#hyah-draws

[hyah-lian]

I'm still working on colouring it, but it's gonna take a while lol

LU Time, Fierce, and Mask all wearing 'cool' sunglasses, suggested by @vicmillen !

It took me forever to move from step to step because the idea of Fierce wearing bright yellow flower sunnies without acknowledging them continues to make me giggle

(the flowers/grass are a brush in clipstudio thank frick im not that ready to go that ham on bgs freehand yet and it felt wrong to have them all floating in space)

((also also, I have a ko-fi right now as well. i am hopping between free requests and hopefully commissions soonish)

UPDATED to include the ALT text in image again (i dont know why it disappeared or if i just forgot my bad)

[IMG DESC:

Three iterations of the (Linked Universe version) Ocarina of Time/Majora's Mask Link are sitting together in a cleared section of ground with flowers and long grass surrounding them.

The very front Link is Mask. He sits with his knees pulled up and his elbows resting on either of Time's legs. He is adjusting a pair of aviator sunglasses with his right hand (viewer's left) and is smiling with bright, open eyes.

The Link in the middle is Time (design from Linked Universe by tumblr user jojo56830). He sits with his knees raised and legs on either side of Mask. His right elbow rests on Fierce Deity's right knee and his right hand rests on Mask's head, and his left arm rests over Fierce Deity's left knee, hand hanging loosely. He has a pair of triangular sunglasses on, and his eyes are scrunched up in a smile. He has a slight open-mouthed smile.

Fierce Deity Link sits at the very back, mostly obscured by the two smaller iterations of Link sitting between his legs. His knees are raised and Time is resting his arms on Fierce's knees. Fierce is holding his right leg slightly with his right hand, and his left hand is resting on Time's arm. His double helix blade is holstered on his back. Fierce's face is a rather neutral/stoic expression. He is wearing a small pair of children's flower sunglasses, which are obscuring his opened eyes.

END IMG DESC.]

#linked universe #hyah-draws #lu time #linked universe time #lu mask #(sorta its more just actually link from MM) #lu fierce deity #(sorta- same with Fierce as Mask. i followed more the official games images for them)

[nullwork]

making stupid robots

#hes so real for that #lil hal #hal strider #homestuck #i literally do not wanna color this sketch LOL this is all u guys get #havent drawn a robot in a while i needed to get it out of my system #so so stoned drawing this my legs kept going numb bc i refused to move until i got through a significant amount of it #hes a sword centaur now. a swordtaur. hyah. anime boy

[lonksadventures]

Hyah-

Man I really need to draw Sucrose more but she’s so complicated aaaa

Ty to @/g4teway31 on Twitter for the original post for this it made me giggle 💖

#doodle #procreate #lonksadventures #loz #Genshin impact #genshin impact sucrose #loz link #Zelda #Navi is also here-

[slightly-depressed-sloth]

Robin Redesigns; Tim Drake!

He’s lying, he is cringe

Wow aren’t you so glad this was posted a decent length after the last one and definitely not *checks notes* two months after. And aren’t you so glad that the others will also be posted in a timely manner and I definitely haven’t committed to doing an art series for pride that will take most my time for the next month or so! Haha cause I sure am

COMMISSION OPEN

Part 1 | Previous

Text ID for sketch page:

[Sketch 1 - aw little guy!!! Arrow pointing to next drawing OH he’s a little fucked up actually…]

[Sketch 2 - Jason: What do you have that I don’t? R!Tim: I’m… not… cringe…]

[Sketch 3 - (The Jokers wild Summarised) R!Tim: I have the power of Alfred and D&D on my side!]

[Sketch 4 - Hyah!]

#slightlysloth robin redesigns #tim drake #Robin 3 #Robin iii #haha yeahhhh do not expect the others until after June #but do expect some pride art! #red robin dc #red robin #robin dc #dc #dc comics #batfam #batfamily #character redesign #art #digital art #artwork #batman #illustration #for whatever reason god decided to smite me on this one 😭😭 #i struggled so much for no reason #took me like 3 hours just to get the sketch right on the illustration #so if anything looks wonky #no it doesnt #tried to make Tim kinda gangly #just has the vibes of a kid who went through an awkward stage #slightlyslothdraws

[habken]

tips for drawing poses??

if you’re doing an action pose, make sound effects like hyah wah hoowahhhh pshshoosh kablamo while you draw and you will make such good art

[hero-of-fortune]

@tortilla-of-courage’s hero of polls <3

Actually my scrunky. My meow meow. Is there a name for their fairy? If not, i vote for ‘hyah’. Are they really really itty bitty, or is the master sword fuckin massive? You decide.

I’ll draw the princess of polls once they’ve finished with their time in the trenches

#Hero of polls #linksona #link oc #not my character #my art <3 #legend of zegend

[bakuhatsufallinlove]

U.A. High School Field Trip Around Japan: Day 4 Translations

This is Day 4 of Shonen Jump’s special commemoration of My Hero Academia reaching one hundred million copies worldwide, which is being rolled out daily across one-week in each prefecture’s newspaper.

The schedule:

April 4th, Day 1: Hokkaidō & Tōhōku regions

April 5th, Day 2: Kantō region

April 6th, Day 3: Chūbu region

April 7th, Day 4: Kansai region

April 8th, Day 5: Chūgoku & Shikoku regions

April 9th, Day 6: Kyūshū & Okinawa regions

April 10th, Day 7: Nationwide release

You can see the illustrations on their website here, where they are released digitally the day after the newspaper release.

Here we go!

Kansai Region

Mie

Photo credit: twitter user Hrkn1500

Aoyama: "Sur-pri-se~!" Sero: "Amazing, Aoyama!" Satou: "Should we go look for the toilet?"

Nabana no Sato is a flower park situated within the absolutely massive Nagashima Resort. It has lovely blooms all year, and from October to May it claims to host Japan's biggest illumination event, including a 200-meter long light tunnel.

Shiga

Photo credit: twitter user smile_wk_26

Tokoyami: "Art of the Flying Squirrel Black Shadow!!!" Mineta: "Imitation Caltrop!!" Edgeshot: "Abscondance" Hagakure: "Nin-nin! Hidden Hagakure!!"

They are at the Kōga-ryū Ninjutsu Ninja Village in Kōka city, the birthplace of this school of ninja-arts. I visited the Tōgakure Ninjutsu House in Nagano -- Tōgakure, Iga, and Kōga are considered the three main families of ninjutsu. These kinds of attractions usually have museums dedicated to the style's history and showing off tons of unique historical artifacts, but the main draw is all the activities for visitors to try their hand at being a ninja, shuriken-throwing, wall-climbing, rope-walking, etc.. Hagakure is making a pun, because her surname means "hidden leaves" or "hidden by the leaves" so she is "hidden hidden-leaves." Tokoyami is doing his Black Fallen Angel move, but it's much funnier to make it a giant flying squirrel attack.

