BotW Oc - Tumblr Posts

A BOTW OC i made. He has a whole ass diary, almost finished lore and story, and many a drawing. His name is Link but prefers the name Light. He was raised in Goron City. I love him with my whole heart.

I’ve been thinking about this conversation with Impa since I drew this.

They’re starting a support group

Shhhhh. They’re trauma bonding.

“I do not have the hero’s spirit of my ancestor but I will be the one to save Hyrule.”

The avertable inevitability

Chapter 1: a end and a beginning

Zelda Bosphorus Hyrule the seventy second was born to the death tolls of a girl who never got the chance to live.

A self-insert fic.

A END AND A BEGINNING

I remembered a time before.

Before who i am now and before what i am now.

It was… full. I was loved and cherished. I was fearful. I was scared. I was happy. I was sad. stress, expectation and time weighed down upon my shoulders but I loved and was loved fully and deeply. A mother who was a constant support in my life, a brother who was a dear friend and a father who never quite knew how to interact with me. who sometimes felt like sandpaper upon my skin but whose love I never doubted. I was loved. I had more love then I knew what to do with. I had an overbearing but loving aunt, a cousin who was like a sister, a kind uncle, a wise grandmother who I looked up to, an insanely clever grandfather who always made me laugh, and even more family and friends beyond that. My life had been full of happiness and laughter, sadness and despair, and then… it all disappeared.

With a single crack a sharp pain and a shout it was all gone just like that.

And just like that it was the end of my before. my old hope and happiness, and the beginning of my now.

Zelda Bosphorus Hyrule the seventy second was born to the death tolls of a girl who never got the chance to live.

I remember a warm comforting -Stifling- darkness muffled voices and lullabies. Most of my time spent in the darkness was morning, panicking, and sleeping. My greatest fear had always been isolation and confinement. To be utterly alone and trapped. No one and nothing to interact with just myself and my own mind, suffering in silence. The moment I awoke in this dark place I knew that I had died and that I would never see my family again. It hurt.

Like a scar on my soul, I cherished my family; they had been my whole world and now they were gone and I was alone. It was not my best period i'll admit, if it would have been possible in those first few months I would have just stopped. I would have given up and died again just in the hope I would get to see them again. I spent 9 months trapped in a strangely comfortable hell as much of an oxymoron as that sounds. My only salvation was the noises I could hear from outside of my own personal hell.

A warm kind voice who would sing quite lullabies to me. There were other voices that I would hear, muffled voices speaking words I couldn't quite make out, but hers was the most clear. The constant steady heartbeat that surrounded me. a soothing sound that comforted me in my tiny prison.

By the time that 9 months had past I had come to terms with the fact that I wouldn't be able to see my family again I had gone through all the differing stages of grief and had tenuous grasp upon my own sanity and acceptance of that fact that this is how things were now i had my self, the voice, and the heart beat and that would have to be good enough.

And as if that clarity had been a cue, suddenly I was free.

Well not suddenly I had to go through the whole birth thing, which for the record was unpleasant to say the least, I will admit that I panicked when my already tight prison started to constrict on me and the warm safe voice started screaming. I had guessed that I had reincarnated and knew eventually I would be sprung from my warm fleshy prison. but knowing something intellectually and actually being forced out of the birth canal while my new mother screamed and the voices around her panicked were two entirely separate things.

But nevertheless I was suddenly free and the world was blinding. Everything was all too much there was light where there had been darkness, the air was cold and harsh on my skin, and it was all too loud with nothing to muffle the voices chattering around me rough hands were holding me and I was wiped down and swaddled with fabric that was painful on my new skin. It was all too much and I couldn't help but scream my protest and fear to the world, that too hurt my new infant ears but I was too scared to stop. It was all too much too fast and I didn't have my warm voice or my heartbeat and I was scared and nothing made sense and I wanted it to all STOP!

I was settled onto a warm chest next to a heartbeat and the warm soothing voice spoke. I didn't understand her. I was much too overwrought to even begin to attempt to comprehend what she was saying but I had my heart beat and soothing voice back, and that would have to be enough.

I fell asleep to the sound of my new mother's heartbeat and her soothing voice.

Its also on FanFiction.Net https://m.fanfiction.net/s/13547505/1/the-avertable-inevitability

Chapter 2 A great loss

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Being a baby was boring. And incredibly frustrating. I quickly realized that the people around me did not speak english which was an entire irritation of its own. I had prided myself on my vocabulary and eloquence when I had bothered to try. I had been well read and had been enchanted by the english language, had enjoyed all of its different facets even if it's inane rules and my own struggles with my dyslexia had pushed me to further heights. To have all my work, my struggle, my hard won grasp of my mess of a marvelous language rendered mute. It was infuriating. It didn't matter how pretty this new language was with its lilting lyrical almost musical tone. English was my garbage langage damn it!

I wasn't quite sure where i was born or what language the people around me were speaking but i was fairly certain that it was somewhere europian. As my new mother was blond and caucation from what i could see with my stupid useless baby eyes. Which by the way was another thing I was frustrated about. I can't see anything! It's all blurs of colors and shapes. While I'm not unused to being blind as a bat without my glasses, I. Don't. Have. Glasses. I was blind and practically deaf, it was isolating in an uncomfortable way. I was as helpless as a baby, which I was, but it did make my lack of autonomy or understanding any better, for someone who had used to be quite observant and independent.

But back on track. I had theorized that I was born again somewhere in europe because of what I could see of my mother's features. I had ruled out Spain, France and England on my mental map as the language the people were speaking did not sound like what I knew of french and spanish. I had also hesitantly ruled out italy as the language didn't sound like it was latin in origin but that might be a bit of a stretch. It was also entirely possible that i was in france, spain italy or any where else and my mother was just speaking in another language or was a foreigner living in another country and the other people i saw were all family or part of the same community and that's why they all spoke the same language, but if that was true then i could be literally anywhere with no way of knowing. An insidious voice inside of me whispered that i might not even be on earth, i had read enough fanfic to be familiar with self insert stories and i had no way of knowing how much time had passed since i had died, humans could have colonized mars by this point! But that was ridiculous and having to consider the entire world would get me nowhere. So I had shoved those thoughts on the back burner and had continued with the assumption that I was somewhere in europe.

Maybe somewhere in scandinavia? I wasn't familiar with any of their languages and my mother WAS blond. Shit I'm not in Ukraine am I? I don't want to live in a country at war! Would they even still be at war? That would be just my luck to be born in some communist or third world country. Wait how pogressive is my new homeland? Was I born in some backwater country where women have no rights!? Another startling thought occured to me, was I even a girl this go around?! I was starting to panic again and all of the thoughts that I had shoved away earlier were threatening to overwhelm me. I wiggled desperately in the swaddle that had trapped my hands to my chest, i can't even check!

I knew I had been lucky last time, I had been born in a pogressive enough country with a loving family that had been wealthy enough to take care of me and my brother. What if i wasn't so lucky this time, what if-

My new mother's warm voice interrupted my spiral of panicked thoughts. I couldn't understand what she was saying but that was ok, just her voice was enough to calm me. I have always been a mama's girl.

I knew she wasn't my first mother and I couldn't expect her to be. She could never fill that hole in my heart and I wouldn't want her to. But that doesn't mean I can't love her. She was the only thing that kept me sane those first few months. Her constant heartbeat and voice were my only comfort and for that she will have my love and devotion. She can't be my mama but that doesn't mean she can't be family. At least I hope.

She said something in that musical language of hers and lifted me up to her chest practically shoving a boob in my face. Ah feeding time. I withheld a grimace, while nowhere near as bad as being born, breastfeeding is uncomfortable. It's honestly quite awkward for me to be sucking on someone's boob. I try to ignore what I'm doing and focus on my mother's face, just pretend you're drinking out of a squishy straw. It's fine. (it was not like drinking out of a squishy straw) my new mother was beautiful. like not just in a oh my mom is so pretty way that all children have but in a, she genuinely looks like a goddess on earth sort of way. She could easily be a model, or an actress. My new mom might be a model! Food for thought. Bad phrasing. need to not focus on the whole boob food thing.

But yha she was super pretty! At least from what i can see with my stupid baby eyes. I hope I'm at least half as pretty as her. The thought makes me pause to gum at my… straw. What do I look like? Am I even a girl now? Part of me hopes I at least look like I did before it would be nice to have something of mine in this new life even if it is my old face and body.

Another part of me that sounds a little too much like my insecurity muses hopefully that i'll look completely different this time. New life, new look, no link to my previous pain. But that thought hurts a little too much to take seriously. I decided then and there that the next time someone I had assumed was my grandmother bathed me I would double check to make sure i don't have any extra parts and see if there was a mirror where i could check what i look like now… as much as one could as an infant.

Also on FanFiction.Net https://m.fanfiction.net/s/13547505/2/

Chapter 3 A great loss

I stared at the creature in the mirror, the creature in the mirror stared back in steadily growing panic. It had been a few months since I had resolved to try and catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and i had managed to confirm that i was still in fact a girl shortly after my mini panic attack and mastered the vital skill of sitting up on my own! I know, I know please hold your applause until the end of the show, but seriously I was unreasonably proud of myself for that tiny feat. Do you know how hard it is to sit up on your own without the proper muscle mass and an oversized heavy baby head? Very. attempting it was an exercise in frustration and humiliation but i had managed it well enough… eventually. My first few ‘successes’ were more of a drunken lean on the bars of my crib. I had also learned to roll over and how to worm wiggle. Very impressive I'm sure. Oh! I had also started to decipher my new mother tongue. The language is beautiful but confusing, I was actually proud of myself for deciphering a little of the new language without a reference. Baby talk was actually rather helpful in that task, but all of that is superfluous.

I stared at the little alien in the mirror and resisted the urge to start crying. It wasn't that i didn't look like my old self, that was ok. I had half expected that to be the case. I was panicking because I DIDN'T LOOK HUMAN.

Now all babies looked a little alien at first before they got to their cute, chubby stage. That's not what i'm talking about. I did not look human. I had freaking cosplay elf ears attached to my head! My hands clumsily rose to my ears and tugged at them with the hole of my feeble baby strength, and a sharp pain radiated across my head. I had already been overwhelmed by my chaotic emotions, the introduction of pain as well had been a little too much for my fragile psyche and baby body. I immediately burst into tears wailing my little head off. My caretaker for the day, a kind looking grandmotherly woman rushed to my side and scooped me up, cooing. I squinted past my tears and poor vision and looked directly to the left of her face. Sure enough there was a fleshy blur that looked like a pointed ear. A new wave of tears burst from my eyes.

How had I not noticed this before I wondered staring once more into a mirror. Beyond the startling ears there were several other factors that didn't look exactly normal to an observant eye, faces a little too even, eyes a little too big, skin a little too smooth and blemish free outside of the occasional birthmark or set of freckles. The last week had been spent furiously studying anyone and everyone that had entered the small nursery i had been interned in, everyone including my mother had been combed over with a fine toothed comb (as much as one could with my. Stupid. Freaking. Baby. Eyes. At this point self mutilation was being considered, no vision would probably be better then these discount, bargain bin, rip off excuses for eyes. But that might just be the bitterness talking.). And the small details that had previously eluded me now stood out in blaring blinding clearness. No human's face was perfectly smooth or perfectly even without the assistance of some serious cosmetic surgery or makeup on a level that would have even the most skilled beauty guru foaming at the mouth in envy. Their eyes weren't quite at the level of an anime character, but they were slightly larger then one would usually spot on a humans face. It wasn't that everyone was inhumanly attractive, they weren't. I had seen one or two plain looking people passing in or out to clean the room or change my diaper and feed me, but there was a certain perfection and symmetry to their features that had put them a step above.

And as i stared once more at myself in the mirror i could spot all of the commonalities in myself as well. My eyes were far too large for the common infant, my skin was free of the blemishes and acne babies would get in their first few months. There was a damning perfection and symmetry that had never been present on my first face. sure there were some surface level similarities, i had tufts of the golden blond my hair had been in my youth and my eyes were still blue, But both of those were subject to change. Baby blues were never set in stone, and My hair had darkened to a dirty blond as I had grown older, whereas the color of what little hair I had shown was far too true for that to be likely in this case. The only familiar spot of this foreign face was a little bird-like birthmark above my right eyebrow.

