#anyway ... puts Link in Zelda's lap ..... good | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

neverchecking · 10 months

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Hey again, thank you so much for the banana (haha) it was nice of you. And ever since we started talking about Wild and Sage, I couldn’t help but draw them. (Lowkey sorry, I couldn’t put much detail into them since I use a cheap app and it doesn’t like to do much, but I’m more of an traditional artist anyways, I’ll make a better one.) I want to join in on the “request train” but I’m not too creative with what I want like the others, but I’ll try.

So female reader had met both Wild and Sage but thought they were the same person. So she gets invited to their house and realizes.. twins… You can make it NSFW if you like, and you can use any kink that you would see fit… I’m not to good with kinks. But enjoy my drawing and have fun. 🍏

“Prepare for Trouble!”

“And make it Double~”

OMG THAT ART IS SO GOOD THE GERUDO FIT AHHAHHH NAD SAGE MY BELOVED LOOK AT HIM JUST WANNA MONCH ON HIS FACE softly and with love bc he deserves it.

So the way this is worded makes me think you wanted Poly, so I went with these two as poly. Even though they hate each other.

Remember. They are not in love with each other, as that is Linkcest and I Will Not write that, but they are in love with Reader. Thank you!

I love the team rocket bit, cracks me up-

I am monching my second apple and offer you 🍌 *to the Zelda tune when you find a chest* BA-NA-NA-NAAAAAAAA

I am so funny I swear

Yall can thank @fanfic-fairy-fountain bc that picture of Sage is absolutely SENDING ME- I cackle every time I think about it

Sage is TotK Link!

Smut so MDNI, 18+!

Smut CW: Double trouble, threesomes, AFAB reader!, they turn it into a competition.

A Tick

Could he honestly say that he was one hundred percent okay with the way things have played out?

...No.

He was still weighing his pros and cons actually. While he adored you and wanted to show you off to the world, he probably should've thought this through just a touch more.

But the fallen hero had a way of just getting under his skin. Like a tick. Staying there and eating away at him over and over again. It was infuriating. The competitive streak in him wouldn't let him just let this go. He had to prove to this...creature, to Wild, that he was better in every single way.

Every. Single. Way.

So he introduced you to him, against his better judgement. Just to rub it in his face. You were the light of his life and Wild deserved to know that Sage had won. Just this once he had beaten the odds, gave Hylia the middle finger, and had won you.

He did not account for Wild taking as great of an interest in you as he did.

Whenever Sage turned his back, there was that failure. He started off slow and timid, like prey poking at a snare trap, but soon grew cocky. What was once just handing you a single flower that they had found on the trail soon turned into Wild handing you a bouquet of flowers that he had obviously gone out of his way to get. What was once just offering you an apple or a handful of wild berries turned into hand-crafted snacks catered to your semi-specific tastes.

And thus the tick was back.

Only it had evolved. Feeding off of him and his actions, mannerisms tuning themselves to an echo of his own just to impress you. Which just would not stand.

You were his. Mind, body and soul, you belonged to Sage. You two had a house together, had talked about getting a pet, threw around the idea of marriage, had gotten as close as two individuals could get. He had felt the way your muscles moved under him as you clawed marks up and down his back. Had felt your teeth dig into his neck in a way to muffle your cries despite the fact that they were music to his ears. Had held you as your clenched and quivered around him, dripping onto his lap as your broke beneath his touch.

Sage just had to prove this to Wild.

Wild would never amount to what Sage was. Sage was just better. Faster, stronger, smarter, he had the failure beat in every way.

Including this way.

You were hanging onto his, arms locked around his neck, as your thighs shook from where he held them. He was standing, already nestled deep within you as he glowered down at Wild. Every second he wasted was another second you were left growing more and more nervous. You were already unsure about the idea, but agreed nonetheless. Because you were oh-so benevolent and oh-so kind. Perfect in every way.

Still, you pushed you face further into his neck, panting heavily against his ear. Your fingers clenched into fists against his neck before they released, knotting themselves in his hair. He could hear your silent plea all too clearly.

"Hurry up." He snapped, watching Wild flinch. What the hold up was, he had no idea. Wild just needed to get the fuck over it. "Hesitate any longer and I won't need to worry about showing you up."

Wild bristled, but remained silent for a second, coating his shaft in a clear oil before stepping behind you. His hands hesitated before landing on your hips. He stepped closer, fiddling with something Sage couldn't see before you were gasping. Your grip tightened and he immediately hushed you, cooing soft nothings into your ear.

People called him an asshole, a heartless lunatic, maybe even a rat bastard, which was probably all true, but he would be damned before he treated you as anything other than the divinity you were.

"Keep breathing, sun flower. You're doing so well." Sage hummed, rubbing his thumb up and down your thigh. Your entire body clenched, making him suck in a breath, before you were relaxing and Wild was lowly groaning behind you.

It was an uncomfortable feeling, feeling Wild so close-- something he never thought he'd have to put up with-- but he had a point to prove.

Sage was the first to move, gently pulling out and making both you and the Tick hiss before he was pushing back in. His whispers never stopped as he spilt praise after sweet praise, all for you.

"You're doing so well, my light. Taking us both like this? Truly impressive."

"Goddess-" Wild cursed, head falling to your shoulder as his bangs fell in front of his face.

He made it too easy sometimes. Sage smirked. "Gonna burst already, road rash?"

The nickname made the other growl under his breath, lip lifting in a snarl. "You wish, No-name."

Sage's movements went from a slow and languid pace to his hips suddenly snapping against yours. Your entire body jolted as you cried out, pulling at his hair. He gently cooed at you once more. "I'm sorry, I know. I'm sorry, princess." His attention turned to the other. "I can tell just by the look on your virgin face that you're practically bursting at the seams."

"Ha-ah-" Wild quivered behind you, knuckles turning white against your hips as he moved back an inch. "'doing just fine."

"Sure, you are." His rhythmic tempo picked up once more, only tempered by Wild slowly gaining confidence with his own thrusts. "Take one of her legs."

Wild did as told, freeing one of Sage's hands so it could move to thumb at your clit. You squeezed around them once more, making both males freeze as low groans growled out of their throats.

While he wanted to prove Wild wrong, so fucking badly, you came first. Your pleasure came before either of theirs. You were his goddess, and Sage made sure Wild understood that before letting him anywhere near you.

One look over your shoulder told Sage all he needed to know about the matter and where the Tick stood on it. His eyes blazed with a familiar lust, but not one driven by the want to see how far he could push. No, this was a need to feel you cry around him, coming undone as nothing but pleasure ran like fire in your veins.

For a parasite, Wild was a quick learner. Not as fast as he was, but fast enough, as his other hand took your other thigh from Sage, freeing both of his hands.

Sage knew your body, and he knew it well. He was able to play you like a fiddle and make you sing for him, doubly so now that you couldn't close your legs to keep him out.

Sage would never like Wild. Of this he was certain. However, there was a certain amount of respect he could lend to someone just as dedicated to treating you like the Goddess you were.

Just as long as he understood who had the upper hand.

And it wasn't a measly little tick.

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maitaitiu · 1 month

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love's shining circle OCxCanon week 2024 Day 6: "an intimate moment" Pairing type: platonic + romantic (unlabelled) Canon Character: Zelda OC: Lila Fandom: the legend of zelda botw/age of calamity Wordcount: 1704

AO3 link

CWS: mentions of death/murder

Synopsis: Both Lila and Zelda are desperate for some sense of normalcy. Both are just children forced to bear a burden they never asked for. It's nothing an evening walk in the woods can solve, but it might help a little bit. (set pre-calamity)

Lila pulled a brush gently through her horse’s silvery mane. It was evening, but for once the night was still.

It usually was in Castletown, after all. As the residents slept the night away, safe from the critters that ruled the night. Safe from winds and monsters and any natural sounds that might dare to exist nearby, shielded by unnatural brick walls and guarded by stern guardsmen.

Lila wasn’t the biggest fan of Castletown. It was too busy, too rich… the people were too distant from each other. Emotionally, anyway. Physically, houses and streets were so cramped together it was hard to go anywhere without knocking into people’s shoulders. It was an awful combination.

Humming to herself as she brushed her horse’s mane was a simple, quiet way for Lila to calm herself down after another long day away from home, without drawing too much attention to herself.

She missed Lurelin so much. And her parents.

She knew she had a supposed duty here in Castletown- or wherever Princess Zelda went- but the homesickness never really faded. She was doubtful that it ever would.

Her horse- Eponine- snuffled and chewed at Lila’s hair, so she ceased brushing her for a moment. She found a carrot in one of her bags, and held it out to the horse, who took it and munched on it happily.

“Good work today,” Lila mumbled, petting Eponine’s face as she ate the snack, “It was a very long day.”

The horse gave no response other than nuzzling the side of Lila’s face, which made her smile slightly.

“Oh, Lila. You’re here quite late.”

The young knight turned, a little startled, and was greeted by the calming sight of Princess Zelda, still in her travelwear, and who had appeared in the doorway of the stables that led into the Castle itself. Lila made to bow, out of instinct, but was cut off by Zelda.

“You don’t need to do that. May I speak with you?”

Lila stood back up and gave Eponine’s mane one last brush, before putting her equipment away. She turned back to Zelda, and nodded, “Of course.”

She watched as Zelda crossed over the stables and sat down on a hay bale. After the Princess patted the space next to her, Lila sat down as well without hesitation.

Zelda fiddled with the fabric of her shirt for a minute. Lila stayed quiet, kept her hands folded neatly in her lap as she’d been taught to, and waited.

“Lila, have you ever…” Zelda paused, “Have you…”

She took a deep breath, and then shook her head.

“Sorry. This is stupid.”

“Have I… what, Princess?” Lila pried, watching her friend closely.

Zelda pursed her lips. Lila tried not to focus on them too much, and instead looked up at Zelda’s eyes. And noticed the dark shadows hanging beneath them. How much sleep had she been getting recently?

“Have you ever considered what it might be like to be… normal?”

Lila blinked.

To be honest, she had. She knew exactly what Zelda meant. She had never asked for her destiny as the Goddess’ Chosen Knight, just as she knew Zelda had never asked to be the Princess, or for her still-dormant powers.

However, as she thought, Lila’s silence seemed to be misinterpreted by Zelda, who’s face bloomed with a soft pink in embarrassment, and she quickly tried to backtrack.

“Of course you haven’t. It was a ridiculous question, I’m sorry-”

“I have!” Lila cut in, and then felt her own face warm up, shocked at her own interruption, “Sorry!”

But Zelda just stared at her with wide eyes.

“Go on…?” the Princess asked quietly.

Lila froze. Took a deep breath. And once the words started coming, she could hardly stop herself.

“Well. I do like swordfighting, and protecting you. And, um, people. but I like lots of other things too. I always just wanted to be an adventurer like my parents, maybe even on the seas. I’d love to sail to new lands and learn about new plants and animals. I like to play music, and dance, and feed the dogs and cats and other animals back home. I like to watch the sun set and rise over the sea,” she sighed, “I can’t do any of that here… I miss it. And I miss my family. Very much.”

“You can go home to Lurelin though, right?” Zelda asked, eyebrows furrowed, “And visit them?”

“My family aren’t there,” Lila said quietly, and hesitated for a long moment before adding, “My parents were killed. By the Yiga Clan. Because I was chosen by the Sword.”

When she turned back to the Princess, her face was pale, and her eyes wide and stricken.

“I’m so sorry.” Zelda whispered, “I’m so, so sorry.”

Her eyes filled with tears that spilled over like a waterfall as she apologised over and over, and Lila reached out to hold her hands gently.

“It’s not your fault.” She murmured.

“But- I still- I just…” Zelda’s breath hitched, and she curled in on herself. “I’m sorry.”

Lila, knowing this was improper but not caring at the current moment, where there was nobody there to see, pulled Zelda into her arms, and rested her chin on the other girl’s head.

“It’s not your fault,” she repeated, “It’s not yours. It’s not mine. None of this is our fault. This isn’t fair. And I hate it, too. I wish we could just be normal kids.”

“I… I heard some of the castle staff gossiping the other day,” Zelda choked out through her tears, “About nothing much. But they were talking about their first crushes, and old schoolyard drama, and just… things that are so normal to everyone else… But my… my whole life… has just been this…People getting hurt ‘cause of me… Failing over and over and OVER again. And I’m just… so sick of it!”

Lila tightened her embrace of Zelda.

“I’m so tired of all of this, Lila. I want to attend school, I want to learn how to farm, or, or be a librarian. I want to be a teacher. And a researcher. I want to fall in love, and sneak out with my partner, and pick berries in the woods and cloudgaze, and, and... What did I do wrong?! Why is this my life?!”

“It’s not your fault.” Lila whispered, “It’s not. It’s not.”

And then, spurred on by what was possibly insanity, and possibly bravery, but most likely both, she curved her hand around to hold Zelda’s tightly.

“Let’s go.” She said, and Zelda looked up at Lila, confused, her eyes red, and tears still rolling down her cheeks. “Let’s sneak out. Let’s go pick some berries. And we can stargaze ‘til the sun comes up. I can show you where the North Star is.”

“What…?” Zelda looked around, puzzled, making sure nobody was listening in, “Lila, we could get in so much trouble!”

“So what? I’m the strongest knight in the whole kingdom. You can’t be better protected out there than that.”

“But we have stuff to do in the morning!” Zelda insisted, “We need to train… and prepare for the trip to the Spring of Power!”

“We can do that later. That trip isn’t for three days. We deserve some fun. Some time to just be Zelda and Lila. Not Princess and Knight.” She got to her feet and offered Zelda her hand, “Right?”

Zelda wiped at her face with her sleeve, and looked around again. And then she smiled.

“You’re right.” She murmured, and then again, louder, as though convincing herself, “You’re right. Let’s go. Right now.”

Lila grinned, and guided Eponine out from her stable, and re-saddled her as fast as she could. The horse nuzzled Zelda as she waited. She also found a spare cloak lying around in the stable, and put it on after giving Zelda her own. It was a little threadbare, but it would do.

With everything ready, Lila carefully helped Zelda onto the back of Eponine before climbing into the saddle herself. She guided the silver horse out of the stable, and pulled up the hood of her cloak. The rustling of fabric told her that her companion did the same. When they were out on the street, Lila looked back and shot Zelda a mischievous grin, and then kicked Eponine straight into a gallop.

Zelda yelped, and quickly wrapped her arms tightly around Lila’s waist. Lila bit down on her lip and resolutely stared forward as she felt a blush warm her face.

And through the Castle gate they galloped, out the East entrance of town, and across the riverside bridge. Safe from view by the cover of nightfall, and the convenient timing of the guards shift change leaving the East gate unattended for just a few minutes.

They found their way into a little wooded area, far from any prying eyes, and Lila speared some fish and set up a little campfire to cook them on while Zelda picked mushrooms and berries. They laughed and chatted while eating their late night snack, pretending they were just any normal pair of teen girls, instead of teen girls with the weight of the world on their shoulders. They picked flowers and wove them into chains, and chatted about the most inane things they could think of, stories from Lila’s childhood, gossip Zelda passed on from the castle staff. But both froze upon the notion of talking about any crushes they may have.

It would be improper, after all.

For a Knight to love her Princess.

For a Princess to love her Knight.

Especially when they had such an important duty to the world.

But they caught each other’s eye and understood.

For tonight, under the stars, they were just two girls. And it was okay.

It was okay when they wove their berry-stained fingers together.

It was okay when they drew closer to one another.

It was okay when their lips pressed together. Uncertain, and shy… But…

It was okay.

It was warm.

It was safe.

It couldn’t last forever. They knew that.

They’d find the North Star together, and one day it would guide them to peace, to safety, to home.

To each other.

#oc x canon week 2024 #oc x canon week #oc: lila #words

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pastelsandpining · 3 years

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asmr

another little ditty. apologies for the whump. a small modern ‘wow they are so in love but he’s too busy pining to realize it’

have another: hair | Masterlist

———

Sometimes, the world can be stressful. Sometimes, Link wants nothing more than to curl up under the sheets of his bed and disappear. Maybe he would’ve, sometime years ago, but if he tries anything of the sort today, his best friend would probably stop at nothing to join him. She’s quite the passionate soul, and he could never bear the thought of her being angry with him–which she most certainly would be if he were to “abandon her to the cold world”.

So, instead of hiding forever, he slips out of his bed, where the existential dread wants him to stay, and tip toes down the hall. Come to think of it, he’s not sure why they have separate rooms in the first place. He supposes everyone needs their privacy, but they end up in each other's beds more often than not anyway. He doesn’t know if she’s awake right now, but instincts say that despite the 1:21 am staring at him from his phone, she’s not asleep. There’s a crack in the door. He nudges it gently and, just as he expects, Zelda’s curled up in her bed with a book. He almost feels bad to interrupt her, but the way she pauses and looks up as soon as he’s in her presence makes him feel more special than guilty, and her smile certainly isn’t helping.

“Well, good morning,” she teases and beckons him closer.

“You should be asleep,” he tells her as he takes a seat on her bed. She raises a brow at him in response. Zelda isn’t dumb by any means. She knows him too well. She knows what he wants. She puts her book aside and leans back against her headboard; when she nods at him, he doesn’t hesitate to lay his head in her lap and close his eyes.

