Caramel Writes - Tumblr Posts

comma flirting

on ao3

word count: 4.4k

a collection of letters between link and ravio; ravioli falling in love

Mr. Hero,

I’m writing to inform you that your rental on the Sand Rod has expired. My assistant, Sheerow, has come to collect this item, and it will be available for re-rental at 50 rupees.

Best,

Ravio

Ravio,

I’m in the middle of assfuck Desert Palace and writing this on your envelope. Enclosed is a purple rupee. I have the rod.

Link

Mr. Hero,

Sheerow is coming again to pick up my Hookshot. Please don’t wrestle with him this time.

Best,

Ravio

P.S. Please visit the shop for purchases you make.

Ravio,

I’ll be there tomorrow.

Link

Mr. Hero,

Don’t worry when you open this letter - no rentals are due - though I’m sure you will anyway. I’ve been meaning to ask this since they’ve been in season for a while, but you haven’t been around recently. Is it alright if I harvest your apples while you’re out? You can trust me not to sell them, heh.

Thanks,

Ravio

Ravio,

Go for it, I won’t be home anytime soon. Juicer’s in the basement. Sell them and I’ll kick you out.

Link

Mr. Hero,

Since my retirement, I’ve been moving away my tables and letting the actual house part of your house take over. I’m excited for you to see the place! 

Your orchard produced beautiful apples, but there’s so many I’m not sure what to do with them. I’ve never seen so much fruit in my life! I’ve learned some baking recipes from the locals, so I’ve been trying a few of those. Let me know when you’re heading home soon so I can make pie!

Stay safe.

Ravio

Rav,

I’m fine; that gash from last month is just a scar now. I’m as safe as possible. I’m going home next week to pay you for that red potion even though you refuse.

Link

Link,

Don’t pay me back for that red potion. You were unconscious from blood loss.

Do come back home though, before Sheerow gets into the pie.

Ravio

Ravio,

I’m on my way right now. Note the purple rupee in this envelope.

Link

Mr. Hero,

You’re insufferable. I’ll see you soon.

Best,

Ravio

Ravio,

I’m writing this in case your stupid bird manages to find a portal before I do. Hylia knows he will. I miss your apple pie.

I hope Lorule’s doing okay. I hope your Triforce is actually back. It’s finicky. The Goddesses don’t like to fully honor wishes I wonder if you hold Courage.

I’m sorry. This is stupid. This is a stupid letter. You’re never getting this.

Link

I changed my mind I need to keep writing before I go insane

Zelda wants me to move into the castle. I don’t want to but every time I try to bring that up I feel like there’s sand in my throat. Like that one time at the Desert Palace. I still have that letter from you. I can’t believe I always wrote on the envelopes.

She’s officially queen now and says I should retire from being Hero and reveal my princehood to the public. Fuck, I never admitted that to anyone. It’s not like you’ll see this letter. Are you Hilda’s brother too? Nevermind.

I really, really hate the castle. Is that a selfish thing to think?

My uncle died there

I’m running out of parchment so I’m throwing this away. Goodnight, Ravio.

Ravio,

I guess you’ve become my diary now. Writing things out helps, I think.

Zelda and I fought today. I think I pissed her off. Who am I kidding. I pissed her off. I told her I’m already figurehead enough as the Hero and being a prince is too much shit for me to handle. She got real butthurt and almost sad? I don’t know. I’m bad at this shit. She kicked me out of the castle and said we could talk about it later. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.

I never actually told you about the brother thing, did I? We found out a while ago. My first adventure, I think. Been a while.

I know Lorule needs its Triforce but please don’t rely on it to solve everything because it doesn’t.

I need to get a notebook or something. Or just suck it up and buy more parchment in Kakariko. I’m harvesting more apples tomorrow because it helps me not to think. I miss your apple pie. I miss you. I miss not being alone in that house.

Maybe I’ll just write more letters. Oh well. Goodnight.

Link

Ravio,

Kakariko was out of parchment for a while so it’s been a month since I’ve written things down. Zelda and I worked out the prince thing, I guess, because we didn’t discuss it any more after that day. As it stands, I’m still the asshole who saved the country more than enough times.

I’ve been reading up on these legends about Heroes. I wonder how it was like for them.

Other than that it’s been boring. I decided to juice half the apples and sell the rest. You better show up soon so I don’t have to sell the next crop.

Zelda says there’s a disturbance by the Sacred Realm entrance. Almost like there’s a crack between worlds there. By the Goddesses, Ravio, what are you and Hilda doing? Just don’t be stupid and don’t get yourself killed.

Please.

Link

Link,

I can only imagine your embarrassment when this letter reaches you. The thought makes me giggle, which I know will make you more embarrassed, which makes me giggle more.

Sheerow flew through the crack as soon as Hilda and I opened it. He arrived back to me a few hours later with three envelopes that I don’t think you intended to send.

I miss making pie, and baking in general. Retirement didn’t last long after I returned home to my post serving Hilda. I hold Wisdom, not Courage, and the Triforce is doing wonders for Lorule. I’m sorry it hasn’t treated you well. You deserve better than that. I’m sorry about your uncle, too.

I’m proud you stood up for yourself. No, I’m not blood related to Hilda, as far as either of us know. But you’ve been living life fine without being a prince, you’ll continue to live fine without it. Just stay safe in your Hero business. And for the other Heroes, I don’t know. Lorule has no Heroes, other than you. I’m sure it wasn’t easy for them, though.

I’m sending Sheerow back with this letter before I officially leave Lorule with Hilda. We’ll both be in the castle. I’m sure Zelda has discovered the crack, but if you may, please tell her we’ll arriving with Lorulean soldiers and nobility. I’ll visit you as soon as possible. I miss you too.

Sincerely,

Ravio

Ravio, you bastard,

I will be at Hyrule Castle at the asscrack of dawn and if you aren’t there I will fight you.

Link

Dearest Link,

This letter hopefully won’t arrive to you via Sheerow as I’m leaving it in your pack. Inside is food, weapons, the rings you asked for, and other items that you needed. Thank Lolia your bag has an expansion charm, because even my amazing packing skills wouldn’t have cut it. For the love of the three, stay safe out there. It’s been months since you’ve last been on a journey.

As Lorule’s ambassador, I’ll be at the castle most days, but I’ll take care of the house and continue baking. Zelda has been teaching me recipes from the castle kitchens, and they’re quite lovely!

Also as Lorule’s ambassador, I request you send reports on the happenings in Hytopia so that we may bring sufficient aid. As Ravio, I need to know if you’re safe; you know how much I fret.

Please write.

Sincerely,

Ravio

Dear Ravio,

You’re the craziest worrywart I’ve met, and Queen Zelda is my sister. I’m happy to supply reports, both of Hytopia and my own health, but I promise you that I’m fine. This is either my sixth or seventh adventure. I genuinely lost count.

As the Hero of Legend, I report that Hytopia is suffering from a “fashion crisis”. The two others operating with me are sufficient in their help, and I am currently confident in our quest to save Princess Styla. I estimate six months, maximum, will be spent on this journey. I will reach out if foreign aid is needed.

As Link, I need you to know with utmost honesty that this place is fucking crazy. There are two bitches following me anywhere, and by the Goddesses are they amateurs, claiming to be the Hero of Legend. I’m so tired of them. The princess is crying and hiding around town because she’s wearing a fucking brown jumpsuit and she can’t take it off. I feel like I’m slowly losing my sanity as each day passes, but what else is new? 

The fights are fine and easy. I’ve had to wear a skirt for the past week for complicated reasons, but I’ve found that this shit is actually practical. Who would’ve thought?

Write me back so I don’t go insane.

Link

Dearest Link,

I cannot deny that I’ve had to read your letter multiple times over to get through it without laughing. You never fail to take any boredom from my day, even when all I do is talk to nobility and worm my way through politics. 

I’m not sure what to write about. I’ve tried apple turnovers for the first time, but they haven’t come out the best. I’m spending time with the castle’s baker and pastry chef whenever I can. I’m sure you’ll be happy once you’re home. Speaking of home, Sheerow’s starting to relieve himself in the house again. I don’t think he likes the bird cage, but I haven’t had time to fix this problem yet. Please give me your blessing to let him fly free again.

Stay sane,

Ravio

Dear Ravio,

Make that bird promise to stop shitting on my carpet and you have a deal. 

I’ve had to wear more green in the past month than I’ve ever had to in my life - they made me dye my hair, for Goddess sakes - and I’m ready to never see that color again. Can you burn down the forest for me so the grass is brown? Don’t do that, Zelda will have our heads.

Apple turnovers aren’t too hard, I’m sure you’ll get it soon. Send one over if Sheerow can fly fast enough.

I’ll be home before year’s end.

Link

Dearest Link,

You’ll be pleased to hear that the forest is gone and we’ve both been banished to the Dark World. 

I’m kidding. I’ve been discussing with Zelda on the prospect of me gaining Hyruleian citizenship, and Hilda says she requests you receive Loruleian citizenship as well, seeing as you’re our Hero. The process for both is very complicated and apparently the Queens can’t just write us down for both without backlash from nobility, enough that it won’t be worth it. I’ve been looking for the easiest ways, and including the benefits on tax, marriage ironically comes up. I’ll keep searching.

I got the turnover recipe down; Sheerow should be arriving with a package of them for you and your “hero” friends. Enjoy!

I’m glad you’ll be home soon, even though it’s only summer. Stay safe out there, as always.

Sincerely,

Ravio

Dear Ravio,

I don’t know Hyrulean law well but I think you can keep citizenship after divorce. I don’t know about you, but I personally don’t give a shit. We could marry for the benefits and if either of us sorry fucks finds someone, we divorce.

Link

P.S. Those were the best turnovers I’ve had in my life. Keep making them.

Dearest Link,

It’s a decade of marriage before citizenship becomes unconditional, so if you’re fine with that, I don’t mind either. I’m glad you liked the turnovers, I’ll send more once the orchard produces more apples. Also, how are you doing in Hytopia?

Sincerely,

Ravio

Dear Ravio,

I’ll be dead within the decade, so fuck it, let’s do it. I’m leaving a ring in the envelope. For my ego, please pretend like this is the best damn proposal you could have ever dreamed of. 

Hytopia is doing well and Princess Styla is back to normal. I’m avoiding the ports and taking the scenic way home, so I’ll be back in two weeks.

Link

Dearest Link,

Don’t joke about that, please. I’m glad you’re on your way. I’ll see you soon.

Your proposal has had me swooning and I spent three days in recovery at the castle. On a real note, Zelda and Hilda are both confused and slightly furious at us. I believe we simply found a unique situation to this problem.

Sincerely,

Ravio

Rav,

I’m at Kakariko this morning to pick up bread. I didn’t want to wake you up. I should be back by noon.

Link

Link -

Emergency call from the castle, some monster invasion. I’m sure you’ll hear about it soon.

- Ravio

My Ravio,

Killing the monsters you had a meeting about yesterday, then Zelda wants me at the castle for wedding stuff. I’ll see you tonight.

Link

I have a dinner tonight so I’ll be gone when you get off work. Pie is in the oven for you. “My”?

- Ravio

We’re getting married, aren’t we?

Link

Link and Ravio,

I wish you the sincerest congratulations on your marriage, though the circumstances of it are definitely exploiting a loophole that I’d have half a mind to fix. Regardless, may you both be blessed with peaceful and long lives. My brother, I am so proud of you for how far you’ve come. My brother-in-law, you are an amazing friend, and I’m excited to be family with you. 

Peace and prosperity for you both!

Sincerely,

Zelda

Ravio and Link,

I am amazed that this is happening, for multiple reasons. I suppose it is my fault for being surprised, however, knowing my advisor. Hero of Hyrule, I request you take care of Ravio; Ravio, I request you take care of Link. Perhaps your personalities are only compatible with each other after all.

Best wishes for you both,

Hilda

Link,

It’s been a week with no word from you, and I’m beginning to worry. I’m sending Sheerow off with this letter but I’m unsure if it’ll reach you, so if it does, I can only beg you to write back. These new monsters, the black-blooded ones, have been retreating some. Zelda is recruiting small forces of people to make them back off from towns, and it’s worked so far. We are all worried about you. Zelda and Hilda have been asking me where you are, and I don’t know how to explain that I don’t know.

I can only assume you’ve ended up in one of those portals they’ve emerged from. Your pack is missing, as well as some of your rings, armors, and gears. You left your extra pair of boots behind, I have them for you. I have your extra weapons, too. Please come back for them. Please come back.

I miss you. I hope you’re okay. Sheerow is pissing on the carpet again.

Yours,

Ravio

Dearest Ravio,

Time travel is fucking weird, so I have no idea when this’ll reach you. I’m fine. I’ve been pulled into another adventure, this time with my own kin. When the portals spit us out back home, I’ll sit down and have a long talk with you. We promised not to keep secrets from each other, remember? I trust you, but I have limited parchment so I can’t write it all down right now. 

In summary, though, I’m with other Links from around history. I met my fucking descendant. It’s crazy. They call me Legend; there’s 9 of us. I’m the veteran, apparently.

I’m sorry this is short. I hope I’ll be home soon. I miss you. Tell Sheerow to stop shitting himself, and while you’re at it, tell Zelda to stop shitting herself too. I’ll be okay.

Yours,

Link

My dearest Link,

I’m relieved you’re alright. Zelda laughed when I passed on your message, and she’s in a better mood now. Hilda also seems relieved. I’m awaiting your coming home soon. 

Your descendant? I expected those portals led to different dimensions, not across time. What is he like? I would consider you a veteran in your field, Link; you’ve saved more than 5 separate nations.

I made Sheerow promise not to piss on the carpet anymore, but I don’t think a bird will hold his word well, haha. 

We all miss you. If When you and your traveling companions come by, I’ll be here to welcome you all. I’ll see you soon.

Yours,

Ravio

Dearest Ravio,

Stop worrying about me, damnit. The Goddess will keep me around long enough to keep running errands for her. Sheerow, you stupid bird, it’s cage for you if you don’t shit outside. I’m glad Zelda and Hilda are okay.

We call him Hyrule, the Traveler. He’s some centuries down the line, the next Link, and I’ve been to his world. It makes me worry about the future. Rav, I’m really, really worried. I don’t think I’ve done enough 

Stay safe.

Yours,

Link

My Link,

You’ve done enough. More than enough. Never forget that.

If Hyrule falls, then at the very least, you defended it with all your life. You gave it precious time to be prosperous. You’re the Hero of Legend for a reason, Link.

Zelda wanted to include her own message on this letter when she heard that you’re distraught, so I’m leaving the rest of the space to her. Stay safe.

Yours,

Ravio

Link -

Hyrule’s history consists of both golden and dark ages. The Heroes of past all fought hard and performed their duty, and sometimes, the Kingdom falls regardless. However. Hyrule always rises again. I understand your worry for us, for Hyrule; but even when we fall in the future, a new Hero arises, right? Hyrule will be okay. You’ve done everything asked of you, and that is more than enough.

My doors are open if you need comfort or advice. Please, if you need to, seek me out. I’m here for you, like I’ve always been, always remember that.

Your sister,

Zelda

Dearest Ravio,

I’m sorry I worried you. I’ll be home soon. I’ll tell you everything then.

We’re in my Hyrule right now. I can tell from the magic, but we’re far out from the kingdom. Prepare ingredients for 9 - we have a cook, don’t worry - and expect me home within week’s end.

Yours,

Link

P.S. Zelda, we need to talk. There’s a curse. I’ll be at the castle promptly.

My dearest Link,

Please note the package attached to this letter. There’s two apple pies for you all, rupees for the Smith’s payment, and the Captain’s scarf which he couldn’t grab before you were all whisked away. Zelda has also left rings with protective charms for the others with none.

One more thing. The hibiscus plant is flowering, but I forgot to pick one for you earlier. I placed a stasis charm on it, so I hope it’ll be okay when it reaches you. I tried to pick the best color from your description; I hope I did her justice.

Best wishes for you all!

Yours,

Ravio

Dearest Ravio,

The hibiscus is perfect. Thank you.

The Captain thanks you for his scarf (he was whining like a toddler without it), and the Smithy sends you back your change. Pass on my thanks to Zelda for the rings. Your pies are delicious, as always.

Nothing much has happened lately, nothing worth writing about. We’re in the Champion’s Hyrule, and it’s so large that I feel grateful for the distance between our Kingdoms now. I never want to walk again.

Yours,

Link

My dearest Link,

I, once again, am entirely unsure if this will reach you. I’m writing from my bunk. It’s been an interesting past week.

I’ve been thrust through a portal of my own, thankfully able to prepare first. I met the Captain again; I can see why he recognized me now! I’m doing okay, and I’m fine and safe. I’ve run into Wind, too, and a boy who almost looks like Time. 

Link, I think I met her too. She matches everything you described, hibiscus and all. I don’t know how she’s here, either. She’s kind.

I’ll write as much as I can - it should be more exciting, now! - and I hope we’ll both be home safe soon.

Yours,

Ravio

My dearest Ravio,

Excuse me, you’re fighting in the fucking War of Eras!? Tell Warriors if he puts you on the front lines I’ll kill him. Slowly. By the Three, you better not get killed or hurt or ANYTHING along those lines. And you need to get home safe as soon as possible so the chance to is gone.

I don’t know what to say about her. I don’t know how she’s there, either, but be kind to her. And tell her I say hi, I guess, if she remembers me. Don’t let her go ba

Don’t open any time paradoxes, I know I’ll be the sorry fuck who saves you. Stay safe, damnit.

Yours,

Link

My dearest Link,

You never fail to make me laugh. And you call me a worrywart! I’m fine, don’t worry. Everyone is sweet and they take extra care to keep the ones from other times alive. Unfortunately, I think informing Mr. Captain Hero Sir of your threats would create a time paradox, as he doesn’t know you yet. Feel free to threaten him after-the-fact in your group, though!

Marin remembers you. She tells you to stop being a grump, and that’s only after my few descriptions of you! She also congratulated us on our marriage, though it’s been a year since. She appreciates the hibiscus plant and your pursuit of music when you’re home. She also says you should retire.

I understand why you care for her, Link. Really, you are a sweet person.

Yours,

Ravio

My dearest Ravio,

The Captain laughed in my face, because he’s an asshole. I would bet on my life that he’ll keep you safe, though; he’s captain for a reason. And maybe I do worry too much, but I have good reason to.

I’m glad she’s alive. This is selfish, but ask her if Koholint is doing okay, please. Tell her I’ll retire when the ladies upstairs let me.

I don’t know how to reply to your last line, Rav. But thank you, I guess. It’s hard to be kind in this world.

Yours,

Link

My dearest, Link,

I’m sorry I haven’t been able to write for a while. Sheerow went missing, and with no time traveling postbird, I haven’t been able to send letters. The war has also kept me busy and the paper has been scarce. I miss you so, so much.

I’m home. I don’t know how long it’s been for you, but it was around a year and a half for me. Sheerow is safe; he’s been at home this whole time. I’ll be waiting for you here again.

I like to think I discovered a bit of courage for myself while out there. Maybe the amount you rubbed off on me finally paid off, yeah? I’m really tired, I’m going to stay here for a while and rest. This is all over the place. I’m sorry.

Marin went back to Koholint. I don’t know if she’s alive there, but I’d like to hope she is. I’m sorry you two didn’t get to meet again. I’m apologizing a lot.

Have you been around? Our house looks the same as ever. I hope you did get to visit, at least for a little, in the time I’ve been gone.

I pray for your safety. I miss you, Link.

Yours,

Ravio

My dearest, Ravio,

I can’t put my relief into words. I’m still out, but nearing the end of this adventure. I can feel it coming to a close soon, and this one feels final. Maybe I’ll actually be able to retire.

I’ve missed you so much. I thought you were dead, or hurt, or Sheerow was dead or hurt, and I swear I couldn’t sleep for months. I’ll never let that damn bird out of our sights again. Please rest, Rav. I understand how you’re feeling right now. I’ll be home to help as soon as I can - you can’t recover from something like that alone.

Marin being alive or dead is more of a discussion if she is real or not real. I find that thinking over those kind of questions too much will only lead to feeling worse. It’s better to just accept that she’s gone. I’ll be there for you.

I’ve visited some, not as much as I wish I could. There’s never much time to relax, and our house feels wrong without you there.

Never apologize again, that’s a threat. I’m so glad you’re okay.

Yours,

Link

P.S. Did you think I wouldn’t notice you flirting with me? “My dearest, Link,”?

My dearest, Link,

Thank you. I’m harvesting apples from the orchard again, and I made pie for the first time in a while. Sheerow is carrying it over for you. 

It’s been hard, this past week, but I think I’ll be okay. I just need time to re-adjust. Don’t rush your adventure for me, okay? I’m glad you’ll be home soon, though.

I’m looking forward to see you again.

Yours,

Ravio

P.S. I can’t help but notice that you also placed a comma after “dearest”. Besides, aren’t we married?

My dearest, Ravio,

The portals have begun to place us in our own times, and we’re having our final goodbyes. You’ll be happy to hear that I’ll be home within a fortnight. I’m excited to see you again, finally. I love your pie; it’s amazing, as always.

I’ll see you soon.

