizing to Link and talking to him to get to know him better also means we miss out on Link opening up to Zelda too.

It also could’ve been cool to see the events that led up to the memories. The 8th memory, A Premonition, could totally be the aftermath of a Hyrule Warriors level. Also, the last two memories, it easily could’ve drummed up feelings of despair and desperation in the player actually playing through the events that lead up to them. I point to this post for what could’ve been an epic final Link level. I have to specify the last level for Link, because the actual final level would be Bow of Light Zelda charging Hyrule Castle, completely alone, to seal away Ganon for a hundred years. Perhaps the level before that could’ve been an escort mission as Impa protecting Purah, Robbie, and Link’s body on the way to the Shrine of Resurrection. Those scenarios would’ve had feels gift-wrapped for the storywriters.

I’ve got mixed feelings about the Yiga. Strict adherence to the original timeline means that there’s no heel-face turn for them. Kohga could still be playable with him fighting against the Hyrulian forces, and Sooga would also be an option to stretch out the villain player roster. It'd be cool seeing the Yiga clan being fully diabolical and a present threat throughout, but I also enjoyed the Yiga clan interactions that came from them turning good.

As for the champions actually dying, there isn’t much I can say that hasn’t already been said by a hundred other people before. Even though they’re still dead in the BotW timeline, it kinda cheapens it somewhat, and we were cheated out of the despair of their death scenes. They’d probably have to hide it by a gory-discretion shot since it’s still Nintendo we’re talking about, but they could’ve done it. It just feels off expecting their deaths and knowing they’re gonna die by the end and it just... not happening... Largely mitigated by the first cutscene which showed time travel shenanigans were gonna take place, so it makes it obvious that it’s a possibility for the champions to be saved, but we missed out on everything that could’ve been.

#legend of zelda #hyrule warriors #age of calamity #AoC spoilers #botw #Still a fun game though

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megashadowdragon · 3 years

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on master kohga and yiga clans turn in hyrule warriors age of calamity

Master Kohga and the Yiga Clan's Heel–Face Turn in this game makes perfect sense when you realize why the Yiga Clan formed in the first place. They were descendants of the Sheikah who harbored hatred towards the ancient King of Hyrule for banning their advanced technology and sentencing them to exile despite the fact it was their technology that helped stop the first Great Calamity. So much hatred that they swore allegiance to Ganon just to get revenge. Thus they despise betrayal, especially if it's the kind that treats them as disposable like what Astor did when he sacrifices several Yiga Clan members to fuel the Blight Ganons. In addition, why did the Yiga Clan remain loyal to Calamity Ganon for the next hundred years in the original timeline despite the fact Calamity Ganon would most likely destroy and consume the world with them in it? Because Ganon did not treat them as disposable. When Link kills a Yiga Clan member, they would get resurrected by the Blood Moon like all the other monsters in Ganon's forces. The only exception is Master Kohga but Kohga's death proves to be useful as a martyr since the Yiga Clan blames Link, not Ganon, for the death of their leader and thus Ganon doesn't have to resurrect him to remain on the Yiga Clan's good side. It's also a sign that despite his animalistic and crazed state, there is still a semblance of the cunning mind of Ganondorf the Gerudo King. Furthermore, it's not King Rhoam that Kohga goes to in order to bury the hatchet; It's Zelda, the one living member of the royal family who seems to embrace Sheikah technology wholeheartedly rather than keeping it at arm's length. Not only have Ganon's other minions tossed the Yiga aside, but he sees hints that the royal family have grown at least conflicted, possibly even regretful, about the harsher actions of their ancestors.

#hyrule warriors #the legend of zelda #hyrule warriors age of calamity #legend of zelda #legend of zelda hyrule warriors #loz age of calamity #tv tropes

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jinmukangwrites · 5 years

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Somebody Different (3/???)

Beginning, Previous, Next (To Be Released)

Summary: Decisions must be made, a life hangs in the balance, Time and Twilight scramble to keep broken pieces together.

Note: Sort of a filler chapter but very important nonetheless. Angst of most kinds can be found here. Tread carefully. And by that I mean enjoy.

-o-o-o-o-

Epona huffs through her nostrils, her body pumps beneath his legs as he lets go of her reigns and aims an arrow made of light at the stomach of the terrible beast snarling above him, trying to find and probably smash him into the ground as a new dish called "the Hero's pancake". He takes a steadying breath and lets the arrow fly, and it's thanks to months of practice that he hits his target dead center.

Calamity Ganon screams and rears its head up, snarling, almost desperately trying to shift so it can get a better look at the one who will defeat it.

Link thanks whatever gods there are—he's still learning—for Epona. The beautiful horse knows how to hold her own in battle, and he hardly even had to steer her towards safety, she did it herself. He rubs her neck and she whinnies. This could be it, he thinks. He could fail here, and he could die here. It's all been leading up to these moments, and it could all have been for nothing…

He shakes his head. No. He can do this. If he dies… Epona will die. Zelda will die. Purah, Impa, Paya, Beetle, everyone, all of Hyrule and the unknown lands to the north and west, all the uncharted seas to the South and east, all of it will be doomed.