Her hands are on him immediately, brushing his bangs from his forehead, tracing shapes into his face with her fingertips, running the pad of her thumbs over his skin when she cups his face. It’s tender and intimate and he wants to fool himself into thinking she could be as in love with him as he is with her. She’s speaking, too: little whispers of sweet nothings and positive affirmations that were lovely but would’ve meant nothing had they come from anyone else. He loves hearing her voice, whether she’s singing or rambling about something, but he likes it most in times like these, when it feels like she’s talking for and to him and only him. The bad feelings, the anxiety and the stress, wash right off of him and he relaxes under her touch with a quiet sigh.

Her fingers trace gently over his features and he forces his eyes open when her thumb brushes over his lips. There’s something soft in her gaze. He wants, more than anything, for Zelda to lean down and kiss him, but all she does is smile and he can’t find it in him to complain. Her smile does more to warm him than the sun does on the hottest days of the year.

“You should do ASMR,” he murmurs against her finger. It’s almost a kiss but not quite. She laughs, quiet and magical, and he’s smiling, too.

“Then you would just use my videos instead of coming find me,” she accuses lightly and threads her fingers through his hair. It almost puts him to sleep right there, but it’s not fair if he can sleep comfortably and she can’t. So he rolls off her lap but she doesn’t let him get far before she’s curling up behind him, slipping her arms around his waist. He moves one of his hands to cover hers, lacing their fingers together, and her soft humming lulls him back towards the embrace of sleep that was so keen on staying away from him otherwise.

“Goodnight, Zel,” he mumbles, and he’s just conscious enough to leave out the I love you that teeters on the edge of his tongue.

“Goodnight, Link.”

#zelink #soft stuff #pure fluff #and pining #it’s about the yearning #small spoon link superiority

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senor-cummies · 3 years

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Link and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad (Perfect) Day

It's always 'link buys Sidon a sapphire bracelet, unknowingly proposing to him' and never 'sidon buys link a diamond ring, unknowingly proposing to him' they're both himbos this is missed potential. So anyway, happy post a wip.

Sidon shuffled, waiting awkwardly for a specific blonde Hylian head to walk through the door. He'd hoped Link was able to make it, part of him thought he wouldn't come despite it being incredibly out of character.

A waitress walked up to him with a smile.

"Hi! I'm Neva, I'll be serving you tonight!" Sidon smiled lopsidedly.

"I'm waiting for someone, but I wouldn't mind a bottle of Voltfruit wine." She nodded, walking off to get it. He turned his eyes towards the door again, bouncing his leg, his head fin thumping against his back.

'He's going to come.' he told himself 'He's never stood you up before, he always comes.'

Just as he was about to tear his eyes away, a pale hand pushed open the palm frond curtain in the door way, and a blonde headed Hylian, dressed in royal guard's attire, stepped into the establishment.

Sidon sat up with a smile, waving him over.

"Link! I'm so happy you could make it?" The hylian blushed, taking his beret off and sitting it in his lap.

"I almost couldn't! It was as if Zelda was trying to keep me hostage! I didn't even change," he laughed. Sidon sighed happily, Link was so perfect. The waitress came back with his wine a little shocked to see the other person at the table.

"Uhm, hello Link! Welcome back." Link waved.

"Hi Neva! You can go ahead and get me the regular."

Sidon tilted his head.

"And what can I get you?" Sidon's cheeks flushed, he glanced at the menu, his eyes widening. It was a very large selection, all seafood dishes.

"Uhm... I'll have the spicy surf and turf curry?" She smiled.

"Excellent choice! Would you like steak or chicken?"

"Uhm, chicken."

"And crab, porgy, bass, or trout?"

"Trout."

She nodded.

"Alright, I'll be out with your food. It's made to order, so you should expect about half an hour."

Sidon thanked her and turned his attention back to Link.

"So..." Link started, rubbing the back of his neck. Sidon rolled his lips thin, picking up his wine glass.

"How's...Prince...stuff?" It came out a lot dryer than Link planned it to be. But it seemed to lighten the mood, bringing a soft smile to Sidon's face.

"It's been... Incredibly stressful and overbearing, to be honest. Nothing but important meetings and conferences nonstop for the past week." Link winced.

"But...I feel a lot more at ease when I'm with you." Sidon cooed, relishing in the pink that grew on Link's cheeks.

"And how's today been? For you? Get any cool presents?" Link giggled. Giggled, taking a sip of his wine.

"No, not the cool gifts, per se, mostly food. I got a muffin basket, Zelda made me crepes for breakfast, Mom gave me more books on alchemy. You took me to my favorite restaurant." Sidon smiled.

"Well, I have another gift but it's for after dinner."

Link perked up.

"What is it?" Sidon laughed.

"I'm not gonna tell you, it would ruin it."

Link pouted, shrinking in his seat.

They continued to joke and laugh until their food came, Sidon was shocked by how good his dish was. There certainly was no wonder the restaurant was his favorite. Link didn't put his spoon down until his plate was clean. They both shared a laugh at how distracted they were by the food.

"We barely even talked," Link chuckled.

"It's not our fault this food is exceptional!"

"I know right? It's probably the best thing I've ever eaten."

"Hm, it's not better than your food. Sometimes I can still taste that salmon meuniere." Sidon licked his lips. He'd just ate and he was already hungry.

Link blushed, ducking his head.

Neva arrived with their check shortly after. Link and Sidon both reached into their pockets. Sidon pulled a face.

"You aren't paying for your birthday present." He asserted, putting a satchel of rupees in Neva's hand.

Sidon stood, grabbing his hand and leading him out of the restaurant.

"Come on, let's get your last birthday present." Link smiled, shuffling behind him. He wasn't greedy, definitely not, but Sidon always have the best presents. Somehow, each year, each occasion, every present was better than the last. Link started to look forward to getting things from him, terrible as it sounds.

When they finally came to a stop, they were at a nice spot on the beach, at a perfect vantage point to watch the sunset. Sidon's headfin wagged with his impatience.

"I wanted to get you something special, so I went to a jewelry shoppe in Castle Town and, well..." Sidon reached into the bag on his hip pulling out a small velvet box. Link gasped, his eyes widening.

Is that? Sidon opened the box to reveal an ornate silver ring with an opal on it. Link's eyes welled with tears, his hand flying up over his mouth

"Link, I--"

"Yes." He didn't even let him finish, rubbing the tears from his eyes. Sidon tilted his head.

"Yes?"

Link nodded.

"Of course, yes." Sidon pursed his lips, trying to put the pieces together.

"Yes...what?" Link's smile faltered.

"Yes to your proposal?" Link stared into Sidon's eyes. All he saw was deepening confusion. Link's eyes widened in mortification.

"You're asking me to marry you, right?" He asked in a panic. Sidon sputtered.

"What would make you think that?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe the dinner at my favorite restaurant and the walk on the beach and the romantic sunset! Or the engagement ring you're holding!" Sidon was taken aback.

"Engagement ring? This is an...Oh, Hylia. I had no idea I..."

"How did you have no idea?"

"I just went to a Hylian jewelry shoppe and asked the clerk "What would I gift to a Hylian I love very much more than anything?" In Zora culture there's this whole courting gift procedure and then you give your partner a sapphire amulet!"

Link rolled his lips thin. Right, of course. They aren't from the same culture, why wouldn't there be a difference in proposals.

I'm such an idiot.

He was so embarrassed, he just wanted to curl into a ball and die.

"Wait, you said yes." Link's cheeks burned hot.

"N--no!"

"Do you...want to marry me?"

"maybe? I don't know! I just..." He groaned, burying his face in his hands. This was horrible. Terrible. The worst. Sidon probably hated him. What kind of person just accepts marriage proposals.

"Link," he sighed. Link braced himself. Here it comes, he cursed. Sidon was going to tell him he never wanted to talk to him again, never wanted to see him again, call him a weirdo. Clingy, stupid, every horrible thing Link could think of.

Sidon grabbed his left wrist, gently pulling it off his face. He slowly slid Link's glove off.

"This was, actually, supposed to be the first gift. I was going to ask you if you'd allow me to court you but...We can do this the hylian way." Link looked up, his face confused yet hopeful. Sidon took the ring off the plush cushion of the box and sliding it onto his ring finger.

"The, uh, yes still stands, right?" Link smiled, albeit wobbly, tugging Sidon down by his forearm to kiss him.

"Of course."

Behold! Fluff! This is actually the wippiest wip I've posted bc this is the prologue of a fic that has 4 chapters lol. See y'all next Saturday!💛💛

#mandy writes shit #post a wip saturday #post a wip #wip #excerpts from my writing #sidlink #proposal #fluff #sidon botw #link botw #botw sidon #botw link #sidon x link #cultural misunderstandings trope is my bread and butter #the accidental proposal feeds me ok???#i have one for every non hylian champion

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voltfruits · 3 years

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oh, you could go on and on about the height difference? please do. i want to hear more

*sigh* you guys are trying to make me embarrass myself aren't you?? well i embarrass myself all the time anyway, so please accept my giant masterlist of short king link headcanons

My personal estimates for their heights are 5'2 for link and 5'6 for zelda. In terms of relative height, this puts the top of link's head around level with zelda's ears, which is fairly accurate if you look at scenes in the game where they're standing side by side.

zelda's boots give her an extra inch, and her high heels give her an extra three. (technically the in-game models for all her outfits are the same height, so there's no evidence that she wears heels with her royal dress, but.... for personal reasons, I'm gonna say she does.)

i think i've mentioned my headcanon that link started crushing on zelda the instant he became her knight. he found her very awe-inspiring and also very intimidating, and the fact that he had to look up to meet her eyes definitely did not help

pre-calamity link is actually a little insecure about his small stature and feminine appearance, because the hylian military wasn't really the most accepting place and a lot of fellow knights gave him hell for not being manly enough. 100 years later, link wakes up in the shrine with no memory of what gender even is, and from then on he's genuinely comfortable with his height.

pre-calamity, the only person who link doesn't mind teasing him about his height is—you guessed it—zelda. (and also daruk, but all hylians are tiny to daruk, so it doesn't really feel personal.) link actually loves it when zelda teases him a little, just because it's a sign of their shared trust and he likes to see her drop that formal veneer that she's always keeping up.

yes, zelda likes to tease, but she also truly loves link's height and finds it extremely attractive. she makes sure to give him a lot of genuine encouragement because she knows he's a little self conscious about it.

being the snarky little dude he is (post-calamity), link teases zelda a lot too. even though zelda is pretty average height for a hylian woman, link pretends she's like. the tallest person ever. like "zelda oh my gosh you're fucking gigantic how am i supposed to share a bed with you." he thinks it's hilarious and zelda only pretends to hate it

post-calamity, someone will call link a "twig" or "runty" (both actual lines from in-game i believe) and link will just be like ~hell yes i'm fabulous~

zelda tries to hide things (food, bombs, etc) from link by putting them on high shelves. however... she forgets how good link is at climbing things

yes, link does have to get on his tiptoes a bit when he wants to give zelda a kiss

ALTERNATIVELY sometimes he just fucking grabs zelda's face and pulls her down to his level instead (it always makes her very flustered and they both love it)

link has made dozens of puns about how short he is. sadly i can't think of any on the spot

link and zelda share a lot of their clothes post-calamity! zelda borrows link's pants and cuffs them so they look fashionably short (many thanks to @yourenotacat and your wonderful fic for giving me this idea) and zelda's tunics are adorably oversized on link :') while we're on the topic of sharing clothes—yes, link does wear zelda's dresses too.

i'm so soft for the concept of zelda hugging link from behind and resting her chin on the top of his head. or using him as an arm rest. or link sitting on zelda's lap. give me all that mushy stuff

cuteness aside, link's small size has practical advantages as well. a low center of gravity is helpful for doing backflips!

post-shrine of resurrection, link grows... about one inch. zelda is all like "aww look how you've grown!!!! you're still tiny though lol"

thanks for the ask! hope you enjoyed these!

#the brainrot is strong tonight #i'm a mess #botw #zelink #volt answers #anonymous

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deiliamedlini · 3 years

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WIP Wednesday

I’ve mostly been just writing the newest pirate chapter that I posted yesterday (subtle plug hahaha), but this was what I was working on just before. This is from the same fic as this WIP Wednesday. I don’t want to post this one yet because it still kind of sucks (like this, which is not edited at all), so I’m still fixing everything I have so far before actually posting. But today isn’t called Post a Fic Wednesday, it’s called WIP Wednesday, and this is a WIP!