Yours,

Link

P.S. We are married, and we’ve signed off as “yours” for over a year. Are you surprised that you’re my beloved?

My dearest, Link,

Hurry up and get home, you flirt. First you propose over letters, now you confess?

Yours,

Ravio

My Ravio,

I’m in Hyrule, three days out from home. Don’t you forget that you initiated everything. 

I can’t wait to see your face again. I love you.

Your husband,

Link

My Link,

I won’t bother to send you this letter, because I’ll tell you in person, but you can go ahead and find it on our counter when you arrive tomorrow.

You said “my Ravio” again, like you wrote on a note before our marriage. Don’t think you’re not as much to blame for this as I am.

I’m waiting for you, dear. I love you, too.

Your husband,

Ravio

reflection of love

on ao3

word count: 8.4k

ravio shares link's scars; ravioli soulmates au

According to ancient Loruleian folklore, romantic soulmates have a special bond. This bond is indicated by their scars, and if one gets a scar, it will appear on the other's body as well.

Ravio's soulmate has a lot of scars.

Ravio is 12 when the first scar appears.

He sits up in his bed, staring at his arm. There’s a large swipe just below his shoulder, freckles already dotting over it. It hadn’t been there the night before.

It’s strange, he thinks, but maybe he just hadn’t noticed it. Maybe something had hit him on the way home and he just… didn’t feel anything?

…That makes no sense.

Ravio decides to forget about it.

But later that day, another scar shows up. A week later, three more. Ravio’s being even more careful than he usually is, but they keep appearing!

He brings it up to the princess when it’s been a month and it keeps happening.

Princess Hilda is sitting in her study, head leaning against her hand as she pretends to read a book. Ravio nervously approaches, swinging the door open loudly but running to stop it before it hits a wall. She turns up and looks at him, eyebrows raised.

The princess, like Ravio, has no real family to call her own. By technicality she’s queen, but as she’s a child, everyone calls her princess instead. And as far as Ravio knows, his bloodline was of brave Lorulian knights who served the royal family; that’s why he’s worked for Hilda as long as he remembers. Not like he’s inherited any of said bravery.

Ravio guesses that the two are friends. As much as they can be.

“Ravio?” Hilda asks. “What’s the matter?”

“I, uh…” Ravio finds himself unable to find words suddenly, not sure how to describe what’s been happening to him. Hilda huffs, standing up and putting her book away.

“Anything to get out of studying, I suppose.”

Ravio makes an awkward laugh. Hilda lightly hits him on the back of the head.

“What was that for!?” Ravio cries.

“Well, speak up! What’s bothering you!”

Ravio groans, finally giving up and moving his sleeve back. He shows Hilda the original scar, wincing as he looks at it again.

“That’s all?” She scoffs.

“What! I-I didn’t make this scar!”

“Then your soulmate did,” Hilda shrugs, turning away. She starts walking back over to her book again, seemingly giving up on the idea of having something better to do.

“Wait, what!?” Ravio cries. Hilda stops.

“You don’t know?” She asks. “I was joking, but…”

“No! I don’t know! What do you mean, soulmate!?”

Hilda is walking over to a different bookshelf, now. She picks up one, blows off the dust, and hands to to Ravio. It’s heavy. He almost drops it. She glares at him.

“What is this?” He asks.

“Old folk tales, from before our Triforce went out.” At these words, Ravio’s eyes widen.

“A-are you sure I should-”

“Oh, Ravio, it’s not like you’ll break it! You couldn’t hurt anything if you tried!”

Ravio grins sheepishly. “You’re right, haha...”

Hilda rolls her eyes. She gestures to an empty spot at her table, and Ravio places down the book. Hilda directs him through the pages to a certain chapter.

“Soulmates,” Ravio reads. “...Why am I reading this, again?”

Hilda sighs. “I’d guess it’s the cause of your scars. People used to really invest themselves into finding their soulmate through them.”

Ravio’s reading, only semi-paying attention to her. The book tells of the connection between soulmates, two people who are fated to care for each other. For romantic soulmates, this bond stretches beyond just the soul, connecting the two by body as well. The scarring that appears on one’s skin will also appear on the skin of their soulmate, and vice versa.

Ravio’s eyes furrow. “Does this still happen?”

Hilda sighs. “I’m honestly not sure. Since the destruction of the Triforce, it’s been so messy here,” her voice quiets, “...and everyone has horrid scars at this point.”

“So I’m bound to someone reckless, huh.” Ravio’s eyes trail across his skin, a bit intrigued. But also, he’s 12, and it’s not really the most important thing to him right now.

“I’d assume so.”

“Hm.” Ravio closes the book. “Well… thanks. I don’t have to worry about that now, I guess.”

“Good,” Hilda laughs, “You worry too much.”

And for the next 7 years, Ravio doesn’t worry about it. In fact, he nearly forgets about it entirely. He only remembers because every year or so, new scars appear on his body, and he wonders just how reckless this person was. No Lorulian in their right mind would throw themselves into so much danger time and time again.

The worst one is also the largest one, a gash from the bottom of his wrist to the inside of his elbow. Seriously, what in the Goddess’ good name was this guy thinking!? Ravio grumbles to himself, covers himself with his robe, and prays that nobody who sees his skin will think he’s some hotshot hero willing to adventure. Which might be an irrational thought, but someone did ask him if he was once. He can never be too careful.

He’s also never found the guy. It wouldn’t be surprising if he’d passed by them without noticing, but at the same time, he could easily recognize these scars they shared. 

Other things preoccupy Ravio. His duty to the crown, his side job of renting items out. Combined, he makes decent money, by Lorule’s standards. Enough to get food on the table. Most of the time. He tries not to overthink it.

More importantly, things have felt… off, for the past year or so. Soon after coming of age and officially becoming Lorule’s queen, Hilda has begun to have more meetings with the wizard Yuga. Ravio tries not to notice, not to pry, but he can tell something is happening soon.

Now 19 himself, Ravio has more duties as well, but nothing that particularly overwhelms him. He keeps up his business fine and well. He’s learned how to hide behind a silver tongue and con people when he needs to. He’s still a coward at heart.

For his 18th birthday, Hilda had gifted him a baby bird, a child of one living near the castle. Ravio named him Sheerow. It’s good to have company.

Hilda and him are like siblings, now. He trusts her completely.

That’s why he doesn’t expect what’s coming when she invites him in for a meeting with herself and Yuga.

“The Triforce!?” Ravio squawks, taken aback. “This place you found has it!?”

“They have their own,” Hilda clarifies. “With it, we can finally restore peace here.”

“B-But,” Ravio stutters, “How would we get it? Would they be willing to help?”

Yuga laughs.

“Your naïvete amuses me,” he says. “We simply take it from them. With the three pieces their holders keep, Lorule shall have the power we need!”

Ravio looks at Yuga… and he can tell. Right away, he notices the glint in Yuga’s eye, the crookedness of his smile, the emphasis he puts on “power”... he’s used this before, to snag extra rupees. Yuga is being dishonest to the queen.

Ravio immediately turns to Hilda. “This is a mistake,” he says, voice unwavering. “To cause the downfall of another kingdom… that is no way to use the Triforce’s power!”

“Ravio-”

“Boy,” Yuga cuts Hilda off, “I advice you to fully hear her plans before you speak.”

Ravio makes a half-glare at Yuga, heart beating out of his chest. He cannot let this happen - his duty to the kingdom, to his sister!-

“Ravio,” Hilda begins again. “I called you here because we need a third wielder.”

He raises his eyebrows.

“When the Triforce is together, each piece is held by a mortal who protects it. As Queen, I’m to hold Wisdom, and Yuga has offered to hold Power. Ravio… even if you might not believe it, you are a smart and strong protector… I humbly request you to hold Courage.”

“Courage!?” Ravio laughs. Oh, the irony.

“The Triforce will amplify your own,” Hilda defends. “The removal of our own Triforce removed the virtues of its holders, as well. The princess lost her wisdom, the wizard lost his power, and the hero… lost his courage.”

Ravio stops laughing.

“I’m not a hero,” he tries, firm, but Hilda shakes her head.

“I know you’re not,” she says. “But… something just tells me that this piece is for you.”

Hilda has never been the smartest person Ravio has known. She’d fall for Ravio’s easiest schemes, if he dared to ever use them on the Queen herself. She hated her studies, always tried to find excuses to get away. But she had a courageous heart. He knows she’s only accepting this idea because she genuinely believes it will benefit Lorule.

Yuga, on the other hand, Ravio doesn’t know. He can only see the power he lacks, and the power he thirsts for. Ravio does not trust him one bit.

And Ravio… well, of course, he’s a coward, through and through. But he likes to believe he’s developed some smarts with the time he’s spent learning how people think. That’s the beauty of being a salesman.

Maybe the piece does belong to him, and his lack of courage is a curse from ancestors long ago who only wanted to do something right.

For now, he doesn’t entertain the thought further. Regardless if he’s the holder of Courage or not, if he takes his spot, he will ruin another’s life. He can’t do that.

Ravio makes a decision.

3 Days to Go

She wants to do the right thing.

I wish I could help her.

But leaving is my only option.

“All I’m asking of you is to go with me and Yuga through the crack,” Hilda says. She pours Ravio tea. He doesn’t drink any.

“Princess, I-”

“Please, Ravio, I know your magic is enough to get us there.”

2 Days to Go

She's being duped. Doesn't she realize that? 

He's just a leech.

There's no choice but to go.

Ravio is hyper-aware of everything Yuga does.

He notices the way he talks, the way he moves, the way he’s condescending towards Hilda. He acts like he already owns the place.

He wishes Hilda would notice. He wishes that she believed him when he told her not to trust Yuga.

“You’re worrying too much again. Everything will be fine soon.”

Ravio starts packing his bags.

1 Day to Go

I have so little magic. Enough to go there - maybe not to come back.

But tomorrow must be the day.

I may never see her again, but I vow to save her from all of this.

Ravio is terrified.

His home is in disarray, his things thrown everywhere, what he needs barely fitting into his bag. He closes his diary. He looks at the bracelet in his hand. He thinks about the outside, the crumbles of a kingdom that he calls home.

Ravio is a coward. He has always been, he will always be. Even now, he’s running away from home, with the hope that he’ll find someone to save him.

But Ravio is also a loyal servant of the Lorulian crown. He has sworn an oath to protect his Queen, protect his kingdom, until his very last breath. He loves his sister. He truly wants to help her. To help everyone.

This is the only way he knows how to.

The next morning, Ravio does not appear when Hilda comes to collect him. She looks around the empty house. He is gone. He has run away.

Ravio has always been a coward.

She will have to do this herself.

Hyrule is bright, lighter than anything Ravio has ever seen. It’s pretty, in its own way, but damn it hurts his eyes.

He quickly flees the castle he’s landed in, thankfully leaving unnoticed by any guards. He wanders aimlessly a bit. The layout of Hyrule is identical to Lorule’s, except that it’s far more peaceful. Ravio can hardly believe it.

Ravio also quickly notices the faces around him are variations of ones he already knows. Lorule and Hyrule are mirrors of each other, he concludes. Thankfully, nobody seems to pay him any mind. His hood and robe cover his face well enough, and he isn’t mistaken for whoever his counterpart here might be.

He only as an inkling of where to start. The castle will likely be where Hilda and Yuga target. So on the off chance that his counterpart would also be a Triforce wielder, on the off chance that Hilda was right about Ravio being one, he decides to head in the direction of his house.

If that doesn’t work, then maybe he could go to Hyrule’s equivalent of Thieves' Town, and ask for anyone hero-like there.

Ravio spots two figures leaving his house (his other’s house?), but he’s not close enough to make them out well. They leave for the blacksmith pretty quickly, and Ravio follows. One emerges back out with something wrapped in cloth. He runs down the path, and Ravio dives behind a rock so he isn’t seen. An old habit.

Through the leaves, it’s still hard to see the boy, but he notices that his hairstyle looks like a longer version of Ravio’s own. It’s blonde with some hints of pink growing in at the roots. He can’t see his face until he gets closer.

And Ravio instantly recognizes him.

Of course, this was his Hyrulean counterpart - no surprise there, that’s who he was looking for - but his scars. One on his neck that appeared on Ravio’s two years ago. Another from his chin to the bottom of his cheek, one he could tell was recent, was recent on Ravio’s face too. He found him? The other with - with the scars - his soulmate - but -

The boy disappears before Ravio can finish processing, and he finds himself running after him, Sheerow chirping angrily at Ravio’s sudden sprint. He follows him to the Sanctuary, watches him unsheath the sword and run into danger like it’s nothing. Goddess, he was the hero, too. Of course he was!

Ravio sits and waits for a while. Dampé leaves, mutters something about reporting this to the castle. The boy doesn’t come back.

His soulmate, a Hylian. That’d explain him not meeting him before, huh.

…The sharing scars thing could just be because they’re counterparts or something.

That’s a lie. He’s seen the Hylians, very much unmarked compared to the Lolians he knows.

Okay. His soulmate. A Hylian. His counterpart. A hero.

Oh, why in Lolia was this happening now!? He doesn’t have time to stress over this! He has the fate of two fucking kingdoms resting on his shoulders, and he’s sitting here overthinking over finding some soulmate! He’s better than this!

Think, Ravio, think. Okay. He found his hero. Who really should be coming out soon, it’s been a while… regardless. He can send him off to help and save the kingdoms! And… figure out a way to help, somehow. He has weapons. He needs money (he always needs money). He could put up the front of a merchant, because that wasn’t a total lie. He just needs somewhere to crash, somewhere that’s close to the hero. 

(Not just because the hero is his soulmate. Sure, he’d love to learn more about him, seeing that their literal souls are bound together, but the safety of the kingdoms is more important.)

The door bursts open, and Ravio scampers into hiding again.

The person who leaves is not the hero, like Ravio was expecting.

It’s Yuga.

No!

He’s too late! Yuga is here, and the hero isn’t, and he took the Triforce of Courage, and next he’ll be after the other two Triforce pieces and Ravio won’t be able to do anything and he’s doomed-

Sheerow bonks against Ravio’s head, breaking him out of his spiral. His tiny companion is good at that. Ravio takes a deep breath and starts petting Sheerow.

Rationalize this, Ravio. Yuga’s never seen Ravio with his hood off, he hopefully wouldn’t recognize the hero’s face… even if he did, Ravio doubted Yuga actually believed he was worthy of the Triforce piece. If Yuga underestimated his counterpart, Ravio might actually be able to do something.

Yuga’s left, and Ravio stands up, trying to ignore his entire body shaking. He creeps through the Sanctuary doors.

His hero is passed out further in the building. The priest is also knocked out cold, laying by the pews. Goddess!

Ravio stumbles over to the hero, awkwardly hoising him up. He’s not one to really admit it, but Ravio is pretty strong with how much he lugs around on the regular. He’s strong enough to be able to move the guy with somewhat ease, carefully bringing him back to his house.

Ravio learns that the hero’s name is Link. He learns that his voice is quiet, but he’s snappy and banters with Ravio with ease. He doesn’t haggle, though, for some reason. And with a closer inspection of his face, Ravio confirms that each and every scar is identical to his own. 

He also learns that this isn’t Link’s first adventure. That’s all. He doesn’t know how many he’s been on, but he knows a rough timeline of how much has happened. Link’s been adventuring since he was 12. Ravio remembers the oldest scar.

He doesn’t tell Link that they’re soulmates. Or that they’re counterparts, and he’s from Lorule. Or that he is desperately trying to save the kingdoms too, but all he can do is rent weapons to the hero and pray he doesn’t die. You could say he’s too much of a coward to say anything about it.

To his credit, Link doesn’t die. Sometimes, Sheerow leaves, and Ravio looks in the mirror to find a new mark on his body. Sheerow returns with the weapons. Link shows up within the next day to rent them again. The cycle repeats.

The first time it happened, Ravio was worried. Actually, he was terrified, but what else is new? But Link came back, only grunted when Ravio asked what happened, picked up more weapons, and left.

Yeah, they aren’t that close.

Ravio muses that it can’t be helped, with Link’s combined effort of not appearing often and being a bitch when he does. Something in Ravio finds it endearing. He tries not to let it surface.

Link doesn’t talk much about himself, but Ravio still learns things. He learns, first and foremost, that Link is a hoarder. That doesn’t come from Link himself, but Ravio can’t help but snoop just a little. Link has chests upon chests that simply reek of magic. Most of them are full of rings. And if Ravio sells a few duplicates to other people who show up at the shop, then he blames it on his Lorulean upbringing.

Link has some other things that interest him, too. He owns many instruments, for example. Mostly ocarinas. A colorful harp-like thing. There’s eight instruments that hang in a circle on the wall, each looking unique. He asks Link about them once, and he pales. He murmurs something about them being remakes. Ravio doesn’t press it further.

There’s a beautiful apple orchard outside his house, and Ravio finds himself learning how to bake in his spare time. He even occasionally convinces Link to stay with him for dinner.

“There’s a scar on your wrist,” Link comments one night. Ravio freezes, fork in his mouth.

Link’s referring to Ravio’s worst scar. One of many that actually belongs to Link. Ravio tries to recover, finish his mouthful, but Link’s already noticed.

“Well,” Ravio comes up with, “How do you think I’ve got these weapons?”

From the castle, mostly. The magical things the soldiers find usually end up in Ravio’s hands, one way or another.

Link raises an eyebrow. “I’m not saying it isn’t impressive,” he says, holding up his arm. “I’ve got one similar.”

Ravio looks down Link’s forearm. From the bottom of his wrist to the inside of his elbow. Just like Ravio’s.

“Weird,” he replies, attempting to go back to eating.

Link grabs Ravio’s arm and moves up his sleeve. Ravio squawks. Link just stares at the scar, looking back at his own, matching the two. He sits there a moment.

“Weird,” Link repeats, dropping Ravio’s arm. Ravio tries to ignore how red his face is. They spend the rest of dinner in silence.

The days Link isn’t home start to feel longer.

This is partially because he actually does leave for longer, now. A week, two weeks at a time. He entered Lorule recently. Ravio knows because Link immediately started complaining after his first trip back.

Ironic, isn’t it? Ravio, alone in Hyrule, and Link, alone in Lorule. Ravio doesn’t have the guts to follow him back home. Besides, Link’s the only one with the bracelet now. As it stands, Ravio’s as good as a Hyrulean.

Link comes home one day and doesn’t talk to Ravio.

He throws some rupees on the table and buys a weapon, because somewhere along the line Ravio’s begun to let him do that, and then he walks to the kitchen and starts making himself lunch.

Ravio stands awkwardly, unsure what to do. He pockets the rupees and tries not to watch Link.

Eventually, Link sits with his food, and Ravio is suddenly aware that Link’s staring at him. He turns around and notices the other plate on the table. He made him lunch, too.

Ravio sits down.

Link’s silent throughout the first few minutes, looking like he’s trying to come up with words but unsure how to string them together. Ravio matches him. Link’s food isn’t half bad, he thinks to himself.

“I found an empty house,” Link randomly pipes up. Ravio moves his head to look at Link’s expression. He’s conflicted.

“Yeah?” Ravio asks. “Lots of people abandon theirs.”

Not by choice, of course. They get run over by monsters or others.

“This one was weird,” Link says. “Someone left their journal inside.”

Ravio’s heart stops, but he keeps eating, trying to stay nonchalant. 3 days to go.

“That’s stupid of them.”

“It had your hood on it.” 2 days to go.

Ravio drew in a breath. “Maybe my counterpart wears a hood, too.”

“Are you from Hyrule, Ravio?”

1 day to go.

“Am I?” Ravio looks at Link dead in the eye, though the other can’t see through his hood. “We both keep our own secrets, Mister Hero.”

Link presses his lips together. Ravio doesn’t move, challenging him to press further.

“...Ravio, why have my rings started disappearing?” Link backs down. Ravio grins.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

A month later, Link spends a day at home. He shows up dirty and bloody after a particularly hard dungeon, stumbles into the house late after Ravio’s fallen asleep, and he’s out by morning. Ravio only can tell he’s been there because he left some of his things behind. Nothing much, just some armor, a bag with materials, his shield. He doesn’t leave his sword.

Ravio decides not to open the shop. Link comes home a few hours later to see Ravio picking apples.

“Mister Hero!” Ravio calls, cheerful when he sees him. Link only raises an eyebrow and walks over to him.

“You gonna charge me for my apples, too?” Link asks, but Ravio brushes him off.

“Shop’s closed today. I thought I’d help around the house.”

“I haven’t picked apples from this orchard for years.” Link’s voice is more of a mumble, more to himself, but Ravio picks it up.

“Hm, why?” He jumps for an apple he can’t quite reach. Link scoffs. He walks indoors for a second, Ravio hearing shuffling, and comes back outside holding a step-stool.

“Try this,” Link says. Ravio accepts the stool, but his mind dwells on the minute before.

“You didn’t answer my question.” Ravio stands on the stool and successfully picks the apple. He starts getting the higher ones, Link reaching over to help safely put them in a basket. Link’s looking away from him.

“You don’t answer any of mine,” Link shoots back, curt.

“Fine, then. An answer for an answer?”

Link ponders for a second. “I have more than one question about you.”

