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#a thousand winds
whosname · 1 year
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[badly sings a half-rememberd song]
Thank you for your patience in this Ghost ryokan arc week, Gintama Tumblr, I love you. I know I'm not following any of you/the tags but I'm really trying to avoid spoilers. This week I finished year 4 and watched the Benizakura movie (I'm obsessed with the Bakuchi Dancer scene, OBSESSED -I mean, I've been obsessed with DOES for some time now, but the context, the delicious context-). I'll be catching up with you soon, I promise.
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Tombstone story in Japan (Essay)
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It is now a well-known fact that Japan's food self-sufficiency rate is currently 39%, but I turned my attention to a slightly different field and wondered what the "domestic self-sufficiency rate of gravestones" was, so I investigated.
As a start, I interviewed two Masons stores around O city where I live. What I learned here was that a considerable percentage of the tombstones were brought from overseas, and there were many from Brazil, the United States, and China.
"Next, when I looked it up on the internet, I found out that it was a terrible situation."
The website of Sugita Co., Ltd. introduces production areas in Japan as well as overseas production areas.
The company imports tombstones from the United States, China, India, Sweden, Portugal, South Africa, etc.
Then, what is Japan's domestic self-sufficiency rate for tombstones...? I have a blog that answers this question as well.
In "Journey to Eco-village", the article is "It seems that local production for local consumption is also an issue for graves."
Accurate statistics are not available, but although the self-sufficiency rate of tombstones was almost 100% before the war, it is said that the self-sufficiency rate is less than 10% as gravestones are imported from more than 30 countries around the world. Since the latter half of the 1960s, cheap foreign products have become widely distributed, and demand for domestic lumber has declined significantly. However, considering the climate, domestic tombstones are desirable. It is said that it is possible to ensure sufficient durability because it is a stone that has been formed in the hot and humid climate of Japan. Local production for local consumption is desirable for tombstones in order to remember ancestors for a long time.
The food self-sufficiency rate is 40%, the lowest level among developed countries. The wood self-sufficiency rate is about 20%. Tombstone, you too...
Surprisingly, Japan's tombstone self-sufficiency rate is less than 10%. I can see Japanese companies buying stones from many countries. Therefore, it is the Japanese who are doing the act of destroying mountains all over the world. That said, foreign-produced stones are not necessarily suited to the climate of Japan. It may soon become tattered.
I'm an advocate of no need for graves, so (in my sense) I think the work of cutting gravestones out of mountains should also be stopped. Like the 2007 big hit in Japan, "A Thousand Winds" (Masashi Akikawa), I like the view of life and death that people do not live in graves after death, but instead blend into nature. And I think that such a way of being is what human beings should be. (This song is a translation of the American Mary Frye's poem by Man Arai of Japan and put it to music.)
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artctrlcee · 2 months
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/SHOUT: "Get behind the ice, get behind the ice!!"
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secretceremonials · 3 months
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out: Cassandra of Troy speaking in mysterious metaphors and oracle verse
in: Cassandra of Troy talking like uncle Colm from Derry girls so she’s so boring that nobody takes anything in
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IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN
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thelastharbinger · 1 year
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“Pull it, pull it!”
Tenoch: “There is a snake in my boot!” 🥺👉👈
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nekosoda · 3 months
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Umm soo I was minding my bussines,farming some artifacts when something caught my eye on the domain reward tree (I forgot its name :'c )
This is the tree im talking about:
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The carvings behind the tree explain some stuff but something Ie noticed is that-
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-These crowns or rings or whatever youd like to call it-you see,people find these crowns similliar to paimons little halo thingy-But-
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Its hidden in plain sight-litteraly
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ventisslut · 3 months
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I'm brainrotting about grandma Istaroth.
Imagine having kids with Venti. One day, he takes you and the kids to meet his mom and whole family. Apparently, the thousand winds and the clouds are his family and friends.
The prodigal son has his own actual kids now? (Y'know other than Mondstadians) and a partner for life? Everyone is baffled tbh.
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destinysbounty · 1 year
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Just noticed a parallel thats eating my brain alive. Here you go
You ever think about how Morro gets. Uh. Melted. A lot.
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Like both his corpse and his ghost got their bodies dissolved by fire and water respectively and y'know, if yall will allow me to go on a tangent about how this relates to Morro paralleling both Kai and Nya, and how both his body and soul are melted by Kai and Nya's respective elements due to his inability to learn the lesson that saved their lives.
Kai is obvious. They both wanted to be the Green Ninja, and their journeys led both of them into an active volcano. Kai realized he wasn't the Green Ninja, and it was this realization that allowed him to unlock his True Potential and escape. Morro, on the other hand, was unable to make this realization, and died in the process.
Nya is a bit trickier, but the similarities are there when you know where to look. Both characters are perfectionists and over-achievers with wicked gifted child syndrome, who hate feeling weak and have a critical difficulty with relying on and opening up to others, and despise being told what to do/how to live their lives. They're also some of the only characters who have explicitly stated a displeasure with destiny deciding their path for them, and a desire to choose for themselves. When Morro realized he wasn't the Green Ninja, what did he say? "I'll train more, learn more lessons." Rationalizing his rejection as a result of personal failure.