Essentially, Link is tasked with training Zelda to defend herself after a series of Yiga attacks on her life. After some time, they’ve become good friends. She has him come to her room for lessons she doesn’t want ‘on the record’ basically, which is why Link is chilling in her room in this section. Totally not to make things unnecessarily dramatic.

~~~

When Link arrived that night, Zelda wasn’t in her room. He poked around for a moment just to make sure, and then relented to sit on her bed to wait for her, setting down his belt on the chest at the foot of her bed as he always did.

It was unusual that she wasn’t there. However, for the past several days, he’d been finding her waiting for him at the window, usually watching him scale the building with a look that betrayed her awe and her horror.

By her bedside were notebooks and tombs, all with marked pages. They ranged from geography, to biology. His hand reached out to take a book about plants, but he heard footsteps in the hall, followed by the booming voice of King Rhoam.

“Shit,” he muttered, looking around quickly before he slid into the closet just as Zelda’s door opened.

“—with the new treaty. I think that would be useful.”

“Yes,” Zelda agreed, softer than her father. “I think that would work, but we’d have to find a way to incorporate the Gerudo as well. Urbosa is instrumental, and I don’t believe we should keep her out.”

“That’s favoritism.”

“That’s being practical,” she challenged.

Rhoam chuckled. “You are learning well, Zelda. We will contact Urbosa immediately to inform her and see her position.”

“Thank you.”

“Well,” Rhoam said, “I’m going to head to bed now. Is there anything you need, or are you all set?”

“I’m fine; thank you.”

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” he said wistfully.

“Since the Yiga attack? Yes, quite a while.”

“I’m sorry I haven’t been as attentive.”

“No, but it’s really okay. I know the thought is there.”

There was the sound of rustling fabric that Link assumed was Rhoam hugging Zelda.

Then, “What’s that?”

Link peeked his head out to see what the king meant, and when he saw his belt still on Zelda’s trunk, he groaned as quietly as possible.

Zelda was fast, though. Her eyes darted around, looking for him, but she simply tsked, a lie springing to her lips far too easily. “It’s Link’s. He left it after we trained, and I didn’t feel like searching for him afterwards, so I just brought it back with me. I’m going to return it in the morning.”

“Ah,” Rhoam said, picking it up. “You should have gotten it back to him immediately. Looks like there’s some stuff he needs on here. I’m surprised he didn’t seek you out.”

Zelda swallowed and shrugged. “He’s diligent. Maybe he didn’t want to leave his post. Or he has spares. Or, most likely, he knew I’d just return it in the morning.”

“Hrmm, true.” Rhoam examined one of the daggers. “You should keep it in your wardrobe rather than laying around. What if someone did manage to get in here? A Yiga, or some other threat? Then you’ve just left a whole arsenal at the foot of your bed.”

“Then I’d just have weapons at my disposal to defend myself.” Zelda took it and made her way to her closet. “But I understand your point, father. You’re paranoid but—” Zelda yelped in surprise at the sight of Link innocently standing hidden in the closet, his head between two of her dresses.

“Zelda?” her father asked, hurriedly turning to her. “What is it?”

With a quick motion, Zelda pulled the dagger out just a bit and slid her thumb along it.

She turned to Rhoam with a light stream of blood moving down her wrist. “I cut myself. Don’t worry.” Handing Link his belt, as if she were hanging it up, she closed the door, giving him an exasperated look as she did.

Rhoam bit his lip nervously and handed her a nearby cloth. “Good thing you two haven’t covered blades yet. Make sure Link gives you all the safety protocols first. We don’t want that to happen on a larger scale.”

“Yes, father. I know.”

“Need any help with that, or are you all set?”

“I’m just going to wash it out. It’s fine, but thank you.”

“Okay then. Goodnight, Zelda. May the Goddess watch over your sleep.”

“Goodnight, father.”

Rhoam looked her over one more time before closing the door behind him with a tell-tale thud.

Zelda breathed out a sigh of relief. “You almost gave me a heart attack.”

Stepping out of the closet, Link grinned at her and tossed his belt right back onto the chest at the foot of her bed. “You were late.”

“I’m the Princess of Hyrule. I’m not late.”

“Terrible logic,” he said, snorting. But he grabbed a wash basin and brought it to her.

“Thanks.”

He watched her dip her hand into the water and flinch as it lapped over her wound. Resisting the urge to help her, he grabbed the top book from her pile instead.

“No, wait!” Zelda said, crossing the room quickly to try to snatch the book from him, hand dripping still.

“Plants and Horticulture of Hyrule Field.” He raised his eyebrow and flipped to her bookmark. “Are you planning to start a gard—oh!” A grin spread over his face as he read the words on the page. “Guardian technology? Hoarding your blasphemous texts, are we? Are you going to start tinkering with them again?”

“You know I’m not allowed to, so give it back!” Zelda burned red and grabbed his arm to try to pull at him, but with one hand, it was a losing fight. Still, she tried feebly, knowing he’d already seen it, so there wasn’t much reason to really fight anyway. It wasn’t as if he was going to rat her out either. She was simply at the mercy of his teasing for a few moments.

“How did you even get ahold of this?” he chuckled, turning the page at random as his eyes scanned over the words. “Isn’t half of this stuff forbidden to be this close to the castle?”

But they both answered at once, the obvious answer hitting him immediately as Zelda was ready to confess: “Purah.”

This time, Zelda just crossed her arms. “I wanted to… experiment. So, I have a fake cover on it in case someone nosey decides to grab the book! You know my father is paranoid.”

“I do know that.”

“It’s just harmless fun!” she said, still feeling the need to defend herself and her thick tomb. “I’m never allowed to have fun, especially with the books they make me read. I want to read about the blast radius the Guardians have while powered by a massive ancient core! And I want to know the components of a Sheikah slate, so, so badly. My father won’t let me do any of it. I just want to read something that isn’t so political!”

Link hummed and nodded. “That’s true. Those books are the worst. My favorite was, gods, what was it called? An Economic History of the Merchant’s Guild of Hyrule. That’s the one that only spit out rupee facts that you kept telling me, right?”

She blushed a bit more fiercely this time at the level of attention Link had paid her without her realizing, and she pushed him by the arm. “Okay, get out.”

He watched her turn redder by the minute and turned back to her to tap his fingers against the hardcover book tucked in her arms. “You know I’m not making fun of you, right? I think it’s admirable how much you prepare.”

Letting out a breath, she threw herself back onto the bed and slammed her book into her forehead with a groan.

Link chuckled and pried the book from her hands. “I’m serious. You’ll make a good queen.”

Her eyes suddenly darted up to his. She wasn’t sure she’d ever heard anyone tell her that, except maybe her father during her moments of absolute despair when he knew she needed to be cheered up.

Flipping the pages of the Guardian text, Link narrowed his eyes, flipped another page, glanced at her, and then flipped the page again. He waved the book in front of her face. “You wonder why the Goddess doesn’t like you; it’s because you write in your books. Ink is permanent you know.”

She ripped the book from his hand and hit him in the arm with it, doing her best not to let her laugh at his jab break through her angry façade. “I’m aware.”

Watching a drop of blood trail down her finger, Link reached out and cupped her hand in his just before the long trail dropped onto the page. “That’ll stain almost as much as ink. You should wrap that up.”

Zelda let him lead her back to the water, keeping the blood in his hand until they were safe. He dipped his hands in first and shook them out, noticing that there was only one rag.

“Thank you.”

“You really shouldn’t have done that, you know,” Link said, watching the water turn redder.

“I had to think fast, okay? Try ‘thank you for not letting me get caught in your closet, Zelda.’ If I can do it, so can you.”

“Fine. Thank you. I appreciate you covering for me, but you didn’t have to injure yourself to cause an appropriate distraction.”

“You’re so annoying,” she breathed. “End it at ‘thank you.’”

“Why do you put up with me?” Link laughed, handing her the rag.

She wrapped it around her finger, letting the wound clot. “Because.”

“Because--?”

“Because. Because I just do.”

“That makes no sense.”

“Fine. Because I think you’re amusing. Whether that’s a good thing or not is dependent on the situation.”

Link grinned softly, barely noticeable in anything but his eyes.

Zelda watched him, content in their mutual silence.

But even that had to end.

After her cut had stopped bleeding, Zelda pointed to the empty space in the room. “Okay. Get on the ground.”

“Demands, demands, Princess.”

#wip wednesday #legend of zelda #botw au #pre-calamity au #link #zelda #zelink #writing #I have an innuendo issue in this fic which includes the title. Oops

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coffeeflavoredcookies · 3 years

Text

Krbk Multichap Fic Recs

The order doesn’t particularly matter. The ratings also vary, so be careful and make sure you read the tags to know what you’re getting into! Also, they are all completed.

Anyway, here we go !

Tonight we’re the sea by idratherhaveyou. (Artist Bakugo, Kirishima moves to the seaside! It’s so damn good! The writing, the characterization, the feelings, the story! The Everything!!!)

But I’ve got an angry heart by newamsterdam. (Dormmates, College AU! Baku wants peace, Kiri wants to make friends! Very good! A little (lot) angsty, but like honestly, VERY good)

Slow it down, go easy on me by newamsterdam. (Time travel AU that’s got everything to make it perfect. A marvel <3)

The fool’s rush by Chonideno. (Future AU! Roommates. Mutual pinning. Lots and LOTS of pinning. So fluffy you’ll cry)

Something just like this by imatrisarahtops. (such a feel good fic, following the themes of the krbk week 2018. Pinning, comfort and getting together)

The best part is falling by Claus_Lucas. ( (Bakugo’s had enough of Kiri not understanding his own feelings. It’s hilarious and cute)

You give me a quite mind and I’ll love you by Claus_Lucas. (the boys do lot of figuring out after the rescue, it’s good)

When you’re in love with your best friend by ellieb3an. (5+1! Bakugo realizes he’s in love with Kiri! It’s real good)

When you’re in love with your boyfriend by ellieb3an. (the long distance relationship that’s gonna melt your heart (the sequel) )

Coming up for air by ellieb3an. (Kiri learns to cope with the trauma after getting stuck in his own quirk, it’s very emotional and so so good! A++ caring baku! It’s amazing!)

Easy now, with my heart (careful now, with my heart) by multiclassmaps. (or how their classmates figure out they’re dating, very good!)

All I knew I could ever need was in front of me by multiclassmaps. (Married pro hero with a dog, perfectly fluffy and warm)

So take my hand, you life will be brighter by multiclassmaps. (hockey AU, amazing! Absolutely amazing! A must read! And reread!)

your heart's a mess, you won't admit to it; I'm desperate to connect- and you- you can't live like this by multiclassmaps. (unrequited love that’s not actually unrequited. So? Damn? Good?)

To the tune of Bakushima series (mostly canon compliant. How Baku and Kiri went from being Friends With Benefits to properly getting together. amazingly well written and just go read it!) (rating varies!!!)

Slow and steady series by Siij. (They get together. They figure things out. This is amazing, and the writing is great and the fluff!! Also, ratings vary)

Perihilion by tauontauff. (a blessing, a true blessing, soft, sweet, heart-melting. Christmas themed!!!)

One step closer by tuslee. (angsty, Bakugo gets in a car accident, his road to recovery is slow and difficult. Katsuki and Ochako friendship centric)

Burn like the sun by Kivea. (Firefighter AU! amazing Bakusquad interactions, I cried at times from how much I laughed! It’s great <3)

Crow’s feet by PotatoJesus. (Established relationship, future AU! really soft and sweet)

Heart stains on the carpet by cityboys. (bodyguard AU, the fake dating AU that started them all! cityboys is just amazing)

2AM by cityboys. (Bakugo goes back to his home town and is forced to work in his mother’s café. It’s cityboys, just read it)

Fucking feelings series by Equinurmae. (Hilarious, Baku and Deku friendship, Baku goes full gay panic and asks Deku for help)

I’ll save you myself by Obesessed_As_A_Coping_Mechanism. (very sweet and kinda gets hot at the end)

Just another sexuality crisis at midnight by PaperTrees. (I don’t know how to describe it without spoiling it, but it is AMAZING!)

Stuck in the blast zone series by Nickolefricle. (the interactions are AMAZING, and the little stories are really REALLY good)

Spring a season about love by Tears are salty. (kmjr and krbk and bkjr friendship. Very cute)

Today is not good so far by generic_handle. (Established relationship. Kiri invites Baku for night out with their friends but for some reason, it sets the blonde off. very funny)

2AM knows all secrets by Unbrekable_Red_Riot. (Baku has nightmares, Kiri helps. It’s REALLY good. Also, slight one-sided kmkr)

Kiss me you fool by Shizuumi151. (it’s a series of independent one-shots. Very sweet. The ratings vary)

Of fading Light and cooling space by SilentKnight. (Kirishima thinks baku is dead for 80% of this. Very painful. Very good)

Acceptance and denial by Poteto. (Kiri drags Baku into his attempt at coming out to his parents. It’s Very good!)

Friday I’m in love by mcgreys. (The one where Bakugo thinks Deku is in love with him and hilarity ensues)

Anyone can be a hero by RedBluePalatar. (Future fic. The one where a certain video forces kiri to give up hero life, until he meets Baku again a couple of years later. Very good!)

Nightmares aren’t explodable series by PurplePersnickety. (Or the one where Kiri is cranky. I can’t say more without spoiling but go read it it’s really good!!)

Everyone knows that cats are indepandant by PurplePersnickety. (the daemon AU where Kiri works in a coffee shop and Baku has a Lioness as a daemon! It’s so good!!)

Rosy by mr_todoroki. (the one where Baku steals Kiri’s first kiss and our cutie catches feelings!)

Red by mr_todoroki. (And they were roommates! Kiri is discovering things about himself and Baku does not like his new friend).

Sunchaser by Chonideno. (Denial of feeling?? Mutual pinning?? A lot of feelings? Like looking through a fogged glass? Very beautiful and poetic! An absolute must read! My heart still does weird things when I think about it!)

A heart swelled to bursting by eggstasy (established relationship. Lots of Bakuangst but also Baku growth. eggstasy writing a multichap, do you even need convincing, my dudes)

Cause the dark’s not taking prisoners tonight by imatrisarahtops (they’re both having nightmares and trying to help each other. Lost of angst but it’s so good)

This ain’t a fairy tale by alpha_hydra (kiri gets hit by a quirk that makes everyone fall in love with him. Baku is already in love. Smutty)

Moment of truth by Fanficismything. (the proposal AU. It’s really soft! You see it as Baku falls in love! It’s really good!)

Breath of the wild AU by Stylish_Racoon (as the title says. Bakugo is Link, Kirishima is Zelda and sometimes I wish I could wipe my memory just so I can experience it again)

Broken Bridges by DeathBelle (Kirishima comes back from aboard and they work together. Smutty)

Quote love unquote by newsamsterdam (it’s the fake dating celeberities AU we all want, it’s perfect, it’s a must read it’s everything)

Of Ghosts and other Inaccurate Things by chezka (Kirishima never made it to UA because he died and now he’s haunting Bakugo or so they thought. Listen, It’s really really good!)

The Magic Song by Zacksy (the cindrealla AU we all needed! A really sweet fic)

In the Kingdom On the Sea by deviance (Kirishima is a Kraken Merman (a REALY big one) and Bakugo is a pirate that’s madly in love with him)

Inevitable by Legendaerie (Pro-heroes, partners, Bakugo taking care of Kirishima and showing his love through that while Kirishima remains oblivious! It’s really good, like really insanely good with all the right fluffy feelings)

Ransom in Red by Shippeh (sort of cindrella AU that’s really good)

Sun Sets Red by Shippeh (College AU where kr and dk are roomies and Bakugo’s the hot not-boyfriend that came attached to Deku. It’s really good)

Heartbeat Thunder by Shippeh (ABO in UA where Kirishima is an Alpha that hates his secondary gender and is afraid to rut and Bakugo is an omega who relies too much on instincts and doesn’t believe feelings matter.

Built to Fall by bigstupidjellyfish (Post break-up pro hero krbks become partners and fight villains and mend their relationship and finally, FINALLY fuck! It’s very good )

there's a space here shaped like you by kingdoms (Fantasy Bakugo lands on Kirishima’s lap (figuratively) and Bakugo is jelly! Very good)

you can get what you want or you can just get old by hyperlight (Bakugo gets hit by a quirk that sends him to a future where he messed up everything and lost himself to become the number one (and still never managed it). Kirishima in this word is a really badass hero that doesn’t give too fucks about rankings! He’s super mature and harder but gosh I’m in love.)

half in and half out of the light by gangnamstiles (Kirishima gets discharged from the army, but he’s got a lot of scars left from his time there, Bakugo’s a rock throught it all, and so are their friends. They were a band before adulting, and now they’re tryna put it back together. It’s really emotional and good)

Worth a Thousand Words by awareoftheconcept (Kirishima thinks Bakugo is dating Camie and jealousy ensues but their friendship is so sweet it don’t really matter, plus they make it in the end. Did i say the way their friendship is portrayed is everything? They just REALLY love each other. I love this fic with my whole heart)

Out of the Slipstream by Ashii Black (ashiiblack) (and AU where th boys are professional cyclists and this Bakugo’s really hot and also they soft with some jelly Bakugo, very good. E rated)

Burden of Proof by kytrin, Mslead (it’s murder mystery with magic and romance and a great relationship development! It’s really really good! Mind the rating tho!)

In the Dark of the Night by arxaris (Katsuki’s the emperor of rome and Kirishima’s a Gladiator that catches his eyes. It’s a sort of fwb that evolves into something more because these boys can’t resist each other. It’s sweet and hot, very good all around.)

From Fire and Ashes, Flourishing by Milligramme (Bakugo’s a volcano god and kirishima’s the priest that gets chosen to «worship» him. They fall in love, it’s very good)

nuclear seasons by qactus (The lifeguard AU we don’t deserve. It’s a slow burn and it’s so damn good. Rated E).

the great wide somewhere by amaranthinecanicular (Beauty and the beast AU. References to the fantasy AU from the popularity polls that are integrated to the story so well. It’s just. Very very good)

Just a Few More Minutes in Heaven by loki_dokey (Bakugo is in love with Kirishima, everyone knows it except for him (including Kirishima) It’s very VERY good)

Eyes Like Dragon-Fire by Dragonire (and excellent fantasy AU slowburn. The world building is amazing and the developement of their relationship is great. It’s really good!!) Rated M

CALYPSO by gummyconcrete (No quirk AU, where they try to figure out their feelings in the few months they’ve left before graduation. Lots of feelings)

Bakugo’s Diary by Gyashi (It’s a sweet little story told in drawn diary entries)

Freshly Ground Coffee by arxaris (Cute barista!Kirishima PH!Bakugo AU)

Demon Kirishima Loves His Human by deviance (A series of connected one shots that deal with Demon!Kirishima and Not so human!Bakugo. Very good)

#kiribaku #bakushima #krbk #fic recs #krbk fic recs #i'll update it as I go i guess #long post

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aurathian · 3 years

Text

A Thousand Words

read on AO3

Summary: “There are thousands of words in our language and yet I can’t think of just one to describe you,” Link blurted.

“I can describe you with one,” Zelda replied, unfazed.

“Really? What?”

“Awkward.”

Rating: G

Word count: 1400

Link, the Prince of Hyrule, was most widely known for his good looks and deep, rich voice, capable of persuading even the most daunting enemies into submission. He could command legions of men and was rumored to have seduced countless women.

With his golden crown settled atop his head of messy, dirty blonde locks, he swallowed as he looked himself up and down in the mirror. A tunic of deep maroon, embellished with jewels of varying color and embroidered with gold, made him appear much more confident than he truly was.

“What do you opinion? I mean, what’s your opinion?”

“Well, I do opinion that you look fine as usual,” Revali, Link’s trusty attendant and best friend, mocked. “Maybe tuck your shirt in more.”

“Sorry,” Link groaned. “I was gonna ask about what you think, but I was also gonna ask for your opinion, and then it just meshed together.”

“I know. Bad habit, right?”

“Yeah. Bad habit.”

In spite of his facade of seductive suaveness and general put-togetherness, Prince Link of Hyrule was a mess. A stammering, anxious, poor-postured mess.

“Stand straight,” Revali reminded. “Hunched over princes don’t get courted.”

“You don’t know that,” Link scoffed even as he straightened his back.

“It doesn’t matter, I suppose. You put on a pretty good show anyway.” Revali peeked out the door. “It’s time to go.”

The pair left the dressing room and navigated a series of doorways to the ballroom, just outside of which Revali made final adjustments on Link’s attire. The servants on either side of the grand doors pushed them open, revealing the prince to the ball attendants; nobles from around the kingdom gathered on the intricate marble floors dressed in their most expensive suits and gowns and Link had to swallow back a nervous squeak.

If his father had it his way, he would give an elaborate speech. Instead, his arrival was announced and he was set free on the ballroom floor, but not without Revali tagging closely behind. The prince winked at the women he passed, shook hands with men he didn’t know, and accepted drinks from rushing stewards. The real battle came when he had to dance with the noblewomen, for his feet were not sure of themselves and often got caught on their skirts.

When it became too much, the anxiety flooding his system, he abandoned his attendant with some chatty nobleman and escaped to the gardens outside. To say he was shocked at the sight of someone else sitting next to the fountain was an understatement.

“Hello?” he called, more a question than a greeting.

The woman at the fountain whipped around to face him. “Oh, hello.”

“What are you doing out here?”

“Taking a breather.”

“Me too,” he said. Hastily, he sat next to her at the fountain.

Her eyes were green and her hair was sunny even in the moonlight, beneath the thousands of stars in the sky and among the deep green trees surrounding them. The light blue of her dress was complemented by the same moonlight, illuminating her against the water.

“What’s your name?” she asked.

“Huh?”

“I asked you what your name is,” she repeated.

“Uh… Link. I’m Link.”

“Oh.” Quickly, she bowed her head. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t know.”

“It’s okay, really.” He placed a shaky hand on her shoulder. “What’s your name?”

“Zelda,” she responded, looking up. “I’m sorry again. I didn’t know you were the prince—I’ve never seen what you look like before.”

“It’s okay, really. Stop being apologizing.”

She blinked. Tilting her head, she asked, “What?”

“I— uh— I said stop apologizing.”

“No… You said ‘stop being apologizing.’” A smirk snuck onto her face. “Is the prince not as bewitching with his words as I so often hear?”

“Y-you… respond so boldly to the prince? Well, I should… have your head! Or something.” He muttered the last part.

Bursting into laughter, she swiped at the tears forming with a knuckle. “You’re not threatening even if you try.”

“I’m working on it.”

“I see.” She squinted at him. “Why are you so awkward in private? You’re quite confident among the masses.”

“It’s a facade,” he admitted.

“I believe that,” she said with a snicker. “I’m sorry. Perhaps I’m being too rude.”

“Not at all. I like it, actually.” He stared at his hands in his lap. “Honesty is refreshing.” He was a hypocrite, he knew, not being honest himself about his true personality. But who would follow a cowardly prince that stumbled over each word, tripped over each pebble? Nobody.

A breeze swept through the garden then, and Zelda rubbed her exposed arms. “It’s a little cold,” she said. “Could we head inside?”

“O-of course!” He hurried to his feet and offered his arm. “Milady.” He displayed an awkward, toothy smile. With a grimace, she told him it was alright and that she could walk on her own.

He found himself mesmerized by this mysterious woman. She carried herself with graceful elegance and her voice was as sweet as honey, despite the undignified things that came out of her mouth. Yet he found her a breath of fresh air from the normally stuffy language of the courts, in the way she wasn’t afraid to laugh crystal clear or keep up formal speech with him.

They settled down in the hallway outside the ballroom, where the chatter and music could be heard faintly through the walls but nobody was there to bother them. They spoke for hours, about their families and where they lived, and he learned she was a noblewoman from the east, around Hateno. Link wasn’t the only one surprised, though—Zelda, used to hearing the heroic tales of the prince’s refined chivalry, was left dumbfounded when he stumbled over his words—and his feet, when he tripped over a rock in the gardens—more than once.

His mouth hung agape when she absentmindedly flipped her hair over her shoulder. When she noticed, she waved a hand in front of his face. “Hello? Are you alright, Prince?”

Clearing his throat, he stammered, “Uh, yeah. I’m fine.”

“I would say you’re smitten with me,” she declared, and he couldn’t even force himself to close his mouth. The boldness she spoke with in private rivaled that of his public front.

He swallowed and looked down at his boots, one foot tapping nervously.

“There are thousands of words in our language and yet I can’t think of just one to describe you,” Link blurted.

“I can describe you with one,” Zelda replied, unfazed.

“Really? What?”

“Awkward.”

“Okay, well, I’m not,” he spluttered, scratching the back of his head. “I am actually quite smooth.”

She laughed out loud at that. “Oh, please. You almost fell over walking back to the ballroom.”

“Clumsy does not equal awkward,” he huffed. “There’s no correlation—”

“There is a correlation, actually.”

“Not always!”

She covered her mouth with a gloved hand and chuckled, causing him to do the same. He ran a hand through his hair and exhaled, leaning against a hallway pillar. His eyes settled on her form, on her light blue dress and golden hair, her soft green eyes and lips curled into a smile, and he realized that he did have one word to describe her:

Wow.

“Hm? Did you say something?” Zelda asked, eyebrows perked.

“Oh, I… I said that out loud, huh,” he muttered, partially to himself.

The noblewoman turned her head at the sound of muted footsteps, watching as people filtered out of the ballroom doors at the end of the corridor. He wiped the sweat off his forehead in relief that she’d quickly forgotten his blurting. She sighed and handed her champagne glass to him.

“Well,” she breathed, “it seems I have to go.”

“Oh.”

“Maybe next time I see you, you’ll be able to narrow it down to a thousand words.”

“Uh, yeah. Haha.” He swirled the glass around in his hand. “Goodbye.”

“Goodbye, Prince Link.” Turning to leave, she sent a deadly wink his way, almost causing his heart to stop. His attempt at winking back, which turned into a strained blink, sent her into a fit of giggles that she had to stifle before mixing back into the crowd of nobles. He watched her go, fabric swishing behind her, keeping his eyes on her blonde head even as it blended in with the other people. Still, his mind could only land on one word.

“Wow.”

#zelink #zelda #the legend of zelda #loz #link #revali #trying to get back into the groove of writing #ballroom au….. again #fanfiction #my writing #botw #prince!link

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triforceangel13 · 3 years

Text

Love Across Time Ch. (Sidlink Story)

Chapter 4: Details

“We cannot miss our window of opportunity,” Zelda said firmly, biting the edge of her finger as she watched Link's unconscious body lay before her. He had been brought to the inn, having broken out into a fever and chills, his body sweating.

They had done what they could, putting cool cloths on him in hopes to make him cool down, giving him a blanket even to to help with his chill.

He hadn't woken yet since he passed out in front of Sidon.

“With all do respect your highness,” Sidon said, a frown heavy on his face. Mipha held onto his arm, giving him a knowing look. He had to keep his head and not be rude no matter how angry he was getting at the princess. She had a lot on her shoulders. “We could not predict that this would happen to him. It seemed like nothing could take him down.”

To him it looked like the princess was only focused on the mission. While important, hadn't Link meant something to her? He was the champion of hyrule, the one that wielded the master sword, the one blade that could take down this ultimate evil.

“Yes, that is quite true,” she sighed, resting her hands in her lap. “But we need him for this. He's the strongest.”

“Princess, if I may say something,” Mipha said. “We all just were part of a very large battle with those...monsters in the Divine Beasts. Won't it be in our better judgement to take some time to recoperate and regain our strength? That way we can come at the enemy from all sides with no one injured or weak.”

She didn't need to finish more thoughts. Sidon knew that she was mostly speaking of Link. He knew him even from his own Link. He never relaxed. He never rest. He kept going and going until, like this moment, his body gave out on him and made him rest.

Though there was something else that was brewing underneath. That look in Link's eyes before he had gone under meant something. Was there a connection to what was happening to Link by him being there like the others?

No doubt he was going to be down for several days at this rate while his body took it's time to heal and rest.

Why Zelda didn't notice this amazed him. He was with her all the time during this time. Even with being silent wouldn't she notice the paleness of his cheeks, the lack luster of his golden locks, the heavy dark circles under his eyes.

Mipha was right. She was more focused on the war than those helping her fight it. The first champions of the beasts were nearly killed but she expected them to as well go out ot battle again. No. Sidon was going to put his foot down.