“You only get to ask one, Mister Hero.”

“When’d you come to Hyrule?”

“The day I met you.” Ravio’s immediate, honest response visibly surprised Link.

“Then who’s your Hylian-” Link’s cut off by Ravio pressing his finger to Link’s lips.

“One,” He reminds him, pulling his hand back. Link’s ears are light pink, but he gives Ravio a nasty stare all the same. “My turn. When did you stop picking these apples?”

“When my uncle died.” Link turns away, placing down the basket. His face is clenched up, like he’s suddenly trapped. Ravio finds himself falling silent. He’d gotten a bit carried away.

…

“I’m going inside,” Link mumbles. Ravio lets him.

Eventually, Ravio gets tired of picking apples. The orchard feels endless and it’s been at least another hour. His basket is full. Ravio comes back inside, placing the basket in the kitchen, and his eyes wander over to Link.

Link’s holding a plant. It looks like red hibiscus. Ravio’s not quite sure where Link got it from, assuming the market, seeing how fresh it was. Unless Link had placed a stasis charm on it, that is.

“Pretty flower,” Ravio comments. Link doesn’t look up. Ravio looks back, and he notices that Link is curled up into the wall, and that there are the beginnings of tears sitting in his eyes.

“Link!” Ravio finds his voice raised in worry. He rushes over to the boy, wrapping his arm around Link’s back. Link draws in a shaky breath, subconsciously leaning into Ravio’s touch. And Ravio can’t help but feel distress for him.

“Sorry,” Link mumbles. “‘M fine.”

“You idiot,” Ravio sighs, holding Link. “Let yourself cry.”

Link draws in a shaky breath. “I can’t. I have to go… I have to save…” His voice keeps trailing off.

“Lorule won’t explode if you take a moment for yourself,” Ravio tries. He’s been taking enough moments for himself over the past almost-year, and nothing has died on a massive scale yet.

Link sniffs. Ravio sits with him, lets him sob it out. Eventually, Link speaks up again, his voice in a wobble.

“I hadn’t been home for a full year before this started.”

Ravio doesn’t know why Link decides to trust him. Link’s words breaks his heart regardless, because he understands. Maybe he hasn’t been on those adventures himself, but he’s seen those scars. He’s seeing those scars again, now - the mental ones.

“I’m sorry,” Ravio murmurs. “It’s not fair. You deserve better.” He means it.

Link makes a small, unamused laugh. “Life’s never fucking fair. I learned that on my first adventure.”

“When you were twelve?” Ravio’s words are more to himself than to Link, but he thinks them out loud. Of course, Ravio had learned that when he was 12, too. Childhood is something almost unheard of in Lorule. But in Hyrule, too, perfect and golden? Their hero suffering so much? Sure, Ravio could see that Hyrule wasn’t perfect. And he have been stupid to put Hyrule on such a pedestal. But part of him just can’t believe it… yet at the same time, it makes so much sense.

He hates it. He hates that Link has experienced so much pain. He hates that they’re both 19, and yet so much has happened to them. He hates that he can’t do anything more to help.

“How do you know that?”

Link is staring up at Ravio. He’s been so lost in thought that he hasn’t noticed the grief on Link’s face melting away to confusion, to realization, to accusation, to a mix of all three.

“How do you know I was 12?”

“I-I…” And Ravio’s silver tongue fails him.

Link takes Ravio’s hand again, like he did during that dinner, and he holds it up to his own. He pushes back Ravio’s sleeve. He looks at the scars.

“I knew it,” Link breathes. Ravio stutters. Link looks up at him. “You’re my…”

Soulmate? Counterpart? He has no idea what Link just figured out.

Link shakes a blush off his face and stands up. He moves over to his items, putting things back on. He grabs a few rupees and tosses them at Ravio. Ravio’s so flabbergasted, so frozen, he barely recognizes that they’re there.

When Ravio says nothing, Link picks up the only weapon Ravio hasn’t sold him yet. “For this.”

Ravio looks at the rupees, then back at Link. If it was any other day, he would have exclaimed Link hadn’t given him hardly enough money, bother him until he gets at least a hundred more. Instead, he stares.

“That’s the last of my stock,” Ravio says dumbly. Link rolls his eyes.

“I guess you’re retired, then.” Link pockets the weapon, finishes pulling everything back on.

“Hey-” Ravio’s brain catches up to him, and he scrambles to his feet. “Where are you going?”

“Lorule,” Link replies. Ravio tries not to make a sound of alarm, because something in him suddenly screams that he doesn’t want Link to be in danger.

“Link-” Ravio cuts himself off. Link stands in the doorway, stopping as he’s about to step through.

“What?” He asks.

“...Stay safe,” Ravio whispers. Link’s face softens, and he nods.

And he’s gone.

Link does not return for a month.

Ravio is used to this. Link usually only shows up a few times a month. Maybe once a month, he stays longer than five minutes. It’s why they’ve only had these little interactions in between dungeons, even though Ravio lives in his house. Their dynamic is mostly Link coming by for a few minutes to buy something. 

There’s nothing left to buy. No excuse to come back to him. And fuck, it hurts.

Ravio thinks he’s in love with him.

It takes a while to admit that to himself. It’s two weeks after Link’s departure when he starts to consider it.

And Ravio knows how to wait, he’s been waiting for a Goddess-forsaken year, knowing that Link is his soulmate, his hero, and only getting glimpses of him. But it’s different now, because instead of his thoughts sitting idly on the shop or the orchard or on Hyrule, he’s only been able to think about Link.

It surprises Ravio that he was surprised when he realized that Link is traumatized. Because of course he is. You don’t go on however-many adventures without seeing things. He guesses he was putting Link on too much of a pedestal before. Perfect Mister Hero. But now, with that little bit of trust, seeing Link for who he is, even a fraction of it - it means so much more. He’s Link. Link, Ravio’s soulmate.

Ravio will never, ever, tell him. Unless Link figures it out himself, which he might have already. Ravio ponders on what Link meant when he said “you’re my”. He still has no idea. Maybe he saw the scars and realized Ravio and him are counterparts, like what Ravio briefly attributed the scars to. Or maybe…

Ravio shakes off the thought. He’s being hopeful, maybe too hopeful for his own good. He’s a servant to the Loruleian crown, for Goddess' sake, and that’s why he’s here.

He tries to think about that. He thinks about Link instead.

When Link returns, it’s brief, and it’s with an air of finality that frightens Ravio.

“You’re back,” Ravio breathes. Link stands in the doorway, looking at him. 

“For tonight,” Link confirms. Ravio feels both relief and dread.

“Would you like dinner?”

Link nods.

Ravio’s aware of the awkwardness at the table. They both eat in silence, but there’s something radiating off of Link, something Ravio can’t quite decipher. Ravio can’t take it. Eventually, Link can’t either, because he opens his mouth.

“I’m going to fight Yuga tomorrow,” Link murmurs. Ravio freezes. Right. Yeah. That’s what he found Link to do in the first place.

“Good luck,” Ravio barely gets out. 

There’s silence a bit longer. Ravio’s thoughts crash into him, spiraling into a madness of what ifs. He ends up staring at his food, fork in his hand.

“How do you do it?” Ravio asks.

“Hm?” Link looks up.

“How do you keep fighting? How do you stay unafraid? I… don’t get it.”

And Link laughs. And he stops laughing, and there’s a serious expression on his face.

“Ravio… I’m fucking terrified. Why do you think I’m here instead of camping outside the castle?”

Oh.

“If I could drop this sword, if I could never be a hero again, if I could breathe without worrying about something attacking me… I would want to. I do want to. So badly.”

“Oh.”

Link looks at his hand, at the glowing triforce piece that now sits there. That’s new.

“Courage… isn’t not being afraid,” he says. “It’s fighting despite it.”

Ravio nods. He is the stupidest person to ever disgrace Lorule.

“...One more thing, Ravio.”

Ravio looks up at Link through his hood. “Hm?”

“You… I… just in case. I don’t know how much longer the connection will stay open. Between Hyrule and Lorule.”

Ravio nods. “Thank you.”

Link gives a short nod. “Mhm.”

The next day, Link leaves early, but Ravio wakes up to send him off. As soon as he knows Link is gone, he starts packing up his shop.

He has to be quick. He doesn’t know how long Link will spend in Lorule Castle before meeting Yuga and likely Hilda. He throws things together, takes down his signs, packs his bag. Sheerow flutters around him, curious, but doesn’t get in his way. 

Ravio’s first step into bravery is when he runs past monsters to retrieve his signs. It’s nothing unlike how he got the signs up in the first place. But, he tells himself that was courage, and he feels better about himself.

It takes some wrangling with magical artifacts, but Ravio makes it back to Lorule, and it’s a punch in the gut to see everything again. To smell the slightly acidic air, to see the dead grass, to be hit with that sense of dread that even the land seems to hold. He’s home.

Ravio stumbles through the castle. It’s completely foreign to him, having been remade into a dungeon. Thankfully, he only has to outrun monsters and chase through the halls, as Link has taken apart everything in sight.

“But that’s…!”

He hears voices from the throne room. The door is locked - shit - he looks over at the wall and starts to climb without thinking.

“This isn’t over! I must have it!” That’s Hilda’s voice…!

Ravio peaks into the room, spotting Link by the wall. Behind him is a blonde woman, definitely Queen Zelda, and in front is Hilda. Hilda! She takes a threatening step towards the others. Ravio takes a breath, and like he’s practiced, he throws caution to the wind.

“Please! This has to stop!”

Ravio leaps into the room, hitting the ground hard, hearing rupees spill out of his bag. Ow. He quickly gathers his surroundings and jumps back up, facing Link.

…Now or never. Courage… isn’t being afraid. It’s fighting despite it. Goddess, that phrase sounded kind of childish, but he needed it.

Ravio throws back his bunny hood, looking Link dead in the eyes. His expression changes to genuine shock. Oh. Then… Link hadn’t known they were counterparts, that means he knew about them being-

“Who-?” Zelda’s voice brings Ravio’s mind back, and he focuses. He takes a deep breath.

Ravio pleads to Hilda, tries to convince her to let Hyrule’s Triforce go. He rambles a bit, but he forces himself on track, even snapping at her at one point. He just needs her to realize. Please, he needs her to realize. 

Ravio is a coward at heart. But he is also cunning and smart, and that gift of quip is somehow enough. Hilda relents. She brings them all to Lorule’s sacred realm, and Ravio is so relieved. But he also, very suddenly, realizes he won’t see Link again. 

He watches Link give Hilda his bracelet, and suddenly finds himself moving. Hilda steps forward and begins to use the bracelet’s magic, and Ravio grabs Link’s hands. Link looks up at him in minor shock.

“I…” Ravio says. He looks at their identical scars. Link notices.

“Soulmate marks,” Link breathes. He knew. He knew.

Ravio loses all sense and presses his lips to Link’s.

Link makes a noise of surprise against Ravio, and Ravio almost pulls back, doubts himself, but Link places his hands on Ravio’s cheeks and pulls him in closer. And oh, he needed this. Ravio and Link hold each other until they’re out of breath. Ravio pants when he finally pulls away, staring into Link’s eyes and cherishing the blush that runs from his cheeks to his ears.

“You knew,” Ravio’s so quiet, he’s sure only Link can hear. Link nods.

“Yeah,” Link replies, equally as quiet. “I always… wondered, how my soulmate would look with all my scars. Worried. But. You look good.”

Ravio’s tempted to laugh. To think what defeats Link, the Hero of Legend, is a simple compliment. But he’s blushing too hard, and Link’s face is so close, so he just kisses Link again.

“I think your courage rubbed off on me,” Ravio jokes as they pull apart again. Link rolls his eyes.

“You were always courageous, Rav. Just believe it.” And he does.

A cough brings them out of their reverie. Ravio looks up to see Hilda and Zelda staring at them. Oops.

Ravio turns back to Link. Just a second longer. “I’ll find any way to connect us again,” Ravio promises.

Link’s face changes. “If it jeopardizes the safety of our countries-”

“We’ll find a way, Link,” Zelda cuts in with a smile. “We’ll be safe.”

Hilda nods. “A soulmate bond is… precious.” Ravio can tell the emotion behind her voice, even if she makes a good front of hiding it. He smiles at her.

“Thank you,” Ravio says. He looks at Link. “It’ll be okay.”

Link nods, but it looks so small. He’s lost people before, Ravio can tell. He will fight so hard to get Link back.

Ravio gives Link one more kiss. He tries to tell Link with his eyes, This just started. It won’t end yet. Link gets the message.

Hilda places her hands together. Ravio watches Link and Zelda become paintings, fly into the crack, and they are gone. He stares, open-mouthed, as the golden light fades to nothing. The bracelet fades as well.

It’s quiet.

“...I’m sorry,” Hilda’s voice wobbles. “I’m sorry.”

Ravio turns to his sister, takes her hand, and pulls her into a hug. “It’s okay.”

She chokes a sob into his shoulder, and he continues to hold her, whispering comforting words. He feels numb. He’s gotten everything and lost everything today, and he has no idea when or if he’ll see Link again. He saved Lorule and lost Hyrule. He gained Hilda back but lost Link.

The ground begins to shake.

Ravio’s grip on Hilda becomes a protective hold, and he looks up to make sure no pillars are falling on each other. He has no idea what’s happening, and looking at Hilda, he can tell she doesn’t either. Ravio trips over and falls on the ground, letting go of Hilda before she falls as well.

He watches the crack of golden light reemerge, bigger, growing until the entire stone explodes. Hilda throws her hands in front of her face. Ravio is knocked to a laying down position. Sheerow dances over him, making sure he’s alright.

As he sits up, he witnesses something beautiful.

Through the rubble, black triangles form, connecting to each other. Slowly, they turn gold. Ravio hears Hilda gasp, feels the shock through his body, and he realizes what Link and Zelda have done.

The Triforce floats in front of them.

Is he dreaming?

Hilda begins to weep, sobbing out small prayers and thanks. Ravio looks over to her, too astonished to say anything. He realizes he’s shaking, and he tries to get up, but his legs are wobbling. He leans onto Hilda, and she grabs him again, crying into his shoulder.

“I can’t believe it,” She sniffs. “After everything…”

Tears flow down Ravio’s cheeks. “I can’t either.”

They say patience is a virtue. Ravio knows patience. At least, he knows waiting. But this is killing him.

The first few weeks that follow are a mess. Ravio and Hilda use their wish to restore Lorule. The architecture, the nature, the wildlife, as much as they can with pure magic. With that done, Hilda greets her kingdom and officially declares the return of the Triforce’s protection. What follows is a lot of politics, meetings with nobles, and restoration efforts.

Ravio doesn’t get to think during any of this, too busy being a public figure. He’s a Triforce holder now.

Yeah, that happened. He got the Triforce of Wisdom. Which surprised him, and didn’t at the same time. Hilda got the Triforce of Courage. Yuga is dead.

He wishes he could tell Link about it.

Hilda and Ravio haven’t been able to find anything yet, nothing to help them connect with Hyrule. Ravio hates it, worries about it, but there’s nothing he can do. He and Link had just started to have something more when Link had to leave. He needed more with Link so badly.

It’s been another few months, and Ravio is 20. He wakes up with a scar on his palm, almost like a burn mark. It’s the first scar he’s seen since Link left.

Link is alive.

Well - of course he’s alive. Ravio is irrational and frets over literally nothing, and he didn’t genuinely think Link was dead. But it’s comforting nonetheless. Link is alive and still getting into trouble, as always.

Ravio doesn’t think much of it. Maybe Link’s picked up a job, and got hurt at work? Ravio remembered something about a blacksmithing apprenticeship, some off-hand comment from Link about having to drop it for his adventure. 

Maybe he’s trapped in another adventure and didn’t get to rest for long.

Ravio decides to stop thinking.

He gets dressed for the day, heads to the castle. He’s ditched the bunny hood after the restoration of Lorule’s triforce, but he keeps it at home as a memento. That was his protection during dark times. The rabbit.

Ravio still keeps the scarf, though, even though it looks awkward with his new and slightly more formal uniform. Sheerow likes to bury himself in it and use it as a nest, and always complains when Ravio takes it off. So the scarf stays.

The castle is a mess when he gets there, more so than it usually is. It’s been transformed back into its previous state, thanks to Ravio and Hilda’s wish on the Triforce. There’s still a constant clutter of people running around to do things or go places. But today, a guard immediately runs up to Ravio, like something just happened.

“Sir!” The guard states. Ravio internally cringes. Despite his protests, Hilda knighted him for formalities. He has no actual role as a knight of Lorule, yet the soldiers always use formal titles when referring to him. Officially, he’s Hilda’s royal advisor. Lolia knows she needs one.

“What is it?” Ravio asks, glancing around. He notices the relief on the guard’s face that he’s here. “Did something happen?”

“Queen Hilda requests your presence immediately,” the guard replies, “For important kingdoms affairs.”

Kingdoms? With an S?

“Take me to her,” Ravio says, his heart rate rising.

Hilda is pacing around the throne room, glancing between the wall and out the hallway. She sighs in relief when Ravio arrives.

Ravio spots it immediately. A small crack in the wall, a glimmer of light.

He thinks back to the burn scar on his palm.

“Can you get through?” Ravio asks, shaky. Hilda shakes her head, but she takes his hand and guides him over to the wall.

“I briefly heard Zelda’s voice coming from the crack,” she says, her voice nearly at a whisper. “I think she and Link are trying to reopen the connection.”

Ravio nods. “Yes. They have to be.” He lifts up his hand, shows Hilda the scar.

“That’s where your Triforce piece is!” Hilda exclaims. “Do you think… they were trying to use their own?”

“It’s worth a try,” Ravio nods. “Neither us or them have Power, though. Maybe that’s why they can’t open it…”

Hilda has already run forward, placing her hand on the crack. She motions for Ravio to do the same, and he obliges.

Ravio takes a deep breath and tries to concentrate his power into the crack. He feels Hilda doing the same, the Triforce connecting. There’s a long, powerful silence, then-

Boom!

Ravio feels a burning sensation on his hand. He jumps back, clutching it close and grunting in pain. Hilda’s glove falls to the floor, she threw it.

“Shit,” the queen murmurs to herself, looking at her own burnt hand.

It’s not too bad, and it heals unnaturally quickly, faster than a red potion would do the job. Soon, the pain is only lingering, and Ravio looks up.

The crack has doubled in size, large enough for them to slip through even without being in painting form. Ravio can’t believe it. He looks at Hilda, and she’s smiling wide.

“We should mention this to someone before we disappear,” Ravio muses.

“We should,” Hilda agrees.

Hilda takes Ravio’s hand and they walk through together without telling anyone.

On other side, it’s just as bright as Ravio remembers. Even in Hyrule Castle, the world is cheery and beautiful, not unlike what Lorule is slowly becoming. But even better, he’s faced with two people who seem to have been waiting for him and Hilda.

“Link,” Ravio breathes, staring at his hero. Link’s face shows a kind of relief that Ravio can’t put into words.

“Ravio,” Link responds, and he’s unable to say anything else before Ravio grabs him and kisses him.

Ravio’s new job is to be a foreign diplomat, keeping up with affairs relating Lorule with outside kingdoms. This is a fancy title for “you get to live with Link”.

When everything was finally worked out and Ravio comes home with Link as a roommate-slash-boyfriend, the first thing they do is compare scars. Ravio comments on when he first found them, his reactions to certain ones, his thoughts on who his soulmate might be. Link confides that he was worried his soulmate would hate the scars. Ravio says he loves them. Link kisses him. Ravio kisses him back, then kisses his cheek scar, then his neck scar, and then down much, much further. Link holds him close, unsure what else to do with himself, and Ravio tells him to keep sitting pretty. Link obliges.

The pair learn a domestic routine that’s foreign to both of them, but Ravio loves. He can tell Link loves it too, through his small gestures and occasional gifts. Oh, the gifts. Little pastries made with Link’s own apples, trinkets he finds in Kakariko, rings with protection charms on them. Each makes Ravio feel so warm inside, loved in a way he never knew before.

Link starts picking apples in the orchard again. He harvests them over several days, Ravio coming out to help, and the autumn leaves look so beautiful falling by Link’s hair. Ravio wishes he could paint.

It’s afternoon, the first time Link sits up to go to the orchard. Ravio’s about to start dinner but can’t find him, until he sees him outside.

Link, his hero, clumsily standing on the step-stool outside, hair and tunic gently blowing in the autumn breeze. Ravio only watches for a few minutes, enchanted by how simple and lovely the scene is.

He steps outside slowly, not wanting to disturb Link, but the other hears Ravio’s footsteps crunching the leaves. Link smiles.

Ravio starts picking a few apples and putting them in the crate. Link continues doing the same, not letting Ravio’s entrance stall him for long. They fall into a comfortable silence, only interrupted by Ravio’s inability to resist a certain apple and eating it instead of putting it in the basket.

“If you keep doing that, we’ll have none to use,” Link lightly chastises, teasing more than anything else. Ravio grins.

“Can I buy it off you, then?” He jokes.

“For 400 rupees, at the bare minimum.” Link snorts when Ravio fakes a distressed look, placing his hand on his forehead and leaning back.

