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blueskittlesart · 1 year

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no pressure at all, but i was wondering how you think Zelda would react to a mute/deaf link? i bet she originally thought he was conceited but had the gut punch realization that he couldn’t help it and that she had spent all this time judging him

struggling to figure out how to word this but i think this is.. essentially what happens in canon? canonically, link is selectively mute, which essentially just means that physically, he can technically speak. there's no physical problem with his vocal chords, hearing, etc that makes him mute, it's a mental block instead of a physical one. that doesn't mean that it's something he can control, though. I've heard it described as being like your vocal chords just "stop working" in certain situations, whether due to anxiety, trauma, overstimulation, or some other trigger. meaning you still physically can't talk, there's just no anatomical reason for the mutism. so whether he's deaf, physically mute, or selectively mute, i think zelda still has the gut-punch oh shit, he couldn't help it moment and that she DESERVES to have that gut-punch, because that realization that she'd been projecting her own insecurities onto him and refusing to take into account his situation is an important kickstarter to her personal growth and development. But i guess what i'm saying is i don't think her reactions would change very much if you change the way he's communicating with her. With selectively mute link, i do like to think that he eventually becomes comfortable enough around her that he's able to speak for short amounts of time and begins to communicate that way, as is implied in canon (but that's never actually outright stated, just that he "opened up" to her eventually, so it's possible he never actually TALKED to her at all and communicated some other way.) sign language, written language, however he decides to explain what's going on to her, he still was physically incapable of speaking to her before, and she still judged him heavily for it. so tldr yeah, i think no matter what form of mutism you want to give him, she always has to have that moment of shock and realization that she was pushing her own insecurities onto him and that she was downright CRUEL to him. it's one of the most important moments of her arc!

#it's also notable i think that because link is basically CONSTANTLY being triggered pre-calamity he APPEARS completely mute #even in situations where he SHOULD in theory be comfortable e.g. alone with mipha or daruk who he knew pre-sword he STILL doesn't talk #because the trigger for him is the presence of the master sword and the responsibility it implies.#the fact that he still can't speak even to his childhood friends speaks to the pervasiveness of that responsibility and the way he feels #pressured to keep up that persona of a hero even when he SHOULD be able to drop it. he's under so much pressure that he can't be himself #for even a second even when no one is watching him.#anyways. not the point of the post i know. but i think it's worth noting that there's not a lot of difference between selective vs physical #mutism with link pre-calamity EXCEPT that he could potentially speak to zelda after becoming comfortable enough.#the potential for COMMUNICATION is still there selective or not it would just have to be a nonverbal form of communication!#asks #zelda analysis

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spectacled-renegade-writes · 7 months

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An Early Start - Chapter 25 - Final Chapter - Danny Phantom

Ao3: Here | Masterpost: Here

Ao3 Description: The accident that turns Danny half-ghost happens when he is four years old and leaves him trapped in the Ghost Zone. Clockwork finds him and takes him in to raise. But what happens when Clockwork sends Danny back to the human-world ten years later when a permanent portal appears?

Chapter 25: Epilogue

Danny learned the following day that Clockwork did not perish. He was in his room, still recovering, playing a game of chess with Vlad. He only noticed time stop because of a fly, which abruptly stopped buzzing around his room. Moments later Clockwork appeared and placed a time medallion around Vlad’s neck.

Danny choked on his breath and ignored the way his recovering body screamed at him as he jumped off his bed to hug Clockwork, knocking over the chess board in the process. Clockwork’s familiar chill and scent of oil filled his senses, and Danny just stood there and hugged him, and didn’t let go for many moments. Clockwork did not resist but instead hugged him back.

Danny had to wipe away a tear when he finally let go. “I thought… I thought you were…”

“I know.” Clockwork replied gently and Danny couldn’t help but laugh, because of course he knew.

“Where were you?” Danny demanded, but not a hint of spite in his voice.

“You were correct.” Clockwork explained, while Vlad watched on in fascination. “I was captured. But I needed to get a few affairs in order after you defeated the ghost king, which is why I could not see you right away. For that I am sorry.” Clockwork turned to look at Vlad approvingly but when he spoke again, it was clearly still directed at Danny. “Congratulations. Your mission was a success.” He turned back at Danny. “I am so very proud of you.”

Danny smiled, sitting back down at the edge of his bed. “Did you know the whole time? That Pariah would be released?”

“I did,” Clockwork confirmed, something of a hum. “It was one of the more probable timelines. But defeating Pariah Dark wasn’t your mission.”

Danny tilted his head and glanced at Vlad, like maybe he knew what Clockwork was talking about, but Vlad only shrugged so Danny turned his attention back. “Then… what was my mission?”

Something of a bemused smile crossed Clockwork’s lips as he changed from an old man to a baby. He pointed to Vlad. “He was.”

Vlad sputtered. “Me?”

Clockwork nodded. “Indeed.” Clockwork set his scepter on the floor and balanced it upright like the laws of physics shouldn’t allow, and sat atop it. “A timeline existed-“

“Existed?" Vlad interrupted despite himself. "As in past tense?”

Clockwork merely nodded again ever patiently. “Very few timelines can be erased completely but this particular timeline you erased, Danny, it was very special.”

“What happened?” Vlad couldn’t help but ask, hungry for knowledge.

Clockwork finally turned to Vlad and said, quite bluntly, “You destroy the world.”

Danny watched as Vlad paled.

“…I what?”