And in the end, when Wu begs Morro to take his hand "so we can be stronger together", Morro ultimately lets go. "You can only save those who want to be saved." Was this because of regret? Perhaps because even in his final moments, Morro couldn't bring himself to accept help, still couldn't let himself be weak or vulnerable in front of another, still insisted on being strong? Maybe he didn't want to let down his old master one last time by seeming weak? Bottom line is, he didn't want to be saved. But Nya, she learned. She learned that it was okay to fail, that if you care too much about something, you'll trip over your own feet trying to get it. She learned that no man is an island, and that it's okay to rely on others for help and to be weak sometimes. She took the hand Morro refused, and it was through accepting this that she conjured the tide that destroyed Morro.
I hope that made sense. It's very late and I've been up since 5AM.
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bahbzxxx · 1 year
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Venti 🕊️🍃🎶x Reader-
It’s Date night with the beloved bard…and the other 999 winds, apparently.
(A One shot)
Oh, to be dancing with the ever graceful and divine and not petty in the slightest lord Barbatos in the thousand winds temple as he twirls you around, so happy that you came back to Mondstadt to spend the evening with him.
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As he dips you, he hopes you don’t notice how there are small winds sprites throwing around Cecelia and wind wheel aster petals, almost invisible. He doesn’t mind them being there…so long as none of them try to shoot their shot…
As you continue swaying with him…something light and breeze-blessed is discreetly placed in your hair. You’ve come to be very attune with the wind and it’s many antics…so you open your eyes from the kiss you were about to enter with the beautiful bard. Said beautiful bard is now pouting when you place your hand on his chest, eyes closed with his soft lips ready for yours.
“Whyd ye stewhp?” He pouts, his eyebrows furrow. “Windbluhhhmm…”
“What’s this, Venti?” You giggle as you feel around your hair, and suddenly you find it- a beautiful crown of Cecelias and Windwheel asters- you and Venti’s favorite flowers, intertwined. “Did you make this? It’s so pretty…”
“Make what?”
He opens those beautiful green eyes of his, and now he just seems slightly confused as he cocks his head- but then, almost instantly, he begins to blush madly, and pulls at his collar.
“oh…ehe…so…haha…”
“Venti…” you coo teasingly as you you walk your fingers up his chest to his chin, then twirling his loosened hair in your fingers. “What’s the matter?”
He gulps as his eyes fixate on your waist. It’s more of a glare, actually…
“Uhm…do I have something on me?” Now you’re a bit worried. “Is it bad?”
You look down at your outfit, confused. Then you see it- a tiny windsprite, trying to attach a Cecelia to the waistline of your outfit.
“Oh my-oh my!” You beam excitedly, your hands over your mouth as you look up at the bard. “This is the cutest thing ever-wait, in your hair too!!”
In his hair, another sprite is playing around with the Cecelia in his hair. It seems so content with its life, minding its own business while the anemo archon…maybe not so much.
He blows his fringe out of his face, and huffs. “See, Windblume…I asked them to be discreet for one, one evening…but…”
“Why…they’re so sweet…oh, hello there!” The little sprite is shoving itself into the palm of your hand, nuzzling it as you begin to stroke them with your finger.
He blushes at how sweet you are to them already…his heart is melting. But those cheeky little things…hmph.
“Well…” he sighs, hand on his hip. He shakes his head with a small pout.
“I’m sure you’ve had…similar experiences…with your family, huh?”
You think back to that night, sitting in the hands of the statue with him. What he told you then… Instantly, the dots are connected.
“Oh, Venti, this is the most precious thing ever!!! You’re probably the best big brother to each and every one of them, aren’t you?” You direct your attention back to the sprite in front of you, gently pinching its chubby cheek-so reminiscent of the archons own soft cheeks. “Isn’t he? Isn’t he?” You coo. “But wait…what’s so wrong with you floating around? You’re just the sweetest thing and-“
“a-HEM.” The bard clears his throat, his nose turned up with his arms crossed.
Ah. It seems the bard is a smidge…jealous, isn’t he? A bit selfish when it comes to you, hmm?
“Oh, Venti…you’re so silly…” you give him a kiss on his cheek. “You know you’re the cutest of all…at least, to me…”
You pinch his cheek, and he sputters.
“Th-that’s not what I meant! Ehehehehe…nice one though…”
He takes you back into his arms, and the little sprite hanging off of you zips away quickly. Now they are the one pouting as the bard blows them a raspberry.
“Venti!” You laugh, half scoldingly. “Maybe I should take back what I said…”
“Oh, don’t let this rivalry steer you away from me, eh Windblume?” He coos, pulling you closer.
“Just gotta remind the wind know that you’re all mine.”
He finally pulls you into that kiss he was waiting for. You just know he’s purposefully dragging it out so obnoxiously to gross the poor little things out…
But when your lips finally part and eyes are opened, there’s a gaggle of them- somehow, they managed to set up a Kamera. All you can pick up is faint chiming, as if they are all snickering. Venti, based on the expression on his face right now as you stand next to him…he likely knows everything they are saying.
The thousand winds are…they’re quite the special bunch, aren’t they?