“Mister Hero!” Ravio gasps. “My prices were not that unreasonable!”

“You wouldn’t swear that under the law of Nayru.”

Ravio huffs, admitting defeat. “Of course I wouldn’t. I’m a conman, not a liar.”

Link laughs, easy and unrestrained. Ravio instantly falls in love with that laugh.

“You said you picked these apples with your uncle?” Ravio asks after a bit, as they’ve fallen back into silence. A murmur of assent comes from Link, and when Ravio turns to him, he’s wearing a small smile of remembrance.

“He made me this stool especially for it,” Link says.

“He did?” Ravio laughs.

“I was, like, 8. I kept begging to help him in the orchard, but I was too short to reach anything. He eventually caved and made me this.”

Ravio smiles. “Your uncle sounds like he was kind.”

“He was.” Link quiets a bit. Ravio looks up, takes Link’s hand, squeezes it.

“I’m glad you started picking apples again,” Ravio says, soft.

“...’ve been neglecting it long enough. Can sell the apples in town. I… missed your pie.”

He can’t help but giggle. “Link… you can just ask me to make it.”

“Can you make it,” Link states.

“Yes, I can,” Ravio says with a smile. “...For 200 rupees.”

Link throws an apple at him. Ravio darts to the side, laughing.

“You-!” But Link’s laughing again, unable to finish his insult. Ravio pulls him off the stool, and they fall to the floor, like they’re idiots in love. They are. Ravio moves his fingers into Link’s hair, who’s still snickering into Ravio’s chest.

He can get used to this. Oh, he can get used to this.

Link, his hero and best customer, the boy who shares every scar with him. His soulmate. His soulmate. And Ravio has him, forever, if he has anything to say about it.

He’s the happiest he’s ever been.

Ravio thinks back to when he first found those scars, when he read about soulmates. Somewhere along the line, a child Link read about Hyrule’s soulmate traditions, too, and nobody had known they matched. Nobody had known that Ravio and Link match.

Ravio wants to talk to that child and smile, tell him to persevere through fear, and that one day he’ll find a golden boy in a golden world. The boy isn’t perfect and he never will be, but he’ll be perfect for that child.

After all, they’re soulmates.

never leave

on ao3

word count: 1k

link and marin dance; link dreams about marin post-link's awakening

i listened to these while writing

This time, it is a hall. A ballroom, vaguely like Hyrule Castle’s, violet curtains lining the windows, tinting the setting sunlight. It’s quiet, ethereal. Link feels this place is familiar, like Zelda will drag him here to sit in a corner as people shake his hands and thank him for what he’s done. He stands, alone, in the empty hall. He breathes in the air, stale yet whimsical. There are no windows open.

It feels vivid, but everything is vivid to him. A byproduct of the Wind Fish’s magic, the inability to tell dream from reality, the two one in the same. Link smoothes his dress shirt. He fumbles with the tag, his name written on it, until it stops scratching his neck. He reaches his hand out, in offering to dance.

She takes it.

Marin stands in front of him. Her dress reaches her ankles in the back, her knees in the front. A red gem sits on her chest, attached to the fabric instead of a chain. Her hair is tied back elegantly, braids connected by a hibiscus, laying behind her. She looks like a noble, a princess, someone Link would meet in this ballroom. Her hand lingers on his, gentle and fragile. Her eyelashes are only shorter than his own.

“Dance with me?” She asks. Her voice dings like a bell. Link nods.

Marin takes the first steps, leading Link in a gentle waltz. He can recognize the tune that begins around them, but the orchestra is nowhere to be seen. Marin’s voice takes up a hum, continuing the ballad. A cello plays a solo, sound powerful as the moon. The sirens join in with it.

She reaches up their hands, holding up her skirt as she guides Link into twirling her. Link stares into her eyes. She looks back, and giggles.

“I never learned how to dance,” she admits, continuing to effortlessly lead the two. “Somehow, it feels natural with you.”

“I have,” Link murmurs. His voice, usually barren and scarred, sounds young in a way it hasn’t been in years. “You dance beautifully.”

Marin giggles again, and lets go to wave her hand at him. “Oh, you!”

Link smiles. He takes Marin’s hands again, this time leading her as they move. With this amount of space, Link feels free to spin her about. Her laughs are chimes, songs of seagulls, the waves. It feels perfect.

Eventually, Link’s hand slides around her waist, holding up her right with his left. They’re closer now, still gazing into each other’s eyes, and Marin’s cheeks are red. Link’s sure his are, too, but he can’t bring himself to care.

They continue the waltz. Marin has the elegance of someone who has done this all her life. 

She spins away from Link, and he catches her hand. They stay. She breathes, huffing a bit, leg and arm still outwards. He breathes too, but he doesn’t feel tired. When he was younger, he wouldn’t have been able to dance this much without taking a break, but over the years he’s learned that breaks are a luxury he can’t always have.

Link pulls Marin back in, then pulls her into a dip, catching her. She looks at him, bats her eyes, and laughs again, charming as always. She reaches up a hand, pulls a stray hair out of his face. She leans into his touch.

“Who taught you how to dance?” She asks.

“My sister,” Link replies. “She didn’t want me to embarrass myself when I went to castle events.”

“Well look at how fancy and royal you are, hero-prince Link!” Marin smiles, lightly teasing him. “I don’t remember you having a sister when you came to Koholint.”

“We didn’t know, then,” Link admits. “We had suspicions, but didn’t talk about it until I arrived home.”

“After I died?” Marin’s voice is innocent, kind. Link doesn’t register his subconscious sounding the alarm, trying to tell him something.

“After you died,” he confirms. She isn’t dead now, she’s in front of him. Why does he feel pain when she talks about it?

Marin leans forward, and Link lets her stand back up. She moves the hair out of his face again.

“I miss your pink hair,” she says. “It was cute.”

Link scoffs, not unkind, and his cheeks warm with embarrassment. “I don’t miss it.”

“Oh, you’ve become such a grump!” Marin’s laughter is like a songbird.

Link rolls his eyes. “It’s been years, Marin, we’ve both changed.”

“You know I haven’t.” Marin flashes her perfect smile.

Link takes Marin back into a dance, and she sings her ballad. It’s in Hylian; Koholint never had a language of its own. They always spoke Hylian, even though they never knew what Hyrule was. He knows the lyrics by heart.

Link is suddenly taken out of the trance Marin’s voice puts him in when she cuts herself off, looking outside. Her face turns worried. She lets go of him, walks to the windows, and peeks outside. A full moon.

“The night is rising,” Marin’s tone is tinged with sadness. “Our time will be up soon.”

“What do you mean?” Link walks to Marin. He places a hand on her shoulder, tries to comfort her. She looks up at him.

“I’ll see you again, Link,” Marin says, a shaky smile forming on her lips. She looks close to tears. “I always wanted to learn how to dance. Thank you.”

Link pulls her close. “Always,” he murmurs.

“Kiss me?” The moon rises further into the sky. The whisps of the room start to break off, the curtains blown away by the suddenly open windows. It’s windy. Marin’s hair flies to Link’s right. He feels the urgency in her voice, wishes this isn’t real.

Link softly, so softly, takes Marin’s cheeks into his calloused hands. He presses his chapped lips to her perfect ones, feels the sea in her breath. Her hands rise to his face, cradling him like he is her. 

He isn’t the one to pull away. Marin’s lips suddenly become a ghost’s, and he opens his eyes, and she is gone. All that is left of the ballroom is this window and the place he is standing on. He looks out the window. An echo of her voice sounds throughout the outside nighttime, singing that haunted song. It rings in his ears like how it did when he first opened his eyes. 

White feathers fly through the air. He reaches out, and though they’re far away, he catches one. A seagull’s.

Link wakes up.

He’s alone. The room is dark. His back aches from sleeping on his old, hard mattress, the one he hasn’t thrown out yet because it was his uncle’s. 

He sits up. He pats his side, checking to make sure his knife is still there, and he checks for the one under his mattress, and the one in his bedside table. Nobody’s been here through the night, or if they were, he’s still armed.

Link moves out of his bed, wiping his eyes and trying not to scowl as hard as he usually does. That one was particularly cruel, even giving him a kiss before taking her away again. He opens the curtains, but only by a crack so he’s not blinded and nobody sees him.

Link moves back to his bed. He reaches in the drawer underneath the one holding his knife, and he grabs something. A dream journal, half its pages damaged with tears or ripping or spilled ink. He moves it to where the light shines through the house, and he picks up his quill.

Tonight, he begins, it was in a ballroom…

god loves you, but not enough to save you

on ao3

word count: 5k

triggers: suicidal thoughts, depression, religion/religious trauma

four times the deities did not answer link's prayers, one time they did; legend character analysis with a focus on him and religion

i.

Link wouldn’t call himself very religious, but he pays his respects to the Golden Three as he should. His uncle taught him his prayers, the nightly ones before bed, the morning ones at breakfast. He told Link, if you’re worried about something, pray to the Goddesses and They will protect you.

And tonight, Link says his prayers as he always does. He sits at the foot of his bed, eyes closed and hands softly curled together, and whispers a thank you to the Three for protecting his family. His uncle is at the table, doing the same, though he won’t be going to bed for a few hours because adults don’t have bedtimes. 

“Mothers Din, Farore, and Nayru,” Link murmurs, eyes closed. “Thank you for more sun today, even though it’s raining now. Uncle and I picked apples but now my arms hurt, and I’m kind of tired of picking them, so could you make it not stop raining tomorrow? Thank you. Um… keep keeping me and my uncle safe, please. Thank you. Goodnight.”

“Are you all done with your prayers, Link?” His uncle smiles from his seat, but he looks tired. Link nods. “Goodnight, then. I’ll be here a while longer. I sense something… off, around here.”

“Goodnight, Uncle!” Link says, unbothered. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

Link turns into his covers. Sleeping can be hard sometimes, usually when he’s excited, but it’s okay tonight. His arms still ache a little bit, so he doesn’t mind resting them. He hopes that, tomorrow, his uncle will bake a pie, and he’ll be able to eat more apples than he’ll pick. Thoughts of fresh apple pie in his mind, Link quickly falls asleep.

Help me…

Please help me…

I am a prisoner in the dungeon of the castle. My name is Zelda.

Link wakens with a start, surprised by the words of the girl in his mind. Trapped in the dungeon? The wizard, Agahnim? What was happening? 

Link opens his eyes and turns towards his uncle, who’s looking at him. It’s so late in the night, now, why is he still awake? Did he hear Zelda’s voice, too?

Just as Link opens his mouth to ask, Uncle starts talking. “Link, I’m going out for a while. I’ll be back by morning. Don’t leave the house.”

Uncle gets up and leaves, and Link is left, stunned. No, his uncle can’t go alone, that’s dangerous… but Link’s just a kid, what can he do? 

Slowly, Link picks himself up and walks to the nearby chest. He takes out the lantern inside. Maybe if he goes after his uncle, he could help? Or his uncle would help him, more likely… but either way, he can’t leave Zelda alone! She needs his help, and he can’t just not help her!

More determined, Link leaves the house. It’s still storming outside. Thunder scares him, but just a little. He’ll be okay! He’s brave, and he’s 12 now, so he’s almost a teenager. That’s practically an adult.

Link sneaks behind the castle and tries not to worry about the guards. They’ve always looked a little scary, but now they look so off. He can’t place why. 

Some intuition of his tells him to move a suspicious plant, and oh! An entrance! Link slips into the dungeon.

Link creeps down the hallway, making sure to be slow in case any guards are nearby. A low moan catches his attention, and he turns his head-

“Uncle!” Link gasps, suddenly breaking into a sprint. His uncle lays against the wall, clutching his stomach. He looks up at Link, and Link notices his face wobble for half a second.

“Link…” Uncle coughs up blood, and Link darts to his side. “Gah…”

“Uncle, are you okay!?” Link panics and tries to help cover the gash with part of his uncle’s clothing. He winces at the blood, trying not to feel queasy.

“I didn’t want you involved in this,” Uncle murmurs. “I told you not to leave the house…”

“I-I had to help!” Link cries, trying to hold his uncle closer. He doesn’t know what to do, he can’t breathe- the Goddesses! He’s scared, so he should pray to the Goddesses!

Link closes his eyes and puts his hands together, like he always does in the mornings and before bed. “Please,” he whispers. “Please- please help Uncle be safe…”

“My boy…” Uncle’s hand weakly trails to Link’s shoulder. Link hiccups. He’s trying to look strong, not to cry, but it’s really hard now.

Then, Uncle surprises him by shoving two items into his hands.

“Take my sword and shield and listen.” Uncle’s voice is serious, and he looks at Link dead in the eye. “You can focus power in the blade… then release it using the secret technique handed down by our people…”

Link doesn’t dare breathe, doesn’t dare say anything. But oh, he wants to cry into his uncle’s arms, wants to curl up into him like he did as a child.

Uncle coughs again, and Link can see that he’s fading. Quietly, he thinks another prayer to himself, desperately hoping this one reaches the Goddesses. He can’t die now… please, don’t let him die! I need him! I need his help!

“Link, you can do it!” Uncle makes a small, sad smile. “Save the princess… Zelda is your…”

“...My?” Link whispers, staring.

“...”

It’s quiet.

Link shakes, like how he would when it got dark in the orchard. His lip wobbles. He stares at Uncle, and Uncle doesn’t stare back.

Slowly, Link reaches over and pushes his eyelids closed. Now… now he looks like he’s sleeping…

The Goddesses…

Uncle always said They would protect Link if he prayed to Them. But… he did, and They didn’t answer. They didn’t… protect Uncle…

Link has to force himself to his feet. He tears his eyes away from Uncle, and he tries to forget about him. He tries to forget about everything, except for Zelda. He needs… he needs to rescue her. He has a sword and shield, he can defend himself with those… he’ll be okay…! He’ll be okay.

Link wipes his tears, and he keeps moving.

-

ii.

The Triforce is waiting for a new owner. Its Golden Power is in your hands… Now, touch It with a wish in your heart.

Blood drips from Link’s lip. He wipes at it, carefully, trying not to spill too much. His leg really hurts from when he tripped fighting Ganon, there’s a long gash through his arm, and he feels a little lightheaded.

The Triforce appears before him, golden and glorious. Link can immediately tell It’s just as beautiful as the legends say. An artifact created by the Goddesses. An artifact he’s to wish on, a prize for defeating Ganon…

Link stumbles, catching himself on the wall. A wish… what would he wish for?

For the past few months, all he’s been doing is working towards saving Hyrule… but now Hyrule is safe, isn’t it? What’s waiting for him at home? His uncle is… dead.

The thought only reminds him of Princess Zelda, now without her father. They both lost their family. Would she have to become Queen, now? All alone? Link doesn’t want that for her, he wants her to be okay. He… he wants to be okay, too.

The soldiers, who attacked him, they didn’t deserve to have their minds warped. The people he’s met who have suffered so much under Ganon’s rule… the people who died…

Link takes a deep breath, a wish coming to his mind. He reaches out, gently placing his palms on the Triforce, and whispers.

“I wish… I wish for Hyrule and its people to be restored. Including the king… and my uncle.”

The Triforce glows with holy light, enveloping the entire room. Link bathes in it.

Link runs up to the castle, dashing through the secret entrance to avoid the guards. Both old habit and the soldiers’ occasional attacks keep him doing this. Plus, Uncle won’t let him carry around swords anymore, though he doesn’t know about the knife Link keeps in his boot. It’s there just in case something strikes at him - which has happened, especially around the castle area. It makes Link feel safer.

Zelda has called for him again, a short, personal message through their telepathic connection. Her father, though revived a mere month ago, has fallen ill. The King of Hyrule is known for falling sick often, but Zelda sounded worried, so Link’s going to be there for her. That’s what friends do, right? Zelda is the only person his age that he really knows, and he wants to comfort her.

Dodging around guards and sneaking up to the chambers, Link carefully slips into Zelda’s father’s room. The King of Hyrule lays on his bed, eyes closed, shakily breathing. Zelda sits by his side. Hearing Link enter, she looks up.

“Link!” Zelda smiles. She looks tired. Link closes the door behind him and rushes over.

“Hi,” Link replies. He pauses, debating if he should bow to the King or not when he’s like this, but Zelda takes his hand before he can decide.

Zelda pulls him into a hug. “Thanks for being here,” she murmurs.

Link doesn’t really know what to say, doesn’t know how to feelings, so he replies, “Yeah.”

“Father isn’t feeling well again,” Zelda pulls back, frowning. “...Worse than his usual cough.”

The King coughs beside her, as if on cue. Link’s eyebrows furrow.

“The Triforce should have made him all better,” he murmurs. “How is he so sick already?”

“I don’t know,” Zelda replies. She moves back to her father, placing her hands on his shoulder. “But he said he wanted to talk to you… something he had to say, in case… something happens to him.”

“Oh,” Link says. Because, oh.

“Father,” Zelda whispers, tapping the King. “Link is here to speak to you.”

The king wheezes, cracking his eyes open and looking at Link. He looks old, older than he usually does. He pushes himself up, reaching out to Link.

“Link, my boy,” The king murmurs, his voice hoarse. He sounds very, very sick. “There is something you must know…”

Link takes off his hat and holds to his chest, walking closer to the king. “Yes, your highness?”

“You are…” He breaks off with another cough, hyacking for a second before continuing. “Link, you are my son…”

“What?” Link blinks. To his side, Zelda gasps.

“I…” The king frowns, eyes moving to Zelda. “You and Zelda… half-siblings… I am sorry, daughter…”

“Father, don’t overexert yourself!” Zelda’s voice is shrouded in worry.

“I-I don’t-” Link stutters, surprised. Half-siblings with Zelda? Wouldn’t that make him…

“You were sent to live with your uncle,” The king starts again. “Your mother’s status… you could not live as a royal.”

Link gapes. Did… did Uncle know about this? He… would have to, wouldn’t he?

“I am… so proud, Link. My… son.” The king smiles, then closes his eyes again, taking a shaky breath.

“I…” Link blinks, and he can find no words.

“Father, wait, don’t sleep yet!” Zelda lightly shakes her (their?) father, panic rising in her voice. “The medic said you should stay awake…”

Link backs up, slowly. His hat falls to the floor. This room, it’s suddenly too small, and he needs to run and get out. Every time he panics, it’s been because something has wanted to attack him, kill him. Link pats around himself until he finds his boot, kicking it against the ground and grabbing his dagger. He holds it close - just for comfort, he needs something to fight with when they come and attack him - but his hands are shaking too much and he drops it on the floor with a loud clang.

Zelda’s head whips around just as Link is grabbing it again. Her gaze softens.

“Link,” she murmurs. “You should go… we can… talk about this later, okay? Just… take your time.”

Link nods. He feels dizzy as he runs out of the room, following his route out of the castle as fast as he can. The woods aren’t safe, but nowhere inside is safe either, and he runs around until he finds himself sitting on the roof of his house.  He stays there for some hours, hugging his knees and rocking back and forth.

That night, the king passes away, leaving behind more questions than answers. Link’s uncle doesn’t answer them well. He only finds out that his mother died years ago and that Uncle was only to tell him about his bloodline as an adult. Link feels lost.

Link and Zelda do not talk about it. Zelda closes her doors to grieve after her father’s death, and Link, who never knew him, has no idea how to help. He begins to feel antsy at home, unsure what to do with his life.

And then, Uncle falls sick.

It’s the same sickness the king had, the one the palace medic could not find a cure to. 

He passes away in the middle of the night. Just like how he did a year ago.

The Triforce did not save him. The Triforce did not save the King of Hyrule. Link prayed for them both, experienced them alive again for a short few months, and then they died again. His wishes… were they really answered?

Link decides that he needs time away from Hyrule, from his kingdom which hurts too much to live inside. He tells Zelda he’s leaving to train, something short, a couple months at most. She asks if he’ll be back before her coronation next spring, and he says he will.

She sees him off before he sails away. 

“I pray for your safe return, brother,” Zelda says. It’s the first time she’s called him that, but he’s focused on the word ‘pray’; it stings him in a way that surprises him.

“...Thank you, sister. I’ll be home soon,” Link replies. And he doesn’t think he will, but he hopes that at least he’ll arrive back before her coronation.

-

iii.

Crash!

“Shit!” Link pulls harder on the rope, trying to keep his boat in control. He’s been on the water for a few hours, setting out early this morning after leaving an abandoned island he’d spent a week exploring. He had no idea there was a storm up ahead, or he would’ve stayed another day or two.

A wave crashes into the side of Link’s small ship, sending the entire thing rocking and nearly throwing Link overboard. His boots lose traction. He slips to the ground, hitting his arm, and he yelps in pain.

Scrambling back up, Link grips his hands harder on the rope. They hurt with how tightly he’d already been holding them. He’s absolutely drenched, which doesn’t help with his grip. Lightning crashes right by him, thankfully in the water, making Link gasp. He tries not to scramble to the other side. He’d lose any control of the thing he has left.

Thunder booms across the sky. Link pulls as hard as he can, trying to stay afloat. He closes his eyes, and despite himself, cries something in desperation.

“If there’s anyone out there that can help me… please! Please, Goddesses!”