Clockwork casually worked on winding one of the many watches on his wrist as he spoke. “There was a timeline, the most probable timeline back then, in which Danny received his powers at fourteen. In that timeline, the most probable outcome was that he would save the world you nearly destroy. But in this timeline, as all things that change, it was different, because Danny is different.” He finished winding his watch and moved on to the next one.

“Does that mean…” Danny spoke slowly, a devastating realization dawning on him. It was quite rare for Clockwork to speak of other timelines, whether they have come to pass or have yet to be. “That if I wasn’t different, or if I couldn’t save the world, you wouldn’t have taken me in?” The realization was crushing and he felt something like betrayal. He looked down at the scattered chess pieces. “Was I just a pawn this whole time?”

Danny couldn’t bring himself to look at Clockwork but when Clockwork spoke, it was still in that same smooth, patient tone he always had. “We become close in every timeline you’re born into. You are not a pawn, Danny, and though it may not feel like it, I had nothing to do with the choices you made that led to this timeline.” He reached out and placed a hand on Danny’s shoulder as he shifted to a young man. “This timeline, the one where you received your powers when you were four, it was one of the most unlikely timelines to occur. But, it still happened, because your choices have always been yours, and you have always had your free will.”

Danny felt his shoulders relax and he looked back up at the ghost he considered his father. He knew Clockwork has never lied to him. “I’m sorry.” Danny whispered.

“Apologies are unnecessary. Time is a fickle thing and it can lead to doubt.”

“Since his mission is over,” Vlad spoke up, and they both turned their attention to him. “Does that mean Daniel must return to the Ghost Zone?” Danny couldn’t help but hear the apprehension in Vlad’s tone when he spoke.

Clockwork merely smiled, floating off his seat to get close to Danny. “That all depends on Danny.” He said. “You will always have your free will and should you choose to return to your home in the Ghost Zone, you can.”

“You mean,” Danny breathed. “I can come home?”

“You can.” Clockwork confirmed, floating back again.

A million and one thoughts flooded Danny’s mind. On one hand, a spark of excitement and longing grew for the home he missed so dearly. On the other hand... he looked at Vlad. He thought about the friends he’s made, the family he’s made, the sister he returned to. Danny didn’t know if he could leave them behind. His heart ached at the thought of each choice but he realized it really wasn’t a choice at all. “I’ll visit you,” he whispered, staring at the floor. Then stronger, he looked up at Clockwork. “All the time. I’ll visit you.” Danny watched as a gentle but proud smile cross Clockwork’s face, and Danny continued. “I’ll introduce you to Jazz and my friends. We can still have our lessons, too. But… I can’t leave the dear people I’ve gained in this world.”

“I always suspected as much,” Clockwork replied. “Even if a choice such as this has always been fifty-fifty. Still, it’ll always be difficult for a father to watch his child go out on his own.”

Danny felt himself choke up and tears sting his eyes.

Clockwork turned to Vlad. “You take good care of each other. I’ll be watching.”

“I will.” Vlad promised.

So, Clockwork took his scepter, and the medallion off Vlad’s neck, and smiled at Danny. “Until next time.”

Danny watched, while waving goodbye to his dad, as time restarted with a wave of the scepter.

A moment of silence past and Danny and Vlad looked at each other. Then, with an air of incredulity, they picked up the chess pieces off the floor, and restarted their game.

Life got better after that. Many changes happened and all of them were good. First, Vlad bought a mansion in Amity Park “so he could be closer to family”. They hung out often and learned much from each other. It also felt nice to finally have another person who understands you like no one else does.

Second, Danny introduced the two people who raised him to each other. Danny brought Jazz to the Ghost Zone and when she met Clockwork, she grew very emotional. She thanked him for taking care of her brother when she could not and asked many questions. They talked for hours, late into the night by standards of the human world, and shared many stories. Danny would later learn that Jazz would then on visit Clockwork on her own from time to time. It made him so happy that they got along so well. But he always knew they would.

Third, and most life changing, most of the humans and most of the ghosts grew to like Danny. Though his human parents weren't two of the people who saw Phantom in a new light. But Danny realized he was okay with that. They didn't matter enough to him to care, and he knew who his real parents are.

Also, of course, his human half was still mostly an outcast in the human world too, simply because he has been deemed as weird. But that didn’t bother Danny like it used to. Not everything can be fixed, something he has since learned to accept. No life was perfect, but that didn't mean it still couldn't be good.

In the Ghost Zone, for the first time ever, the other ghosts actually acknowledged him, greeted him even, as he resumed his explorations. It was a happiness Danny never thought he could achieve.

For the first time in his life ever, Danny finally felt like he belonged in both worlds, and when he closed his eyes at night, he could feel peace hum in his chest.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Ao3 Notes: I can't even begin to describe how grateful I am to each and every one of you. Whether you've left comments, kudos, bookmarks, or even simply read each chapter without any interaction, I am so, so grateful to each and every one of you.

During the last third of this story a lot of stressful things began happening in my life and my mental health took a decline, but this story kept me going. You all kept me going. I didn't want to disappoint you and now here we are, and I truly hope you enjoyed it to the end.

Even though I don't often reply to comments, just know I have read each and every one of them, and each and every one of them has meant so much to me. They're like little doses of serotonin for my brain.

So thank you, dear readers, so very much for reading my little story.

For one last time, thank you so much for reading, for your support/continued support, and I truly hope you have the most lovely day/night. <3

#an early start au #danny phantom #danny phantom fanfiction #danny phantom fanfic #mute!danny fenton #disabled danny fenton #danny fenton #clockwork #vlad masters #vlad plasmius #jazz fenton #lost time #renegade writes

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