He cannot fall here.

Though, true to the theme of his life, everything suddenly goes downhill. A leg of the beast above him moves suddenly and too quickly for him to avoid. Epona stumbles below him and he barely has time to wince at the pitiful noise she makes before he's thrown clear off from her back. He rolls for a long time, limbs flailing and skin rubbing raw to the point of blood each time he makes contact with the ground. His head spins and it takes him a moment to recognize that he's no longer rolling.

Groaning, he curls his hand around the grass and dirt below him and forces his head up, ignoring every pang of pain trying to coax him back down.

In front of him is the beast, smoke steaming from the corners of it's lips, the sky runs a blood red and darkness seems to be closing in. However, he doesn't need Zelda to call out to him that there's a last weakness, that not all is lost. Looking up at the head of Calamity Ganon, he can see light wanting to burst through in a giant, long crack. A single eye opens in that light, wildly looking around as if confused why it's there, why it's exposed.

He has to get to that. How? How does he get all the way up there?! Revali's Gale isn't strong enough to lift him that high, there has to be another way-

The beast in front of his roars and Link quickly rushes to his feet, pushing all pain to the back of his mind to deal with later. It's charging up, a deep purple beginning to glow at the back of its mouth. Before Link can do anything, the beam of malice he has managed to avoid up till this point is firing right at him.

And then he wakes with a start.

His chest is pounding and he's too hot and too cold at the same time. The other man, the one who calls himself "Legend" is still against the tree, resting somewhat fitfully if the wrinkles between his eyebrows are anything to go off from. Link sighs and leans back against his own tree, pulling his Hylian Cloak closer to him to ward away the chill of night. The campfire cracks, still strong, letting Link know he hasn't exactly been asleep long.

What happened… after Calamity Ganon fired at him? He can't remember anything past that, and it tears him apart. Did he defeat it like Legend has said? Did he fall? Was the whole battle actually fabricated? He used to think losing all of his memories was the worst thing that could happen to him, yet it seems the Resurrection Shrine has called his bluff and took half of his memories away.

Now he has three separate lives he must put together, one of a boy raised to be a knight, one of a memoryless knight training to be a hero, and one of a hero with seemingly no purpose anymore. Three versions of himself. If anyone is allowed to have an existential crisis, Link thinks he's probably the most entitled to one right about now.

Cricket's sing as he tries to calm his mind and heart. It's late, and he needs to sleep… but after a few minutes of trying he recognizes how impossible that is and instead reaches towards the Sheikah Slate connected to his hip. He turns it on and with practiced movements he flicks the screen towards the hundreds of photos he has stored onto the device. He started taking pictures of everything after he found out how important Zelda's pictures were to his memory. He's always been paranoid about forgetting everything again, so he thought that if there's a chance he forgets he'll be able to easily track down his memories.

If only it were that simple. It seems with each new beginning he has, the more difficult circumstances will make it for him.

He flicks his fingers through his very short second life until he comes upon the last photo he actually remembers taking. The beast. Calamity Ganon. He thought, at the time, that Zelda would be shaking her head in exasperation as he jumped of Epona to quickly snap a picture of the beast hell bent on destroying Hyrule. For the memories, you know?

It takes him a second to work up the courage to slide his finger across the screen to come across the next photo, and when he does his breath is taken away.

She's beautiful. He already knew this of course, but he's only ever seen her in blurry memories with half the information stuffed inside them. Seeing her like this, smiling at him with the endless expanse of world behind her… it fills him with so much joy... and so much sadness that he doesn't remember taking it, doesn't remember seeing her in person.

The next photo is a picture of them posing together in front of a silent princess. The next one is of her chasing a frog, and the next is her arm nearly being pulled out from her socket as she shakes Sidon's hand.

There's plenty of pictures like this, documenting a life after success, until the first strange photo pops up. It's simple yet so out of place. It's a picture of a bowl of soup that he figured out and perfected the recipe of just a few months into his journey. There's a child holding the bowl in his hands, bits of carrots and creamy soup dripping from the corners of his mouth as he smiles widely, as if it's been a very long time since he's had a good meal.

He studies this picture for a moment, trying to find familiarity with the person he's seeing, until he gives up with a huff and flicks to the next confusing image. This one strikes something in him… it's of a man, probably just a few years older than Link himself, tattooed on the face and clad in a wolf pelt. Link's posed in this one, his arm slung around the man's shoulder, making him lean down awkwardly as he's forced to bend unnaturally towards Link's shorter height. Link's smiling widely, and the man is frowning in surprise as if the photo was of complete surprise, like Link decided at the spur of the moment that he should have a picture with this man and took it before the other could complain.