I was aware that I had started to hyperventilate but wasn't quite in the proper state of mind to calm myself. Everything i had assumed, everything that i had taken for granted was now up in the air. I was not human, or at least the human I knew, no wonder I couldn't recognise the language! Frantic ideas ran rampant across my mind. What sort of sci fi, fantasy bull was this! The insidious voices that had been lurking, whispering in the back of my mind were now screaming, malicious glee filled every syllable. Thoughts of secret societies, alien races and, fantastical magical races assaulted my brain. The ideas that had once enthralled and tempted me in my first life were now terrifying. The ugly truths of those realities featured in every frightening fantasy. Secret societies were plagued with dangers different and unique to those of the already danger filled world, space soap operas often spotlighted upon terrifying conquering armies and malicious alien life, fantasies of magical races were erased with the cruel knowledge of hate and fear humans were cruel enough to their own species for slight cosmetic differences. I didn't want to imagine what the world would be like if there were actually entirely different species of sentient life! My breath was getting short and my head was becoming fuzzy unconscious tear drops started to roll down my cheeks followed by gasping sobs. My mother picked me up muttering worried words in my ear bouncing me up and down. That only caused me to sob harder, I had known that along with reduced sight baby's sense of hearing was also greatly reduced but from the moment of my birth my hearing had been just as astute as they had been in my last life. I was scared in a way I hadn't been since my inception in this new life. I had lost my life, I had lost my family, and now I had lost my humanity. I clutched my mother close while I sobbed, clinging to my only rock in this storm.

Also on FanFiction.Net https://m.fanfiction.net/s/13547505/3/

Chapter 4 I regret ever thinking

I had… well i hadn't quite come to terms with my situation but i was getting there. I had spent the last six months freaking out over… well not the smallest things being reborn was a pretty big deal, but that wasn't the point! I need to focus on the here and now and be positive or I'd never pull myself out of the funk I had fallen into. I can finally see properly!

I've discovered several new and interesting things with my (finally) developed eyes! I think I'm living in a mansion! (Manner? Castle? Palace?... Villa?) I haven't exactly been able to get a good look at my new home, but the richly decorated rooms and resplendent halls I have seen are pretty telling. Just think my new family could be noble! The realization that the grandmotherly women and the teen who would take care of me on an alternating pattern were servants instead of family only added credence to my new theory.

That's not the only thing that i discovered with my newly developed eyes, I can move my ears! In all honesty my new body was quite fascinating! Apparently it was somewhat of an instinctive action that i had been unaware of up to this point. Ears reflect your emotions! How cool is that! Now that I have noticed the ears and how they move i can't not see them. The teen with the cute freckles (i still didn't know anyone's name) (i dub thee Spots) who would occasionally come and tidy up my nursery was the most expressive thus far, her ears would perk up when i made a cute noise, would press flat against her head when she had to change my diaper, and twist this way and that when she was thinking hard about something. It was honestly quite adorable.

I would try to get another glimpse of my own ears to see what they looked like when they moved if my mother had let me near a mirror. She had apparently decided that after my second mental breakdown that mirrors were not conducive to a happy baby. I mean i couldn't quite blame her, the last two times i had seen myself in the mirror i had spent the next few days crying but it was still frustrating. I wanted to get a better look at what I looked like now! Do I have any other new features? Maybe when my new teeth grow they'll be pointed! Sticking my tiny fist in my mouth I felt around for anything new in my gummy mouth.

Nope nothing yet. God I can't wait until i can eat something and not just exist of boob milk, i am soooo excited for that development. I know teething is going to be painful but i can't wait for the taste of something other than milk.

Oh my god I take it back, I take everything back! This is not worth it. Mashed carrots are not worth it. It could never be worth it. I itched and I was in pain and I loathed every traitorous time I had wished for teeth and something to eat other than boob milk. I was in hell. I had to be, there was no other explanation for this gosh darned itch! I was in pain and I wanted to die. Again.

My new teeth weren't even pointed!

I furiously chewed on the bars of my crib in the hopes that applying pressure might help at least a little, it was an awkward position and my neck was starting to crack but I. Did. Not. Care. At this point I would do anything to get rid of this horrid itch.

My new father, A man with a frankly fabulous beard fluttered around my crib uselessly frowning and attempting to cajole me off of my crib bars with words I didn't care to attempt to understand. I spared him a disdainful glare before once again focusing on the crib bars and my own personal torment. I was currently quite resentful of the fact that adults didnt have too teeth and don't remember the whole painful process. It was petty but I was currently ignoring everyone. It was the only thing that restrained my righteous fury. That and the fact that i'm a six month old, but the latter reason is simply a mere inconvenience and not the revenge stopping road block it once was. I could and would make your life miserable. With my new baby lungs, my adult intelligence, and the new knowledge of the adults superior hearing I could hit never heard before pitches of pain.

So I was currently ignoring everyone for their own safety. Except my mother. My mother is a divine angel who has never done anything wrong. Ever… and i was slightly psychologically dependent on her. Only slightly. A smidge. Just a little.

But back to the current situation I was currently ignoring my new father as he ineffectually attempted to cajole me off of the bars of my crib. Pathetic. Hmph, as if I would be moved by his weak mortal pleas.

The door cracked open allowing Spots the cute freckled teen into my nursery. now that i thought about it the sun shining from the windows of my nursery was about in the right position for her to show up. this was not a showcase of any sort of skill in telling time by using the sun or some other sort of fantastical talent along those lines, i had no idea WHAT time it was probably before noon but that was the best i could guess. I had simply been so bored over these last six months practically confined to the same room that I had memorised the schedules of my regular visitors relative to the amount of light shining from my window on sunny days. Yes I was that board. (time wasting electronics how i missed you.) spots cheerfully pranced into my room before noticing my father. The poor girl let out a startled squeak before stuttering out apologies and dropping into a clumsy curtsy. Another point to the idea that my new parents are nobles. “I- uh- apologizes my lord! I did not expect you, I will return later to complete my chores.” my lord huh? That was practically a confirmation of my earlier theory! “Complete your duties girl.” my new father barked, he sounded like a drill sergeant, jeze dude chill. “Of course my lord” she squeaked, jumping to attention to bow once more before scurrying off to tidy up the nonexistent mess in my nursery.

“Now you, stop chewing on the bars of your crib! It is completely inappropriate for a girl of your standing, you have a perfectly good toy to play with!” my father ineffectually blustered, placing the toy in front of me. Realy, realy? That's what you're going to go with? I'm a baby! A baby with all the knowledge of a reincarnated teenage girl, but still a BABY! So I decided to act like a kid my age would. I spared him the nastiest glare I could with my cute baby pudgy cheeks (ignored spots cooing in the background) threw the toy back in his face and went back to chewing on the bars of my crib.

Also on FanFiction.Net https://m.fanfiction.net/s/13547505/4/

Chapter 5 Zelda Bosphoramus Hyrule The 72

Something big was happening today.

And the adults had gone absolutely insane.

I am suffering and suffering is me.

I couldn't even whine about it because of how happy everyone looked! Honestly right now I am exhibiting levels of restraint that would put any other baby to shame! (not my most shining of achievements i'll admit but still important nonetheless.)

I have been prodded pulled stuffed and squished, and have born it all with the noble grace of a lady (i didn't throw a hissy fit i just gave everyone there the most disdainful stuck up glare i could manage (they still cooed at me.)) and graciously sat through them stuffing me in the ugliest cupcake of dress i have ever seen. I literally could not put my arms down. That was how much tool there was in this god awful christ forsaken dress. Why mom granny and spots thought this was cute i have no idea.

“My babys so grown up! Already seven months old and being presented! I'm so excited!” my new mom cood sweeping me up swinging me around. This is my life now. This is how I live now. As a teddy bear. Dignity? What's that? Is it edible?

“The little princess is so cute! She's going to be the prettiest princess at the ball!” spots cooed, I threw spots a glare. You are not helping, you are being the opposite of helpful. you are being UNHELPFUL! I desperately glanced for granny as my mother swung me around gracelessly. Granny you're my only hope!

“My lady perhaps you should put the little princess down-” sweet freedom! Thank you granny! “We still need to finish getting her ready, her hair hasn't been brushed and we haven't finished dressing her yet.” I stared at granny in disbelief, I was appalled! Betrayed when I needed her most! Granny how could you! I trusted you! Betrayed by my own not-flesh-and-blood! I don't even really have any hair yet!

The agony lasted for the next half an hour before I was deemed presentable by the merciless women. I primped, pressed, and as pretty as possible for an infant. It would be a lie to say that i wasn't excited. It was time to show me off to the world.

I am no longer excited. This is boring. I am bored.

I was being stiffly held by my father as mom droned on and on in a ceremonial manor. I had tried to pay attention to the ceremony I really had, but I still had the body of a baby and I was tired from all the fuss from this morning. My new dads arms were surprisingly comfortable and The steady lyrical tone of my mother's voice has sent me to sleep more surely then a lullaby.

So i might have fallen asleep in the middle of an important ceremony which was literally about me, but can you blame me? I'm a BABY for gods sakes! I might have the mind of a teenager but im physically a baby with all the hormones and instincts to go along with it! So i might have fallen asleep in the middle of an important ceremony which was literally about me, but it was not my fault and not that big of a deal. I honestly doubt that they said anything of real importance that I can't pick up somewhere else.

It sounds like mother's speech is winding down, maybe i'll get some food when this whole debacle is over. Puree carrots aren't exactly my favorite food but it's better then boob milk.

“...empowered with dins strength bathed in nayru's knowledge and gifted with farore’s bravery, i present to you my people hyleas blood PRINCESS ZELDA BOSPHORUS HYRULE THE SEVENTY SECOND!”

… i’m sorry, WHAT?!?!?!

Also on FanFiction.Net! https://m.fanfiction.net/s/13547505/5/

Chapter 6 congrats! Your a princess

I'm certain I didn't hear that right. PRINCESS? ZELDA? HYRULE?

I was frozen with shock. I didn't pay attention to the celebration around me, i didn't notice as my father handed me off to granny to be fed, bathed, and put to bed. The world was spinning around me. DIN? NAYRU? FARORE? HYLEA!?!?!

That couldn't be right! Suddenly little things started to click, words that i hadn't been translating correctly corrected themselves in my head. Princess wasn't just a cute nickname granny and spots had given me, it was tittle.

I wasn't just some elf looking species, i was a hylian. Oh my god.

Staring up at the dark ceiling and listening to the muffled sound of revelry below, Never have i wished more to be old enough to talk.

I needed to curse.

Violently.

Princess ZELDA?

Of all the fictional series, i'm in LEGEND OF ZELDA!!!

The only series that literally has hundreds of iterations of princesses, heroes, and villains named the exact same thing, and I end up in it!

Am I in twilight, skyward sword? Wind waker, spirit tracks?

Ocarina of time?

Oh please don't let me be in the downfall timeline! Or the adult timeline! Or the cdi game! Actually none of the games are particularly fun for zelda, trapped in a crystal, trapped in an eternal sleep, fighting ganon on her own without rest for 100 years!

Oh my god I'm going to dieeeeeeee! AGAIN!

Of ALL the characters! ZELDA!?!?! WHY HER? I could have been LITERALLY anyone else! Malon! Linkle! A random unnamed N.P.C!

Wait,

MAYBE I AM AN UNNAMED NPC!!

All of the hylian princesses are named zelda. How likely is it that I'm a game zelda? There are like 15 games and hundreds of unremarkable generations of zelda's outside of that! How likely is it that I am a game zelda. Most game zeldas are elegant, powerful, intelligent, magical princesses, and in no world am i elegant. I'm probably some forgotten insignificant zelda in a line of majestic queens!

Wait, I need to calm down and think about this rationally. Take a deep breath, and start again.