Kyōto

Photo credit: twitter user sitatyan_dayo

Ashido: "You can't even see the sky through all the bamboo~!!" Yaoyorozu: "They say that the growing speed of bamboo is the fastest in the world. I've heard it can grow up to one meter in a single day." Mineta: "My whole height in a single day... I can't do this!!! Jirou: "Cheer up." Label on Mineta: "Mineta Minoru, Height: 1.08 Meters."

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is a hugely popular tourist spot for its dense, soothing beauty. One meter is equivalent to 3 feet 3 inches; Mineta is just over 3 and a half feet tall.

Ōsaka

Photo credit: twitter user tomikomha

Shouji: "Hyah hyah hyah hyah!!!" Fat Gum: "He's... he's moving too fast, I can't even see his arms!" Kirishima: "No, actually, he's got lots of 'em!"

They are making takoyaki, a famous soul food created in Osaka in 1935. It requires a large griddle with rounded molds, and chefs use two metal rods to rotate the batter rapidly. It's really fun to watch them make it, and most stalls put the griddle up against a full-length window to show it off.

Hyōgo

Photo credit: twitter user NZM_101

Izuku: "Even cutting an onion... a hero... doesn't cry! WWUAAAH" Ochako: "What a shame! Challenge failed." Shouto: "No, even heroes cry when they have to."

Awaji Island is famous for its onions and produces some of the sweetest onions in the world. They have a spring crop of sweet but slightly spicy onion, and a fall-time harvest that they store and dry to further develop their sweetness. Shouto's line is from chapter 137 when Izuku insists heroes don't cry while crying into his food. What's funny is that sweet onions supposedly produce less of the chemical that produces tears in humans, so maybe Izuku is just being a lil' crybaby, hehe, but we'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he's working with a particularly spicy spring harvest.

Nara

Photo credit: twitter user yukanicoyomo

Iida: "Observance of traffic laws! OUTSTANDING, DEER-KUN!!" Kouda (thinking): "Iida-kun, you're making the deer suspicious..." Bakugou: "Don't talk to the deer!! Deer don't give a shit about rules!! Dammit!!"" Kouda (thinking): "Bakugou-kun, you're scaring the deer..."

They are in Nara Park, where you can buy special crackers to feed the very friendly and booming deer population. Deer in Nara have been protected and seen as important to local Shinto beliefs for at least a thousand years; in 2023, studies from three universities revealed that they actually make up a unique genetic group not found anywhere else. Apparently, the deer in Nara will exchange bows with people, especially if it means they get a snack~

Wakayama

Photo credit: twitter user __sen_115

Ojiro: "A two-tone popular character... We have one of those." Hagakure: "We do, don't we. Just by being there, he creates a splendid atmosphere...!" Todoroki: "Huh? There's somebody like that?" Ojiro: "IT'S YOU!!!"

Visiting Adventure World in Shirahama which is home to a giant panda conservation area. A branch of Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base has bred 17 giant pandas there, which is the most success in breeding outside of mainland China.

That's all for Day 4. Next up is Day 5!

#translations #ua high school field trip around japan #mha one hundred million copies tour

[ashmcgivern]

My pal @hyah-through-hyrule has a Many Links AU comic that he's doing and those of you who have known me for a while know that I just... adore Wind Waker, so much. So I had to draw his rendition of the piratey boy!

If you wanna read his comic go mosey on over to @heroesspirit

#zelda #legend of zelda #wind waker #spirit tracks #character design #asharts #the concept of many links is fun to me #but i never got super knee deep into it #LU is a fun concept and I enjoy the comic #and here and there I casually keep an eye on some others #but its not 100% my thing #but i am always here to love and support my friembs #im a lot more invested in dnd rn #but oh boy im so sorry about the person ill become in may #TotK is going to do shit to me I can FEEL IT

[littlesakis-aubade]

Wahoo and hyah

A profile picture for my other socials since I like both these boys (and what games they stand for etc you know what I mean).

Just something simple. Twilight Princess was my first Zelda game so I chose to draw TP Link.

#super mario #the legend of zelda #mario #link #tp link #super mario bros #loz tp #loz #mario fanart #zelda fanart #fanart #nintendo #digital art #procreate #Link was so hard to draw lmao he took my like 7 tries probably #Only his face tho #It was so hard not to shade this entire thing hahah #my art #littleaubade

[omgsquee2001]

Prologue

There are many stories of chivalry. Where the heroic knight and his daemon save the damsel in destress and her daemon. This is not one of them.

Running through the golden fields of an island, a king, his knights, and their daemons, taking the form of brave lions, raced towards a mountain in the distance. Flying above trees and rocks, the silhouette of a dragon could be seen. Looking up at hearing the flapping of wings, the king noticed the hulking form of the dragon, spotting the human riding on the dragon's back. This was no ordinary human. This was the dragon's daemon.

"Form up!" The king shouted. With the king in the front and his men moving to the sides, their daemons moving with them, they made an arrow. "Let's kill the beast and its daemon! For glory! Hyah!" The king shouted, snapping the reins of his horse. They quickly approached the mountain. The king, ready to kill the very thing that had threatened his people.

Leaving their horses outside, the king and his men slid down into the lair on ropes. Their daemons, shifting into birds, fluttered down with them, taking the shapes of lions once again. The crunching of gravel under boots and the soft growls of lions were all that was heard. The king's daemon, Leon, turned his head to the men.

"Be on guard." Leon said, growling and sticking close to his master's side. As they walked through the mountain, the air felt thick and heavy. It was almost difficult to breathe. They approached an area lit up with sunlight. The king held his hand up, telling his men to wait. As they stared at the sunny spot, there was soft crackling heard. Leon's eyes widened in shock.

The dragon, with its daemon on its back, crawled through the mountain, clinging to the pillars of stone. The sounds of swords clanging, the sound coming from a spot that held something dear to the two. Seeing what had happened, the dragon roared in anger and sadness. Through the roaring, they heard someone shouting in a language different that what they understood.

"*Nei! Hva har du gjort?!" It sounded like a woman's voice. Leon looked at the king.

"My Lord! We should leave now! While we still can!" While some might see Leon as a coward, Leon didn't particularly feel like being turned into dust for the dragon's daemon to consume. While carnivores ate the meat of other animals to survive, the carnivore's daemons fed on the dust that emanated from that animal's daemon after it died. The king looked at his daemon.