🌸💕🍒🌸💕🍒🌸💕🍒🌸💕🍒🌸💕🍒
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yael-things · 4 months
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fugos and giornos and One Jolyne !!
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dribs-and-drabbles · 8 months
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GMMTV (and Thai tv series in general) really does find an item of clothing, buys different versions of it, and proceeds to use them in shows airing at the same time.
I present to you The Droopy Tits shirt:
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Dangerous Romance ep 4 | The Jungle ep 15
Prizes for whoever spots it in another show within a week.
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tinnchan · 1 year
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A TALE OF THOUSAND STARS (2021): EP. 10
Oh, wind, you blew her to meet me Oh, and then that wind blew her away The person who was once at my side, where is she today? Oh, wind, where did you blow her away?
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tonyglowheart · 1 month
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"Does Shen Qiao even like Yan Wushi?"
I feel like it may be relatively easy for people to pick out "what does Yan Wushi like about Shen Qiao / what does YWS get out of yanshen." but I think a criticism/line of thought I see around is people struggling with "well what does Shen Qiao get out of all of this?" and like, "does SQ even like YWS, what with how YWS annoys him and gets him angry all the time."
But I think that actually is the crux of their relationship, lol. Because if you think about it, to everyone else, Shen Qiao is this lofty ideal, this untouchable immortal/仙, maybe even this obstacle or goal to conquer or shoot down.
Who else treats him casually and teases him and pokes at him to get emotional reactions out of him because they like that about him?
If he wants to seek people who treat him with respect and reverence, he just has to step out into the city square - hell, he just has to travel out and random people he meets are likely to treat him with that sort of dazzled awe or reverence too (we literally see this happen several times in the course of the novel).
So yeah, I think joking not joking, YWS makes him angry and feel Emotions and he likes that, YWS is enrichment for him, YWS pushes his buttons and his boundaries but reframing that it's pushing him out of his comfort zone and like hardening him off to the elements and realities of the world like a gardener with plants out of the greenhouse. But also, YWS treats him like a person, like a man, and not like Shen-daozun, Shen-daozhang, Shen-zhangjiao. To Yan Wushi, Shen Qiao is Shen Qiao. (and he loves to tease the shit out of him hehe ( ̄▽ ̄) )
CONVERSELY! This also gives Shen Qiao a space to *be* Shen Qiao. With Yan Wushi, he does not have to be Shen-daozun, Shen-daozhang, Shen-zhangjiao. He does not have to always be magnanimous and generous and a bastion of righteousness. These are in his nature, yet, but it's not ALL of his nature - he is, after all, still a man, a human, with human emotions -- including the full breadth of human emotions. Yes Yan Wushi annoys him and he shows it, but it's specifically BECAUSE of that that they are closer than him and anyone else in the world. He can "be himself" around Yan Wushi, he can get worked up and be petty and be snippy, and it's fine and won't cause catastrophes or undesired splashdown sociopolitical effects.
But also, he (lets himself?) get worked up by Yan Wushi - they HAVE that level of intimate understanding with each other where they can be like this and not have feelings hurt in any irreparable way. This isn't something that SQ does (lets himself do?) with just anyone, which we see throughout the novel reflected in his internal narration and comportment. So really, the fact that he DOES get annoyed with YWS shows that they are on a different, more "real" level with each other than SQ is with anyone else.
And like, they didn't get there in a day, sure, but imo we definitely see through the novel how they get there, so imo, the yanshen relationship is incredibly justified.
(I also say this bc I think literally every "I've connected the two dots" moments I've had in my reread, I would metaphorically flip the page only to be met with that connection I'd made spelled out on the page by MXS lmao. Like... yeah okay MXS *shakes your hand* you know your stuff. oh and also because I do think there may be some level of skepticism about yanshen esp from SQ's side floating around lol, but like... MXS did the legwork! yes chapter 45 happened, yes YWS never "apologizes" with words, but that doesn't mean that they don't share a deep mutual understanding of themselves and each other by the end, nor that they haven't moved past the events of literally 83 chapters ago, 96 if you count the extras -- a whole literal two-thirds of the novel ago. Like, I know we piss on the poor here and many educational systems around the world are in shambles these days, but work on developing reading comprehension skills, pls :') )
(lmao rip this post got long AGAIN. well, hopefully at least some people are reading all of this lol.)
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macbethz · 18 days
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be careful who you boop....this is who youre hitting right now
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jinxedruby · 3 months
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Ambush at the Bridge: Chapter Five
And finally, the conclusion. Man, this is long.
AO3
First part | <- Previous part
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“This really isn’t necessary, Rancher.”
“You can say that as many times as you want, I’m still not going to let you walk on your own.”
Hyrule heaved a sigh from beside Twilight as they walked but made no further attempt to push away from the rancher. One of his arms wrapped around Twilight’s shoulder while Twilight supported him with an arm around Hyrule’s back. In spite of his insistence that he was fine, Hyrule had stumbled one too many times. Twilight decided to support him the rest of the way despite the traveler’s protests. Hyrule’s hair brushed Twilight’s jaw and he couldn’t help but glance at Hyrule’s head again to make sure the wound wasn’t bleeding. Dried blood matted strands of Hyrule’s brown hair together, darkening the color even further. Hyrule seemed stable, at least. He’d still break into a coughing fit every once in a while and the head wound threw off his sense of balance, but he was coherent and responsive. Twilight glanced away from Hyrule to Wind who walked a few paces ahead of them, constantly throwing concerned glances back at Hyrule.
