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linkedspirit-fanartfunart · 1 year

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The Windfish Slumbers Long

Summary: Link wakes up at sea after Link's Awakening and discovers just how long both he and the Wind Fish has been sleeping. Part of Rinku's backstory for this au. But! You don't need to know a single thing about the au for this fic to make sense beyond that Link is ALttP, OoX, LA and ALBW Link. This fic explains the transition from LA into ALBW.

(Rinku is trans-fem in the au but isn't aware or transitioned at this point in her story so I'm just gonna use he/him. I make the rules here and it's not misgendering.)

Warnings: Major Character Death (in the past), grief, some elements of depression, some lack of concern/awareness of injury & general lack of self care, sleeplessness, it’s LA so there’s a bit of questioning real vs dream, Angst angsty angst and I struggled to get a semi-okay happy end for this one shot. Ask to tag.

Ao3 Link

The wash of water and caw of seagulls filled the air. It was dark. He gasped as he emerged from the water, gripping a plank of wood. Light streamed down, shining on the salt sea. Warming his cheeks.

Breath.

He coughed on salt water, groaning as he sat up properly. It was over. ...What a dream. What a nightmare... But he was alive.

Breath.

He placed a hand on his chest, feeling the escape of air.

Really alive.

It grew cold. Link looked up as a shadow blocked out the sun. A massive whale flew overhead, water spraying on his face. He laughed. The Wind Fish passed by, letting the light return to his face. Link sat there, breathing. Relishing in the fact that it might not have all been imaginary. The ordeal was real. The Wind Fish was free and it was real.

Really real.

The smile faded. Marin. Tarin. The rest of the island…

Link let the wave of water wash as he sat on the wreck that was his ship. Side to side. Seagulls cawed. He didn’t know how long it was. Bobbing back and forth. Breathing. He looked up, slowly, as a seagull passed, a red tint in the head feathers. He wasn’t sure if it was a trick of the light or not. She cawed, circling him. He had time to consider her, shifting to lay on the planks of wood. The feathers shifted in the light of the sun, but it was truly tinted with red.

She was a lovely bird, and her cries sounded like music. A tune he had heard before. He hummed, and it matched. The bird song. The Ballad of the Wind Fish. ... He stared, raising a hand to the sun to shield his eyes. Marin?

He sighed, letting go of the weight in his chest. Maybe... Maybe it would be okay.

All he had to worry about now was a broken ship, getting back home, and apologizing endlessly for worrying his uncle.

The seagull stayed with him, circling, singing.

Voices eventually called out over the open water and Link sat up. He tried to yell, but his voice was shot, scratchy with disuse and salt. He coughed and fumbled, barely keeping his purchase on his makeshift raft.

The seagull flew over to the ship, circling back to him, and the crew finally noticed him. The sailors shouted words that didn’t sound truly familiar. It sounded close to Hylian but warped. ...Were his ears clogged with seawater?

They helped him up, leaving his ruined ship behind. When he looked back, the wood seemed to immediately sink, as if its job had finished. Link stumbled on the ship’s deck, his legs giving up on him. A sailor helped prop him back up, asking a question. Link stared for a moment, trying to unclog his ears.

They asked again, still garbled with a strange accent, “How long ??? out there, kid?”

He swallowed past the scratch in his throat and muttered, “I don’t know.” He looked at the sea, endless in its expanse. The seagull sat on the edge of the ship. How far did he drift? He whispered, hoarse, “Where are we?”

Someone giggled and shouted to him, “How old ?? a ???”

Link squinted, then shook his head. “What?”

Someone else, the captain probably, yelled at the crew and waved them away. He pulled Link under his arm and turned them towards the inside of the ship. Link tumbled into step.

“Shoo! Shoo! ??? dumb bird!”

Link turned his head to the voice. A sailor tried in vain to shoo the red-headed seagull away. Link gasped “HEY! What are you doing?” He ducked out of the Captain’s hold, running over to the sailor and the bird. “Be nice to her!” He stood in front of the bird as the Captain followed him. Link stumbled with the wash of water but kept his footing as the crew approached. “Don’t touch her!!”

He swallowed and it hurt.

“Kid, it’s just a bird. Nobody’s ??? to hurt it. It’s ????”

"DON’T"

"Kid. Put the sword down."