He almost doesn’t realize that he said it. It’s still a bit of a second nature to him, though he kind of stopped praying when his uncle first died. Link falters a second as his mind drifts to that, but it’s a second too long. A bright flash lights up Link’s boat, and for half a second, he lifts his head before the lightning strikes him and the world goes black.

Link opens his eyes and gasps, expecting there to be no air. But no, he’s in a… bed? Where’s his ship? Why’s he in a room?

Link shoots upwards, darting his eyes around in a rabbit’s panic, looking for his kidnappers. He spots them quickly - a girl dressed in blue, and a man with a handkerchief tied around his neck. His hand reaches for his arm, ready to grab his backup-backup dagger, but he finds nothing there. They disarmed, him, too!-

“What a relief!” The girl’s voice stuns him and sends him out of his panic. Link stares at her, stupidly, unsure what to ask her first.

“I thought you’d never wake up!” She continues, smiling. Link squints at her as she speaks, realizing she looks familiar. “You were tossing and turning…”

“Zelda?” Link interrupts, wiping his eyes. This girl’s hair is styled just like his sister’s, but as soon as the words leave his mouth, he feels like an idiot.

“What? Zelda?” The girl laughs. “No, my name’s Marin! You must still be feeling a little woozy.”

“...Sorry,” Link mumbles. “Uh… where am I?”

Marin’s eyes brighten. “You are on Koholint Island!”

Link nods. He pushes himself out of bed, combing his fingers through his hair to find that it isn’t messy. Come to think of it, he’s all dry, and he doesn’t smell like saltwater. Okay, so not kidnappers.

“Do you… have my things?” Link asks. Wow, since when was he so awkward?

“Um… if you follow the lane south, you’ll reach the beach where I found you,” Marin replies. “I think Tarin has your shield, though.”

“Thanks,” Link nods. He starts to walk over to the other man, but Marin suddenly speaks up again.

“S-since you washed ashore, lots of nasty monsters have been in the area, so… um… be careful, okay?” Marin looks a bit embarrassed.

Link blinks. He can count the amount of people who tell him to be careful on one hand, so he doesn’t know how to reply. “Y… Yeah, I will.” 

Marin smiles, relieved. Link collects his shield from Tarin, and he waves goodbye to the two on his way out. Koholint is a bright, sunny island, and the air feels so fresh compared to Hyrule’s. It instantly puts Link in a good mood, and he smiles as he jogs down to the beach. Maybe the Goddesses did answer his prayer this time! 

As Link grabs his sword from the beach, he’s still smiling. He grins even as an owl shows up and starts to speak at him, quickly becoming an annoyance. Other than the bird, this island is perfect! Everything here is perfect! He could get used to this, really.

…In hindsight, he really should have realized it was too perfect.

-

iv.

The Wind Fish is glorious, in the way only a deity could be. He floats above Link, one eye turned to him, expression set in stone. Link tries not to wobble under his gaze. He’s still shaking from fighting the Nightmare, from seeing Agahnim and Ganon and they can’t be here and he can’t move-

Link takes a deep breath, the way that Marin showed him, counting to ten before he releases it. He locks eyes with the Wind Fish. Can He notice Link wobble, Link pressing back tears already? Link tries to press back all of his anxieties. He has a wish to make.

“I AM THE WIND FISH…” His voice booms, hurting Link’s ears. “LONG HAS BEEN MY SLUMBER…”

“Wind Fish,” Link murmurs, cutting His speech short. He almost thinks the deity hasn’t heard him, but the Wind Fish pauses. “I… may I make a wish to You?”

“WHAT DO YOU WISH, CHILD?”

In. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. Out.

Link sinks to his knees. He curls his fists together in front of him, bows his head, and sniffs. For this wish… he will have to beg, to offer all of himself for anything, any bit of mercy. He is fully prepared to do so.

“This island…” Link whispers. “It is beautiful, with beautiful people. People who don’t… deserve to die. I-I… I wish for the island’s safety… I wish for Koholint to be real. Marin, of Mabe Village, she wants to see the world. She wants to leave. She wished to You, Wind Fish, please grant it. Please, please, save these people. Your people. Even if… even if you only save Marin… I’ll give my life for her freedom. Just… please…”

“BOY.” The Wind Fish’s mouth does not move. His face remains neutral. But Link… Link can feel the anger. “YOU ARE THE MESSENGER OF AWAKENING… YOU CHOOSE TO WAKE ME, KNOWING THE FATE OF KOHOLINT…”

“I-” Link’s eyes fill with tears. This isn’t fair- what he’s saying- it’s not fair, he couldn’t do anything else- “I g-got the instruments for you! I h-helped the residents for you! I-I followed everything the owl told me… please…!”

“I HAVE AWOKEN… WHEN THE DREAMER WAKES, THE DREAM ENDS…”

“No!” Link gasps. “Please, no, I just want her to live!-”

“LINK… IT IS TIME TO WAKE UP!”

The dream fades around him, and Link can do nothing but watch it all crumble away. He can vaguely hear the instruments play around him, can only choke when the water hits him suddenly and throws him upwards. Light blinds him.

Link awakens, and he is alone.

The first thing he feels is the board slipping under him, and he gasps, heaving himself further on top of it. He coughs up saltwater, throws it back up into the ocean. His eyes sting, his stomach aches with hunger and thirst, and his head hurts so badly. He clings onto the raft harder.

Link glances around, and his lips wobble. Koholint is gone. Marin is gone. He failed. Again, he failed. His lower lip wobbles.

Link’s tears turn to sobs. He hiccups, his rabbit heart beating fast, and he can’t even try the breathing exercise without remembering who taught him it and crying harder. Why do the gods hate him? Why can’t They protect what he loves? Hasn’t he done so much for Them!?

A roar sounds, the call of a whale, and Link sees the shadow cover him. He looks up. The Wind Fish flies through the sky, on His way to His next victim. Link shakes. His teeth grit together. He grabs the raft as hard as he can, his knuckles turning white, and he screams. He screams so loud that the horrid God will have to hear him, have to hear his agony, his anger.

The Wind Fish will have to understand what He’s done to him, what He did to that entire island. Link screams so the Wind Fish will understand pain, will understand his suffering, will see everything He’s done, he hates Him, he hates that he’s been used, he hates everything he’s done for Gods who do nothing in return, Koholint is dead, Marin is dead, and Link’s voice hurts, and maybe he’ll drown, and maybe he’ll meet her again if he does, and maybe he wishes for that instead!

Link screams until his voice is hoarse, until the Wind Fish is but a speck far away. His nails dig into the wood. Splinters line his fingers, and he can’t bring himself to care. He can’t breathe through his nose, and his mouth is so dry, and it doesn’t matter. Nothing matters anymore.

Link lays back on the raft, trying to position himself in a way that makes his back hurt the least, chronic pain be damned. Another result of all he’s done for deities. He closes his eyes, takes in a shaky breath. He hopes - not prays, hopes - that a ship will pick him up, because he knows Marin would be upset if he died here. But at the same time, he hopes he falls off the raft and drowns.

The world is so, so cruel.

-

+

Link gives up on deities, damn Them all, for the next 5 years.

He does not pray. He saves the Oracles but avoids any religious discussion with them. And depending on who he’s with, he’ll openly heckle and mock the Three. He holds off around Zelda, though, out of respect for his sister.

Link ends up not making it to Zelda’s coronation. Not by a long shot - after being wrapped up with the Oracles, he arrives home a grand total of three years after he set off. Two and a half years since Zelda became queen. Enough time that most of the kingdom thought he was dead.

That’s fine, he ends up spending more than enough time at home to make up for it. Arriving back at an empty house makes him realize what he was running away from in the first place. Suddenly, the deaths of Uncle, Marin, and so many others hit him with full force.

Link does not leave his house for nearly a year. Most of the time, he doesn’t even get out of bed.

He dreams. He dreams about Marin, he dreams about Uncle, he dreams about worlds when maybe he was favored by the holy beings he works for. There’s nothing else to life for him. He’s tired of adventuring. He can’t spend time in Hyrule without feeling sick. The apple orchard is dying from neglect.

And then Zelda appears, drags him out of bed, and makes him do something with himself. She shows up and takes care of the house. Then, she convinces him to get out of bed and go on walks with her. She tries to get him to take care of the orchard, but it hurts too much to look at. The last time he stepped foot inside it was the day his uncle died.

Within the next few months, Link slowly gets back on his feet. He refuses to come live at the castle, so Zelda works out a blacksmithing apprenticeship for him. But Link still finds himself oversleeping, clinging onto dreams. Gulley has to wake him up in a rush sometimes. But he’s making progress, so he focuses on that.

Before Link knows it, what little of his life that he’s picked back up and carefully pieced together is shattered again. Apparently, it had been decided that his time to recover was up, and he becomes the Hero of Legend again when another world’s sorcerer infiltrates into his own.

And Ravio. The purple-clad merchant infiltrates Link’s home and heart, too. While Link is less than thrilled about his prices, the fact of someone else living in the house brings him more comfort than he’d ever think it would. Also, Ravio… Ravio has this effect on Link that only Marin had before. Link’s not sure how to feel about it.

Link ventures through dungeons with a practiced ease. He lets Ravio rent out items to him that he really already owns, but what’s the harm in Link having a soft spot for him? Except for the harm in his bank account, of course…

Lorule is like the Dark World, just less shitty. Link isn’t stuck to a useless form there, either, which he doesn’t mind. He keeps his moon pearl on him anyways. Just in case.

Before long, Link comes face-to-face with Yuga. He tries not to freeze when he becomes Ganon. He gets thrown into walls, beaten up as a painting, but he finally drives his sword into the beast’s skull a final time.

Hilda’s story moves him. Ravio’s story moves him. He understands. He understands how the Triforce failed them.

But when Link stands before the Triforce a second time, this time with Zelda, he chokes up at the thought of wishing on it.

Zelda notices him, and places her hand on his shoulder. He takes a shaky breath.

“Link…” she murmurs. “This… this is a chance… I understand our reservations, especially yours…”

“It won’t fix anything,” Link’s voice cracks. He doesn’t even know what he’ll wish for, but he knows It won’t.

“We have to try,” Zelda says. “The Triforce… It was created to make miracles happen. Lorule needs a miracle. If we want to bring back their holy power… we’d need another one to do that.”

Link realizes now, realizes what she’s talking about. And he wants to yell, to kick the sacred triangles in anger. How fucking unfair was it that the fate of an entire kingdom was in the hands of one magical artifact? How the destruction of It, even with good intention, ruined all the life in Lorule? Ravio and Hilda - they are good people! They don’t deserve to live in a dying, suffering world all because one fucking piece of the Goddesses is gone!

“Breathe, Link.” Zelda’s voice calms him, and he realizes he’s been hyperventilating. “You don’t have to wish if you don’t want to… I can do it.”

“I-I…” Link stutters. He thinks about Ravio. The pain he’s been through to get Link to this moment. It’s not fair of Link to abandon Ravio’s hope for his land, after all Ravio has done… he owes him. “...I’ll wish.”

“Okay,” Zelda replies, pensive. She’s in her own conflict of emotions right now. Link wishes he could help her. “...Together?”

“Together,” Link agrees.

The two place their hands on the Triforce.

Link wishes for the restoration of Lorule’s Triforce, for the sake of the Loruleian people. He wishes that for once, if the Goddesses will listen to him just this once, that They will help Lorule. He can’t let another nation die. He can’t. If he’ll never see Lorule restored, then so be it. He wants nothing for himself from this. He just wants, with all his soul, for Lorule to live.

Lorule’s Triforce is restored, and it stays.

Link doesn’t know how to feel about it.

He first hears about it when Hilda and Zelda open the barrier between their worlds again. Lorule, while still climbing out of their dark ages, is experiencing the light for the first time in centuries. It’s beautiful, they say.

For once, for once in his blessed-damned life, his wish came true. This wish, this prayer… only came true after Link swore he would gain nothing.

Link is the Hero of Legend. His sworn, sacred duty is to carry out the Goddess’ will. He… he is owed nothing by Them. They see him as the Hero. Nothing more. Undeserving of receiving blessings himself.

The thought makes him sick.

Link continues to fight. He continues to be the Hero, continues to adventure, because it’s all he is worth.

And he never, ever prays again.

i wrote this little marlink fluff while listening to link and marin's ballad of the wind fish!! it's too short for ao3 so i'll put it here

Link’s hands drift across the ocarina holes as he lightly blows into the instrument. Besides him, Marin sings, joining him in harmony. Her voice goes effortlessly high, dazzling him as always, and he almost stops playing accidentally. She giggles as his notes slip up for a second, then continues without a thought.

“You’re getting better!” She comments as they finish. Link shrugs, bashful. He really only thinks he’s good at Manbo’s Mambo, because he uses it so much to get around the island. And compared to Marin’s singing, his off-tune Ballad of the Wind Fish really is nothing.

Marin pokes his cheek. “Hehe, you’re blushing.” Oops.

“Your singing is way better,” Link protests. Marin shrugs.

“All I do is sing, though,” She says. “And Ballad of the Wind Fish was the only song I knew until you came around.”

I could listen to you sing all day, Link thinks. Marin stutters and blushes, and he suddenly realizes he said that out loud. “I-I mean-”

“Y-you…!” Marin turns away, face red. “Ahhh… I don’t know what to say to that, Link…!”

Link laughs, nervous and quiet. Marin puts her hands on her cheeks.

“W-Well,” Marin eventually continues. “You go off on adventures, and do all this cool stuff, and get all these cool things…! And I’m just… a girl from an island who sings a lot! So, um… I think you’d have better things to do than listen to me sing all day, haha!”

“Dungeons aren’t fun,” Link mumbles, twisting his hair around his finger. “I like being around the village more.”

“Pff,” Marin snorts.

Link looks to her. “Hm?”

“It’s just… we seem to both want to do what the other does!” 

“Yeah, I guess so,” Link smiles. “I like adventuring, though.”

“And I like my village,” Marin replies. “I just… also want to go explore sometimes!”

Link nods. He lifts up his ocarina again, wiping spit onto his sleeve. Marin makes a face at that, then shifts her gaze to Link’s face.

“Do you want to play again?” She asks, and he nods. “Alright!”

Marin starts the song, and Link joins in soon after. He feels happiest when he’s around her, especially when they play music together. He could do this forever.

night owls

on ao3

word count: 2.5k

the chain bonding at nighttime; legend and twilight smoke together

Legend asks for second watch. Nobody protests, but Wind raises his eyebrows at the thought of volunteering for such torture. Twilight doesn’t think much of it; as long as there’s someone to relieve him from first watch, he doesn’t care.

So they settle in for the night. As Wild’s fire dies down, Legend and Time play their ocarinas together. They flow into an easy harmony, like they’ve played together all their lives. It’s probably something to do with the Hero’s Spirit. How else would he have been able to howl a true melody with another wolf?

Wind, always a pirate, tells the others stories that only make them worry about what’s out there in the Great Sea. Four gets antsy, and so does Hyrule, and the two end up throwing small knives into a tree to shake off their energy. Twilight recognizes them as ones Four has been slowly working on whenever they spend time in his Hyrule.

Eventually, the first drifters begin to snore. This time it’s Sky (unsurprising) and Time (a little surprising, but only a little). Wild hands Twilight the fire stick, then joins in. Twilight stretches and sets in for watch. Everyone knows who the wolf is by now, but still, he’d rather they sleep before he takes a trot around the place.

It’s maybe half an hour before Legend bids him goodnight and rests his head on his pack, the last one to go. Legend’s always been like that, taking more watches than he needs to and skipping out of any extra sleeping hours he can. It’s a bit confusing, because wouldn’t the Veteran, of all people, know that proper rest is important?

Twilight pokes the fire one last time to make sure it’s gone out, then he stands and walks some paces away from camp. He needs them in hearing distance, at least - once he’s in his wolf form, he’ll easily sense any danger that might befall them, but he stays close just in case. They’re in Wild’s Hyrule right now, and while nighttime ambushes aren’t nearly as common as they are in other places, Twilight can never be too sure.

He takes the crystal into his hand and shifts. The wolf takes as long stretch after his fur fully covers his body. He resists the urge to howl, though it is very much there. He’s not even in a situation in which he needs to. He just likes howling.

After pulling his limbs, Twilight sets into a trot around camp. He can still smell the lingering taste of dinner. It was some of Wild’s freshest tonight, cooked with fish from the river not five minutes away. Wild almost tried to catch them himself, but Time had given him a look for so long that he backed off. Twilight and Time had got to enjoy some fishing time together.

Tonight is nice. A gentle chill, not unwelcome, sets into his fur. It feels fresh, like the wild is welcoming him in with open arms. Twilight feels at peace.

He takes several circles around the camp, then dares to make way to the river. The night gives him a sudden boost of energy, and he jumps in with his paws. He surprises himself with actually catching a fish or two. He happily enjoys them as a snack.

Twilight checks the moon and determines that his watch is almost up. He makes way back to camp, ears up to make sure nothing is coming, then-

A rustle in the plants catches his predator's senses. Twilight’s head whips around, and he crouches, slowly making his way through the brush. He can smell something burning, but it’s small, consolidated. He sniffs the smoke, and… dammit, did one of the boys wake up? Who in Ordona’s good name decided to get high in the middle of the night!?

Twilight internally groaned. Well, fuck. If he gets reported to Time he’ll have it. He peaks a little further to make sure that the smoker is someone in their group. His head pokes out of the brush.

An arrow, knocked and ready, stares back at him. Behind it is Legend, eyes red. He’s sitting on a fallen tree, the joint laid to his side.

You’re joking, Twilight thinks. Legend blinks, shrugs, and places the bow down.

“Thought one of Wild’s pack wolves was chasin’ me,” Legend mutters. Twilight accepts this and shifts back.

“I was on my way to wake ya up for yer watch,” Twilight says. “Looks like yer too busy getting stoned, though.”

Legend laughs, a short thing through his nose. He lifts up the joint and holds out his hand in Twilight’s direction. “What, you want to join?”

Twilight raises his eyebrows, but he takes it. He sits next to Legend. “I’m not on watch anymore, ya’know.”

“I’ve been ambushed high before, cleared a dungeon, too. I’ll be fine.” Legend waves him off. Twilight takes a long hit, because it’s been ages since he’s had enough time to sit at the farm and smoke.

“Cleared a dungeon,” Twilight repeats, passing back to Legend. He takes a hit before replying.

“Mhm, for the hell of it. Had to re-rent from Rav like three times.”

“So, not well.”

“Can’t say I’ve practiced.”

Twilight rolls his eyes. Legend passes back to him. He takes another hit, this time curling his lips so the smoke makes an ‘O’ shape.

“Look at you, fancy,” Legend comments. “Should’ve known the moment you called yourself Rancher.”

This earns a laugh from Twilight. “‘Veteran’ doesn’t make me think ya’d be smokin’ at ass-o-clock instead of sleepin’, yet here we are.”

“It’s better than dreaming,” Legend replies. Cryptic. Twilight passes.

Legend leans back after he pulls the paper from his mouth, shifting so his head lays on the log. He stretches his legs until his knees pop.

“Same sky,” Legend says. Twilight grunts in reply, so he continues. “No matter what times… we have the same sky.”

That prompts Twilight to look up. He recognizes some constellations almost instantly. He’s never been much of an astronomer. But if you watch the same thing, every night, even if you only see it for a few minutes after what you’re looking for is gone… you’ll remember it.

And Legend is right. It is the same sky.

“‘s like that’s the only thing,” Twilight murmurs. Legend nods.

“Hyrule’s all fucked up… but the stars never died.”

“I’ll drink ‘ta that.”

“Ha.”

Legend sits back up. Passes. Twilight’s taking his hit as Legend pipes up again.

“You watch the sky a lot, yeah?”

“Hm?”

“Sunsets, we always gotta pry you away. Why’s that?”

Twilight flashes a smile. His mouth goes dry, and ah, it’s hitting. “Only time our worlds are each other’s.”

“You told me that before,” Legend muses. “Talk about it like it’s a lover.”

“She was,” Twilight mumbles. “...I think.”

“Yikes,” Legend says. Twilight huffs, passes. He leans back and sighs as the high kicks in.

“Been a while, huh?” Damn, Legend doesn’t shut up when he’s not sober. That’s fine, Twilight can be a bit of a talker, too.

“Can’t get away from y’all long enough.”

“And that’s why ‘m here now.” Legend has a point.

Legend’s rolling another, and Twilight hadn’t realized their first was out. Legend digs into his bag, which is sloppily laying next to him, and takes out his fire rod. A genius idea dawns upon Twilight.

He reaches down and grabs a blade of grass. He holds it up as far away from his fingers without dropping it, then motions Legend to look.

“What.”

“20 rupees if ya can burn this blade of grass and nothin’ else. Test yer fire rod skills.”

“Shit, you do have a dog brain!” Legend laughs.

Twilight scoffs. “‘Scuse me!”

“Make it 30, I’ll do it,” Legend continues. “Easy.”

So Twilight holds his arm out as Legend shifts to his knees, aiming the fire rod carefully as he taps into its magic. Legend counts down from three, and because Twilight is actually confident in him (and he’s too stoned to actually think about what they’re doing), he doesn’t move a muscle.