The reason this photo stands out to him is because it tugs something in his gut, something that screams he should recognize this but for the life of him he can't place it. It reminds him of the time he came out of the resurrection chamber… the first time he came out of it. Alone, not a single memory to his name, hell, he didn't even have a name, at least not one he was sure about. It reminds him of when he first laid his hands on the Sheikah Slate, when that strange feeling of familiarity washed over him yet he had no recollection of actually seeing it before.

It's exactly like that, now that he thinks about it. The Sheikah Slate was the first thing he interacted with, this man was the one who pulled him out the second time.

More pictures, more faces, some striking more feelings than others but each as mind boggling as the one before. A small one with strange colored clothes and a bright smile that hides many secrets. A soft, middle sized one with a kind gaze and welcoming arms. A taller one who reminds Link just a bit of Revali, but his smile isn't as arrogant, it's the grin of a great leader. One that looks to be the eldest, a single eye hiding so much pain and wisdom but his expression is genuine and open. Another who looks like he laughs more than anything else, who looks like he's seen many mountains and many monsters, whose friendly stance and welcoming expressions screams that he's never let a single bad moment take away his hope.

Then there's Legend, he's only in a few pictures, he's probably mastered the art of avoiding the camera, but in the photos he's in there's always this glint of… happiness he's trying to hide behind layers and layers of unreadable expressions. He's happy, but he's trying to not let anyone know about it.

Well, that's what it looks like at least. Link likes to think he's good at reading people; when it comes to the Yiga clan, he really has to be.

He studies a few more pictures, flips back to look at them again, and all the while a brick begins to settle deeper and deeper into his stomach.

He shot a bomb at these people.

Sure, he had just woken up, the last thing in his mind was a powerful monster about to kill him, but he doesn't intentionally ever hurt people, even the Yiga. The only human whose death he's responsible for is Master Kohga, and he will make sure he goes the rest of his life without the death of another human on his conscious.

The more time that passes from the moment he woke up again, the more he regrets freaking out and using a drastic measure like taking a hostage. Maybe he should have stayed and talked with them... he hopes they're all okay… however, he also has to keep reminding himself that there's no way that he can know for sure that Legend's story is true… the one he was told piece by piece through the day, the story that each of these other faces are past incarnations of himself and that they're working together to fight an unseen threat larger than what any of them has ever faced before.

The pictures cannot be taken at face value. He already knows the Yiga can adopt the look of any person, so it's possible that each of these photos, even the ones with Zelda, are doctored.

He exits the gallery before the brick in his gut can grow any larger. Instead, he turns to where the map of Hyrule should be. Instead, it's all static. Nothing, not even any border lines that suggest there's a tower or some sort of way to get information of the land he's lost in.

He sighs and sets aside the slate, finding it useless for everything except making him anxious. He sets his eyes on Legend and stares for a second.

He has a decision to make, leave this mysterious man behind and make his escape to figure out where he is, or slow himself down, take Legend with him, and have a source of information. Questionable information but information nonetheless.

He'll decide in the morning…

-o-o-o-o-

"Will he be okay?" Wind asks and Time looks up from where he's nursing his bruised back. Twilight meets his eyes as he's wrapping Four's's head, both avoiding the youngest's questioning glance.

Time, instead turns to rest his gaze on Warrior, the only one in their group who's still unconscious, laying out on the forest floor with Twilight's pelt used as a pillow. Hyrule sits against a tree nearby with his legs pulled against his chest and his forehead resting against his knees, not bothering to look or talk to anyone.

At this point, Wind could be talking about either one of them.

What does Time say? Yes! Warrior will be completely fine, what's a few broken bones and a major concussion? He'll one hundred percent be okay even though they already used up all the red potions they had to cure the worst of everyone's injuries. Yes, they'll all be okay even though all of their travel bags were lost in the world switch. Everything is completely, without a doubt, a-okay even through Wild's gone hostile and took one of their own hostage.

Thankfully, he doesn't have to answer. Sky does for him.

"He's Warrior, he's never down long," Sky replies, brushing dust and dirt off from his Sailcloth. He sounds confident, even looks somehow confident despite how he's covered in dust and bandages, but Time catches the unnerved glance Sky sends towards the unconscious member of their team.

Twilight pats Four's shoulder and stands up from his position, his eyes darting around the forest they all now find themselves in. "We need to find our stuff," he says, "It shouldn't be far. They'll be more supplies for Warrior there."

Time nods, and regrets it instantly when his head pounds with the motion. He winces and brings his hand to his temple and rubs. "You can't go alone," he grinds out. Twilight gives him an unimpressed glare and before he can argue with Time about him being the one to go with him, he glances over to where Hyrule is still moping.

Understanding flashes in Twilight's eyes. Hyrule, after helping Twilight wake everyone up and drag the group to the surface, has fallen into some sort of depression and has been silent and still for way too long. A Hyrule that isn't bursting with life, kindness, and exaggerated movements hardly isn't Hyrule at all.