“How much further, Sailor?” Twilight asked.
“We’re close,” Wind replied. “I recognize this area. There’s another bend or two then we should be there.”
Twilight nodded, readjusting his grip on Hyrule. The three heroes continued making their way upriver, the dull roar of the water accompanying their footsteps. Hyrule started coughing again and Twilight slowed, but the traveler just waved a hand, smiling at him between hacks.
“It’s… it’s just a tickle-“ A cough interrupted him, “-in my throat. I’m fine.”
A frown tugged at Twilight’s lips but Hyrule pulled him forward, continuing to walk. They moved on in quiet, Twilight watching Hyrule carefully for any sign of struggling. Twilight’s ears twitched, picking up a faint noise in the distance. He focused past the sound of the river, honing in on the interruptions in its repetition. He recognized the punctuated vibrations and syllables of voices after a moment.
“I hear the others,” he said. Wind looked back at him, eyebrows raised.
“You do?” he asked, tilting his head to the side and listening. “I don’t hear anything.”
Twilight continued focusing on the sound, inner ears prickling. A low, rumbling pitch, answered by a thinner one. He couldn’t pick up any words but he could hear the sharp s’s and t’s that carried across the air. “It’s definitely them. We’re nearly there.”
Wind turned away, grumbling quietly. “No fair you get super hearing.”
Twilight and Hyrule both chuckled at that, the traveler breaking into a few short coughs. It didn’t take long before Wind heard the others as well. His face split into a grin and he bounced with each step. He sped up, remembered Twilight and Hyrule couldn’t speed up with him, slowed down, and sped up again on a loop. They followed a bend in the river and the trees gave way to the old bridge. Wind laughed, running ahead and waving his arms.
“Guys!” he called to the three blond heads visible across the river. They all lifted at his voice, revealed to be Time, Warriors, and Four. The latter two knelt by the river, water dripping from Four’s face while the captain paused in scrubbing his hands as they looked up. Time sat nearby facing away from them, head turned to look at Twilight and the others.
“Sailor!” Warriors stood along with Four, shaking water from his hands. A blood-speckled bandage wrapped around his head while Four’s nose appeared a few shades too purple. “Is Traveler…?”
“He’s right here,” Twilight called as he and Hyrule came to stand by Wind at the bridge.
Warriors stiffened. Even from across the river, Twilight could see how his shoulders raised, hand darting to the sword on his back. Twilight whipped his head around, expecting to see a monster of some kind sneaking up behind him and Hyrule. Nothing was there. He blinked, turning back to call out and ask what was wrong. He froze. Warriors, Four, and Time all stared directly at him, watching him with looks he’d seen them direct at monsters. The hair on the back of Twilight’s neck rose as he looked between the three heroes.
“What… what’s wrong?” he asked.
A long moment passed before Warriors spoke, eyes darting between Twilight and Hyrule. “Rancher?” he called carefully.
“Yeah?” Twilight responded, uncertain.
Warriors hand closed around the hilt of his sword and Twilight tensed, eyes wide. He felt Hyrule stiffen beside him, the traveler reaching for his own weapon only to remember it wasn’t there. Wind’s head whipped back and forth as he looked between the two groups, face scrunched in confusion.
Four stepped past Warriors, hand hovering near his sword. “Last week,” he began, and Twilight’s trepidation turned to confusion, “the cook made a dessert with apples but you didn’t get to eat yours. Why?”
Twilight’s mouth opened and closed a few times as he processed that. Four wore one of the most serious expressions Twilight had ever seen on the smith. He almost laughed at the absurdity of that combined with his question and how Warriors stood ready to draw his weapon at a moment’s notice.
“S-smith, what-“
“Answer the question, Rancher,” Warriors cut him off, voice tight.
Twilight’s mouth snapped shut, staring dumbfounded at the three. The longer he took to answer, the tenser they became. “Epona loves apples,” he began slowly. “I looked away for one second and she ate it right off of my plate.”
A second ticked by, then another. The sound of the river hammered Twilight’s ears, punctuated by his heartbeat. Then Warriors sighed, hand dropping from his sword. Time seemed to relax as well but Four remained stiff a moment longer, gaze boring into Twilight. After another beat, Warriors placed a hand on Four’s shoulder.
“Smith,” he began in a low voice, probably not intended for those across the river to hear. “I think it’s okay.”
Four stared for a moment longer before he relented, nodding slowly and relaxing his posture.
“Traveler, are you alright?” Warriors called.
Twilight blinked at the abrupt topic change while Hyrule huffed a laugh. “You… you can’t just-“
“What was that about?” Wind cried before Hyrule could complete his thought.
“It…” Warriors glanced at Four. “It’s a lot to explain. Sorry for the suspicion, Rancher. We can talk once you guys get over here.”