"Form the line!" The king shouted. While the king and Leon stood more towards the back, most of the knights and their daemons stood in front of the king and his daemon. Drawing swords and crossbows, aiming the crossbows at the air, they waited for the beast and its daemon. If they could get a clear shot of the beast's daemon, it would kill the dragon immediately. Both animal and daemon, and human and daemon were fiercely protective of one another. You kill the daemon, its master dies. You kill the master, the daemon dies. From within the confines of the confines of the mountain, they heard the dragon roar, and a sound, almost like a shriek. They then heard the voice again.

"*Brenne." It sounded low, almost angry and haunted. Then, flames of burning fire spewed out upon the knights. The knight's daemons started disappearing in clouds of golden dust. There was a sound, like harsh wind blowing. The dust particles started floating up towards the back of the dragon. The dragon's daemon was consuming the dust. The king and Leon stared in shock and horror at the death that was lain before them. Instead of running, the king stared at the carnegie, determined to kill the beast.

"Hold!" The king shouted. The remaining knights stood behind their kings. As they watched the sky, the dragon swooped down and picked up one of the knights. It's daemon stared in shock. It shifted into a falcon, trying to distract the beast to let its master go. With a growl, the daemon turned into dust, the dragon's daemon consuming the dust. One by one, the knights and their daemons were killed. The king looked around in defeat. Leon raced in front of the king. Though he was no match for a dragon and its daemon, Leon would defend his master till his dying breath. Realizing he had been defeated, the king stuck his sword into the ground. Ready to meet his fate. The king fell to his knees. Leon quickly raced over and stood by his master's side. As the dragon stalked closer, behind its head and wings, long billowing, fire orange hair could be seen, standing out against the shadows and the rock.

~~~~

*No! What have you done?!

*Burn

~~~

//Here is the prologue. I really hope you like it. Let me know in the comments.//

#netflix damsel #damsel #fanfic #damsel x oc

[hyah-lian]

@breannasfluff suggested a RavioLi pic! I originally was trying to draw them sharing a can of chef boyardee ravioli, but it was too hard ;;;;;; and then i got rly tired so its just a sketch they sharin' spaghettiiiiii~

#hyah-draws #linked universe #lu legend #lu ravio #ravio x legend #i wanna colour this tmrw i really really need some sleep tho #im also like duifhgusadgh i dont wanna ruin the cute if i goof up when i do more to it yknow?

[linkedspirit-fanartfunart]

[Image Description: A 10 panel full-color Legend of Zelda AU comic “Linked Spirit”. Panel 1: A Vire flies above the ground, nervous, looking down at an amorphous creature on the ground that reaches up towards it. Hope kneels on the ground, getting up, brows furrowed. Sky is just behind him, holding the magical sword and glaring. Hero’s Spirit is behind Sky in an orb form. Panel 2: The amorphous creature curls up around the Vire and says in a dark purple text “Hello. I can help” The Vire looks curious, eyes no longer fully white but slitted with yellow. Panel 3: A close up of the Vire’s face, Grinning toothily. It’s eyes are fully yellow and the top of it’s head is covered by burgundy subtance, with another yellow eye in the center of it’s forehead. It laughs with sharp jagged handwritten lettering “HA HA HA HEHE, No escape Hero!” Panel 4: The Vire breathes a dark purple fire with a “fwoosh” at Hope. She grimaces with an “Ahg”, taking a step back, hand braced forward against the flame. Panel 5: Hope is flat on his back, struggling to hold back the Vire as it tries to scratch his face, hissing. Hope’s eyes are red, and is surrounded by a “Crackle”ing red pixel-like magic. He grimaces, saying “That breath! Brush your teeth!” In the background, Sky runs towards them. Panel 6: Sky thrusts the sword up into the Vire, pushing it up and away from Hope. “kesk” it hisses, then laughs “HAhaha” Hero’s Spirit weaves between Sky’s legs to go down towards Hope. Hope looks stunned, eyes wide, and mutters “wha-” Panel 7: Hero materializes to look humanoid, reaching towards Hope in concern as he rolls on his side and leans up. Hero asks “Are you okay?” In the background, Sky, off-screen, yells “HYAH HA.” Panel 8: Hope gets back up at a run, a bow materializing in their hand with a “ting!” He smirks, “I’m the Hero of Hyrule! I’m doing great.” Panel 9: Hope draws back a silver arrow on the bowstring, confident and determined. Panel 10: Hope’s arrow crosses over into this panel, pointed at the Vire. Sky holds up the Magical sword facing the Vire. It flies in front of aer, teeth bared. End ID]

masterpost

First- Previous (13) - 14^ - Next (15)

#legend of zelda #loz au #multi link au #linked spirit au #linked spirit comic #LS Hero's Spirit #LS Hope #LS Sky #fire tw #injury tw #body horror tw #eyes tw

[tricksterfiction]

Prompt #14 Clear

The one where she flies. Angel - Poets of the Fall

Sen and Moonshine had spent the better part of a bell sneaking around Idyllshire's bell tower to climb/fly to the top. The mysterious silhouette of a chocobo flying past the glowing green shell. It was night time - naturally, the skies were crystal clear only with stars to bear witness to Sen's flight.

The air was cool, welcoming at the top of the tower. Truthfully there were higher places she could climb but it felt as if she was honouring something important by choosing to do this in Dravania.

A newly minted red mage with her focus on her hip, and her rapier on the other side. Iron dagger styled earrings hung at her horns, a deep red jacket with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows. Thigh high soft brown leather boots, flexible and black leather gloves. A blue oldrose pinned carefully in her hair, hidden below it was her ruby red soul stone. A pair of glass goggles hung around her neck.

Moonshine stepped carefully over the shingles. Sen tugged the reigns for her to face away from the settlement - the wind snatched at her hair, tugged at her collar, she took a deep deep breath in.

"Alright, Moonshine. It's time to get reacquainted."

Some would say there was easier ways to reconnect with the elements, more practical. But nothing about her success in unlocking her inherited focus and soul stone was achieved by being meek and locked away in a library or throwing spells at a training dummy. Unbidden tears that did not belong to her rolled down her cheeks and were stolen by the wind.

A distant voice assured her, "Don't be afraid to fall in order to fly."

Fitting her goggles on, she squeezed her heels on Moonshine, then braced, "Hyah!"

Moonshine took off at a run and they were off, ascending steadily to go higher and higher into the sky. The chocobo carried them up, catching aether currents to ride.

Sen wisely didn't spare a look down, as landmarks shrank in the distance. Her heart beat doubled with anticipation, excitement. They were buffeted by the wind, Sen removed her gloves tucking them into her belt to feel it with her bare hands. It was raw in this form, she reached out aetherically and gasped as her heart soared. Fingers brushing over the ribbons of the current, invisible to her eye but she felt it in the marrow of her bones.