Fire rods, in fact, are hard to aim in close proximity. Even more surprising, they tend to send out a set amount of fire with each use, and cannot really be adjusted to send out a tiny flame. Under normal circumstances, Legend and Twilight would know this perfectly well; in fact, under normal circumstances, they wouldn’t be caught dead even imagining doing this. However, it’s ass-o-clock in the morning, both heroes are baked, and there’s a bet involved.

And so, Legend shoots a burst from the rod, it singes Twilight’s finger, and he jolts away before he can even yelp in pain. Twilight’s had burns before, but shit! And he’s waving his hand like that’ll do anything, and Legend is cursing, and Twilight briefly remembers that he just won 30 rupees so he stops panicking.

“Fucking- ugh! Shit, if the magic rod was real, those fuckin’ fireballs, they could’ve… fuck!”

Twilight hums as he gets to his feet. He checks his finger - it’s not too bad, but it is quite red, and Legend’s desperately digging through his bag. Maybe it is bad, then.

Legend practically throws him the fairy, and Twilight pops the lid open without a second thought. The fairy heals up his hand nicely, though it still feels quite warm after. Legend’s still cursing.

“30 rupees,” Twilight reminds.

“Fairy worth more, you owe me,” Legend grumbles.

Twilight just shakes his head until Legend groans even louder and forks over the money. He pockets it with a grin.

“I give you my weed and you fuckin’ scam me,” Legend lights the other joint, which was abandoned up until now. “Not to mention give me a heart attack.”

“Was an honest bet,” Twilight counters.

“Whatever.” Legend takes another long hit, probably to make up for the past five minutes, and then gives it to Twilight. The two fall into silence for a while, trading the joint. Twilight watches the moon slowly climb through the sky.

Twilight’s mind drifts. He thinks about the conversation they had earlier. Two realms, connecting at dusk… Legend has mentioned another world, too. Lorule. That day, he found out about the wolf. He was a bunny, ha! And he mentioned…

“When was the last time ya saw her?” Twilight asked, more to himself. It wasn’t his business. Usually, it wouldn’t even come out of his mouth.

“Her?” Legend questions.

“That girl,” Twilight murmurs. “Said it’s yer fault. I feel that way too, ‘bout mine, sometimes.”

Legend’s quiet. Twilight turns, making sure he’s alright. He stares at the ground with a pensive expression that tells way too much.

“She’s why I don’t sleep,” Legend mutters. Makes sense.

“I get nightmares, too,” Twilight nods.

“No, it’s-” Legend cuts himself off by turning away, gritting his teeth. It takes a few moments, but he then relaxes, taking a deep breath. “Damn, and I’m on this shit to calm me.”

“Haha. You don’ gotta talk about it.”

“I killed her,” Legend blurts out. And Twilight doesn’t know how to reply, so he doesn’t.

A beat.

“I destroyed the world she lived on. I was the only survivor.”

Twilight leans against Legend and pulls him into a hug.

They’re quiet. The weed still buzzes at Twilight’s mind, though he’s not at the peak of his high anymore. Legend stays still, looking out into the distance, wistful. But he leans into Twilight’s touch, enough that there’s trust, so Twilight stays holding him.

“Sorry,” Legend mumbles, after a bit. “Soured the mood.”

Twilight waves him off. “‘s fine. You matter more.”

“Really?” And Legend’s tone is genuine, like he doesn’t know how to mean something to people. The thought worries Twilight.

“Yeah,” Twilight says. “Really.”

Legend leans in closer, and Twilight swings his arm around the younger’s shoulder. It feels like how Twilight would comfort his younger brothers in the village. He realizes that Legend’s not too far off from that. Not related by blood, but if someone asked Twilight who Legend was, he would call him “brother”.

“People care about ya, y’know,” Twilight starts. Legend makes an “mm” sound. They’re still high, but there’s an air of sobriety between them. “Ravio cares.”

“Rav cares about my money,” Legend replies, but it’s weak and they both know it.

“Bull. When ya showed up bleeding at his door last week, he held ya close all night.”

“That’s… that’s different.”

“Sure.”

Legend sighs. “..Complicated. With ‘im.”

“I know that feelin’.”

Legend drops the little left of the joint, puts it out with his boot. His eyes drift to the sky. Twilight’s follow, and he determines that Legend’s watch will be over in maybe 15 minutes or so.

“How’re you supposed to be Link?” Legend mutters. It’s more to himself. Twilight hears it anyway.

“Hm?”

“You do all this Hero shit, and then what’re you? Who’s Link once you drop that?”

Twilight’s heard some stories about Legend’s life from him. Besides the 7 adventures thing, he knows the guy practically lives on the road, only stopping by home to spend time with Ravio.

“I’m a rancher,” Twilight replies, like it’s helpful. Legend’s scoff tells him it’s not. “What were ya doin’ before?”

“Don’t fuckin’ know. I was 12.” Shit.

“Take care of your house much? Saw the orchard outside.”

“I did smithing, once, didn’t work out.”

“Then fuckin’ retire,” Twilight says. “Ya got ‘nough chronic pain to get away with it.”

Legend groans and puts his face in his hands. “That’s what Ravio always says.”

“Try listenin’ to him for once.” At that, Legend purses his lips. “Look, he loves ya. He don’t want ya hurt.”

“I-” Legend shoots up, stares Twilight in the face. He’s beet red. Twilight doesn’t let his expression falter.

“Just sayin’,” Twilight shrugs. Legend sputters a bit.

“Fuck this,” he grumbles, standing up. He’s not actually mad and they both know it. Twilight follows, cracking his knuckles as Legend hoists his bag back over his shoulder. The buzz is starting to subside, but he doesn’t really mind.

Legend starts walking back to camp, deep in thought. He mumbles something about waking up Warriors for his watch. Twilight’s about to let him go, wave him off and go to bed, when Legend suddenly straightens and takes Twilight’s arm.

“Uh, Rancher,” Legend says. “...Thanks.”

“‘Course,” Twilight replies. “Just wake me up if ya need a smoking buddy.”

Legend snorts. “If you don’t try to kill yourself next time, sure.”

They both laugh, then Twilight bids Legend goodnight. As he settles into bed, he overhears Warriors grumbling at being woken up. Then he hears Warriors grumbling that Legend smells like weed, and he’s suddenly glad that he’s assumed enough of a sleeping position that he won’t also be told off. Especially by someone some months younger than him.

Twilight sinks into his bedroll. His limbs feel heavy in a comforting way, like when he goes to bed stoned at home. Tonight felt like home.

He falls asleep quickly, knowing that he’s safe with his brothers around him.

warm afternoons and cool waters

on ao3

word count: 2.3k

link and marin take a break together after a dungeon; link's awakening mermaid au

thanks again to @deuynndoodles for the awesome idea and sorry for tagging you on like three platforms at once lol

Marin and Link sit just outside the Key Cavern. Link soaks her tail in the water while Marin sits on the dirt, sandals off; her ankles are dipped into the miniature lake. Link pulls her tail to her chest, picking off dead scales. Marin holds the Sea Lily’s Bell. She lightly shakes it back and forth, listening to the ting sound it makes.

“Where did the Owl say to go next, again?” Marin asks. She places down the bell next to the two other instruments the pair have collected. Link looks up. She swims to where Marin is sitting, resting her elbows to hold her up on the sand.

Waterfall, Link signs. 

Marin’s lips purse. “There’s so many waterfalls here, though. I wonder which one he means?”

Link makes a shrugging motion. Depends on what you define as a waterfall. Half the island is underwater, anyway.

“That’s true.” Marin hums to herself, thinking for a moment. “Well, Animal Village is all above-ground; that’s why all those land animals settled there in the first place.”

Link nods. She pushes herself back towards the middle of the water. Link dips her head backwards, wetting her hair. The hot sun had been drying it for the past fifteen minutes; Marin can already feel the sunburn forming on her arms.

Marin watches as Link then sinks entirely below the water. This isn’t the cleanest lake out there, but it’s crystal-clear like all of Koholint’s waters, and Link’s been using it to wash off the blood on her. The two had spent a good four hours inside the Key Cavern this morning. Marin has to admit there’s a good amount of grime on her as well.

Link propels herself around underground, enjoying her freshly picked tail. Marin grabs Link’s satchel from where she had placed it down earlier. Well, more like thrown it down; once they left the dungeon, the first thing Link did was dive into the lake.

As Marin rearranges the items in Link’s bag, she takes out little pieces of junk. A rock that fell in. A fairy, who Marin releases since Link isn’t looking. A small key…? Roc’s feather is a little curvy and tangled in places, so Marin smoothes it out.

“We have an extra key,” Marin comments. Link is still underwater, but she had already proven that she can hear Marin regardless. Link’s hands surface - just her hands, the rest of her still enjoying the cool water.

Spare for next dungeon, I guess.

Marin tilts her head. “Do keyholes stay shaped the same in each dungeon?”

Link stays still for a second. …No.

Marin snorts. “A gift for Tarin, then?”

Yeah, he’s already worried about you. It won’t just freak him out more. Marin giggles at Link’s silent deadpan.

“I’m with an adventurer! A hero! I think I’m safe enough.” Link’s hands drop back into the water, and Marin can barely catch the redness on her cheek. “Welllll, aren’t you the Hero of… of however you pronounce that sign?”

Link surfaces, eyes drifting away from Marin. She’s flustered. Her hands form the sign Marin referenced, and then she continues, but they also call me the Hero of Legend.

“Well that’s a very grand title, Hero of Legend,” Marin giggles. “I’m impressed.” Link flushes harder, placing her hands over her face. Outwardly, Marin smirks, but inwardly, she tries not to squeal. Link looks so cute like this. Oh, Wind Fish, save her!

Stop looking at me like that, Link signs, but it’s weak. …Embarrassing.

“Um, oops!” Marin replies, laugh turning nervous as she scratches her head.

Link huffs, not actually angry. Marin places back down Link’s pack. She moves to the instruments, polishing the Sea Lily’s Bell with her shirt. Link sputters a bit more before returning to swimming.

Some minutes later, Link appears in front of Marin.

I’m thinking, Link starts. What if there’s a dungeon that’s underwater?

“What do you mean?” Marin replies.

All the dungeons on my first adventure were, Link explains. Including in the Dark World.

Marin’s only heard a little about the Dark World, but the thought makes her puzzle. Yes, it would make sense, with Koholint being half land and half water. And everyone but Marin and the animals are mer. Whoever designed the dungeons must have at least had merfolk in mind, since the Wind Fish is the siren god, right? Plus Link had only been in fully underwater dungeons before…

Link is here to retrieve her voice; as a siren, she’s supposed to have a song that can enchant people. But she has none. She can’t speak. In the beginning, Link explained that she had heard of the legends of the Wind Fish, God of the Sirens, before. She had actually been on her way to Koholint when she lost consciousness and washed up on the beach. And what a sight when Marin found her - only normal mer live on Koholint, so Marin had never seen a siren before. But with one look at Link’s tail and fins, she knew Link had to be one.

Marin’s been tagging along with Link on her adventures. Link had apparently never been on land before Marin took her home (minus the rabbit thing). Marin also is one of the only people around who knows sign, since she was mute as a child. And so Link and Marin had been through three dungeons, now, Link slaying monsters as Marin teaches her how to walk.

“This is really fun,” Marin thinks out loud. Link tilts her head, eyes confused. “Sorry, my thoughts drifted.”

Adventuring, you mean? Link questions.

“Yeah,” Marin replies. “And… being with you. Your life is really interesting. I’ve just been living on this island and singing to myself… I never knew there was so much to explore.”

Link seems surprised, furrowing her eyebrows together like the words “adventure” and “fun” being in the same sentence is paradoxical. Her mouth opens, then closes. She raises her hands.

Fun? She questions.

“Um, yes? Is that weird? Haha…”

No, no, Link’s motions fly at rapid pace. Then she slows down. I… had a different experience first adventuring.

“Oh,” Marin says, a little saddened. “I’m sorry that it…”

Sucked, Link supplies, for lack of a better word. Marin forces down a snort.

“Sucked,” she echoes. “I’m sorry that it sucked.”

Link shrugs. It’s fine. It’s more fun with you, too. I like being with you. She dips underwater again, leaving Marin sputtering.

“L-Link!” Marin exclaims. She feels her face grow hot. Bubbles appear at the water’s surface, betraying Link’s giggling. The siren’s head slowly comes back up, but only to her eyes, which look up at Marin.

Marin throws her head back and forth, trying to shake off the blush. Her fingers fidget with her pendant. Link continues to stare at her, pupils shining in the sunlight.

Suddenly, after a silence Marin wouldn’t dare break, Link shoots up out of the water. Her hands wrap around Marin’s wrist and pull. Marin lets out a gasp as she’s brought forward. The long-forgotten Sea Lily’s Bell falls on its side; it rolls into the pile of their things.

Splash! As Marin falls into the water, she becomes infinitely more grateful that she chose shorts over a dress this morning. That was for the dungeon, but apparently a cute mermaid is far more dangerous.

Marin surfaces, running a hand through her now-tangled hair. Her fingers eventually find her hibiscus, now displaced, and she throws it over to everything else. 

“By the Wind Fish, Link!” She complains, but she’s laughing. Link laughs, too. It’s one of the only sounds Link can make, and it’s Marin’s personal favorite.

Link quickly signs something vaguely forming had to, and then she’s swimming away from Marin, unceremoniously splashing the girl in the face with her tail. Marin squeals as she ducks away. She dives down, because if Link wants to start a splashing war, she is on!

Marin, the only human in a village of mer, naturally has grown up as a good swimmer. But compared to Link and her tail, she might as well be standing in place. Link leads Marin in circles until the islander tires and gives up. She clutches the side of the lake as she takes deep breaths. Once Marin surrenders, Link cautiously makes way to her, only to be rewarded with a weak splash by Marin’s hand.

“You… deserved that,” Marin huffs between breaths. Link only smiles.

I don’t know what you mean, Link signs. I did nothing. Marin rolls her eyes.

Marin pulls herself back onto land, rolling over and laying on her back. She’s instantly and harshly greeted by the sun. Marin groans and looks around for shade, but she has no such luck. Unless a dungeon still actively populated by monsters counts, because that’s only a few paces away.

Link starts to get herself out of the water, too. She has a bit more trouble than Marin, so the later offers her hand. Link takes it, grateful.

Marin lets herself dry out in the sun. Link decides to do the same, apparently, because she lays down right above Marin. The girl can feel Link’s warmth, and Link’s so close that her wet hair brushes against Marin’s ear. Marin closes her eyes and hums.

She’s able to get through her ballad a few times before Link taps her on the shoulder, prompting her to open her eyes. Link’s fingers are reached above her.

Hey, let’s go to Mabe, Link says.

“Why?” Marin asks, stifling a yawn. She gets sleepy in the afternoon sunlight.

You know the library, the one above water? I have the Pegasus Boots now so I can get the book on the shelf.

“Ooh, that’s true. Alright, we can detour there. Then should we go to Animal Village?”

Yeah. Also, the book could have something important about the waterfall.

“Has that… specific thing happened to you before?”

Reading something and it helping me open a dungeon? Yes.

“Huh.”

Don’t forget I’m a siren who turned into a rabbit… weirder things have happened.

Marin giggles. She remembers how embarrassed Link was when Marin first asked what her moon pearl was. “True~!”

Link has to poke and prod at Marin a few times before the girl relents and sits up. Link had already dried off her tail and gone back to having legs. She smoothes down her skirt and tunic, and then helps Marin to her own feet.

Marin puts her shoes on, then bends down and gathers Link’s pack of materials. Link takes Marin’s and fills it back up with the Instruments of the Sirens. The enlarging enchantment on the fabric will always confuse Marin, and she still doesn’t quite trust it. The girls trade packs.

“Okay,” Marin begins to recite their schedule. “So we’ll head back to Mabe, probably have a late lunch with Tarin, get the book, and if there’s any more time in the day, should we start for Animal Village?”

Could we get a room for the night if we did? Link asks.

“I think so, the animals have let me stay before.”

Link ponders for a bit. Wait, I want to look back at the Dream Shrine.

“Oh? Why?”

There’s a tent thing in there, and I have these now. Link motions to her pegasus boots, clicking her heels together. Marin giggles and nods.

“So we go to the Dream Shrine, too. I guess we’ll just stay home tonight, then?”

Link smiles. I like your dad’s cooking.

Marin snorts. “Then I guess we’ll be in Mabe!”

Link’s smile brodens, and she actually hugs Marin. The latter rolls her eyes but accepts it. Tarin’s cooking isn’t bad, yes, but Link can praise it a little too much at times. It makes Marin worry about what Link eats on the road.

“Okay, okay, Link,” Marin says after Link’s hug lingers. But she doesn’t make an attempt to pull back, and Link doesn’t either. Marin can smell Link’s hair, recognize the special scent of merfolk. Her tunic is still damp, but her hat is perfectly dry; she had actually remembered to take it off first this time. Marin can feel herself already getting lost in Link’s touch, in Link, and-

Marin pulls away like Link is fire. Link seems to jolt back at the same time, and they stare at each other.

“Um,” Marin says. And she realizes that with as much as they dance around each other, both Link and Marin are too nervous to ever actually say anything. (That’s okay, though. They’re both bad with words. But Marin can sing, and Link can touch.)

Link blinks. She acquires a sudden interest in the sand next to Marin’s sandals. Marin doesn’t know how to continue this, and her face is getting warmer every second; she eventually puts all her energy into forcing herself to move.

Marin quietly hops to the first landmass, hearing Link follow behind her. As they continue forward, Marin begins to sing. She can’t help it (and she wants to make the atmosphere less awkward). The air becomes calm and serene. Link’s shoulders always relax when Marin sings.

The duo have nearly made it to the actual path when Marin feels a brush against her hand. She looks down to find Link’s palm, her fingers spread in offering. Marin accepts it.

Link’s skin burns against hers, but Marin is fine with that. Link’s hands are calloused compared to Marin’s soft ones. Marin rubs her finger against the roughness. Link doesn’t move her hand away, but her eyes widen slightly. 

All the way back home, Marin and Link stay holding hands.

That night, in Marin’s family home, she lays on her bed without sleeping a wink. Link snores softly next to her, curled up in a soft blanket. 

Staring into the ceiling, all Marin can think about is the siren who washed up into her life. And how she will never, ever, lose her spot in Marin’s heart.

foundations

gift exchange with @deuynndoodles !!

on ao3

word count: 2k

zelda is sent to the era of the sky instead of to rauru and sonia; totk!zelda meets sksw!zelda

“Link!”

The ground cracks beneath Zelda’s feet, and she gasps. Looking up at Link, her mouth opens to call his name once more, but she is suddenly falling - down, down, down.

He turns, his eyes widening at her yell. Before Zelda knows it, he’s jumped, and they are both falling. Desperate, Zelda throws out her hand. Link reaches back for her. They’re so close, their fingers almost touching-

And then, he is out of reach.

Zelda is helpless as she watches Link fall further away. A warm glow trickles up her body, enveloping her. Because everything is in slow motion, she thinks to herself, This must be my end.

However, Zelda’s end does not come to be. She blinks, and she is drifting softly to the ground, unharmed. A stone ceiling stares down at her, vines growing over it. Sunlight beams through large cracks up ahead.

Zelda sits up, scratching her head. Where is she? She moves her head around, noticing that this place looks similar to the Forgotten Temple. She moves to her feet and brushes dust off her outfit. She hopes that Link’s safe, too…

Something (or rather, someone) catches Zelda’s eye as she ascends the stairs. A pillar had blocked her view when she landed, but this person is now in full sight. It’s a girl, golden hair trailing down her back, wearing pants and a layered shirt. She’s looking out around the temple, so she spots Zelda soon after Zelda spots her.

“Oh!” The girl says. “Who are you?”

“I’m,” Zelda sputters. “My name is Zelda, I’m the daughter of King Rhoam of Hyrule.”

The girl gapes at her, eyes wide. “You’re?”

Zelda’s eyebrows furrow. “Is there a problem?”

“No, well, yes, but…” The girl bites her lip. “My name is also Zelda. I’m…” she stops for a moment, puzzling over how to introduce herself. “...the Spirit Maiden, some call me.”

Also-Zelda’s face falls to a gentle smile, one so familiar it almost feels like a gick in the gut. “You’re the Spirit Maiden,” Zelda gets out. “And your name is… Zelda… so you must have powers of the Goddess…!”

This makes Also-Zelda nervously chuckle. “Yeah, I do… well, really, I’m Goddess Hylia incarnate.”

Zelda’s heart stops. “What?”

“Um, are you okay?” Also-Zelda’s eyebrows furrow.

“You’re Hylia,” Zelda breathes.

“Technically, yes… but  we should worry more about getting you home safely. Zelda, I think you’re-”

Zelda’s body moves on her own. She grabs the girl’s hands, holding them at the wrists. She’s not physically strong, but the weird stone now sitting in her pocket makes her feel powerful enough. Hylia gasps and jumps back, trying to tug herself out of Zelda’s grip.

This is all happening so fast. But if she and Link have been suddenly taken away from each other again, if Hylia’s swooped in to “save the day” by snatching Zelda after that mummified figure destroyed everything… Zelda will take this opportunity to yell at the pathetic Goddess.