“Traveler, are you okay to cross?” Four asked. “We’d come to you, but…” He cast a glance at Time and Twilight frowned. Was the old man wounded? Was that why he hadn’t moved at all other than looking over his shoulder?
“I’m fine,” Hyrule responded.
“Great!” Wind all but jumped onto the bridge, the old wood groaning in protest. “Because I want an explanation for what just happened!”
Twilight nodded in agreement, fighting back a wince as Wind ran across the bridge, loud creaks accompanying each step. Twilight and Hyrule followed after him, reaching it just as Wind crossed to the other side, immediately rushing toward Four and peppering him with questions. Just before stepping onto the bridge, Hyrule stopped, pulling Twilight to a halt as well.
“Traveler?” Twilight asked softly, eyeing how Hyrule stared at the bridge. “You okay?”
Hyrule took a deep breath and let it out in a sigh that sounded almost exasperated. “I hate bridges.”
Twilight snorted. “Tell me about it.”
“Did you fall off a bridge and nearly drown, too?”
Twilight took a step onto the bridge. “No, but I’ve had several break on me,” he began as he took another step, Hyrule beside him. “Had two separate jousting battles on bridges.” Another step. “One got set on fire while I was on it. Had to jump off into the lake below.”
“Yikes.” Hyrule winced in sympathy as they walked.
Twilight hummed in agreement, nodding. “Two got taken apart by beasts and the pieces were thrown to the other side of Hyrule.”
Hyrule laughed. “What is with your journey and bridges?”
“I’ve asked myself the same thing,” Twilight chuckled. Before he knew it, they crossed the bridge, stepping onto solid ground on the other side. He grinned, looking over at Hyrule. “Hey, we made it!”
Hyrule snorted. “You had doubt?”
“You’re really asking that after everything I just told you?”
“Fair enough.”
“Traveler!” Warriors swiftly stepped in front of Hyrule, examining his head wound. He stood back after a moment with a sigh, gesturing to the ground beside Time. “Sit down, let me take a look.”
“It’s fine, I already healed it,” Hyrule protested, pulling against Twilight as the rancher tried to lead him to sit. “Besides, you’re hurt too.”
Twilight eyed the numerous bandages Warriors sported as the captain moved to Hyrule’s other side and grabbed his arm, firmly guiding him next to Time. “Just a few cuts that the old man already took care of. Sit down and let me take a look at your head.”
Hyrule heaved a sigh but didn’t fight any further, letting the two guide him. Once he was seated, Warriors glanced at Twilight.
“Are you hurt, Rancher?” he asked, eyes darting over Twilight.
“No,” Twilight replied, then gave a crooked grin. “Just muddy.”
Warriors nodded with a half-smirk and Twilight stood back up. He glanced between Time and where Four and Wind stood, the sailor continuing to pelt Four with questions faster than the smith could answer. He wanted to ask about their suspicion of him as well, but first…
“Old man,” he said, moving around Hyrule and Warriors and heading toward Time. “Are you-?”
His words died in his throat. Lying unmoving with his head propped up in Time’s lap, tunic absolutely drenched with blood, was Wild. Twilight gasped sharply, dropping to his knees before Wild’s form, one hand darting to the champion’s head, the other to the tear in his tunic over his chest.
“Champion!” Twilight pressed his hand against Wild’s much too pale forehead, the skin cool beneath his palm. Wild stirred at the touch but didn’t open his eyes, lips parted as he took shallow breaths through his mouth. Brownish tracks of dried blood ran along his collar and the sides of his neck, leading toward bloody mats in his hair.
“He’s alright.”
Twilight’s gaze snapped up to Time as the old man placed a warm hand on his shoulder.
“We used a fairy and she took care of his wounds,” Time explained. “But he lost a lot of blood.”
Twilight’s head spun as he looked back down at Wild. Time’s reassurances battled in his mind with the sight of pale, unconscious Wild whose tunic looked closer to a dark purple than blue with how much blood was soaked into it. Wild shivered every so often, brow pinching.
“What…” Twilight swallowed hard against the lump that formed in his throat. “What happened?”
“We were attacked,” Four said, suddenly beside Twilight. Twilight glanced over to see Warriors, Hyrule, and Wind close by as well, listening to Four. “By a… shadow.”
Twilight’s eyes widened. “Shadow?”
“Not the Shadow, but…” Four lowered himself to the ground, sitting cross-legged between Twilight and the others. He sighed. “I don’t know. I was able to fight him off, but not before he…” His eyes flicked to Wild for a moment.
Not before he almost killed Champion. Twilight finished in his head, wincing at the involuntary thought.
“Did he do that to your face, too?” Wind asked, delicate as always.
To Twilight’s surprise, Four laughed. “No, that was a moblin, actually. It broke my nose but the captain straightened it.” His smile faded as his eyes drifted back to Wild. Twilight found his gaze traveling to the champion as well, fingers absently running through the tangled blond locks. Wild’s breaths came shallow but steady, face still an unhealthy pallor.
“Does what happened with Champion have to do with your suspicion of me?” Twilight asked, not taking his eyes off Wild.
Four shifted as all eyes turned to him. Twilight looked up to see Four’s gaze locked on Wild, lips knotted.