What do I know. I am a teenage girl nam- i am an infant named Zelda who has memories of her past life. My mother and father are important people who have servants and can afford to live in a richly decorated home and throw lavish parties to celebrate the birth of a healthy baby girl, maybe royalty- ill get back to that. I have two nursemaid's named… I have two nursemaid's nicknamed spots and granny who both call me princess. I'm not human anymore and am a race with pointy ears, better hearing and even features. I… i… ok that's good enough for now for what i know.

What do I suspect, I might be a princess. my new mom and dad might be royalty of some sort. I might be in a world similar to the legend of zelda games. I might be a unimportant zelda in the royal lineage.

Why do I think that I am a princess? I am called princess, we have servants, spots and granny bow when they see mom and dad, and We live in a richly decorated manor or castle of some sort.

Why do i think that i'm in a world similar to legend of zelda? I'm not human anymore, my new race appears strikingly similar to how hylians are depicted, mom mentioned the video game goddess din, nayru, farore, and hylia, and my new name is zelda.

Why do I think that I'm an unimportant zelda? I am not supernaturally wise- wait no i have the mind of a teenager as an infant cross that out. I am not an elegant princ- I am not elegant, and, and… I don't want to be a game zelda.

What's impossible, what's possible but unlikely, what's feasible, and what's certain?

What’s not possible that I am the human I know anymore.

What’s possible but unlikely, I might just be a noble with the nickname princess. I might be on earth centuries in the future. I might be insane and dreaming this all up in a coma. I might have misheard my mother.

What’s feasible? I might be a princess. I might be in a world like the legend of zelda. I might be an insignificant zelda. And… and i might be a zelda mentioned in one of the games.

What's certain? I don't want to die again. I'm not in the world I knew. I'm terrified. I'm slightly calmer than I was before.

My thoughts were still racing but i was slightly calmer than before, and i was exhausted mentaly physically and emotionally but i can't stop now, i need to plan. Now that i'm thinking semi rationally i realized that there is no assurance that i'm NOT a game zelda. It's unlikely but possible. I was a casual fan of the games in my last life the only game that i had really invested myself into was breath of the wild, but i had been pretty involved in the legend of zelda fandom.

My memory for the games wasn't perfect but let's see what i can recall…

I can't be in wind waker or skyward sword zelda wasn't a princess in either of those, princess zelda wasn't in link's awakening, majora's mask, or triforce heroes, but both majoras mask and triforce heroes are technical sequels to games with princess zelda in them so they don't count.

So in what games am i a possible zelda in… all of them except 5… great.

So what games do i remember? Twilight princess, in which zelda is a prisoner and almost dies several times. Fun. the first one in which she is captured for the triforce. Yay. four swords and where she is kidnapped to be the bride of a creepy wizard. Twice. Minish cap where she is turned to stone, or was it incase in crystal? Either way YIKES. Hero of hyrule kidnapped again, several other kidnappings. Ocarina of time where she has to disguise herself for years and STILL ends up kidnapped. Sleeps for like a hundred years in one, is turned into a ghost! I don't even want to think about the tragedy that is princess zelda's life in breath of the wild. And I'm panicking again.

Is there even anything i can do if i am a game zelda?! I don't know the games well enough outside of a few to know the warning signs and what to do to avoid them! The games I do know well enough are literal worst case scenarios! I am literally helpless as a baby right now!

Flipping over I muffle a scream into my cot.

Calm down meg- calm down Zelda. You have literal years to plan. Even if i am in the legend of zelda world, which i'm not certain about, Even if i am a game zelda, which is unlikely, even IF this game takes place when zelda and link are children, which are few. I have Years to plan. At least 6 or 7 and at most like 17!

This is fine. I am fine.

(i was not fine)

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Chapter 8 magic is real!

I have a plan!

And it only took me two years and some change!

And that’s not the only thing i've done in the last two and a half years! (that would've been a very boring two years) I can walk AND talk! And through these new skills (which were a pain to get let me tell you! Learning to walk left. So. Many. Bruises.) I had discovered all sorts of things!

I had confirmed that I am in fact a princess, we do in fact live in a castle, and that I am indeed a hylian.

That knowledge had sent me into another one of my depressingly common panic attacks, but it wasn’t all bad!

My new skills led me to the discovery of, (drumroll please) A LIBRARY!

Oh sweet literacy how I missed you!

I may have given my parents the mistaken impression of being some sort of baby genius or something, but in all honesty I was just desperate to be able to read again. Again being a baby was very very VERY boring, and my rationale thought and impulse control had honestly been worn down by the lack of intellectual stimulation! I was sooooooo bored of baby babble.

Also it wasn't exactly out of character for the cannon zelda, she had repaired / created an incredibly advanced guardian as a child which was not only capable of showing a personality planing and a facsimile of emotion, but also TIME TRAVEL.

Should I have pretended to be the average three year old because I'm not actually some sort of genius? probably. Will this have consequences for me? most likely. Will I regret this later? Almost certainly. Do I care right now? NO!

Consequences can suck it!

Mama needs to feed her addiction!

Also it wasn’t like I had just started to read books bigger than my head either, I’m still learning to read hylian, it’s a whole new language writing system and alphabet! I’m still stuck on baby books and basic words, but it’s better then nothing!

And sadly the little i can decipher of the hylian writing system is also more advanced than the nothing that real three year olds know. So I’m now the castle's little genius, mom and dad are absolutely brimming with pride. Honestly it’s too much attention placed on little ol me but if it’s a competition between too much attention or not being able to read, I’d choose to read every time.

I’m currently trying to figure out a rough chronology for the events of breath of the wild and all of its proceeding events. (assuming I'm not in the age of calamity: hyrule warriors timeline, but that timeline only exists as a split off of the original timeline so for now i'm assuming im in the original timeline. Prepare for the worst hope for the best and all that rot. Also im not stupid enough to assume that i can be a baby genius and just yha know MAKE a time triveling gaurdian) so that I can best implement my plans. Here’s my rough ROUGH timeline.

10,000 years before the start of the game Gannon attacks and is sealed away by the hero and princess with the help of the 4 champions, the Divine beasts, and the guardians.

At some point after that the sheikah become distrusted due to their powerful magic and technology and are banished.

They split in two the yiga who hate the royals of hyrule for their betrayal and join forces with gannon, and those who remain with the spirit of the sheikah and give up their great skills to remain serving the crown

98,983 years later princess Zelda is born. Shortly before that link is born

At some point a prophecy announcing the return of calamity Ganon is made.

At some point Zelda's mom dies making her unable to learn sealing magic from her.

Zelda is pressured into praying and praying and praying to unlock her sealing magic, at one point even collapsing in freezing water nearly losing her life if it wasn't for urbosa saving her.

The sheikah rediscover the Divine beasts, guardians, and sheikah slate.

Zelda helps to study these ancient artifacts to the disapproval of her father

Link finds the master sword

Link is appointed zelda's personal knight

The champions are chosen

Zelda goes to the spring of wisdom on her 17th birthday and Gannon returns

The champions, king bosphorus, and thousands of innocent people die when Gannon turns the Divine beasts and the guardians against them

Link is mortally wounded and Zelda unlocks her powers.

Link is sent to the shrine of resurrection

Zelda returns the master sword to the lost woods and goes to face Gannon alone for the next 100 years

100 years later Link wakes up with no memories and the events of the game commence.

In the end my plan is quite simple. Make sure my mom doesn't die. All of Zelda's problems stem from her mom's death, Gannon could only wreak havoc because Zelda's mom wasn't there to teach her the sealing magic or deal with calamity Gannon herself. At best my mom could teach me the magic and we could seal Gannon away together or she could do it or I could do it, at worst I can use the magic because I'm not actually the girl who is meant to be the zelda incarnation of hylia. Either way gannon gets defeated, bada bing bada boom no great calamity no destruction of all i've come to know and love.

Does it sound stupidly simplistic yes. But in all honesty it needs to be. There are too many variables at work here to have a twenty step plan and have it all go accordingly. Life is messy and unpredictable and not exactly amenable to complex multi step plans that rely on everything going a certain way. There's a reason that the saying ‘the best way to make God laugh is to tell him your plans,’ is so poupar. This isn't a game any more, stuff happens, free will is a thing. I can't rely on what I think I know. Who knows how much the butterfly effect has already affected things. So simplicity is the name of the game, it allows for the flexibility a rigid multi step plan would not.

So my plan really only has two components: learn sealing magic as soon as I can, And make sure my mom survives.

simple but hopefully effective

______________________________

I toddeled determinedly through the halls ignoring the bemusedly indulgent granny trailing behind me.

Fun fact about being a princess, you don't get any alone time. Ever. i am constantly being monitored, be it by granny, spots, father, mother, or some other random sap assigned to guard duty. Literally the only times I am left alone is when I head to the restroom or am put to bed for the night.

It's only mildly infuriating.

Mildly.

But anyway, at this time of day I would usually be at the library attempting to read some of the less difficult books or in my nursery playing with my toys under the watchful gaze of granny or spots, but today I have a mission. I was going to get my mom to start teaching me sealing magic if it kills me. I had found the perfect excuse as well. An old story book depicting the great matrilineal line of queens and their unique gift bestowed upon them by hylia herself. Now to enact my plans and deploy my greatest weapon. puppy dog eyes.

I stumbled my way into the office where my mom was going over various papers with a serious look upon her face. “Mama!” I cried practically throwing myself into her lap. McGuffin clenched in hand. “What is it my little bird” she smiled blessing my day, watering my crops, clearing my skin, and healing my wounds. “I found something i don't understand!” I chirped, squirming myself into a more comfortable position, book tucked into my arms. “Oh and why didn't you ask ila?” (so that was granny's name, huh.) “mhhhmmm i wanted to ask you!” que puppy dog eyes version 37 bright, cheerful, innocent. Work that toddler arua!

Mother chuckled while granny rolled her eyes behind me, I saw that missy! Don't give me your sass! “Oh and what didn't you understand?” PLAN IS A GO “mama what's se-al-ing magic? Why does the book say I have it? I'm not magic!” I pretended to pout indignantly, flipping to the page in my book that referenced it.

“Sealing magic baby, is the reason our line has ruled hyrule since the hylians lived amongst the clouds, it's a special gift from hylia herself.” hook, line, sinker. “Really?!” “yes my little bird, it's a special magic that lets us seal away bad guys, banish evil, and protect our kingdom. It's proof that we descended from hylia herself” as mother said this she raised one of her hands allowing for it to be bathed in an ethereal golden glow, bathing her in light and making her look like something genuinely devine.

Before this there had always been a little part of me that had been denying the truth. No matter how often it was mentioned in books or stories. No matter how many things had pointed to this being the hyrule of stories, a small part of me had been screaming that magic isn't real and that the legend of Zelda couldn't be real. But now, bathed in divine light and witnessing true honesty to god magic for the first time I could no longer deny the truth. Normally this confirmation would chill me to the bone and cause hysterical fear, but the power before me was warm, comforting, and at the same time incomprehensible. I could not fear when this light this power was here to bolster my spirit. I had never been adamantly religious before, but in the face of this light, for the first time I truly believed in the divine.

As the light faded away and I blinked spots out of my eyes I reaffirmed my mission. I needed to learn how to do that. Yesterday.

“Teach me! Teach me! Teach me!” I chanted practically vibrating where I sat, eyes wide in wonder and awe. “Now now little one, not so fast!” my mother chuckled, ruffling my hair.

“Why not!” I asked indignantly and was a little worried. I NEEDED to know sealing magic for my plan to work. It wasn't safe to put all your eggs in one basket. No matter how hard i would be working to save my mother regardless of calamity ganon.

“You're not old enough yet, my little songbird.” NOT OLD ENOUGH! I WAS 17 YEARS OLD WOMAN WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT!? “I am old enough! I know how to read and everything!'' I frowned, doing my best not to show the inner turmoil starting to boil.

A little of it seemed to show on my face with the way mother immediately began to sooth me “zelda that's not what i mean.” my eyes searched hers, they were uncommonly serious. “Our magic is powerful and dangerous. There is a reason i can't teach it to you yet. Your not yet old enough in body or mind to be able to withstand the strain that kind of magic would put on your spirit.” my face must have still looked mutinous because she continued on. “Beyond just that, your power is not developed enough yet even if you could withstand the strain. You wouldn't be powerful enough to actually use your sealing magic.”

