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minart-was-taken · 4 years

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Sort of continuation of this, but it also does stand on it’s own!

Title: A small problem Characters: Ravio, Wind, Minish and Legend Includes threats of violence “Tags:” First meetings - No-one is sure what they’re doing but that’s ok - Zelda shows up!

Enjoy!

Ravio was speechless, a little scared, but most powerfully: mesmerized. Two kids, clearly younger than him and both with bright blond locks that rivaled the sun, were engaged in combat.

Although fists were flying, neither had landed a single hit. When the older one, who he had dubbed Mr. Sailor, threw a hit, the younger one, Mr. Small, would live up to his nickname and shrink to a very small size.

He’d then unshrink, throw a hit himself, and miss as the other pulled quite the leap to get away.

Ravio was simply waiting for one of them to land a hit, and for the situation to escalate badly, as he was too afraid to intervene.

Another crack followed then, they were starting to give Ravio a headache.

From it appeared a pink haired boy, tallest of the people present. He blinked in surprise, glancing around.

His appearance seemed to distract the coat wearing boy, who ended up getting decked in the face and fell over shouting “SHIT!” very loudly.

“Oh my.” Signed the newest arrival, looking at the situation before him with wide eyes. “Am I interrupting something?”

“I’m glad you are.” Ravio responded, walking over to the seemingly sane one, although staying from stabbing range just in case. “I’ve been trying to get these two to stop fighting for ages!”

“No you haven’t!” Grumbled the kid slowly getting himself back from the ground, while the smaller one stood smugly nearby.

“Do I look like someone who could stop a fist fight with force?” Ravio pointed out. “Neither of you listened to reason, so I simply was waiting for an opening.”

“An opening for what?”

He hadn’t had a proper plan. “Why would I tell that? You might fight again and I don’t want you to know what to expect.” However they did not have to know about that.

“Why were they fighting?” the pink one asked.

“He started it.” Coat boy complained.

“Ah. Uhm.” Ravio scratched the back of his head: “From what I could tell, I was simply talking to Mr. Sailor here, then the small one appeared from the bushes and kicked him in the back of the knee.”

“But why?”

“I’m not quite sure.” Ravio confessed.

The stranger tilted his head, confused, before turning to look at the small smug one. “Could you tell us now?”

The very small one scoffed, but signaled for them to follow.

They were in the yard of a small house, and near the window was a little patch of what looked more like weeds than anything else. The kid pointed at one of the weeds that had been very slightly stood upon.

The pink haired one understood, his fist meeting his palm in understanding. “It’s not nice to trample on other people’s plants, Mr. Sailor.”

Coat boy crossed his arms. “I didn’t do it on purpose. I just appeared right there! I would’ve moved if I knew I was standing on a plant.”

“It’s just a big misunderstanding then.” The pink one nodded, kneeling down to be the smallest one’s height. “Next time try to tell him to move before kicking him, okay?”

Mr. Small looked unimpressed, but nodded.

Ravio was just confused as to why anyone would care about such an useless patch of plants. The only valuable thing lost here was a possible alliance between the two small ones.

Kids, oh so dumb. Ravio smiled to himself.

“When you said you appeared-” the Pink one spoke again, standing up and turning to the sailor. “Was it like how I did?”

Mr. Sailor nodded. “Yeah. One moment I was just hammering some nails and suddenly I’m here. Being kicked in the back of my knee. By the smallest bokoblin I’ve ever seen.”

The small one raised a fist, but the pink one grabbed it mid air, and held it still. The small one seemed shocked that someone could- Or more likely- Would try and stop him.

“Oh sorry, I meant rat.” Said the sailor, sticking his tongue out.

“Please stop antagonizing the small child with a sword.” Ravio said in a hushed voice.

The small one was too entranced by having been stopped to care, simply staring at the pink one with wide eyes.

“Huh. What a strange situation.” The pink one continued, ignoring the general chaos. “Well, I suppose if we’re all in it, we should get to know one another. My name is Link. Spelt L-I-N-K”

The smallest one pointed at himself, all the while Mr. Sailor gasped: “Wait- That’s my name too.”

Ravio felt himself tense up a bit, what he had been suspecting was indeed going on, wasn’t it?

The house that looked eerily like the one Link lived in, then there was the clear fact he was in Hyrule, and that there were people who looked eerily like Link but weren’t him…

Oh great goddess of lorule, take him back home please. This is not ideal.

“Hm…” The pink one pondered. “This seems like it’d mean something significant.”

You think? Ravio raised a brow, before shaking off the questioning look to smile politely like a good salesman. “Link isn’t the most common name, so I have to agree.”