Time smiles in satisfaction when Twilight nods and walks over to where Hyrule sits, he taps Hyrule on the shoulder. "C'mon, you up for joining me?"

Hyrule stays silent, not acknowledging Twilight in the slightest. Sky moves forward and opens his mouth, as if he's about to offer to go in Hyrule's place, but one look from Time he seems to understand what Time and Twilight are trying to do.

When a few seconds pass and a reaction from Hyrule is still lacking, Twilight clicks his tongue and gently places his hand around Hyrule's bicep. Hyrule let's out a growl of frustration as Twilight slowly drags him to his feet. Hyrule lifts his face, cheeks red, and steadies his stance as Twilight wraps his arm around his shoulders and starts to guide him away.

"You can mope later," Twilight says, smiling, though his eyes betray worry, "for now, help me search the forest."

Hyrule simply nods and Time has to look away because he can't stand how expressionless the boy looks. Something is eating at Hyrule, and if it's left alone it will begin to eat at the rest of the group, and with Warrior as wounded as he is, with Wild gone rogue, with Legend MIA, bad moral is the last thing they need.

Instead of watching them go, Time leaves Hyrule in Twilight's capable hands so he can take care of the rest of their broken family.

"Whose hungry?"

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inkedmyths · 5 years

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Long walks call for long talks. And this is a very long walk.

Woohoo, actually getting stuff done! Have more Feral! And, oh, what's this? Myth actually put some serious stuff in there?? What???

I mean it isn't a lot but it's there. Just a hint, just a start.

---

"So..." Feral began, and Twilight mentally prepared himself for whatever he was about to say. "Hero of Twilight, huh?"

That wasn't what he was expecting. "Uh... yeah?"

"Why 'twilight'? I mean, if you look around you can kind of guess as to why Wild's title is what it is, but how is one a hero of a specific time of day?"

"Well, it's kind of complicated." Very complicated, actually, but seeing as they likely had plenty of time to talk... "See, with my journey, the word 'twilight' represented... a lot."

"How so?" Wild asked. He eyes were focused on the Master Sword as he guided them forward, but his ears were pricked up, intently listening.

He had to think over this. While he hadn't been very closed off about sharing about his adventures, talking about the 'Twilight' specifically was something he'd avoided. Too many memories. Too much of her. Still, they were asking a sensible question. "Well, the most obvious to the majority of people is that in my time, Hyrule was in a sort of state of perpetual twilight for a time."

"Huh," Wild said. "That makes more sense than I thought it would."

"Yeah, it's pretty straightforward when you look at it that way."

"Hang on," Feral said. "You said that was the most obvious. What else is there?"

"Well..." Twilight swallowed. "The 'perpetual twilight' thing is more complicated than it sounds. It wasn't really being a permanent time of day for a while. In reality, it was caused by twilight magic."

"Twilight... magic." Feral looked skeptical. He was good at that raised eyebrow look.

"It hails from a parallel world known as the Twilight Realm, populated by a tribe known as the Twili. So, yeah, the word 'twilight' represents a lot of things." He shrugged, hoping his discomfort wasn't visible. Some of memories still pained him. Actually, a lot of them did.

"Wow. They should have gotten more creative with the naming. I mean, sure, the Twili live in the Twilight Realm, makes sense, but isn't saying twilight magic caused an era of twilight a bit too redundant? I mean, the word is already starting to sound foreign I've said it so much."

"It makes sense though. Easy to remember stuff," Wild pointed out.

"Sure, but it's super unoriginal."

"You value originality so much?" Twilight asked. Feral had made several comments on the matter since meeting him, so he was somewhat curious to his reasoning.

"Of course! Makes life more interesting. Like, sure, you can always take out a bokoblin the classic way by stabbing it with a sword, but it's way more entertaining to hit it with an arrow just right so it knocks into a bees' nest and then runs and drowns in a river an attempt to get away. You get what I mean?"

"That's... oddly specific."

"Oh, I remember that! Wasn't that one of those bets you make with passerby?"

"Yup. Got an extra 50 rupees from that."

At this point, Twilight wasn't completely surprised. It was all to fitting that Feral would do ridiculous things on some kind of bet or dare. Maybe that's how they earn a living. Although he had to wonder at exactly what angle you needed shoot a bokoblin in order to get it to hit a bees' nest. What sort of archery were these two doing? Come to think of it, there was still a lot about these two that remained a mystery to him. "Alright then, your turn Wild. What all is there to that title?"

Wild hummed in thought. "It's kind of weird, in a lot of ways. I mean, looking around, it seems like a straightforward title. This," he gestured with his free hand to the surrounding forests, "is what most of my Hyrule looks like."

Twilight thought about this as his eyes flicked across their surroundings. That statement unsettled him, though he couldn't quite place why. "You mean as in forests and the like?" He knew that couldn't just be it, but he wasn't sure what else there was.