He may not be with Link in this time but he was not about see him or anyone else collapse from being so sick.

The princess let out a heavy sigh, her shoulders sagging and for the first time in Sidon's life he saw a person rather than a royal figure. Zelda looked just as exhausted.

“Perhaps you are right Mipha,” Zelda said to her. “It might be good for all of us to take a short break. Three days minimum. Then we must do our next mission to stopping Ganon.”

Sidon frowned still and Mipha had to tug on one of his arm fings a little to keep him quiet. He looked away from the princess, looking down at the hylian in the bed.

Three days? That's all he got to rest? Link might need more than that. What would happen if his fever hadn't broken by then? Would she force him out into the field anyway?

“Rest princess,” Mipha said, moving other side and helped her rise up, linking her arm with hers. Zelda smiled softly at her but looked relucatant to leave Link's side.

“Fret not princess. He's in good hands,” Mipha said, looking to her brother. Sidon flushed a bit and finally looked to the two of them.

“Should anything happen to Link I will come get you if you're available,” Sidon said. Zelda hesitated a moment later and then nodded.

“Alright. Have a good night Prince Sidon,” she said, stepping from the room. Mipha turned a bit towards him mouthing the words: “behave”.

He knew what it meant. His urge to protect Link had left him a bit short with others when he didn't think their care was sufficient enough.

He was in charge of Link's care of the evening now, being of the most sound of mind and the least tired. Plus Mipha had insisted that Sidon be the one to do it. Perhaps a way for him to reconnect with Link or something.

He didn't want to get his hopes up, he felt like it wouldn't be something he could rely on. He was in the past, this Link didn't even know him other than as a Mipha's little brother.

He wanted to deny the chance to sit with Link all night until Mipha had reminded him that he had mentioned the look in Link's eyes. There was something inside of him that just told him that mayb Link would know something.

How did someone ask that though without eeming crazy? It wasn't possible.

The silence fell over him and he let out a sigh, looking to the slow rise and fall of Link's chest as he laid in the bed. Seeing him like this...it was too much...it was much like...

His eyes widened as his memories played before him again. Link's body laid on a bed of flowers, his hair down and resting around his shoulders, blue eyes closed to the world.

It was too much like the day he said his final goodbyes.

His breathing started to come in short gasps, tear welling up his eys as he grasped hold of Link's hand, the familiar feel of calloused fingers making him cry harder.

Back then he hadn't been able to grieve in front of everyone. He had to have held his head up high and not let others see his emotion.

But in private like now he couldn't help but let it out.

“I promise to come back to you...”

“Why did you break your promise?” Sidon asked, sobbing softly as he pressed his crest into the bed, clutching Link's hand. “You said you were going to come back.”

“I won't be gone long. I'll be gone only a coupe of days.”

“You lied,” Sidon choked out. “You never came back to us. You were gone after you did it. We never got to see your smile again.”

More tears rolled down his cheeks. He couldn't stop. He wanted to grieve. Not being able to...perhaps was why he had made his way up that cliff.

“I...tried...” came a soft voice. Sidon's head snapped up, looking to the blonde laying in the bed. A warm hand came up to Sidon's cheek stroking against the soft scales.

The tears kept coming, Sidon' shakily grabbed the hand on his cheek and pressed his face into it. This...this was his Link. But how? How was this possible?

“I never wanted to leave you Sidon,” Link said softly. “Ganon was stronger than me. But I took him down with me.”

Sidon clutched more at that hand and could only cry. Link wanted to come back to him. He didn't want to break his promise. He wanted to run back to him and start a life, get married and start a family together. Maybe even adopt a little baby zora or hylian or whomever needed a home. They had talked about it several times.

They never had that chance.

“I'm here now Sidon,” Link whispered to him, his thumb smoothing over his cheek, a smile tugging at his lips.

He didn't understand it. He was in the past with a different Link but here he was talking to him and touching him like he would back in his own time.

Right now he didn't care. He needed this comfort.

It took some time but eventually Sidon's tears stopped just enjoying having Link so close again. He didn't know how long this was going to last but he was going to take any moment he could right now. This was something he had sought for so long since his passing.

The two of them remained silent as Sidon cried it out, his head buried on his lap as Link sat up and rest his hands on his head.

There was no doubt in his mind that this was his Link, the one he had craved to have back in his life. But did he dare think that someone else would believe him?

Would even Link stay or would he go back to the Link of this time? So many questions that he was sure they wouldn't get answers to.

“You're thinking heavily,” Link mumbled to him. Sidon's head lifted, looking up into Link's tired face. He shifted up a bit, climbing onto the bed next to him and wrapped his arms around him. Link was more than happy to press his face into those scales.

“How did you know?” he asked with a soft laugh.

“Your head tail twitches when you think a lot,” Link said, glancing at the door. “I'm afraid to fall asleep...”

Sidon rubbed his back. He knew his worries.

“I might not be here again when I wake up,” Link said to him. “The other me might not be here and from what I have seen...he isn't sure what to think of you.”

Sidon couldn't help but laugh a little at that. “I can imagine. Someone he knows as someone who is meant to be but a boy in this age suddenly coming into his life.”

“Well that and among other things,” Link mumbled to him, starting to doze off against him. Sidon glanced down at him.

On one hand he wanted to have him stay awake. To enjoy this time with him. But he knew he needed his rest. He couldn't tell him to stay awake forever.

“No one can know about this,” Link mumbled to him. “They would think you were a mad man or had done something.”

“I know,” Sidon told him. Espeically if the Link he knew was a lingering spirit, one that the goddess had brought with him as Link was always around him in spirit. Perhaps he had only figured out a way to communicate with him this way.

Even if it was this one moment he got knowing the truth now he felt so much better. It wasn't so much the truth as it was closure. He knew now that Link had tried his hardest to get to him. That even injured he wanted to go back to Sidon.

“You should sleep,” Sidon said. “This body needs to rest. It has been through so much as it is. I'm sure you know that feeling too well.”

Link smiled a little bit at that, knowing fully well what was going on. He knew what his body did when he was over his limit.

But slowly his smiled faded. “But I don't want to leave again. It breaks my heart seeing you grieve so for me. I want you to keep going Sidon. For me. Do the things that I never got to do.”

Sidon held him close, feeling those tears brimming his eyes again. This might be the last time he got to speak to his dead lover's spirit.

“I will,” he said as he looked down at him. Link smiled softly up at him and then that hand cupped the back of his neck. Sidon felt his cheeks rise in warmth as he felt him pull him down. Inwardly this felt a little wrong.

This was Link but it also wasn't his Link. It felt wrong to kiss him. But deep down he couldn't resist being able to kiss Link.

Their lips met in a soft gentle kiss, Sidon not able to hold back his tears as they dripped down his face. No matter how much time went by he would miss him dearly and what they had. He would live or him as best as he could.

“Know that I always love you Sidon,” Link whispered to him, letting his eyes finally fall closed, tucking himself close to the prince.

Sidon smiled, tucking some blonde hair behind his ear. “And I love you Link. More than anything. Even if the you of this time hates me...I will never stop.”

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#age of calamity #sidlink #love across time

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airplanned · 4 years

Text

It’s Glaringly Obvious

More Ned-does-it-wrong Whumptober for your fluffy enjoyment!

Prompt 12: I think I've broken something (broken bones)

Prompt 30: Where did that come from? (hiding an injury)

***

At least one of Link's fingers is broken. It's glaringly obvious, as he's been favoring his right hand while cooking and opening doors and even his usual exuberant hand gestures are a little lopsided.

He's otherwise acting as if nothing's wrong. He's gone about his usual daily chores, and done his usual exercises (although he did announce that it was "leg day" as if she ever had any interest at all in his training regimen). He went into town and bought ingredients for dinner and while he was there, he helped find three lost cows, so it must not be hurting him that badly.

She notes with suspicion that he's wearing full gloves today.

Definitely hiding something.

He grins at her across the table as they sit down to dinner (which he made). Maybe she's wrong. He picks up his spoon with his left hand. Maybe she's right.

She bows her head in a prayer of thanks for the meal, and throws in a prayer at the end for Link's hand.

"How was your day?" she asks.

"Good," he says. He scoops the whole radish out of his soup and balances it on his spoon. "I found some cows."

"That is impressive. And how are you feeling?"

He thinks for a second. Then says, "I feel kinda gross. Cows are gross."

"Indeed."

They eat in silence for a moment. They're sitting catty-corner from each other, as there's a large chunk of a dissected guardian turret on the other side of the table. She watches him from the corner of her eye before getting an idea. She’s going to make him use his hand.

She reaches over and places her own hand on his knee.

He looks up at her, curious, but when he sees her meeting his gaze head on, his face softens. The smile he gives her is fond. He shifts slightly closer to her in his seat so she doesn't have to reach so far.

He does not cover her hand with his own. He does not remove her hand from his person.

Instead, he goes back to eating.

Frustratingly, dinner ends without her gaining any more information about his silly hand.

Link most likely has a broken rib. It's glaringly obvious, as he has been visibly wincing every time he's lifted something or reached for something or turned or sat down since he came home from his monster hunt. When he goes into the storage area to get plates for dinner and he thinks she can't see him, he makes an attempt at stretching, reaching an arm over his head. But then he hisses and shrinks in on himself, slapping his elbow to his wounded flank and grabbing at his side with his other hand.

She stomps to the doorway, plants her hands on her hips, and demands, "Are you hurt?"

He spins on her, his eyes wide with the knowledge that he's been caught.

"No," he says. "Just--you know--stretching." He draws his arm across his chest and locks it in place with his opposite forearm. He grins at her and then gives a happy sigh as he releases.

He definitely just stretched the uninjured side.

She narrows her eyes at him.

On further consideration, she's unsure if it's a broken rib or some kind of flesh wound. She analyzes how his tunic is lying across his side, trying to detect the bulge of a bandage.

She needs to get a look at it. Or, barring that, she needs him to admit that there's something wrong with his side. And then let her look at it.

He collects a basket full of ingredients to haul outside to the cooking pot, and she moves to grab it for him.

"I got it," he says, one of his eyes twitching as he lifts it.

Again, she tries to take it. "Let me get it for you. You shouldn't be lifting that much weight."

He twists away from her with a grunt. "Why not?"

"Because you're hurt."

"I'm fine. I think you just want to stand too close to me." He winks at her.

She flushes and takes an instinctive step back.

He grins and walks past her and--

Ugh! Absolutely infuriating.

Outside, he's set himself to chopping up vegetables with tiny little chops. She takes a seat nearby and ponders how to make Link crack. She needs to ask him to do some serious physical activity so he'll call uncle. Or would that just hurt his body more when he refuses to hurt his pride? She doesn't actually want to injure him really.

It's a puzzle.

He's stirring slowly when she gets an idea. Wanting to stand too close to him, is she?

She scoots closer. And closer. And then leans against him under the guise of smelling dinner. She looks over at him from just a few short inches away and beams. "That smells delicious."

He smiles back. Leans against her a bit before turning back their meal.

She reaches up and traces the stitching on the edge of his tunic, letting her fingers drag. When he turns back to her, she gives him a flirty look from under her eyelashes. At least she hopes it's flirty. She's not an expert.

He gives her a bemused look. "You're frisky tonight." Then he turns back and stirs the soup some more.

Frisky!? She is indignant. Yes, she is--technically--trying to seduce him in hopes that he'll go "Oh ouch! My side!" But "frisky"?

He calls her frisky and then turns back to his pilaf?

That will not do at all.

With a huff, she snatches his spoon from his hand, throws it aside, twists so she's straddling his lap, and kisses him.

Let's see him turn away from that!

He makes a muffles noise of surprise, but then grabs for her back and pulls her closer. The kiss turns eager, desperate, and--wait, she had a mission. He was supposed to refuse her because he was so injured and she was supposed to throw a victorious finger in his face and--oh shit, she's kissing Link.

She doesn't stop kissing him.

He moans into her mouth, and she's not sure if it's in delight or discomfort. Maybe she shouldn't be doing this. Because of his injury.

Neither of them stop.

A few minutes later, one of his hands is in her shirt, and she's rucking up his tunic, and it's snagged on something, and--

He breaks the kiss with a curse, and she blinks at him in confusion until her senses return. Her hand is most definitely grazing a bandage. She yanks his shirt up to his armpits for a better look.

"Ah ha!" she says. She grins at him, but she's much more breathless than she was in her imaginings of this moment. "I knew it."

"You're very smart," he agrees, then grabs the back of her head and drags her in for another kiss.

Link has been shot in the leg. It’s glaringly obvious, as the arrow is still there, sticking out the side right under his knee. The leg gives out beneath him as he stumbles towards her, and he falls to one knee.

“Oh Goddess, Link!” She runs to him, bending to grip his shoulder.

Wincing, he says, “It’s fine. I’m good.”

“You are most certainly not good. You’ve been shot in the leg!”

“I’m...It’s fine.”

She frowns at that, and then straightens up and crosses her arms over her chest. If he’s fine, then he doesn’t need her help. “I see, so you’re just on the ground for the fun of it.”

“I’m not on the ground. This is...a kneel.”

“Well then, excuse me. Carry on.”

“I...meant to be down here.”

“Oh? Tying your shoe, are you?”

His boots do not have laces, but he looks down to check anyway.

“I...um...” His eyes dart around for an excuse.

She waits with pursed lips until his frantic searching lands on her face.

“Um. Will...you marry me?”

She blinks at him. And then explodes. “I beg your pardon!?”

He puts some effort into making his voice sound more confident, as if that will make a difference. “That’s what I’m doing down here. Asking you to marry me.”

He reaches for her hand, and she bats him away.

“I can’t believe you would—This is— Ugh! What on earth would you do if I said yes?”

“...Get...married?”

“Ugh!” She throws her arms in the air and starts to pace. Link, of course, stays where he is. “I can’t believe you would be so flippant about—This is a serious matter, and—am I’m just a joke to you?”

“No! What? Zelda, marry me.”

“Why would I do such a foolish thing?”

His brows crinkle in confusion. Or maybe pain. “Because I love you?”

“Ha!”

She considers leaving him here in the road.

“Are...you turning me down?” he asks.

“Are you seriously asking me to marry you instead of admitting you’ve been shot?”

He nods. “I’m seriously asking you to marry me.”

She stops pacing and narrows her eyes at him. He gives her his most hopeful look.

“Fine,” she says. “I’ll agree when you admit there’s an arrow in your knee.”

He stares at her. Then he licks his lower lip. It takes him a very long time to say, “Um. Clearly you can see...”

He gestures at his leg and trails off.

She folds her arms again, stares him down, and waits.

“Zelda,” he says. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you. And I’ve been shot. In the leg. With an arrow.”

...Well. That’s...

“Actually, there’s also a second one in my shoulder.”

“Link!”

#Zelda #Whumptober fail #my fic

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lorelylantana · 3 years

Text

The Difference

I was inspired to write by some of the amazing @ghostgirl19posts‘s work for Febwhump and with permission I’ve decided to write a little epilogue for the Ganon’sChampion!Link chapters, the first of which can be found here but you should also read parts two and three for this to make sense.

Overall rating: T

Warnings: Emotional Manipulation, unhealthy relationship that grows to be slightly less unhealthy.

“Did you really believe that anything would be different?”

No, she supposes she didn’t. Not really. She isn’t that stupid.

Zelda sees the dead sincerity in his eyes when he speaks, but the relief at Ganon’s fall has sparked a rebellious streak in her. She won’t let him get off that easy, so she masks her dismay with an apathetic flip of her hair.

“Just as well,” she hums, the picture of a bored princess, “As far as I’m concerned, my job is done so long as the kingdom isn’t actively on fire. I see nothing wrong with lounging about for the rest of my days. If you want to do all the paperwork, be my guest. In the meantime, I’ll be in the library. It’s been too long since I’ve read a good book.”

She doesn’t wait for permission, slipping out of his arms and breezing out the door. He stands there a moment, shocked into silence. He likely would have called after her if he wasn’t rooted to the spot by the dread sinking in his body.

“ . . . Paperwork?”

Despite Link’s insistence otherwise, Zelda did begin to notice things were different. The changes were small, incremental, but no less potent. She was not so foolish as to let her guard down, but a drop of water can cut through stone through sheer persistence.

Zelda woke up in the middle of the night needing to go to the bathroom. This was an increasingly common occurrence as her midriff expanded to accommodate the child growing there. She lay on her side, Link curled around her back and his hand on her stomach. The day after Ganon’s assassination his rooms were cleared and refurbished to house the new royal couple.

The first difference. Their rooms were divided no longer. At first, Zelda assumed that he was tired of having to summon her and this unification was an attempt to streamline his path between her legs. She thought it a decision driven by lust, but she had to admit that their nightly escapades had decreased. He still took Zelda into his arms often enough, unwrapping her with painstaking, almost precious care and leaving her skin open to be devoured. But there were also nights like these, where the days were long and Link seemed to sense her fatigue and was content to simply lie wrapped around her, his hand never straying from her abdomen. Zelda wondered if he was as tired as she was, adjusting to kingship, but most of her husband’s mind was still a mystery to her.

Her husband.

There was no royal wedding. No dress. No grand feast to celebrate Zelda’s return to royalty. There was only an acolyte and a set of documents to be signed before she was once again dragged off to bed. They couldn’t find a priest, so they said their vows in front of the closest alternative.

Zelda yawned and slipped out of bed to relieve herself. While she was washing her hands she took a moment to consider her reflection.

Zelda knew there were aspects of her marriage that were unacceptable, she knew that.

But there was no denying the privilege afforded to her as queen, even if she was only a puppet. Her hair still shone, her eyes were bright, and her cheeks full. A far cry from the gaunt, weary state the servants were in. She shuddered to think of how her citizens looked outside the castle walls. The conquest of Hyrule was her fault. It was her failure to claim her birthright that brought this ruin upon him. Yet here she stood, safely tucked away, insulated from the Calamity’s devastation.

Sometimes, when she was honest with herself, Zelda had to admit there was a part of her that was grateful for Link’s command that she stay within the castle. His mandate, cruel though it was, gave her a plausible excuse to hide from her mistakes. The castle walls were high and thick, strong enough to shut out the guilt that was her obligation.

Zelda jerked her head to the side, unable to look herself in the eye any longer. She padded back into the room. Instead of heading straight back to bed, though the promise of warmth against the late fall evening was tempting, she was drawn to the window. The guardians still roamed the streets of the shattered Castle Town. They were malicious no longer, only patrolling out of ancient duty, but none dared approach. Above all the ruin, the sky was clear of Ganon’s hateful red. At least she could see the stars.

“Come to bed.”

Zelda turned to where Link lay, staring at her. She supposed he finally lost his patience with her idling. If she were a more fanciful woman, Zelda would think he was fussing over her standing in a room that chilled when the fire died in the hearth. She returned to the massive bed Link claimed as theirs and sat down, kicking her slippers off before sliding back under the lush, heavy comforter. Link’s hand was back on her stomach before she settled, an imitation of a caring husband so convincing it was cruel.

She didn’t cry, because tears were a cry for help she didn’t deserve.

Before her growing stomach prevented it, Zelda spent most of her days firmly ensconced in Link’s lap as he looked over documents. He refused to ask for the help any of the few conquered noblemen that still lived, as he insisted such an action was beneath him. Besides, what better way to remind the captive queen of her place than to make her explain all of this bureaucratic nonsense?

“What exactly is the point of a crop rotation?” he huffed as he read the agricultural proposal over lunch. Zelda finished off her sandwich before answering.

“Different plants require different nutrients from the land to grow. If you grow the same crop in the same field every year, eventually those nutrients will deplete. Switching things up gives the soil an opportunity to regain those specific nutrients while reducing the amount of bad harvests.”

Link hummed as he signed his approval of the proposal. All of this drivel was really giving him a headache. He reached for the last half of his sandwich, but Zelda got there first, plucking it off of his plate and sinking her teeth into it. Child crafting was a hungry business, after all.

Link disguised his failed reach by redirecting it around Zelda so his arms circled her waist, both hands resting on her stomach. He supposed a sense of entitlement was a good quality for a queen to have.

He didn’t need that sandwich anyway.

The powers that be must have finally resigned themselves that he was here to stay. They must have given up on his downfall, and instead must have focused on encouraging what little virtue he had. They must be, for such a petty generosity to be rewarded by the baby’s first kick.

“The baby kicked!” he gasped, craning his head over her shoulder to look down at where her tummy peeked out under her breasts.

“Yes, love, I noticed,” Zelda deadpanned, then they stilled in tandem.

Love. A word that had no business between them. Obsession, perhaps. Possession. But ‘love’? It was laughable. Link opened his mouth to say something castigating, something harsh enough to bring back the status quo.

“Careful.”

Link’s head jerked back in surprise. She didn’t turn to look at him, ignoring him in favor of taking the apple from his plate, so he pressed.

“What did you say?” Who was she to caution him?

“Merely making an observation,” she said, turning her hand this way and that, regarding the fruit with a critical eye, “After all, what upsets the mother threatens the child.”

A chill ran down Link’s spine. Perhaps, even after all this time, he had underestimated her. He didn’t have the luxury of composing himself at his own pace, because she had turned to him. The calculating, sharp look in her eye brought him to heel.

“Wouldn’t you agree?” she asked.

Link’s hands started rubbing again, and his lips dropped to her shoulder. He had surrendered, but he wasn’t sure if the victor was Zelda or his own traitorous heart.

“Yes, dearest.”

Zelda hummed in response, bringing a hand up to comb luxuriously through his hair. He sighed, and she brought the apple to her lips, biting into it with a satisfying crunch.

After all, a marriage bed is an arena of equals.

Perhaps the statement was insensitive, but being a pregnant queen of a ruined castle did have some perks. Primarily, it was the absolute lack of regard for decorum. Despite the circumstances, Zelda felt a lighthearted thrill of walking around the palace, once a place of rigid etiquette, in nothing but a nightgown and silk robe. Link’s insistence, of course. When her corset was no longer comfortable to wear, Link inferred that her dresses would be too tight as well. He could have had new ones made, but why bother with garments that would have to be altered half a dozen times? No, it was far more efficient for his queen to lounge about in her nightgowns.

Of course, the knee length hem had absolutely nothing to do with it. Link didn’t even notice when a knee length gown in the first trimester stopped at the top of her thighs in the third. Or the fact that Zelda stopped wearing anything underneath when putting something on became difficult. Irrelevant, all of it.

If he happened to capitalize on the opportunities it afforded to him, fine, but that was an entirely separate matter.

Zelda stretches, trying to release some of the tension in her back, before falling stiffly back into her chaise. It was absurd, but the moment he realized she could no longer fit in his lap he’d commissioned a modified chaise specifically for her and had it brought to the office. She said it was overkill, but he didn’t care. That said, her back had grown to appreciate the reclined seat and cushions.

Still, one couldn’t help the stiffness that came with sitting for long periods of time. Perhaps she should take a turn about the room? Zelda swung her legs down, then started probing for her slippers. Surely they must be in the same spot she left them? Still, with her stomach as large as it was she couldn’t really see.

Link knelt on the floor next to her, having gotten up the moment he saw her sit up. He took her foot in his hand gently while the other reached under the chaise to pull out the missing footwear. He delicately put the slipper on one foot, perhaps wary of hurting her swollen ankles. He repeated the action with her other foot before wordlessly helping her stand, even though he knew she didn’t need it.

At least, she thought she didn’t. Turns out, fate had other plans, and Zelda felt an intense cramping in her lower abdomen, causing her to double over with a start.

“Zelda!? Zelda, tell me what’s wrong?”

She looked him in the eyes, the same concern held in his grip supporting her arms shining in his eyes.

“Call the midwives.”

The night was quiet. Link would swear that it was the first peaceful moment since Ganon’s rise. Although, it’s entirely possible that this tranquility was an illusion born of the chaos of the day preceding. Now his lovely wife was sleeping, exhausted, in the bed while he sat in a chair next to her.

The baby in his arms huffed, and Link’s attention was drawn from the Zelda sleeping in the bed to the one resting in his arms.

They had to name her Zelda. Of course they did. Other names didn’t seem to fit.

The people of Hyrule couldn’t be trusted to look after his daughter, they were losers! How could they be trusted with someone so precious when they couldn’t even win one war? They couldn’t, simple as that. No, the only ones who were capable of looking after little Zelda were himself and his queen, no others.

But then who would run the country?

Link supposed he could carry on, leaving the childrearing to Zelda as he made sure any and all threats were eliminated before they even looked at the castle. Baby Zelda squirmed, one of her arms coming loose of her swaddling and slapping him in the face.

What was he thinking? Zelda couldn’t hone these raw battle instincts. She can’t even do a backflip, much less after giving birth. Besides, why should she get all the time with the baby? He’s the king! He should get to do what he wants, and he wants to raise his little girl. Zelda can handle affairs of the state well enough. Not right away of course, she needs time to recuperate, but after a few months she should be more than capable of take Hyrule’s reins while he looks after the little one.

“Come here,”

Link looked to the bed, Zelda was sitting up. He moved to help her, but she waved him away, pulling herself into a sitting position with a wince. Once she was settled he slid under the blankets. Zelda undid her nightgown, allowing their sweet daughter to latch on her breast. She winced.

“Does it hurt?” he asked with a frown. She shook her head.

“It’s a bit uncomfortable, I’ll get used to it.”

Link put an arm around her shoulders and gently pulled her to him. She leaned on him, resting her drowsy head in the crook of his neck, and Link was overcome. He couldn’t fight anymore. It was time to admit defeat.

He pressed his nose into her hair, “I love you.”

When his statement was met with silence, he thought she had fallen back asleep, or perhaps his whispered words were lost in the crown of her head. Then, like a dream, she answered.

“I love you, too.”

Outside, a cool breeze blows through the land, a sigh of relief as the first sprout pushes through the earth, marking the beginning of a new era.

#the legend of zelda #zelink #tw #emotional manipulation #botw zelink #link #zelda #Lantana Lore #LoZ AU #LantanaLore #tw pregnancy

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pastelsandpining · 3 years

Text

Mend

Summary: Link reflects on the time he’s spent with Zelda now that everything is over. Final piece of the series, though they can all be read seperately.

Words: 1457

Warning: nothing I can think of, so read with caution

Masterlist