He walked closer to the pink one, mostly certain he wouldn’t stab him. With a hand on his back, he continued. “The only Link I know of is the legendary hero of hyrule! It’d be ridiculous for him to be here, though, wouldn’t it?”

“I am he.” Mr. Sailor said.

The tall one blinked at that. “But.. So am I?”

The smallest one dug through his pockets, and pulled out a small note, handing it to Ravio.

Ravio read it out loud to everyone: “Link is the hero of Hyrule, and is allowed to do what he sees fit in order to keep the country safe. Signed, Princess Zelda.”

“...We can’t all be heroes of Hyrule.” Mr. Sailor complained. “And I know for one that I’m not lying, so.”

“There isn’t just one, though.” Ravio spoke up. “Legends speak of a hero in green who appeared centuries ago, perhaps he too had someone before him, and there was someone after.”

“Centuries, though.” Mr. Sailor pointed out, “Do I look a hundred years old to you?”

The smallest one nodded, but Ravio shook his head.

“I’ve heard of stranger things than time travel, in these lands.” Ravio stated.

“I suppose it is a plausible theory.” The pink one pondered, hand on chin. “I know I’m not lying either.”

“And the small one has a letter from the princess.”

“It could be forged.” The sailor pointed out.

Ravio wanted to point out he could tell a forgery from the real thing pretty easily, and had seen enough of Hilda’s writing to know how the royal family conducts it’s deeds. However, that’d make him seem kind of suspicious. “We could go and find out?” Ravio decided to ask instead.

“How?”

“This is clearly the small one’s home, if these are his plants. So this is his Hyrule.” Ravio explained. “Let’s go to the castle, and if the kid is allowed in, it means it’s not forged.”

“I suppose that’s a fair plan.” The pink replied. “And since neither of us are apparently lying, if the letter is real, then- Er, what’s your name?”

“I’m Ravio.” He responded, “The greatest merchant around.”

“Okay- It’s nice to meet you.” The pink one smiled. “Then if all of us are Link like we claim, Ravio’s theory was right.”

“Or some form of it.” Ravio specified.

The pink one nodded. “Very well, little one, could you take us to the castle?”

The smallest one pouted, but began leading the way.

“Holy fuck!” The sailor gasped, looking at the castle once it appeared in the horizon, standing tall yet- A little smaller than Ravio had expected.

The smallest one grinned smugly, walking at a pace more akin to jogging to stay in front of the taller people.

“It’s quite small.” The pink one commented.

“I do agree.” Ravio nodded. “The one I’ve seen is certainly larger.”

“It looks funny.” The pink one smiled, maybe even a little smug.

Ravio took note of it, but did not comment on it.

“So.” The pink one continued. “Your name is Ravio?”

“Like I said, yes.” He nodded. “Are you interested in my wares? I don’t have much on me due to the sudden departure but-”

“Not Link.” He stopped Ravio. “Yet you look a tad like us.”

Ravio blinked, breathing hitched. He missed his hood, but he had been in lorule- He doesn’t need that in Lorule! In Lorule he’s one of a kind!

“I suppose destiny can have a bit of a slip up here and there?” Ravio suggested. Sorry Link, he’d have to steal your identity for a bit here. “I assure you, however, just because I cannot wield a blade does not make me completely useless.”

The pink one simply kept smiling. “Very well, then.”

He hadn’t bought it, had he? Ravio yelled internally, but tried to keep the relaxed facade up.

The castle town was very cute, the sailor looking around with wide eyes, looking like he was taking many internal notes.

What caught Ravio’s eye however, happened a bit later. The smallest showed the letter to a guard by the castle gates, the guard simply sighed, said: “Follow me,” and started walking further into the castle grounds.

“That’s a lot to process.” The pink one spoke again. Ravio had to agree.

They were led to a room to wait- A waiting room, you could say- For the princess to get ready for guests. It matched all the Hyrule castles Ravio had seen, that being one. Stone brick all about, a polished but a little cold interior, with the triforce ever present in all decor.

There were paintings present as well. They seemed to capture the curiosity of all visitors, much to the delight of the smallest one’s ego.

Ravio focused at first on one depicting the princess, she looked similar to the Zelda of the Hyrule he knew, but clearly another person entirely.

He then chose to take a look at the others in their impromptu party, and found the pink one standing under a portrait of what was likely another hero of courage, this one standing tall with a flowing white cape, and a small red bird on his shoulder.

The sight awakened a memory in Ravio, and he found himself suddenly plunged into a mystery.

There was a mural in his Link’s hyrule castle, one depicting the hero prior to him. Zelda had joked to him and Hilda about how she had read the hero actually had pink hair, but the artists took creative liberties and made it dark blond instead.