"No. I mean, yeah there's forests, lots of forests, but that's not what I mean." Wild's ears twitched, and Twilight caught a hint of frustration in his voice. "What I mean is- it's like-" His hand opened and closed as though trying to grasp at the right words.

Feral stepped in at that point. "What Wild is trying to say isn't about how many trees there are. How long have you been here?"

An odd question. "Several days at this point. Why?"

"How many people have you seen?"

The question startled him, and the realization that came with it nearly knocked the wind out of him. "Other than those that were with me, only you two."

"Bingo. That's what Wild's saying: most of this Hyrule is empty wilderness, populated only by wild animals and monsters."

Twilight blinked. "But there are people, right."

"Well, yeah," Wild said, speaking up again. "There's several villages and settlements here and there, like Kakariko Village and the Zora Domain. Stables are set up periodically along the road too."

"Yeah, but..." Twilight couldn't believe he hadn't noticed their apparent solitude until Feral had pointed it out to him. "We've been walking for a while and have seen no trace of any people at all."

"Part of that is that we aren't on the roads. Most other people traveling use them, out of safety and convenience."

"Still, normally there would have been something..."

"Normally for you, maybe. I meant it when I said this place is empty. The nearest settlement is, what, a day's journey?" Feral looked to Wild.

"Two, if we went in that direction." Wild pointed somewhere to his right. "Going the way we are, more like three days. That's to a stable, though. Nearest actual village is more like a week's worth of walking."

"And that's assuming you keep up a good pace and stop as little as possible."

Twilight was shocked. This time was really that open and unpopulated? Sure, it had been awhile since he had seen an actual town or anything, but a lot of that had been a combination of world switches and some level of actively avoiding too many normal people. But to be able to go so long without even seeing hints of any kind of civilization... well, he was glad they had a map. "Wow. Hero of the Wild it is."

Wild was unsettlingly quiet for a moment. "Yeah," he said eventually. "I guess it sort of fits. It's just... nevermind."

That bothered Twilight. It bothered him a lot. The sudden somberness in him was... well, it was offputting. Goddesses only knew what he was thinking about. Then again, he was a hero. If Twilight had learned anything from meeting the others, it was that no matter what, each one faced their own forms of trials and suffering. He himself had seen and experienced so much heartache in his journey. Judging from the scars he could see lining his face, there was no doubt Wild had experienced his fair share of pain in his travels. It's possible that the conversation had somehow brought up bad memories. That kind of thing just came with the territory of the calling, he supposed.

He decided it would be best to change the subject for the time being. "Do you often go off road when traveling."

"Huh?" Wild seemed to be snapped out of whatever thoughts he had. "Oh, uh, yeah. It's sometimes faster to just head directly to someplace rather than take the road. Besides, I can gather food and stuff on the way."

"It's more dangerous though, right?"

"Well, yeah, but it's not too bad. Besides, the road isn't completely safe either."

Twilight knew that roadways weren't always safer than just trekking off through the underbrush, but he wanted to keep the conversation going. "How so?"

"Well, sometimes monsters camp along the sides of the road waiting to ambush passerby. That, and sometimes the passerby themselves... aren't exactly friendly."

Now that was new to him. "Oh?"

"Ah, yes." Feral nodded sagely. "The banana fuckers."

"The what."

"Banana fuckers."

"They aren't banana fuckers, Feral."

"Link, we've talked about this. You cannot tell me that some of them don't shove bananas up their ass. I'm nearly positive Kohga did it as some kind of ritual."

"You have no evidence that he did."

"You have no evidence that he didn't!"

Twilight rubbed his chin, now somewhat regretting changing topics. "I'm afraid to ask, but what in the name of Hylia are you two talking about?"

"The Yiga Clan." Wild said. "They're basically a tribe of Sheikah that went bad and seek to kill the 'legendary hero'. Also they have a weird obsession with bananas."

"Yeah. Banana fuckers."

Alright. Evil Sheikah that were into bananas. The more he learned about his Hyrule, the more he felt he understood Wild's unorthodox way of looking at things, and the more he was fairly sure his perception of weird was changing. Although he now had a new appreciation that they weren't taking the roads. He'd rather deal with bokoblins than an actual person trying to stab him.

#twilight: weird tablets? evil sheikah?#what's next #spiders that chase you and shoot lasers?#wild: about that....#twilight #wild #feral #feral and wild #the chaos verse #linked universe #linkeduniverse #the legend of zelda #legend of zelda #loz #link #wild is lost in thought #what could he be thinking?#banana fuckers

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katedoesfics · 4 years

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Shadows of Hyrule | Chapter 68

Mipha and Urbosa joined Link in Daruk’s room, and before long, Zelda, too, had appeared to join them. After a few minutes of casual conversation, Link met Zelda’s gaze, and she quietly signaled to the door.

In the hallway, Zelda’s voice was hushed as she spoke with Link, informing him of her own confrontation with Dorian which was surprisingly similar to Link’s.