This is bad very very bad. “When can i learn it?!” mother chuckled at my assumed enthusiasm “Numbers hold power baby, when you turn seven you can start your lessons.”

Seven, SEVEN! That's years from now! The remaining calm and serenity from the glow of hylia's might drained from my body.

“Now i think it's time for your nap! Come on little bird i'll put you to bed, maybe afterward you can sing me a song hmm?”

Why do the gods hate me?

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Chapter 9 the outside world part one

So the last two years of agonising and fretting over the ramifications and consequences of my future knowledge, my replacement of the original zelda, the possibility of me dooming an entire world simply by being born, and the inevitability of fate. All of that, for nothing.

I can't implement an essential part of my plan, FOR FOUR YEARS. For the next four years the fate of AN ENTIRE WORLD rests on my tiny three year old shoulders, in making sure my mom survives. But it's fine. Im fine.

It's not like I can do anything about it either. I physically can't learn sealing magic until I'm seven- full stop. There is no way around that restriction. I had asked. Repeatedly. Even researching independently, with what little I could read of my ancestors' journals. Which was a thing apparently. Apparently it was tradition for royals, and nobles to write journals of their lives to help inform their descendants after their death. Neat! But a little awkward to be reading my grandmother's diary, also a lot useless. (apparently my mom had a habit of screaming at operatic volumes when she was a baby, like mother, like daughter!)

If there was one benefit to this information, I at least now have a rough idea of when my mom will die. Yay. (unless of course zelda's lessons were pushed back for some reason, so my info is relatively dubious. yay.)

So now the only facit of my plan I can focus on is making sure my mom stays alive, not like i wasn't going to do that any way but now its just ya know potently world ending. Without any backup plans. Again yay.

So my main mission (or should i call it a quest? I am in zelda after all!) is to keep my mom alive. No sweat.

-that doesn't mean i don't have other goals though! I want to learn everything I can about the culture, history, and MAGIC (ITS ACTUAL MAGIC PEOPLE) of Hyrule. I'm in a whole new world! I want to know everything.

Also magic is REAL! Who wouldn't be fascinated?

I was practically skipping toward the library with dottie at my heels, I had recently found a relatively simple cooking primer that touched upon the subject of the special effects certain ingredients could give. (i could actually almost read it without assistance! progress!) I hadn't got the chance to finish it last night because the adults had this stupid idea that i needed a bed time and that healthy little girls go to bed before eight.

Bha! I am-

….

I was a teenager. And if school taught me anything it was that your education was more important than your mental and physical health! Lives were on the line people! Who knows when i'm going to need this information!

But it was nowhere near bedtime now! And no one! No one was going to stop me from my research!

I stared in abject horror at the empty shelf.

My book! My research! MY ENTERTAINMENT!

Someone had taken my cooking primer and I was devastated. Normally i would move on and find something else to read but this had been the first book that talked about special ingredients that i could sorta understand! I NEEDED more interimentery books to read, they were either too simple or too complex. The middling books that pushed my boundaries without confounding me were Hard to find! At least ones that didn't speak down to the reader or bore me to death.

DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO FIND A PICTURE BOOK THAT ISN'T SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF "RED DOG RUN, BLUE SNAIL SLIME!?"

I stomped fuming over to the castle's resident librarian who was deeply engrossed in some thick tome or another, muttering dark curses under my breath and fervently praying it had just been shelved in the wrong section. Ignoring the increasingly worried maid servant trailing behind me.

Taking a deep breath i collected myself and tugged on the old man's long trailing sleeve "mister Tommison do you know where my book is?" I requested politely. I didn't want to alienate my book dealer.

He raised one elegant silver brow and peered down imperiously over his reading glasses. "And which book would that be my dear?" mr. Tommison was a tall, thin, well kept man whose stern intimidating visage could scare troublemakers and chatterboxes out of his library with a single long derisive stare. He was horribly overworked trying to catalog and organise our massive mess of a library and wasn't all that fond of children no matter how important they might be. (honestly the library was a MESS from centuries of collection, mislabeling, misshelving, and to be honestly hoarding every scrap of paper we could get our grubby hands on. we had far too many books for one man to keep track of properly, but he kept the few sections he had under control in meticulous order.) thankfully he had grown a soft spot for me after a few weeks of quite, polite company and careful treatment of his precious books. (at least the few that i could read.)

"Dalias cookbook for the common home, mister Tommison" i replied dutifully carefully enunciating the syllables. mister Tommison was not tolerant of ignorance.

He sniffed derisively "it was checked out by some stupid little squire, he had the gall to come here right after training and tracked mud absolutely every where." my heart sunk. The knight trainees were famous for playing rough with their things and dirtying the castle with mud and other such gunk.

Even I knew that and I really only talked to mister Tommison, granny, spots, mom and dad!

Who knew what sort of condition my poor book would be in when i got it back!

I needed to go talk to this squire about being careful with this book or at least waiting to ruin it until after i got the chance to read over it a few times!

"Thank you for telling me mister Tommison." "of course my dear" he nodded back at me before returning his hawk like gaze to his book. I turned around sharply and headed out of the library.

Now, off to the training grounds to find my book!

.

…

…..

"Dottie? Where are the training grounds" she muffled a snicker behind me. "This way my lady."

As it turns out the training grounds were on the edge of what would be considered the castle, almost as far away from the library as one could get while staying in the castle grounds.

And as i stood in the door way to the outside world i was starting to feel…

Trepidation.

The sun was hot, the field was loud, and I was standing at a distance in anxiety. It had been years since i had really been in a crowd, since i had really gone outside and interacted with anyone outside of my small circle of family and caretakers. In all honesty i was rather sheltered.

And this was scary.

It was loud, the clash of bodies, the screech of steel against steel, triumphant yells, angry shouts, and the bellow of commanders. Hylian ears are incredibly sensitive and this messy cacophony of violent noise was painful.

My instincts were screaming to hide. to cling to dottie and hide behind the one person I knew was safe. Everyone was so much bigger and stronger than i was. I was fragile, vulnerable, and uncertain. My toddler mind cried for the safety of Dotties skirts. To turn around and-

"I'm just saying it's weird!" a voice broke through my thoughts and drew my attention to two soldiers relaxing in the shade of the wall some distance from the door dottie and i were standing in.

"She's the princess mate, should you really be saying things like that?" a lackadaisical voice replied to the first unknown. "She's three! No three year old should be reading! I have a three year old sibling, she can barely string a complete sentence together! Let alone read! Its freaky mate, I'm telling you!"

I took an involuntary step back and dottie bristled.

"Shes got the blood of the goddess mate, their always doing strange things." the lazy soldier replied barely bothering to glance at his impassioned friend. "I don't hear about the queen being able to read at three. Her majesty's smart, not unnatural!"

Dottie started to move but i caught her skirt preventing her from moving any further

His friend laughed, "you're losing it mate- the future wisdom of Hyrule, too smart? Have you been adding the wrong mushrooms to your stew?" "jerk. You know i'm right! Its weird! What other three year old can read?"

"SOLDERS DOSE THIS LOOK LIKE A TEA PARTY TO YOU?!" the two men startled head swinging toward the approaching commander before freezing like deer in head lights.

"THIS ISN'T SOME SORT OF RELAXING GET AWAY SPOT! THIS IS A JOB- A DUTY! GET YOUR LILY WHITE BUTTS BACK ON THE FIELD AND GET TO WORK ON SOME PUSH UPS"

The first solder spoke up tentatively "how many sir?" "DID I ASK FOR QUESTIONS? YOUR GOING TO KEEP GOING UNTIL I SAY YOU CAN STOP. NOW DROP." "SIR YES SIR"

I turned my eyes to the fuming dottie, "Dottie lets go back inside." "But princess-" "can we just go back inside… please." dottie scooped me up into her arms. Normally i would fuss wanting the independence of being on my own two feet, but right now it just felt good to be held. "Ok. let's go back to your rooms princess. Its about time for your nap any way" she replied with forced cheer.

It wasn't anywhere near nap time but right now i just wanted to sleep.

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Chapter 10 the outside world part 2

I had known that there would be consequences for my actions.

I had known, and yet it still hurt.

Daddy always said- my first dad used to say I was too sensitive.

My mind was in a contradictory state of slow molasses sadness and vibrating lightning anxiety.

I knew I shouldn't have made myself stand out. I was so dumb. I'm a giant idiot who has no control over her impulses and can't think her way out of a paper bag.

Why did I have to be so stupid and go do some thing dumb like read way before most children could string a full story together.

God why did I think this was a good idea I should have just-

"Little bird? What are you doing down there?" A lyrical voice broke through my thoughts as my mother crouched down to look at me.

I scrambled to sit up straight and wipe my face, accidentally bumping my head on the stone above me and sending a fresh wave of pain induced tears.

Shortly after I turned two, I was moved out of my first nursery by my parents' rooms into a suite of my own, it was almost identical in structure to the original game Zelda's room, which in retrospect was to be expected but at the time surprised me. But more importantly, the suite had a spiral staircase leading up to the second level the underside of which made the perfect hiding spot for someone as small as me. I just had to crawl to the back where it was so small that no adult could reasonably reach. I had gathered up my blankets and hidden back here when Dottie had set me down for a nap, not expecting anyone to be able to bother me.

Yet here, only a few feet in front of me, was my mother. She had somehow managed to shimmy her way around until she could almost reach me.

"H- h- how did you f- find me?" I hiccuped through my tears, trying to compose myself. It wasn't that big of a deal. I had just been stupid and hadn't thought things through. I was being stupid, and I knew there were going to be consequence.

I furiously swiped at my tears, stupid toddler body! Couldn't withstand the slightest pain or emotion without crying.

My mother scooted herself a few inches closer before reaching out for me. "Dottie told me you had a rough day today," she soothed sympathetically. I sniffed pathetically trying to pull myself together, "It's nothing." I mumbled petulantly, still sounding far too weepy. "I'm being dumb."

My mother had finally gotten close enough to reach me and grabbed me to pull me into as much of a hug as she could give me laying flat on her stomach trying to avoid hitting her head on the stairs.

"Oh baby, you're not being stupid at all! It's perfectly normal to be upset when someone says something mean about you!" she snuggled me further, pulling me closer. "Besides what do those stupid solders know! They're just jealous that they're not as smart as my little genius!" Her voice went up in pitch and she rubbed her nose against mine making me give a little hiccuping giggle.

"You dont think I'm weird?" I slapped my hands up to cover my mouth. I hadn't meant to say that. I shouldn't have-

"No!" she replied firmly. "And if any one says differently, Mommy will break their faces!"

I couldn't help but laugh at that, my new mom always had a way to calm me down. A silly little grin came to my face at the idea of my beautiful delicate mother beating up the two bulky soldiers from before. "Really?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Of course! If someone messes with my baby, I'll bite them" she snapped her teeth playfully at me, before standing up with me in her arms.

I squeaked in surprise, at some point during the conversation she had managed to squirm from underneath the stairs with me caught in her grasp.

"I know just what will cheer you up! How about you go with mommy and daddy on a little adventure?"

"An adventure?" I couldn't help but ask, curious despite myself. "Yup!" she popped the P, sounding excited.

"Your father and I have been working too hard lately. I think a little excursion out of the castle is just what this family needs."

"Outside!" I gasped, I had never really been outside the castle before. It had been too dangerous to take the baby princess outside the safety of the castle walls. Besides what reason would I have for going outside?

"Yes little bird! Outside! How about we have a little picnic?" mother hummed striding out of my room and down the hall toward her office.

Again i rushed to straighten myself up, my face was probably puffy and red and my clothes were all rumpled from how i was curled up "Mommy i don't look…" What's the word for presentable in Hylian "...nice?" Darn toddler vocabulary.

"My little bird always looks nice." "Moooommmyyyy," i whined trying to rub the tears from my eyes. "hush baby no ones going to care if you look a little messy and if they do I'll set them straight." I harrumphed grumpily. People already think I'm weird, I don't need them thinking I'm messy too. "It'll be fine little one, you worry too much."