“Yes,” Four said. He chewed on his lip, took a breath. “The shadow, he…” He trailed off and sighed. Then he forced himself to meet Twilight’s gaze. “He disguised as you.”
Twilight’s hand froze in Wild’s hair. The others might have reacted but he didn’t notice, focus tunneling. His eyes widened, heart thudding in his chest. “It…” He couldn’t form one thought, gaze dropping to Wild’s sleeping face. “Did… did you guys know, o-or…”
“We figured it out,” Four quickly said, seeming to understand Twilight’s thought process. “But not right away. We- he knew it wasn’t you by the time the shadow… hurt him.”
Twilight could hardly feel any relief at that. He couldn’t imagine what Wild must’ve felt. What Twilight would feel if he got attacked by something disguising as Time.
“I’m sorry for suspecting you,” Four said, distracting him from his thoughts.
Twilight shook his head. “No, I understand. I’d have done the same if-“
Stirring beneath his hand brought his words to an abrupt halt. Everyone’s heads snapped downward as Wild groaned, slowly bringing a hand to his head. His eyes fluttered and blinked open, squinted as he looked around. His blue eyes landed on Twilight, a haze dimming their brightness. His movements slowed. Then his eyes shot wide open. He gasped, hurling himself to the side and away from Twilight, slamming against Time. Time tried calming the cook, gently grasping his shoulders but Wild wrestled out of his grip. Twilight’s fingers snagged on a knot in Wild’s hair and the champion panicked, thrashing in an attempt to get away. Before Twilight could free his hand, Wild’s flailing connected with his jaw. The force of the blow snapped his head back and he yelped as Wild tore his hair free, lunging away from him and Time.
“Cook! Cook, calm down!” Four yelled, struggling to get Wild’s attention. Wild didn’t seem to hear him, attempting to spring to his feet. His legs failed to support him and he stumbled to one side before collapsing to his hands and knees with a groan. Warriors, Hyrule, and Wind all darted forward at once, eager to help, but Wild only stiffened at their approach, trying and failing to get up and run again.
“Give him space!” Time called, jumping up and grabbing Warriors’ arm, pulling him back. Warriors glanced at him before tugging on Hyrule and Wind, the three of them backing away. Wild continued to gasp, eyes wide and limbs shaking as he struggled to hold himself up and move. Four dropped to a kneel in front of Wild before Time could stop him, trying to get the cook’s attention.
“Cook! Link!”
The use of his real name seemed to finally get through to Wild. He looked up, breathing hard, muscles tensed as much as they could be in his weakened state.
“It’s fine, you’re safe,” Four said in less of a shout than before.
“But-“ Wild began, voice rough, “-th- the shadow-“
“It’s him, Cook, he’s the real rancher. The shadow’s gone.”
Wild stared at Four for a long moment, the smith giving him a reassuring smile as Wild heaved for breath. Wild turned his head, eyeing Twilight warily. “Rancher?”
Twilight did his best to smile. “Hey, cub.”
Wild visibly relaxed as the nickname, head dropping and elbows wobbling. He groaned and crumpled fully to the ground. Twilight and Four both exclaimed in alarm, darting towards Wild.
“’m okay,” Wild mumbled as Twilight carefully turned him onto his back. “Just lightheaded.”
“Any pain?” Twilight asked, gently checking him over for any fresh blood. “Your chest?”
“I’m fine,” Wild responded, weakly batting Twilight’s hands away. “Really. Just dizzy and thirsty.”
“Here.” Twilight glanced around for Wild’s bag and, when he didn’t immediately see it, unhooked his own water skin from his belt and held it out toward Wild. He and Four helped Wild sit up and Twilight held the water skin to Wild’s lips. Wild wrapped a hand around it and tilted it back. He drank slowly at first but was soon gulping it down, drops escaping through the corners of his mouth and trickling along his jaw.
Warriors knelt down before Wild as the champion drained the last of the water skin, lowering it with a gasp. “How’re you doing, Champion?”
“Captain,” Wild said, ignoring Warriors’ question and reaching toward him with his free hand. Warriors took the hand albeit with a bit of confusion. “Thank you.”
Warriors’ face fell into relief and a soft grin. “Don’t thank me. Thank the old man. If he hadn’t found that fairy…”
“And if you two hadn’t kept him alive until I got back,” Time immediately countered, nodding toward Warriors and Four.
Wild laughed lightly, pulling his hand back. “In any case. Thank you.”
Warriors smiled. “Of course.” Four and Time gave murmurs of assent.
“Glad you’re alright, cub,” Twilight said, giving Wild’s shoulder a squeeze.
Wild turned to look at him and his eyes widened. Twilight slowly took his hand away, worried Wild might still be somewhat afraid of him, but then he realized Wild’s gaze was fixed on his jaw. It throbbed slightly where Wild hit it and, judging by the cook’s expression, a bruise was already forming.
“Did…” Wild paused, swallowing thickly. “Did I do that?”
Twilight smiled, trying to appear reassuring. “It’s okay. You were panicking, I don’t blame you given the circumstances.”
“But still, I…” Wild groaned, folding his arms across his knees and lowering his head onto them. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Twilight rested a hand on Wild’s shoulder. “It’s alright, really.”