“I don’t like it,” she said, shaking her head. “If you ask me, there’s something going on with him, and it sounds like Impa may not even be aware.”

Link crossed his arms and glanced down the hall. “What about the Guardians?” he asked. “If we don’t get rid of them now, we won’t stand a damn chance.”

“I agree,” Zelda said. “As far as I know, our army has it all under control. The attacks were sudden. There have been a few casualties, but nothing compared to what it could have been. They’re being destroyed, and the Sheikah have gone out to try to find any others that may remain, above ground and underground. The Guardians will be a thing of the past.”

It was the first reassuring thing Link had heard in a while. At the very least, it proved that not all of the Sheikah were suspicious. Whatever was going on with Dorian, or even Impa, it seemed the others were innocent, at least for now. If they were willing to prevent the Guardians from being an issue in the future, than that had to count for something. Maybe.

There were a lot of unanswered questions. It made Link’s stomach knot with anxiety. But there was nothing he could do about it. Not yet, anyway. Their main objective still remained their first priority; prepare for Ganondorf’s return, defeat him, and seal him away, which would hopefully lead to the sealing of the final portal. With all of that taken care of, there would be time to worry about everything else.

Mipha emerged from Daruk’s room. “I’m going to check on Revali,” she said.

Link frowned. “Why?”

“Because he’s our friend,” Mipha said with a frown.

“He is?”

Zelda grinned. “Yeah, that’s news to me.”

Urbosa came into the hall behind Mipha, an arm on her hip. “Me too,” she said. “But I did promise him a bag of chips from the machine.” She shrugged, then lead the way down the hall to Revali’s room, stopping to retrieve his snack first.

Inside his room, she tossed the bag of chips onto his lap, and he eagerly ripped into them. He licked the salt off of his fingers and sighed.

“I don’t remember the last time I ate,” he said before emptying the contents into his mouth.

“How are you feeling?” Mipha asked.

Revali pressed at his temples with his fingers. “Fine. Except for this headache. Comes and goes.” He looked up as Link came in and sighed. “Oh, look,” he mumbled. “There it is.”

“Well, that’s enough Revali for me for one day,” Link said, turning on his heels, but Urbosa grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

“Why can’t you two just get along?”

“What’s some teasing between friends, hm?” Revali said.

“He’s right,” Link said with a nod. “We’re best friends. Didn’t you know?”

“Well, that might be pushing it,” Urbosa muttered.

“Not at all,” Link said, grinning. “Because Revali saved my life, didn’t you, Buddy?”

Revali regarded him carefully. Link was up to something. “I would not do it again,” he said. “It really hurt.”

“Yeah, but you did do it.”

Revali rolled his eyes. “And I regret doing it so much.”

Link frowned. “Revali, you're ruining this.”

“Come over here so I can slug you,” Revali barked.

“Get out of that bed, Asshole.”

Revali sighed and leaned back against the bed. “Too much effort. I’ll kill you later.”

“Well, this is nice,” Urbosa said. She rolled her eyes. “Glad your near death experience made you a better person.”

Revali peered into his empty bag of chips and laughed. “Near death? Please. I was faking. Had to make Link feel bad.” He frowned and attempted to get the last of the crumbs into his hand.

“Right,” Zelda said, crossing her arms. “Let’s get out of here,” she said to Urbosa, turning back to the door.

“Thanks for visiting, come back soon,” Revali said dryly as Urbosa and Mipha turned to follow Zelda out of the room.

“Whatever,” Link muttered, turning to follow suit, but Revali stopped him, his face serious.

“What’s your plan?” Revali said to him, narrowing his gaze.

Link hesitated. “Not die?”

Revali nodded thoughtfully. “That’s a good start,” he said. His eyes moved to the door, as if checking to make sure no one was in earshot. “What do you know?”

“Nothing,” Link answered slowly.

“Don’t play games with me,” Revali hissed. “I know you know something. And it has to do with Dorian and Impa.”

Link said nothing, but this was enough for Revali.

“I don’t trust them, either,” he said. “Let’s get on the same page; from here on out, they’re out of the picture.”

Link turned his gaze away and looked out the door.

Sensing his unease, Revali settled back into the bed and busied himself with the empty chip bag once more. “Besides. We’re Hyrule’s Champions. We don’t need them. Not with me around saving everyone’s damn lives.”

“Right,” Link said. He glanced at Revali. “Just keep your beak shut.”

“Aye, aye, Captain.”

Link’s lips pulled up at the corners, sneering at Revali.

“Come on, man, don’t you trust me?” Revali whined. He flashed him a grin, then his expression turned serious once more. “Stop trying to get fucking killed, alright?”

Link shrugged. “K,” he said, turning back to the door. “See ya.” Behind him, he heard Revali crumple the empty back of chips, and it landed softly on the floor beside the trash.