Sword? He looked down. The Koholint sword clasped shakily in one hand. He dropped it. The bird squawked, feathers fluttering. Link turned at the sound and the bird flew into the distance. “Marin!”

Someone grabbed him around his waist, yanking him up. He screamed.

“Ay! Don’t go diving ????? the sea again. Come here, come here. It’s fine! I’m sorry, it’s just a gull! ??? safe. Calm down!”

Link gasped in breaths.

Breathe.

He went limp.

“Golden Three, someone get that kid below deck before he hurts himself. And put that sword ??? he can’t reach. ????? me.”

He was carried down and left in a cabin in the dark. He curled up, legs pressed up against his chest. He should just sleep. Ask where they were and if they were going to Hyrule soon later. He should just sleep. Wait until he could finally see his uncle again. He should just sleep. Suffer those nightmares instead, because at least he can fight those.

He didn't sleep.

“Hoy there,” a gentle voice called, “??? awake?”

Link looked up, brushing his hair out of his eyes.

The sailor smiled at him. They held out a bottle. “??? water. What ???? name?”

“Link.”

“Like the ???? hero. Cute.”

Whatever. He didn’t care if they didn’t know who he was. “Where?” he whispered.

“Just south of Hyrule. A good week out now. Not too long.”

“A week?” He sighed, curling back into himself.

“Where're ????? ????”

“I don’t know what you’re saying.”

They frowned, thinking. Then, “Home?” They made a motion with their hands, like a roofed house.

“Oh. Central Hyrule. I-” He swallowed “My uncle is going to be worried sick. I- I was only supposed to be gone for a week.”

They smiled, “We’ll ????? ??? uncle ??? okay?”

“....Sure.” He sighed, curling back in. The sailor patted his shoulder.

“I’ll let ???? rest.” Their footsteps retreated.

He didn’t sleep.

He had a sword, a satchel of food, and a long walk. The sailors waved goodbye. It hadn’t taken long to learn what he’d been missing from their strange accent. They were nice enough. Even if they teased him about speaking “old”, whatever that meant. Some of them had offered to help him back to central Hyrule from the port, but he’d done this journey before. He took a bite out of an apple he’d been given and started walking.

No one paid him much attention. Which was strange. Most people knew his face. Hero of Legend and all that. But it wasn’t an unwelcome change of pace. He didn’t care. He just had to go home. See his uncle. Send a letter to Rosa… And to Zelda, Din, Nayru and Ralph- ...Goodness he was going to be writing endless letters. Maybe he’ll just sneak into the castle to see Zelda instead of sending a letter. She’ll definitely smack him but it’ll be worth it.

The walk home was a familiar one. A few strange trees and buildings he couldn’t remember, but it was a simple walk.

The house, however. Looked far more ill-kept than usual. Link dropped the backpack slung over his shoulder and raced to the door. Locked. He fumbled for the key- …That he didn't have. It must have been lost at sea. He knocked on the door. "Uncle?! Uncle are you home? It's Link!"

Nothing. A rush of fear raced up his spine. No no no he was fine, his uncle was fine. He could be in town. He could be in a meeting with Zelda. He knocked again. "Uncle?!"

He circled the house. The windows were shut, covered by curtains. The wood was rotting, and the roof sunk in lightly, overwhelmed by the weight of leaves and moss.

He huffed and took out his sword. Glass shattered against metal. Link reached in, ignoring the groove of sharp glass digging into his arm as he unlatched the window. The lock was rusted.

“AUGH.” Link swore and fumbled back from the window.

He turned, taking in a breath to brave Kakariko- his eyes landed on a young boy. They stared at each other.

“What?” Link finally huffed.

“Are you a thief?”

“No. I’m trying to break into my own house.”

“You don’t look old enough for that to be your house.”

“Fine. My uncle’s house.” Link turned around. Maybe he’ll ask Zelda first. His legs didn’t move where he willed them. No, he won’t worry her. …He turned back to look at the kid. “Do you know where my uncle went?”

The boy shook his head. “Sorry mister.”

Link sighed, “Do you know how any secret tricks to getting in here then? I’m hoping my uncle left a note. Or something...”

“Oh. Well, there’s a hole I see mice use sometimes!”

Link’s nose curled. “...There’s mice in my house?”

“Lots!”