~~~~

There weren’t enough words to describe the Princess of Hyrule. She was as golden and divine as the light she appeared in, and she was as warm and solid as he’d always imagined her to be. When he could hold her again, it was all he could do to not hurt her. But her arms squeezed him tight and his trembling fingers tangled in her hair and he tried to hold her closer, to take in every bit of her that he could. She wasn’t a figment of his imagination, or a fragment of a memory from a life long ago. She was real, and how he missed her so much that it ached. She was warmer than the sun, and her voice was melodic and lovely and close, and her eyes were so vibrant and lively, and she was absolutely golden. She was here, in his arms underneath the sky breaking into dawn, and he never wanted to get up again. She was familiar. She was home.

Zelda.

He offered all he could to her. He offered his house to her, he offered his company when she asked him in an uncertain voice to not leave her alone in the night, and he offered his unspoken vow to be by her side for the rest of his life--because he knew what it was like to live without her, and he didn’t think he could do it again.

It was hard to describe how it felt to know her again, but the world seemed brighter, and the wind was gentler, and he didn’t feel as lost or confused as he did before. It was a nice feeling. He was sure he hadn’t felt this way in a very long time.

The feeling did not fade. It only grew with every moment he spent by her side. And even now, just watching her dance in the firelight with Riju and Kass and the Rito children, he felt at an absolute peace. There were still things missing of course—bits and pieces of their past, but they were navigating that together.

Together, which is what he’d wanted for so long that it crossed the span of lifetimes. He was certain of it.

“She is divine,” spoke a voice from beside him. “I remember her being ever so kind. She has not changed at all. It is good to have her back.”

Link turned his head to Sidon, at last taking his eyes off of Zelda, and he offered a slight smile.

“It is,” he agreed, though having her back was so much more than simply ‘good’. Having her back felt as if a piece of life had returned, and a drop of sun had kissed his skin, and everything had been so very worth it.

“I’ve never seen you happier, my friend.” Sidon reached out a hand and patted him twice on the shoulder. “Save for when you’re eating, of course.”

Link shook his head, but a bigger smile graced his lips anyway.

“There’s reason to be happy,” he explained, leaning back on his hands. “She can rest now. We all can.”

“I can think of no one who deserves it more.”

No, no one deserved it more than her. She would never agree, of course. She’d insist Hyrule wouldn’t have needed saving should she have woken her power sooner, but he would forever say otherwise.

“She’s happy too,” Link spoke again, “I think.”

“Can you not tell?” Sidon asked. Link tilted his head, watching the way her hair floated around her as she twirled, kicking up sand in the process. Her shoulders and back were tinted red from the sun, or maybe it was just the firelight dancing with her. Perhaps it was both, making her look as warm as the smile on her face. The Deku Tree had not lied about her smile, though oftentimes he thought it surpassed the sun.