"Illa!" Mother slammed the door to her office open. "Yes my queen" granny didn't even glance at my mom. "We are going to go out today."

granny finally looked up from her paperwork, her clever eyes quickly darting first to assess my mother then myself. before smoothly sorting her papers and rising to her feet. "Yes my lady, where would you be wanting to go?" mother glanced out the window, "Today's weather would be perfect for a picnic in hyrule fields." Granny hummed, "I will have the kitchens make you a basket, and alert the appropriate people of the change of schedule, might I suggest the area just south of the sacred grounds? The view of the plateau is lovely."

Granny paused in her preparations. "Will your husband be joining us?" "yes could you send him an invitation to join us?" Granny nodded sharply. "Of course my queen, I will have everything sorted shortly, would you like me to call Dahlia to change Zelda into some more appropriate clothing?"

Dahlia? Oh wait, that's Dottie's real name right?

"It's ok, you can have her collect the basket from the kitchen. I'll change Zelda."

Everything was happening way too fast. Before I knew it, everything was collected and a party my mom, my dad, dottie, granny, and at least 5 guards had all gathered at the stables to set off for our picnic.

Now the thing people don't get about horses is how big they are. Conceptually, people are aware that horses are big, sure, but there is a big difference between knowing horses are big, and seeing this 840-2200 pound monstrosity and having the top of your head barely line up with the lowest point of their back. Now imagine that for a three year old.

I eyed the creature warily.

I'm barely 31 pounds soaking wet and 2 feet at my tallest. this thing is 3 times my size.

Now I like horses. I had even taken a few riding lessons in my last life, but right now?

I am far too squishy and small to get within stepping range. it could squish me like an ant.

I tugged on my mom's skirts, never taking my eyes of the monster casually munching on some hay. (it was the same colour as my hair would it be tempted to eat me?!) "Mama can walk to the pic- pic-" Ugh, words. "Outside food instead."

"Aww is my little bird scared of the nice horsey?" I tried to give her a deadpan look. it didn't work from the way my dad was attempting to hide his smile, curse my cute chubby baby cheeks! "it could fit my entire arm in its mouth." dottie muffled a snicker from somewhere behind me. I generously decided to ignore her.

"Don't worry little bird! carrot is a nice horsey! do you want to feed him!" "didn't i just say he could eat my entire arm? why would i put it anywhere near him?" my voice was rising toward the shrill range but that wasn't important.

Ignoring my protests, Mother scooped me up and held me out toward the horse like some sort of sacrificial offering. Do horses eat hylians in zelda? "why don't you give him a pat!" so this is how i die again isn't it? death by getting eaten by a herbivore, at least ill get the hylian equivalent of the darwin award.

Hesitantly I raised my pudgy baby fist, (it was packed fat and would be very nutritious) and gently, GENTLY, patted the top of his head before quickly drawing my hand bracing for a snap of teeth. the animal's ear barely flinched as he continued eating regardless of the weird creatures around him.

Well now I feel silly.

"He's not bad… i guess." I allowed graciously. I was a big girl, I could admit when I was wrong.

"Great let's get going then!"

Wait what!

I squeaked in alarm as suddenly I was on top of the horse with my mother's arms holding me steady.

I tried to hold myself as still as possible while mentally hyperventilating.

What I wouldn't give for a seat belt! The only thing keeping me from falling to my humiliating death where my mother's thighs and the single hand that held me to her stomach.

I could finally look the rest of the contingent in the eye at my height but that wasn't worth the danger I was facing. My estimation for hylian parenting is steadily sinking as no one offers any protest to my mothers actions beyond mounting their own horses.

Mother was going to have to seriously bribe me to make up for this travesty to responsible adult behaviour.

As I stared, open-mouthed, at the cheerful colourful fantasy medieval city surrounding my home, I magnanimously decided to forgive my mother for her lacklustre care of my person.

Castle Town, (yes that was its name- silly i know.) was a bustling trade centre filled with diverse peoples. And I do mean diverse; there were the elf-like hylians, the exaggeratedly feminine Gerudo, a bird-like race I was guessing were the Rito, the rock-like Gorons, and the aquatic fish people I think were the Zora.

I was honestly stunned stupid by all these differing peoples who lived and worked in castle town, quite a few of which had gathered along the side of the road to watch the mini parade that was following my family. I had known, theoretically, that the Hylians and Gerudo weren't the only peoples in hyrule but I wasn't prepared for how inhuman these other races looked. I wasn't human now. I knew that, but Hylians had still looked human ENOUGH for me to ignore it most of the time. Besides the ears, eyes, anatomy, and clear skin Hylians looked human. Gerudo were similar in that they were mostly human looking beside the features they shared with Hylians and their exaggeratedly feminine physique.

But the other races?

I could not pretend the Rito, the Zora, or the Gorons were human.

The Rito were the most human in the end, looking like what a human would look like if we had evolved from birds instead of apes. beaks instead of lips or noses, wings in place of arms, claws instead of feet, an odd mixture of feathers covering the majority of their body and hair on the back of their head.

The Zora were equally if not more odd, their torsos were longer then their legs, gills along their ribs, a embarrassing lack of covering clothing and a more confounding lack of lower anatomy. odd fish/shark looking things on top of their heads with fins and tails falling on the sides and back of their heads the base of which replaced their noses. as one Zora called out a cheerful greeting to the small royal precession i caught a glimpse of startlingly sharp teeth.

The Gorons didn't even look vaguely human. they were literally living borders with heads and limbs!

Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.

"Having fun little bird?" My mother chuckled, still holding me firm to her.

I nodded dumbly, eyes caught on a particularly colourful Rito who had jumped to fly over a trio of baby Gorons who were rolling away from their frustrated caretaker.

"There are so many different peoples." I breathed, stunned by the sheer diversity of my new home.

"Isn't it beautiful?" My mother murmured in my ear, swinging a soft gaze from a laughing hylian couple to a pair of Rito and Gerudo furiously arguing over the price of fish. "Zelda this is what I- what WE work for." And as I looked up from her shade, she seemed to be illuminated by the noontime sun. "My little princess, one day you're going to be queen, and you're going to be responsible for all of this." She gestured outward with one hand the other holding me firm. "For all of them."

And as the corona of light illuminated her face, I was spellbound. So this is what charisma looks like. so this is what a leader- a QUEEN looked like. new resolution bubbled in my soul, coursing through my very bones like lightning and warming my spirit with the blazing fires of resolve.

I WAS going to help my mother.

I WAS going to learn sealing magic.

I WAS going to save my people.

By the time the burning vigour had faded from my veins we had arrived at our destination, and were in the process of unloading and setting up for the single fanciest picnic I had ever seen. While the location- a large field at the edge of a small forested glen with a platform in the middle- was pretty and semi appropriate for a picnic, the picnic itself was in simple terms, ridiculous.

Dottie had laid down a ridiculously expensive looking blanket made out of what looked like silk with beautifully embroidered birds and flowers. Granny had placed the fanciest looking basket down and pulled out a tiered silver serving platter with tiny fancy little sandwiches and desserts. Three of the soldiers had set off to clear the perimeter, another was handling the horses and the last soldier was standing alert next to the far too fancy set up weary eyes scanning for threats.

This was… was this even a picnic even more? I thought picnics were supposed to be simple?

Hmm yea no I don't want to be looking at this any more.

"Mama can I go play in the… trees? I've never been in trees before!" Is there a hylian word for forest?

"The forest sweetie?"

"Yea that."

"I don't know…" Mother glanced worriedly at granny and father "Aren't you hungry little bird?"

"Not yet mommy but if i play then I'll be hungry. I'm always hungry after I play!" I looked pleadingly at her before she sighed and gave in.

"Ok little one, but stay within the trees and don't wander too far." she fretted looking nervous. i mentally rolled my eyes, moms can be so overprotective.

"Anderson." my father barked, startling me and catching the attention of the soldier tending to the horses.

"Yes sir." He snapped to attention, poster perfect.

"You guard the princess. Zelda, stay within eyesight of the guard alright." my mother sighed relieved, smiling at father while the soldier answered in an affirmative. I take that back, dads can be so overprotective.

"Yes Daddy. Come on Mr. Soldier Man, the forest isn't going to explore itself!" I commanded eyes firmly set on getting away from my overbearing parents.

The forest was beautiful.

The air was clean, the birds were singing, and the only disturbance in my serenity was the clanking of the solder trailing behind me scaring off all of the little creatures.

I glanced back and hummed, he did look pretty menacing, hmmmmm.

I plopped myself down in the grass and started picking small wild flowers. perhaps a daisy chain will soften his menace?

"Princess?" The soldier queried worriedly. "Are you tired? Do you want me to carry you back to your parents?"

I shook my head in the negative "Nope! Im gonna play in the flowers? You want to join me?" I aimed my puppy dog eyes in his direction. Hopefully he would sit and stop clanking so the birds would come back.

"Ummm, princess i don't know if-" i ignored his hesitism turning up my pout. "Pleeeeeaaaaaasssssseeeeeee?" I whined. Please sit so I don't have to listen to you creak like a rusty door hinge.

He let out a helpless sigh before flopping onto the ground metal clanking and clanging, scaring the few remaining birds away and crushing some of the flowers she was planning on using. Ugh, thanks for that.

"I'm going to go pick some more flowers, hold my work for me." I dumped my half way finished flower crown in his lap. "Princess?"

"Stay here I'll be right back."

"Princess!" He yelped trying to straighten himself out caught in his own armor.

"Don't ruin my work!" I called as I hurried off in search of more flowers.

Now usually this would be a dumb move. A small important child wandering away from their caretaker in the middle of the woods! Sounds like the start of a horror story right?

But these woods were about the size of two soccer fields and thin enough that i can still easily see my parents laughing and chatting in the distance.

Flowers, flowers, flowers-... flowers? Flowers! There! Sitting in the roots of a large tree were some pretty bluebell looking flowers. Perfect! As I rushed toward the blue blooms, I noticed something odd out of the corner of my eye. Was that a… rock?

Huh. That was a large grey rock on the top of the trunk of a tree beside the one in which the large flowers were growing. Huh.

It kinda reminds me of...

KOROKS! Those are a thing here!

I spun on my heel to face my new far more interesting quarry. I wonder if I can see koroks?

In the game link was the first to be able to see koroks in over a hundred years. I'm not actually the Zelda but maybe I could see them because I know they exist? Maybe they work by fairy rules? You need to believe to see? I am still a child.

Eh, I'll never know unless I try.

I rolled up my sleeves, kicked off my fancy little toddler shoes and tied my skirt back. Let's see if I can climb this tree.

Huh this actually isn't all that hard. I managed to monkey scramble my way up into the branches and stare curiously at the strangely placed rock ignoring the frantic but hushed calls of the soldier who was supposed to be watching over me. Well I guess…

I huffed, shrugged and heaved to flip the rock over, and in a small explosion of leaves and sparkles suddenly a giggling creature was there.

"You found me!"

I started in bemused awe at the adorable little leaf creature in front of me.

"You can see me! Most people can't see me!" the little creature verbally beamed from behind its little leaf mask.

Huh.

"Well here's a reward for finding me!" The little creature dropped a lightly glowing seed in my lap.

"Usually I would expand the inside of something by a little bit but you don't have any bags or pockets, next time you find a korok make sure to have a bag or pockets ok!" the little leaf continued ignorant of my stunned shock. I did not expect there to actually be a korok.

"Make sure to look for us! We like to be found!" I mean what. Seriously what!

"Bye!" "wait!"

And just like that the little fae was gone.

"Princess where are you!" the solder was sounding a little desperate now, i should probably go back. I carefully stuffed the seed down my shirt and dropped out of the tree straining up.

Now let's give this poor man a break. "Over here! Look at these pretty flowers I found!" I cried, rushed over to the pretty blue flowers I spotted earlier. These flowers would look lovely in my mommy's hair.