Freedom.

When they were high enough, Moonshine glided kweh'ing with delight.

Sen took stock of how high they were, but she wasn't scared she felt at peace.

Attaching her focus to the pommel of her sword holding it aloft, carefully, very carefully she stood on the back of the saddle. Little green wisps of aether came from the focus to shield her from the gale enough not to be blown over before she was ready.

For the first time in her life she felt she saw everything so clearly, not through the lens of the Elementals or the star's inherent aether flow. It was all her, and through her the wind called.

Without another thought, she leapt.

Moonshine dived after her.

She closed her eyes reaching out fully, the focus glowed a bright red, surrounding itself with green tinged aether. A smile tugged at her mouth then broke into a wind wobbly giggle of pure joy.

Arms and legs were out as she sky dived, dipping left, right, then left again.

Wind gathered around her, called to her will and at her service. She brought her hands together to hold the rapier's handle lengthwise of her body pressing the glowing focus to her forehead drawing more as she concentrated.

The ground was approaching terrifyingly quick, Moonshine was kweh'ing in panic but her chocobo's warnings fell on deaf horns. Sen was gaining more control over her descent, hovering up near Moonshine. She felt where Moonshine was, where the breeze kissed the grassy knolls, soared to the highest peaks of Sohm Al.

She snapped out her hands, eyes open, snatching the reigns she swung her leg under and over Moonshine. Back in the saddle, she swung her sword overhead directing the gale under Moonshine's wings, arcing them clear and riding that aetheric guide back up!

The chocobo flapped hard. Breaking into a full toothy grin, Sen hooted loud and proud at their success gently gliding back down to land now.

The mage practically rolled off the saddle, rolling onto her back with a full belly laugh in the grass. She kicked her legs out thumping the ground, the stars sparkled in her eyes as she stared up.

Breathing hard, she sat up.

"Let's go again."

#ffxivwrite2023 #ffxivwrite #ffxiv #prompt 14 #clear #poets of the fall #angel #writing prompt

[windsofcourage]

LINK HUMMED A FEW short notes under his breath as he pulled out the device he had been given from his pouch . it wasn't very big . not at all the size of the shiekah slate ... but in some ways , it was familiar . ( goddess knew that there really wasn't enough of that going around . )

FIDDLING WITH THE BUTTONS , link managed to turn the device on , &. found it littered with all sorts of interesting drawings on it . it almost looked like if he pushed them ... ahah ! a map opened at his fingertips . pinching it made it show the whole isle , and in the corner were COORDINATES . useful . ( his ears wiggled as he tucked his nose closer . ) heading back to the main screen , link pressed on another button - and surprised himself when it seemed he was seeing THROUGH the object altogether !

CURIOUS , LINK LIFTED the device and moved it around, watching with interest as it tracked his surroundings . ( something about this .... this function had a name , didn't it ? a purpose ? one he was ... familiar with ... ) — but a TUFT OF BROWN HAIR in the camera lens caught link off-guard before he could chase the thought . ( & . link was promptly sent tumbling onto his back from his perch . )

❝  — HYAH ! ❞

@liightaga

#「 ic . 」─ history has its eyes on you . #liightaga #liightaga / o1

[silvrash-797]

🎁🚀🧪

🎁 piece of a wip I want to share: this is a snippet from the fic I'm writing for @hyah-lian, based off their febuwhump day 1 drawing

Heavy manacles encircled the Traveler's wrists and bare ankles, holding him suspended about a foot off the ground. Weak breaths rasped through dry, cracked lips, but he was breathing, if unconscious.

Hesitantly, Four reached up and patted Hyrule’s cheek. “Rulie? Link?”

Dull, exhausted eyes fluttered open, and the rasping breaths hitched slightly. “…Four?” the Traveler slurred painfully, voice dry as the desert winds, “’s that you?”

🚀 outline first, or write as I go? Umm...yes? It really depends. If I'm writing something, I usually spend a lot of time daydreaming about it, rotating words, phrases and scenarios, so that tends to take up most of the "job" of outlining. Other times, especially with my pov swaps, I outline a list of "observances" or beats from the original that I feel need to happen and how. With Lian's fic, for example, this is my "outline":

🧪 do I do research for my fics? A little, yeah! Most is just what I've observed while playing the games I write about, but I did pull up botw while writing my Roll for stealth Febuwhump arc and rent a sand seal, keeping track of the time it took to get where I wanted to go, then walked the same path to see how long that took. But when it comes to Links I haven't played much of (Hyrule, Wars, most of Legend's games) then I need to do more research

#asks and answers #lovely aj #I'll get your other ask answered later #my kids need me 😊

[linksthoughtbrambles]

[Animals can think and echoes can be merciless.]

Part 8 of Adventure Log+ (Sequel to Link’s Thought Brambles. I highly recommend reading in order! Edited 9/30/23 to tighten language.)

[Note: A big thank-you to @embyrinitalics for very generous help on horse behavior and resources about it!! 😀]

-----

“Princess?”

“A moment, Sir Margil.”

.

Yeah.  I wouldn’t’ve let my sister come if I thought it would be like this.

.

No, never before.

.

It is odd.

“It won’t do.”

“What won’t, Princess?”

Maybe they were hoping I’d be dead and the Princess vulnerable?  Still… they weren’t on our direct path…

“I agree with Link.  I cannot abandon people who may be in need of help.”

I mean, the one we usually take to the lab.  Nearby, yeah.

“…Yet… we have two sticking points.”

If it was about us, though, they’d have to have been talking to someone from the Yiga clan.

“What points?”

Yeah, I didn’t think they could talk, either.  Or understand us.

“One—Purah expects us.  If we fail to appear, we’ll cause a panic.”

True, no funeral.  Just a glad-you’re-not-dead party.

“Two—you, Chee.”

Maybe the bokos can’t tell the difference.

“I’ll listen to you.  I’ll run if I have to.”

I don’t know.  You’d think they wouldn’t want to draw too much attention to themselves.

“Indeed.  That is, in fact, exactly what I’ll ask you to do—immediately.”

Ahadis would’ve sent a team out to clear the plain-

“Now?!”

-within a day or two-

“Yes.”

-if they attacked the farmers.

“…And not alone.”

…Right?

“Sirs Margil and Beraya, please accompany Chee to the lab.”

“Wh-“ “Princess-“

“My mind is immutable in this.  Chee is many times more vulnerable than I am.”

Yeah, I- guess- I don’t know Ahadis that well.  Jeralt would.  The king would, too.

“…Link’s gonna be upset.” “You’ll have no backup, Princess.”

Yeaaaah, he is kind of, isn’t he?