Link swore a few more times. The boy’s eyes lit up. Link swore again. “Forget I said that!”

The boy giggled, “I’m Gulley, my dad’s the blacksmith! What’s your name?”

“Link.” He smiled and knelt down in front of Gulley. “Can you help me? I need to find my uncle, maybe your parents know him?”

“Oh! Sure! Come on, Link!” Gulley raced off and Link sighed, chasing after.

The blacksmith’s wife watched them come up the hill, waving. “Who’s that, Gulley?”

“This is Link! He’s looking for his uncle! He was trying to break into the old abandoned house!”

“It’s- It’s mine!” Link huffed, “It’s my house.”

The blacksmith’s wife gave him a strange look, then nodded. “I see. Who is your uncle?”

“A retired knight, large, dark hair. He has this big mustache and usually wears a vest-”

“I’m sorry I- I don’t think I’ve ever seen him.”

“I- …At all?”

She shook her head. “Sweetie, where were you supposed to meet him?”

Link shook his head and looked around, “I’m sorry to bother you. I’ll. I’ve got to check somewhere. I- …Thanks.” He raced off.

Gulley said something from behind him, but he couldn’t hear it over the sound of his own unsteady breaths.

The graveyard was bigger than it used to be. Link swayed a bit on his feet, staring at it all. He shook his head and ran to the edge of what he was familiar with. The oldest stones were starting to crumble with age.

Maybe this was the nightmare. He’s had the one where his uncle died plenty of times before. Never quite so quietly. It had never been a gentle one. He felt like he was walking through a dream, more than he ever did in Koholint. His mind was empty and racing all at once.

Please don’t be there. Please don’t be there.

It didn’t take long to find. The stone was closer to the older section. His family’s shield and the crest of the royal family etched in its stone. Link dropped to his knees in front of it. He couldn’t- the triforce had brought him back. He stared at the stone for a long moment, throat caught.

He traced his hand over the lettering- His fingers caught against the numbers at the end. …When?

….Ages. Abandoned. They had told him. Repeatedly. ….Just how long had he been gone?

….He should’ve been in his own 60s, at the least, with that date. Zelda would be too… All the others- He had missed so much. He turned his head, and his eyes caught the stone next to it. … the same symbols, different name. His name.

“Link, Hero of Hyrule, Holodrum and Labrynna, beloved son, nephew, and friend. Lost at sea”

“THE WIND FISH SLUMBERS LONG... THE HERO’S LIFE GONE…”

“Oh.” He hadn’t expected that… He should’ve. Link leaned his head on his uncle’s headstone. Cold and hard and everything that wasn’t his uncle. His fingers dug into the grass and dirt. He choked on a sob.

“Hello?”

His friends could practically be strangers to him by now. They thought he was dead.

“Sir?”

Link stared at the stone, unmoving. Years. He’d been gone for years and years.

A hand gently tapped his shoulder. He jumped, fumbling backward. A light teal-haired girl smiled at him.

“Sorry to startle you, I’m Seres. I’m a keeper of the sanctuary grounds, the priest’s daughter.”

“Oh.” It took Link a moment to find his voice. “S-sorry. Am I- Am I in- in the way of something?”

“Ah, no. I- You just… seemed distressed.”

“...Sorry.”

“It’s alright. I just wanted to check on you. You’ve been here for hours.”

He has? Link looked around. Well, that explained the dark. “Oh.”

Seres smiled, and offered him her hand, “Why don’t you come inside for a moment?”

“...What year is it?”

“Sorry?”

Link kept his gaze on the headstone, “I need to know how long this has been here.”

“Oh! Goodness,” She looked at the stone. She had to think for a moment, “At least over three hundred years.”

Link stiffened. Three. Hundred. No one- no one even had a chance of still being here. “Oh.”

Seres kneeled next to him. There was a peaceful quiet, and Link straightened up. She hummed. “Is he an ancestor?”

“Uncle.”

She nodded softly, “Would you like to come inside for a prayer, then? …It might help.”

Link closed his eyes and nodded, “Okay.”

Seres stood, and helped Link up, watching him carefully, “I’ve never seen you before. Are you new to the area?”

“No… I’ve- I was here a long time ago.”

“When was that?”

Link considered his options. Far over 300 years ago, apparently. Less than a year ago, in his mind. “As a child,” he muttered.