"Princess! Don't do that! You scared me nearly half to death!" the solder sighed hurrying to my side. "You nearly gave me a heart attack!" he sighed in relief. "And nearly gave your father a reason to sack me." he muttered his breath, my new elf ears clearly making out his murmured sentiments. "Do you still have my flowers?" "huh? Oh yes here!" he replied handing over my lopsided and slightly mangled flower crown.

Picking the large flowers I used one to quickly tie the flower crown closed, "sorry mr. solder man. i made you a flower crown!" I tried to divert his attention away from my little escape act. "Let me put it on you!"

He was clearly struggling over what to do now, hurt the little princesses feelings by refusing her gift or hurt his pride by wearing a flower crown. "You're gonna look really pretty with it on, i promise!" I wheedled, widening my eyes into an expression of cute expectation.

"Ok princess." he sighed kneeling down to accept his new accessory. Mission success!

With my newly decorated soldier, a handful of pretty flowers in hand, and a mysterious seed down my shirt I decided that this excursion so far had been a resounding success! Now to show the fruits of my labor to my mother.

"Come on Mr. Soldier Man! I want to show my flowers to Mommy." I dashed off, ignoring the yelp the soldier let out as he jumped to follow me.

"Mommy Mommy look what i found!" the small party of my mother and father and their various employees such as dottie granny and another soldier turned their attention to me.

"What did you find baby?" she asked, setting down one of the ridiculously fancy looking little sandwiches.

"I got you some flowers!" I cried practically shoving my quarry at her, Ignoring the smirk the other soldier was giving the poor sap I decorated.

"Oh thank you!" she blessed me with a radiant smile "Oh! You found some blue nightshade!" Wait, I think I remember something like that…

Wasn't it that plant that glowed in the dark and made you sneakier? Oh wow! I found my first magic plant! ( Ignoring the korok and the seed it gave me.)

"I also found a seed!" I enthused, stuffing my hand down my shirt ignoring my father’s sigh and muttering about impropriety. I was three he could deal with it.

"What is that?" my mother murmured staring in bemusement at the softly glowing pod in my hand. Oh good she can see it, I was worried I was going to have to make up some imaginary game to explain away pretending to have a seed.

"It's a seed mommy! Can I plant it in my room?"

"I don't see why not, I'll have Dahlia get you a pot for it when we get home." She scooped me up into her lap, "Now why don't you eat? You’re surely hungry by now."

"Ok Mommy!" I enthused, messily digging into the snacks in front of me, once again ignoring my fathers indulgent sigh.

I'd say today has been a resounding success!

Also on FanFiction.Net! https://m.fanfiction.net/s/13547505/10/

Chapter 11 growing, glowing, knowing

This plant is super weird.

Like seriously, I had expected that the seed the korok gave me was going to be weird but wow.

A few days after the picnic mother had followed through on her promise and a small pot filled with rich soil had been delivered to my room. It was a pretty little thing all white ceramic with graceful blue lines sweeping across its surface to create a stylized dragon swooping over small blue flowers.

It honestly made me a little nervous. It looked way too expensive to be placed in the clumsy care of a toddler. A smart toddler but still a toddler. It seriously looks like some sort of antique ming vase or something that should be in a collection at a museum or on a shelf in a mansion some wear housing an equally prettily expensive bonsai of some sort.

I mean technically I am a princess who would have these sorts of things, but my solidly middle class broke teenager mindset was shying away from touching something that looked so expensive and breakable.

So I had gently, gently placed the little pot on the floor in the corner of my room right in a patch of sunlight from the window. (I was too short to reach the top of my dresser or the table by my bed without climbing on something and I was NOT risking the vase by climbing with it.) Then I carefully planted the little seed in the damp dark soil.

That's when things got weird.

Within seconds of planting the dimly glowing seed, it had sprouted. I had still been patting the soil down when it had sprouted into my hands. Literally sprouting into my finger tips. The little sprout hasn't grown since.

I had diligently watered the little sprout daily since. Carefully experimenting with the amount of sunlight and water it received each day. I had even started talking to the thing based on the half recalled hearsay that plants grew better when you talk to them. (his name was now neville.) It was surprisingly nice to have an excuse to babble away in english again and be able to express my true thoughts. (even if no one could understand me.) nevertheless nothing had seemed to affect the little sprout. It was still perfectly unblemished and unchanged.

It was weird.

I had decided to start a field journal to record my observations of the odd little thing. It was a part of my push to be more organised in my research. I had finally reached a point in my literacy to be able to make the most simplistic of notes. It was also good writing practice. (I would have probably started earlier if I thought of it, but welllllllll, I had been distracted.)

I had separated my notes into three journals, one for Neville, one for the history of the world that I had discovered so far (and what I remembered from the games), and one for what I could find out about magic.

The first two were progressing decently, Neville's journal being mostly data tables recording his nonexistent growth and the amount of water and sunlight he had gotten that day, whereas my history and plot journal had been filling slowly but steadily from what i could read and the stories that granny or dotty would read me before bed.

My magic journal on the other hand. It was frustratingly empty. All that i can find is either one, stupidly beyond my level, two, stupidly complex in a way I don't understand, three, stupidly simple in a way that doesn't explain any thing, or four some how a stupid mix of all three.

All in all, I'm feeling frustrated.

But it's fine, I'm fine.

Oh! That reminds me! It's been a week or two, surely that squire has returned my (hopefully undamaged) book!

I had kinda forgotten about it with all the commotion but I never had gotten to finish reading that book on special plants! Neville! I know what we're going to be doing today! carefully adjusting Neville's too pretty pot so that he was fully in the sun, his two small perfect leaves practically glistening in the golden sunlight. Perfect!

“Granny?” I looked to where Granny was carefully filling out some probably important forms on the couch while watching over me, white hair carefully pulled up and away from her tan and careworn face.

“Yes, my princess?” she replied, clever hands carefully placing her quill down.

“Can we go to the library?”

“What’s the magic word?” Ughhhhhh, I somehow keep forgetting how annoying being three is.

“Can we go to the library please?” I said, giving her my best puppy eyes.

She elegantly stood sweeping up her paperwork. “Of course my princess.”

Off we go!

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

THERE WAS SOMEONE ELSE IN MY SECTION OF THE LIBRARY!

it wasn’t unusual to see people other than myself and Mr. Tommieson, it was a semi public library after all, But the section of simple childish books I could actually read was usually empty other than myself. I mean why would you go to the royal library for children's books? And yet, there was a knight in my library.

Looking again, he wasn’t quite a knight yet. His dirty mud covered tunic had the symbol of a squire instead of the distinctive armored appearance of a knight, but the point still stood. What was he doing in my haven of literature!

Now normally, I would be all for people getting educated, (go get you an education man!) but I was decidedly wary after my unfortunate encounter with those in my father’s army. (The Hylian royal line was matriarchal, my father had married into royalty. Before that he was a general of the Hylian army and he still kept in the practice of overseeing the troops.)

I shouldn't judge an entire contingent by the actions of two lazy soldiers. Still I hesitated. He didn't look too intimidating, tall and gangly in the way that all teenage boys were after a growth spurt, messy brown hair, brown eyes, and a non discriptly perfect face in the way that all hylians had perfectly even features.

All in all just a normal teenage squire who is for some reason holding MY COOKING PRIMER!

Before I had consciously thought to move I was at the young man's side staring up imploringly at the startled squire.

“Ummmmm, hi? Are you lost?”

“Is that ‘How to Cook and How it Works’ by Lana Dodson?!” I was practically vibrating as my eyes locked on my target. I could finally finish my book. My magic notes will finally be more filled out. I was a literary shark and had locked eyes on my prey.

The squire blinked surprised, “Oh, yes…”

There was a moment of silent dead air between us as I buzzed in place.

“...Did, did you want it?”

“If you're finished! I wouldn’t want to interrupt you!” I would just make you incredibly uncomfortable by staring at you until you were done to insure that the book wasn’t damaged.

“Uhh, go crazy with it kid.” He hesitantly handed me the book with a bewildered expression on his face.

I bobbed into a clumsy curtsy with the book that was aporoquamently half my size clutched in one arm. “Thank you sir!” Sucker, I mentally cackled. now to go enjoy my book and finally get some info to add to my note book on magic.

I wonder how much of the ‘magical’ ingredients in cooking are magic and how many are hormonal reactions like coffee or chocolate? I had so many things to investigate!

The next two weeks were spent in a fevered state of research and questions where I would haunt the library until Granny or Dottie would literally drag me out.

But even through my focused daze, I noticed the odd squire repeatedly visiting my section of the library, by the time I surfaced from my research I had decided that I needed to talk to him.

I was curious, sue me. it wasn’t often I saw a squire repeatedly visit the children’s section of the library.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

This was it.

I was going to talk to him.

I can do this.

I've had 17 years of social interaction before this, I might be a little rusty, BUT talking to people couldnt be that hard could it?

Who am I kidding? I KNOW it is that hard.

But nothing worth doing is easy, so I squared my shoulders, gathered my courage and approached the wayward solder.

Eye contact! Eye contact is important! My teacher would tell me to make eye contact during an interview, the same rules probably apply here right?

God I hadn't tried to talk to anyone in the last three years. Keep it cool Zelda.

“So uhhhh, you come here often?”

Granny muffled a surprised snort from behind me.

ABORT ABORT MISSION ABORT.

OH S-

“Oh I'm sorry did you ask me something?” The squire tilted his head curiously looking up from where he had been studiously scanning a simple book on the animals of hyrule. It was basic, elementary even not going into detail on any of the creatures and only listing a few but interesting from what I've managed to gather from it.

“Um uh, I've seen you all the time here i'm just uh, wondering what brought you to my side of the library?”

God someone, kill me now. I have completely forgotten how to people.

“Oh uh, I’m uh,” the kid flushed, rubbing the back of his neck, “I've been teaching myself how to read.” He glanced at granny hovering behind me and winced. “Before I became a squire I didn't have access to a library, we don't have much access to anything beyond the basics out in the countryside.”

My eyes widened. “Really?”

He shrugged, uncomfortably glancing away.

“That's so cool!” I gushed excitedly and unconsciously started to beam at him. “What?” he whipped his head back around to look at me surprised, why was he surprised? I fully understood the hell that is learning to read and write in this stupidly pretty language.

“It's super impressive that you're teaching yourself how to read! Hylian is super hard to read and write in! I'm having the worst time at it! Do you have a teacher or tutor to help you?”

He still looked a little shell shocked as he shook his head. “Uh no, I've been pretty much teaching myself.” I gaped, it’s been hard enough learning to read with the help of granny spots and mom to do it on your own!

“Wow! Thats incredible! I would have never been able to read without the help of my teachers! Do you think you could help me with my reading too!” This was awesome! Finally I could talk to someone who understood! Learning to read and write was hard!

He flushed a darker red. “Umm, I’m not all that good at it yet. I’ve mostly been guessing and trying to work out what words mean from context.” relatable! God finally someone who understood my struggle!

I gave him my biggest grin, “That’s okay! I'm pretty much doing the same thing! Do you want to work together? Having someone to help always makes things easier!”

“Uh,” he glanced once again at granny hovering over my shoulders, I ignored the sassy eyebrow she lifted at him as if to say ‘I’m not the boss of her’

He shrugged and gave me an unsteady grin, “Sure, why not. Where are you at with your reading?”

“Oh!” I gasped smacking myself on the forehead. “I forgot to introduce myself, im so sorry that was terribly rude of me!” I dropped into a proper curtsy before beaming up at the still bewildered looking squire. “Hi! My name is Zelda, it’s a pleasure to meet you!”

His face turned white then green as he glanced again at Granny, a new wariness in his gaze. My heart dropped and I could feel my smile dim. I had forgotten the whole princess thing in my excitement of meeting someone new, who had the same hobby as me. It wouldn't be entirely unrealistic for him to try and bow out now that he knew-

He looked at my face and let a tired resigned sigh, the color returning to his face as his grin reserfaced, smaller and far more exasperated but also more real.

He swept into a half bow from where he was sitting. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, your majesty. My name’s Jiro.”