“What have you done to Link!?” Zelda exclaims. She squeezes until her knuckles turn white. Hylia’s eyes are wide with panic.

“You know Link?” Hylia’s voice is somewhat steady, but her expression gives her away. Good. Let her be afraid.

“Do I know him? You, of all people, should know how much he means to me!” Zelda hisses. “Where is he! Where did you put him!?”

“I-I don’t know if we’re talking about the same person!” Hylia cries.

Zelda huffs, her anger growing. “My knight, who laid down his life to protect me!? Who I desperately waited for for a hundred years!? Who, despite everything, still came back to help me!?”

“Oh,” Hylia breathes. Her face is suddenly stone-still. “Oh.”

“Do you remember now!? How you let him die, because you chose to be late!”

“Oh, Zelda,” Hylia’s lip is wobbling. “I’m so sorry.”

“You should be! The people of Hyrule… the Champions… my father…” Zelda begins to sniff. “You… they believed in you, and you let them all die…”

Both Zelda and Hylia fall into tears. Zelda’s grip subconsciously releases, and Hylia’s hands wrap around her own face. An overwhelming wave of sadness crashes over Zelda. All those people. All those people the woman in front of her refused to save. But Zelda can’t will up any more anger.

“The curse,” Hylia sobs. “No…”

Zelda’s not paying attention. Her tears drip onto the floor; she can taste the salt on her lips. Everyone. Everyone is dead. And she’s been trying her best to get used to this new reality, but without Link by her side… Without the two supporting each other, she doesn’t know if she can handle this.

She lost him so quickly. Again.

When Zelda finally notices the other girl’s hand touching her shoulder, it had already been there for a few minutes. She looks up, pausing for a second. And suddenly, this girl’s face is not Hylia’s. No, she’s just another hylian, no different than Zelda herself.

“I’m sorry,” Zelda says, ashamed. “I don’t know what… I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” the girl murmurs. “It’s not your fault. The Goddess’ blood… it can be a curse, too.”

“Are you really Hylia incarnate?” She can’t help but ask.

“Yes, but…” a slight pause, “I’m not her. I’m Zelda.”

Zelda nods. “I understand.” She feels horrible. 

Also-Zelda holds her arms out, “Hug?”

Zelda accepts. The other smells like… feathers. Feathers, and the very essence of the sun. This sun-kissed girl is just as much of a victim of Hylia as Zelda herself is. Maybe she’s even a reincarnation. And Zelda just screamed at her like she was dirt.

Opening her mouth, Zelda’s about to apologize again, but she’s interrupted.

“By the way…” Also-Zelda’s saying. “I think you might have traveled through time to your distant past.”

The hug is shoved apart so that Zelda can give Also-Zelda a bug-eyed stare. “What!?”

“It’s only a theory!” Also-Zelda confirms. “Look, you said you’re princess of Hyrule, right?”

Zelda nods, “I guess I am. Hyrule isn’t much of a monarchy anymore, though.”

“In my time, right now, Hyrule doesn’t exist,” Also-Zelda explains. Zelda blinks.

“You mean,” she says, “You mean it hasn’t been founded yet!?”

“Yes…?” Also-Zelda makes a nervous chuckle. “But we’re settling on the surface right now, and if that’s what the future holds, then… Goddesses, you might be my descendant! You have light powers too, right!”

“You’re the first Queen of Hyrule!?” And here Zelda’s gone again; she’s managed to spew nonsensical insults at not only her ancestor, but her ancestor who is also the founder of her kingdom! Incredible!

“Maybe? Not yet? I don’t know!” Also-Zelda laughs. “Oh, I need to take you to Skyloft! Then we’ll figure out how to get you back home… and where your Link is… I promise!”

“Thank you,” Zelda smiles. “But, um, Skyloft?”

“It’s where I live, half of the time! I was just down at the surface to see what we should do with these grounds,” Also-Zelda replies. “Wait - are you afraid of heights?”

“Um, not really?”

“Perfect, come on!”

And that is how Zelda ends up in the middle of the sky, clutching onto a large blue bird for dear life. If she wasn’t scared of heights before, she definitely is now. The Loftwing, as First Zelda (easier to say than Also-Zelda) calls it, is apparently being slower than usual, but Zelda is already feeling a bit of motion sickness. First Zelda tells her that they aren’t too far from Skyloft, and that she can rest soon.

Zelda is grateful when her ancestor is right. Before long, they jump off and land on a deck. First Zelda rolls into it while Zelda slumps over. She wonders how Link could possibly enjoy paragliding so much.

“Are you alright?” First Zelda laughs, offering Zelda a hand. She takes it.

“Dizzy,” Zelda answers.

“You get used to it after a while. It took me a few years,” First Zelda shrugs.

“Great,” Zelda rolls her eyes. They both giggle.

“I guess I’ll just bring us to my dorm, since Link and I’s house is on the surface,” First Zelda ponders. “It’s this way.”

Zelda follows the other. Her scholar brain immediately latches onto her surroundings, visually checking every nook and cranny. Weird green fruits. Hearts growing on plants. Colorful buildings, and imagery of those Loftwing things everywhere.

First Zelda leads her through a gate, and then into a large building. They walk up the stairs and into her room. There’s a large picture of First Zelda and a tall man behind her, which Zelda assumes is her father. Zelda notices some wooden figurines on the counter. She picks one up.

“Oh, Link made that for me,” First Zelda grins. A blush rises on her face. “He’s really good at woodcarving.”

“It’s pretty,” Zelda comments. “Is it your Loftwing?”

“Yes!” First Zelda smiles. “I didn’t think you’d notice!”

Zelda shrugs and places the bird back.

A knock sounds on the door, and First Zelda yells, “Come in!”

The door opens to reveal a boy with light brown hair, holding two bottles with something orange inside. He’s wearing a green tunic and hat on top of some chainmail.

“Link!” First Zelda lights up. Wait, that boy is Link?

“Hi,” Link (First Link?) says. “I brought you soup.”

“Oh, you are the best,” First Zelda gives him a hug. He smiles.

First Link turns to Zelda. “Who’s this?”

“Princess Zelda of Hyrule,” Zelda knows it’s overboard, but she bows her head. Sure, maybe it’s just to see the look on this guy’s face when she does. “...But now, I’m really just a scholar.”

“She’s traveled back in time to us,” First Zelda says.

First Link blinks. Then he blinks again.

Then, he offers one of the flasks to Zelda, asking, “Would you like some soup?”

Zelda considers it for a moment. “Yes, thank you.”

First Link gives Zelda the soup. It tastes almost like Kakariko pumpkins, and the warmth of home almost overwhelms her. She barely overhears First Link telling First Zelda, “I’m going to go back and get myself a bottle, too.”

“Can I talk to you outside, before you go?” First Zelda says to him.

Zelda can feel eyes turning to her and back. “Yes, of course.”

The pair tell Zelda they’ll be just a moment, then shut the door behind them. Slowly, Zelda places her cup on the desk. She creeps over to the door, and listens out. She’s not much of an eavesdropper, but intuition tells her there’s something suspicious about this.

“...here because of Demise, Link. You and I both know it.” First Zelda’s voice is in a hushed whisper. Zelda can barely make it out.

Silence. 

“When she heard I was Hylia reincarnated, she started yelling a bunch of things… and I, it made me worried about the future…”

More silence. Oh, Zelda realizes. He’s signing.

“I don’t know, either. Or how to get her back there. But her Link… she said he died.”

A pang hits Zelda in the chest.

“...Yeah. I think it was the curse that brought him back. At the very least, a new Link.”

Curse?

“It’s not. It’s not fair, not at all. I’m… I’m so sorry.”

Zelda’s eyebrows furrow.

“Shh, I know it’s not my fault… It’s just, that’s your spirit dying in battle…”

There’s a curse, a spirit, and something about Link being immortal. And First Zelda told her nothing about this.

“Link, don’t say that…! It’s not your fault, either… it’s all Demise’s.”

What else doesn’t she know? Things that might help her know where Link is? How to get home?

“It’ll be okay. We’ll figure this out. I promise.”

Zelda pulls back from the door. She sits on the bed, pondering. First Zelda also promised to her that she’ll find a way to find Link and go home. But there’s all these things she’s not telling her… granted, they haven’t officially done any searching yet, but judging by the whisper-sign combination, Zelda wasn’t supposed to hear about this at all.

Who are these people? Zelda thinks to herself. How is this girl so like and unlike Hylia at the same time?

But most of all, Zelda wants to understand one thing.

What is the curse?

blue bow

on ao3

word count: 18.5k

oneshot; aubrey character study, following her life through the four years and three days

"So, you know Sunny and I's recital is tomorrow, right?" Mari says.

Aubrey nods, and Mari smiles. She pulls out a long piece of crochet that's been tied into a bow. Aubrey recognizes it as Mari's own handiwork.

“Wear this for me, okay? It’ll bring me luck if I see it in your hair while I’m on stage.”

concept art for my aubrey analysis, blue bow

left was done without reference, right done with. i might add the right one as an image at the end of the fic. been debating with myself

and a shitpost one about the noose dream...

gladiolus (ch 1. i'll carry on)

on ao3

chapter word count: 5.2k

sequel to blue bow; continuing aubrey's story post-canon

It’s Saturday morning when Aubrey gets the knock on her door.

The last week has been frantic. Sunny’s mother had actually showed up the day after Sunny’s confession, promptly pressuring the doctors into letting him leave ASAP. He was discharged on Monday after insurance debates and follow-ups at some city hospital were scheduled. Aubrey hasn’t seen him since.

Basil wasn’t so lucky. With only bruises, he was considered fine before he first woke up. Where is he now, then? The psych ward. Okay, well, they were told that he’s been transferred to a “mental health institution” and will stay there for at least two weeks. More if Sunny’s mom presses charges. 

Aubrey knows what it really means, though. Mav had been sent there by his parents a year or two ago, after he came out as a boy. Taken back after they didn’t “fix” him. But Basil has some serious issues, and - and this genuinely is what he needs. He’s getting the help he needs.

And Aubrey? She almost bailed right after she heard Sunny’s confession. She actually did have to run to the roof, get some fresh air in her so she wouldn’t lunge for Sunny’s good eye. But she knew that there was no way in hell she could leave, not right after promising herself to stay. So, she called Kim on the public telephone and asked her to take care of Mom and Bun Bun for a few more days.

But on Monday, she had work. So she slept in the hospital room Saturday and Sunday night, and then Hero drove her to Fix-It.

Yes, she’s working at Fix-It. No, she’s not happy about it. Her now-manager is the only person who’s willing to hire a crazy delinquent like her, and that’s because he genuinely needs the work.

Now it’s Saturday again. A week since Aubrey’s life was turned upside down, again, because Mari didn’t actually kill herself. Somehow, it’s worse than that. Aubrey’s had a good five days to block that shit out while she shelves products, and a good five nights to smoke with the Hooligans and forget.

The knock sounds once more, louder. Aubrey lightly drops Mom’s plate on the couch. She’s been needing to spoon-feed Mom recently; the woman won’t eat at all otherwise.

“Mom, you gotta eat, okay?” Aubrey murmurs. “I know you haven’t been wanting much lately, but you have to at least have a little to keep moving.”

Mom looks at the food and pushes it away. Her eyes turn back to the TV. Aubrey sighs and stands up.

“Hellooooo? Aubrey?” Kel’s voice wafts through the doorway.

“I’m here,” she calls. She grabs her jacket, pulls it on, and answers the door.

Hero and Kel are standing outside. Hero’s tapping his fingers on his leg. Kel lights up when he sees her.

“Hey,” he smiles. “We just wanted to check up on you.”

That’s… new. “Oh, um, I’m alright.”

“How’s your mom doing?” Hero asks. His eyebrows are furrowed.

Aubrey blinks. “You’ve seen her?”

“We passed by her when we first visited you,” Kel explains. “Hero’s been worried ‘cause she seemed really out of it.” Judging by Kel’s look, Hero wasn’t the only one.

“Probably drunk when you saw her,” Aubrey mutters. “I guess she’s… fine. Hasn’t eaten much.”

“Is there anything we can do to help?” Hero says.

“Uh.” The only help she’s gotten before is from Kim, who mostly just covers for her when she needs it. “...I dunno.”

“Hm,” Hero replies. “Can we come inside?”

Aubrey steps inward, pressing the semi-broken door until it taps against the wall. “Sure.”

Hero makes his way to Aubrey’s mom. He sits down next to her, asking yes-or-no questions. He sounds like he’s about to diagnose her with something. Did you eat today? What about last night? Have you drank anything?

To her credit, Mom gives him small nods and shakes of the head. Better than how she reacts to Aubrey, anyway. Maybe she recognizes him from the past better than she recognizes her.

Kel paces around her house. He eventually walks back over to Aubrey.

“Hey, um, Aubrey… sorry if this is a bad question.”

“Just say it,” Aubrey replies. It’s not like the dam hadn’t broken already. “We’re all supposed to start talking about the hard shit.”

“Yeah, yeah. Uh… what did happen with your dad? I heard things at the church, but…”

But he wants to hear her side, too. She… really appreciates that. Aubrey takes a deep breath. This - she really doesn’t like speaking about this. But if Kel genuinely cares, then… She’ll try.

“Um,” she starts. “It was a few months after the Mari thing.” Kel’s expression shifts to worry. “I guess, I guess my grief was kinda his breaking point.” He takes a step forward. “He had a huge fight with Mom one night. About me. And the next morning, he was gone.”

Kel pulls her into a hug.

“I’m sorry,” he says. “You didn’t deserve that.”

Aubrey freezes for a second, forgetting how to react. Eventually her brain catches up and she awkwardly wraps her arms around Kel. “Thanks.”

“Of course,” Kel says. A few seconds pass, then they pull away.

Hero stands up soon after. “I’m going to find someone to help with your mom.”

“Wait, what?” Aubrey turns her head to Hero. 

“She needs extensive help.” Hero bites his cheek. “A professional kind of help, I mean.”

Well, yeah, she knows that. “I can’t afford it.”

Hero bites his lip and furrows his eyebrows. “We’ll… find a way. I’ll pay for it if I need to.”

“Aren’t you broke as shit?” Giving money is an immediate hell no. She appreciates they’re friends again, but she doesn’t need Hero’s pity. “Like, you’re a college student, dude. I know you guys wanna help, but you don’t have to kill yourselves over me.”

With the way Hero flinches, Aubrey knows she shouldn’t have ended with that. “...Sorry. But… really, you don’t have to do everything.”

“I’m supposed to take care of you guys, though…” Hero has a guilty look in his eye.

“Hey,” Aubrey says. She pats Hero on the shoulder. “You don’t owe me. Consider saving Basil and Sunny’s life as more than enough.”

“Haha,” Hero replies, humorless. “Okay. I won’t pay for it. But I do want to find her someone.”

“Let’s compromise on that,” Aubrey agrees. “Thank you, Hero.”

Kel suddenly perks up. “Oh, wait! We came here to ask you something.”

Hero sighs, but he’s smiling. “Of course, Aubrey. And yeah, we did.”

“What’s it?” Aubrey crosses her arms.

“Since it’s summer and we have time to hang out,” Kel begins, “We wanted to go to the beach. Since it’s been a while and stuff…”

“...And,” Hero continues, “We’d like to invite you and your other friends.”

Aubrey blinks. “Oh.” Invite the Hooligans, too?

Hero and Kel look at her as she processes, waiting for her reply. Aubrey’s confusion soon melts into a dumb giddiness. This is the kind of friendship they’re trying to rebuild. And - and they’re okay with her new self coming along, her new friends.

“Fuck yeah.” Aubrey grins.

Kel smiles, something wide and childish and happy in a way Aubrey hasn’t seen in years. In a way that makes Aubrey realize the happiness he’s been wearing, the happiness she envied, was just a cover for emptiness.

“We’ll drive over tomorrow at 10 or so,” Hero says. “Should we go find the Hooligans?”

Aubrey nods. “I promised them I’d hang out today, anyway. You should come with, we’ll tell them.” 

As she speaks, Aubrey begins gathering her things. She pulls on her shoes and adjusts her bow; pulls it too tight, as always. Even now - especially now, the sting is something she can’t handle being without. Sorry, Mari.

“Are they at the park?” Kel asks.

“Probably.” That or the lake, but they’ve kind of ditched the spot after what happened with Basil. Talk about deja vu, huh? Maybe the place is just cursed.

The Hooligans do end up being at the park. They’re all elated at the thought of the beach. When Kim mentions getting a tan, Aubrey realizes that she doesn’t own a swimsuit in her size. Her excitement outweighs the worry, though, and she decides she can just sit on the sand.

Kel spots one of Angel’s trading cards before long. The two fall into a long discussion about different Pokémon, which ends with the group heading to Kel’s house so they can challenge each other. Aubrey plays Mario 3 with The Maverick on Kel’s old NES. Hero has a hilariously awkward exchange with Vance that Aubrey can’t help but eavesdrop on.

“You’re a senior next year, right? Are you thinking of any colleges?”

“Nah. Gonna snag a job so Kim and I can skip town after graduation, though. We’re either going to the city or some other state, anywhere away from here.”

“Oh. Um, that’s cool.”

“You?” Vance raises his eyebrows to Hero.

“I’m in med school.”

“Shit. Guess I shouldn’t smoke around ya, then, in case your teachers kick your ass or something.”

“You’re good, haha… Just not in my mom’s house, please.”

Vance puts his lighter in his pocket and shoves a cigarette back into its pack. He had been trying to discreetly pull them out; unfortunately, he’s an obvious motherfucker. Aubrey has to throw her hand over her face to conceal her snort. She’s rewarded with her character losing a power-up.

After Mav and her finish the world, they end up being somehow led by Charlene to Fix-It. Aubrey tries not to be embarrassed when her manager waves at her.

The group walks into the back room: the greenhouse. Aubrey doesn’t really go in here often. She’s usually stuck in the front. Her manager’s decent enough at gardening to take care of the back himself, she guesses.

Charlene tugs Aubrey’s arm over to some potted flowers. They haven’t bloomed yet, but they seem close. She gestures to one of them.

“What is it?” Aubrey asks. It looks a bit familiar.

The taller girl turns to her with a smile. “...Gladiolus.”

And suddenly this plant is associated with a memory. “Oh,” she says. “Someone once told me that I was like this flower.”

Charlene nods, as if she knows exactly what Aubrey means. Aubrey thinks about how she never really participated when they were out antagonizing Basil. She goes to this greenhouse a lot… are her and Basil friends?

“These ones will bloom soon,” Charlene continues. “But… not yet.”

Aubrey tilts her head. Is Charlene trying to say something? But the girl doesn’t continue, and Kel soon calls Aubrey somewhere else. She forgets about it.

Lunch is at Gino’s. Maybe Aubrey shouldn’t eat this much pizza, but it’s that or the supermarket’s TV dinners. The group crowds around Angel at the Sprout Mole Eater machine. He tries to beat the record for a solid thirty minutes, blowing half his allowance on it. Sunny was the one who set it. The crown is challenged, but ultimately Angel settles for second place.

Kel challenges Aubrey to a basketball game. She doesn’t really play much, only knows how to because of P.E., but why not?

She loses horribly. Lesson learned; don’t fuck with something Kel’s genuinely good at.

In retaliation, Aubrey kicks Kel’s ass at tetherball. The war begins. They spend all afternoon playing different games in the park - capture the flag, knockout, volleyball (only briefly because it doesn’t work well when you use a basketball), and after getting tired of physical activity, Aubrey even learns how to play Pokémon. She’s okay at it, better than the others; Kel and Angel taught opposing strategies.

At some point, the sun begins to set. Aubrey lets time run away from her. It’s with a look at the sky and the jolt of a realization that she forgot to feed Mom. She hasn’t visited Mari yet today, either.

Aubrey’s given space to do both; she’s thankful. As much as she appreciates reconnection, she genuinely prefers to do some of these things alone. Luckily, Mom isn’t nearly as difficult tonight as she was this morning. Aubrey changes Bun-Bun’s water and food before she throws on some pants and heads back out.

For as much as the church is open to all, they lock their doors at sunset. A safety thing. Aubrey can’t help but find it ironic.

Hopping the fence is a practiced motion that Aubrey is more than used to. Like a dance, she swings herself over the metal and lands on the grass. The night is quiet and without wind.

Next to Mari’s grave, the egret orchid has begun to wilt. Aubrey’s not quite sure how to take care of it. She lugs over a hose, drips what she judges to be enough water into the pot, and hopes she did enough. Then she kicks the hose out of the way and settles criss-cross in front of Mari.

“Hey,” Aubrey says. “I hope you’re okay with me coming over later. Even though the pastor said I’m welcome, the churchgoers have finally had enough of me. I can’t really go during the day without getting glared at.”

Aubrey doesn’t know if she’s religious anymore. When she was a kid she would beg for God to forgive her and make her a boy, like her body was. As she grew older, she came to realize that was bullshit and she was a girl no matter what. Either way, God never saved her. Not from Daddy or her friends falling apart.

When she sits here, though, she swears she can feel a presence. Something akin to the spirits that the gravekeeper talks about. It’s almost like, like Mari is still watching over her.