This couldn’t be the man who sealed Ganon away, was it? Certainly there had been more than one pink haired Link.

Then again, they seemed to be in a situation which included traveling through space and time. Guess that might as well be a detail.

A guard soon showed up, expressing that the princess was ready.

They headed to the throne room. It was bold, large and voices echoed within it. The large windows made it feel slightly less like a scary space, but it did still make him grow a bit uneasy.

In Front of the aforementioned throne, stood the princess, with a bright but curious smile.

“Link, I didn’t know you had made friends!”

The small one tried to hide in his cape, but was unsuccessful.

“It’s very nice to meet you all.” Zelda smiled brightly, as the boys bowed. Ravio hadn’t been sure if that was to be expected, but the smallest one did have a blade and seemed to be satisfied with them bowing, so perhaps it was a good choice.

The pink one took charge soon after, explaining the predicament they found themselves in. Or at least, theorized they did.

“Oh my.” Zelda gasped. “The hero’s spirit will reincarnate this much?! That’s quite saddening.”

“Has the legend of the hero not existed for long here?” The pink one asked.

“We only know of one before Link here.” Zelda explained. “The hero who arrived from the skies to seal away the great evil, so that humanity could return to the lands below.” She said, clearly quoting something.

“...I guess the seal didn’t last.” Zelda added sadly.

The small one rushed over to her, and offered his hand to her. She took hold of it, and smiled with thankfulness in her eyes at the kid.

“Well, if any of you are like Link here, Hyrule is in good hands.” She smiled again. “I wish I could help more though. I’m not sure at all what could be going on, or what to do about it.”

“Do you have time travel items, or something? Getting home would be nice.” The sailor asked.

“I can ask for research on the topic to be conducted.” Zelda nodded. “Until then, you may stay at the castle, if you’d like.”

“Thank you very much, your highness.” The pink- Okay, he needed a nickname, Ravio decided. Whether he was the legendary hero or not, calling him Mr. Legend should help butter the guy up for possible sales, anyway.

With that, they were led to a guest room. Ravio was both deeply glad they hadn’t been paired up, as every pairing seemed like a bad idea, but was also absolutely terrified of sharing a room with three swordsmen he barely knew. They were also given instructions on how to get to both the castle library and the town’s library. Information which Ravio decided to make use of the next day.

It was fine really, and the beds were very comfortable! It seemed the spirit of the hero made them all sleepy as hell, as well. So getting stabbed seemed unlikely. However one thing still kept Ravio up that night.

“Bunnies, dark hair…” Mr. Legend had signed to him, when it was just the two of them, the sun having started to settle for the night “It reminds me of a place.”

“Oh, heh. A place, huh?” Ravio chuckled nervously. He didn’t like being put on the spot without a plan.

“It was a dreadful place.” Mr. Legend stated. “I hope you’re not related to it in some way.”

“I sure hope so too?” Ravio stumbled to find the words:“It sounds much worse than Hyrule. Love this place, the grass is very green. Smells great.”

“I hope so too.” Mr. Legend smiled, a strange dead look in his eyes. “I don’t want to take another life.”

Then he just started talking about how he liked apples.

So, it would’ve been stranger if Ravio wasn’t having trouble sleeping!

Oh, goddesses above, help him.

#The Legend of Zelda #Loz #Ravio #Legend #Minish #Wind #Minish Cap #Zelda #Linkverse

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rational-mastermind · 5 years

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So, question: if Majora's Mask and Twilight Princess take place in the Child Era, and Majora's Mask is all about Link being dead and stuck in purgatory after Ocarina of Time, then how is he, the Hero of Time, an adult stalfos in Twilight Princess?

Still following?

Then let's discuss.

Everyone loves to analyze the darker, horrific aesthetics of Majora's Mask and the bigger topics you'll likely hear about is "What is Termina?" "Where did Navi go?" "Who is Majora?" "How the hell do I get through Snowhead Temple?!"

Meanwhile, I've stumbled across a different question. One I'm not sure if a lot of people have asked. If this is Link's personal hell or a weird drug trip through his Wonderland, then what does any of it, but specifically the transformation masks, say about the Hero of Time?

Now before answering, let's go back over the beautifully blood-stained lore.

At the beginning of the game you are turned into a deku scrub and the only way to be a real boy again is to get back your ocarina and play the song of healing.

Now the lore for this alone is a little weird. I recall reading that Link is transformed because of his fear of deku scrubs, but that feels a little silly cause Link practically grew up with them in Ocarina of Time. It'd be like being afraid of feral cats while having one for a pet.