“Indeed—but I have my bow.  The plain is wide, flat, and we know Link is on this side of the further ridge.”

Hah!  I kind of figured that’s why he joined the melee.

“I shall see anything coming, and likely eliminate it long before it reaches me.”

“…Link’s still gonna be upset.”

…Sorry, Daile.

“Indeed.  But if you ride hard to the lab, you can tell them what’s happened.”

No, I mean, you were just smiling and now you’re not, so… oh s@#$.

“They’ll send help.”

It’s Wenn, isn’t it?

“You’ll be safer, and so will we in the long run.”

You’re good friends, right?  And he joined.

“It seems to me as though if you encounter any riders in your direction, you ought to push forward—don’t engage unless you have no choice.”

Well, no, Jeralt said so.

“Yes, Princess.”

It’s one reason he recommended you.

“And Chee—you ride on no matter what.”

That and your skill, which he was obviously right about.

“Y-yeah.  Okay.”

No, it IS important.

“On, then.  Quickly!”

This… with what’s coming-

“Yes, Princess.”  “Yes, Princess!” “Please tell Link I listened?”

-we all need to be…

“I shall.  Now, go!”

(Whyyyy did I dig myself into this hole?)

“Hyah!”  “Hup, boy.” “Go, Snorts.”

Daile… allies are great, but allies might not be enough.

“Well, Tass.  Onward.  Hurry!”

We all need to look out for each other.  And I did NOT mean to be a dick and insult your friend.  I was joking.  Badly.  About Ahadis. Which… is no excuse.  I apologize.

.

Nope, my fault.  Careless of me.

.

I wouldn’t’ve put him on the Princess’ guard if I was holding a grudge.  Same goes for Farniha.  Haha, and she kneed my fricking groin and backhanded my face.  It… hurt.  A lot.

.

.

O-oh.  Yeah, I’m not surprised. I’m glad they’re following us for now.  If the Princess has us turn around to check up north, the horses might lead us right to where they came from.

.

Aaaaand Daile’s gone silent.

Goddess dammit Link, you dumbass.  He and Wenn must be very good friends for him to have gotten that obviously pissed off or upset or whatever that not-good face on him was.

Do NOT criticize people’s friends.

Not that I did on purpose, but I should've realized about Wenn.

We worked really well together in the fight.  Hope I didn’t ruin it.

Link?  If you’re going to be a leader and not just a bodyguard, you need to step up your people-reading skills.  You can’t be in a meeting or something and rely on Zelda to turn to you and say, ‘Link, you’d better not say anything critical about so-and-so, because other so-and-so is other other so-and-so’s friend and you’ll tick them off,  my kind but socially-inept consort.’

…I don’t think she’d say that in public.  Especially the ‘consort’ part.

Having the slate read her mind would be so tempting, wouldn’t it?  I wonder what she DOES call me in her thoughts.  Does she think ‘Sir Knight’ and things like that a lot or is it more like, ‘hmm Link likes it when I call him Sir Knight so I shall do so at every opportunity’?

Next time we’re completely alone, I’m going to ask her.

If I remember.

Which I have not been so great at, lately.

Lots of notions.  Not much acting on those notions.

There are too many notions.

.

Slow your brain-babbling down, Link.  Somehow.  Maybe… picture slow-moving things.  Like snails!  Yes!  I can focus on an image of Nails ooooozing his… or… her… way along those nice long dandelion leaves in his little snail-house.  That’s slow.

.

.

.

.

He’s cute.

How long do snails live?

Oh no.  I hope they’re not like flies and things.  I don’t want to find him dead in there when we get back to the castle.  Zelda probably knows what to expect.  She’d’ve warned me, right?  She would’ve said something if he could conk any second.

If he does die at some point I’m going to have to catch a new one and put it in there, because if Myrri sees an empty terrarium she’ll be upset, and most likely she’ll yell at me and/or kick me in the shins for killing him.

.

Nah. Not after her mom.

.

.

.

What… what happens if that field Fi saw at the castle really is the Calamity?

If… it’s already here, and just biding its time for some reason?

Is it waiting for some perfect time to strike?

Those copies of the old tapestry show it being in the middle Hyrule field, though, not at the castle.  Like, showing up at the dead center of Hyrule.  Right at its heart.

That was 10,000 years ago, though.  I guess… could it have moved?

It talked to me.  It did.

It… HE talked.  It sounded like a man.

.

No, not a man, exactly.  Male.  Monstrous.  Loud.  Like nothing else I’ve ever heard.  Like the deepest growl formed into words.

.

It talks.

It… thinks.

.

I thought, before, it was just like… some sort of… animal.  It LOOKS like an animal in the drawings.

Even animals think, though.  I bet that fox Mipha saved never went anywhere near that Hinox again, no matter how much it wanted to drink from that pool.

Rionee knows me and loves me and knows how to avoid snakes and thorns… and she knows when I have apples even when they’re hidden from existence in my Korok pouch, because she knows me, and I must have a tell.  She knows how to get me to give her chin scratches, and she knows how to get the stablehands to give her treats even if I already gave her some, hehehe.  Don’t you, girl?

She knew I needed her to be quiet before attacking those bokoblin riders.

So… even if the Calamity were just an animal, it could think.  It could learn.

And it’s NOT just an animal.

It’s smart.  HE’s smart.  He’s… vengeful.  He hates me.

Try to remember, Link.  What exactly did it- HE… say?

I am able to assist you in this if you wish, master.

Fi?  You can do that?

Yes.

…Yes.  Please.

It will be unpleasant.

Yeah… but it might also be important.

Ready yourself, master.

.

‘Settling for this psychic amplification… it’s…’

MmMM!

‘…paltry… compared to the suffering I’d like to inflict.’

HHGHH!

‘To see you bound… helpless…’

AAAH- HHH!

‘…while I trace you with my blade… like a lover’s caress… opening you from neck to groin… and removing your organs one at a time.’

NNN-GGHHGHHTTNGG-!

‘I long to see the horror in your eyes… I'd start with your intestines, I think.’

HKKTT- KKTT-

‘Just slice them free at the bottom -and pull them out an inch at a time.’

HHHHGG! HH!  HH!

‘…It’s my one regret.’

M-AAAH!

‘You’ll be dead before I emerge.’

PHH- PHHH-

‘I’ll never see your face contort as I rearrange your innards.’

KMPH-

‘I’ll just have to rearrange hers instead.’

MmnNNNNN-! DEAD, YOU’RE DEAD, ASSHOLE!  I DON’T CARE WHO YOU ARE YOU JUST F@#$ED YOURSELF HARD YOU THINK I’LL LET YOU TOUCH HER?!?  IF I DIE TODAY I’LL F@$&ING HAUNT YOU AND YOU’LL STILL LOSE!!!