*****

By late afternoon, the Champions were officially discharged from the hospital. Impa was all too eager to get rid of their ‘sorry asses’ and with a wave of her hand, the seven of them found themselves back at the shrine. The setting sun shone on the shrine on the hill, just in their eyes, but the warmth of the rays was welcomed on their faces.

After a brief discussion between the Champions, it was determined that there was nothing more they could do but wait for Ganondorf’s arrival, whenever that may be. It didn’t seem ideal to be playing the waiting game, but they had done all they could to prepare for the war and give themselves every advantage they could. So, they parted ways for the evening, each of them eager to return home to their beds and catch up on much needed sleep.

Link, however, was not particularly anxious to get home and try to act like everything was fine in the world. Still reeling with the emotions of the last twenty-four hours, he much preferred being alone to his own thoughts, without the interrogations of his father, or even the worries of his innocent sister, who seemed to know more than she lead on. But with no where else to go, he simply wandered the streets of the city until he ended up in the driveway, looking up at the house.

He blew heavily out of his nose and opted to sit on the trunk of his father’s car over going inside. But his presence had not gone unnoticed, and within a few minutes, his father poked his head outside. He stepped out into the cool night air, bringing with him two beer bottles. His father sat beside him on the car, passing him the opened bottle. Link took it without a word and quickly finished the entirety of it.

“Alcoholism is a good career choice, too,” his father said. “Goes well with the title of hero.”

“I learned from the best,” Link muttered.

“Don’t learn from my mistakes,” he said. “I’m a bad role model.”

“I know.”

His father sighed. He was quiet for a moment, sipping his beer, before he spoke again. “Did I ever tell you about my last deployment?”

Link glanced at his father. He never spoke of his time in the army. “No.”

“It was shortly after your mother found out she was pregnant with Ary,” he said. “And when she got sick. I had been in and out for the last year, but they decided to let me go home for good. You know, right after one last mission.” He paused to drink, then used his bottle to point at his son. “King Roham spent a long time trying to find that sword,” he said. “Before anyone else could get their hands on it first.”

“Like the Yiga Clan?”

“They’ve been a thorn in our side for years,” his father said. “And they were just as set on finding it as we were.” He drank again. “They ambushed us while a few of us were in Faron doing some scouting. And you know how the Sheikah are. Now imagine a rogue Sheikah with vengeance in his eyes. Those motherfuckers don’t stop at nothing.” His father grinned. “But we had Dorian on our side. Hell, we hardly went anywhere without him. We would have all been six feet under long ago if it weren’t for him.” He paused and his smile faded. “You know, all I wanted to do was go home. I was so done with it all. And I was certain in that moment, I was going to die. There was no walking away from a Yiga ambush, that was just the fact of life. But I was also ready to die. For your mother. For you. For Aryll.” He leaned back on one arm and finished his beer.

Link’s brows furrowed. Where the hell was he going with this?

“Are you so willing to do the same?”

“Yes,” he said.

“That’s idiotic, Link. It didn’t take me long to realize how stupid that was, and you need to understand that, too. You’re no good to them - to anyone - dead. If you die, your friends are doomed to die anyway. If you want them to survive this, you need to survive. You need to fight and end this.”

“Easier said than done,” Link muttered.

His father’s voice softened. “Yeah.” He pushed himself off the car and turned to face his son. “You’re crazy,” he said with a grin. “Running head first at a Guardian with a damn sword. The fuck is wrong with you?”

Link shrugged. “I took a chance.”

“Use your damn head once in a while,” he said.

“Sure,” Link said. “As soon as you stop stalking me.”

“It’s my job,” he said with a shrug. “And Dorian tells me everything.” With that, he left Link alone outside.

#legend of zelda #breath of the wild #fic #fanfic #loz #botw #shadows of hyrule #soh68

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zephyrylis · 5 years

Text

Voices of Mockery

A Breath of the Wild short story

•

•In the early morning chill of the Gerudo desert, Link carried forth. His mission given by Gerudo Chief Riju was to infiltrate Yiga headquarters, save her soldiers, and retrieve the heirloom that was once Urbosa’s. His lungs burned as he hastily moved cover to cover, hiding away from the sharp eyes of the Yiga clan members. Once close to the entrance, Link sat and allowed his adrenaline to build. He watched his warm breath mingle with the air around him, unsure if it was okay to remain out in thin Sheikah clothing. Link’s heart raced as he knew if he was caught too soon, death will be guaranteed. Quietly he crawled through the entrance, hiding once more when voices echoed through the halls. Link listened closely, he could tell the Yiga were mocking Riju’s soldiers. He crawled closer to the stairs, they were heard smearing Urbosa’s name. Though he had nothing but a sliver of memory about the Gerudo chief one hundred years ago, Link’s blood boiled at the sound of their mockery. She wasn’t the one who failed Hyrule, Urbosa deserved no ridicule.