Wild turned his head, peeking an eye out from under his bangs. He stared at Twilight for a moment, eye roving over his face. He must have found whatever he was searching for because he sighed and lifted his head again, propping his chin on his arms. Four held his water flask out toward Wild. When the cook didn’t immediately take it, Four shoved it in his face pointedly.
“Drink,” Four said, continuing to hold out the flask. “You lost a lot of blood, you need to stay hydrated.”
Wild leaned away from the flask. “I’m not taking any more of your guys’ wate-“
His words were cut short as Four shoved the mouth of the flask to Wild’s lips. Wild made a muffled noise of protest and Twilight couldn’t help but laugh as Four forcibly tilted the flask. A gargling sound left Wild’s throat before he snatched the flask and pulled it out of Four’s hand and away from his mouth.
“Okay, okay, you don’t have to drown me!” he exclaimed. He took a drink from the flask, rolling his eyes at Four’s smug expression. He glanced around at the others as he drank. Then he glanced around a second time and pulled the flask away from his mouth with a frown. “Where are Sky and the vet?”
“They’re still not back?” Wind asked as he looked around. The others glanced around as well, Twilight’s frown growing the longer the silence stretched.
“Who saw them last?” Time eventually asked as it quickly became apparent that no one knew where the two heroes were.
“I was by Vet at the start of the battle,” Wind spoke up. “But there were a bunch of those really fast lizards and we got split up.”
“I saw those,” Twilight realized. “Some went after Sky, I think. But that was right around when Traveler fell in the river so I didn’t see what happened after that.”
“Were there four?” Wild directed the question at Wind. The sailor nodded. “I saw those lizalfos in the woods. Took ‘em out. Didn’t see Sky or the vet, though. And I didn’t notice any… any blood.”
“Maybe they got chased off?” Warriors suggested. “They could’ve gone far to shake off the lizalfos. That would explain why they haven’t made their way back yet.”
“Even so, we should search for them,” said Time, turning toward the tree line. “They could be in trouble.”
“I’ll go,” Warriors said immediately, standing up and pointedly ignoring how his injured leg shook.
“No, you’re still hurt.”
“Nearly all of us are hurt. I can still fight.”
Time and Warriors shot back and forth several more times before Hyrule stood with a sigh. “I’m gonna go find my sword and shield,” he announced before setting off toward the river.
“I’ll come with you!” Wind immediately jumped up, jogging after the traveler.
Twilight watched them go before turning toward Warriors and Time, trying to think of a way to settle their argument. He stopped halfway when a distant sound pricked at his ears. He quickly turned back, peering downriver as his ears twitched. Sharp s’s and t’s. A low creaking noise that could have been a groan. He stood up, narrowing his eyes.
“Rancher?” he heard Wild ask but he ignored the champion in favor of listening to the voices.
“They’re back,” he realized. No sooner had the words left his mouth then two figures appeared around the bend in the river, moving toward the bridge slowly. Too slowly. Twilight took off toward the figures at a jog. “They’re back!”
He heard shuffling from behind him followed by a grunt that sounded like Warriors. Time ordered the captain to sit down before hurrying to catch up to Twilight, the two running to meet Sky and Legend.
Sky raised a hand and waved a bit weakly. Then he stumbled slightly, hand darting down to gingerly press against his side. Twilight’s heart jumped into his throat and he put more speed into his steps. As he drew closer, he saw blood speckling the left side of Sky’s tunic, steps hitching as he walked. Mud absolutely coated Legend, only one arm and the left side of his face clear through the muck. Legend looked up blearily, eyes taking a moment too long to focus on Time and Twilight. Then his gaze slid beyond them and his eyes shot wide open.
“Cook!” he shouted, breaking into an unsteady run. Sky did as well, but he stumbled and nearly toppled over, wrapping an arm around his ribs and hissing.
“I’m good,” Wild called, but that didn’t stop Sky and Legend from hurrying over to him. Twilight reached out to support Legend as he brushed past, but the veteran flapped a hand, staggering to a kneel before Wild.
“Goddesses, Cook,” he said breathlessly. “Did you decide to take a bath in blood?”
“It wasn’t on purpose,” Wild replied as Legend checked him over with slightly trembling hands. “Did you decide to take a bath in mud?”
“It wasn’t on purpose,” Legend snapped, pulling back after determining Wild was uninjured.
“What ha… wh… what h-“ Sky broke off into a cough, “-happened?”
“Got stabbed but then I got healed,” Wild said quickly. “I’m fine now. Are you guys okay?”
“Stabbed?” Sky wheezed before coughing again.
“Yeah, but I’m fine. All good. What happened to you?”
“I-“ Sky stumbled and tipped over backwards. Twilight yelped and darted forward but Time was already there, catching Sky and gently lowering him to the ground. Sky gasped in a breath before it abruptly cut off with pain, face twisting and arms wrapping around his middle. A shout of worry alerted Twilight to Hyrule and Wind’s return, silver sword hilt gleaming over Hyrule’s shoulder.
“Let me see,” Warriors said. Sky slowly pulled his arms away and Warriors gingerly prodded around Sky’s ribs. Sky winced, biting his lip to stifle a whine. “I think your ribs are fractured. Does anyone have a potion?”