“Ahh. Well, welcome back. Are you staying in Kakariko?”

“...I don’t know.”

Seres glanced at him as they entered the sanctuary. “Well, you’re welcome to stay here if you need.”

Link sat down in a pew, staring forward into the unfamiliar familiar structure of the sanctuary. “Was… Was this rebuilt?”

“About 100 years ago. How did you know?”

“...The secret passage is gone.”

Seres tilted her head, curious.

“There used to be an old hidden passageway to the castle. It’s gone.”

“...Oh! I know that story, the hero of legend rescued the princess from the dungeons and brought her here, through a hidden passage underground.” Seres smiled, “Sanctuary found in a Sanctuary. It’s quite the legacy to live up to. I hope I’m helping in keeping this such a true safe haven as the keeper then.”

“...You seem nice. I’m sure you are.”

Seres nodded, “I’m honored you think so. What’s your name?”

“Link,” he sighed, looking down, hair flopping into his face.

“It’s nice to meet you, Link.”

“It’s nice to meet you too.” He folded his hands in front of him, eyes focused on the ground.

She looked at him for a moment longer, then nodded, “I’ll leave you to your prayers. If you ever need something, I’ll be available.”

He closed his eyes and sighed, “Thank you.”

“Are you okay Link?!” Gulley called from the outside of the house.

Link sneezed, “Just cramped and full of dust!” He’s lucky the mouse hole was easy enough to make bigger with all the rotting wood. He squeezed in the rest of the way into the house proper and looked up into the building.

Dust coated the entire house. Thick. Cobwebs hung across the ceiling. Clinging to corners and edges. Link looked around, eyes wide. The house felt ancient. The bed was made, untouched, blanketed in a sheet of dust. Glass cracked in his boots. The pots were gone. The chest was gone. His uncle's things were gone…. So much was gone.

“Linkkkk are you gonna let me in so I can see?!”

He sighed and moved towards the door. He had to slam himself into the door to get it open. Gulley cheered as it creaked open, and Link let him in. “Wowwwww, it’s so gross!”

Link looked at the building with flat tiredness. It was. Maybe this was how that ghost felt going home. Dull and empty, yet full to the brim of a cobwebs from the past, just like the building. He arranged his expression into a smile and ruffled Gulley’s hair. “Yep, be careful.”

Gulley looked around in the sparse leftover stuff. Some of it Link didn’t even recognize. Maybe someone else had moved in for a short time? Link moved to the bed, looking underneath it. He sighed in relief as his fingers caught hold of a box. He dragged it out, blowing the dust off his ring box.

"What's that?" Gulley asked, pointing at the box.

Link smiled, sitting on the edge of the dusty comforter. He opened the box. "Magic rings from Labrynna and Holodrum." He pointed, "Well. This is from Princess Zelda. Or, one of the past Princess Zeldas."

Gulley looked at the box in wonder, "From a Princess? How do you know?"

He leaned in, "I'll tell you a secret. She gave it to me herself. I'm the hero of legend."

Gulley looked up at him wide eyed, then squinted and pouted. He closed the box on him. "You almost had me! But you don't know! You're just being silly."

Link sighed and ran his hands over the box. He laughed. "Yeah. Yeah I am. You're a smart kid."

He watched Gulley start looking at the leftover stuff, poking at the fireplace. Link pocketed the ring box and rushed over to scoop the kid up. He playfully roared and lifted Gulley up onto his shoulders. The boy laughed and kicked and giggled.

Link tromped across the creaky floorboards. "I've got you now young knight! There's no escape from I, the dust wizard!"

Gulley squealed, "Noooo!"

Link twirled, kicking up the dust on the floor. He sneezed. Gulley laughed and hit the rafter of the roof from his vantage point on his shoulders. More dust fell off. Link closed his eyes and coughed "No- ack- my only weakness. Dust!"

Link ducked down and ran out of the building. Gulley giggling on his shoulders.

It would need a lot of repairs. Probably should be rebuilt entirely. But. He could manage that. The foundations survived this long.

#link's awakening #a link between worlds #legend of zelda #loz au #linked spirit au #writing #ls rinku #ls gulley #ls seres #seagull marin #la spoilers #rinku angst #la angst #read the warnings

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