And while I'm here, cause my ADD likes to jump to a thousand different conclusions, I'll drop this mini theory here: I believe that the kokiri and the deku scrub's are one and the same. The kokiri are obviously part of the lineage of the kikwii in Skyward Sword and the koroks in every Zelda game since Wind Waker. But it's weird that an obvious tree-related species were once human enough to be mistaken for hylian children. Well, the kokiri can change shape because they are simply spirits of the woods. But the interesting thing is that they are always guarded by a DEKU TREE. Weird, huh? Basically, the idea is that the dekus are the real kokiri but some had changed to look human for Link's sake when the Great Deku Tree promised his dying mother that he would raise him. Also be sure to note that while there are deku BABAS, there aren't any deku SCRUBS anywhere else but in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask.

Anyway, so Link shouldn't really be afraid of them. The other observation is that before you reach Clock Town, there is a dead scrub at the entrance, later revealed to be the Deku Royal Court's butler's son, who had left home in search for adventure. At the end of the game we see the advisor had found his son's corpse and grieved for the loss.

(Remember this cause I'm gonna come back to this later.)

The goron and zora masks are easier to explain.

The Goron Mask comes from soothing the spirit of a strong leader and champion of the gorons, Darmani. He grieves having died while on his way to the Snowhead Temple to bring back Spring. Apparently he was pushed off the cliff by a goron who was under the influence of Majora. All he wanted was to save his people from starving in the dead if an unnatural Winter.

The Zora Mask comes from the spirit of Mikau. A strong and talented guitar-playing zora who dies RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. His death is the result of a tragic love story. He dies, broken hearted, after having just fought a band of pirates that took away his and his girlfriend's future children. He never got to say a proper goodbye to his girl. Their relationship may have been a secret to everyone else, but those children, their future, was gone. He dies of exhaustion, fatal wounds, and a broken heart.

Now, what does any of this have to do with Link? What could the hidden meaning be to this, if there is any at all? Well.. There is. And it opened up a whole new understanding of Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Twilight Princess, and the entire Child Era Timeline.

What I took from the masks, and their tales, aren't anything to do with Link in particular, but rather the people he was closest to in Ocarina of Time and how they all died.

Majora's Mask takes place in the Child Timeline, meaning that you save the day, beat Ganon, go back in time, tell Kid Zelda that opening the Door of Time is a bad idea, and leave it at that. At this point, you would be at the time just after leaving the Kokiri and before going to collect the other two spiritual stones and that has some serious consequences for the works of Hyrule, and the results of his actions, years later when he takes his time to grow up again, are represented in the masks.

The Deku Scrub mask represents Saria. Among the Kokiri, it's said that those who leave the Kokiri Forest die. They are kept safe by the Deku Tree who had already died. Since you don't open the Temple of Time, you don't go to save her in the Forest Temple. You don't save the Great Deku Sprout, and therefore don't ensure the protection of the Kokiri, especially Saria. Saria leaves the woods and dies. (Likely in an effort to find Link)

The Goron Mask, represents Darunia. Telling Zelda that gathering the spiritual stones is a bad idea means you never go to the Goron City. Which means you never help Darunia with his depression. His people starve because of the Dodongos Ganon already unleashed on their mines and as the leader, it's up to Darunia to go and face King Dodongo. But clouded by depression, he dies. He dies trying to provide for his people.

The Zora Mask represents, you guessed it, Ruto. You never go to help her get the Zora's Sapphire. She never meets you and never falls in love with you. If she doesn't die because of Jabujabu, she dies old and alone, never knowing true love, never hoping for a beautiful future with you. She dies with a broken heart.

Now I'm sure by now you've noticed there was one more mask I hadn't mentioned. The Fierce Diety. There is no tragic backstory to this one. In Majora's Mask, you go to the Moon, play with the kids, then go to speak with Majora, who hands you Fierce Diety. He wants to play Heroes and Villains and you're the villain.

This mask, this fierce warrior you become, is Link. It's the adult version of Link. The one who faced down ultimate evils and saved the world. The Hero of Time that Link had...ran away from.

And doesn't that help put things into perspective?

Link never asked to be the Hero of Time. He didn't want to kill the Deku Tree. He only fulfilled the Tree's dying request and then BAM! Life kept making decisions for him! Zelda tells him, insists that he's a hero, and asks him to gather the stones. Darunia asks him to go to Dodongo Cave. The King Zora asks you to save his daughter. Ruto forces you into a relationship. Zelda trusts you with the ocarina. Sheik tells you to save the sages and hell, why not just go kill the big baddie that already destroyed the world while you're at it?? So given the chance, of course he would leave that behind! He had gone through puberty so many times, time traveled, watched people die, interact with the dead, was scared shitless both as an adult and a child and all of Link's friends, including Zelda, all couldn't be his friends anymore when they awoke as Sages. (As is explained by several characters.) They all had duties that they were responsible for. A duty he was responsible for. He saved the world and was never even thanked for it. His life, from the beginning of the game to the end was SHIT.