Twilight pulled out his potion but Sky shook his head, carefully withdrawing a half-empty red potion from his own pouch. Warriors investigated Sky’s lightly bleeding side as the Skyloftian struggled to uncork the bottle.
“What happened?” Warriors asked as he gently rolled up Sky’s tunic to reveal the wound. Angry red patches stretched across his skin, blood seeping sluggishly from deeper portions where the skin had stripped away. A deep frown pulled at Warriors’ mouth, eyes darkening in a way that made Twilight think he must have recognized that kind of wound. The captain said nothing, reaching into his pouch to fish out bandages.
“Hinox from my era,” Legend said. Twilight glanced over to see Legend had laid spread eagle out on the ground, Hyrule kneeling down to check him over. Legend swatted the traveler away. “They like throwing people. And bombs.”
“Did you get thrown, too?” Four asked as he hurried over to Sky to help him uncork the potion.
Legend rocked his head from side to side. “No. Was stuck in a mud pit the whole time. I’m not hurt, just overextended my magic. Stamina potion wore off.”
Twilight perked up at that. “Mud pit?”
“Yeah.” Legend rolled onto his side, peering up at Twilight. His eyes widened as he took in Twilight’s mud-splattered state. “Wait, you too?”
Twilight nodded. “I was trying to follow the sailor but we got separated then I heard-“
“Laughing,” Legend finished.
“I didn’t… didn… hear anything,” Sky remarked breathlessly, sipping at the potion as Warriors bandaged his side. “But you… you did, Rancher?”
“Yeah. I tried to find out where it was coming from but I stepped into the sinkhole and it stopped.”
Legend’s eyes widened even further. “Same here.”
“Nobody else heard it?” Twilight asked, glancing around. The others all shook their heads. Legend and Twilight stared at each other for a moment. Twilight found his gaze drifting to the fading pink in Legend’s hair while Legend’s eyes landed on Twilight’s wolf pelt. They were silent for a moment.
“Weird!” Legend exclaimed.
“Yeah, so strange!” Twilight responded.
“Guess we’ll never know why we’re the only two who could hear it!”
“What a mystery!”
The others all eyed the two of them suspiciously, apparently not convinced by their subtlety. Twilight coughed, turning to Sky.
“Anyway, Sky, are you feeling alright? I have a full potion if you need it.”
“No, I think… I think I’m okay now,” Sky said, carefully twisting his torso from side to side and taking a few deep breaths. His chest didn’t hitch anymore and Warriors had rolled his tunic back down, covering the bandages.
“Okay, just keep an eye on it,” Warriors said. “Let us know if that changes.”
Sky nodded and Legend groaned, flopping onto his back once more. “I’m more than ready to clean up and call it a day.”
“I wish we were in the rancher’s Hyrule,” Hyrule sighed. “I could use a soak in one of those Goron hot springs.”
“My era has hot springs, too,” Wild said.
“Yeah, but your hot springs are way up in the mountains and no sane person would travel through all the snow just for that,” Legend replied.
Wild looked mildly offended. “I go up there for them.”
Legend shot him a look. “Like I said.”
Wild scoffed and rolled his eyes while the others laughed.
“And you definitely could use a bath,” Warriors snickered, moving from Sky to Legend to ruffle the veteran’s hair. “This mud color doesn’t really compliment your flowery hair.”
Legend swatted the captain’s hand away with a scowl. He opened his mouth to respond but stopped short, a glint entering his eye and smirk tugging at his lips. “Maybe not, but you know what I think it would go great with?”
Warriors arched a brow, planting one hand on his hip. “What-“ He cut himself off with a shriek as Legend suddenly sprang up, mud-caked arms outstretched and a devilish grin on his face. Warriors lunged away, or at least attempted to. His injured leg gave out from under him and sent him sprawling to the ground. He twisted onto his back, holding out both hands as Legend loomed over him.
“Wait, wait, wait, you wouldn’t attack a wounded man!” he cried, waving his hands frantically.
Legend’s grin only grew. “I absolutely would.”
Warriors’ eyes widened but before Legend could descend on him, Wind tackled Legend from the side with a cry of, “Don’t worry, Captain, I’ll save you!” Legend lifted a mud-caked hand and dug his fingers into Wind’s hair, smearing it with mud and eliciting a sharp yelp of laughter from the sailor. Legend rolled as if to pin Wind beneath him but his eyes grew unfocused and he overshot, rolling over and off of Wind. Wind took Legend’s dizziness as an opportunity to pounce, uncaring that that only served to smear more mud onto him. But in rolling, Legend had moved closer to where Warriors was just beginning to stand. His arm shot out and snatched the captain’s elbow, yanking him back down with a yelp as he fell into the muddy heap. Twilight was half-surprised to hear a soft chuckle from beside him, glancing over to see Time’s eyes crinkling at the corners as he watched the scene. Twilight felt a grin tugging at his mouth as he looked back at the three, the others all having similar reactions.
“Now we’re really all going to need to wash up,” Twilight remarked.
“Yeah,” Four said. “We should probably stop those three before they get any dirtier.
“Probably.”
Nobody moved to stop them.
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