‘Ah hahahaha.  There it is.  So predictable.’

WOAH!  Holy- holy S#@$-

Oh!  Daile- yeah.  Yeah, I’m fine.  It was Fi.  She showed me something.

.

It was when the Calamity went after me.  While I was hurt.

.

No, it actually attacked me.

.

No, no, it’s not like it’s running around the castle, it went after my thoughts.  It was in my head.

.

Yeah, it is… creepy.

.

No, I couldn’t see it.  I heard its- sorry, his- voice, and it made me… hurt. 

.

We think he was trying to make me strain and bleed faster, among other things.

.

You can ask anything you like.

.

Oh, no I hadn’t finished talking to her.

.

It really is okay-

.

.

Alright.  I can talk out loud to her.  I know you can’t hear her but at least you’ll know my half.

.

No.  We’re all in this together.

.

Okay.

Fi, that memory- it’s like I was there.

You were there, master.

Yeah, but, I mean it’s like I was there AGAIN just now, actually inside the memory.  Living it again.

As I said, I may assist in these endeavors.  I experience everything you do when we are connected.

So, do you remember everything perfectly?

Usually, but I may access any of your memories, master, even those which occurred before you reached me.

Wow.

You are correct in your assessment of the Calamity’s intelligence.  He is no mere animal.  He is extremely intelligent and cunning.

He also hates me.  And he hates the Princess even more, doesn’t he?  Oh- Daile- I mean the Calamity.

…He does hate you both.  He would like little more than to see you both utterly destroyed.  The creature you now call Calamity Ganon has had other names.  Ganon.  Ganondorf.  Demise.  They are all the same being, once driven by the pursuit of power.  Now… I no longer know what drives him.  Perhaps it’s the same, or perhaps he simply seeks the death of all who will not serve him.  It may even be that he wishes nothing else but the destruction of our world.

…Why?

I’m not certain anyone has ever known the answer to that question.  Even he may not.

That memory just before shows he doesn’t just want us dead.  He wants us to suffer first.  He wants to watch it happen.  He doesn’t want us to die right away.

…Yes, master.

But… if he were really HERE here, there’s no way he would’ve let me survive that injury.  The only thing he was able to do was scare the crap out of me and amplify the pain I was already feeling.  He’s not really here yet.  He can’t be, or I’d be dead.

That is logical.

So, it’s more like he has a window he can look at us through.  He can’t actually get in the house.

That isn’t a terrible analogy, master.

…Thaaanks.  It might not… actually be at the castle, then.  It could have nothing but that window to us.  Something he’s looking through.

It’s possible.

You don’t sound convinced.

There is not enough evidence to make a determination.

Okay… so… what makes a window?

Master?

If the Calamity has a window to look through, why does it have it?  Like, did he make it?  Did someone put it there?  You yourself said the field around the castle was probably not the Calamity itself, right?  That it’s a spell?

A magical field, correct.  The field itself is most likely not the Calamity.

Can I ask you how you figure that?

It’s based on my observations of the properties of his previous incarnations.  He never emerges identical to his previous form, but he is always recognizable as himself.  I did not ‘recognize’ this field.

So you said the field could be for communication.

You said that, master.

But you thought I was right.

I concur with your logic.

Great, so… what if the field is just the window?  The Calamity is… somewhere.  Maybe not even in Hyrule at all.  And the field is what’s letting him see?

And speak.

…Yeah.  Like yelling at someone through the window.  Not easy, but you can do it.

.

.

Fi?

I am processing.

Processing what?

Information.

…Yeah, I figured that, but-

Please allow me some time, Master.  I am sorting various information regarding the Calamity both 10,000 years ago and in this age, including words I have heard spoken in your vicinity.  Once that information has been sorted by priority, I will project various scenarios and present probabilities of their likelihood to you.

W- how long will that take?

Longer each time you interrupt, master.

…You’re such a snark.

Like master, like servant.

Y- you’re not my servant-

Interruptions, master.

…Sorry.

.

.

Yeah, she says she’s processing.

.

Not sure.  She usually doesn’t take long to spit numbers at me.  This must be a big lift.

.

I have so many questions, Daile, it’s not even funny.

.

Oh!  Yeah, those sword-beams were pretty cool.  I had no idea she could just do that.

.

The thing at the melee was different.  I had to concentrate on those.

.

She says as long as I’m completely healthy, she can just do that.

.

I KNOW!!

.

Nope.  Didn’t know until those bokos today.

.

.

.

.

.

Guess I just have to wait.

.

.

.

Hphhhhh.

.

.

These poor horses were scared.  I can hear that blanket-blue roan grinding her teeth from here.

They look healthy, so the bokoblins didn’t have them long.  There’s no way they were wild.  They fell right in line with us.  I could probably ride one of them bareback since Rionee’s hurt, but it might confuse or spook the others.  Not worth it unless Rionee starts to feel tired.

.

.

Your head still feeling alright, Daile?

.

I’m glad.

.

No, it’s not bad.  Just a shallow gash.

.

I’ve gotten worse fighting them.  One time, a silver snuck up on me in the woods and threw a rock at my head.  It got me good.  Lucky I didn’t conk out.

.

The silver ones are smarter than the others.

.

Damn, you never fought a silver before?  I’m even more impressed.

.

You didn’t get killed.  When silvers are involved… most… most people do.

.

Granted.

.

Yeah.  Hateno.

.

.

My father did try to clear them out, but he was here a lot.

.

A few times a year.

.

He never wanted us at the Castle.

.

Don’t know why.

.

No, I usually just went after them myself.

.

Because they’re evil bastards.

.

Moblins show up there, too, but not as many of them. Usually further from the village.  They pop up to the west past Ginner and Midla woods.

.

As far as I know, no one’s figured it out yet.

.

A lynel?  No.  No, thank Hylia.  Not near Hateno.  I’ve never even seen one.

.

Lizalfos, yes.  You?

.

Good.

Wow, Link.  Daile’s dad’s seen some nasty s@#% you haven’t.

…Daile was a good choice.

I have to officially thank Jeralt for suggesting him.

----

There they… are?

“Link--ohhh.  Alright, Tass.  Ease up.”

Daile, do you-

.

No, I don’t.

Did they get attacked too?!  Zelda’s riding pretty quick.  She’s upright- Rionee, girl, I know you’re hurt but-

She wants to rush.  I shouldn’t be surprised.  The wound wasn’t so bad.

I think she’s grown attached to Tass.  Which… is awfully sweet.

Why is it only Zelda?

.

My Goddess.  Chee!

No, no.  It’s fine.  It has to be fine.  She’d be at a full gallop, wouldn’t she, if it wasn’t?