“Sometimes,” he admitted. “It’s a hard thing to be. Happy, I mean. Sometimes we’re not. Sometimes she wakes up screaming, or we’re hurting, or I’m.. trying too hard to be someone I’m not. But we’re growing, I think, and when she’s happy, she’s radiant.”

“I know it isn’t easy, but for all it’s worth, I think you’re doing an incredible job.” Sidon nudged his shoulder with a grin. “You’re taking care of each other. That’s special.”

“She’s special.” As if she’d heard them, Zelda turned to face them with a bright smile and gestured for him to join her. Because she was so far away, Link admitted quietly, “I adore her.”

“Then shall we join her in the festivities?” Sidon asked, standing with a hand held out to him. “I fear Kass’s dear children won’t make it much longer.”

No, but their sleepiness didn’t keep them off of their feet for long. It really shouldn’t have been funny, but Link almost laughed at the stumbling children anyway as he took Sidon’s hand and was hauled to his feet.

Immediately, Zelda was at his side. He took her hands and let her pull him into a dance, though he found it was more of just spinning in a circle. Still, he pulled her closer by the hands and let her laughter fill his heart until he thought it would burst.

“You’ve grown out of the two left feet,” she teased.

“Cut me some slack,” he replied with a smile of his own. “I haven’t danced in a hundred years.”

“I was complimenting you,” she said with a roll of her eyes, “but if that’s how you want to be..”

She turned to walk away, but Link pulled her back by her hand. Zelda stumbled back into his chest with a laugh and he wrapped his arms around her waist, keeping her back against him.

“I accept the compliment,” he muttered, though he didn’t think she heard it over the music. But he was right, her skin was warm.

“Come on, Kass has to put his kids to sleep,” she said, taking his hands and untangling herself. “Let’s take a walk.” Though part of him was sure she wanted an excuse to go back in the water. He was right, of course--she walked with her feet in the lapping water on the shore. He noticed that she loved to feel the world around her, every drop of water or blade of grass or breath of wind. It was a different experience now, she’d told him.

Zelda would never hear suggestions about what she should do now or where she should go. She had her heart set on restoring her kingdom, and he loved her for that. But there was something about the wild that made her so beautiful. She’d never give it up, so he would accompany her wherever she went just to see her smile.

“We could stay here,” he offered as a joke, squeezing her hand. “In Lurelin.”

“Vacations don’t last forever,” she replied. “But it sounds wonderful.”

“Where to next?” he asked, swinging their arms between them.

“Wherever you want to go. It’s your pick.”

“What about a few days out in the wild?”

“Like scavengers?”

“Like scientists,” he corrected. Zelda’s smile gave off more light than the moon and he grinned right back, turning to face her entirely. “There’s always more to study.”

“I don’t appreciate you using my words against me,” she replied, slipping her free hand into his. “I feel as if that’s cheating.”

“You just don’t like when I’m right.”

“It’s a rare occurrence.”

But she only laughed at his pout. He couldn’t even feign anger at her for that. She made him break so easily. How he’d done it a century ago, he didn’t know, but he didn’t have to keep it together anymore. He’d let her know until the day he couldn’t just how happy she made him.

“What can I say? You glow in the wild,” he said simply, leaning his forehead against hers.

“Bioluminescent?” she asked, a hint of fondness to her voice. “I’m not quite sure that’s possible.”

“And you say I can’t take a compliment,” he replied, rolling his eyes.

“Well, you can’t.”

“Gods, you’re-”

“I’m what?”

She was fighting back a smile. He almost laughed, but he kept his composure and shook his head, replying, “You’re everything I dreamed you would be and more.”

“I think you take pleasure in killing me,” she said, hiding her face in his shoulder. Link only laughed and turned his head, pressing a kiss to her hair.

Gods, how he adored her. She was so lively and wonderful and he’d never felt more complete. Every struggle, every bit of pain he’d felt was worth it because she was here with him.

He would live a thousand lifetimes with her.

#zelink #botw zelink #breath of the wild #let them be happy #my writing

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raviotherabbit · 3 years

Text

royal pain in the ass- chapter 6

Chapter 6: Era of the Great Sea Captain Tetra saves some castaways.

[first] - [previous] - [next] read it on ao3!

△ ▲△

There was just something about Outset Island.

Tetra hated pretty much everything about it. The people there were soft, even the fishermen who spent their days hunting down the monsters of the sea. Everyone was preoccupied with their simple lives. Rearing their children, washing their clothes and hanging them to dry, playing with wooden swords…

They all went on like this, day after day, as though a great and powerful kingdom did not lay in ruins, miles below the sea.

But still, some little part of Tetra couldn’t help but want it. She wanted that simple life, to live without a care in the world. The burden on her shoulders was heavy, but the time she’d spent on Link’s little island, where nobody needed anything from her, had lifted it.

So when she found Link on Outset, of all places, well… that just sweetened the deal, didn’t it?

Rats… Wind was his name, now, wasn’t it? At least for now it was.

The best part of Outset, though, had to be the woods. The Forest of Fairies was quiet these days, which perhaps made it all the more ideal in Tetra’s opinion. She never got a second alone on her ship, not truly, but she could here.

Gently, she placed a hand on one of the trees, tracing the grooves in its bark. She was familiar with this one. When the Helmaroc King dropped her, it was this tree that she fell into, the branches snagging on her clothes. And then she met Wind.

Goddesses, where would she be without Wind? If this one, special, stupid kid hadn’t found her that day. Part of her wanted to think she could have taken Ganondorf on her own, and that was the part of her she let control the narrative.

Still, the Forest of Fairies was beautiful. Tetra could only hope their new home would have places half as pretty. With its cool breeze rustling fallen leaves, the ever-present smell of fresh dew, and gentle harp strumming…

Wait. Who the hell was playing the harp up here?!

Her good mood thoroughly ruined, Tetra followed the sound of the harp. Eventually, she came upon one of the heroes, sitting at the forest’s cliff.

What was his name? Cloud? No, that’s close, but not right… What’s a Hero of the Clouds, anyway? That sounded stupid. Hero of the Sun? Hero of the… Wind? No wait-

Sky! It’s Sky!

Yikes, though. Sky didn’t look so good. He kept plucking at the strings of his harp, but each time he only made it a few notes in before wincing. There were dark circles under his eyes, which kept darting up towards his clear, blue namesake with desperation.

Tetra almost left right then and there.

But there was a voice in the back of her head, one that sounded a bit like Wind, a bit like an old king. A princess would try to help her people.

Ugh. Fine. This would be a good practice run, anyway.

“Hey, buddy,” Tetra awkwardly tried to put on her cheerful princess voice. “What’s- what’s up?”

Sky looked back at her, almost no emotion on his face. “Oh, Zelda.”

“It’s Tetra,” she responded instinctively, mentally cringing at her own bluntness. She’s trying to be nice now!

“Right, Tetra,” Sky nodded, as if reminding himself. “I have a question for you.”

“Alright, I can answer questions.” Tetra took a seat next to Sky, letting her legs dangle off the cliff’s edge. “What do you want to know?”

“Your Hyrule,” he gestured towards the Great Sea, expanding as far as the eye could see. “How did it come to be this way?”

Right, this guy’s the first one. “Well, Ganondorf was sealed in the Evil Realm,” she started.

“Then what happened?”

“He broke free. The people of Hyrule, they prayed to the Goddesses to save them from his wrath, and-” Tetra swallowed. “And they flooded the land.”

For a moment, Sky was silent. His grip on his harp was tight, and for a moment, Tetra was concerned he’d break it. It was such a nice piece of treasure, after all, and it’d be a shame if it were harmed.

Finally, he spoke again. “How many died?”

“What?” Tetra almost shouted, certain she’d misheard him.

“When the flood came, how many died?” Sky reiterated, his gaze focused on the waves lapping at Outset’s shore.

“I- I don’t…” she sputtered helplessly. “I don’t know.”

“This is the legacy I’ve left the world,” Sky said. “What did their blind faith bring them?”

△ ▲△

Standing on the stern of her ship, Captain Tetra takes in a deep breath and sighs. There’s nothing like the open ocean, is there? Cutting through the waves, the smell of salt in the night air…

With Wind gone on his little hero quest, searching for new land has taken a backseat. He would kill her if she even thought about founding her kingdom without him there by her side. Well, at least try to. They both know who would really win that fight.

But it’s not so bad. New Hyrule can wait, Tetra has a chance to focus on some of her own passions.

“Captain!” It’s Gonzo, Tetra’s right-hand man. He stops a few feet behind her. “We’ve spotted the Ghost Ship at Greatfish Isle!”

Like hunting down and destroying every last Ghost Ship on the high fucking seas.

“Excellent.” Tetra smirks. “Alter course for Greatfish. We’re going to destroy some undead tonight.”

“Uh, that’s just it, Captain,” Gonzo says. “There’s people on the island, yeah? And they’re fighting the monsters!”

“What?!” Tetra snaps back towards her subordinate. “Who would be stupid enough to fight a Ghost Ship?!”

△ ▲△

Of course, the second they noticed the ship, that’s when the undead started jumping onto their islet.

“Get it off get it off get it off get it off!” Flora desperately shouts as, using the Magnesis Rune, she slams the shield from Artemis down onto the Stalfos that has an iron-tight grip on her ankle.

“Flora, use the shield!” Dusk shouts over her shoulder, focused more on parrying off the sword of a Stalfos. In the same swift movement, she drives her rapier cleanly into its skull. As much as Artemis hates to admit it, Dusk is good. “Don’t make it a mallet!”

“She knows what she’s doing!” Artemis contends, just as her sword meets the lantern of a poe. “She doesn’t need you telling her what to do!”

“Now isn’t the time for arguing with each other!” Sun’s exasperation drips off her words. She’s just barely able to duck, dodging a swing from a Stalfos. On the ground, she kicks a leg out, knocking the walking skeleton off its feet.

Artemis’s eye twitches, and she snaps back around in anger. “I’m just saying-!”

But that moment of distraction was just a smidge too much. The Poe rises behind her, raising its glowing hand, preparing for the one, fatal strike. But before Flora can even gasp, or Sun can yell for her to watch out-

BANG!

The Poe’s lantern shatters, and with an agonizing shriek, it disappears.

There’s another ship in the water, bearing a red and white sail with two crossed swords. And there, gripping onto a rope as she leans off the bowsprit, is Tetra, the barrel of her gun smoking.

“Tetra!” Artemis could breathe a sigh of relief. “Thank the Goddess you’re here!”

Tetra blinks, taken aback for a moment. “Queenie?! I thought the Time War was over!”

“Fight now, talk later!” Sun shouts over the Stalfos she has in a headlock.

Tetra nods, tilting her head back towards her ship. “Boys! Lend them a hand!”

At her word, a crew of men lapel down from the ship and into the shallow waters. With their cutlasses drawn, they begin slicing away at the Poes and Stalfos attacking the stranded ladies.

Tetra sharply whistles, catching Artemis’s attention. “Queenie, take your best, leave the other two behind! We’re boarding that ship!”

Artemis bites her cheek. Her best, huh?

Well, there was no doubt about which of them had the most training.

“Dusk!” she cups her mouth as she yells.

And Dusk almost instantaneously freezes, her rapier dropping slightly as she looks at Artemis, her eyes wide.

“Come with me to the ship!” Artemis points towards the Ghost Ship. “We need you!”

For a moment, a very brief one, Dusk doesn’t react. Then, she smirks, a smugness only a queen could have.

“It’s about time,” she says.

△ ▲△

The second they step into the Ghost Ship’s hull, Dusk’s nose wrinkles. “I can practically feel the dust in the air.”

The whole interior of the ship seems to be filled with smog, solidifying the undead ambience. Its wooden walls groan as it’s rocked by the sea, giving off the same eerie blue lighting it had on the outside. Below them, on the ship’s bottom, were monsters. Poes and ReDeads.

“We need to get back there,” Tetra gestures towards the back of the ship with her cutlass. “Once we take the treasure, the ship will disappear.”

“Right, because you’re pirates,” Dusk crosses her arms. “Remind me how you two know each other, again?”

Artemis and Tetra exchange a glance. “The War Across the Ages,” the former explains. “We recruited many individuals adrift from their own eras.”

“But pirates? Really?” Dusk gestures to Tetra with a hand.

“I’ll have you know, I’m the greatest pirate who ever sailed this sea,” Tetra jabs her thumb towards herself.

Artemis rolls her eyes. “Come on you two, behave. You’re cousins, after all.”

“Wh-what?!” Dusk sputters. “I thought you said her name was Tetra!”

Tetra snorts. “Yeah, but to some people, it’s Princess Zelda.” She holds out her hand, winking at Dusk. “Welcome to the family, cousin!”

Hesitantly, Dusk shakes her hand. Tetra responds with a shocking amount of vigor.

“Now that that’s settled,” Artemis claps her hands together. “How about we defeat some undead?”

As if answering her question, Tetra shoots right at the ReDead’s skull. While her bullet is enough to defeat the single ReDead, the sound also draws the attention of the other monsters on the ship. Slowly, they begin shambling towards the ledge the ladies stand on.

“Oh great,” Dusk mutters to herself. “There goes our element of surprise.”

“Dusk, we should stick together,” Artemis suggests, careful in her phrasing as she draws her rapier. “We can watch each other’s backs.”

With a nod, Dusk retrieves her own sword. “Let’s go,” is the only thing she says before she jumps off the ledge.

△ ▲△

These new guys, Sun decides, are good. They’re decent with their swords, though she knows they’d be better if they’d attended the Knight’s Academy. At least they’re good enough to make up for both Artemis and Dusk’s absences.

One of the taller pirates slices clean through the neck of a Stalfos, its head landing just at Sun’s feet. Rearing her foot up, she crushes it under her boot. Of course, she’d never admit it, but that crunch! is such a sweet sound. Like music to her ears.

Sun’s ears twitch slightly as they pick up the faint sound of clanging metal. She’s just in time to duck again, missing a swing from an angry Poe.

“Hey, pirates!” she shouts, hoping to catch the attention of at least one of them. “Think one of you can take this for me?”

The tall one with the bandana nods, quickly moving himself between Sun and the Poe. She sighs. She just isn’t equipped to deal with that, today. Maybe if she’d remembered to bring a sword…

Sure, hand-to-hand combat isn’t usually her first choice, but Sun has grown to appreciate it over the past few minutes. Hylia, not just appreciate it. She loves it, more than she ever thought she would. Who would have guessed that punching things would be so fun?

“Well, well, look who’s decided to grace us with her presence.”

Oh, that sounds considerably less fun!

Turning behind her, Sun sees what must be the monster Artemis and Flora told her about. Because as her eyes lay on him, it’s almost as if his form is wobbling, before solidifying into a figure she knows well.

It’s a shadow of Sky. A representation of her Link, but if he was dunked in black paint and given terrifying red eyes.

“I’ve heard of you,” Sun’s eyes narrow at Dark Link.

“Ah, and I know you, your grace,” Dark Link laughs, and though it’s cruel and contemptuous, some part of her head thinks, ‘That’s familiar.’

“But tell me,” he continues. “What’s Hylia herself doing so far from home?”

Sun freezes, her blood running cold. “How did you…? Who are you?”

“What, you don’t recognize your own hero?” Dark Link frowns mockingly. “You know, I thought he’d take the longest to crack, but just a few whispers about the sea, and-” he abruptly snaps. “He was as good as gone. Now that fairy brat, on the other hand…”

“Stop it,” Sun snaps at him. “Just tell me where they are.”

“Oh? And why would you care?” The shadow tilts his head, and for a moment, his confusion almost seems genuine. “You goddesses have never cared for the fates of your heroes.”

And then, there’s a spark inside of Sun, and it sets her whole mind on fire. “I am not Hylia,” she asserts, grabbing onto his arm. “I. Am. ZELDA!”

It’s a moment of pure focus, the first time she’s ever said anything like that aloud, let alone screamed it. Unfortunately, it’s also a moment of distraction, just as Dark Link wanted. He draws his shadowy Master Sword, raises it above his head, and-

“SUN!”

Suddenly, Flora pushes Sun out of the way. The sword’s hilt strikes her head with a loud, sickening CRACK! She ends up collapsing right on top of her ancestor.

“Flora!” Sun gasps, tilting the scholar’s chin up to get a better look at her. After such a nasty blow, it makes sense that she’s out cold. But there’s blood, a lot of it, practically running down her face from above her left eye.

“You hurt her!” Sun exclaims, drawing Flora as close as she can bring her. “You son of a-!”

But, just then, they’re interrupted by two more shouts. In all the hassle, Sun hadn’t even noticed the Ghost Ship’s disappearance. Dusk, Artemis, and Tetra stand on the shore, staring right at the mess in front of them.

In an almost simultaneous burst of light, Artemis and Dusk summon their Bows of Light. Tetra draws her pistol, all three taking aim at Dark Link.

“Not another move, asshat,” Tetra warns him. “Attacking a princess is rude, you know.”

“She’s a queen,” Artemis informs her.

“Attacking a queen is rude, you know,” Tetra amends.

“Well,” Dark Link raises his hands above his head. “It seems we’re at an impasse.” He catches Sun’s eye one last time. “Farewell for now, your grace.”

Before any shots can be fired, Dark Link’s shadowy mass collapses in on itself. Like a splash of water, he sinks into the ground and disappears.

As the adrenaline fades from her body, Sun suddenly looks down at the bleeding body in her arms. She tightens her grip around her descendant, instinctively covering Flora’s wound with her hands.

“Oh no,” she mutters to herself as her fingers turn red. “Guys! We need help!”