A shadow quickly moved from the corner of his eye, breaking his concentration. Link was struck with slight panic, thinking he was caught, he prepared for a fierce fight that would most likely end up with him failing the people once again. The thought of failure saddened him, how could he have let this happen? What had he failed to endure 100 years ago? “you’ve better things to do besides think of a dim past.” A firm voice rang through Link’s head. A voice he felt a wave of familiarity with, but he was not sure who it was. Heaving a silent sigh, Link found a decent sized pebble and tossed it. It contacted with pottery, sending each member scrambling towards the sound.

They were mumbling amongst themselves when an eerie call echoed through the dark and damp halls. All members wandered in a trance-like state to the calling. “Ah, that Kohga guy is weird.” He heard one prisoner say. Link popped his head up, looking at the women in confusion. They weren’t scared? “Oh, look at this one... Aren’t you trailing a little behind the others?” One asked. “Here to taunt us a bit more?” Link shook his head, “I am here to break you out.” He whispered They eyed him suspiciously, then with a grain of salt they trusted him. The key wasn’t too well hidden, it reflected the light from the torches. “You can all go back to your village, I will retrieve the heirloom.” The women were sincere with their gratitude as they quickly left their holding cell. Now, he was the only one left in that dingy mold covered room. Apprehension washed over him, anxiety caused his muscles to tense and his voice barely above a whisper. He hated when this happened, it made him feel weak.

“As you should... Foolish boy. Do you really think that you can save this forsaken place? The Goddesses left it to rot for a reason.” A dark voice boomed in his head, causing him to collapse to the floor. “What’s this, you crumple under mere words? What a pathetic boy you are. You couldn’t even save your precious princess... You couldn’t save the champions. What a knight, what a mighty knight. Useless brat...” It felt like he was kicked in the stomach, and his lungs felt like they were being ripped apart. Link’s muscles constricted, he couldn’t move. He heard footsteps, they were returning to the cell. Link panicked, he was curled up on the ground in tears and could not breathe. Suddenly as quickly as the pain started, it vanished, and he was able to get up and rush to a corner. “You’re fine Link, stay strong.” The female voice rang. He struggled to his feet and steadied himself, pressing into the corner as much as he could. “Ready a bomb, it will take most of them out. Then, use a bomb arrow.”

“You’re fearful.”

“Ignore that voice, Link.”

“You regret being alive.”

“Ignore it, Link.”

“You wish you were still dead.”

“Pay no mind to it, Link.”

Link didn’t remember much of what he had done during the time these two voices were arguing, echoing in his head and causing him a headache. Link was able to finally see what he had done after the voices had abruptly stopped; it was as if he walked into a slaughterhouse. He caused this, blood dotted the walls, limbs scattered about the room, a severed head with a broken mask revealed a grotesque face. Link scurried with his back pressed against the wall, now travelling deeper into the hideout. “You’re a Monster.”

Link shook his head, the voice needed to stop. He wasn’t supposed to do that, was he? “A cheating knight. A fraud!” The voice shook Link’s skull. The headache turned into a migraine. Link’s vision became spotty and his ears started to ring. Link toppled to the dirt floor once more, unable to see clearly, and alone. Fear took over, a scream wanted to escape but he knew that death would come running down the halls towards him. His soul was in chaos, whipping around and crashing like a raging sea. He didn’t want to kill them, it just happened. He had no memory. “You failed to protect lives, just as you did one hundred years ago.” Links breathing became ragged, tears formed in his eyes.

How he wished he was still dead.

He wished that he saved the champions, and the princess. But here he is, curled up on the floor of the enemy's base. In the aftermath shock of the bloodbath he caused. Link just wanted the voice to stop whispering, to stop putting pressure on his head. “Such a brave knight can’t even defend himself. You are wasting such good space in this kingdom. It makes you wonder why the princess chose you as her appointed knight.” The voice continued. The agonizing pressure becoming heavier on Link’s head caused him to cry. The Calamity was slowly seeping into him through the small cuts that appeared on Link over the course of his journey. This was why his mind felt hectic.

Just as Link was about to give out, a softer voice called out to him. “Link, we will be okay... we’re proud of you.” It rang like music through his head. The pressure eased, the pain stopped, and his heart rate started to slow back to its calm pace. He felt warmth on either side of his face, as if two hands were there. It was the princess, he knew it. Link hoped to see her face, maybe not now but soon... soon. “You will be okay, there’s no point in thinking about the past. You’ll only give Ganon an opening to attack, focus on The Champions and me. You will be fine... I promise.” The warmth lingered before slowly fading. Link stood back up, regaining his composure he readied himself for the battle with their leader. The guilt of murder became an anvil tied to his ankles, dead weight that would slow him down for the rest of his life. But he had no choice but to carry on, no matter the mockery he had to persist.

For Zelda.

#loz botw #botw #botw link #yiga clan #botw yiga #short story #legend of zelda #breath of the wild #The gremlin in my head made me write this #Writing #writing practice #shortstory #Zelda #Urbosa #Ganon

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