…Unless Tass is hurt.

That could be.

He’s too far away to tell for sure.  His gait looks normal.

.

Yeah, I don’t want to shout.  Just in case there’s anything listening.  Seems all-clear, but… just in case.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Tass is so huffy.  I think if he was hurt he’d make sure everyone with an eyeline knew it.  I’d expect lots of tossing his head around and loud whinnying.

.

.

I agree.

.

.

.

Almost there.

.

She’s not shouting, either.

I feel like if she had bad news, she’d be yelling it at this point.

Fingers crossed.

.

“LINK!”

Ah.  In that case-  “PRINCESS!”

“EVERYONE IS WELL!”

Oh, praise Hylia.  Praise…

Maybe I do understand why father wouldn’t want us around.  Maybe we’d worry him too much.

Heh.  The horses.  Nickering.  Good.

.

…Tass is so rushing here to nuzzle-nose Rionee.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand there it is!

Awww, you guys are so cute with your attention-ears and nibbly-wiggly lips and I’d like to greet Zelda the same way, but I can’t pivot my ears like that-

“Hello, brave sirs.”

That tone! Wish I had the luxury to melt.  “Heh.  Hi, Princess.”  Melting right into her arms. That would be ideal. Can't right now. And... blushing.  Cut it out, face.  I said stop.

“I’m glad to see you both look only slightly worse for wear.”

“Thanks.” “Thank you, Princess.”

The way she’s looking at me.  She was worried.

She still did what I asked, though.  Strong, her.  I don’t know if I’d’ve had the willpower to stay put.

“I sent the others on to the lab.”

“That… does make sense.  That is, if- are we heading north, now?”

“Yes.  I do expect Margil or Beraya—perhaps both—to ride back at speed with reinforcements.”

“It’ll be a while.”

“Yes.  I’ve been watching the slate.”

Oh.  A… lot went through my mind since we split up.

“Will the other horses lead us to their homes?”

“If we turn around, yeah, probably.”

“Let’s do so.  I cannot turn my back if my people need help.”

That’s it then.  We turn around.  We wait.  See if they start moving.  “We… may not find anyone alive.”

“I know.”

They’re grazing.  Makes sense.

"Let's take the chance to rest the horses. They'll need it."

Zelda and Daile dismounting, too.  Good.

Everyone gets a breather for a few minutes, at least.

…If anyone bleeds out just minutes before we arrive, I’ll be pissed at myself.  But the horses need some time.  If they don’t stop soon, I’ll give one a quick whack on the behind and see if it keeps moving.  Not the blanket-blue.  She’s toothy.

-----

By the most holy light of Goddess Hylia.

“Wh- what happened here?”

So, Daile’s never seen this either.

Don’t be an ass, Link.  So you’re not the only confused one.  Who cares?!  If Daile knew, you’d have a leg up!

As it is…

As it IS…

What the f#$% is that?!

What’s that sound-

Zelda.  The slate.  The camera.  Of course.

She’s swallowing hard.

“L-Link.  Do you have any knowledge of this?”

“No.  Fi?”

I am processing.  Do you wish me to pause?

For this, yes.  Please.

Very well, master.  I will comply.

The substance in question is malice.

…Malice?

Yes.  I have encountered it in several ages.  Do not touch it.

“Fi says it’s called malice.  She says not to touch it.  What happens if we do?”

It will harm you.

“It’ll hurt us if we do.”

“A name helps little.  What IS it, Fi?”

I do not know all of its properties, Princess-

“Sir Daile- here- you may-“

“Thank you, Princess.”

…I can tell you this much—its presence does not necessarily require proximity to the Calamity.  I encountered it once with my first Hylian wielder before the First Seal had broken, and at an entirely different subterranean location.  The substance in that case had contaminated a once-pure water supply.  It may also solidify and become crystalline. Though I have no information on the mechanics, the substance does appear to be linked to reanimation.

“What do you mean reanimation?”

The restoration of a corpse’s ability to move about independently.

“What?”

Forgive me, master.  I recognize this information is disturbing.  Please approach with extreme caution.  Typically with reanimation, destruction of the head is necessary to put the construct down.

“Wh- construct?  What-“

Apologies.  I refer to the reanimated creature.  It no longer lives, master.  It is… a reconstructed shell.  Nothing more.

.

Reconstructed shell.

.

“Zelda.”

“Yes.”

“We have to dismount to check the farmhouse… and the barn.”

“Yes.”

“Draw.”

“Yes.”

Her arrow nocked already.

Daile’s went with the bow, too.

You’re on point, Link. Sword.

I… can hear it.  That malice stuff.  Bubbling, oozing…  Like hot mud.  The color! Not remotely natural, that.  Changing.  Purples, pinks… hot-bright, like fired-iron but the color’s all wrong.  No blade looks like that when heated.

And it’s moving. The surface just… just… flexing.  Like… living, liquid muscle.

Dear Goddess.  This reminds me of something.

It reminds me of something, and I don’t even know what it is.

It scares the ever-loving begoddess out of me.

…Grip your sword, Link.  Grit your teeth. This was a farm.  There could be people in that house.  People who need you-

?

Someone’s moving, the sound- walking, shuffling, dragging feet, they must be hurt!  Speed up, Link- they’re coming out close to that stuff-

HH!!!!!!SCREAMING-

“HH!” “UF-“

SCREAMINGSCREAMINGSCREAMINGSCREAMINGICAN’TMOVE WHYCAN’TIMOVE MYGODDESSWHATTHEF@#$ISTHAT WHATISIT MYGODDESS MOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVELINK! MOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVE OHF@#$IT’SCOMINGCLOSER NONONONONONONONONONONO MOOOOOOOOVELINK!! MOVE MYGODDESSITSDEADITSDEAD WHATEVERITISITSDEADITSDEAD-

Cease, master!

FIFIFIMYGODDESSLOOKATIT

Do not concentrate on the fear!

ITWASAPERSONAPERSONAPERSON

It is amplified! Hear my voice instead!

FIPLEASETELLMEITWASNTAPERSON

Will yourself to move!  NOW, master!

M-MOVEMOVE MOVE  MOVEMOVE

Will your muscles to!

MOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVE

Persist!

MOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVEMOVE- FREE!

Attack, master!

“TELL ME IT WASN’T A PERSON!”

…

“FI, FOR F@#$’S SAKE, TELL ME IT WASN’T A PERSON!”

Master, do not delay!

“TELL ME!”

It will close and stun you!

It’s SLOW, Fi, I’m BACKING OFF, now “F@#%ING TELL ME!”

WH-?

An arrow in its eye- two.

It’s on its knees.

The merciful thing is to remove its head, master.