△ ▲△

It’s just a head wound, Tetra told them. And a head wound means it looks worse than it is, and it’ll bleed more than usual. Flora’s fine, she insists, she’ll wake up soon. All they have to do is keep an eye on her bandages and wait.

“I mean, you’ve seen my Link,” Tetra explains, leaning against her ship’s railing. “He gets a concussion every other week. He’s bounced back from worse than what Flora has.”

There really was no reason to stay on Greatfish any longer, now that they had Tetra and her crew. She’d been so generous as to waive the transport fee, something about a family discount that Artemis didn’t really hear. They’re heading to Windfall Island, so that they can restock their supplies before the next portal appears.

Flora was set up in one of the bedrooms below deck, tucked safely into one of the beds. Artemis has taken it upon herself to remain by her side, at least until she wakes up. She’s just so pale, and she hasn’t moved an inch…

As the first rays of light touch the sea, there’s a light knock on the door.

“Come in,” Artemis calls out, rising from her chair at Flora’s bedside.

The door creaks open, and Dusk pops her head in. “How’s she doing?” she asks, tilting her head towards Flora.

“No change,” Artemis crosses her arms and sighs. “I know Tetra said this is normal, but still…”

Dusk steps into the cabin, closing the door behind her with a sigh. “Sun’s a bit of a wreck. I told her I’d check in on Flora if she ate something.”

“She doesn’t blame herself, does she?” Artemis questions, wringing her hands together.

“The hit was intended for her, from what I can gather,” Dusk reveals. She gently places a hand at the top of Flora’s head. “You’re quite brave.”

Artemis smiles weakly, sitting back in her chair. “How are you holding up, Dusk?”

“I’ll admit, pirate ships aren’t as bad as I thought,” Dusk chuckles lightly. “It’s quite cozy here.”

“Dusk, I’m-” Artemis starts, but she swallows and starts again. “I’m sorry. You haven’t really spent that much time travelling before, and it was irresponsible of me to assume you’d feel comfortable with it immediately.”

“Artemis,” Dusk sighs. She kneels next to her, taking her hands into her own. “I should be the one apologizing. You were trying your best, but… I’m sorry, I was rude about your night watch, and I really ruined the whole thing, didn’t I?”

“Oh come on,” Artemis scoffs, but for once, there’s no malice behind her words. Her hands return Dusk’s grip with a tight squeeze. “You clearly weren’t okay with it, and I took that personally instead of making sure you were alright.”

“I just…” Dusk purses her lips together. “I’m scared of being alone in the dark.”

“Then you won’t have to cover any watches,” Artemis asserts. “But, you know, I spent a lot of time in a warped version of your era. I even met the most peculiar woman, a princess of the Twilight Realm…”

Dusk gasps. “You met Midna.”

“I did,” she nods. “So if you ever need someone to talk to, please consider me.”

Wordlessly, Dusk leans forward and pulls Artemis into what might be the warmest hug she’s felt in years. And instinctually, Artemis hugs her back.

For a long time, they stay like that.

“You know, I never figured it out,” Dusk suddenly speaks. “Flora’s down the family tree, and Sun’s up it. When exactly does the War Across the Ages take place?”

“From your perspective? You have about two-hundred years to go,” Artemis reveals. “You’re my grandmother a few times over, by the way.”

“What?!” Dusk suddenly draws back. “Why didn’t you lead with that?!”

△ ▲△

Waking up is quite the process. When Flora opens her eyes for the first time, her vision is blurry. Like the world’s been spun around. Just barely, she’s able to lift her head, though her neck protests such movements.

There, sitting at the edge of her bed, though. That has to be Mipha. Who else would wait for her like that, within arm’s reach should she need an extra bit of healing?

Out of the corner of her eye, she can see Daruk and Urbosa just a few feet away. They’re talking to each other, maybe about her. Their tones are quiet and subdued, though. And Revali! Revali is waiting, just by the door. That's just like him to hover, even if he pretends not to.

‘Did I pass out in the spring again?’ she wonders.

“Flora?”

But then, she blinks, and it’s almost as though the scene shifts. It’s Sun sitting on her bed, a look of hope clear on her face. Artemis and Dusk freeze, gaping at Flora’s awakening. Tetra is the one who’s by the door, though she’s clearly keeping her distance.

Right. Of course.

“Flora!” Sun springs to her feet. “You’re okay!”

And then, before Flora’s sluggish mind can catch up with her, Sun wraps her up into a tight hug. Flora’s head throbs at the sudden, jerky movement.

“Ow…” Flora groans.

Sun gasps in shock, dropping Flora back onto her pillow. “Sorry!”

“Hylia’s fucking tits-” Tetra curses, missing Sun covering her chest with an arm at those words. She pushes herself between Sun and Flora. “Do none of you know how to handle head injuries? Stop moving her around!”

“I’m sorry, it’s just-” Sun awkwardly fidgets with her fingers. “She got hurt because of me! I need to make sure she’s okay!”

“And I want to make sure my travels with you four start off on the right foot,” Tetra insists. “Without anyone dying.”

“I’m fine,” Flora croaks out.

Dusk gestures a hand to the young queen. “See? She’s fine.”

“You’ve decided you’re coming with, then?” Artemis suddenly appears at Flora’s side, lightly patting her head. “You didn’t need much convincing.”

Tetra shrugs. “I figure I owe Link this much. He’d do the same for me.”

“Woo,” Flora weakly cheers, lamely raising a fist in celebration.

Artemis gently pushes her hand down. “We’ve still got a few days left on the Great Sea, Flora, don’t get your hopes up. We’re not going anywhere until that head wound of yours closes.”

“Aw…” Flora pouts, crossing her arms.

“Get some rest, kid,” Dusk instructs her. “You look like you need it.”

“You,” Flora points to Tetra, though there’s already a drowsiness to her words. “You’re going to tell me more about your time.”

Tetra nods mockingly, taking Flora’s hand into her own. “When you wake up, your majesty.”

#linked universe #lu tetra #lu flora #lu artemis #lu dusk #lu sun #rpita #fanfic #rav's writing

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embyrinitalics · 3 years

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Calamiversary: Flashbacks

Under the cut are a few unused flashbacks/dream sequences. I was actually really attached to some of these, and for a while I considered making an entire fic based on these two, but with Calamitous taking as long as it has my ambitions for that have fizzled out.

Anyways, I’m posting them in the order they appear in the google doc, but these are so old I can’t remember what was supposed to go where. 😂 Some of the scenes end midsentence, or have editing notes in them still, or don’t make sense because the surrounding scene never happened. Don’t think too hard about it. 😬

There’s about 3k words here, so. Hit that “keep reading” tag with caution!

Enjoy!

Nightshade

He caught her looking, his expression amused and affronted at once.

“What are you documenting so studiously?”

“Nightshade,” she informed him coolly, and then angled the interface on him more obviously. “And something else, beautiful and strange.”

He loosed a breath, something caught between a laugh and a sigh, and tossed the stones back into the underbrush. “Are you playing with my feelings, Majesty?”

“Certainly not,” she breathed, admiring him in the viewscreen for another self-indulgent half-second before turning it on back on the flora. “I have a compendium to complete. I hardly have time for games.”

“Don’t tease me,” he murmured, folding his arms. “It isn’t easy being in love with a queen and a goddess.”

Her mouth twisted gently, swiping through the interface again and tapping more useless details into the entry. She muttered, “I’m not a goddess.”

He joined her in the grass, rocking back onto his elbow and tipping the interface back with one finger so she would meet his eyes, glimmering softly with the beginnings of a wry smile. “Who said I was talking about you?”

She smiled in earnest, letting the interface drop, forgotten, into her lap. “I wasn’t aware you were well acquainted with any other queens.”

He scoffed dismissively. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

“I’m sure,” she allowed, reaching to pick grass out of his hair and smoothing the wind-tousled bangs it had tangled in afterwards. She was grateful for the levity—grateful to him, for supporting her even when it meant denying himself.

So grateful...

And she still hadn’t untangled her fingers from his hair, from the soft edge of his hairline and his temple, the smooth line of his brow. He had gone quiet, eyes half closing and diverting, while he let her. He watched her palm for another second, two, and then closed a hand, gently, but firmly, over her wrist.

She swallowed, her hand hanging idly between them and the spell broken. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m not stopping you for my sake,” he frowned. “It’s agony not having you, but I’m stupid enough to take what I can get.”

She sighed. “I can have you reassigned. No one would question it—”

“No, we’ve been over this,” he growled, running a hand tersely through his hair. “As long as I wield the Sword, my place is with you. And I can handle it.” Then he hesitated, expression shuttering, and he amended, “Unless you’ve changed your mind, and no longer wish it.”

Her hands were in the grass, eyes fixed on them, and her heart was throbbing in her throat. She couldn’t quite swallow it down.

She whispered, “No.”

A Meeting

“Link,” she breathed, startled, their eyes meeting for a charged half-second.

He bent his head curiously in a rigid sort of bow, as though he was leaning away from the discomfort of their meeting.

“My lady.”

She waited, paralyzed, for him to move, or speak, or even look her in the eye again. But then, the ball was in her court.

It was always in her court.

But she was unprepared, and unarmored, and teetering dangerously at the precipice of a vulnerability she could not afford. And so, exercising her royal privilege as unmagnanimously as she likely ever had, she fled.

He caught her elbow as she made to pass him, sending a warm jolt up her arm. A rebuke danced wildly on the tip of her tongue, and she might even have used it had there been another soul anywhere within earshot of them. But the hallway was abandoned, and they were alone. His eyes were still fixed on the place she had been, the practiced stoicism in them, the practiced numbness in them, simmering with the frustration that he was harboring beneath.

“I won’t have this conversation with you now,” she reprimanded him quietly. “Not here.”

His gaze slid back to hers, burning, threatening to buckle with impatience or something far more desperate, and she wanted to flinch away from its intensity and luxuriate in it at once.

“When, Zelda?”

She took a meaningful step away, freeing her arm, and coolly arched a slender brow even as her heart sputtered at the cavalier way he used her given name in public.

“When we’re somewhere less conspicuous.”

She expected him to submit, tucking his tail begrudgingly between his legs and allowing himself to be put off yet again, but his eyes narrowed.

“Don’t scold me like I’m some child,” he scoffed.

The Wilds

The carriage jostled down the path, headed for the milky spires that had been bobbing in and out of view for the last few hours. Her visit to the new reservoir in Lanayru had been successful, and pleasant enough as these sorts of things went, but there had also been a lot of pomp and formality surrounding the whole affair that left her craving some solitude and a good night’s rest in her own bed.

Both of which would happily get her out from under the stormy gaze of her Knight Protector.

Shielded by the walls of her carriage, she let herself grimace and sink a little lower in her seat. They hadn’t had an opportunity to talk in several days, what, with all the preparation for the journey and the constant company of the delegation. And she may have been avoiding him. Just a little.

And he seemed to have begun to notice, if the way his gaze burned into her any time she was careless enough to graze it was any indication.

The carriage jostled again violently as they rode over another pothole. And this time, the whole thing lurched to a stop beneath her as the axle snapped. She sighed, readying a gentle smile as the footman swung the door open.

“Hit a spot of trouble?”

“I’m afraid so, my lady,” he grumbled, offering her his hand.

“Please tell me you can fix it,” she said, brow puckered, letting him help her out and onto the road and trying very hard not to groan. She was not looking forward to walking the rest of the way.

“I doubt it very much, ma’am. But we’re nearly there. You could continue on horseback.”

She willed herself expressionless. The only horses saddled for riding were those of her escorts, which meant—

“I’ll take her.”

She didn’t need to guess who had spoken, or turn to picture the smug look on his face. She plastered an insincere smile over her mouth as his horse’s hooves beat an easy amble behind her for the footman’s sake—it wouldn’t do for him to see her furious or crestfallen or abjectly miserable over something as routine as a ride back to the castle from the man who was largely responsible for such things.

“Very well,” she said demurely, unable to conjure a decent excuse, and turned.

And there he was, perched atop his chestnut mare with an expression arguably more schooled than her own. She took his hand, hiding the warm jolt that ran up her arm, and let him lift her over the pommel, bidding the rest of the entourage farewell as he urged his horse forward and over the ridge.

When they had cleared the crest of the hill and taken the bend for a fair distance, he slowed them to a walk, letting the reins go slack and dipping his head to inhale the warm safflina in her hair.

“Link,” she mumbled, shrugging him off half-heartedly, but he wasn’t so easily deterred.

“We’re in the middle of the Wilds. No one is going to see. Just let me have this.”

Maybe it was the reasonableness of his argument, or maybe it was the note of heartache in his voice, so imperceptible only she would have ever noticed, but either way she let herself be coerced. They rode in silence a while, and she finally relaxed when he didn’t press her for more than that, letting herself lean a little into his chest. His hands rested idly on her waist, fingers curled loosely in the reins.

He said, “I missed you.”

She could feel his eyes looking cautiously for hers, but she pretended not to notice.

“You were with me every day.”

“No. I stared at the back of your head every day. That hardly qualifies.”

“I was busy.”

“You were avoiding me.”

She met his eyes then, ready to object, and quickly remembered why she had made every attempt not to. They looked right through her, melting her defenses and reducing her will to jelly. She sighed.

“I was avoiding you,” she agreed, settling against his chest again resignedly.

“I didn’t blame you,” he murmured, warm breath and lips moving softly against the lobe of her perfectly tapered ear, and her heart throbbed treacherously. “I knew why. It was just frustrating, not being able to talk to you about it."

Her eyes fell shut, stinging with remorse. She whispered, “I’m sorry.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“Don’t do that. It was as much mine as it was yours.”

“I don’t regret it,” he said, quiet adamance coloring his voice, “not for a moment. Even if it means consequences for me.”

In spite of herself she smiled, warmed to the bone by his sweet assurance. “Even if you’re stripped of rank? Even if you’re whipped?”

“They can’t whip the memory of you out of me,” and then he leaned closer, his warm breath feathering her ear again, “Zelda.”

Not Princess, or My Lady, or Highness, or the plethora of other titles he was obligated to use in the presence of others. Merely Zelda. Because out in the Wilds of Hyrule they were alone, and a stolen kiss didn’t seem such a terrible secret. Even if it was forbidden. Even if she had made it abundantly clear to him that it could never happen again, no matter how sweet and perfect and wonderful it had been.

She sank back into him, letting the steady beat of their gait and of his heart lull her into a rare peace.

Realization

When I woke there was moss against my cheek, the cool dew of early morning clinging to my lips and eyelashes. The vision from the night before danced in breaths and lights as I blinked myself lucid, like the ghosts of a dozen sunset fireflies. I wanted to chase them, down, down into a dream, into an illusion, and wrap myself in it like a blanket. And then, like a wish fulfilled, soft lips alighted on mine, encouraging me awake.

“Good morning,” he murmured, pulling me closer by the hand splayed over the small of my back, and that didn’t strike me as odd in the slightest.

I snagged fingers in the collar of his shirt and buried my face in his neck, breathing him in as I grudgingly left the dream behind, as I spiraled towards his warmth. He smelled like the forest, and nights spent in the wilds, and it was so good it made my eyes tremble shut.

“It can’t be morning,” I whispered, sighing, and he pulled me into his lap, humming in agreement, and pressed his lips to my pulse point.

The wind rippled across the plains, across the wilds, tangling in my hair and twisting it sideways, and neither of us paid any mind. It was too rare that we found ourselves like this, lost in each other and lingering in that quiet stretch of peace between sleep and waking to the world.

“I need to get you back,” he said, but even as he did wrapped his arms around my waist in silent, subconscious objection. “You’ll be missed.”

“Then let me be missed.”

His lips on my neck angled higher, gently coaxing me down, and just as they obligingly found that delicate spot behind my ear, he whispered apologetically, “We can’t.”

I resisted the urge to scowl, resting my forehead on his. He was right, of course. But that didn’t mean I had to like it. My eyes eased open in time to watch the sunrise over his shoulder.

Another dawn. I knew there couldn’t be many left before the Calamity finally stirred from its long slumber, restless, feverish, hungry and ready to devour the world…

And then I realized how little of this made any sense—how incredibly blue his eyes were, how the voice I had been using wasn’t even mine—and the jarring disconnect between who I was and where I was broke the illusion apart.

The Blade of Evil’s Bane

She opened her eyes as she felt a weight being lifted off her back.

And then she watched as Revali drove the Master Sword through Link’s middle to the hilt. (chapter break, then she freaks out, catches him, and his eyes start to roll back)

“Don’t you die on me,” she shouted through furious tears, pressing her fingers to his forehead. “Don’t you die!”

And then light filled her from the inside out as she bridged their minds, glaring across the world like a sun rising from within.

He sat across from her at her writing desk, still blurry from the haze of her tears, but she could hear the sardonic smile on his voice.

“Is that an order, Princess?”

She wanted to berate him, wanted to scream and fight tooth and nail against his apathy, but she couldn’t find her voice—not without loosing everything else that was threatening to spill out. She stood and crossed the room to nowhere, trying to shield herself from his ridicule. He sighed, following slowly.

He turned her around gingerly and took her face in his hands, studying her carefully while he thumbed her tears away.

“Why do you cry over me?” he murmured. “By rights I should have been dead thousands of years ago—even if I had defeated Ganon. This era will go on without me. I’m nothing.”

She took a sharp, stinging breath, and whispered, “Not to me.”

His lip quirked up in spite of himself, a familiar, roguish half-smile alighting on his face that made her heart stammer. “Never cry over your soldiers, Princess,” he scolded her gently. “They’re only too happy to die to protect you.”