And this is even worse cause he wasn't ever made aware of the reincarnations or the legends like other Links. Any other cycles were either called upon by an oracle (like Impa back in the early days) or had the legends drilled into their heads to a point where it would be believable when it happened. (Link to the Past, Botw, & Wind Waker for examples)

Link goes back in time and does everything he can to prevent the future he just saved. Prevents having to grow up and face the music Ganon so cheerfully plays for him leading up to the final battle. As a result, Saria gets lost, Darunia dies, Ruto never knows real love, hell, you could argue and say the entire Ikana Kingdom is the result of never stopping Ganon.

The stones or not, Ganon still attacks the castle and destroys Castle Town. And where was Link? Why didn't he stop it? Link had abandoned his duty as the Hero of Time and ran away.

And I think that's who the Skull Kid is. Skull children are kids who wander into the woods to escape adults and growing up, as Navi describes.

So Link's childish follies, his affinity to fairies, his selfish desire for fun and refusal for responsibility, is represented by Skull Kid. And remember, the moon child standing in for Skull Kid said that he was the GOOD guy and the Adult Link is the BAD guy. Growing up was a burden in Link's eyes. Growing up meant dying. Growing up meant watching you lose friends. Why wouldn't he want to run away from it all when all the future had in store for him was pain and suffering?

So Link ran away into the woods hoping, praying, he could go back to Navi, or maybe even Saria, and play as a happy innocent child once again. But without the protection of the Great Deku Tree, Link gets lost, and inevitably dies.

Link then has to face a means of purgatory where he is subconsciously reminded of all the things he had abandoned in his life. And that starts with the Skull Kid. A selfish brat who didn't want to lose his friends and didn't want to grow up, but ended up pushing everyone away anyway.

And it’s funny cause when Link started this adventure, he again, wasn’t exactly thrilled at the idea of being thrown into another adventure.

But then The Happy Mask Salesman, out of all the songs to play, teaches Link the Song of Healing. A song that soothes upset spirits and distraught people. And yeah it was mostly for the sake of the dead Deku clinging to his face, but I think the song had an effect on battle-weary Link as well.

When Link faces down Majora, he’s basically staring Death itself in the face to fight for a second chance to live.

On a side note, that’s very appropriate for Majora to play the role of, Death. Because Majora simply uses Skull Kid and this whole world as a puppet theater for Link to tell him that basically he’s gonna be damned to hell if he doesn’t shape up. But the swamp, the Deku Princess, Lulu and her babies, Darmani’s tribe, the spirits of Ikana who are finally at peace, Pamela’s father, Kafei and Anjuu, Romani and Cremia, nobody mattered at all. Everyone was just a puppet to teach Link about responsibility and facing the consequences of your lack of actions. That you shouldn’t hide behind a mask and turn a blind eye to people suffering.

After defeating Majora, Link returns to Hyrule. He helps the gorons and zoras, collects the Spiritual Stones, still doesn’t unlock the Temple of Time but instead readies himself and trains so he can be ready to fight Ganon and savs Hyrule yet again, without needing to time travel hundreds of times. This time when Link dies, he is a proud warrior and head of the Royal Guard. Forever known as the Hero of Time.

Then, Link continues on after death. While his spirit is reincarnated into the next life, a piece of him, an echo of who he is, an echo of the Hero of Time, remains in purgatory, to teach future generations. He lives on as a ghost, waiting for the next Hero so that the past is never forgotten and never abandoned. If you don't learn from your past, you'll be doomed to repeat it.

So, answer?

The Deku mask represents Saria

The Goron mask represents Darunia

The Zora mask represents Ruto

The Fierce Diety mask represents Link's future

All four transformations are connected to the courageous deeds Link performed in OoT:

Courage to leave home.

Courage to provide for those in need.

Courage to fight for love.

Courage to accept Death.

Ikana Canyon represents the Kingdom of Hyrule if Link never stayed to fight Ganon.

Skull Kid represents Link's desire for childhood innocence.

Majora is Death and Termina is purgatory.

Everything in Majora's Mask is about the consequences of Link abandoning Hyrule and his existential dread of growing up in the Child Era. He's given a second chance, and then he barely exists after death to teach Twilight Link and others past him which could have interesting consequences for future games...

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