You can’t be-

Three arrows.

Four.

It’s down.

.

Not moving.

I don’t- I don’t think it was breathing even before.

Hard breathing.  Zelda and Daile.  Behind me.

My breath, too.

“Fi.  Fi, what-“

“LINK!” “ANOTHER!”

??!?!!!

No screaming this time- no screaming- what- what’s it doing?

.

Oh my Goddess.

Goddess.  “Zelda-“

“I see it.”

Fi.  Fi, in the name of Hylia, please.  Please, I’m begging you, tell me those aren’t people.

…

Smaller than the first.  Slighter.  Was the first one a man?  Is this a woman?

…A husband and wife?

Fi, why won’t you answer me?

I cannot tell you what you want to hear, master.

.

My Goddess.

My Goddess, it’s curling up.  Fetal position.  Like it’s crying.  Mourning.

Mourning the other.

It will not remain this way for long, master.

.

The merciful thing is to take its head.

“Link.”

“…Zelda, I- Fi, is there a way to save them?“

There is nothing left to save, master-

“Horses#$@!  If there was nothing left, it wouldn’t do that!”

It is an echo, only.  It is dead.  By slaying this form, you would free its body from imprisonment to another’s will.  It is rest.  It is mercy.

“I- I don’t know if I believe you.”

Then believe IT, master, for it rises.

Hylia help me, it's SCREAMINGSCREAMINGSCREAMING

DO NOT PANIC!

S@#$ITSTHEEYESORTHESOUND

KEEP PRESENCE OF MIND!

ITSASPELLORACURSE

Magic, yes! You are stronger-

MAYBEBOTH

-will yourself free!

MAYBETHEY’RETHESAMETHING

Move!

CLOSERCLOSERF@#$

Move, master!

F@#$!F@#$!

MOVE!

HOLYHYLIAMYNECKMYNECKPERSERVEUSLIFTUSFROMTHESESANDS

Yes, prayer!

KEEPUSWITHTHEDAWNINTHESELOFTYSKIESMAKEOFUSATEMPLEOFHOPE

Hope!

GODDESSGODDESSGODDESS

IGNORE fear—MOVE!

ISTILLCAN’TMOVEMYNECKMYNECKHYLIAPLEASEPLEASEPRESERVEUSLIFTUSFROMTHESESANDSKEEP

“AaaAAAAAAAAAH!”

Zelda! OFF“AahhH-HHNO NOT HER!" THROUGHITSNECK THROUGHITSNECK“NGH!”  S-sweet skies, what-

End it, master!

Blade- right THROUGH- my- my Goddess its eyes are on Zelda and she’s stuck. Stuck.  But it can’t move with my sword through its neck.

How is it still alive?

This is un-life, master.  End it.

.

.

I can.  I can.  Yank the sword back.  Through its spine.

I can.

Just… Do it, Link.

Come on.

Just do it.

“Mmmh.  Hh-hh-“

Slice.

Ribbons.

.

.

.

.

.

“Mmpgh-hh-Link.  Link!”

Zelda.

“Link—Link, answer me.”

Zelda.

“Link?”

That’s Zelda.

“Link, stop looking at it.”

Zelda.

“Stop, Link.”

She… she blocked it.

Good, that’s good.  I don’t want to look.  Not at its… head… hanging… off…. Like that….

Ribbons.

Sinew.  The inside. Of a. Windpipe.

A person’s.

The wound, she’s-

She-

Doesn’t she understand?

Doesn’t she know what I just did?

Doesn’t she-

Doesn’t-

m-

“Oh- Link-“

oh- oh, no- “mmMMbkhhhh-“

“Turn away-“

“Hhhhhhuah-“

“It’s- alright, just-“

“hhhhhHHHUAH-“

“Just don’t look-“

“HHH- HHH- HHH-“

“Th-there…”

“Hh-hh… hh-hh… hh… hh… hh…”

“A- alright?”

No.  No, not alright.

It’s a good thing I hadn’t eaten anything in a real long time.  There’d be a mess.  As it is, I just doubled over. Made noise.  Not dignified.  Not.  Not.

Aren’t I supposed to be some kind of hero or something?

She’s rubbing my back.

Daile heavy-breathing.

I’m not the only one massively freaked out.

“It’s okay.  It’s okay.  It’s dead.”

“I- it’s not that, Zelda.”

“…I know.”

“Fi wouldn’t answer me.”

“I… I assumed not.  You asked more than once.”

“It was a person.”

“…It seems so.”

“They were people.”

“…Yes.”

“I killed it.”

.

“I killed a person.”

“No, no, Link-  no-“

“Yes.  I did.”

The person was already dead, master.

“Shut up, Fi.”

…

“…Link…”

.

Link.  You’re an asshole.  “…Sorry, Fi.”

…

S$#%.

“Link, had you not stabbed it, it would have attacked me just as it had you.”

“Y-your wound needs tending, sir.  Do you have that alcohol?”

Alcohol.

Alcohol.  Right.  Right- “In the pouch.”  Here.  Here it is.

Zelda.  Unstopping it.  Going to really, really hurt, its teeth just ripped my neck open.  Lucky it didn’t hit my carotid.  Hylian teeth. Not so sharp.  It still… feels… like a mess, though… “AAaaAAAH!  MMM!  MMMGGGH.  GGGH-HH. …GH-!”

“I- I shall bind it.  A moment…”

The pouch- it lets her use it.  Bandages.

She shouldn't.  She is.  I don't deserve.

“Link, I …shall remind you, my extraordinary knight, that you said you’d have felt no regret killing Vayden in my defense.”

“Th-that- was different.”

“How so?”

“He meant to kill you.  His choice.  This- this person- these people- they were innocent.  Used.”

“…Perhaps.  We know little for certain.”

“Seems clear.”

“It seems so, but let’s not jump to conclusions.”

“Fi refused to say it wasn’t a person.”

“…I know.  I’m … sorry, Link.”

Bandage… done.  I thought Daile- Daile?

.

Oh.

I’m not the only one who feels sick, either.

He just had the presence of mind to go deal with it quietly in a bush.

.

We didn’t even check the barn yet.

No wonder the horses wouldn't approach.

.

What the hell did this?

-----

[Note: I decided after lots of thinking that there's more than one way to make a ReDead. I also decided the purple stuff in the bottom of the Ancient Cistern is malice, and that evil crystals are solidified malice. I also know why this is happening here even though it didn't (at least explicitly) happen in pre-calamity BotW, but I'm not telling. Spoilers!]

Read Next: A blanket of shifting shadows.

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#adventure log+ #botw #zelda #zelink #loz #breath of the wild #legend of zelda #fanfic #adventure log+ au #comedy #action #horror #fi