It turns out that I was better at reading than him, that's okay. I was happy to finally have a study buddy. Perhaps even a friend.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

A few weeks later, I was helping my young padawan in the ways of the stupidly complicated symbols once again when I noticed he was slightly down.

I frowned “hey Jiro, what's wrong? Are you feeling okay? Should we cancel today's session?”

“No no, I'm fine, it's just...” He sighed dejectedly.

My brow furrowed in worry. “It's just what?” I gently prodded, I couldn't have my only friend upset!

He frowned before putting his charcoal stick down.

“The captain of the guard and his family just died.”

“What!” I gasped in shock. I had never met the man, but my father spoke of him fondly. “What happened!” Surely nothing good could take down one of Hyrule's best soldiers.

“His family was attacked by a group of monsters on their way to visit some friends for a wedding. I didn’t even know him that well, but from what I saw he was kind, and… they never even found his son's body. He was only 4.” I felt a chill go down my spine. This was the first real mention of monsters that I had heard and it made my heart drop to my toes. This was real people dying, and there was nothing I could do about it. This wasn't a video game where you could just respawn when you died. It was real and these people’s deaths were permanent.

He glanced at my white face before his eyes widened and he hurriedly back tracked. “But you don't have to worry about that princess! You're perfectly safe here in the castle! No monsters could get past the guards, or more importantly the queen!” I could literally see the moment he remembered I was only 3 and not the young adult I tried to project myself as.

The young adult I used to be.

I gathered myself and took a deep breath falling apart now wouldn't help anyone.

“Are they certain that his son did not survive? You just said that they didn't find his body.”

He wavered, not wanting to hurt me with the truth but also knowing I was smart enough not to believe the pretty lies one would usually tell.

“Please,” I asked, conviction in my gaze.

He sighed, “I highly doubt it, he was only four he would have no chance to out run the monsters, besides even if he did…” he sighed again face grim. “They found the wreckage beside the lost woods. If he ran and ended up their… he’d be as good as dead.”

My throat went dry. He had only been four, really for not four plus seventeen extra years of a past life. I swallowed. Even before the Calamity, the world was growing darker.

________________________

*Zelda gushes about how cool he is and gives him the kicked puppy look when he looks anxious about her being a princess*

Jiro: well I guess I’m a big brother now

Also on FanFiction.Net! https://m.fanfiction.net/s/13547505/11/

“So your fourth birthday is coming up, are you going to do anything special?”

“Mommy and daddy are going to throw a party and invite a bunch of nobles and their kids.”

“Aren’t you excited? You’ll get to meet a bunch of kids your age.”

“Not really, I’m not exactly the most relatable girl there is, I don’t think any of the other kids will find me fun to play with. Daddy also wants me to show of for the other adults by playing at the party”

“… Also I’m not too sure how… articulate, the other toddlers will be.”

“Well, if there’s one thing I’m certain of it’s that they won’t know what articulate is.”

“Real comforting Jiro.”

“I’m not even certain that I know what articulate means.”

“Thanks, you really know how to reassure a girl.”

Jiro gave me a stupid looking smirk, “Well what are friends for?”

Ughhhhhh.

———————————-

The dining room was packed and I was uncomfortable. I fidgeted in my stuffy dress pointlessly straightening the bow in my hair.

“Sweetie, why don’t you go play with the other kids?” My mom suggested, lightly shoving me in the direction of the chaotic corner where most of the children invited to the party had gravitated toward.

“But!” I protested, not exactly excited to go near the snot covered terrors.

I liked kids, but I was well aware of how… rough around the edges they could be. And now I lacked the authority that came with being older and bigger. It would not be fun to be the odd one out because of my memories.

“No buts. I want to talk to my cousin and you need to interact with some kids your own age.”

WhAT- “You have a cousin?!?”

“Yes and she’s pregnant and I want to congratulate her, so shoo.” She shooed me away while I was still processing the fact that I had a relative I’ve never heard of.

Why had I never heard of this before?

And now I was alone, great.

I was going to be just fine. I have over seventeen years of practice in interacting with people, I could talk to some stupid children. I love kids! Surely speaking to them as a peer instead of an authority figure can’t be that much more difficult. I can do this.

I straightened my dress one last time before nodding decisively. Now time to head into the breach.

As I stared at the assortment of children bringing absolute havoc to the formerly peaceful corner of the dining hall, while the adults willfully ignored the chaos, my long forgotten meme instincts reared their ugly heads.

How do you do, fellow kids?

I suppressed the nervous giggles building in my chest.

Not the time m- Zelda.

Not the time.

Ok, I can do this! The first thing you should do in a new social situation is to scope out the different groups and decide which to approach.

Most of the kids that were my age or younger were either running around like lunatics, roughhousing, or clinging to their parents in other parts of the party.

Hmmm. Yeah, no.

Ok next.

The kids 6 and up were more divided, separating into serial groups of three to five talking or playing with a slightly more collected and mature air. Seems like noble training isn’t just something that only exists in fiction.

Hmm. Yeah ok I can do this.

Now who to approach?

As I scanned the groups of children one group caught my eye.

It was a group of three children, two girls and a boy varying in ages from about seven to twelve a good meter or two from all the other children. They stood out among the other children their ages in how they dressed and how they held themselves.

Instead of the elegant, seemingly western suits and dresses the other children were wearing, these three were all dressed with a more eastern set of kimonos with lovely patterns of swirling silk. (which to be honest I was quite jealous of.) On top of that, instead of the straight backed aristocratic arrogance the other children stood with, these three children were settled into loose easy stances that would allow them to move freely and see all of their surroundings with relative ease. I vaguely recognize it to be rather martial in origin.

On top of all of that they had WHITE hair.

Ok that was cool.

Wait, they might be sheikah.

Ok, I had to meet them now.

Pulling my shoulders back into the perfect posture my mother had insisted I use, I attempted to copy my mother’s elegant glide and approached the group.

The three fell silent, eyes swinging toward me in an eerie unison. Their intent gazes almost predatory.

Ok now I see why there’s a solid meter of space between them and all the other children. Still I forged on and drew up the courage to speak.

“Hello! Might I have the pleasure of knowing your names?”

They blinked glancing at each other, before finally the oldest girl spoke a wide grin splitting her face.

“Hi! My name's Purah! This is my younger sister Impa and my cousin Robbie! It's nice to meet you!” She beamed inclining toward her younger sister, who nodded politely, and cousin, who waved vaguely.

(The names tugged at something in the back of my mind, but now wasn’t the time to look for what they reminded me of)

“Can I just say I love your outfits! The designs are beautiful!”

And it was. Pictures depicting swimming fish, flying birds and butterflies were painted onto the fabric, making the kimonos almost look like a part of nature.

The children blinked, trading another glance, before Purah, their seeming leader, (which was odd, you’d think Robbie being the oldest would be in charge) responded, “Oh! Thank you, You're very kind.”

“Do you really like them?” The solemn looking Impa interrupted eyes narrowing ignoring the hissed reprimand of her elder sister.

I tilted my head in confusion. “Why wouldn’t I like them? They’re beautiful! I really like how different animals were used as decorations, I’ve never seen anything like it before!”

A tension I hadn’t noticed from them seemed to release as I said that.

“Thanks kid.” Robbie grinned ruffling my hair.

“Hey! If I’m a kid, so are you! What are you, 9?”

He squawked in offense. “Hey! I’m twelve!”

“Like that’s so much better.”

I turned from the sputtering boy to talk to the two snickering girls of the group. “How old are you two?”

“I’m ten.“

“I’m seven.”

“ Impa, you’re just a little older than me!” Finally, I was making friends (kind of) my age!

“I’ve been kinda wondering how old you are.” Purah said, eyes roving over me curiously.

“I just turned 4!” I announced proudly to their shock.

“You’ve gotta be shi-“

“Robbie!”

“Ah I mean kidding me!” Robbie gapped disbelief.

“What did you think? That I was just a very small six year old or something?” It’s not like I look much older than I am. I'm like 3 feet tall.

“Yes.” Impa said seriously while her sister hissed at her to be quiet.

I giggled quietly as Purah apologized while stealthily pinching her sister. “Don’t worry about it, most people mistake me for older than I am.”

“I completely understand people usually mistake all of us for older than we are.” And for a single moment there was a mutual sense of understanding connecting the three of us and I couldn’t help but beam.

Finally, I was connecting with kids my own age!

“Dear, where are you? The performance is going to start soon!”

Great. The ONE time I DON'T want an excuse to get out of a social situation.

“Sorry guys, that was my mom, maybe we can talk later?”

“Sure, it was a pleasure to meet you!” Purah smiled eyes bright as Impa waved, a slightly less solemn look on her face and Robbie grinned easily

“Likewise!” I smiled. Maybe today wouldn’t be all that bad.

“Little bird!”

“Coming! Bye guys!” I gave them one last bright smile before running off to find my mom.

——————————

The din of the noisy ballroom started to quiet as my father’s booming voice echoed.

Come on Zelda, you can do this.

“That’s your cue, sweetie” my mother whispered lightly, pushing me toward the stage. She gave me one last grin before entering herself to go join the crowd.

I took a deep breath. This is what you practiced for.

As I entered the doors, all of the eyes swung toward me and I gulped, freezing in fear. They were all so much taller than me.

My gaze swept the muttering crowd fearfully searching for familiar faces.

I couldn’t spot my parents. My breath was starting to quicken. I was starting to panic.

Then I spotted them.

There in the back of the room were Dottie, Jiro, a few of the guards that would take turns watching me, and my music teacher was even there! And there in the front were my parents and granny, smiling at me encouragingly. I could do this.

Taking a deep breath squaring my shoulders and collecting myself I took a step forward.

I could do this. I’ve been practicing for months.

You could probably play this in your sleep by now. You got this.

I raised my hands to the harp holding my wrist just so touching the strings lightly. Not too hard now, remember what your teacher taught you.

Take one deep breath then another.

One two three,

Go!

The first few notes echoed off the stone walls.

Don’t look at the crowd. Don’t pay attention to the world around you. There’s nothing but you and the instrument now.

I was the song and the song was me.

I didn’t hear the rest of the murmurs fade away, I didn't see the proud smiles of my parents, I didn’t feel the pain of playing over my still healing calluses.

The rise and fall of the melody swept me away.

I played and played and played.

And as the final note echoed through the room, I looked up and smiled.

————————

The party was over and everyone was winding down, the sun had set and I was getting tired, but Mommy had said my birthday wasn’t over yet.

She led me out of the ballroom to a much smaller room away from the sound of tired children and drunken guests.

“Happy birthday, my little songbird.” She smiled softly, opening the door to a decorated room with a small table of presents surrounded by Jiro, Dottie, Father, and Granny all chatting happily waiting just for me.

I still missed my family before, I still ached and longed for the world and family I had before. But standing here looking at the new family forming around me.

Suddenly it hurt a little less.

———————

Lying in bed with a smile on my face I sleepily started to fade away. Today was a good day.

A stray thought caught my attention and I sat bolt upright.

Oh my god.

I was such an idiot!

How could I forget!

I forgot to tell Impa, Robbie, and Purah my name!

————————

Meanwhile in the background Purah Robbie and Impa are losing their minds over talking casually even somewhat rudely to the actual princess blood of hylia which there village has sworn to follow and defend since time immemorial.

Also on FanFiction.Net! https://m.fanfiction.net/s/13547505/12/

Chapter 12 moving forward

This was paradise.

I never wanted to move again.

I snuggled further into my mom's lap, humming a happy little tune as she ran a brush through my hair. Cuddles could solve all the world's problems, I thought sleepily. Maybe I could snuggle Gannon into submission? I might not have magic glowing powers, but I could give a mean hug if I do say so myself. Maybe Gannon just needs a hug and a nap to calm down?

Mmm no. He’s oozing all over the place in botw, he’d be gross to hug.

Well too bad for him, I sighed in contentment as my mothers careful ministrations nearly sent me to sleep before continuing to humm for her.

This is the life. I feel like a cat being pet. Any moment now I would melt into a satisfied puddle of goo.