“Don’t give up,” she warbled, a fresh rush of tears spilling out of her eyes, down her cheeks, over his thumbs still cupping her face. “Please don’t. Not like this.”

“Hyrule will go on. So will you.”

“I heard what you said to Urbosa,” she accused him, reaching for something, anything, that would make him hold on for just a moment longer. “You were wrong. I’m not confused. Not anymore.”

That gave him pause. His eyes searched her, gradually shedding the armor that they had always worn, piece by heavy piece, revealing the tired, consuming sadness beneath.

“Don’t cry over me, Princess,” he murmured, drifting closer. The bridge of his nose brushed softly against hers as he angled her face higher, poised to lance through her walls even as his own crumbled. “It pains me more than you know.”

He took her lips in his own, deepening the kiss obediently when she parted for him, and a sound lifted out of her. She wanted to lose herself in him, dive headlong into sating oblivion and never surface. But she found the will to pull away.

“Then don’t do this,” she urged, breathless, against his mouth.

He lingered, warm breath ghosting heavy on her lips. His voice was quiet, husky, desire tempered by regret. “Overcoming the Blade of Evil’s Bane is not so easily done.”

“I can save you,” she whispered, stepping closer, stripping away the needless space between them. “Never doubt that.”

“I have never doubted you,” he said, so tenderly her heart squeezed. “I’ve always known you were capable of so much more than you ever dreamed. But this—”

“I won’t let you go. I’ll order you back from the grave if I have to.”

He sighed at that, a defeated, hollow sound, and her lips parted gently in surprise. “I’m just so tired.”

And then he gasped, like a drowning man drawing breath after so many minutes, and the dream bled out into light.

She blinked away sunbursts and the blindness that followed, stumbling haphazardly back to reality. Link was in her arms; the hole through his stomach was gone.

Ruins

The sunlight dimmed into night, luminous stone embedded in the sculptures lighting the darkness like softened stars. The ruins grew into an atrium, looming over the gathered order of monks and their commander. Her knight stood as far away as he dared, near the entrance, should there be a disturbance. It was nearly as far away as he had had the will to station himself in weeks.

“The final sensor towers have been erected, and Naboris is nearly ready to be deployed,” a monk was saying, the tattoos under his eyes catching starlight as he spoke. “Her pilot is in the final phases of training.”

The proclamation didn’t garner the reaction anyone was hoping for; the Queen merely nodded, lips pursed. Another monk shifted, as though weighing the wisdom of disturbing the silence that had settled uncomfortably over the assembly, before he decided to be bold.

“I had an idea for another Beast. Nothing so large or so complicated as the others. Something for Hylia’s Chosen—”

“No,” the Queen murmured. “There isn’t time.”

His teeth met with a click. He sent a sidelong glance to her knight, standing with his back against one of the pillars flanking the entrance, but he shook his head in subtle warning, and that put pain to it. He seemed less and less inclined to voice dissent recently, and everyone suspected they knew why.

“Then we’ll redouble our efforts with the Divine Beasts we have,” he offered instead, wearing a reassuring smile. “We won’t fail you, Your Highness.”

She nodded again, smiling tightly. They were dismissed, and her knight drifted closer, moving towards her as the others filed away. She was still sitting on the ground; he offered her his hand, and she met his eyes. She took it, lifting to her feet, and didn’t let go, squeezing softly.

She whispered, eyes depthless in their uncertainty, “But will we fail them?”

#Calamiversary #Calamitous #snippet #Legend of Zelda #Zelink #Fanfic

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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 Chapter 2

Chapter 3: So what do we do now? (or the fluffy chapter to the previous angsty one)

Link awoke and immediately questioned it, because he felt like he was still dreaming, in a Castle Courtyard where, as a child he’d snuck through a small canal to get in to see the Princess, and as an adult he’d waltzed in as Captain of the Guards. Because he could hear her lullaby. It had been so long… He slowly opened his eyes, disorientated because he was staring into the familiar vivid green eyes of His Princess, not the blue of other, so she wasn’t her, and he wasn’t him, but the lullaby? And she was smiling at him, albeit weakly. What- smiling? His Princess? At him?! What had happened?

There was more to add to his confusion though, because she was humming. She was the one humming the lullaby, but it wrong, because it wasn’t her lullaby, but really who was he to say otherwise, it probably was the lullaby for all the Princesses named Zelda. It- it was achingly familiar, but disturbing because all the times felt wrong and messed up. This wasn’t his, this wasn’t meant to comfort him, but it was anyway.

But why was he –

He blinked, waking up properly this time. He suddenly realised where he was exactly. He was in the Princess of Hyrule’s lap. His head was resting on her thighs. She was stroking his hair. His ponytail was gone. She was humming her lullaby to him. And she wasn’t angry at him.

Everything about this situation screamed wrong.

And then it all came hurtling back, and Link felt like he’d been stabbed all over with those darts the Yiga had aimed at her stomach. They’d been captured by the Yiga. Goddesses above. He rapidly sat up and felt a burst of pain all the way across his right shoulder and down his arm, and his vision swam, from the remaining drug in his system or from the pain he didn’t know.

“Link! Don’t get up so fast you-”

She gently pulled on his good arm, and he didn’t put up much resistance, mainly because it felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. He felt so disjointed, and he knew this was wrong, but he wasn’t feeling well enough to protest.

And okay, maybe he was a little glad she didn’t seem to hate him anymore. Just a little.

He raised his eyebrows at her, hoping she’d understand. She did. “After they drugged you asleep, because I guess they figured they’d never beat you otherwise, they did the same for me- I got caught barely a few metres from where you fell. And then I presume we both got carted to their Hideout. I woke up before you because I had a lower dose, and I, um, well.”

She awkwardly pointed to his right shoulder. “You know, I’m no Mipha, and it’s not like we have any healing resources, but I needed to close your wound in case it got infected- I believe they wrenched the sickle out of you before they dumped us in here. And I thought it best to at least try to sew it together whilst you were asleep and couldn’t feel much. It, went well, surprisingly- you didn’t bleed excessively considering they removed the object that was effectively acting as a tamponade, but I think because it landed squarely in your trapezius, it didn’t hit any major blood supplies, thankfully. I cleaned it as best as I could. And it was a good thing I had my mini sewing supplies in my pocket, Urbosa’s skirt had a small cut she wanted me to- uh- never mind. It was lucky that I forgot to put the kit in my pouch, which they took so.”

She paused, “Anyway, just as I put in the last stitch, thinking I could, maybe, relax a little, you started to thrash around, flailing all your limbs everywhere. With hindsight, I think the draught was fading by that point…” She took a short, sharp breath, “And I obviously couldn’t risk you ripping the wound open so in an attempt to calm you I held your head down and started humming and it, uh, worked. So that is why. I was. Doing that.” She fisted her hands awkwardly, bunching the material of her shirt in her hands, between her fractured phrases. Her eyes flittered around, looking everywhere but him. “And I didn’t want you to open that wound again, we don’t have many supplies so, so I guided you to lie down again.” She was clearly uncomfortable. And was that- Farore. She was blushing, he realised. Because of him.

That felt incredibly wrong, no Princess should ever blush at her Knight, so he readied himself to move off her and give her some much needed space.

He nodded, putting her out of her misery before sitting up much more slowly this time. He looked over his shoulder trying to see how bad the wound was, but she’d done an excellent job in sewing him up. Perhaps the embroidery skills she’d learnt were amenable to medical stiches too. He scooted away from her, trying to clear his head a little, and forget how comfortable it felt. How much he’d enjoyed her deft fingers working through his hair. How she'd still smelled of lavender, honey and just a hint of Gerudo spice –

He shook his head, clearly, he was still somewhat delusional following the heady sleeping draught. He needed to apologise to her and he needed to try to find a way to get out. He suddenly remembered her neck, and he dashed over, scanning across her whole body quickly, trying to see if she was okay and if any other wounds had been inflicted on her whilst he was asleep.

“Link!”

What? He had to- why was she bending her neck? He could guess why, and his gut twisted on itself. He’d let her get hurt. He hesitantly raised his hand, and placed it close to her chin, not quite touching, but Zelda tracked his movement and slowly nodded. He ever so gently touched the tips of his fingertips onto her jaw, and pressed upwards and she elongated her neck in compliance.

He gasped. She’d wiped it down, but there was a red, clearly inflamed, scabbed over, curved, line across her neck. He screwed his eyes shut, half wanting to throw up, even though he knew he had nothing in his stomach. He couldn’t look at her, this was his fault, he’d allowed her to get hurt. Some Appointed Knight he was.

He was so lost in cursing himself and his inability to protect her that he missed her hand moving and pressing down on his own, still softly holding her jaw. His eyes flew open at that, but he still couldn’t meet her gaze, looking everywhere but her. “Link.” He knew what she was going to say, and he didn’t want to hear it. It was his fault.

“Link, look at me.”

He couldn’t deny an order from his Princess.

“It wasn’t your fault. You were not the one to draw the sickle against me, okay?” He reluctantly nodded, seeing where she was coming from. “If anything, it was mine for running away. And I should be the one apologising, because you got hurt- and your wound is much more severe compared to this simple scab that will heal with time. And that’s notwithstanding the whole infection risk of using embroidery thread and not actual medical sutures.”

She sighed, patting the ground next to her. He reluctantly let go of her and sat down as she wished, his vision swirled a little, from all the abrupt movement.

She fiddled with her fingers, before turning to him, a determined look in her eyes. “I truly am sorry Link. For- for everything. From running away all those times, to being childishly jealous of you and your success, to… even shouting at you.” She sighed, “Not to mention taking out all my petty frustrations on you, whilst you were only trying to do your job. For, well, letting you get hurt because of me. For ending up here…” She shoved her head in her hands. “Goddesses above, the list never ends. I-”

Her voice went quiet. “I apologise, Link, for not being the Princess you deserve.”

He was shocked. He hadn’t been expecting that to say the least. Words had never been his forte, so he did the best he could.

He tenderly tilted her head towards him, and then shook his head. The vulnerability he saw in those verdant eyes struck him. She was serious, she genuinely regretted it, and he tried to smile reassuringly. How could he ever remain upset with her anyway? Not when he understood and related to her so well.

He placed his other hand on his heart and bent his head towards her. “You accept? No, you forgive me? So easily? No, I insist you give some punishment Link.”

He chuckled, shaking his head as he raised both hands up, shrugging slightly. He was never one for punishments and he forgave her, because he understood, he truly did. He just needed to think through his words, and he’d tell her properly.

“You're too kind. I'll find a way, to earn my forgiveness, even if you've already accepted. Although... perhaps being here is punishment enough.” She hugged her knees to her chest, and he closed his eyes for a second, just trying to get his bearings. He still felt dizzy and sitting up so fast as soon as he had woken up, and then rushing to Zelda to look over her had not helped matters. Most likely, this was due to a side effect from inhaling such a high concentration of the drought. He’d have to wait for a bit before moving again, and he spread his palms out on the ground next to his thighs to try to get over the remaining queasiness, keeping his eyes shut so he wouldn’t be further disorientated.

He felt her slip her hand just next to his, her pinkie finger barely touching his thumb.

And Link felt his heart speed up a little. He couldn’t help but feel pleased they’d finally made some progress and were no longer at odds with each other. For the first time, the silence that descended on them was a comfortable one, not fraught with tension like every other time they’d been left alone together. And for that, he was immeasurably glad.

After taking a few minutes to recover his bearings, Link slowly opened his eyes, and was pleased to find his world was not tilting on its axis. He took several deep breaths, trying to ignore the stabbing pain in his shoulder.

Okay. He was ready now, to start thinking of a plan.

He motioned for Zelda to wait as he heaved himself to stand, very slowly. And nothing happened, everything was still balanced. Good. He headed over to the bars, first, before realising they were made, in fact, of fairly hardy steel and it wasn’t at all rusted. There would be no hope of breaking them directly, not by hand anyway. And where was the door? He belated realised the metal on one side was different to the others. It was darker in shade. He flicked his index finger at it, but it came back just as hard and resonant. Well. Clearly whatever it was wouldn’t be easy to break either. He tried to stemmy the rising panic when thinking about how the hell they were supposed to break out. He moved to the bottom of the bars, but it became rapidly obvious to him that the mongrels had drilled the bars a significant distance down, too low for them to try to dig out. She shuffled over.

“I had a quick check over the cell too, before, I um, realised that you were hurt. They sort of left you with your back to the wall, so I didn’t actually see the bleeding until I got up close and- well. You know the rest of it. There really isn’t much other than the toilet in the next cell that we can go into.” His eyes lit up, “But no, it’s the exact same thing as this one. More bars, just with a curtain for decency I guess.”

He decided to check everything anyway. Alas, it was an airtight cell. There wasn’t a single thing they could manipulate. Clearly the Yiga had been planning for this.

He cast his eyes out, looking beyond the bars and realised that it in fact looked out to what seemed to be a gigantic circular hole in the sand. The landscape itself naturally moulded into a giant cylinder, perfect to keep the Yiga hidden, and impossible for them to climb out without being seen. If they could even get out of the cell to begin with. Although, eerily, everything seemed quiet.

He turned back to Zelda, motioning to the space outside and then pointing to the banana symbol engraved in the wall. “I found it surprising too. I have no idea where they’ve gone. It’s all very calm. I’m not sure why... Well, this sounds morbid, but I don’t understand why they’ve kept me alive. Surely their intention was to assassinate, and yet, now we’re locked up, and they haven’t come yet. Although I can only assume this is a good thing, time to plan an escape… maybe… well hopefully, anyway.”

He fought a smile off his face. She always did talk too much. Perhaps that was a good thing though, it balanced him out quite nicely.

He sighed, moving to sit down again, it was best to conserve his strength. And looking at the red lanterns and those weird orange wooden planks linked to each other was freaking him out a little. He wasn't sure what the symbolism was, but he was wary. There wasn’t much else they could do, other than wait for one of the Yiga to come, and make the mistake of opening the door, then Link would go into hand combat, and they would have to scale the cliff out of the here. The section to the right actually appeared the least steep, so hopefully Zelda would be able to manage that. However, he could see the snow from here and that meant there was risk of hypothermia, and they didn't have their normal stock of elixirs. Goddesses above, his head hurt from thinking through all the ways this could go wrong.

“You’re looking at the end cliff face. Do you think-”

He nodded.

“I think I can do it. Will you be okay with your wound?”

He nodded again.

She exhaled heavily, coming to sit down next to him. “The chance of a rescue team coming to find us is also depressingly slim, at the minute, because according to Urbosa, we’ve left the desert. According to my father, we’re in the process of travelling to the Spring of Power, and whilst we’re in the vicinity we’re supposed to go visit Daruk again to see if he’s has any progress with controlling Vah Rudania. Therefore, we are not due back at the Castle for another three weeks at least to account for travel time, so he won’t be suspicious of our continued absence. And Daruk thinks were going to Spring first and I don’t think he knows that you are only supposed to stay a day there- he might assume I’ve succeeded and so stayed for longer, or even that we were delayed in Gerudo Town…”

He nodded. Basically, all that meant external help was not coming any time soon.

“How long do you think it’ll take them to realise we’ve been captured?”

He thought about it for a few seconds. It would take at least another two weeks for Daruk to realise something was up, and by the time he relayed that over to Urbosa and the King, it will have been at least three. And then they still needed to search over Hyrule as to where exactly the Princess and Link were, before tracking them down to the Kara Kara Bazaar Inn, and hopefully realising they were, in fact, abducted by the Yiga Clan. And as to the actual rescue itself, he doubted it would take more than a couple of days simply because it involved the Princess and the Hero - the two people who were truly capable of fighting the ever-approaching evil. So overall that was what? Four and a half weeks?

He held up four fingers. Best to not dash her hopes too much.

“Hylia above! A month?!” She slumped against the wall. “I can see why though. It- it’s just so inconvenient that we decided to combine three separate outings into one. And that is why no one will actually realise we are in trouble.”

Link didn’t point out that this was, in fact, a common occurrence. The Princess often fabricated another couple of reasons to delay going back the Castle. He understood why of course. Facing her father with repeated failures was hard and being out in Hyrule meant she could at least be of some use in terms of her research. Frankly, if he’d been in her position, he would have done the same.

“Another thing that I didn’t mention before, but you should probably know, is that they took the Sheikah Slate.”

Oh crap. Purah would kill them both, but she’d go all out on Link, fond as she was of Princess Zelda. She’d skewer him alive and then Robbie would sprinkle on his various guardian parts on top for seasoning and the two of them would roast him slowly for committing such a crime. And then they’d recover the guardian parts because those were precious and were not likely to burn, unlike his mortal form, into ashes anyway. Why was thinking of this and how did he come up with this much detail?

He must have had a look of apt horror on his face because she chuckled slightly, “Yes, I know. Even if we survive this whole abduction, we will probably not live for long afterwards.”

He shook his head. No, they would survive. He would make sure of it. She smiled a little in response.

Something was unsettling him though. It felt like a there was a gnawing hole inside him. At first he thought it was because of Zelda getting hurt, and then because of his dizziness but it suddenly hit him what was missing. His heart skipped a beat in fear. He glanced over, looking at his shoulder again, in vain because he knew it was empty and the confirmation terrified him. He looked at her with wide eyes, not daring to think of the implications. “I- I don’t actually know what happened to the Master Sword, Link, it was – um, in that Yiga’s head and then I was knocked out. I don’t know if they took it, or left it behind…”

And there went Link’s last hope of killing the darkness.

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