…Hell, she had a dream where she met Mari again, didn’t she? Last week at the hospital. It couldn’t be anyone else, or a dream version of her. That was Mari.

So she likes to think that Mari hears her. That Mari and her are actually having a conversation, even though Mari has no voice to reply with anymore. Maybe she’s crazy, but after everything that’s happened, she can’t bring herself to care.

“Thanks again for talking to me last week,” Aubrey mumbles. “I wish we had more time.”

She always wishes they had more time. Always.

Aubrey twists her finger into the dirt. “Kel and Hero invited me to go to the beach tomorrow. The Hooligans are coming, too. I really haven’t been there since before you died. I’m kinda nervous, honestly. I don’t have a swimsuit or a bikini or anything. Not that they’d make me look feminine, anyway.

“If you were still alive, I’m sure you’d find a way to help me dress up like a girl for it, haha. You were always the one who supported me with those things.

“...My voice has been getting deeper. This stuff was a lot easier when I was twelve. I try to ignore it, there’s worse shit happening to me, but it’s always in the back of my mind, y’know? You once said that a lot of your problems were like that.

“It feels weird to think about your problems, now. Do you get what I mean? Like, because you didn’t kill yourself, it all feels so… confusing. It had looked like all the pieces were in place, but we didn’t notice. But now it’s not that. Am I, am I still bad for not saving you?”

She bites her cheek. Somehow, it always comes back to this - the cause of Mari’s death.

“I kind of feel like I’m in purgatory. Sunny’s in the city, and Basil’s in the ward. And Kel and Hero like to repress this stuff… we didn’t talk about it at all today. I feel like nothing’s gonna happen until I face Basil or Sunny again, but I don’t know if I can do that. Am I taking too much time? No, that’s stupid, it’s only been a week.”

Ugh, why did this have to be so difficult? Aubrey leans back and looks at the stars. The stars always help.

“I’m worried about Basil,” she blurts out.

Nobody questions her - well, nobody’s around to question her. So, Aubrey keeps going. “Like, I dunno. I saw his grandma in her hospital room when I walked down the hall. It made me think about Basil’s behavior the day we checked on him, and… suddenly everything made sense. How he locked himself away. Why he wanted the photo album so badly. The reason why these flowers are here, why your grave was cleaned up.

“Mari, I… he was planning to kill himself. And I, I didn’t notice before. With Sunny moving away and his grandmother dying. I j-just…”

Tears push against Aubrey’s eyes, taunting her. She sniffs.

“How could I face him now, knowing that I hurt him when he needed help most? And how, how could I face him, knowing what he did to you? How am I supposed to feel about him?”

Aubrey pulls in a shaky breath. She sits back up and looks at Mari.

“You said that we aren’t bad people, Mari. That what’s happened has happened. But, but we hurt each other so much. I almost killed Basil. Basil helped kill you. How could… you forgive us so easily? I don’t understand.”

She doesn’t know if she’ll ever understand. She doesn’t know why God hasn’t appeared to damn them all, these murderers and adjacents who call themselves friends. The only good person was Mari, who didn’t kill herself, who never was the reason for their pain. So how could she forgive them? How could she say it doesn’t matter, she loves them anyway?

“I don’t understand,” Aubrey repeats. But Mari can no longer reply.

Her thoughts run blank. She can’t comprehend it all, can’t wallow in self-hatred. There are no words left to say.

So she mumbles, “Goodnight, Mari,” and stumbles to her feet. She walks home on autopilot. None of this makes any fucking sense. It probably never will.

Aubrey’s blankets are old, thin, and dirty. She has to do laundry soon, or better yet, buy new sheets. Maybe she’ll do that with her summer job money.

Sleep comes to Aubrey easily. She’s tired: not the kind that comes from bawling her eyes out for hours, but the kind where she doesn’t want to think anymore. It feels like a welcome embrace. Like an older sister’s warm arms. Aubrey makes no hesitation to accept it.

Morning brings a wave of heat that can only be attributed to July. Aubrey wears a tank top and a skirt. Both pieces are now out of fashion, but seriously, who gives a shit? She’s more worried about getting sunscreen.

Thankfully, Hero and Kel’s mother has some. Soon after Aubrey arrives, she gets fussed over and handed a stick of it before she can ask.

“Thanks, Tia,” Aubrey smiles. 

The woman waves her off. “Nada, querida, keep it! We have too many extras.”

Aubrey blinks. “Um, alright.”

Hero appears with pancakes and other snacks. Kel had already packed a picnic basket, which is now in the back of the car.

“Want one?” He asks. It’s his old recipe, the chocolate-chip ones that him and Mari always made on Saturday mornings.

“Yeah,” Aubrey accepts. The pancake is fluffy and warm on her tongue, just like it always was. These were only ever beaten by Mari’s cookies - if they were even comparable. Pancakes were Hero’s thing, cookies were Mari’s.

Hero grins, but his mother turns to him before he can say anything. “Heitor, quem mais vai? Já está tudo arrumado?”

“Sim, não se preocupe tanto!” Hero sighs lightheartedly. “Vai ser só a gente e os amigos da Aubrey.”

His mom smiles. “Tudo bem, chame seu irmão, por favor.”

Hero nods and turns away, placing his tray on the table before leaving and calling for Kel.

Aubrey decides to sit at the table and eat pancakes until the others show up. Hero comes back over with Kel before long. They play cards while they wait, chatting about the family’s plan for remodeling the house. Apparently, they’re adding a room by the stairs, presumably for Sally once she gets a little older.

It’s slow, but the Hooligans arrive. Mav is somehow last. He rolls his eyes at Kel’s comment about literally being next door, claiming he had “important affairs to attend to first”. Quietly, he admits to Aubrey that he’s been struggling to bind with Ace bandages. 

Kel steals shotgun before Aubrey can, damnit. She settles for the backseat with Kim, squished together with Angel in the middle. The Maverick’s in the way back between Vance and Charlene. He complains about leg room; his loss for choosing that seat.

Hell breaks loose as soon as Hero backs out of the driveway. Angel and Kim fight over the radio - which mainly consists of yelling at Kel to change the station - while Vance yaps about something Aubrey doesn’t really care about, so she half-asses her replies. To Hero’s credit, he doesn’t seem too distracted. Aubrey can only guess it’s a skill that comes with being the oldest of three.

As they make the fifteen minute drive to the beach, Aubrey realizes she hasn’t been in a car in a long time. Not since Daddy left with his, anyway. She never really needed one, at least not yet. The feeling is still a bit jarring. Aubrey’s not stupid - she knows that she’s poorer than her friends. It’s just… weird, looking at these little things.

Aubrey’s shoes meet gravel as she hops through the door. Kim runs past her, cheering. Hero and Kel start unloading stuff from the back, Charlene joining them. Vance lights a cig.

Arms wrap around Aubrey, Angel grabbing her. He points to the shoreline.

“Look at that!” Angel says. “We can play real volleyball!” Aubrey squints. She thinks she can see an abandoned ball down at the shore.

“If it’s not deflated.” She shrugs.

The younger nods. “I’ll go get The Maverick! He can test it!” Aubrey’s left alone as Angel runs off.

Aubrey turns over to the responsible people. Kel’s holding two or three things, and Hero isn’t faring much better, so Aubrey grabs stuff from them both. With Charlene following behind, they look like a weird multi-colored parade shuffling down the boardwalk.

The picnic blanket is the first thing to be dropped unceremoniously. Then someone yells “Shit!” because all the sand gets kicked up by the fabric’s landing. Angel and Kel immediately have to chase after the blanket. Wind and sand particles bite at Aubrey’s eyes, but she laughs all the same.

Aubrey and Kim are tasked with finding medium-sized stones to hold the blanket down. They jog slowly, falling the shoreline and eyeing the water. Kim already kicked off her shoes and left them at their camp, so she wades.

“Ow,” Kim complains. “Stupid-fucking-nerd-rock.” She picks up a tiny yet sharp pebble, throwing it into the ocean.

“Your fault for being barefoot this close to the rocky areas,” Aubrey comments. 

Kim rolls her eyes. “Yeah, yeah, whatever.”

They find the first two stones easily, nestled almost right next to each other. The third takes a little longer, but it isn’t far. The fourth stone gives them trouble.

“What the hell,” Aubrey grunts. “How hard is it to find a stupid rock?”

“Dunno,” replies Kim. “This is dumb.”

Aubrey shrugs.

Kim twiddles her fingers as they head inland to look further. Aubrey can see there’s something on her mind - over the years, Kim’s tells have become obvious.

“What is it,” Aubrey says. Kim blinks at her. “C’mon, I know something’s up.”

Her best friend eventually sighs. “Damn, you’re good at that. It’s just, I dunno, Vance.”

“What happened?” Aubrey asks. Kim squints at the sand.

“It’s dumb,” Kim murmurs, kind of sheepish. “Like, I’m fine with smoking and stuff. Don’t get me wrong about that. It’s just, when Vance…”

Aubrey thinks back to ten minutes ago, Vance immediately grabbing a cigarette. It’s eleven in the morning. “Too much. Too often.”

“Yeah,” Kim nods. “Just gets me worried, I guess. And he’s blowing a lot of our money on it.”

Isn’t Aubrey used to that… “You should, um, talk to him about it, I guess. At least ask him to stop pulling it from your escape fund.” This is bullshit advice and she knows it, but she’s the opposite of qualified.

Kim bites her cheek. “I’ll try. Thanks, Aubs.”

Aubrey smiles awkwardly, and the conversation fades. What a way to fuck that up. She wishes she could actually help with this stuff, but when she thinks about how she’s only worsened Mom’s addiction, she feels horrible.

A few minutes later, Kim suddenly squats. She pokes at the ground. “Hey, check this one out.”

Aubrey looks to Kim. She’s pointing at a rock with some cracks through the middle. It’s fully in one piece, but only barely. A small flower has sprouted next to it - yellow and small, it kind of resembles a sunflower.

“That should be good,” Aubrey nods. She reaches to pick it up, but she’s sliced by one of the jagged edges. “Fuck!”

“Shit, are you okay?” Kim shoots to her feet, checking Aubrey’s thumb. A thin line of blood has formed.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine,” she murmurs. Using her good hand, she scoops up some of the wet sand and fills in the stone’s wounds. “That should be better. Let’s take it back.”

Aubrey’s finger continues to sting, so she decides to ask Hero about it once they get back. She hands the stones to others, who place them on the blanket. Hero’s not there - when Aubrey asks, Kel tells her that he went to the car.

She crosses the boardwalk, reaching the parking lot in full strides. Hero is behind the car, pulling a heavy-looking bag over his shoulder.

“Hey,” she calls. Hero practically jumps.

“Aubrey, you scared me!” He laughs.

“Whoops,” Aubrey replies, unrepentant. She holds up her thumb. “You have any Band-Aids?”

Hero nods. “Just in the front seat, I’ll grab them.” When he turns, Aubrey eyes his bag.

“I can carry that,” she offers.

“It’s alright.” Hero shakes his head. “Your hand is hurt.”

Hero returns with the bandage. He hesitates when he goes to give the bandage to Aubrey. She looks at him for a second and notices his guilty expression.

“You can bandage it if you want,” Aubrey says. She can do it just fine herself, but Hero and Mari handled Band-Aid placement when they were kids. Part of her… wants to feel the safety those two radiated again.

“Sorry,” Hero murmurs.

Aubrey raises an eyebrow. “For what?”

“Um,” he says. “For leaving you to do this” - He gestures at the bandage - “Alone. I was supposed to take care of you guys.”

He said that yesterday, too. “You…” Aubrey doesn’t really know how to comfort Hero. It’s always been the other way around. “You were a kid, too. And you were hurting.”

“Yeah, but I…” Hero sniffs. He tries putting the Band-Aid on, but it gets a little crumpled and part of the cut doesn’t end up covered. Aubrey looks at the squished Spaceboy design.

“We’re here now, that’s what matters.” Aubrey doesn’t really believe her own words, because not all of them are there. Hero smiles; she can tell he doesn’t believe it either.

“Thank you,” he says. “That’s what we should focus on, I think.” 

They’re trying, though, aren’t they? As much as they can, even under all this pressure? Aubrey thinks that, Aubrey hopes that, “Mari’s proud of us.”

Hero kind of blinks at her. It takes him a second to register her words.

“...I really want her to be,” he eventually breathes. “I really, really do.”

Aubrey almost asks him right there if he saw her that night. He had to if she was visiting their dreams, right? That’s what she told Aubrey.

But Aubrey waits a beat too long, because Hero turns away to put the wrapping in the trash.

“Come on,” Hero says, “Let’s go have fun. It’s summer, after all.”

It still bothers her. And it will continue bothering her, but she pushes it to the back of her mind. Hero’s right; it’s summer.

“Alright.” Aubrey nods. “Let’s go have fun.”

It’s sunset when they return home from the beach, soon after eating dinner. The Hooligans are on their thirty-somethingth verse of “99 Bottles of Beer”. Kel’s chugging soda as Mav cheers at him. Aubrey’s had a grin on her face for maybe fifteen minutes now, and she knows it’s not going away anytime soon. Throughout the day, the bow has loosened in her hair.

Hero has to tell the teenagers to calm down multiple times after he parks the car. Of course, it only riles them up more. He eventually gets them all out, and the majority of the Hooligans head out for the park to spent the next few hours in. Aubrey, Hero, and Kel stay.

“You’re not following your friends?” Hero asks.

“I need to check on my mom,” Aubrey replies. “And my bunny, and Mari. I might join them later if I’m up for it.”

“You’re… really responsible.” Hero gives her a sad smile. “Well, we won’t keep you. C’mon, Kel.”

“See ya,” Kel says. “Today was fun. Like, really. Thank you.”

“Of course.” Aubrey nods at them both. She waves goodbye as they walk towards the door, but drops her hand when Kel gets distracted by Hector running out of his doghouse. 

Aubrey turns for the end of the sidewalk. It’s still decently warm outside, but it’s way cooler than earlier. She notes to herself that she’ll need to grab a jacket before she visits Mari. And shake the sand out of her shoes. There is so much.

But she doesn’t have to do that yet. The wind is calm, so Aubrey breathes.

This past week has been really hard. Her old friends are murderers. Her sister didn’t kill herself. But - but then. Then Kel, Hero, and the Hooligans have supported her. And this past weekend was one of the most fun she’s had in years.

It’ll be… it’ll be okay. Everything will be okay. There’s a lot happening in Aubrey’s life, but there’s also moments like these, where she’s just watching a pretty sunset. She’s… never appreciated that before. She had been too angry at the world to do so. And as much as she kind of hates Sunny and Basil right now, she’s, she’s tired of being angry.

Honestly, it’s hard to admit that to herself.

Closing her eyes, Aubrey makes a decision. She can’t bring herself to forgive Basil or Sunny. But she can’t let those feelings take over her life, either. Not like last time.

Mari, I hope you can understand that. I don’t really know how to feel anymore, but now… because I finally can, I want to focus on the other friendships I lost.

Aubrey lets the world envelope her for a few seconds longer. She prays that Mari can hear her. And even if she can’t, the thought brings Aubrey comfort.

She hopes that this is a good decision. That she’s being mature. Hero said she was just now, but she doesn’t really know what that means, ha.

Slowly, Aubrey opens her eyes. Golden beams of sunlight dully sift through the trees. Okay, she can do this. Feed everyone, shoes, jacket, visit Mari, park. That’s manageable.

Aubrey takes a step forward.

quick novelization of the 3 days left scene with basil and sunny in grandma's room. i wrote this because... i saw another one, got annoyed, and decided to do it myself. oops. anyway bpd!basil rights

word count: 1k

tw: suicidal thoughts

He’s in Grandma’s room, isn’t he?

Basil tries to open the door gently, but it always makes the loudest screech and no one’s ever fixed it. He cringes internally as his presence is announced. Realistically, Grandma is deaf to the world and she won’t realize Basil is beside her… but that thought is worse.

Looking up, he sees that Grandma isn’t alone. Basil’s intuition was right - in front of the egret orchid stands Sunny. The stiffness of Sunny’s stance is akin to a statue; he’s just as well gone as Grandma is.

Sunny makes no acknowledgment of Basil’s entrance. Regardless, anxiety trickles up Basil’s twitching fingers, and he finds himself stuttering out a greeting.

“Oh, Sunny… I didn’t expect to see you in here… Haha…”

Basil bites his lip. Of course Sunny would be in here. He had circled Basil for five minutes, staring at every piece of the living room, searching for reality. When he couldn’t find it there, where else would he go? 

Basil had listened to the doors open and close while he stood on the carpet, lost. He’d realized what Sunny was doing before long. Basil has known this feeling before. He’s performed the same dance, stumbling around his house, desperately trying to catch onto something, anything that will ground him, anything that will clear the fog-

“H-How are you doing, Sunny?” Basil blurts. “Is everything okay with you?”

Sunny turns to Basil, stares at him blankly. Unresponsive. Blind. Basil’s finger taps faster, faster on his leg. Why are you looking at me like that? Are you mad at me?

“...Okay.” Basil’s brow sets. His mouth curls into a frown. Even him? Sunny won’t even recognize him? “N-Nevermind, then.”

Something inside Basil needs to scream. Something inside Basil yearns to weep. Basil does neither. He matches Sunny’s eyes, almost threatening him to say something, anything. What is logical thinking with a glare like that? How could Sunny, even as untethered from reality as he is, look at Basil like this if he doesn’t hate him?

Sunny’s chest rises and falls. The movement is so small that it almost looks as if he isn’t breathing. Basil feels like he can’t breathe, either.

The room is so, so quiet.

Basil forces himself to walk before his feet become his hands and the floor becomes his face. Something drips through the walls. Teeth gleam at Basil, hungry. Basil threatens them with a broken photo album and Polly’s garden salad.

Across the sludge lies Grandma. Something wraps around Basil’s ankle and nearly trips him. He chooses to stop moving. He stares straight at Grandma’s bed, unwilling to see how far Something has covered Sunny.

“Grandma can’t hear us, you know?” Basil’s speech is hollow. Grandma may never hear him again, certainly won’t ever reply. Less than a month. That was what the doctors said. Less than a month before the cancer completely overwhelms her. Can he tell Sunny how long she has? No, that’s more of a reason to hate Basil. “She hasn’t been feeling very well lately.”

Basil tears his eyes away from Grandma. She’s just making him feel worse, too. Everything makes him feel worse. The photo album burns in his arms.

“It’s already been four years, hasn’t it?” I never expected to live this long. I won’t live much longer. I don’t think you will, either. Sometimes I wish we were both already dead.

His glance shifts to Sunny, he can’t help it. Why aren’t you dead already? Do you plan for it, like I am? Is that why you’re here? Will you clean her grave, too, apologize to her? Or are you just here to tell me how much you hate me before we both kill ourselves? “It’s nice to see you’re still around… even if it’s only for a little while.”

…Will Sunny forgive him if he proves how much he cares?

There’s only one reason why he wanted the photo album back, anyway. 

With agonizing steps, Basil approaches his friend. He tries not to throw up. Basil can’t be near Sunny without feeling blood dripping through his fingers and Something choking his neck. He shoves out the photo album. Just take it. Please, take it. Please, please, forgive me.

“Here. Take my photo album… I want you to have it.” But if Sunny’s killing himself, too, or if he still hates Basil after this, won’t Basil’s gift mean nothing? “...I’m trusting you with it, okay?” Basil tries to meet Sunny in the eyes, get his silent plea across. Sunny’s irises are vacant. “I just think… you could use it more than me.”

Sunny cracks the book open. Finally, his face flutters with the smallest sliver of recognition. Basil wishes that he was already dead. His mouth is dry.

He tries to sound chipper as he says, “A lot has happened since these pictures were taken.” Sunny flips through the photos. Basil’s pathetic attempt at optimism drops. “...Sometimes, it feels like it was all a bad dream.”

It’d be better if they never met. It’d be better if Basil was just dead already.

Sunny shuts the album with a soft thump, and his vision catches Basil’s. Does he, does he forgive Basil? Do you hate me? Don’t you hate me? Could you please just fucking tell me!?

“It’s hard to remember now, but…” Maybe if he explains himself… “I think… at the time.. I took photos of what I was most afraid to lose.” Why is he doing this? Why does he open these wounds larger, when he already knows Sunny will never stop hating him? “Flipping through this album, you can still see the good times… Maybe one day… things can go back to the way they were before.”

Once he’s gone, they’ll all be happy. If nothing else, he hopes Sunny will forgive him then. He hopes Sunny will appreciate Basil’s sacrifice enough to excuse everything else.

Basil continues to stare at Sunny. Do you understand? Do you understand what I’m going to do for everyone?

And Sunny stares, and it’s agonizing. He hates this, he hates this so much. Something is blocking out his face. Something makes the world turn to eyes and jet-black ink. Please, just understand. Please-

Kel calls them both for dinner. Basil practically sprints away, tearing himself from Something’s grasp. His head pounds. He feels as though he’s bleeding, about to pass out, but only one of those is true. So, Basil forces himself into the hardwood chair, and he waits.

Soon. Soon, he’ll do what’s needed for everyone to be happy.

Soon, everything will be okay.