“And perfect! your hair’s all done, my little songbird!'' I whined dramatically as my mom put down the brush and plopped a kiss on the top of my head.

“Don’t wanna.” I grumbled wanting back the soothing ministrations of the brush against my hair.

My mom chuckled as she scooped me off her lap and into her arms. Ugh, the burdens of being small enough to be physically moved around by everyone.

“Anyways, I was thinking little bird,-“

“Never a good sign,” I teased, sticking my tongue out at her.

“Treason! My daughter is treasonous! Where did I go wrong?”

“The moment I was born!”

“Zelda!” She chided.

“You asked.”

She huffed, giving me a wry look. “Your humour is entirely too sarcastic for a three year old.”

I gave her a smug look before snuggling further into her arms. “You love me anyways!”

She gave me a fond smile. “I do baby, but that's not the point I was getting to.” She said, booping my nose playfully. “I was wondering, my little bird, you like music right?”

“Yeah?” I mean, I hum all the time. Does she think I do it out of rage or something?

“Well I was thinking, would you like to learn how to make music with an instrument?”

Huh? I paused in surprise. I had never considered playing an instrument before. In my last life, my dyslexia had made it nearly impossible to read music. I had never really thought of that changing in my next life.

Wait. I don't have dyslexia anymore. I could learn how to play an instrument.

Huh. That’s…I don't know how to feel about that. It should be a good thing, I should be celebrating the fact. But…

Before, my dyslexia had been a part of me. It was part of me, the good and the bad. I wouldn't have been me without my dyslexia. I would have been fundamentally different. It was small, in comparison to all the changes that had come before, but still I…

I guess it doesn’t matter.

I’m not M- I’m not her. Not anymore.

I’m Zelda.

I nodded, at first weakly and then firmly. “Yes. Yes, I would like to learn how to play an instrument.”

My mother frowns, a worried crease on her forehead. “Are you sure? I’m not forcing you to do anything, little songbird. I just suggested it because I thought you might enjoy it.”

“Yes, I’m sure.” I had to be. “I wanna learn how to play an instrument.”

“Ok!” my mother beamed. “What would you like to learn how to play?”

I blinked in surprise. I hadn't actually thought of that. I was more focused on the ‘I can do it’ part.

“Oh, I'm so excited, songbird! There are so many wonderful choices! You could play the ocarina, the harpsichord, the lyre, the flute, the accordion, the lute, or… oh, there are so many wonderful choices!”

As my mother chatted about what each instrument was, I hummed, contemplating my options. My first instinct was to go with the ocarina, the idea of magical music was almost too good to pass up, (this WAS a Zelda game after all) but time travel? TIME TRAVEL!? I am not messing with time travel. I know WAAAYYYYY too much about the theoretical consequences of time travel to mess with that. Like, half, of my mental breakdowns so far have been about the theoretical consequences of my existence in what was once a predetermined narrative. Yeah, so I'm gonna say a solid no to the ocarina.

It's not like the ocarina was the only magical instrument in Zelda either. (only the only one that involved actual time travel holy cow i can't even think about that being an actual thing without getting chills.) In Wind Waker, Link uses the wind waker to teleport, in Twilight Princess he has magic reeds, ect ect. So even if I'm thinking from a purely practical use standpoint, I don't think I need to limit myself to any certain type of instrument.

Hmmmmmm. While I like the sound of the flute, I should probably eliminate the woodwinds and such similar breath based instruments, as I would like to learn how to sing. Being my own accompaniment appeals to me. So that left what? The harpsichord, the lyre, the accordion (of all things), and the lute.

Right off the bat I'm going to eliminate the accordion, I'm just not partial to accordion music. So that leaves me with three instruments, the harpsichord (the proto piano), the lute (the proto guitar), and the lyre (the proto harp).

Decisions, decisions. I think I would prefer a portable instrument instead of something as big and as bulky as a harpsichord. That would make it easier to practice in the relative privacy of my room with only that day's bodyguard to hear my scratchy rendition of this world's twinkle twinkle little star instead of serenading whoever is in the music room with a hundred renditions of the same broken melody.

So now I am left with only the lute and the lyre.

No matter what logic I try to go through, no matter the reasons I might profess to eliminate the other choices there was never really a choice. In reality my heart had already chosen. My mind kept lingering over one choice over any other. Childhood dreams danced over my mind's eyes. A beautiful woman in a black velvet dress seemingly effortlessly caresses a large lovely elegantly curved instrument and enchantingly beautiful music echoing around the room. Watching one video over and over. Learning how expensive a grand harp is and clearly deciding to focus on other things.

“Mama?” I tugged on her sleeve, breaking her out of her excited rambles on the advantages of each instrument. “I know what instrument I want to play.”

I wanted to play the lyre.

“That’s wonderful, little songbird! Mommy and Daddy will get everything set up in a jiffy!”

—————————

I had known that my family was ridiculously rich, being literal royalty and all, but every time I start to forget they go and do something like this and hit me over the head with my newly acquired wealth.

“So what do you think, honey?” My mother beamed, clapping her hands happily as my father surveyed their bounty looking for any non-existent flaws.

The objects of my mother’s excitement and my fathers scrutiny was a humongous pile of lyres of all types, arranged haphazardly around a once completely empty room.

There were large lyres, small lyres, grand lyres, simple lyres, elegantly adorned lyres, tackily gaudy lyres, and lyres seemingly made from pure gold.

“Isn’t this, I don’t know, a bit much?” I ventured, unable to take my eyes off a lyre that was made of pure gold and encrusted with what seemed to be millions worth of jewels.

“You don’t like it?” My mother asked, looking like a kicked puppy.

“Hmph, I told you we should have had something specially crafted for her! How can we be certain of the quality of any of these?” My father grumbled, sending a dour look at an unadorned but lovely wooden lyre that still managed to scream ‘I cost more than your rent’.

“No, no, no! That’s not what I meant!” I hurried to assure them, not wanting to spend any more unnecessary money. “I just- uhh” I paused casting my eyes around desperately looking for something to say that won’t hurt their feelings. “I'm not exactly an expert on lyres, I haven’t even had my first lesson yet! I was just thinking this was a bit early? I wouldn’t even know which lyre would be best!”

My mother blushed, rubbing that back of her head. “We might have put the cart in front of the horse there, dear.” She told my father.

Daddy started to bluster, embarrassed, “It’s still important to have all the supplies necessary before a mission!” There was a pause as we both stared at him, “Though you might be right in that we should have waited to ask the opinion of your teacher first.”

———————————-

“An entire room Jiro! They filled an entire room!” I gestured emphatically as Jiro gaped.

“You're joking.”

“I wish! I swear to Hylia that some of those instruments were entirely made of gold! What am I supposed to do with a golden lyre! Do you know how heavy gold is?! How am I supposed to LEARN to play on a solid gold lyre bigger than my entire torso and head?!” I was almost hysterical at this point. “They haven’t even found someone they think is good enough to teach me yet!”

“You know sometimes I forget that you're the princess and not just some other kid, until you say things like this.”

“Really??”

“No. Not with your bodyguards breathing down my neck and the background check done by ninjas.”

“Ughh” I groaned, letting my head fall to the table cushioned by the book we were going over that day.

“Also you’re like 1 and super tiny.”

“Not helping Jiro.”

————————————

“So sweetheart, we decided to leave the final decision on who to teach you up to you!” My mother cheered.

“Of course,” My father said, “All of these people are only the best in their field and all thoroughly vetted by the palace guard, so no matter who you choose you will be getting only the best of lessons!

I stared deadpan at the row of teachers all dressed to the nines, either puffing up like peacocks or sweating like the damned.

“Umm…maybe you could all tell me a little about yourselves?”

——————————

“Two of them literally got in a fist fight.”

“Are you serious?”

“Dead serious.”

“In front of the queen!” He looked scandalized, his hands at his heart like some horrified grandmother who was told that her grandson had gotten hit by a car.

“My dad nearly blew a gasket!”

“Well, at least you have a music teacher now.” Even when he was trying to cheer me up he sounded dubious, at best.

“If only by the process of elimination.”

————————————————

“So, um, princess!” the man looked nervously at the three heavily armed guards hovering at the door (my parents weren't taking chances after the last…incident).

He rallied himself, gulping nervously as the guard shifted, armor clinking menacingly.

“What do you know about playing the lyre??”

———————————————

“So how are your new lessons going?”

“Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.”

“That well, huh.”

“My new teacher can barely speak with how nervous he is, and when he can he’s torturing my poor fingers.”

“Princess, you're just beginning, it will take some time for certain calluses to be developed so that you can play properly.” Granny’s smooth voice chimes in, startling the both of us.

“SWEET HYLIA!” Jiro attempted to jump up into a defensive position forgetting about the table and toppled to the ground clutching his shins in pain.

“Quiet!” Mr Tommison hissed from his desk, looking down at Jiro.

“Sorry Mr. Tommison! We’ll be quieter.” I glared at Jiro in warning.

“Please do.” He sniffed before stalking away to shelve some books.

Jiro and I held our breaths until he was out of sight.

“How do I keep forgetting about your ninja nanny?'' He groaned in pain as I collapsed into quiet giggles.

“She’s not a ninja, you're just easily startled- like a wittle rabbit.” I cooed mockingly, crouching down to pat his head condescendingly.

He batted my hands away grumbling, “she’s literally the queen's Sheikah guard, give me a break.”

“Wait really!?” I glanced at Granny in surprise.

She raised an eyebrow at me. “Did you not know?”

Jiro gaped. “How did you not know? She literally has white hair.”

I turned red. “I just- I just thought she was ah,” Shoot, how do I say this tactfully? “I just thought she was… older?”

Jiro started to cackle.

———————————————

“No princess! You're holding your hands wrong! Loosen your fingers!”

A guard shifted his sword clinking noisily against his platemail.

“Ah! If that, uh, pleases your majesty, that is.”

I withheld a despairing sigh.

———————————————

“At this point I’m pretty sure they're just doing it to mess with the poor man.” I complained, rubbing my tiny hands into my temples, ruining the intricate style that Dottie had braided this morning.

There was a spacious silence. And to my surprise, Jiro avoided my gaze.

I narrowed my eyes. “What do you know?”

“I heard about a running bet between the knights about who can get him to squeak the most in a lesson without saying a single word. According to the bookie, the record right now is twenty seven.”

“I am seriously thinking about murder right now, hey Hyila, as princess am I allowed to order executions?”

———————————————

“Now, A C B, A C B, A A B”

The clumsy tune of a basic hylian nursery rhyme filled the room, some notes lasting too long, some too short, and the spacing in between was inconsistent. But even still it was recognizable as a song. I was getting better!

“Ok, try one more time but hold c longer and you need to get to your A’s faster.” I nodded, repositioning my hands.

“Annnd once again A C B, A C B, A A B”

Come on, Zelda you can do this.

———————————————

Hello! This is my first really post on this account and as such I decided my LOZ OC would make a good first post. I'm very hyperfixated on BOTW and I thought the concept of a half fairy, half hylian girl would make a good character (also just bc pointy ears and bc I like fairies lol) Anyway, her name is Hyacinth Flumen, her mom is the fairy Kaysa, she's got a gaggle of half sisters (4 sisters) and a twin sister. Her youngest half sister is named Siria and she's the only one out of all her sisters (minus her twin) that shares a dad with her. Hya's twin is called Delphi (all her sisters except for Siria are named after flowers) and she's a whole 'nother post lol.

She's got wings on her back as well as behind her ears, they also lightly glow, as do her eyes. She's also about 5'10 and she's also got freckles, but this is just a sketch so no freckles here :)

I felt like drawing my oc

So uhh yeah this is my botw oc Striker who totally has not taken over my brain these last couple days

I drew my oc again finally

I should play more zelda again

And also practicing with perspective, its a pain. Also, this dude's on artfight, which is the main reason I'm drawing a lot more now ig :)

artfight.net

Art Fight

An art trading game

Been playing totk lately and got the urge to redesign an old sheikah oc

The old oc in question

15 years old me of course had to make her into a champion but I took that away because she just really doesn’t need it

I need to rework the little guy again though because his shape back then was actually perfect